Chapter 35: The Thirty-Fifth Day as Cult Leader (Part 2)

He just had not expected that someone would honestly come investigate them, and even personally visit Shilian Mountain.

Thinking of this, Qin Ming could not help looking at this Chiliarch Song with higher regard. “Lord Song came to Shilian Mountain specially, crossing mountains and rivers? I recall this place can be considered quite far from the Blood Blade Sect.”

“That is not so.” Song Yi shook his head. “This Song is only responsible for affairs around Zhi Prefecture. Because your noble cult is within my jurisdiction, I personally came to pay a visit.”

“However, this Song is rather curious.” Song Yi looked at him, a nearly imperceptible scrutiny in his eyes. “How did you tell that this Song belongs to the Embroidered Uniform Guard?”

How would Qin Ming know that in this era, the Embroidered Uniform Guard acted quite low-key, and almost no common commoners knew of them? He simply said casually, “Lord Song is wearing this flying-fish robe, and you have an embroidered spring saber at your waist. Are you not openly displaying your identity?”

Song Yi frowned slightly and lowered his head to look at his own attire, yet the doubt in his heart did not lessen.

“If Lord Song has only come to ask about what happened that day, we naturally will not refuse.” Qin Ming had already thought through his strategy for dealing with the Embroidered Uniform Guard. As long as the Embroidered Uniform Guard were not the hostile party, he could provide as much help as possible and gain goodwill. He directly instructed the Demonic Cult disciple behind him, “Go call Shen Fubai over. As for what happened that day, he, who was present, naturally knows better than anyone.”

Then he made an inviting gesture toward Song Yi and the others. “Presumably, my lord is unwilling to step into our cult. In that case, why not set up tables and chairs here, sit down, and speak slowly?”

“Since you invite me, I shall naturally obey.” Song Yi cupped his hands to him. “May I ask how to address you?”

“Qin Ming.”

This was not the first time Qin Ming had spoken his own name, but it was the first time he had met someone who knew his identity as a member of the Demonic Cult, yet still carefully and seriously remembered his name.

“This Song has remembered it.” The corner of Song Yi’s mouth curved slightly, and he cupped his hands in salute once more.

This feeling suddenly put Qin Ming in a cheerful mood. Unconsciously, his favorable impression of Song Yi rose a little.

Very soon, the Demonic Cult disciples swiftly carried over tables and chairs. Shen Fubai and Qin Ming sat on one side, while Song Yi sat alone on the other side, and they began carefully recounting what had happened that day.

Shen Fubai’s tongue was naturally quite formidable. Everything he said was the truth, yet he transformed what he had done into upright and honorable self-defense. No one was more innocent than him. Even the Embroidered Uniform Guard could not find any handle on him. However, Song Yi did not seem too fixated on finding trouble either. While listening, he carefully sized up the two people before him.

He saw Qin Ming slowly sipping tea, his attitude leisurely and at ease. As for Shen Fubai, although he was speaking about the village matter, the corner of his eye kept observing Qin Ming’s expression. Song Yi then had a few calculations in his heart.

He decisively rose to take his leave. “Many thanks for everyone’s assistance. This Song will report the entire truth to His Majesty, and will also properly handle the villagers’ affairs. Please rest assured!”

Qin Ming truly let out a breath of relief inwardly, and also stood up to cup his hands. “Many thanks, Lord Song.”

Yet after Song Yi had only walked back a couple of steps, he suddenly turned his head and called his name. “Right, Brother Qin.”

Qin Ming lifted his eyes in confusion, meeting his sincere gaze.

“Although the Embroidered Uniform Guard do not concern themselves with matters of jianghu, what you have done is indeed worthy of a word of praise from this Song.”

Song Yi cupped his fists to him once more and lowered his head slightly. “Many thanks to you for removing such treacherous and wicked people from jianghu and restoring peace to my common people!”

After saying this, ignoring Qin Ming’s stunned expression, Song Yi turned and left with his subordinates, as though he had truly only come to investigate information and had never had any ulterior motive.

Qin Ming watched his back and gradually came back to himself. He could not help praising inwardly: what a fine Embroidered Uniform Guard!

Not treating him differently because of his identity as a member of the Demonic Cult was enough to show Song Yi’s uniqueness.

“Perhaps I really can build a good relationship with the Embroidered Uniform Guard...”

As he pondered this, the System immediately popped up a mission:

“Congratulations, you have gained the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s attention!”

“Lucky mission triggered: Increase the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s trust! As long as you continue doing good deeds, you will naturally gain goodwill from the Embroidered Uniform Guard.”

“Mission reward: The Embroidered Uniform Guard’s friendliness, which may be able to help at a necessary moment. Merit points will be distributed proportionally.”

Qin Ming closed the System mission in great satisfaction and brought his people back to the cult.

Unexpectedly, at this very moment, the Embroidered Uniform Guard were also discussing what had just happened.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard subordinate behind Song Yi finally could not suppress the doubt in his heart and asked in a low voice, “My lord, wasn’t investigating the incident only a pretense, while the real purpose was to see what the Demonic Cult Cult Leader, whom jianghu rumors have been buzzing about, really looks like? Why are we suddenly leaving when we haven’t even seen him?”

Song Yi calmly glanced at him. “Your powers of observation are still insufficient.”

As he spoke, he looked toward the subordinate on his right. “You tell him.”

The subordinate on the right immediately said, “My lord ignored the man called Zhang Daniu who received us earlier, and instead focused all your attention on the attendant behind him. What is more, my lord has sharp eyes and has seen countless people. No one can escape my lord’s eagle eyes. This subordinate judges that this attendant’s identity must be strange!”

“You are rather clever.” Song Yi hooked his lips and nodded. “Correct. I observed that this person had a dignified bearing and did not resemble a servant. Meanwhile, everyone around him had to look toward him with every sentence they spoke. From this, one could know that this person’s status must be very high. Furthermore, this person clearly knew about the village matter, yet did not take the initiative to speak of it. Instead, he called someone else over to explain. All these things show that this person absolutely would not be someone who occupies a position beneath others. Then his identity is most likely... that person!”

“What?!” The two subordinates were startled at the same time and could not help exchanging a glance. “Could he be the Demonic Cult Cult Leader?! But...”

Seeing hesitation appear on his subordinates’ faces, Song Yi could not help smiling. “What? Are you thinking that he was not as frightening as the rumors say? Instead, he was refined and courteous, with ample patience?”

“Exactly.” The two subordinates cupped their hands in admiration. “As expected of our lord. Jianghu rumors clearly say that the Demonic Cult fiend is full of murderous aura and extremely violent, but this one was not like that... And how could someone who could defeat the Blood Blade Sect Master be so polite to us? It truly puzzles the two of us.”

“It can be seen that jianghu rumors cannot be fully trusted. Only what one observes personally with one’s own eyes is true. As Embroidered Uniform Guard, we must remember this all the more.” Song Yi did not find it strange. Instead, he secretly educated them, then said, “Although he was wary of us, he did not have the slightest killing intent. This is enough to show that he has no particular disgust toward the authorities. It is indeed rare, and worth continuing contact with.”

“But...” Thinking of the other party’s eyesight, which had seen at a glance that he was a Embroidered Uniform Guard, Song Yi could not help narrowing his eyes. “We must also guard against him more. This person is absolutely not as simple as he appears. Today was only a brief contact, and I could not see the general picture clearly... But there is ample time ahead. I will uncover and see through everything about him, one by one. There is no need to panic.”

The two subordinates looked at him in admiration and could not help sighing from the bottom of their hearts. “Yes! With my lord here, no matter who they are, they cannot escape my lord’s eyes! We will remember it!”

…

Over here, the Embroidered Uniform Guard felt Qin Ming was surrounded by layer upon layer of mystery. Over there, Shen Fubai also suddenly imagined many truths.

Could it be that everything the Cult Leader did in the village that day was for the sake of drawing out the Embroidered Uniform Guard? Befriending the Embroidered Uniform Guard was the Cult Leader’s ultimate plan?

If he could not obtain the support of the orthodox martial sects, he would start from the authorities instead, and then gradually unify jianghu... Hiss. What a truly excellent scheme!

Again. Again and again. Without Shen Fubai realizing it, the Cult Leader had already arranged everything, and only once the truth came to light did it make him suddenly understand.

This mind, this strategy... As expected of his Cult Leader!

Shen Fubai involuntarily gazed up at the sun in the sky, his heart filled with incomparable worship for the Cult Leader’s wisdom. Seeing him stand still for a long time, Zhang Daniu could not help patting his shoulder to remind him. “What’s wrong? Did someone seal your acupoints? Why aren’t you moving?”

Shen Fubai only said, “Do you see that blazing sun burning on the horizon? That is the radiance emitted by the Cult Leader!”

Zhang Daniu: “...Huh?”

He scratched his head, truly having no idea what madness Shen Fubai was having. He could only habitually applaud. “You’re right!”

And Xu Sheng, who was secretly observing from the side, saw this scene and once again felt the urge to slaughter both of these menaces. He always felt that as long as the Demonic Cult had these two people, there would simply be no peace. They were even more vicious than the Demonic Cult’s other disciples!

Daily desire to assassinate one’s own people!

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