Chapter 41: The Forty-First Day of Becoming Cult Leader (Part 2)

Although these words held no comfort whatsoever, and even faintly carried some reproach, Yin Hongwen’s numb eyes still moved. He raised his head and looked at him. “Me… guide them?”

“Correct.” Chen Lue nodded. “This case arose entirely from Danyangzi’s faction and has nothing to do with the other Yantian Sect disciples. As Yantian Sect’s sect master’s disciple, you have already executed these traitors and returned justice to the people of the world. From now on, you must strictly supervise the disciples of your sect and absolutely never repeat the same mistake. In this way, several decades from now, Yantian Sect may rise once more.”

“This period is also an excellent opportunity for you to recuperate and rebuild. You were already about to be crushed under pill transactions, were you not? Whether you can turn this crisis into an opportunity depends on what you do.”

Hearing this, Yin Hongwen’s expression changed abruptly. After a few breaths, his faith, which had already collapsed, once again supported him. He endured his grief and stood up, finally understanding the responsibility he carried.

“I… understand. I know what I must do now. Thank you!”

After cupping his fists and bowing to Chen Lue, Yin Hongwen looked at Qin Ming. A blazing fire burned in his eyes. “Cult Leader, may I take responsibility for the aftermath? All the heroes present are witnesses. I, Yin Hongwen, can swear to the heavens that I will absolutely not cover up the truth or bend the law for private gain. I will announce everything to the world. Please rest assured!”

Yu Yu and the others all admired his courage and determination. At the same time, they cupped their fists in salute to him. “Naturally, we trust you!”

Qin Ming, however, made a joke. “You won’t wait until my cult has just left, then frame us by saying my cult did this, will you?”

Clearly, not a single Righteous Path person present understood his sense of humor. Yin Hongwen’s expression grew even more resolute, and he was almost ready to kneel and kowtow to beg Qin Ming to believe him. “Absolutely not! Cult Leader, please believe me!”

“Fine, fine, fine. I believe you.” Qin Ming was somewhat helpless. He would never joke with these people again. This group from the Righteous Path was far too rigid.

But Yin Hongwen’s personality also precisely proved that he would not lie, and that he would do what he said.

That very day, he led the bound Yantian Sect disciples in a grand procession away from Yantian Sect, escorting those abducted people back toward their hometowns. Everyone walked step by step. Whether from exhaustion or pain, they absolutely could not stop until every abducted person had been sent home.

Such an act naturally shocked the martial world. After people made inquiries, they naturally learned what Yantian Sect had done. For a time, everyone was stunned.

Adding Yu Yu and the other great heroes of the jianghu, who had witnessed everything, spreading the truth, a powerful shockwave almost swept through the jianghu.

People could not believe that Yantian Sect had actually done such a thing. They even thought of the pills refined by Yantian Sect that they had eaten before and felt waves of nausea and disgust.

“A total of thirty-six named people went missing, and now only twelve of them are still alive!”

“Hateful! Truly hateful! That Danyangzi is simply utterly heartless! And to think we even believed the Five Great Sects were the leaders of the Righteous Path. In the end, one after another, they’ve all had shocking secrets exposed!”

“They used… used human blood to refine pills. Urgh—”

“No, I can’t take it. Urgh—”

On this day, most members of the jianghu spent their time collectively vomiting.

Someone cursed angrily.

“First Sword Pavilion, then Yantian Sect. What is going on with the Five Great Sects? What is wrong with this world? Truly, people’s hearts are no longer what they once were!”

“How can Yantian Sect be compared to Sword Pavilion? Sword Pavilion only had problems with its internal system. They stole some silver and pinned the blame on the Demonic Cult, but they didn’t harm anyone. Yantian Sect truly killed people!”

“Speaking of which, Yantian Sect originally wanted to dump the whole matter on the Demonic Cult too. They just didn’t expect Great Hero Yu Yu and the others to be present and directly expose their schemes!”

“It seems like the Demonic Cult is always responsible for taking the blame… Could it be that all the evil deeds and scandals we’ve heard about over the years were actually framed on the Demonic Cult by prestigious Righteous Path sects?”

…

Everyone looked at each other, as though they had discovered some secret, and no longer dared to speak.

But now, the entire jianghu had set off a wave of condemnation against Yantian Sect. This was especially true of the commoners. They did not care what sect it was. As soon as they heard that someone dared abduct innocent common people, they hated them so much their teeth itched. The moment they opened their mouths, they cursed without the slightest mercy. It was clear just how much they hated these people who disregarded the lives of commoners.

The other members of the jianghu also felt chilled by the Five Great Sects one after another. For a time, only the Demonic Cult’s reputation actually rose. After all, the Demonic Cult had personally exposed these filthy deeds.

However, when Yin Hongwen disregarded his own identity as a great hero and actually held the bones of those who had died in Yantian Sect, kneeling and apologizing before their relatives, the denunciation of Yantian Sect rapidly decreased and turned instead into denunciation of Danyangzi.

Because they truly had never seen any great hero who could disregard face and reputation, admit wrongdoing, personally kneel and apologize, tears constantly glimmering in his eyes, and even take out large sums of silver to give to the victims’ families.

“This matter arose entirely from my Yantian Sect elder Danyangzi’s faction, but my Yantian Sect was likewise guilty of failing to investigate properly. I have no words with which to face the commoners who died wrongfully. I can only gather their remains, come bearing thorns on my back to beg forgiveness, and apologize in person. This silver is a token of my sincerity. You must accept it!”

“But Yantian Sect will absolutely not tolerate such evildoers. Therefore, the sect has decided to send Danyangzi and his group to the authorities to accept the Son of Heaven’s judgment. Please, everyone, supervise this one by one.”

Yin Hongwen knelt on the ground. Facing the family members and relatives who were crying without end, tears streamed down his face, and he likewise performed a great bow. “My Yantian Sect knows that our sins are heavy. No matter what we do, we can never make up for them. We can only do our utmost to care for the families of all those who were abducted, close our doors for cultivation, withdraw from the Five Great Sects, and from now on no longer involve ourselves in the jianghu’s affairs. This is how we will atone!”

With that said, his head struck the ground heavily. Along with a loud bang, Yantian Sect, one of the Five Great Sects, withdrew from the jianghu then and there, and would no longer concern itself with jianghu affairs.

As soon as this news spread, the jianghu fell into chaos. Originally, the Five Great Sects’ alliance had been indestructible, but now it had fallen apart into pieces. Sword Pavilion had closed its doors to reorganize. Yantian Sect had withdrawn from the alliance. Nanxiang Sect was also firmly supporting the Demonic Cult. How could the alliance of the Five Great Sects continue to stand?

For a time, some people were filled with worry. On the contrary, unaffiliated jianghu wanderers who had little to do with power and status began praising Yin Hongwen’s righteousness.

Having personally witnessed Danyangzi and the others enter prison, they completely believed in Yin Hongwen’s apology and admired him one after another, feeling that he truly deserved to be called a great hero among great heroes. It was only a pity that he had been dragged down by such an elder.

After hearing Yin Hongwen guarantee that the pills refined with human blood had only been sold to the other Five Great Sects, they finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Even Qin Ming, upon hearing of this matter, could not help sighing emotionally that Yin Hongwen truly did as he said. Although the other party was stubborn, he had never lost his original heart. In this chaotic jianghu, Qin Ming saw in him a noble flower blooming from a crevice, unstained by the mud around it.

What made Qin Ming happy was that when he led the Demonic Cult disciples back through Zhi Prefecture on the way to Shilian Mountain, the surrounding commoners, for once, did not avoid them like the plague. Although they were still somewhat afraid, they watched them go up the mountain, and even awkwardly revealed slightly friendly smiles. From this alone, one could see how greatly the commoners’ attitude toward the Demonic Cult had changed after the news spread.

In addition, Lord Song Yi of the Embroidered Uniform Guard once again visited Shilian Mountain and expressed his thanks. “Many thanks to Cult Leader Qin for revealing the truth of this case and helping us capture the chief culprit, resolving a concern that had weighed on our minds. I have come here today specially to thank everyone!”

Song Yi cupped his hands in thanks, and a trace of admiration also appeared in his eyes. “I, Song, owe Sun Moon Divine Cult a favor. If there is an important matter you need help with, Cult Leader Qin may give any order. I, Song, will certainly overcome every difficulty and come to assist!”

[Lucky Mission: Increase the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s trust! Twenty percent.]

[Mission Reward: Twenty thousand merit points. Song Yi’s assistance times one.]

[Lucky Mission Triggered: Intermediate Level: Gain the commoners’ admiration. One out of five.]

[Because the things you have done recently have won great praise from the commoners and raised your status in the jianghu, this reward has been triggered.]

[Target Reward: Randomly obtain a red martial arts supreme skill.]

One hundred and twenty thousand merit points had arrived in his account. He could buy another golden martial arts supreme skill. Qin Ming was smiling so widely that his mouth was about to go crooked. After this incident, the Demonic Cult had finally officially entered the sight of the commoners of the jianghu, and it was even with a positive influence. This was enough to prove that Qin Ming’s actions had not been wrong.

He did his best to maintain his paralyzed expression and not let his joy show on his face. Then he turned his head and looked at Chen Lue beside him. “It seems the matter is already over.”

This look, however, startled him. Chen Lue, whose expression had always been faint and who never showed joy or anger on his face, actually had the corner of his mouth slightly curved into a warm arc. He looked quite… gentle?

At this moment, Chen Lue seemed to have released every worry in his heart and showed a smile from the bottom of his heart.

“…Cult Leader?”

Qin Ming looked at him curiously. Only when Chen Lue turned his head and met his gaze did he speak frankly. “This Cult Leader seems never to have seen you smile before. This is the first time.”

“There were no happy events in the past, so I had no love for speech or laughter.”

Chen Lue shook his head, but the smile at the corner of his mouth did not fade.

Qin Ming said, “And today?”

Chen Lue bowed slightly and said, “Thanks to the Cult Leader, this subordinate feels very joyful today, so for a moment, I could not help myself.”

…There was no need to count this sort of thing on his head, right? He had not done anything.

Qin Ming only felt that Chen Lue was flattering him and could not help shaking his head helplessly. He did not see that when Chen Lue turned around, the gaze that fell on him was rarely warm.

[Congratulations. You have obtained a large amount of admiration from Demonic Cult disciples. Five out of five.]

Suddenly, a reminder from the System made Qin Ming freeze in place.

His mission had somehow been completed without him noticing?!

Wait. What had he done? Who had just admired him?

[Now drawing a random red-quality martial arts skill—]

[Red martial arts supreme skill Drunken Immortal Steps has been drawn successfully!]

Before Qin Ming could think it through, a martial arts manual for Drunken Immortal Steps had appeared in his hand. The highest-quality red made him feel a burst of great joy. But when he lowered his head and prepared to properly see what kind of martial arts manual it was, only then did he discover… it turned out to be lightness skill!

Drunken Immortal Steps was said to be a cultivation method taught by an immortal in a dream. The body became light and graceful like a swimming dragon, while the steps were disorderly and without pattern, making it difficult for enemies to break through.

However, a red-quality martial arts manual was naturally very difficult to study. After Qin Ming read through it once, he still felt he could not grasp the essentials.

“When I completely learn it… I won’t embarrass myself the next time I go out with Shen Fubai, right?” Qin Ming thought secretly, growing even more determined to refine his cultivation.

When he finally had nothing to do and began studying the martial arts manual in the study, he suddenly shot to his feet with a jolt and frowned. “Wait… speaking of which, how did that old bastard Danyangzi know that my Demonic Cult has a spy? Could it be that the spy is from their sect?”

At the same time, a certain two Qingyue Sect disciples, who were scratching their heads while researching movable type printing, also suddenly discovered a problem that even Qin Ming had not figured out.

“If we carve characters into wood, the print easily carries the grain of the wood, and it isn’t clear.”

“Even that would be fine, but when the wood absorbs ink, it deforms. It’s also not easy to preserve for long.”

“Just carving characters into wood is already very troublesome. I keep feeling like wood as a material won’t work.”

But no matter how they wracked their brains, they could not think of how to improve it. They could not help looking at each other in melancholy.

“Relying only on us doesn’t seem good enough.”

“Then… how about we trick… ahem, call over our senior brothers and senior sisters to help? What do you think?”

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