Chapter 46: Day Forty-Six of Becoming Cult Leader (Part 3)

As it happened, he was also someone who cared about face. Therefore, no matter how he thought about it, he could not slink back to the Demonic Cult in defeat, so he gave up on the idea.

The next day, the disciples of the Little Hong Sect came bustling over to serve tea and water. The former Zhang Daniu might have mistakenly thought they were being enthusiastic, but now, he snorted coldly and walked straight toward the gate with his staff in hand.

The disciples of the Little Hong Sect mistakenly thought he was about to leave and turned pale with fright. They hurriedly tried to stop him. “Hey! Senior Brother Daniu, why are you in such a hurry to leave? Come back quickly. How about I have the senior and junior brothers perform a sword dance for you? Don’t rush off!”

Zhang Daniu glared and sneered. “Hmph, don’t rush off? Should I wait for the Huazhen Sect’s people to come and take me away?”

The disciples of the Little Hong Sect were immediately shocked. They did not know how he had found out. Everyone exchanged grave looks with one another. At this critical juncture, even if they had to risk their lives, they could not let Zhang Daniu leave!

However, just as everyone wanted to stop Zhang Daniu no matter what and was preparing to act, Zhang Daniu suddenly stood right at the sect gate and stopped moving. “I’ll wait here for the Huazhen Sect’s people to come. I want to see exactly how they plan to deal with me!”

“...” This time, the disciples of the Little Hong Sect were dumbfounded and could not help looking at one another.

Hey, this was the first time they had ever seen someone so stupid that, instead of fleeing in the face of danger, he sat here and waited.

“You really aren’t running?” After confirming again and again that Zhang Daniu truly was this stupid, the disciples of the Little Hong Sect instantly bloomed with joy. Good, good, good. As long as he did not run, anything was fine!

“What are you standing around for? Hurry up and find me a chair!” Even though Zhang Daniu was calling for them to do things in an irritated tone, they still scurried off to do it without a single complaint.

Thus, on this day, Zhang Daniu rarely enjoyed a round of five-star VIP service. If he wanted fruits, there were fruits. If he wanted meat, there was meat. If he wanted someone to fan him, someone would fan him. The moment the disciples of the Little Hong Sect were unwilling, Zhang Daniu immediately stood up and loudly shouted that he would stop waiting. The disciples of the Little Hong Sect instantly gave in. “Don’t, don’t, don’t! We’ll go right now!”

Zhang Daniu was delighted, but the disciples of the Little Hong Sect stared eagerly toward the outside of the mountain gate in confusion. “Why hasn’t the Huazhen Sect arrived yet?”

“They said they would arrive at dawn, but it’s already after noon now. Was something delayed?”

The disciples of the Little Hong Sect scratched their ears and cheeks, burning with anxiety. They did not know when they would finally be able to send away Zhang Daniu, this hot potato. Only when the sun’s afterglow spilled across the ground did they at last see two young men walking shoulder to shoulder in this direction.

One of them wore white robes and had a sword at his waist. He was extraordinarily handsome, with an otherworldly bearing. The other wore darker-colored clothing and had a mild expression. Judging from his appearance, he was rather refined, and his bearing was cultured. He was also someone not easily forgotten after being seen.

The disciples of the Little Hong Sect immediately let out sighs of relief, walked toward the young man in white with the sword, and respectfully saluted. “You two have finally arrived. Are you disciples of the Huazhen Sect?”

The young man in white seemed to show displeasure and was just about to speak when the refined man beside him took the lead and nodded. “That’s right. The two of us are here to receive Zhang Daniu. Has everything gone smoothly?”

“Smoothly, very smoothly!” The Little Hong Sect disciple hurriedly led them to the mountain gate and brought them face to face with Zhang Daniu.

At once, Zhang Daniu, who had originally been so furious he was ready for a great fight, was just about to pick up his staff when he saw the appearances of these two people and instantly widened his eyes, revealing a shocked expression.

The Little Hong Sect was just finding it strange when the refined man curled his lips slightly and suddenly praised them. “Not bad. He is indeed the person we were looking for. Many thanks to everyone for helping us find him.”

Receiving praise from the Huazhen Sect, the Little Hong Sect immediately forgot everything. In their great joy, they still did not forget to say again and again that they did not dare claim credit, their mood exceedingly pleasant.

Only Zhang Daniu stammered, “You… what are you doing?”

The young man in white had been frowning from beginning to end, and even when facing Zhang Daniu, he showed no pleasant expression. “Here to pick you up.”

As for the refined man, he waved to the Little Hong Sect. “Please stand a little farther away. If a conflict arises, we would not want to injure you.”

“All right, all right, all right.” The disciples of the Little Hong Sect smoothly retreated to a distance, still sighing inwardly that the disciples sent by the Huazhen Sect were actually so unusually gentle and considerate. Didn’t everyone say the Huazhen Sect had always been very arrogant? So there were exceptions too.

And with no one to disturb them, the three Demonic Cult undercover agents could finally speak properly.

“How come it’s you two!” Zhang Daniu’s face was full of intense delight, and he wanted to charge over and give them each a fierce hug.

But Shen Fubai stopped him irritably. “You still have the nerve to speak. Who left the Demonic Cult without a word and ran back to his former sect? If your undercover identity was discovered, you would implicate all of us!”

Zhang Daniu’s face turned a little red, and he scratched his head in embarrassment. “Well, wasn’t I just impulsive for a moment…”

“Fortunately, the intercepted letter the Cult Leader saw only recorded that you had been captured by the Little Hong Sect, and there weren’t too many flaws.” Chen Lue’s tone was also somewhat stern as he warned, “You are not allowed to cause trouble like this again next time.”

“Hurry and tell me why you’re here! What about the Huazhen Sect!” Zhang Daniu had long been unable to wait to hear the truth and urged them repeatedly.

Under his expectant gaze, Shen Fubai coughed lightly, straightened his back, and said in a clear voice, “Here is what happened…”

…

“Save him. Zhang Daniu did not do anything wrong. I absolutely cannot stand by and ignore him!”

After thinking for only a moment, Qin Ming’s gaze became firm, and he gave his answer.

He had previously saved so many people, so many commoners. Now, when his own subordinate was facing danger, he was not going to save him? Where in the world was there such logic? What was more, if the Demonic Cult disciples heard about his choice, they would definitely feel bitterly disappointed!

No matter what angle he considered it from, Qin Ming had only one answer, and that was to save him.

“However… there is no need to save him openly and honorably.” Qin Ming stroked his chin and began to think. The last time he had exposed Danyangzi’s conspiracy, he had realized that the orthodox martial arts sects looked down on using underhanded tricks. Sneak attacks and stabbing people in the back were all things the Demonic Cult did.

And they… were they not the Demonic Cult?

Qin Ming’s eyes brightened. At present, the Huazhen Sect still did not know Zhang Daniu was one of the Demonic Cult’s people. Then why should they openly reveal their identities to save him and cause a conflict? They could completely launch a secret ambush in the dark, then take Zhang Daniu and run!

After thinking through the answer, Qin Ming immediately summoned all the disciples of the Demonic Cult. The council hall, which had not been used for a long time, was filled with people, while Qin Ming stood at the highest point before everyone, looking down at them from above. “I want to ask you all. Is Zhang Daniu one of our cult’s people?”

The Demonic Cult disciples answered one after another. “Yes!”

Qin Ming asked again, “Can the disciples of our cult tolerate being bullied by outsiders?”

The Demonic Cult disciples said, “No!”

Qin Ming said, “Good! Now, our cult’s disciple Zhang Daniu has been seized by the Little Hong Sect and is in a life-or-death crisis. Then I want to ask: faced with such a situation, will you all stand by and do nothing?”

The Demonic Cult disciples were united as one, and their answer was deafening. “Never!”

“No matter what Zhang Daniu has done, he is one of our cult’s people. He belongs to our cult to handle. What does that have to do with their Little Hong Sect or Huazhen Sect?”

“Exactly! If they dare bully our cult’s disciple, we’ll let them taste our strength!”

“We will never indulge it! We will never tolerate it! Screw them!!”

Amid those shouts, Qin Ming revealed a satisfied expression and could not help praising them. “Good. As expected of our cult’s disciples. Since the matter brooks no delay, we will set out at once and rescue Zhang Daniu!”

Thus, Qin Ming brought a group of Demonic Cult disciples and arrived ahead of time near the Little Hong Sect, making preparations to ambush the Huazhen Sect. And in order to avoid exposing Zhang Daniu’s undercover identity, Shen Fubai and Chen Lue also requested to go with them and personally went to receive Zhang Daniu.

“Fang Zheng will use poison to permeate the entire forest.”

“Elder Huo will use hidden weapons to obstruct the Huazhen Sect’s steps.”

“Zhou Ji will lead everyone to block each exit and ensure the Huazhen Sect cannot reach the Little Hong Sect.”

Chen Lue briefly described the entire plan. Only then did he look toward the dumbstruck Zhang Daniu. “Now we are only missing you. As long as you leave the Little Hong Sect, the Cult Leader’s plan will succeed.”

“...Wait!” Zhang Daniu took a long time to recover before shivering all over, his entire body filled with excitement. “The Cult Leader came too? Is he here?”

He looked around wildly, wanting to search for him, but Shen Fubai rolled his eyes at him. “No. The Cult Leader is currently supervising the Huazhen Sect’s side. He only sent the two of us to receive you.”

Zhang Daniu instantly revealed a disappointed expression, and his spirits drooped as well. Shen Fubai, however, grew somewhat anxious and urged him, “All right, let’s hurry and go. Don’t make the Cult Leader wait anxiously.”

“...” But Zhang Daniu suddenly became contrary and kept shaking his head. “I’m not going.”

“I already left the Demonic Cult. What face do I have to go back!”

Neither Shen Fubai nor Chen Lue had expected that he could still act contrary at a time like this, and they were somewhat speechless. “The Cult Leader has not blamed you at all and even sent people to save you. What is there to worry about!”

But Zhang Daniu completely refused to listen and simply would not go back. He even plugged his ears so he would not hear their nagging. “I just don’t want to go back. You two leave!”

He was not afraid the Cult Leader would blame him, nor was he simply being contrary. It was just that there was a thorn lodged in his heart, one he could never pull out.

The stricter and more reproachful Shen Fubai’s tone became, the more severe Zhang Daniu’s rebellious feelings grew. He could not help widening his eyes and throwing a tantrum. “I’m not going back! I just won’t go back! No matter what you say, I won’t go back, hmph!”

Shen Fubai took a deep breath and nearly wanted to beat Zhang Daniu soundly before dragging him away. This person had caused the Cult Leader so much trouble, yet even now he still did not know to repent.

Chen Lue, however, suddenly raised his eyelids and looked behind Zhang Daniu, saying calmly, “Ah, Cult Leader.”

“The Cult Leader didn’t even come. You can’t trick me.” Zhang Daniu scoffed at these words and paid them absolutely no mind.

“Ahem.”

Only when a light cough truly came from behind him did his body abruptly stiffen. As if he had turned to stone, he rigidly turned his head. “C-Cult Leader?!”

Qin Ming stood silently behind him, gazing at him calmly. Yet that gaze alone gave Zhang Daniu multiplied pressure, and he lowered his head timidly to look at the tips of his own feet, unable to say a single word.

At this moment, however, a hand gently landed on his shoulder and patted it.

“Let’s go.”

The Cult Leader’s calm voice came from above.

“We’re going home.”

Qin Ming took the initiative to walk forward. Chen Lue and Shen Fubai immediately followed behind him. Zhang Daniu raised his head. The sunset’s afterglow nearly stung his eyes, making hot tears fall, but his feet naturally followed after them, all because of that warm word—

Home.

For a moment, he could not help stopping. He turned back again to look at the Little Hong Sect that still held a trace of warmth in his memories.

But in the end, he still resolutely stepped forward and followed behind the Cult Leader.

He thought that Master had indeed been right.

The jianghu was so vast, and he really had found the place where he belonged.

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