Chapter 152
Chapter 152
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 152
Chapter Title: Ask the Cult Leader (3)
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Ultimately, the Demonic Cult's dilemma came down to this.
Charge headlong toward "Make the Ming Cult Great Again" because the unorthodox sects were so damn strong.
Or, since it was obvious they'd just get chased out again later anyway, stay quiet and watch from the sidelines until some other option came up.
'Normally, I'd push for the latter...'
I wasn't here because I liked the Demonic Cult, of course. I'd ended up here after being driven out of the Central Plains.
Naturally, there had to be some resentment built up. They'd struck the righteous factions, but they'd taken hits too.
"Young hero, speak your mind. Which side do you think is right?"
The Eighth Elder's prodding annoyed me, but with the Cult Leader smiling expectantly, I had no choice but to answer.
"First off, I assume everyone here agrees that the Cult's ultimate goal is to seize the Central Plains. Correct?"
"Indeed."
"The disagreement is just about whether there's a way to hold onto it long-term."
"Young hero, our sect's forces are overwhelming. With the Blood Demon hero joining us, even more so. If we smash the righteous factions until not even dust remains, there won't be any power left to rebel..."
"Exactly, young hero."
The First Elder cut in, affirming the Eighth Elder's words.
"But isn't there precedent for getting counterattacked even after grinding the righteous factions to dust, as the Eighth Elder said?"
"...Plenty. That's why we're agonizing over it."
Naturally, the First Elder had shoved the Eighth aside and started questioning me directly.
"Then do we really have to fight our way into the Central Plains? I know some unorthodox sects have bases there already."
Actually, aside from the Demonic Cult and the Poison Sect, famous unorthodox groups like the Sword Forest or Pleasure Palace—even the Underground Network— all had their bases within the Central Plains.
"Like the other sects, if we quietly buy some land, build a base there, and settle in..."
"Nonsense! We have blood debts to collect from them—how could we do such a thing?!"
"Even if we behaved ourselves, the righteous martial world wouldn't accept us peacefully. If we enter the Central Plains, conflict is inevitable."
The blood debt stuff wasn't something I could fix. But the First Elder had a point.
The Demonic Cult trying to live quietly? No way they'd be accepted.
"Then let's assume we're going with striking the enemy. What drives them to rise again even after we've ground their sects to dust?"
"...What do you mean?"
"If a sect's been pulverized, they'd at best grab some core experts, manuals, or spirit herbs. Money? Maybe some promissory notes at most. Their businesses would be totally unmanaged—how the hell do they revive?"
As I spoke, things started clicking into place. The reason Demonic Cult rule never lasted was...
"The common folk support the righteous factions. We know that much. We've sworn never to harm them, yet the same thing happens anyway."
The First Elder answered smoothly, like he'd thought this through.
"If we can't solve that, we'll get chased out again no matter how many times we conquer the Central Plains..."
The First Elder glared at the other elders. The problem was those insisting on just smashing everything regardless. And there were a lot of them.
"Wouldn't it be enough to just break the righteous factions first? If we guarantee the same protection they offer, we can win the people's hearts. Hell, our power's greater, so they might even prefer us."
The Second Elder chimed in, and my contrarian side flared up.
"Would the common folk really believe that?"
"What?"
"Unless you use the Demonic Suppression Great Law to drastically reduce your demonic qi, even ordinary people with dull senses feel some unease. You think they'll buy it from someone reeking of that aura?"
It was plain common sense—people judge by appearances. Who'd easily trust words from someone whose demonic qi stirred discomfort?
"If they don't believe us? Should we rip open our chests and show our hearts?"
"You need to find a way to make them believe. Isn't that your job?"
The Second Elder was twisting things into an argument, but I wasn't nitpicking. It was all based on facts.
His twisted expression was a sight to behold.
"You dare... how...!"
"Enough. We asked Young Hero Kang for his opinion."
At the Cult Leader's words, the Eighth Elder—who'd dragged me into this—flinched. He might catch hell from the Second Elder later, but that was his problem.
The Cult Leader fixed his gaze on me.
"Alright, you've thought that far. Tell us, then—what must our sect do to stably root itself in the Central Plains?"
"..."
"No need to feel burdened. I'm just curious about your thoughts. One word from you won't dictate our policy."
His beaming smile was infuriating. Part of me wanted to blurt out that it was fine to reveal to the entire jianghu that I was the Lustful Fiend.
But I couldn't. There were still too many untouched righteous milfs out there!
"...I'm not entirely sure, but in personal relationships, there are two types of people you want by your side. First are those you feel drawn to. Second are those who are useful."
"...Elaborate."
"The first type, you probably get without explanation. Good people. Pretty people. People with nice voices. That sort."
The elders who'd been whispering among themselves fell silent. Everyone in the hall focused on me.
"The second are the useful ones—people you don't particularly like but are better off having around. A subordinate whose voice grates but gets the job done. A jerk friend who buys drinks often. A bland relative who hooks you up with jobs."
"Plausible."
"In my view, your cult barely meets the second criterion, while the righteous factions fulfill both. That's the difference."
I'd danced around it, but it boiled down to 'people just hate your guts.'
Some realized it, their faces flushing with anger, but the Cult Leader's gesture kept them silent.
"Even if both carry swords, one is a sinister Demonic Cultist leaking ominous qi, the other a fresh Huashan warrior in plum-blossom robes. From a commoner's perspective, who seems more trustworthy?"
"...The Huashan warrior."
"So you're saying it's hopeless no matter what? That our cult should never enter the Central Plains?"
The First Elder interjected. His expression toward me soured after I shoved harsh reality in his face.
"No."
"By your own explanation, without constantly using the Demonic Suppression Great Law, commoners will always see the righteous as equal or better. Yet you say no?"
"Ah, even with it, the righteous are better. Commoners have ears too. You've heard the rumors calling your cult evil demons."
"Th-this...!"
The First Elder's face was on the verge of exploding.
I'd planned to pause for effect before dropping the bomb, but any longer and things might really go south.
I took a deep breath and spoke.
"That's why you need to become people they can't do without."
That was my conclusion.
The Ming Cult Leader, the Divine Demon Young Ho-sang, looked down at the youth casually calling his cult 'evil demons' with amused eyes.
It had been decades since someone dared be so brazen before him. Sure, he might be relying on his master's backing...
The Cult Leader glanced at the Blood Demon and sent a transmission.
[You raised a fine disciple this time?]
[Shut up.]
He knew the man hated meddling in such matters, yet here he was, watching with a surprisingly warm expression.
He'd never imagined the Blood Demon could raise a disciple so properly. The only flaw was teaching him that vulgar lower-body teasing habit.
When he'd learned the audacity of dragging someone else's wife into bed right in his Cult Leader's hall, he'd been dumbfounded. But seeing it play out like this, things were getting interesting.
"People they can't do without? What do you mean?"
"Say there's only one well in a village, and no way to fetch water from elsewhere. But that well has an owner."
"...That owner would control the village. So you're saying we should seize their water sources first..."
"No, no, that's not it."
Do that, and millions in the imperial army would rise to wipe out the Ming Cult.
Government and jianghu might be off-limits to each other, but they wouldn't ignore that kind of tyranny.
"Just an example. Anyway, wouldn't people try to get along with that well's owner?"
"They would. So you're saying our cult needs to claim a position like that well's owner?"
"Exactly."
People they can't do without. An intriguing expression.
Compared to the elders just yelling about collecting blood debts, it was far more constructive.
"But how? The Central Plains has far more abundant resources."
The Second Elder asked sharply. There was probably some ulterior motive, but the question itself was valid.
"Not everything's decided by resources alone. Take nations—they protect the people and provide relief in famines in exchange for taxes. Do it well, and they get praise."
"..."
"Create something of value only your cult can provide—something that makes people think they can't live without you. Then enter the Central Plains."
It was a plausible idea. The Cult Leader nodded as he listened to the youth's explanation.
"Stay together long enough, and commoners will realize Ming Cultists aren't so different. That fulfills the first condition—'people you're drawn to.'"
Even if clashes with the righteous factions happened then, they could fight without such burden.
"Wh-what is it? How do we do that?"
The First Elder asked in a choked voice. Seeing the usually composed man react like an opium addict was quite the spectacle.
"That's..."
"That's?"
As everyone craned their necks toward the youth in the center, he spoke.
"We need to figure that out from now on."