This Really Was a Demonic Sect!

???

What was she talking about?

Lin Qingfeng wore the baffled expression of an old man staring at a phone on the subway.

What had happened?

What had I just done?

Wasn't it just that I saw you standing there like a wooden post, so I reached out and gave you a pat?

And you're the one reacting like this?

I was about to ask what the hell was wrong with you!

Meanwhile, Su Ling'er's heart was already in turmoil.

This devil's movement technique was utterly bizarre!

She had not noticed at all when he had gotten so close!

That touch just now was definitely no simple contact. It had to be some vicious evil technique she could not see through!

Had he planted some sort of mark on her, or placed some cruel restriction upon her?

Thinking that she had only just entered the Demonic Sect's gates and was already about to suffer some unspeakable treatment, Su Ling'er was overcome with grief and indignation. Her nose stung, and her eyes immediately reddened.

I came this far to uphold the Righteous Path, bearing my sect's heavy trust. Must I suffer such humiliation for it?!

Looking at the red-clad girl opposite him, whose eyes were gradually growing damp, Lin Qingfeng felt his head swelling.

Calm down. I have to stay calm!

This is a quest!

Recruiting people into the sect was a mission issued by the sect!

For contribution points, for the sect's upgrade, for a ticket to the Demon Suppressing Ceremony, and even more so to venture into the outside world...

I have to endure!

He took a deep breath and forcibly pulled his lips into another curve, though the smile looked terribly stiff no matter how one looked at it.

"Junior Sister, don't misunderstand.

"I called out to you several times just now, but you didn't respond. I thought you were feeling unwell, so I reached out and patted you."

Su Ling'er stared at him with utter disbelief in her eyes.

What nonsense!

He was clearly making excuses!

What did he mean, I didn't react?

Clearly, he used an evil technique to dull my senses before secretly approaching me!

Terrifying...

Absolutely terrifying!

This sect reeks of evil from the inside out!

She subconsciously took another step back, widening the distance between herself and Lin Qingfeng.

Seeing her move as though she could not get away from him fast enough, Lin Qingfeng gnashed his teeth inwardly.

Are you fucking sick? I'll endure!

Seeing his "gentle" expression, Su Ling'er repeatedly admonished herself in her heart as well.

He is an Evil Cultivator!

I'm an undercover agent!

I have to endure!

Separated by several steps, the two stared into each other's eyes. Their hearts had already battled countless rounds, while the air fell utterly silent.

Lin Qingfeng had cursed this NPC's designer tens of thousands of times in his heart already.

Is this program frozen again?

Why are you just staring at me without moving?

Isn't this just a tutorial quest?

Why is it taking so long to load?!

Forget it!

For contribution points, for the sect's future, and as the Senior Disciple Brother, he decided to take the initiative and break the deadlock!

He cleared his throat, suppressed all his displeasure, and put on a gentle smile once more.

"The Sect Master asked me to take you to Elder Qian at the Affairs Hall to handle your entry procedures.

"Come with me. From today onward, I am your Senior Disciple Brother. My name is Lin Qingfeng."

Hearing this, Su Ling'er nodded subconsciously.

As she looked at Lin Qingfeng's retreating back, it gradually overlapped with the Abyssal Demon King she had imagined from storybooks, making her body tremble instinctively.

But she kept warning herself.

I can't retreat!

Not yet!

For the Sect Master's promise!

For the opportunity of Bone Cleansing Marrow Washing!

For the great path of Foundation Establishment!

And even more so, to Act on behalf of Heaven!

I, Su Ling'er, will fight you Demon Den to the bitter end!

Lin Qingfeng walked in front, with Su Ling'er following behind.

She lowered her head and carefully controlled her steps, always maintaining what she believed was a safe distance.

Her mind spun rapidly.

No, I can't remain so passive!

I came to infiltrate them and gather intelligence. I must take the initiative and pry information from him!

This "Senior Disciple Brother" before me may be strange, but judging from his behavior, he does not seem too guarded against me. This may be an opportunity!

Su Ling'er secretly encouraged herself. Then she raised her head, trying to make her voice sound like that of a girl who had just entered an Immortal Sect, full of innocence and curiosity.

"Senior... Senior Disciple Brother..."

The moment she said it, goosebumps rose all over her body.

Addressing an Evil Cultivator devil like that truly felt awful.

Lin Qingfeng stopped and turned around.

"Hmm? Is something the matter, Junior Sister?"

"Well... um..."

Su Ling'er extended a finger, first pointing toward the sect gates, then at the lush Spiritual Grass beneath their feet.

"Why is there such a huge difference between inside and outside the sect gates?"

"Oh, you're asking about that."

The moment he heard the question, Lin Qingfeng immediately relaxed.

Finally, a normal question. This NPC isn't frozen anymore.

He had truly been afraid she would ask some difficult question like "What is the Dao?" Then he would have had to make something up on the spot.

"Junior Sister, you may not know this, but though the land beyond the sect gates belongs to heaven and earth, it is not our sect's domain."

"Simply put, the sect's BUFF—automatically translated for NPCs as blessings—does not cover that area."

"Furthermore, heavenly treasures belong to the virtuous.

"If we left them outside the sect's boundaries and attracted others to covet and gather them, would that not be giving our sect's good fortune to outsiders for nothing?

"Therefore, naturally, we must move all of them within the sect's territory."

"That way, all yields are for our own use, and they can receive the additional bonuses of the sect's BUFF—blessings.

"Unfortunately, our sect's level—rank—is still too low. Otherwise, I would truly like to enclose all of Luohe Peak within our territory.

"At that time, how could we allow even the slightest opportunity to fall into others' hands?"

"You must understand: only when not a single drop is wasted can rivers and seas be formed; only when good fortune belongs to oneself can a sect be established."

"Junior Sister, you still have much to learn!"

Having put to practical use half a sentence he had learned from the forums, Lin Qingfeng looked at Su Ling'er with a self-satisfied expression.

Su Ling'er was thoroughly confused.

Blessings?

Ranks?

An Evil Cultivator sect cares about such things?

But as she followed the thread of his words, the terrifying meanings behind those terms emerged on their own!

When he said "the blessings' coverage," he meant the range affected by their evil arts!

When he said "giving it to outsiders," he meant its discovery and removal by Righteous Path cultivators!

Thus, they used evil techniques to plunder every living spiritual object from the outside world and raise them all within this place!

That way, all benefits would belong to them, while they could also receive the "extra nourishment" of their evil arts!

His regret that their "rank was too low" meant that he wished their evil arts were even stronger, so they could suck the entire mountain dry into a land of death!

And that final sentence...

Every bit of benefit, not even the smallest drop, could be allowed to benefit outsiders. Everything had to be seized in their own hands. That was the foundation of their sect...

Th-This... wasn't that a demonic declaration that treated plunder and robbery as perfectly natural?!

This truly was a demonic Evil Sect!

A Tiger Wolf's Lair with tyranny and greed carved into its bones!

And she, a pitiful, weak, and helpless disciple of the Righteous Path, was going to join this sect today!