Disposition

Xie Jin shouted in a long voice, "The bandit chief Peng Chun has been slain! Why have you not surrendered?" His men shouted along with him and killed several more stubbornly resisting bandits. The remaining bandits were so terrified that their livers and gallbladders seemed to split, and they all dropped to their knees in surrender.

The situation was still chaotic. Especially the wandering souls whose ranks had been thrown into disorder earlier: some had taken the chance to flee, some had been cut down, and others had been trampled to death. Yet many still remained, weeping and screaming in wild confusion. There might even be bandits hiding among them.

Xie Jin knew that only a swift blade could cut through this tangled mess now, or the losses would only grow. He bellowed, "I will count to three. If you still want to live, kneel and await orders! After three counts, anyone still standing will be killed without exception!"

After he counted to three, very few had knelt. Xie Jin lunged forward with a savage grin and ordered his men to hack and slaughter. These were far easier to deal with than the bandits from before. Wherever the soldiers went, some wandering souls regained their senses and knelt; those still standing were cut down outright. Gradually, the camp was pacified. The sounds that had begun as a tumult slowly died away into silence. Whenever an occasional cry rang out, soldiers would step forward, swing their blades, and scatter gray mist in every direction.

The surroundings gradually sank into an eerie stillness.

Ever since earlier, Fang Ming had paid no attention to the camp. His mind had been wholly drawn to the changes in the Fortune above his head. At first, as his subordinates drove off the wandering souls, he noticed wisps of black aura arising around the outer edges of his Fortune, even trying to mingle with it. At that moment, the Golden Seal flickered with ripples and kept the black aura outside. Yet the black aura was exceedingly stubborn, winding about the perimeter and probing without cease.

Then the golden light of merit surrounding his Fortune began to flicker, purifying the black aura as the two consumed one another. The golden merit light had been depleted during the last alteration of his Fate Pattern and gradually failed, vanishing in the end. The black aura, too, had been mostly purified and no longer possessed its former ferocity.

By then, Fang Ming's men had killed Ferocious Ghosts, and another stream of golden merit light was immediately generated. As their gains in battle increased, the golden merit light grew at astonishing speed, wiping out all the black aura. The remaining golden merit light still wrapped around his Fortune, forming a thin layer. When Peng Chun met his end, the golden merit light swelled again and thickened considerably.

Fang Ming compared things carefully. Compared to before, this campaign against the bandits had instead earned him quite a bit of merit. Understanding dawned on him. Killing wandering souls without cause produced black aura—this was Calamity Aura, prone to breeding misfortune. Although he had abundant Fortune protecting his body and could resist it for the moment, the black aura would gradually accumulate. When black clouds pressed overhead and the black aura overwhelmed his Fortune, a great calamity would surely descend.

Destroying Ferocious Ghosts, however, brought down Human Dao Merit. This merit could dispel calamities and avert disasters, offsetting Calamity Aura. Ferocious Ghosts mostly survived by killing others, their bodies wreathed in black aura. Killing them could save many people and earn great merit. Peng Chun was even a Vengeful Ghost, preparing to ravage an entire region, which was why the Human Dao had bestowed merit. Looking around now, Fang Ming saw that Xie Jin had already pacified the camp. He suddenly felt that he should have brought along a military clerk to record merits and inspect the spoils. He could only have Wang Liulang fill the role for now. Fortunately, Wang Liulang knew a little reading and writing and could handle the task.

Only after sorting through the results of battle did they learn that their gains had been considerable, though their losses were not small either.

The bandit chief Peng Chun had been killed. Most of his trusted followers had met the same fate. A few remained, hidden among the crowd, but the black aura hanging over their heads gave them away. Fang Ming picked them out and ordered Xie Jin to drag them off for interrogation.

More than thirty bandits remained. All had surrendered, and Fang Ming decided to detain them for the time being before deciding based on their Fortune.

There were still five or six hundred wandering souls left. Most bore no black aura, but Fang Ming had no desire to keep them. More importantly, he simply could not afford to. Even if he threw them all into the Divine Domain, they would consume several hundred points of Divine Power a day, while he only received a little over a hundred each day. After doing the rough calculation, Fang Ming abandoned any thought of taking them in. After all, ghosts could not produce Incense and Fire Prayer Power. He could only select a few talented individuals and leave the rest to fend for themselves.

Among the Yin Soldiers, eight had died, nearly half of them slain by Peng Chun. Everyone else was wounded. It had to be said that having armor and blades, or lacking them, made an enormous difference in battle.

After a while, Xie Jin returned. Once he had saluted, he said, "My lord, this subordinate has completed the interrogation. Peng Chun indeed acted on Li Black Leopard's orders. He came here to create chaos, draw attention away, and reduce the pressure on Linjiang Prefecture. According to the captives, Li Black Leopard has made arrangements in every prefecture neighboring Linjiang Prefecture."

At this point, he hesitated before continuing, "There is another piece of news, though this subordinate does not know whether it is true." His expression was grave, even somewhat pale.

Fang Ming was startled and asked, "What news?"

"One captive confessed that Peng Chun had once inadvertently let something slip. Li Black Leopard is not the only one acting in this operation. It seems Ghost Kings from other provinces also wish to take a share of the spoils. They have already formed an alliance with Li Black Leopard and agreed to advance and retreat together. But Peng Chun refused to speak of it again afterward, so this subordinate does not know whether it is true."

"Hiss!" Fang Ming sucked in a cold breath. This news utterly extinguished the faint pride that had just risen in his heart, and his face darkened.

He paced back and forth a few times, then let out a long sigh. "Whether it is true or false, this concerns an entire province. We are merely a small county, so there is no need to worry too much."

Xie Jin thought the same and asked, "How should we deal with those captive confidants?"

"Kill them all!"

"Yes!" The sound of blades swinging followed.

The news he had just received had put Fang Ming in a foul mood.

Still, the Fortune of his subordinates had all improved. Most of their black aura had disappeared, and each possessed a trace of golden light. Fang Ming had been the overall commander in this bandit suppression campaign and thus took the lion's share. His subordinates had carried out the work and also received some merit, washing away their black aura.

He then came before the ordinary Ferocious Ghosts. To them, this battle had been utterly baffling. They did not even know who their opponents were. Now that they saw the other side's leader approaching, they began to tremble all over, too frightened to move.

Fang Ming looked them over. Most had dense black aura, while their natal aura was all white. There was nothing more to say. He flipped the Golden Seal in his hand, and white light flashed. Before those thirty-odd people could even beg for mercy, they turned into black smoke amid the white light, adding a few more strands of merit to Fang Ming.

That display not only stunned his subordinates, but also frightened the ordinary wandering souls in the distance. Fang Ming snorted coldly. Red and white aura surged forth, and a heavy pressure appeared, suppressing the gathered souls lest the wandering souls throw the camp into chaos again.

When he came before the ordinary wandering souls, he saw that they included the old and young, men and women alike. But upon seeing Fang Ming approach, their faces immediately went pale. They kowtowed one after another, crying, "Spare us, my lord!" "Show mercy, my lord!" Their pleas rang out without end.

Fang Ming waved a hand and said gently, "Do not worry. We will not casually destroy yin souls. Those just now were Ferocious Ghosts who harmed others. We had no choice."

Though the wandering souls did not know whether his words were true, they were still willing to believe him and gradually quieted down.

Fang Ming looked over the wandering souls, especially at the Fortune above their heads, and truly found some gains. One middle-aged man possessed natal aura that was actually golden-yellow, a full level higher than even Xie Jin's. Fang Ming was delighted. Another person possessed pure red natal aura, also the talent of a county.

A smile appeared on his face as he said, "I am short of manpower, especially clerks. Are any of you willing to work for me? Those willing may step forward yourselves."

The ghosts looked at one another. Fang Ming's ruthless methods had just cowed them, and for a moment the atmosphere fell awkwardly silent.

Fang Ming paid it no mind and simply continued waiting.

After a long while, a burly man finally stepped forward. "I am Wu Ming. I have long had a grudge against Zhang Tie. Since you killed Zhang Tie and avenged my great hatred, what is the harm in my following your orders from now on?" Fang Ming did not know who Zhang Tie was, but he was likely one of the Ferocious Ghosts. Thus, he said, "Mm. I shall take you in as a subordinate."

Seeing that the burly man had been accepted, several more people stepped forward. They were likely acquaintances of his: four or five sturdy men, each broad-boned and powerfully built. They had actually mixed in among the wandering souls, presumably intending to take an opportunity to avenge themselves. Unfortunately, neither of the two people Fang Ming had his eye on was among them; both were dressed as scholars. Fang Ming accepted them one by one.

Fang Ming then ordered Xie Jin to bring over the informant from this operation. Xie Jin went down, and before long, he brought someone back.

This man had thick brows and large eyes. The moment he saw Fang Ming, he performed a deep bow and said, "This commoner Liu Qi greets you, my lord!"

Fang Ming nodded. "You have rendered merit in this matter. I appoint you a squad leader, in command of one squad." He waved a hand and had Liu Qi withdraw. This was baiting him with profit.

He then asked, "Anyone else?" His gaze could not help sweeping over those two men. The middle-aged man seemed to notice his gaze and lowered his head, making Fang Ming's heart sink.

At that moment, a young scholar stepped forward. Fang Ming rejoiced inwardly. This was the man with pure red natal aura. The young scholar saluted and said, "This student Guo Sheng can work for you, my lord, but I still have an elderly mother who requires support..."

"Oh!" Fang Ming was startled. It seemed this man's household had suffered some great misfortune. He said, "That is easily handled. Bring your mother along as well. I will provide for her too!"

"Greetings, my lord!" Joy appeared on Guo Sheng's face as he knelt and bowed.

Seeing that Guo Sheng had also been taken in, several more people came forward. Some likewise had elders or relatives they needed to support. Fang Ming accepted everyone who came and took in over twenty more people. By then, more wandering souls were beginning to waver, but Fang Ming no longer wished to accept any. This had already reached the limit in his heart. He waved a hand. "Mm, there are enough hands now. You may go on your way!"

Had Fang Ming not saved these wandering souls, they would have been sent to attack villages, and more than half would likely have died or been injured. Yet that had not happened. Instead, Fang Ming had driven them into attacking his enemies, and nearly half had died. He wished to make some compensation, so he recruited a few to make up for it. But he could not reveal that he could sustain souls with Divine Power, and so he let them choose for themselves. At this point, it was up to each person's luck. Those who stepped forward could endure for a long time; the rest would gradually dissipate within a few days.

Yet someone with golden-yellow natal aura was exceedingly rare, so he still had to try.

Fang Ming walked up to the middle-aged man, cupped his hands, and bowed. "Sir possesses extraordinary bearing. I greatly admire you. Would you be willing to travel with me, so that I might seek your guidance from time to time?"

The middle-aged man smiled bitterly. "He is untalented and fears that his learning is too shallow to be worthy of your request for instruction, my lord."

"Ha ha, not at all. The moment I saw you, sir, it was as though I had met an old friend. I feel most warmly toward you. Please do not refuse." As Fang Ming spoke, he ignored whether the middle-aged man agreed or not, grabbed his hand, and pulled him away.

Two people suddenly leaped out. "Release sir at once!"

"Mm?" With a clang, Xie Jin drew his blade and shouted, "Who dares be disrespectful?"

"Wait, wait!" Mister He smiled bitterly and said, "Since my lord invites me with such sincerity, it seems He can only go!"

He turned back and shouted, "Do not be rude!"

The two had no choice, but they still said, "Then please allow us to follow sir!"

Fang Ming nodded. "Fine. Then let us set out together."

He immediately gave orders for Wang Liulang and Xie Jin to gather their subordinates and escort the newly surrendered people. He himself walked at the front with Mister He, and the group departed Green Mountain.