Recruitment

Objectively speaking, given the circumstances, what Sect Leader Kang Da said was quite frightening. Xie Liusheng was indeed startled at first, but he was relieved after hearing what Kang Dabao said next.

"I'm in dire need of capable people right now, and I really need a talented person like you, my nephew, to help me," Kang Dabao laughed heartily, his expression genuine.

Yuan Jin had, of course, told Sect Leader Kang Da about Xie Liusheng's little schemes, but in all fairness, he felt that Xie Liusheng's actions were not excessive.

There was still some decency between the two sides, and neither of the two disciples was injured. Out of respect for Qin Sufu, Kang Dabao wouldn't be so petty as to cause trouble for Xie Liusheng.

Seeing Xie Liusheng's astonished expression, Sect Leader Kang Da then explained in detail the establishment of the Thief-Catching Office in Double Brightness Trade Market.

The former listened thoughtfully. He realized that he no longer had a place in the Fellow Cultivators Association, and whether he should find another place to live was something he really needed to consider carefully.

The Double Brightness Trade Market, overseen by the state government, sounded quite appealing. It was a well-established and deeply rooted organization, far superior to the Fellow Cultivators Association, which was practically fragmented. After hearing Kang Dabao's brief remarks, Xie Liusheng was genuinely tempted.

"Nephew, think it over carefully. Stay with me for a few more days, and let your Yuan Er show you around. If you're willing to stay, I'll also introduce you to the other nephews in the Fish Mountain Fellow Cultivators Association. As long as they have real skills, I won't mistreat them, and I certainly won't mistreat you either."

Having worked for the state court for a long time, Sect Leader Kang Da has become increasingly adept at using the art of empty promises, almost to the point of mastery.

He hadn't finished entertaining all the guests in his room, and hadn't chatted with Xie Liusheng for long before returning inside. There, sitting, was a voluptuous beauty. Kang Dabao's face immediately broke into a smile again. "Oh dear, I've been busy with many things. I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting, Lady of the Shao Household."

"You're too kind, County Commandant," Shao Meng said, her beautiful eyes slightly raised, suppressing her anger. "Then it's settled. My brother and I will bring our village to seek refuge here, Market Commandant Kang will ask Alchemist to treat our injuries."

"Of course, Lady of the Shao Household, rest assured, when has I ever gone back on my word?" Sect Leader Kang Da's smile remained warm, as if he couldn't detect the resentment in Shao Meng's words.

"In that case, my brother and I will surrender our entire village within ten days. We beg the county magistrate not to let us down, for we have such a fervent desire to serve our country." Shao Meng said these nice words, but he didn't forget to take a jab at Kang Dabao.

The latter, however, did not take it to heart and still smiled and clasped her hands in response, saying, "Don't worry, Lady of the Shao Household."

After sending Pei Que to see Shao Meng off, Kang Dabao asked Yuan Jin, "How is things going with Junior Brother Pei?"

Yuan Jin thought for a moment before replying, "Senior Brother Pei's trip to Shandu Ridge Ji County, Feng Prefecture, will likely take at least a month or two. He probably won't be able to gather all the fellow Daoists who studied under Martial Uncle Li back then. It's probably normal that we haven't heard from him yet."

Sect Leader Kang Da frowned upon hearing this. "Now that I think about it, it was a bit risky to send Junior Brother Pei back alone. Even if Little Sanzi is in seclusion and can't leave, Old Ye should have accompanied him. I wonder if there are any of Lü Wen's relatives or friends in that Shandu Ridge, and whether they will make things difficult for Junior Brother Pei?!"

---- Shandu Ridge

"Senior Brother Pei! We brothers have been waiting for you for so long!" A short, stocky man with blond hair and a black beard picked up his wine bowl at the table and said tearfully.

There were about twenty people in the room who echoed this sentiment. At this moment, another man who looked like a leader also stood up. He was much more presentable and looked like a refined scholar.

As soon as he stood up, all the surrounding chatter ceased, demonstrating his high prestige among the crowd.

"Brothers, enough of your idle chatter, listen to what I have to say. Since Master Li's death, we Double Brightness disciples have lost our leader. In this small Ji County, we are just a bunch of loose sand, at the mercy of others, suffering endless misery from being bullied."

Fortunately, Senior Brother Pei has finally returned today, Ji County Chongming Sect can be re-established. I, Zheng Xibei, propose that we support Senior Brother Pei as the sect leader, and from now on, we will share joys and sorrows, and prosperity and adversity!

"Senior Brother Pei is a direct disciple of Master Li. If he doesn't become the sect leader, who else can?! I, Chu Huer, agree!" The short, thin man who had been weeping earlier immediately praised, raising his wine bowl and standing on the table, shouting loudly.

"Yes, yes, yes! Let's support Senior Brother Pei as the sect leader! First, let's wipe out those thieves from Hou Household Ridge! Damn it, a bunch of wild bastards who don't even know who their parents are, how dare they try to steal spiritual land from us Double Brightness disciples!"

"Not just Hou Household Ridge, but also Spirit Sword Mountain Manor, the Five Tigers Broken Saber Sect, and those other scum."

"Senior Brother Pei will be the sect leader! Senior Brother Zheng and Senior Brother Chu will be the deputy sect leaders, and we'll all be elders and deacons—how wonderful!"

"Very well, let's see which force in Ji County dares to oppose our Chongming Sect then."

Do not underestimate the influence of Martial Uncle Li's nearly ten years of preaching at Shandu Ridge.

It is important to understand that the Dharma should not be passed on lightly. Even though Martial Uncle Li has not yet reached the Foundation Establishment Foundation Establishment, the selfless act of a Perfected Qi Refinement cultivator giving Rogue Cultivator talk is a true act of rebirth for these rogue cultivators who once struggled at the bottom of the cultivation world.

Not to mention that back then, Martial Uncle Li was truly determined to establish Chongming Sect in Ji County to show the late Sect Leader He, and the effort he put into these people was considerable.

While there may be ungrateful people like Lü Wen among them, it would be an exaggeration to say that all those who come seeking the Dao are heartless and treacherous.

The fact that Zheng Xibei's single sentence stirred up such excitement among the cultivators present showed that most of them still respected Pei Yi, who had benefited from the legacy of their Martial Uncle Li.

Their actions, however, caused Pei Yi, who was sitting at the head of the table, to break out in a cold sweat.

In all honesty, Pei Yi's return was solely to help Sect Leader Kang Da recruit manpower for the Thief-Catching Office in Double Brightness Trade Market. He had no intention of starting anew in Ji County.

Because of the incident with Lü Wen back then, Pei Yi had not been in contact with these fellow disciples who had no official titles for a long time. He never expected that as soon as he returned, before he could even reveal his intentions, he would be forced to wear the imperial robe.

Most of the people seated at this table were Rogue Cultivator of Martial Uncle Li back in the day, and their cultivation levels were not low among Rogue Cultivator.

Of the two who spoke earlier, Chu Huer was at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining, and Zheng Xibei was at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer. Both were under seventy years old. Such a speed of cultivation was extremely rare among Rogue Cultivator. Among the remaining people, there were only one or two at the Early Qi Refining Stage, and most of the others were at the Middle Qi Refinement.

Pei Yi suddenly felt somewhat surprised. If someone like Chu Huer, who was all alone and whom he had been quite close to in the past, were like this, it would be understandable.

But Zheng Xibei is different. Despite his refined appearance, he is actually the most notorious bandit leader on the Ji County waterway. He has eleven or twelve Qi Refining Qi Refinement and fifty or sixty Marrow-Refining Martial Ancestor Grandmasters under his command, as well as a hundred large boats.

These kinds of people are used to running rampant and acting recklessly outside. Even when Master was alive, they weren't very obedient to him. How come they're acting like they're about to bow down and worship him now?

However, if they truly want to support me, that would be a good thing, as it would likely lead to the proposal to take them back to Double Brightness Trade Market.

Seeing the saga of the coup escalating, Pei Yi could no longer remain silent. He stepped forward and interrupted, saying, "Brothers, please pause for a moment and listen to what I have to say."

Pei Yi briefly explained his purpose while holding the wine bowl, and discussions immediately arose among the guests. Chu Huer and Zheng Xibei, who were the most respected, both looked displeased, and the other Rogue Cultivator did not respond, making Pei Yi somewhat embarrassed.

"Senior Brother Pei, are you saying that the rumors circulating all these years about you breaking your oath to Master Li and returning to the Pingrong County Chongming Sect to serve under that incompetent sect leader are true?!" The straightforward Chu Huer was the first to frown, his previous friendly demeanor completely gone, and he snorted coldly.

"Brother Chu, please listen to me," Pei Yi was about to explain when Zheng Xibei also spoke up and challenged him.

"No wonder it took me so many inquiries to find out that Master Li and your Senior Brother Pei's relatives have all moved back to Pingrong County. Such a big thing, they left without even saying goodbye, but now they remember us all. Senior Brother Pei, tell me, do you really consider the fellow practitioners of Shandu Ridge as your own brothers?"

After Chu Huer and Zheng Xibei's words, the Rogue Cultivator at the table, regardless of their previous thoughts, no longer looked at Pei Yi with the same level of intimacy.

Pei Yi could see clearly that what Chu and Zheng said was true. Seeing the atmosphere become quiet, he didn't know how to speak for a moment, which only fueled Zheng Xibei's arrogance.

"Very well, since Senior Brother Pei has sought a better position and is unwilling to carry on Master Li's legacy, then let us part ways from now on."

"Yes, since Senior Brother Pei is unwilling to be the head of the Chongming Sect, then let Senior Brother Chu or Senior Brother Zheng take the position!"

"Go back to your Pingrong County Chongming Sect and become an elder. Don't try to trick us into working for your cowardly senior brother!"

"We, the fellow practitioners of Shandu Ridge, will pretend we don't have a senior brother like you, and we will continue to offer incense to Master Li."

Seeing that the crowd's initial enthusiasm had quickly turned into agitation, Pei Yi knew that further words would be useless. Although he understood the situation clearly, his face darkened instantly, and he bowed and descended from the platform without saying another word.

Even after leaving the lecture hall where his master used to teach, Pei Yi's complexion had not improved.

He was not one to give up easily. In the following days, he privately visited several old acquaintances, but gained little. He had no choice but to return to Double Brightness Trade Market to report to Sect Leader Kang Da.

"My senior brother, the sect leader, entrusted me with this task, and I've done it so poorly." Pei Yi was somewhat dejected, but unexpectedly, Chu Huer, who had been avoiding him for the past few days, came to see him off before he left.

"Senior Brother Pei, I still want to ask you, why did you go against Master Li's dying wish?!"

Pei Yi was taken aback when he heard this. Now it seemed that his master might not have considered the Chu brothers as his disciples back then, but the brothers truly regarded his master as their master.

Pei Yi remained silent at first, then recounted how he had been framed by Lü Wen and how Kang Dabao had rescued him.

After hearing Pei Yi finish speaking, Chu Huer finally breathed a sigh of relief. He looked at Pei Yi and his expression improved considerably. He said, "I thought the current head of the Chongming Sect was a mediocre man who was good at bullying women. It was only right that Master Li left in anger after suffering so many grievances. But I never expected that Sect Leader Kang would also be a righteous person."

In this way, it is beyond reproach for Senior Brother to return to the sect, but that Lü Wen deserves to die! I was wrong to blame Senior Brother before, please forgive me."

Pei Yi wouldn't blame him, but instead advised, "If the Chu brothers have the time, why don't you come with me to see my sect leader? I know you're used to being carefree and don't like these kinds of constraints."

However, the Thief-Catching Office in Double Brightness Trade Market is a good place to help those who have reached the Foundation Establishment stage. My brother is about to reach the Foundation Establishment, and he needs to earn some resources.

Chu Huer thought for a moment and nodded in agreement, "In that case, I'll call a few close brothers to go with us. If that Sect Leader Kang is truly as righteous as Senior Brother says, then we'll definitely go to the Thief-Catching Office!"

Pei Yi was overjoyed. With Chu Huer mediating, the two of them persuaded four or five other cultivators to travel together, and then they returned to Double Brightness Trade Market by flying boat.

The Sect Leader Kang Da, who was waiting in the market, listened carefully to Pei Yi's experience. He first hosted a banquet to entertain Chu Huer and his group, and the several mid-grade magic Law Artifact that Yuan Jin had just found in the cave abode also came in handy.

Before they had even finished drinking half of the wine, they saw that Sect Leader Kang Da, without saying a word of invitation, had already given each of the Rogue Cultivator who had come with Pei Yi a gift.

Although the original owner of that cave abode had not yet Foundation Establishment, the Law Artifact he possessed were all of exceptional quality, rare finds on the market. How could these poor, Rogue Cultivator have ever imagined receiving such precious items as gifts?

Therefore, Sect Leader Kang Da's actions shocked everyone present, including Chu Huer.

"So this is the kind of extraordinary and loyal senior brother that Senior Brother Pei has. No wonder Senior Brother Pei would give up being the sect leader to come back! Everyone really misunderstood him!"

Everyone thought the same thing, concluding that this place was indeed as Senior Brother Pei had said—a perfect place to earn resources. Before the banquet was even over, they all patted their chests, expressing their willingness to stay.

After the banquet, Kang Dabao arranged for luxury cars and beautiful women, making these country bumpkins so happy they forgot all about home and felt they had come to the right place.

After doing all this, the notoriously stingy Sect Leader Kang Da showed no sign of distress. Having been used to buying horse bones, he now knew how to do it properly.

While these Rogue Cultivators were certainly not worth the price Kang Dabao offered, once the news spread, those Rogue Cultivators who had been gathered by Zheng Xibei should at least have a different impression of Pei Yi.

Although Xie Liusheng had written to many people in the Fish Mountain Fellow Cultivators Association these days, he had also recruited the Shao siblings and their gang of bandits.

There must be at least twenty or thirty cultivators in total who are willing to fight to the death.

Xu Yingshi's skills are indeed remarkable, but being unfamiliar with the area, he might not have as many people as he could find on his own.

However, Sect Leader Kang Da always preferred to have multiple options. According to Pei Yi, most of the Rogue Cultivator who had been taught by Martial Uncle Li were quite skilled, unlike the ordinary rabble.

If he could subdue them all, it would greatly benefit his struggle with Xu Yingshi for real power in the Thief-Catching Office.

"Zheng Xibei..." Sect Leader Kang Da muttered the name, narrowing his eyes. "Daoist Master, this title of the Chongming Sect? You think you can just use it as you please?"

Thank you to Brother Xiacheng Xianxing for the six Extended Net Moon.

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