Chapter 116: Rogue Cultivators

“Um… Mr. Lin knelt down awfully fast!”

Before anyone could even finish speaking, Lin Jiyi had already knelt. Everyone inside the cabin froze for a moment.

After exchanging glances, the quick-witted ones hastily tossed away their chicken bones and scrambled to kneel too, right after Lin Jiyi. Even those less sharp, seeing everyone else kneeling, hurried down themselves. They all held their breath, looking thoroughly subdued.

In the jianghu, you couldn’t afford risks, and clinging to pride was useless…

When the wind blows hard, kneeling first shows respect!

…

Their kneeling, at least for now, secured Fang Cun’s position as Chief of Willow Lake City.

The surrounding Rogue Cultivators witnessing this grew visibly uneasy. They’d just been fiercely competing, unable to decide a winner, and now this Second Young Master Fang showed up and had all these key figures from Willow Lake kneeling at his feet. Staring at the severed heads beside Fang Cun’s feet made their hearts race with unease. They stayed silent, just watching.

Instead of looking at the kneeling Willow Lake men, Fang Cun turned his gaze towards the Rogue Cultivators.

He smiled warmly. “They’ve given their answer. What about the rest of you?”

After the collapsing of the Devouring Sea Gang, Willow Lake City was just scattered rubble, a few weak remnants. Controlling them was simple.

But these Rogue Cultivators, gathered from all corners, skilled in dark arts, ruthless and cunning – they were the interesting ones to tame!

Of course, these rogue cultivators were the very thugs who’d dared to covet the Human Elixir. None were fools.

In terms of cultivation levels, just in the Treasured Body Realm alone, there were easily seven or eight. As for those in the Breath Refining Realm, each surely possessed fearsome tricks. Hardened and defiant jianghu veterans like these wouldn’t submit easily…

Facing Fang Cun’s warm smile, these Rogue Cultivators grew restless too.

“What exactly is this Second Young Master Fang playing at?”

“Surely he doesn’t mean to subdue us as well?”

With their status, strength, and standing in the jianghu, naturally they wouldn’t yield readily. However, launching a bold attack right now felt too dangerous. Those who had left earlier died too swiftly, too strangely. They couldn’t be reckless. They stayed silent, minds racing at lightning speed, plotting any way to escape this trap…

It wasn’t uncommon for jianghu folk to be subdued by those linked to the imperial court, serving as expendable lackeys or hunting dogs.

Some even cultivated dark arts specifically aiming to find a powerful patron, securing a worry-free life.

But no matter who they sought… why would they pick the Second Young Master Fang?

If it were the old Immortal Master Fang Chi here? Why, no words would even be needed; they’d all be scrambling to pledge loyalty on the spot…

But the Second Young Master Fang…

Especially a Second Young Master Fang whose Immortal Master brother was gone…

…

In the heavy silence, a man barely three feet tall by the boat rail blinked stupidly at Fang Cun.

He sneered coldly. “Second Young Master Fang starts off killing outright. Quite impressive intimidation! Though your intent escapes me. Want to be Willow Lake City’s Chief? Fine, be it! We’ve no objections. But why forcibly detain us here? What’s your game?”

“We’re just rogue cultivators passing through Willow Lake, wanting no trouble. Must you cause us hardship?”

His words made the expressions of the other strange figures turn cold.

Defiant jianghu drifters couldn’t easily be frightened by a few severed heads. Alone, they might each hesitate, but together they were a sizable force. Now that someone had pointed it out, they subtly closed ranks, radiating unspoken pressure…

Fang Cun listened, then merely nodded lightly. His smile remained. “Second Young Master Fang never forces anyone. Those who wish to leave, feel free!”

“Huh?”

The rogue cultivators all looked slightly startled, surprised by how readily Fang Cun agreed. And precisely because he agreed so readily, it deepened their unease.

The oppressive atmosphere intensified. Glances flickered meaningfully between them. Not a single person moved.

“Since that’s the case… thank you, Second Young Master Fang…”

It was the outspoken dwarf again. His odd eyes darted twice. Suddenly, he gave a strangely formal bow toward Fang Cun.

Before the words fully faded, he shot skyward, mourning stick in hand! With a sweeping strike of the big stick, countless vengeful spirits burst forth into midair! Each erupted with energies eerily identical to his own silhouette, scattering madly toward every horizon!

Instantaneously, the whole lake seethed with spectral energy. His true form was completely obscured.

Having witnessed earlier beheadings, he dared not underestimate his enemy. His caution was thorough. Willow Lake was vast, its shores endless. Even if guards were set on shore, pinpointing his escape route immediately would be impossible for them.

Simultaneously with the dwarf’s spectacular ghostly outburst and escape, another figure on the boat’s edge silently vanished.

This one sought to capitalize on the distraction, slipping away in the chaos.

…

Fang Cun watched the lake writhe with vengeful ghosts and swirling shade. He simply sat back calmly in his chair.

He genuinely seemed uninterested in those leaving.

The remaining rogue cultivators who hadn’t fled grew hesitant. They wondered if they too should make a move right away…

Tap tap tap tap…

Suddenly, the sound of urgent footsteps splashing across water! The green-robed attendant who’d departed earlier scrambled back onto the large boat. With a light clunk, he placed two fresh heads at Fang Cun’s feet. He flashed a strange grin toward the onlookers, then vanished back into the shadows.

Whoosh!

The faces of every rogue cultivator blanched violently.

Their gazes toward Second Young Master Fang now held stark fear and deep dread.

They had been expressly told they could leave. It was clearly stated no one was forced to stay. So what was this?!

Especially concerning the two who had just escaped – their cunning and their battle prowess were both top-tier. Crucially, they had fled in opposite directions! Could even ambushes along the shore blockade the entire Willow Lake? How was it possible he killed these three men almost instantly?! More alarmingly, why hadn’t they sensed the slightest ripple of killing intent or cultivation power during the attack?!

What level of terrifying power enabled such things?!

…

‘Another ten thousand…’

Fang Cun mentally sighed. ‘Can’t kill any more, or I might go bankrupt…’

Thinking this within, his voice rang out coldly. “I presented you with a choice. If you don’t wish to serve me as master, then don’t. But my elder brother resides in the underworld. He might be short a few servants. You could exert your strength for him. Depart if that’s your wish; I won’t bar your path. Roads stretch in every direction; your feet are your own. But the direction you walk? That is determined by me!”

The cultivators exchanged confused glances. Was he saying: You can leave… just so long as you go straight to hell?

“How domineering of Second Young Master Fang! Do you disregard all jianghu codes?”

The surrounding sea of outlaws, hearts already chilled, held their breath. Utter silence. Then, a voice cut through the tension. Perched on the shoulder of a huge, grotesque corpse standing in the lake beside them, a woman wearing a Bronze Mask spoke with chilling calmness.

“Codes?”

Fang Cun glanced her way. He lightly smoothed a stray lock of white hair, smirking. “In Willow Lake, this Young Master’s word is the code!”

Strangely… speaking those words felt intensely satisfying…

“You…”

The masked woman’s voice tightened with cold fury, yet she choked on a way to counter such blatant arrogance.

“We’re none of us sterling folk here; skip the hollow rituals…”

Fang Cun swept his gaze over the motley crew of jianghu strangeness. His tone remained cool. “Stray long enough in this wilderness, and the reckoning arrives. Today, fate brought you to me, Second Young Master Fang. A peaceful departure is no longer your path. As I see it now…”

He paused, glancing toward the Little Fox Girl. She seemed momentarily confused, then suddenly remembered, hurriedly placing a cloth sack onto the table before him.

Clatter clatter… Glowing pill-like objects spilled out.

Fang Cun’s eyes scanned each face in the surrounding gloom. His voice dropped to a near whisper.

“Swallow the pill. Or choose the path you take.”

“Elixirs… those are Treasure Pills?”

The Rogue Cultivators involuntarily glanced at the pills on the table; their pupils instantly contracted. Each pill was round, smooth, and crystal-clear—a Treasure Pill, its radiance held within and spiritual essence hidden deep inside. Just inhaling a whiff made their blood seem to flow a little faster. It felt unbelievable, and everyone cast suspicious, uncertain eyes onto Second Young Master Fang!

First, he’d kill over a disagreement, and now hand out Treasure Pills over another disagreement?

The cultivators couldn’t describe the strangeness in their hearts. Though they held the pills, none dared to take them, feeling the atmosphere around them crushingly oppressive. Right then, a man in green robes within the crowd suddenly said, “This pill, it might not be an ordinary one, right?”

The people around shuddered, turning their heads together to look at the green-robed man.

Many knew his background and what he excelled at, so hearing him speak left them astounded.

Fang Cun listened, glanced at him, and coolly said, “Of course not. The pill contains a Gu Insect crafted by my own hand!”

Everyone immediately showed looks of shock: how could he admit it so frankly?

But because he admitted it so quickly, they didn’t know how to respond right away.

“It looks like we have to take this pill today before Second Young Master Fang lets us leave?”

In the deathly silent tension, the Bronze Mask sitting on the shoulder of the Strange Corpse suddenly spoke up softly.

Fang Cun looked at her and laughed, “You can leave without taking the pill!”

An urge of helplessness filled their hearts, thinking: yes, you can leave—just go straight to hell…

Everyone understood Fang Cun’s meaning, focusing intently on the pills before them and hesitating. After a long silence, that green-robed man suddenly smiled faintly, slowly walked forward, picked up a pill, and said, “What a powerful Heart-Piercing Insect Gu! Second Young Master Fang is indeed overbearing. But since we’re trapped in your grasp, what else is there to say?”

As he spoke, he gently placed the pill into his mouth, slowly swallowed it, then cupped his hands toward Fang Cun, turned, and left.

Fang Cun just watched him quietly without any hint of stopping.

Seeing the green-robed man take the pill and walk away left others surprised, while more seemed to suddenly realize something and pondered. Still, no one rushed to act. After waiting several breaths, with no sounds of splashing water coming from outside the boat, they relaxed slightly. A few acquaintances stealthily exchanged glances, as if silently passing messages.

“Since deciding to serve Second Young Master Fang, does taking the pill or not matter much?”

All of a sudden, Lin Jiyi, formerly of the Devouring Sea Gang, stepped forward and took a pill as well, saying, “Thank you, Young Master, for the pill!”

Seeing this, the surrounding cultivators stirred in their hearts and stepped up one after another, each taking a pill.

But from the other side, Lady Hongtao, who was nearly forgotten, suddenly leaped up, her face full of anger, and shouted, “Forcing us to take pills—what do you mean? Even the Great Leader back in the day never thought of controlling his own brothers with Gu Insects! You…”

“I’m not Lao Chao, and I don’t care about treating you as brothers!”

Fang Cun looked at her, laughing, “Besides, Lao Chao wouldn’t even give you Treasure Pills to swallow, right?”

“You…”

Lady Hongtao raged, but then she glimpsed Fang Cun’s eyes and froze abruptly.

Her gaze locked fiercely onto his eyes, not letting go for an instant.

After a long while, gritting her teeth, she slowly placed the Treasure Pill in her mouth, swallowed it, and just stared at Fang Cun.

Fang Cun sat still calmly, seeming very satisfied with the situation.

“Second Young Master Fang, we’ve taken the pills. Can we leave now?”

Right then, the Bronze Mask on the shoulder of the Strange Corpse quietly spoke up.

Fang Cun smiled, “Be my guests!”

The Bronze Mask, Fire Bird Old Ancestor, and a few strangely dressed Rogue Cultivators nearby exchanged glances upon hearing this. They stood up and bowed respectfully to Fang Cun in unison, appearing very polite—though what they truly thought went unspoken. Only after Fang Cun’s permission did the cultivators suddenly unleash their techniques, vanishing into the night sky. As they fled, they warily scanned their surroundings.

Only after leaving Willow Lake’s shore, with no danger emerging, did they relax.

No one knew how many of them felt their eyes blaze fiercely: “Hm, Willow Lake Fang the Second, daring to use such tricks against me?”

“Truly a reckless young master, acting so ruthlessly…”

“It’s just an ordinary Spirit-class Heart-Piercing Insect Gu—did you think we wouldn’t notice?”

“Too bad. If you really thought you’d control us so easily, you must think we know nothing of the jianghu…”

“”

Countless minds instantly flickered with schemes to harm the Fang Family, their spirits turning icy cold. Still, before acting on these plots, they stayed cautious; the first thing to solve was another matter.

Those skilled in the Classic of Herbs began thinking about countering the Gu, swallowing detox pills.

Those with high Magical Power started urging their Magical Power, trying to vomit out the pills.

Those who recognized experts in the Classic of Spirits hurried off in that direction to seek help in removing the Gu.

“”

As for Lady Hongtao back on the boat, she proved fiery-tempered. Though she’d taken the pill, she glared coldly and sneered at Fang Cun: “Second Young Master Fang, you’ve stirred up trouble…”

“Thinking some simple tricks could subdue so many jianghu heroes? You must have watched too many storybooks at home…”

“Who can you control with such shallow tactics?”

“You only angered them, forcing them to use every ruin the Fang Family!”

“They’re nothing like the Academy or City Governor, with even a hint of fear. When they retaliate, they’ll make you regret it forever…”