Chapter 118: Three Must Die, Three Must Kill

“Talk…”

Listening to Fang Cun’s words, these fierce, violent, or cunning rogue cultivators, who usually caused trouble without fear, all felt a wave of despair inside. “Well, then let’s talk…”

“Young Master, we can talk about anything you want. And whatever Young Master wants to do, we’ll accept it…”

By this point, they were truly afraid.

What in the world had they just swallowed?

Second Young Master Fang, who had gone on a wild killing spree just a month ago, was on the boat. They weren’t really afraid of that. Second Young Master Fang had stationed terrifying killers on the shore; though they were frightened, it hadn’t shattered their defenses. After all, they’d all seen powerful figures before. If everyone rushed him together, if they all used their backing and tricks to fight back, it might not be over just yet…

But seeing the miserable state of that woman wearing the Bronze Mask, they lost all hope.

This woman had a mysterious background, yet her cultivation was incredibly high. Those unfamiliar with such things could judge her strength just by watching her control that weird corpse. With that corpse in her hands, even an ordinary cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Realm probably couldn’t beat her.

And those who knew, could sense she had even more terrifying tricks hidden on her!

Even an old cultivator like the Firecloud Patriarch, who was late into the Foundation Establishment Realm, wouldn’t want to fight someone like her unless absolutely forced to…

Yet, this very woman had been completely subdued by Fang Cun, without a shred of chance to fight back!

Forget fighting back, she had even lost the power to cry or laugh.

With things like this, who would dare not take this seriously? Who would still treat it as a joke?

What’s scarier than being controlled by a powerful Gu Insect is not even knowing what kind of bug has you trapped…

…

Seeing the fearful, respectful eyes of the crowd, Fang Cun knew his words would actually be listened to now.

So he slowly turned around, his gaze sweeping over everyone, his expression gradually becoming serious.

“I came into this world to have fun!”

Fang Cun thought for a moment, then softly chuckled as he spoke, “But I hope you understand, I take my fun very seriously!”

The expressions of the gathered rogue villains turned strange; they didn’t know how to react.

“Before, you followed the rules of the Devouring Sea Gang. From now on, you’ll follow my rules!”

Fang Cun thought slowly, and spoke slowly. “Dragons have their paths, rats have their holes. You live by the ways of this world, and naturally have your own laws for survival. I won’t leash you too tightly. However, I set a few clear rules you must strictly follow. Whatever schemes you used to rely on for a living, after my rules are set, until the day you die or kill me, you will not touch them. Otherwise… well, while I prefer living people, I’m okay with killing.”

As the leaders listened, they couldn’t help but shiver inside.

Who would dare think you don’t kill? The severed heads at your feet are still staring at us!

“My rules are simple!”

Fang Cun continued calmly, “Three things mean death, three things must be killed!”

“Kidnapping children, gouging out eyes and cutting off noses — Death!”

“Seizing women, draining their yin to replenish yang — Death!”

“Taking hostages for ransom, stealing wealth and taking lives — Death!”

…

As Fang Cun spoke, his eyes scanned the cultivators present, adding, “Seeing such deeds done? Kill!”

“Refining Human Elixirs? Kill!”

“Stealing disaster relief grain? Kill!”

“Spreading Plague Qi? Kill!”

…

Listening to Second Young Master Fang lay it out clearly and distinctly, the kneeling leaders below looked utterly stunned. He spoke as though he had thought this through long ago. Did this mean he truly intended to carve out a place for himself in this world?

But if they really followed these three deaths and three kills, wouldn’t it cut off the livelihood of many?

At this moment, Fang Cun’s expression remained indifferent; he had no intention of discussing it.

This world of rogues and cultivators had always held a certain romantic allure, something people yearned for.

But the reality of it was a dirty, foul, dark, and terrifying place.

Everyone had to live, to earn money. So how did these underworld figures earn their mountains of gold?

In past life stories, they rarely mentioned how the great heroes made their money. Probably because writing it out would wreck their heroic image. Like how Fang Cun once saw a great scholar speculate on the professions of the Five Peerless of Central Plains: the East Evil, West Poison, South Emperor, North Beggar, and Central Divine Power. Maybe none were what people imagined. The East Evil lived on Peach Blossom Island, with countless servants. Where did the money come from? His disciples were water bandits robbing official silver shipments on Lake Taihu. Had Huang Yaoshi ever invited someone to a meal and found knives in their food?

The West Poison roamed the Western Regions, guarding the Silk Road, leading horse bandits to rob merchant caravans. That naturally brought wild freedom and happiness.

The South Emperor was easier; he came from royalty. Fishermen, woodcutters, farmers, scholars — just collecting taxes was enough.

But the North Beggar and Central Divine Power might be the most surprising.

The Central Divine Power was Taoist, drawing talismans and praying for blessings brought a steady flow of income.

The Beggar Gang was the darkest of all. Kidnapping children? Gouging out eyes and slicing off noses? Taking women hostage? Demanding ransom? Stealing chickens and dogs? Home invasions? Such acts were their main sources of income. Even the relatively “clean clothes” faction helped fence stolen goods and skimmed off the top; those were among their most standard businesses. Otherwise, did people really think beggars roamed around begging for money while acting like chivalrous heroes?

Fang Cun was now taking control of Willow Lake City’s rogue cultivator circles, but he had his own considerations.

The rogue cultivators here were likely even more ruthless than those in his past life. He had no idea if, after becoming their Great Leader, any good deeds they occasionally did would count as Merit on his ledger. He was even less sure that if they did evil, the Sin would land on him. So it was better to set the rules early, to steer clear of trouble.

Taking a step back, even without the Merit system, as a reincarnated soul, there were simply too many behaviors he couldn’t stand to watch.

“This… Young Master…”

Hearing Fang Cun speak so seriously, the cultivators all hung their heads low, not daring to make a sound.

After a long pause, a bold leader finally whispered, “If we can’t do any of this, how do we earn money?”

Fang Cun’s few words just cut off several major revenue streams for these underworld figures. No kidnapping children? How were the beggar bosses on the street supposed to earn? Just stealing wouldn’t rake in much. No forcing women? Lady Hongtao would lose a huge chunk of people immediately. No selling Demon Cores? But the Devouring Sea Gang’s biggest business used to be trading Demon Cores…

Forbidding the killing of hostages? Eh, that one was easier to swallow. Underworld rules said once the ransom was paid, killing the hostage was optional…

“If the only ways you know how to make cash are those tricks…”

Fang Cun turned his gaze to the speaker and chuckled lightly, “Then why would I keep you around?”

The speaker was a thin, shady man wearing black headgear and fine silks. Fang Cun had already checked him out; most of the child beggars stealing on the streets of Willow Lake City were kidnapped and placed there by him.

Seeing Fang Cun’s look, the thin man’s heart clenched. He wanted to say more.

Fang Cun already spoke softly, “Who will kill him for me?”

Everyone around immediately gasped in shock.

The thin man’s face drastically changed. He spun around, ready to jump off the boat.

But right then, Lin Jiyi at his side suddenly stood up. With a flick of his long sleeve, like a coiling snake, it wrapped around the man’s neck.

The thin man’s body shuddered once, then went rigid and collapsed to the deck.

Lin Jiyi knelt back down as if nothing had happened.

“There are many ways to earn silver…”

Fang Cun pretended not to see it, showing he didn’t care, speaking calmly. “You can keep running the brothels and gambling dens you oversaw before. Keep collecting the minor ‘taxes’ from the shops in Willow Lake City. Other forms of income are fine too, as long as I don’t say no. Of course, don’t think I only stop you from getting rich…”

“Second Young Master Fang is hard to please, but follow me, and there’s meat to eat!”

He paused slightly, then slowly smiled. “Go take back the Twelve Continuous Docks in the west district!”

“The Twelve Continuous Docks?”

The gathered villains couldn’t help but cry out, some even trembling.

The out-of-town rogue cultivators didn’t react much, but the leaders from Willow Lake City all widened their eyes. Who could dare look down upon the Twelve Continuous Docks? Twelve docks in total, controlling nearly all the shipping traffic through Willow Lake City and its surrounding counties! That single business rivaled nearly all the illicit trade in all of Willow Lake City combined! And now, Second Young Master Fang…

“Just go take it. The Academy won’t dare stop you!”

Fang Cun continued slowly. “Oh, and remember to set aside a portion of the profits for Academy Instructor Zhang Shixian…”

Amidst the stunned silence, nobody dared to answer.

This wasn’t unexpected for Fang Cun. He chuckled softly, “What? Still find these rules too hard to follow?”

The rogue cultivators exchanged glances. For a moment, not a single one spoke.

But Lin Jiyi suddenly called out loudly, “Young Master, rest assured! I, your subordinate, will handle this matter properly!”

Fang Cun nodded slightly, thinking to himself, “Maybe find an excuse to get rid of him later…”

“Business talk aside, time for serious matters…”

Fang Cun’s gaze slowly swept over those kneeling, increasingly anxious rogue cultivators. He spoke slowly. “Since you’ve come to Willow Lake City, those who wish to stay may stay. If you don’t want to, feel free to leave. But whatever you did in the past, from now on, my rules are absolute. Break them even once, and death is the only outcome. No one can save you!”

“Also, every month, you must perform at least one good deed. Whether it’s opening granaries for the refugees, helping the widowed and orphaned, killing demons and monsters… If you truly have no idea what to do, repairing a bridge, patching a road, helping an old lady cross the street – that works too…”

“Huh?”

The crowd of rogues instantly widened their eyes.

What game was Second Young Master Fang playing now?

“I’ll have someone record your good deeds as Merit points. For every thousand Merits, you get one Little Red Flower…”

Fang Cun added slowly, “Every three months, if you’ve gathered ten Little Red Flowers, you can come to me to exchange them…”

“For the antidote.”

“That way,” he continued, his voice steady and unreadable, “You get to live another three months.”