61: Chapter 61 Discussing Resistance

Li Kun's forehead was beaded with sweat from anxiety as he stepped forward.

"Patriarch Ye, I am willing to guarantee with my position as Inspector that as long as the Ye Family is willing to help, I will surely submit a report to the County Magistrate to request rewards for the Ye Family once the rebellion is suppressed. At that time, the Ye Family's prestige and wealth will reach even greater heights!"

Ye Jing didn't care in the slightest. Over the years, the golden spirit rice he planted, along with the domesticated chickens, ducks, Mountain Delicacy Chickens, and some aquatic products, had already filled the Ye Family's coffers to the brim. He had no need for more prestige or wealth.

However, Ye Jing was also calculating rapidly in his mind. He knew that what Li Kun said was true; in these troubled times, no one could remain unaffected.

Especially a Family with a large business and property like his Ye Family—in the eyes of those rebels, they were a choice piece of meat.

Ye Jing spoke slowly, "It's not that I'm unwilling to help, but this matter requires a plan that satisfies both sides. I can have my two sons help with the defense. As for selecting able-bodied men from the village to assist, Lord Inspector should go ask the Village Chief."

Upon hearing this, Li Kun knew this was the greatest concession Ye Jing would make. Moreover, it was said that both of the Ye Family's sons were already First-Stage Martial Artists, which was enough to resolve Yuanhe Town's urgent crisis.

Knowing when to stop, he quickly cupped his hands and thanked him, "Many thanks to Patriarch Ye for being so reasonable! This arrangement is for the best!"

After seeing Li Kun off, Ye Jing immediately summoned a crow to the eaves. This was a crow he had captured with the help of the White Eagle; after taming it, he had used Immortal Light to refine it. Although its speed couldn't match the White Eagle, it was still agile and extremely fast.

After some simple training, it was specifically used for delivering messages.

Ye Jing wrote down the events of the day and sent the crow to find his two sons, telling them to return to Liu Village immediately.

At this time, in a village less than a hundred kilometers outside Yanggu County seat.

Smoke permeated the air, and it was filled with cries of misery.

A group of villagers cried out in terror as they fled, with Red Lotus Cultists hot on their heels, brandishing weapons and slaughtering the commoners at will.

Among those people were three crawling Corpse People, their bodies emitting a foul, bloody stench that filled the air.

Those Corpse People moved extremely fast, devouring the fleeing villagers and letting out ear-splitting roars.

Just then, an old man dressed in red laughed wildly, "Go! Eat more! Only then can my cultivation reach the next level!"

Beside him knelt a man in green official robes, trembling with fear. He had even wet his pants. At this moment, his scholarly integrity and so-called official dignity had been completely eroded by the slaughter.

"Lord Immortal Master! For the sake of me opening the city gates for you! Please... please spare me!"

The old man grinned hideously. A withered hand rested on the County Magistrate's head, and suddenly, with a flash of murderous light, the County Magistrate's heart was directly gouged out, dripping with blood.

The three Corpse People all rushed to the old man's feet. He casually threw the still warm and beating heart in front of them, and they immediately lunged forward to devour it.

The old man faced the city wall, which was already a pile of ruins, and ordered the rebels following him, "For the Red Lotus Cult! This region's flesh and blood shall become the nourishment for our advancement!"

The rebels, already maddened by the slaughter, raised their blades and swords, shouting wildly, "For the Red Lotus Cult! For the Immortal Master!"

At this moment, a cultist stepped forward flatteringly, "Lord Immortal Master, I just found a few young women in the city. Every one of them is beautiful. I offer them for the Immortal Master's enjoyment!"

A flash of lewdness crossed the old man's face as he nodded, "Well done! Bring them over for me to see!"

Soon, several women in tattered clothes were dragged over, their faces as pale as death.

The old man laughed with satisfaction, "Good, truly good! Bring them to my tent tonight; I shall enjoy them thoroughly! After we rest and reorganize, we will head to Yanggu County! We'll make them truly feel the grace of our Red Lotus Cult!"

After a night of madness, the rebels surrounded the old man and, leading the three Corpse People, headed toward Yanggu County. Behind them was a village of deathly silence.

Only the smoke filling the sky and the pungent smell of blood remained.

News of the Red Lotus Cult destroying a county seat spread, especially the bizarre methods of the Red Lotus Cult leader, who was said to be an Immortal.

The already frightened villagers grew even more panicked.

By now, the notice from the county seat had been posted at the village entrance for three days, and the Village Chiefs Hall was packed with villagers.

Currently, Ye Jing sat in the primary seat at the top, alongside several highly respected elders from the village. Among them, Village Chief Qian Wang looked extremely uneasy.

Seeing that the Village Chief had remained silent, Ye Jing asked, "Village Chief Qian, tell us about the situation with the Red Lotus Cult."

Hearing this, Qian Wang's face turned pale as he wiped away cold sweat. "Everyone... I'm sure you have all heard of the Red Lotus Cult's evil reputation."

"The Red Lotus Cult was formed by a leader named Hong Sha. His subordinates are mostly from bandit and outlaw backgrounds. The leader also has several capable experts by his side who are extremely powerful."

"A few days ago, news came from the neighboring county that the city was breached. The County Magistrate's entire Family was slaughtered, and their wealth was plundered. Even worse, children were abducted to feed some kind of Corpse People. The tragic scene was unbearable to witness!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of collective gasping filled the room below.

A young villager's face turned white. "Village Chief, if the Red Lotus Cult is so ruthless that even the government troops can't stop them, how can we... Liu Village is just a small settlement, how can we resist? Why don't we pack our belongings and flee south overnight?"

"Flee? Flee to where? To become refugees?" another villager shouted sternly.

"Most of the prefectures and counties along the way have been ravaged by the Red Lotus Cult. The roads are filled with bandits and refugees. Before we even reach our destination, we'll die of hunger, disease, or be killed by rogue soldiers!"

The young villager became even more terrified. "That's still better than staying here and waiting for death! The Red Lotus Cult even dares to kill a County Magistrate. In their eyes, what's the difference between us common folk and ants?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall instantly erupted into chaos.

Those in favor of fleeing were filled with worry, speaking of their fear of the Red Lotus Cult, while those against it argued forcefully, detailing the dangers on the road.

There were also those who couldn't bear to leave the fields and houses passed down by their ancestors. For a time, the dispute was endless and the scene was a mess.

Qian Wang slapped the table in frustration. "Stop arguing! Can arguing solve the problem?"

But his voice seemed exceptionally weak amidst the noisy discussion and could not calm the situation at all.

At that moment, Ye Jing finally spoke slowly, "Fleeing is not an option!"

His voice wasn't loud, but it instantly silenced the clamorous hall.

As the head of the wealthiest Family in Liu Village, and with his connections to big figures in the city, everyone called him Elder Ye when they saw him. His words carried immense weight.

Ye Jing looked at the terrified villagers and said, "Fleeing now will only be more dangerous. It's better to unite and face the enemy together!"

"Elder Ye, that may be true, but we are all farmers with no strength to even truss a chicken. What do we have to fight the Red Lotus Cult with?" the villager who wanted to flee continued.

"If you are afraid, you are free to leave on your own!" Ye Jing didn't bother to waste more words on that villager.

"Our Liu Village is in a remote location and is not their primary target. But if we scatter and flee, we will instead become prey for bandits and Red Lotus Cult stragglers along the way, left to be slaughtered at will."

"If you want to go, I won't stop you. I'm just giving a piece of advice. Whether you want to stay and face the enemy or run away, decide for yourselves!"

Ye Jing's words were very direct, making the villagers who wanted to run look somewhat ashamed.

But Ye Jing didn't waste any more breath on them and returned home.

He thought about how that Red Lotus Cult leader could actually control Corpse People. Could he really be a legendary Immortal?

Thinking of this, Ye Jing immediately dismissed the idea. One had to know that the Yan State highly respected Immortals. If an Immortal appeared, they would surely be treated with the utmost courtesy and honored as a distinguished guest. How could they end up as a rebel leader, slaughtering commoners here?