Chapter Seventy: The Alliance Between Rebels and Demons

"Why choose me?"

"Because you know how to yield. Such a temperament allows one to survive longer in chaotic times. You're more useful to me, and worth the resources I'll spend to cultivate you."

"You have the time it takes for this stick of incense to burn. Once it's done, give me your answer."

He took a stick of incense from his sleeve, lit it, and planted it in the ground nearby. Wisps of blue smoke curled upward as the Bald Wolf's emotions churned with complexity. If he agreed to follow this man, it would be a step into the abyss. Yet if he refused, he might die the very next moment. He knew exactly which choice he would have to make.

But by agreeing to follow Su Yang, he would be shouldering more responsibility and risk.

"Master," he finally said.

In the end, the Bald Wolf felt there was no escaping Su Yang's grasp. He knelt and accepted his fate.

"That's very sensible of you."

"Rest assured, I am a merciful master. I cannot bear to see those who risk their lives for me lose them."

"This is a ninth-grade aged herb, consider it your reward. Remain within the Black Wolf Gang, and report any news to me promptly. When you break through to the eighth grade, inform me at once."

The mind-controlling worms in his possession were all bred using [Mind Control Worm], not the upgraded [Mind Control Worm 2]. If an eighth-grade martial artist resisted with their life force, they could delay death, though they would lose all fighting ability. Against seventh-grade martial artists, though, the worm was nearly useless; only the improved [Mind Control Worm 2] could deal great harm to them, forcing them to expend their life force in resistance and rendering them powerless.

"Thank you, Master."

Seeing Su Yang hand over the precious white flesh ageless fungus, the Bald Wolf was overjoyed—he had never dreamed of such a reward. It was a treasure he had long coveted. Just as Su Yang had once obtained a seventh-grade aged herb, the Bald Wolf knew that if not for the chaos between Dongmen Qing and Wu Song, he might never have acquired such a treasure before advancing to sixth grade.

"If you do well, I will reward you further."

"Yes, Master."

Even after Su Yang left, the Bald Wolf could hardly calm his excitement, clutching the aged herb. Watching Su Yang's departing figure, waves crashed in his heart—perhaps following this master was not such a poor choice after all.

Name: Su Yang (Prospective Immortal)
Incense Merit: 302
Realm: Seventh Grade, Muscle-forging
Techniques: [Incense Merit Division] [Qi Viewing Art] [Mind Control Worm] [Root Testing Method]
Manuals: [Savage Bull Long Fist]
Scriptures: [Gynecology Sacred Book]
Lifespan: 62+
Family Offspring: 2

Long-term Progress: The family's growth proceeds smoothly. For the healthy growth and better care of each offspring, assign a maid to each pregnant lady. Each assignment will grant you 20 incense merit!

Family Progress: The family has grown sizable, with many servants, but not enough martial artists to protect them. Acquire ten ninth-grade martial artists as family guards to earn 100 incense merit!

On the new personal panel, the family progress task required ten ninth-grade martial artists to serve as guards. With the Bald Wolf, he was nearly halfway there.

Wang Han, Ma Chao, Hu Shi, and the Bald Wolf—four in total. Six more ninth-grade martial artists and the task would be complete.

Wang Han and Ma Chao guarded the home, though their strength was somewhat lacking. The next recruits should be capable of staying at home as guards.

Hu Shi managed intelligence within the magistrate's office, and Shen Lian was there as well, so there was no need for further arrangement in that area.

The Bald Wolf was planted inside the Black Wolf Gang, but one alone was too few. Su Yang planned to place another, perhaps two, ideally among the Black Wolf Gang's minor leaders near Osmanthus Street.

Among the three great families, he aimed to plant one ninth-grade martial artist in each.

Unfortunately, his stock of mind-controlling worms was running low. Only three remained, and the next batch would take four or five days to mature. For now, he would have to wait.

After leaving the alley near the Bald Wolf's home, Su Yang headed straight toward Sanhe Street beside Osmanthus Street, where another Black Wolf Gang minor leader was in charge.

Having collected protection fees, even a pretense of diligence was necessary. Thus, every night, the gang assigned minor leaders to patrol their respective territories. All Su Yang had to do was wait on the street.

He found a battered chair by the roadside. Nearby, an old wonton stall stood in ruins, and a woman's body lay in the weeds, partly covered by the stall's tattered tent—likely dead, though no one had yet discovered her.

Tap, tap, tap...

At the end of the street, the sound of a cane tapping against the flagstones echoed closer.

Under the moonlit night, a hunched old man with beady eyes, a drooping mustache, and wrinkled skin walked along, dragging a rope and leaning on a cane. Two girls were tied to the rope behind him, one about fifteen or sixteen, the other around twenty-four or twenty-five. Both kept their heads down and followed without resistance, even when they saw Su Yang sitting by the street.

They had most likely been sold.

"Young man, you shouldn't be out so late," the old man rasped in a weak voice as he passed Su Yang, bringing with him a stench of urine.

Su Yang said nothing, only watching the old man depart, sensing something amiss but unable to pinpoint it.

After waiting another half an hour, the Black Wolf Gang patrol finally arrived. Su Yang subdued them, then interrogated them for the address of the Sanhe Street minor leader.

The Sanhe Street minor leader, nicknamed Fat Wolf, had a fondness for older women. When Su Yang found him, he was at an old woman's house—old enough to be his mother. One punch knocked him down, and a mind-controlling worm was forced down his throat. Faced with life or death, Fat Wolf abandoned his loyalty to the gang, pledged allegiance to Su Yang, and, upon receiving a ninth-grade aged herb, grinned from ear to ear.

Another ninth-grade martial artist joined his ranks, leaving five slots to fill to complete the family progress task. Tomorrow, he would search near the three great families.

Night had fallen.

Upon returning home, Pan Yinlian was still awake, waiting in his room, her eyes full of sultry charm and her body draped in gauzy silk. He pulled her into his arms, delighting in her soft warmth.

"Husband..."

Outside the city.

The rebels near Yanggu County were led by King Qing, but King Qing was not personally advancing on the county; the siege was being commanded by one of his generals.

Liang Panxiong, a fifth-grade martial artist.

Rumor had it that his mother was a bear demon who, for reasons unknown, went mad and devoured Liang Panxiong's father. Afterward, she had not harmed Liang Panxiong's grandfather and instead fled into the wild forest, never to be seen again.