Chapter 9: Followers? City Administrators

Over the past few days, Li Mingxing had been traversing this city, striving to complete his three assigned tasks. His progress had been commendable; the first task was already accomplished, and he had exchanged with the beautiful bartender for three fierce demon slaves and one temporary worker who could boost the efficiency of a hundred demon slaves by ten percent.

As for the other two tasks, he was only halfway through. After all, not every day brought deaths in the city, nor could every corpse be used by Li Mingxing to harvest flesh and blood. All he could do was search and wait for an opportunity to enter the inner world.

On the tenth day, having finished one leg of his journey and planning to return to his own city to inspect the final construction results, Li Mingxing suddenly sensed someone was following him.

Alert to such matters, Li Mingxing was exceedingly vigilant. His current identity was anything but ordinary; if someone discovered who he was in the real world, trouble would be endless.

Thus, he deliberately led his pursuer into a deserted alley. When the stalker entered, Li Mingxing spun around, charging behind him.

Blocking the pursuer’s path, Li Mingxing was surprised to recognize him: one of the university students who had joined him in exploring that residential complex.

However, now the student wore dark circles under his eyes, looking as if he hadn’t slept properly for days.

Seeing Li Mingxing confront him, the student immediately dropped to his knees. “Please accept me under your command!”

Li Mingxing was startled by this gesture, stepping back two paces. “What are you doing? I have no reason to take you in, especially since you’ve been following me these past few days. What’s the meaning of this?”

“Please, you must accept me!” the student pleaded, quickly explaining his motive. When he’d visited that residential complex with the group, he’d sensed a sinister chill and been deeply afraid. Yet the next day, while searching for his classmates, the feeling was gone. His first thought was that his classmates possessed some kind of ability.

Later, he realized it wasn’t his classmates, but Li Mingxing—who had been with them—that was extraordinary.

Originally, he dismissed it as a joke, but subsequent events changed everything. His girlfriend had run off with another man. That night, after drinking heavily, he killed them both.

He’d hidden their bodies for now, but knew he couldn’t keep it secret for long. In desperation, he thought of Li Mingxing.

He imagined Li Mingxing to be some sort of cultivator, like those in fantasy novels; under his protection, a murder or two would be inconsequential.

So he began secretly watching Li Mingxing, seeking a chance to plead his case.

But Li Mingxing had been busy, gathering materials for his tasks, never noticing he was being followed. The student observed all of Li Mingxing’s actions.

He noticed that sometimes Li Mingxing would fixate on certain people, sometimes act wildly, even kill nearby individuals, always taking out a bottle-like object afterward.

This only reinforced his belief: Li Mingxing must be a member of some sect sent to walk the mundane world. Following him would guarantee safety.

He’d wanted to pledge himself to Li Mingxing, but could never find the right moment, until now.

Having listened, Li Mingxing found himself intrigued. The student's actions were impulsive, but instead of fleeing, he’d remained calm in the city, seeking someone who could protect him.

From his appearance, he hadn’t slept for days; when not following Li Mingxing, who knew where he hid himself. He’d avoided detection, and even the bodies hadn’t been found by the police. All this suggested he was a promising candidate.

Still, Li Mingxing needed to be cautious. He questioned the student about his identity and everything he’d done these past days.

At last, Li Mingxing said, “Zhao Wenbin, I understand your intentions. But I need to know what you can do, and what you’ll offer me if you follow. If you’re just someone who’ll bring trouble, why should I accept you?”

Zhao Wenbin hesitated. “I’m in the civil engineering department. Apart from my own field, I don’t really—”

“That’s enough. I still need to kill eleven people. Take these two bottles, and if you can kill eleven people before midnight, I’ll accept you. If not, I won’t help you at all,” Li Mingxing interrupted.

Zhao Wenbin hesitated, but finally took the bottles. Li Mingxing added, “Remember to return before midnight, or I can’t guarantee I’ll be here.”

Zhao Wenbin nodded heavily, slipped the bottles into his pockets, and left.

After he departed, Li Mingxing felt relieved. Watching Zhao Wenbin’s retreating figure, he believed the student might indeed survive and return.

Li Mingxing decided that if Zhao Wenbin returned, he’d keep him in his city, assigning him to manage construction. Once Li Mingxing completed more tasks and could recruit followers, he’d see about getting Zhao Wenbin a better spirit body.

Thinking of followers, Li Mingxing remembered Aisha from the inner world. He’d been searching for her these past days, but neither his scroll nor Aisha’s scent could help him find her.

This left Li Mingxing frustrated. He resolved that after completing this task, he’d ask his mentor how to locate subordinates—else, recruiting followers in the inner world only to lose them would be truly troublesome.

As Li Mingxing was contemplating all this, Zhao Wenbin returned. Li Mingxing saw a faint black aura enveloping him.

Zhao Wenbin’s shirt was gone; he carried a small bag, walking cautiously into the alley. He took out the two bottles Li Mingxing had given him, and both now glowed with the light that indicated they were full.

Li Mingxing nodded in satisfaction. “Stay in my city for a while. When this matter is settled, I’ll give you an official identity.”

“Your city?” Zhao Wenbin exclaimed.

“That’s right, my city. But once there, you won’t be able to access the internet or enjoy many other benefits.” Li Mingxing chuckled, dragging Zhao Wenbin toward the residential complex.

They hadn’t gone far when the sound of police sirens echoed nearby. Clearly, Zhao Wenbin had chosen a crowded area for his killings, and didn’t mind stirring up even bigger trouble.

Once they reached Li Mingxing’s rented unit, Li Mingxing grew solemn. “You must be certain about this. If you enter, you’ll never be able to leave.”

“No need, I’ve thought it through,” Zhao Wenbin replied firmly.

“Then sign this. Once you do, you’ll be my subordinate.” As he spoke, Li Mingxing produced a piece of parchment. Unlike the previous contract he’d used for Yin Haitao, this was a different kind.

According to its terms, Zhao Wenbin would become the city’s administrator, forfeiting any chance of returning to the real world.

Within Li Mingxing’s city, he would wield absolute authority—at least over one district. If Li Mingxing agreed, Zhao Wenbin could even become the city projection’s controller.

Zhao Wenbin had rights, too: he could live in the city until Li Mingxing’s death, have his own residence, command five slaves, and request Li Mingxing to bring one or two women for him.

If he became the projection controller, he would manage the city’s construction in Li Mingxing’s absence.

Such benefits far outweighed the loss of internet or novels, at least for Zhao Wenbin.

After reading the contract, Zhao Wenbin signed his name on the spot.

Contract in hand, Li Mingxing made a special trip to the mysterious hotel, spending a black demon stone to acquire a spirit body for Zhao Wenbin.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Wenbin’s spirit body was exceptional—not only did he receive a vampire bat, a creature neither wholly undead nor alive, but also two skills.

One was the Wisdom Spell, which allowed him to study magic—a prospect that made Li Mingxing consider recruiting Zhao Wenbin as a follower.

However, the other skill convinced him otherwise, and he finally decided to appoint Zhao Wenbin as city administrator.