Chapter 28: Straight Hook, Salty Bait, First Battle Within the Cult
It was no wonder that so many Evil Spirit Masters and semi Evil Spirit Masters truly believed that the Holy Spirit Cult was their sanctuary, a harbor that could shelter them as outcasts, a faith worth defending with their lives.
For this group of people who were treated as less than human, simply having a place where they belonged and could interact with others like themselves was already something extremely rare.
Even if that sense of ease was limited, even if that stability was only an illusion, it could still become an emotional outlet for many people.
Outside the Holy Spirit Cult, they were Evil Spirit Masters who killed without blinking, refined Spirits, and toyed with corpses through sinister methods. But on this street, at least for a short while, they could temporarily set aside their emotions and identities and act like ordinary people.
Most Evil Spirit Masters had not wanted to become Evil Spirit Masters in the beginning. Like Chen Ming, they had been forced onto that path when they had no other choice, then gradually began associating with evil people until they themselves truly became part of evil.
Watching the constantly changing expression on Chen Ming's face, Zhang Peng did not know what to say. He simply spent 2 silver coins at a nearby stall and bought 2 candied hawthorns, 1 for himself and 1 for Chen Ming.
Although the price was several times higher than that of ordinary candied hawthorns outside, this really was just ordinary candied hawthorn, rock sugar, hawthorn, and a wooden stick. There were no other fruits, nor was there any smell of blood or decay. It was simply an ordinary, perfectly balanced sweet and sour candied hawthorn.
The 2 of them walked down the street like an ordinary grandfather and grandson.
Yet the more Chen Ming ate this common and simple candied hawthorn, tasting the sweetness of the sugar and the tartness of the hawthorn blooming in his mouth, the more inexplicably bitter it felt.
Zhang Peng wore a black robe, so outsiders could not identify him as the 6th Consecrated Elder of the Holy Spirit Cult. They only assumed he was some Evil Spirit Master strolling around with a Disciple or junior.
Along the way, Chen Ming saw not only low level Evil Spirit Masters, but also ordinary people busy at the stalls. These people showed no signs of cultivation, nor did they have any tendency toward evil Martial Souls. They were simply ordinary people.
"Evil Spirit Masters have families too," Zhang Peng said calmly when he noticed Chen Ming's confusion. "Most Evil Spirit Masters are born from mutations of their Martial Souls. The overwhelming majority of these people are rejected by those around them, but that does not mean their families always abandon them."
"Besides, some Evil Spirit Masters fall in love with ordinary people, and even the children of Evil Spirit Masters do not necessarily possess Spirit Power..."
"In short, although it is very difficult for ordinary people to live inside the Holy Spirit Cult, it is not impossible. Moreover, there is an unwritten rule inside the Cult. Even if there are grudges between members, one must not target the other party's ordinary relatives first. Settling accounts after victory is one thing, but taking the initiative to start there is absolutely forbidden."
"Once the precedent is set that ordinary relatives can be targeted in internal conflicts, then even a Titled Douluo cannot guarantee that the Evil Spirit Masters below will continue to remain rational."
"When people are pushed to the limit, they can do anything. These ordinary people are often the inner support that allows some Evil Spirit Masters to keep living. Once that support collapses, even an Evil Spirit Master who seems ordinary might cause a huge disaster."
"If such a person starts indiscriminately retaliating against the Holy Spirit Cult, then the one who caused the matter will also be held accountable. Killing is allowed, but the Spirit Master must be eliminated first..."
"The Holy Spirit Cult is evil, but many things cannot really be explained clearly with a few simple ideas of right and wrong. What you see today is only the tip of the iceberg. The good, the bad, the people forced into evil by circumstance, all of them exist inside the Holy Spirit Cult, and each person's perspective is different..."
Zhang Peng watched Chen Ming finish the candied hawthorn, then took the stick from his hand and casually put it into his Spirit Tool.
"Also, remember this. Even inside the living quarters, never casually leave behind traces such as your blood. The rules on the surface are strict, but rules cannot control everyone, and they definitely cannot control every detail."
"Open bloodshed inside the Holy Spirit Cult is rare. Conspiracies, ambushes, poison, curses... these are the truly deadly threats, the kind that cannot withstand the light."
"If a Martial Soul is special enough and the price paid is great enough, then even a Spirit Master can use a curse to kill a Titled Douluo. This has happened more than once in the history of the Holy Spirit Cult..."
"Absolutely, absolutely, absolutely never let down your guard completely inside the Holy Spirit Cult. Even Evil Spirit Masters themselves cannot always fully understand the thinking of other Evil Spirit Masters. The chance of an accident is definitely not zero. Even between two people with no old grudges, it is still possible for one to scheme against the other."
"The group known as Evil Spirit Masters has never lacked twisted villains and monsters who are evil by nature."
Zhang Peng walked slowly while leading Chen Ming, explaining various matters about the Holy Spirit Cult. At last, after crossing a square and walking along a main road for about 10 minutes, Zhang Peng brought Chen Ming to the front of an arena.
This place imitated the structure of a Spirit Dueling Arena. The ground carried a faint blood colored hue, and the air held a weak smell of decay.
"This is the Arena, a place where low to mid level Evil Spirit Masters spar and wager their lives. Both sides put up stakes, then engage in a life and death battle under witnesses. It is a common place for people to settle grudges."
"Teacher, what should I do? Are there ranking matches or something like that here?"
"There are, but not here." Zhang Peng revealed a strange expression. "Do you remember the path I brought you along? Walk back once, then walk back here again."
"Repeat that twice. On the 3rd trip, halfway to this place, turn around and shout: You've followed long enough. If you have the guts, come to the platform and fight me. Then someone will naturally appear to be your opponent."
"Fishing... fishing? And with such a straight hook and salty bait, this..." The sense of order Chen Ming had only just managed to build regarding the Holy Spirit Cult shattered on the spot.
"Even a straight hook can catch fish. Just go. I will secretly stop anyone at Spirit Elder level or above. At most, you will only have to deal with Spirit Grandmasters. With your resistance and your Martial Soul, an ordinary Spirit Grandmaster should not be your match. It just depends on whether you are willing to risk your life."
After throwing out those words, Zhang Peng vanished from Chen Ming's sight without waiting for any reply.
Looking at the blood red building in front of him, Chen Ming sighed, then began following Zhang Peng's instructions, walking back and forth and truly going out to fish with a straight hook and salty bait.
On his 3rd trip back toward the arena, Chen Ming turned around as Zhang Peng had instructed and shouted loudly behind him,
"You've followed long enough. If you have the guts, come to the platform and fight me!"
As soon as Chen Ming's voice fell, a furtive looking Spirit Master was indeed provoked into stepping out. He glared at Chen Ming with a vicious expression.
"Kid, you've got guts. You refused the road to heaven and insisted on barging through hell's gate. I was planning to follow you and kill you anyway, but since you're so eager to die, then you can only blame yourself!"
"Offending Young Master Lu was the greatest mistake of your life!"
.....
[Check Out My Patreon For Advance Chapters On All My Fanfics!]
[[email protected]/Eldryx]