335 Surrender (1/2)
Chapter 335: Surrender
Translator: TransnEditor: Transn
Maid Lotus turned around and asked Gu Shenwei in a low voice, ”Do you want the bandits dead or alive?”
If it was an hour ago, Gu Shenwei would not hesitate and would say he wanted them dead. Now that he had regained his composure, he started to think things through from the perspective of hegemony rather than a killer. These bandits, who were miles away, were merely tools used by the enemy. Even if they were all killed, it would not weaken the enemy, but it would be useful if he could rope them in.
”You have a way to make them listen to you?”
Maid Lotus nodded and looked at Taoist Duansheng who was kneeling on the ground as she said, ”The Dragon King spared your life, but you need to show your loyalty by doing some deeds of merit.”
”Yes, sure. Please tell me what to do, Fairy. I am willing to go through anything for you.”
”Make the bandits surrender and convince them to join the Great Snowmountain.”
Taoist Duansheng turned glum when he heard what she said, and he dared not accept the order. Although he was renown, he was merely a solitary bandit, and just his words alone were impossible to persuade those outlaws.
Maid Lotus then took out a small silk pouch and carefully pulled out three thin steel needles that were about two or three inches long. They were as thin as a hairspring and were hardly visible under the moonlight.
”I believe these three Bliss Needles are more than enough to attack six people. In order to round up bandits, one must catch their ringleader first. Do this and wait for the Dragon King. He expects to see six people rolling on the ground when he comes by.”
Taoist Duansheng had suffered under the hands of the Bliss Needle and knew what it was like. Afraid yet pleased, he repeatedly answered ”Yes” and accepted the needles with his both hands carefully. However, he did not get up and leave immediately.
”Lift your head up,” Maid Lotus ordered before she struck his forehead with a flying kick.
Taoist Duansheng's face lit up as he tried to channel his Qi. ”Thank you so much, Fairy,” he said.
”Don't assume that you are safe. If you dare to have other thoughts, I can make you feel like dying is better than living.”
Taoist Duansheng held the steel needles and kowtowed to Maid Lotus, before doing so to the Dragon King as well. ”I wouldn't dare to, I wouldn't dare. I swear to heaven, I will forever be loyal to the Dragon King and you, Fairy,” Taoist Duansheng said as he stood up and retreated, his back hunched the whole time. After several steps, he turned and put away the needles and ran toward the bandits who were miles away.
”And now you are known as 'Fairy'?” Gu Shenwei felt that there were some changes in Maid Lotus after she recovered from her qigong deviation.
”He just blurts it out without thinking. If you don't like it, I will forbid him to address me as that again later.”
”No need for that, it's quite a good title. ” Gu Shenwei looked at Maid Lotus and added, ”You are worthy of this name as well.”
The corners of Maid Lotus' mouth slightly turned up. She looked away, her face blushing a little as she did so.
Gu Shenwei realized what was different about her. Maid Lotus was more eager to help him and even seemed slightly impatient, as though she was in a hurry to repay his kindness.
He stayed by her when she was experiencing qigong deviation, and it seemed to have broken down a wall in her heart.
But Gu Shenwei warned himself to be careful, as Maid Lotus' thoughts were as unfathomable as the depths of the ocean and he could never be sure. Therefore, he quickly changed the subject by saying, ”The Blood Coagulation Pill is indeed a good way to control people.”
”It's a pity to use it on him, but at least he is smart. He immediately returned to ask for mercy after realizing that his Internal Breath was unstable. Using it to order him to get some things done is still worth it, I suppose.”
The two of them rode slowly on their horses. During which, Maid Lotus revealed all kinds of occult sciences from New Moon Hall without Gu Shenwei even asking. ”The Blood Coagulation Pill, once consumed, will stir up the Internal Breath of the person and cause his body to be heaty, the pain even more excruciating than that of the Bliss Needle; however, the person will not die. His Internal Strength will slowly disappear bit by bit within 49 days, followed by atrophy of the muscles, until he's only just a bag of skin. He can't do anything except swallowing food.”
There was a tinge of pride in her expression as she continued, ”In order to remove the pain and protect your Internal Strength, you would need to receive the Jueyin Touch within 49 days. What's funny is that the Jueyin Touch is also another means to control a person, but it counteracts with Blood Coagulation Pill when used together.”
”Just like Mama Xue's Peripheral Force?”
Maid Lotus nodded, ”Yeah, something like that. The Barren Sect was a branch from the New Moon Hall and specialized in kung fu from other non-mainstream schools; however, they are lacking in skill in the occult sciences when compared to us.”
She also introduced several other strange occult sciences that Gu Shenwei had never heard of. ”It's no wonder that the Golden Roc Fort vowed not to use them again when they signed The Agreement with New Moon Hall.”
”The Golden Roc Fort was short-sighted to remove one of its capabilities just to win the support of various powers. With their kung fu, they would naturally be invincible if they worked together with the New Moon Hall and its occult sciences. They could even take the emperor's throne if they wanted to.”
Holding her head high, Maid Lotus looked confident as she talked about these details. Gu Shenwei's heart stirred - he seemed to have touched a bit on the New Moon Hall's true ambitions. Maid Lotus would not be so confident for no reason and must have been unconsciously influenced by her Master as well.