Jiang Cheng clapped his hands, then suddenly laughed. Chen Sheng also laughed, and they both walked over to An Chen, patting his shoulder with smiles.
"You might feel disgusted or very uncomfortable, but it's alright. We've all been through it. This is a hurdle that almost all Cultivator need to overcome."
Jiang Cheng took back his longsword and patted his back again.
Looking at the blood almost gushing from the neck, An Chen felt his stomach churn.
He watched a life ebb away before his eyes, and the one who ended that life was himself.
I killed someone… I killed someone…
This sentence echoed in An Chen's mind.
But he ultimately suppressed these thoughts.
He knew that everything Jiang Cheng said was correct.
This was the dangerous Nine Provinces. If he didn't kill, someone would surely kill him—mountain bandits, hostile forces, or someone else…
It was foreseeable that he would very likely have to kill again in the future. Now that he had overcome his fear, he wouldn't be afraid next time.
Moreover, these people were indeed extremely wicked; by killing them, he was also eliminating a scourge for the people.
An Chen felt relieved.
An Chen's face remained expressionless, and with the face mask, Jiang Cheng even thought he was somewhat unperturbed.
But he couldn't imagine the tumultuous waves An Chen had just experienced internally.
An Chen took two deep breaths, calmed down, and looked up at Jiang Cheng.
"What about the rest?"
He was referring to those he had knocked out, the few survivors Jiang Cheng had left, and the Gang leader.
Jiang Cheng must have had a reason for specifically leaving survivors.
"They will all be killed later, but we have to wait a bit. One, we need to drive these guys away, and two, I still have a small experiment…"
The three turned to look at the courtyard full of people behind them. These people were clearly stunned, all standing still.
These people hadn't experienced much of this kind of thing. Some had never even seen such fierce fighting scenes, let alone people dying by sword and blade.
They were just tricked into being laborers, their only use being to exchange their physical strength for remuneration, which, of course, was directly handed over to the Gang.
Especially Wang Zhaoyang, who immediately vomited on the spot with several others.
"The Cultivation Technique these people gave you is not a real Cultivation Technique; it's fake!"
Chen Sheng searched two tattered books from the Gang leader and, after a quick glance, pulled out the fake one.
This statement caused the stunned crowd to erupt in a clamor.
But Chen Sheng didn't listen to what they were shouting at all.
"I am a Disciple of Qingfeng Sect, everyone quiet!"
Chen Sheng took out his identity token and held it up in front of him, regardless of whether these people recognized it or not.
Hearing the words "Qingfeng Sect," these people quieted down.
For the people of Qingfeng City, Qingfeng Sect was a mysterious and powerful School, and its Disciples were all very strong.
This was why, every time Qingfeng Sect opened its gates, countless people would try their hardest to send their children in.
If they got in, they would live like immortals in the future.
"This person, while indeed a Cultivator, has low strength and is the weakest among Cultivator! He appears glamorous but is actually a fraud!"
He then pointed to the other Gang members.
"They are not your Senior Brothers; they are evildoers! Their hands are stained with the blood of innocent people! They deserve to die!"
These few sentences caused another uproar.
"But… but I clearly feel my strength has increased…"
"Long-term exercise leads to normal physical strength growth."
An Chen interjected, immediately making that person's eyes go blank as he stared blankly at his own hands.
"You are merely tools they use to accumulate wealth. Now… you no longer need to sweat and bleed for this Gang. You are free."
Some smarter people, hearing this, immediately turned and left, rushing out of the courtyard gate and running further and further away. Some, though they didn't fully understand, saw their companions running out and followed suit.
In a short while, only a few people remained in the courtyard.
This included Wang Zhaoyang.
An Chen pointed at Wang Zhaoyang and said:
"Why aren't you leaving?"
Wang Zhaoyang stepped forward and pointed at himself.
"Although these guys are liars, I… I feel like I still have some talent. Can you take me to Qingfeng Sect? I also want to become a Cultivator!"
Wang Zhaoyang was overjoyed in his heart.
Actually, in School, hearing his classmates' taunts, he had figured it out: these people were just using him as free labor.
And he felt that he indeed hadn't changed much.
But… mistakenly entering a wolf's den, then being rescued by a Disciple of a Cultivation School, and following this Disciple back to the School to become a Disciple and Cultivate.
Isn't this the perfect opening script for a protagonist's story?
Next, this group of people would probably discover his extraordinary talent and take him back to the Sect!
However, An Chen and the other two exchanged glances, and finally, Jiang Cheng said strangely:
"We just opened the immortal gates to recruit Disciples a few days ago, right in the city center. Didn't you go try?"
"I… I missed it. At that time, my mom was sick, and I was at home taking care of her, so I couldn't get away."
Jiang Cheng suddenly found this sentence a bit familiar, then realized and pointed at An Chen, saying:
"Are you two from the same mother?"
An Chen's eyelids twitched, and he glared fiercely at Wang Zhaoyang.
What kind of terrible luck was this!
If Wang Zhaoyang was going to make up an excuse, he should at least make up a reliable… a different reliable one!
Why did it have to be exactly the same as his own!
But An Chen still said without changing his expression:
"No, there are so many common people in the city. Isn't it normal to have similar experiences?"
"Makes sense." Jiang Cheng nodded. "This guy isn't as good as you; you could even catch up to a carriage."
Chen Sheng cleared his throat and said:
"Since you missed it, it means you have no fate with Qingfeng Sect. The next time the immortal gates open, you'll probably be overage. If you truly want to Cultivate, there are some legitimate small Cultivation forces in the city; you can try your luck with them."
If he truly wanted to Cultivate, he would never have just missed Qingfeng Sect's Spiritual Root test. Even if something truly came up, he should have acted like An Chen.
Qingfeng Sect certainly hoped to have good talents join them, but it was impossible to let everyone join easily.
"I… I really do have some talent. I learn things very quickly. Let me try, let me try!"
"Hurry up and leave, or I'll take action!"
Chen Sheng's face hardened, and he raised his hand as if to strike.
But Wang Zhaoyang was stubborn and refused to leave, even directly hugging Chen Sheng's thigh, pleading bitterly:
"Don't be so heartless! What if my Spiritual Root is very good!"
"Are you sick?!"
Jiang Cheng snickered next to An Chen.
"Hey Senior Brother, that Talisman I gave you last time, the Laughing Charm, do you still have it?"
An Chen nodded and took out the unique Talisman from his qiankun bag.
"It's still here."
The name of this Talisman was too strange, and coupled with not knowing its use or effectiveness, An Chen hadn't dared to use it.
Jiang Cheng pointed at Wang Zhaoyang, smiling, and said:
"Didn't I tell you to test the Talisman last time? Isn't this your chance?"
At this moment, Wang Zhaoyang had no idea what he was about to experience, still clinging to Chen Sheng's thigh.