Becoming evil makes you ten times stronger, but becoming a demon gives you hundredfold strength

The main hall of Qingfeng Gate, the plaza in front of it, was originally a place of joy and harmony. Meng Yu was not particular about hierarchy, and he treated his subordinates very well. Therefore, many people liked to come here to sit and chat, even when Sect Master Meng was not around. Even without the opportunity to learn martial skills, the old brothers and newcomers could still enjoy themselves and play together.

But now, this place had turned into an Asura Field, filled with extraordinary bloodshed.

One by one, bamboos were erected, and the heads of men soaked in medicinal liquids were hung upon them. Those familiar faces caused everyone below to tremble in fear.

With the Divine Martial Dynasty's army pressing the border, Meng Yu ordered a mobilization within his territory. Of course, before the mobilization, he summoned all the local leaders and officials to unify their thoughts.

Meng Yu told everyone three things.

First, he had a way to deal with the Divine Martial King that would lead to a great victory.

Second, there was no talking about peace. This time, as the Divine Martial Dynasty targeted him, while others could surrender and even keep their wealth and glory intact, he could not. For him, it would only result in beheading.

Third, he understood the instinct to survive and offered everyone a way out. Within three days, those who were willing to leave could do so, provided they left behind half of their property. He promised not to pursue or kill them, thus, from that point on, all debts and grudges would be settled.

Meng Yu offered no explanation for the first point, such as how he would win. But most people didn't believe him. In history, those rebels and the like, always talked about a ten wins, ten losses situation. However, only very few were remembered, with the majority becoming laughingstocks.

With the second point, he blocked any persuasion from everyone, just like Lu Su persuaded Sun Quan.

"If you, Lu Su, surrender to Cao, you will be sent back to your hometown, your tenure unharmed. But if the general surrenders to Cao, where will you go?"

Now, those who persuade me to surrender are disloyal and have ulterior motives!

Well, since the boss has said so, there's nothing anyone can do about it.

Regarding the third point, leaving half of the property behind and getting lost may seem harsh, but actually, here at Qingfeng Gate, all growth has come from the efforts of Meng Yu. Many people arrived with nothing and flourished within three years. Take Wang Fugui, for example, who has accumulated over ten thousand taels of silver from rewards alone. Liu Qingshuang's uncle's pharmacy became the largest in the province. Many others, who didn't find success in the Jianghu or the Imperial Court, came to Meng Yu and received countless opportunities.

Meng Yu was a generous person. Whether you were talented or not, as long as you were honest, obedient, and free of bad habits, you could always get by under his care, and it was quite easy to rise and gain resources.

After Meng Yu stated these three points, during the following three days, people began to leave gradually. Meng Yu did not try to retain them. As long as they didn't deliberately mess up their work or flee with public funds before leaving, then it was all good; they were free to go, including selling their houses and taking their families with them.

A continuous stream of people left Meng Yu's territory, with many praising Meng Yu for his integrity as they departed.

But there were always some odd ones who blamed everything on Meng Yu, or those who, when leaving, wanted to make a big score, so some secretly contacted others with the aim of ambushing Meng Yu. They sought to offer Meng Yu's head in exchange for riches and glory, some fled with public funds, and then there was the man in front of him... Meng Yu was almost at a loss for words.

"Leader Meng, you might as well kill me. It's my fault. You were not unkind to me. It was my greed that blinded me. I will repay your great kindness and mercy in my next life..."

Who was this person, so eager to repay his debt of gratitude?

This man was among the second group that came to seek refuge. When he arrived, he was a destitute and sick scholar. Meng Yu saved him from his illness. Seeing that he had knowledge of literature and arithmetic, Meng Yu appointed him as a storekeeper. Then, just a few days ago, he had intentionally set fire to another person's warehouse, causing tens of thousands of arrows to be destroyed. And yet, this man could still stand in front of Meng Yu as if nothing had happened, exuding a facade of deep concern.

Unfortunately, he was facing Meng Yu. His hidden joy and excitement were detected through the Growing Golden Lotus, and his personal guards acted, discovering that his family had already left, leaving him alone. Externally, he indicated that he was willing to die for Meng Yu, but hoped his family would be safe.

If it weren't for the letters found in his house, which revealed communication between him and the Divine Martial King's advisers promising a bright future for his son and more, he would have stubbornly denied everything.

"My lord, your heart is too soft, you're not someone who can achieve great things. My wife and children are already safe. You still have a chance to surrender..."

He loudly stated, as if there was even a bit of responsibility on Meng Yu's part, as if Meng Yu had held his family hostage, how else would he have dared to be so bold?

"Crack."

With a wave of Meng Yu's hand, a personal guard swiftly decapitated the man with a single stroke.

Then, several other old brothers were brought up.

Each had their own reasons, each believed that Meng Yu should let them go. Their relatives had connections with the Divine Martial King and could potentially speak on behalf of Meng Yu.

"Kill them, just kill them all..."

Meng Yu waved his hand resignedly. As a superior, these men were supposed to be the Attendant Officers, Secretaries, Generals, and Managers of the New Dynasty. Yet, each of them chose their own path to death.

Unable to kill Meng Yu, some of them even thought about offering the heads of Wang Fugui or Liu Qingshuang to the Divine Martial King!

What were they all thinking?

Right then, a messenger, riding hard and fast, reported that Master Su, Su Qingqing, had arrived.

"Very well, very well."

Many of Meng Yu's subordinates suddenly let out a long sigh, as if they saw a savior coming.

This made Meng Yu quite resigned. In the eyes of these men, he was as good as a dead man. They only followed Meng Yu out of loyalty and face. Many of them had even sent their young children away. Although they weren't like the storekeeper, deep down, they really didn't hold out much hope for Meng Yu.

Alright, Meng Yu knew that the hearts of people should not be tested, but still...

He was indignant.

Meng Yu knew the principle of treating great kindness as enmity.

"I can turn the tables immediately, I can quickly reduce the Imperial Court to dust, and you wanderers of Jianghu, scholars who failed multiple examinations, refugees who drifted here, are about to encounter a massive fortune. Can't I test people's hearts?

"Who pulled you out of the mire?

"For three years, I have painstakingly distributed money to everyone, practiced alchemy, including instructing in Martial Skills and providing resources. This is truly a kindness as heavy as a mountain!

"And now, when I am about to become the emperor, you will be ministers, generals, Prime Ministers, and even enjoy wealth and honor for generations.

"Why should it be you?

"Just because you arrived early?

"You don't even need to fight bloody battles or pour out your hearts, yet you can enjoy the fruits of victory!

"So, I just want to see how you all choose. Are you people who repay kindness or heartless beasts?

"Don't say I didn't give you a chance to choose. I promised you could leave!"

The discussion below was full of exuberance. Wang Fugui was a very steady person. He specifically asked Su Qingqing what preparation she had made for this time. Then, Su Qingqing stated her stance cleanly and neatly, expressing that she had been traveling the world previously, unaware of Divine Martial King's actions, and had no tacit agreement or indifference. She was very, very sorry.

"Now that I know, I've come to visit Meng Yu. I am absolutely supportive of him," she said, bluntly questioning the Divine Martial King, asking if he had water in his brain?

Su Qingqing's promise almost made people below celebrate with gongs and drums.

Well... Such popularity of Su Qingqing made Meng Yu a bit jealous, but then again, she was beautiful, with a large bust, unentangled in mundane affairs, and had an extremely good reputation... Well...

Meng Yu was also in a very, very good mood. The Divine Martial King's army was pressing near, and he was not worried at all. In the worst case, it would just be a fight from start to finish. What he worried about was Su Qingqing asking him to sacrifice for the so-called greater good of the world and the people. Then, he would have no choice but to take Su Qingqing hostage and find out how to ascend to the Upper Realm. Maybe then their relationship with the Moon-Watching Sect would turn into enmity.

"Decorate with lights and celebrate Su Qingqing's arrival in style, I won't go to greet her. And leave those heads hanging," he commanded.

"My lord, that mustn't be!"

Upon hearing Meng Yu's words, the people below turned pale with shock.

Now everyone finally understood Meng Yu's trump card. It was waiting for Su Qingqing to come after all. Of course, perhaps she was a bit late, but no matter why she only arrived now, Meng Yu, this was not okay. You can't show her a cold face!

"Enough, follow my orders," retorted Meng Yu with a cold snort.

Well, his subordinates could only sigh and act accordingly.

Everyone could understand Meng Yu's feelings. Su Qingqing had promised to take Meng Yu's matters into her own hands and ensure his safety. Yet when the Divine Martial King's army approached, she was nowhere to be found, and Meng Yu had killed many people. These were deaths that should not have happened if Su Qingqing had stepped out in time.

Many who defected to the Divine Martial King understood that the Divine Martial King must have persuaded Master Su, who stood on the side of the Imperial Court!

Meng Yu just quietly sat on his chair, waiting for Su Qingqing's arrival, appearing grand and imposing, like a resentful young man. Plus, with those heads hung around him, it was a bit like... a member of a Demon Cult?

Well, this was Meng Yu's attitude. He felt it was only reasonable. Couldn't he be a little bit temperamental?

With Su Qingqing's personality, once she saw this, she would feel even more guilty.

An hour later, Su Qingqing arrived, escorted by a crowd into the hall. Meng Yu watched her languidly. Hmm, she came alone, where was her junior sister?

Right, the woman accompanying her was not tall, only about 1.5 meters, a small turnip head. Judging by the sound of her footsteps, she was of Innate-level cultivation, and quite ordinary, not worth mentioning.

Then, the next moment, Meng Yu tensed up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, his fur standing on end!

Meng Yu's Divine Sense and hearing could easily determine who was coming. Those familiar footsteps were unmistakable, but there was an extra person among them!

Moon-Watching Sect, I know you're crazy, but are you so crazy that you sent a Golden Core Master, possibly your Sect Master, to come down to a First Grade Minor World?

"Do you not realize that Golden Core Masters in a First Grade Minor World are extremely vulnerable and could be erased by the Heavenly Dao if they get injured?

"Aren't you afraid I'll kill her with a single strike?

"This is a true Golden Core Master!

"You fools, idiots, morons, and you have not a shred of crisis awareness!"