After arriving at the City Lord's estate, Lie Feng parted ways with Zheng Jian and Ji Wushi and randomly chose a guest room to stay in.
He placed the ring he carried on the table and lay down on the bed, instantly feeling much lighter.
For days he had been exposed to wind and rain, constantly on edge. He truly needed a proper rest, and soon fell asleep.
Ji Wushi specifically instructed the others not to disturb Lie Feng's rest, then went with Zheng Jian to inspect the surrendered captives.
Dozens of cultivators were kneeling on the ground, tightly bound with hemp ropes. Around them stood over a hundred rebel soldiers, all waiting to see how Ji Wushi would deal with these prisoners.
Ji Wushi examined the group and said calmly,
"Yuan Hong has been killed by Lie Feng. What do you plan to do from now on?"
The cultivators trembled. Yuan Hong's death shocked them all—he was a sixth-realm expert, not someone easily slain.
Morale collapsed at once. One of them spoke up,
"We have already surrendered. We only beg you to spare our lives."
At once, the surrounding rebels shouted angrily,
"You killed so many of our brothers and still want to live? How could we face the dead if we let you go?"
Seeing the rebels' fury, the captives felt all hope drain away and lowered their heads in despair.
Then Ji Wushi spoke again—words that stunned everyone present.
"We would truly like to skin you alive. But you're lucky—Lie Feng said you may leave.
Lie Feng is our leader, and we obey his words.
However, you must leave tonight. From this day on, you are forbidden from setting foot in Zhongzhou City. Understood?"
Zheng Jian stood frozen, as did everyone else. Some wanted to protest, but Ji Wushi gestured for them to remain calm.
They trusted Ji Wushi's judgment, and seeing that even Zheng Jian remained silent, they stepped back and watched quietly.
The cultivators kowtowed repeatedly in gratitude and were released that very night.
Soon after, people rushed up to Ji Wushi.
"Why did you let them go?"
"Since when did Lie Feng become our leader?"
"What are you doing exactly?"
Faced with the barrage of questions, Ji Wushi waved his hands helplessly.
"Could you not all ask at once?"
When everyone finally quieted down, he explained,
"I know this feels sudden. But if we want enough strength to oppose the court, we must bring him over to our side."
"It's not that we doubt your judgment," someone said.
"But making him leader right away—isn't that too much?"
Ji Wushi smiled.
"Why not? Is it because he isn't strong enough?"
Everyone exchanged looks. Lie Feng had killed Yuan Hong—who would dare say he wasn't strong?
After a moment, they said,
"It's not that… it's just that he's a demonic cultivator."
Ji Wushi replied,
"Then has he slaughtered innocents like the demonic cultivators in the rumors?"
Though their time with Lie Feng had been short, they hadn't seen him indiscriminately killing anyone. Aside from the tense first meeting, he was actually easy to get along with.
"…No," they admitted. "But promoting him to leader so suddenly still feels abrupt."
"I understand your concerns," Ji Wushi said gently.
"But please trust us. Everything we do is for the greater cause—for overthrowing tyranny."
Hearing this, the others could only let the matter drop.
After everyone left to rest, Zheng Jian couldn't hold back anymore.
"What are you really thinking? Lie Feng hasn't even agreed to join us."
"True," Ji Wushi nodded. "I'll ask him tomorrow."
Zheng Jian sighed helplessly.
"And what if he refuses?"
Ji Wushi smiled confidently.
"He won't."
Meanwhile, Ji Wushi and Zheng Jian sent people to announce that Zhongzhou City had fallen into their hands and to calm the populace.
Another group accompanied Lie Feng to search for the bodies of Changqingzi and Zhao Dun.
Yuan Hong's men had handled corpses carelessly—simply throwing them into the wild to be devoured by beasts.
When Lie Feng finally found them, only bones remained. If not for the clothes still clinging to the skeletons, he wouldn't have recognized them.
After burying them, Lie Feng stood alone before the graves, silent—perhaps mourning the dead.
Ji Wushi and Zheng Jian arrived soon after and bowed solemnly.
Ji Wushi asked,
"Your master and junior brother are laid to rest. What do you plan to do next?"
Lie Feng sighed.
"I don't know. I may just wander."
Zheng Jian interjected,
"Then have you considered joining us?"
Lie Feng smiled and shook his head.
"Why? The court is corrupt, cultivators oppress the people. As righteous men, shouldn't we stand up and break this injustice?"
Lie Feng replied,
"I don't have such lofty ideals. Serving the nation or the people has never crossed my mind."
Zheng Jian grew anxious and was about to argue further, but Ji Wushi raised a hand, signaling him to stop.
Lie Feng, now aware of their purpose, became curious—what argument would Ji Wushi use?
"Last night," Ji Wushi said calmly,
"I told those who surrendered that you were our leader, then let them go. That news should have spread by now."
Lie Feng was startled.
"That doesn't sound like persuasion. Are you trying to sell me out?"
Ji Wushi smiled.
"Not at all. I'm doing this for your sake."
"Spreading rumors that I'm the rebel leader is for my sake?"
"At the Zhongzhou Tournament, you were already branded a rebel in the court's eyes.
The court's policy has always been better to kill the wrong person than let one rebel live.
You're already wearing the rebel label—do you think you can return to your old life?
Not to mention, you killed Yuan Hong, a city lord."
Ji Wushi continued,
"Even if I hadn't spread the news, the court would soon learn of Yuan Hong's death. Then the assassinations would begin."
"You forget," Lie Feng said calmly, "I can kill those who come after me."
"You are strong. But the stronger you appear, the more the court will see you as a thorn that must be removed.
Can you fight the entire dynasty alone?
Don't forget—Da Qian has four Pillars of the State. Two of them have reached the seventh realm. If they move, are you confident you can win?"
Seeing Lie Feng hesitate, Ji Wushi pressed on.
"One man's strength is limited. Without my strategy, you might not have cornered Yuan Hong at all.
Join us, and we can watch each other's backs, share intelligence, advance and retreat together. It's far safer than standing alone."
"So from the very beginning," Lie Feng said slowly,
"everything was planned—including cooperating with me to kill Yuan Hong, all just to rope me in?"
"If I hadn't cooperated with you," Ji Wushi replied calmly,
"would you have abandoned your revenge?"
Lie Feng fell silent. He knew the answer.
Ji Wushi continued,
"The situation you're in wasn't created by me—it's the result of your own actions.
Joining us is simply the best choice you have now."
Lie Feng knew he was right, but still resisted a little.
"There's another option. I could submit to the court and accept amnesty."
Ji Wushi's expression shifted slightly. After a moment, he smiled.
"You won't."
"Why?"
"You don't fear authority. You have no loyalty to a ruler, no political ambition.
I don't believe you'd place yourself in a cage and let others control you."
"Maybe that's exactly who I am."
Ji Wushi smiled faintly.
"If the court ordered you to impose heavy taxes on the people, what would you do?"
Lie Feng remained silent.
"If the court ordered you to slaughter us rebels, what then? Kill us and continue oppressing the people?"
Still silence.
"If you disobey, you become the court's enemy.
But your status would also make you the enemy of every rebel force.
In the end, you wouldn't protect yourself—you'd only make more enemies. Why bother?"
Lie Feng sighed, then laughed.
"I admit defeat. You're clearly trying to recruit me to strengthen your forces—yet every word sounds like it's for my own good. What's worse is… I can't refute you."
Ji Wushi laughed as well.
"Then what's your answer?"
"I'll join."