Chapter 656 - - 519 Duge’s Emperor Plan_2

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Humph!

Long Yichen snorted and stepped aside, no longer speaking, leaving the decision-making to Duge.

Ding Chang and the others, having witnessed the power of Duge manipulating the Soul Suppressing Vase, dared not say a word. The terror of Qi Refiners had long been etched into their hearts. Moreover, controlling Underworld souls to kill at will, he might very well be an Evil Cultivator.

Orthodox Cultivators worry about karma and rarely take action against ordinary people.

It is said that once they kill too many people, they are beset by Heart Demons. When cultivating, it is extremely easy for them to be overtaken by their demons. Even if they are lucky enough to conquer the Heart Demon, overcoming the Tribulation becomes more difficult compared to other Cultivators. One misstep could result in their souls being scattered to the winds.

But Evil Cultivators don’t have these scruples, they don’t seek ascension to become immortals, they just yearn for a carefree and joyful life in the Mortal Realm, unconcerned when it comes to killing…

Ding Chang knew Duge might be an Evil Demon, but in the Heaven-class Yard, he was the only one left alive, even the steward was dead. Having barely survived, how could he dare divulge Duge’s secrets?

…

Duge fell silent for a moment, stepped forward, and, controlling the Dark God Power, lifted his own body and surveyed the people around him: “Do you want to live?”

“We do,” the voices of the young people were uneven.

“Do you hate this world?” Duge asked again.

“We hate it,” the response was much more synchronized this time, and Duge could even hear the deep resentment, the teeth-gritting, and the unforgettable pain in their voices.

“I am not a good person,” Duge said. As he spoke, he gestured towards the corpse-strewn Dragon Willow Villa, “These people died because of me. In less than a night, I killed over a thousand people. Are you afraid?”

A brief silence.

The leading boy stepped forward again, looking steadfastly at Duge: “We are not afraid, they were all bad people, and bad people deserve to die. You killed bad people, benefactor, you are a good person.”

“Not afraid.”

“We are not afraid.”

Recalling their past torments, these boys and girls quickly stood up, one by one, their expressions turning from panic to determination, with anger and pain mixed on many faces.

Duge motioned with his hand to lower it.

These children, after brutal training, knew the gesture well and promptly fell quiet.

“I can allow you to live, but I can’t give you the lives of normal people,” Duge said from high above, looking down at all the young boys and girls, “You won’t be able to marry, have children, farm, or do business like normal people.

If you follow me, your lives will be dark and without daylight. I will teach you martial arts, and your daily tasks will include killing people, arson, and you may also be hunted, labeled as Evil Demons, and shouted down by everyone. Are you willing to live such a life?”

A moment’s silence.

Still, it was the first boy who spoke up: “I am willing.”

Worried that his companions might not understand, he looked at Duge and continued, “Benefactor, the life we lived before was worse than that of pigs and dogs. We weren’t treated like humans or ghosts. We could no longer live normally in this world. Even if we follow benefactor in killing and arson, it will be much better than our past.”

His words awakened them from their dreams.

After being rescued by Duge, many children had fantasized about returning to the world of normal people, so the idea of killing and arson put them off.

But the boy’s words reminded them of their past experiences.

Yes!

After those horrifying experiences, they could no longer lead the lives of ordinary people.

Even if they were really let go, the experiences from Dragon Willow Villa were etched into their brains, and they would probably never forget them in this lifetime.

How unjust this world had been to them!

Hatred uncontrollably welled up from within them.

“I am willing to follow benefactor and be at your disposal.”

“I am too.”

“I am as well.”

More and more children stood behind the first boy, their eyes gradually firming.

“Good, I hope you don’t regret today’s decision,” Duge’s eyes swept over these pitiful children, settling on the leading boy, asking, “What’s your name?”

“Thirteen.” The boy hesitated for a moment before replying.

“Hmm?” Duge looked at him questioningly.

“Coming here, we lost our original names,” said the boy glancing at Ding Chang and speaking timidly, “Each of us only has a number, my number is thirteen.”

“Thirteen is good,” Duge smiled, “From now on, you’ll be called Sword Thirteen!”

“Thank you, benefactor, for granting me a surname,” the boy, quick-witted, promptly kneeled and thanked Duge with a bow.

Duge, manipulating Dark God Power, lifted him up and said, “Sword Thirteen, a man’s knees are valuable, from now on, with me, you need not kneel to anyone.”

“Yes,” Sword Thirteen stood up straight.

“Ding Chang,” Duge nodded, then instructed, “Find two people to work with Sword Thirteen to tally these children’s names and numbers, arm them, treat the injured, let them eat when they need to, and do not hurt them. These children are very important to me.”

“Yes.”

Ding Chang responded, summoning Hou Yunfen to help take care of the surviving children.

…

Only then did Duge turn to Long Yichen, asking, “Village Master Long, do you have a place to settle them?”

A crafty rabbit has three burrows. A person like Long Yichen would certainly have prepared a fallback for himself, Duge had no worries about finding a place for the children.

Long Yichen replied, “Predecessor, I have a villa in Lin City that can accommodate them temporarily.” He paused, then said with difficulty, “But there are too many children, and if someone with intent investigates, they can’t be hidden for long.”

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