Chapter 37. The True Education of the Sect Leader

The Great Absorption Technique is, of course, a martial art derived from the Heavenly Jade. If you only think of it as a force that pulls objects, it would be a form of object attraction. However, considering the process by which the Heavenly Jade absorbs the energy of medicinal herbs, it becomes a supernatural ability.

Having gained an unexpected ability and being in an unfamiliar bed of the sect leader, I found it hard to fall asleep.

Moreover, the maids were being quite bothersome.

"Lord Sect Leader? Who shall I call to attend to you?"

Even though the sect leader had changed, the maids couldn't skip their usual question.

"What kind of attendance?"

"Huh? Well, it's just that..."

It seemed the dead rabbit had spent the night with the maids.

Only then did I realize another reason why the Black Cat Sect Leader had been so easy to kill. If he had so many women in his bed without completing his martial arts, it would have been difficult for him to progress.

Frequent sexual activity during training can lead to muscle loss. The term "muscle loss" is not commonly used in prestigious martial arts schools and is rarely found in any martial arts manuals.

In my previous life, when Hao Gate, which I had created, was hastily destroyed and I was plagued by the negative karma from the process, a few men who were close to me used this term.

The unique expression "muscle loss" was often used by the Fist King, one of the fools I liked in the martial world.

Fools are close to madmen.

I don't know exactly why. Perhaps it's because they don't calculate much in their way of living.

Thinking of the term "muscle loss," I recalled the Fist King, who seemed like the pinnacle of a fool.

Looking at the ceiling, a smile involuntarily spread across my face.

'You idiot, you must be training somewhere.'

Gathering the people I had connections with in my previous life was no easy task. I had to spend time and effort to find them because I didn't know much about their pasts.

However, it was fortunate that my rate of improvement was not falling behind that of my enemies and allies.

I said to the maid waiting outside.

"Did the previous sect leader make you do strange things every night?"

I asked this because I felt something was off about how the maid spoke so freely.

"Yes, in the summer, we would fan you all night to keep you cool. In the winter, we would keep you warm. When you couldn't sleep, we would massage you all night."

I couldn't help but sigh.

"Kids, you don't have to do such things anymore. Sleep well. Since the sect leader has changed, your daily lives will become a bit easier. Go to bed."

"Yes, Lord Sect Leader."

The maids, who had been tense due to the new sect leader, exchanged glances and couldn't hide their joy.

I had jokingly said I would lead the front line of the Martial World Slave Liberation Front, but it turned out that slaves were already abundant here. While not all black paths are like this, it seems that the Great Inspector himself and his disciples are not normal.

In that case, I have no choice.

I must educate them in the name of the Black Cat Sect Leader.

Only then did I finally fall asleep in the deepest part of the Black Cat Sect, the sect leader's quarters.

A long day had ended, and the darkness had enveloped the black path.

* * *

The greatest threat to Rizhao County has always been the Black Cat Sect.

Since I have become the Black Cat Sect Leader, there is no immediate need to return to Rizhao County. So, I had breakfast with the Black Cat Sect's officers and held a short morning meeting.

Perhaps because all the officers were gathered here, one of my subordinates entered the hall and reported a visitor.

"A woman has come to inform the sect leader about news from Rizhao County. If it were any other matter, I would have chased her away, but since it's about Rizhao County, the sect leader should hear it. What should I do?"

The one reporting was a subordinate of Xiaojunping, who had been guarding outside.

"Is she alone?"

"Yes."

Xiaojunping asked me.

"Should I let her in?"

I nodded, and Xiaojunping also nodded slightly to his subordinate.

I wondered what news from Rizhao County it could be.

No matter how I thought about it, I couldn't predict anything significant. However, since it was the main base of Hao Gate and the birthplace of Zixia Guesthouse, I couldn't ignore the news.

Perhaps the Black Fox had caused some trouble.

But when I saw the woman brought in by the Golden Dragon Pavilion's martial artists, I realized the situation.

* * *

Madam Sun from Plum Blossom Tower, who had disappeared without a trace, approached with a slightly frightened expression.

'...You?'

Of course, I was wearing the Black Cat Sect Leader's mask. When I crossed my arms, Xiaojunping asked on my behalf.

"Tell the sect leader in detail what has happened."

Madam Sun spoke in a trembling voice.

"Yes, I am Sun Xiaoxiao from Rizhao County."

It was the first time I heard Madam Sun's name.

"Your name is beautiful."

At my words, Madam Sun glanced at me and continued.

Her speech was not very clear, perhaps due to her nervousness. In summary, the good news was that the waiter at Zixia Guesthouse had killed the brothel owners one by one and completely taken over Rizhao County.

In professional terms, it's called a belated response.

The survival skills of the underclass can be quite despicable.

But I am generous. As I listened to the objective account of my own actions, I nodded a few times under the mask and briefly replied.

"Understood. Good news."

The officers who had listened to the story with me doubted their ears. The waiter at Rizhao County was, of course, me. In other words, the current sect leader was being informed of his own actions.

Xiaojunping looked at me with a confused expression.

But I asked Madam Sun in a friendly tone, as if meeting her for the first time.

"Do you have a place to go, brave lady?"

"No."

"Pity. How about I give you a position to manage the maids?"

Madam Sun asked with a delighted expression.

"Really?"

"If you are willing, you can work for our Black Cat Sect. You are young and have experience from Plum Blossom Tower, so it would be perfect."

"Lord Sect Leader, I will do my best if you give me the chance."

"However, there are two things you must promise."

"Yes."

"Betrayal means death."

"Would I dare?"

I pointed to Madam Sun's mouth with my finger and kindly warned her.

"Be especially careful with that mouth. Understand?"

Although it was a puzzling request, Madam Sun nodded vigorously.

"Yes, Lord Sect Leader."

"Then it's settled. You're hired."

Madam Sun clasped her hands and replied with a delighted expression.

"Thank you so much, Lord Sect Leader. I will serve you with all my heart."

"You should be grateful. I'm giving you another chance. Do your best. Sun Xiaoxiao, Madam Sun... your name is truly beautiful. Haha."

As I spoke, I removed the Black Cat Sect Leader's mask.

The moment she saw my face, Madam Sun let out a strange, short exclamation and fainted. The atmosphere suddenly became tense. Is this a new trend?

"She fainted?"

An officer checked Madam Sun's nose with his finger.

"Lord Sect Leader, she seems to have fainted from shock. Her breathing is normal."

"Good. Have the maids take care of her. Fainting at first sight is quite disrespectful."

Shortly after, the maids came and dragged the unconscious Madam Sun away. Seeing that she was still alive, I felt a slight sense of relief.

She is a woman with nowhere to go. If I don't take her in, who will?

I am such a merciful man.

Moreover, Hao Gate is a place like this.

* * *

I gathered the idle subordinates of the black path in the outer courtyard for a moment.

The core of strengthening a group is group training, group tempering, group drills, and group mental education.

Comradeship grows when you suffer together.

And to make them elite, it will be advantageous when fighting the Black Fox. Honestly, since they were not originally my subordinates, I planned to be even more severe.

I would make the black paths clash with each other...

But as their leader, I would try to minimize the deaths.

Therefore, training was the answer.

Still, as the sect leader, I didn't want to let them live a mediocre life. I looked at the ragtag group of the Black Cat Sect waiting on the platform.

"Since it's the first day, I will supervise the training today. Officers, apply my training methods. The black path prioritizes training, drills, and sparring. Except for eating, defecating, and sleeping, we will focus solely on getting stronger. Especially, everyone will do physical training until noon, so remember that."

What I call physical training is actually hell training.

There's no need to go easy on people who steal from others and fight all their lives.

At this moment, I saw the oldest wall supervisor of the Black Cat Sect looking at me and offered him a reprieve.

"The old wall supervisor is exempt from physical training."

The wall supervisor's face lit up.

"Thank you, Lord Sect Leader."

I gave the order to the lined-up Black Cat Sect troops.

"Everyone except the Golden Dragon Pavilion martial artists, get into the push-up position. Golden Dragon Pavilion, go to the back garden, make sandbags, and bring them back to place on the backs of those doing push-ups. Xiaojunping, take them and prepare."

Xiaojunping replied.

"Understood."

It's a big mistake to think that martial artists become strong just by cultivating inner energy.

External skills are the essential elements of fighting. There's no special way to learn the basics of external skills. You have to push your body to its limits and repeat. The fastest way to break those limits is to add a burdensome weight, according to the Fist King's usual theory, which seemed foolish.

In other words, the training I'm making the Black Cat Sect do is the brutal training method systematically created by the Fist King. While the Golden Dragon Pavilion was making sandbags, the Black Cat Sect martial artists started push-ups with bewildered expressions.

The ones doing push-ups were not serious, but I was.

"From now on, we will do five hundred repetitions quickly."

"......!"

"Those who complete five hundred can rest in a horse stance. Officers, do one hundred first, then get wooden swords. I will beat the ones who do it poorly."

I gave a task to the wall supervisor, who was standing idly.

"Wall supervisor."

"Yes, Lord Sect Leader."

"Go and write a report. Don't split it here."

"Ah, understood."

I looked at the low-ranking martial artists whose speed was gradually slowing down and said.

"The first five to complete five hundred will receive a gold ingot."

Money is always the strongest motivator. Since it wasn't my money, I planned to shower it on my diligent subordinates. After all, even in the black path, they are doing this to make a living.

"Faster, faster, more accurately, faster. Officers, remember today's training method. From now on, you will be the instructors."

Indeed, the speed of the officers' push-ups was incredibly fast.

As the officers who completed one hundred quickly got up and fetched wooden swords, I immediately gave the order.

"Officers, beat the ones who are slacking. Beat them until they die, and I'll overlook broken bones."

The officers, suddenly excited at the thought of beating their subordinates, used their lightness skills to fetch wooden swords.

The black path is full of strange people.

Meanwhile, I didn't ease the intensity of my threats.

"It's better to complete five hundred quickly. The sandbags from the Golden Dragon Pavilion will arrive soon. Naturally, you will have to complete the remaining repetitions with the sandbags on your backs. Which is easier? Now, right? Faster, faster, faster!"

At this moment, someone let out a scream similar to an animal's cry.

"Kuaaaaaa!"

I nodded.

"Good. Very good. You just... expressed the rising pain very well. I will overlook the screams of pain from the effort. The important thing is to complete five hundred quickly and accurately. The black path doing five hundred push-ups? Ah, this is too mediocre."

As I finished speaking, I chuckled.

Meanwhile, the officers who had fetched wooden swords suddenly rushed in and started beating their subordinates' buttocks with sticks.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

After watching for a moment, I gave the order.

"Officers."

"Yes, Lord Sect Leader."

"Only beat your direct subordinates. Don't beat martial artists from other organizations you dislike."

I am a fair person.

"Ah, understood."

Only then did the stick beating subside. It seems they were only beating other people's subordinates. But the real pain is just beginning.

I said to the martial artists who had already completed three hundred.

"Xiaojunping will soon gift you sandbags. Ah, I'm looking forward to it. My heart is racing. Do it faster."

When Xiaojunping and his subordinates actually appeared with sandbags, I gestured for him to wait.

'Wait.'

While Xiaojunping and his subordinates waited quietly, the sounds of push-ups, screams, and stick beating mixed beautifully with the sweat droplets falling from the martial artists.

I have to grow Hao Gate, strengthen the black path, meet the connections from my previous life, and soon teach the Twelve Constellations and the Great Inspector a lesson. Despite all this, my heart felt peaceful.