Chapter 43

"Is this... the sect coming to recruit people? But what is the Wankong Sect? I've never heard of it. Could it be that a sect from another place has come to the village to recruit people?"

Lin Yiming was taken aback and quickened his pace towards the village. After a few more steps, he gradually saw the faces of the people responsible for recruiting disciples under the large banner at the village entrance. After seeing their faces, Lin Yiming was stunned.

"What's going on? I didn't see wrong, did I? Aren't these people from our Shuiyao Sect? Why are they standing under the Wankong Sect's banner?"

Lin Yiming blinked and carefully confirmed again. The people sitting behind a few tables under the Wankong Sect's banner were indeed people he knew, his former fellow disciples from the Wankong Sect. Moreover, these few people were the ones in the sect who were particularly disliked.

What's happening here? How did they all become disciples of the Wankong Sect, which he had never heard of? And why is the Wankong Sect coming to his village to recruit disciples?

Usually, which area a sect recruits from is fixed. What's going on here?

Lin Yiming frowned, looking at the former fellow disciples behind the table, who were idly looking around.

The people sitting behind the table quickly noticed someone was looking at them and turned their gaze to Lin Yiming's face. Among them, a man with a pockmarked face paused for a moment, then nimbly leaped from behind the table, taking two steps to stand in front of Lin Yiming.

"Hey, look who's here? Isn't this our former genius, Lin Yiming, the great genius? Great genius, why are you here today?"

As the man spoke, the others who had been sitting behind the table either jumped over or walked around the table to come over.

Hearing his words, a tall and thin man, like a bamboo pole, immediately shook his head: "Oh, Lu Tao, you're asking the wrong question. What day is it today? It's the day we come to recruit disciples. What else could our great genius do? Of course, he's here to rejoin the sect." Although this man called him a genius, anyone who wasn't a fool could hear the mocking tone in his voice.

Hearing this, the other two burst out laughing.

"Brother Wang Lei is right. Who is our great genius Lin Yiming? He's a super genius in the sect, one in a hundred years. Although he was expelled, he's still a genius. After half a year of hard training, he might have already cultivated the Martial Dao Spirit Heart," another disciple with a sly look chimed in, his eyes on Lin Yiming filled with mockery.

Lin Yiming, hearing their mockery, glanced at them indifferently and sneered inwardly. He remembered these people: Lu Tao, Wang Lei, and another named Zhu Feng. When he first joined the sect, he was a genius, and they always came to flatter him. Later, when he failed to successfully draw qi, they gradually distanced themselves from him, and eventually, they always mocked him.

In the sect, they loved bullying new disciples and never put in any effort in cultivation, never enduring hardship.

It's been half a year, and when he left the sect, they were only at the Spirit Movement stage. Now, they are still at the Spirit Movement stage, with no progress at all.

Lin Yiming didn't bother with these scoundrels. What he was more concerned about was what had happened. He needed to find someone he knew to ask.

Ignoring them, Lin Yiming turned and walked to the other side. Since he could see his former fellow disciples here, there might be others, and perhaps he could find someone he got along well with to ask what had happened.

"Hey, what's this? Why are you leaving?"

Seeing Lin Yiming about to leave, they quickly surrounded him. Lin Yiming thought it would be easy to leave, but it wasn't. They hated those with talent the most.

Why should they, who are just as human, be favored by heaven and have such talent? Lin Yiming was once such a person, but now he's nothing. If they didn't insult him now, how could they justify the opportunity heaven gave them to see him again?

"Great genius Lin Yiming, are you leaving? Could it be that you, now a Martial Dao Spirit Heart expert, look down on us?" Lu Tao blocked Lin Yiming's path, looking at him with a strange smile.

Lin Yiming frowned slightly. He didn't want to argue with these people, but they were persistent, which was truly annoying. Just as he was about to speak, a voice suddenly came from behind the others.

"What are you scoundrels doing here!"

The voice was directed at Lu Tao and the others, and it was very harsh. However, when Lu Tao and the others heard it, they were suddenly startled and turned around. Seeing a man in the same attire as them walking towards them, they immediately knelt down like rats seeing a cat.

"Salute to Senior Brother Sun Bao." Lu Tao and the others looked up at the man with a fawning expression.

"Spit! Who is your senior brother? You scoundrels, who have been expelled from the sect, don't deserve to be called brothers!" Sun Bao didn't take Lu Tao and the others seriously, looking at them with disdain. Then he suddenly pointed behind him, and Lu Tao saw seven or eight children of various ages.

The sect has been destroyed?

Lin Yiming's face changed. The man had just said that his sect had been destroyed. How could his sect be destroyed? From Lu Tao's expression, it was clear that this was true.

His sect was one of the top sects in the region. How could it be destroyed so easily? He wondered how his master was doing.

But since Lu Tao and the others survived, his master, who was even stronger, should be fine. Even if the sect was destroyed, the other side wouldn't have killed everyone.

As Lin Yiming was thinking, the man's voice came again.

"You scoundrels, what did you tell me before? You said there was no talent here and there was no need to come down. But look at them, aren't they all excellent seeds for martial artists? Compared to them, you scoundrels are nothing!" Sun Bao pointed at Lu Tao and the others, scolding them: "Fortunately, I didn't listen to you, or I would have missed these good seeds!"

Lu Tao and the others, hearing the scolding, didn't dare to respond, just lowering their heads even more.

Lin Yiming stood behind Lu Tao and the others, his eyes passing over them and landing on the man behind Sun Bao, who was scolding Lu Tao and the others. The excellent martial artist seeds he mentioned were Xiao Hu'er and the others.

It seems that his hard work these past few months was not in vain. Seven or eight children from the village were selected, which was very rare. In previous years, it was already rare for one child from the village to be selected.

As Lu Tao and the others knelt down, Xiao Hu'er and the others saw Lin Yiming and immediately called out happily.

"Brother Yiming."

"Brother Yiming, you're back."

Sun Bao, hearing the children he valued call out to a young man who looked about sixteen or seventeen, was a bit surprised.

He grabbed the oldest child, Xiao Hu'er, and asked curiously, pointing at Lin Yiming: "Xiao Hu'er, who is this? Why do you all seem to know him well?"

Xiao Hu'er, hearing Sun Bao ask about his respected Brother Yiming, proudly raised his head, his face beaming with pride: "That's our village's best Brother Yiming. Didn't you ask us who taught us? That person is our Brother Yiming."

"It's him." Sun Bao was shocked. When he was testing the children's talent in the village, he felt that these children were clearly trained.

At the time, he wondered who the high-level person was who would come to the countryside to train these children, but he never expected it to be such a young man.

This young man, so young, could train the village children so well, which was not simple.

Sun Bao's gaze towards Lin Yiming became more meaningful.

Lu Tao, standing in front of Sun Bao, clearly saw the meaningful look in Sun Bao's eyes. He immediately felt a sense of foreboding. If Lin Yiming was favored by Sun Bao and returned to the sect with Sun Bao as his backer, wouldn't he take revenge on them? This couldn't happen. He couldn't let Lin Yiming be favored by Sun Bao or return to the sect.

With this in mind, Lu Tao no longer knelt on the ground. He quickly stood up and ran to Sun Bao's side, whispering: "Senior Brother, we know this Lin Yiming. He used to be one of our sect members."

Sun Bao turned his head, hearing this. This person still has a connection to the destroyed Shuiyao Sect? He looked at Lu Tao, signaling him to continue.

Lu Tao, seeing that Sun Bao didn't scold him, finally felt relieved. As long as Sun Bao continued to listen, he could make Sun Bao ignore Lin Yiming.

His eyes darted around, and a plan formed in his mind. He lowered his voice even more and whispered in Sun Bao's ear: "When Lin Yiming first joined the sect, he was a rare genius, but later, everyone found out he was a waste. In six years, he couldn't complete the qi drawing and become a martial artist, so he was expelled from the sect. However, when he was in the sect, he followed an elder.

Although he wasn't good at cultivation, he was good at flattering. From the elder, he learned many good things. He is from this village, and the things these children learned must have been taught by him. I think he wants to use this opportunity to return to the sect."

"Six years and couldn't become a martial artist?" Sun Bao's lips curled, revealing a contemptuous smile. He thought this person was someone, but now he's just a waste. Six years and still not a martial artist, such a person, even if he can train a few children, is nothing. But this kid is good at speculating.

Sun Bao looked at Lin Yiming with arrogance, reached out, and lightly dusted off his clothes, saying contemptuously: "These children were trained by you, you are quite good at speculating. But it's useless. A waste who can't cultivate for six years, our Wankong Sect won't take. However, considering you can train children, I can make an exception and let you join our Wankong Sect as a servant."

Lin Yiming's face remained calm, and he had already seen Lu Tao's actions. He knew Lu Tao must have said something to the man, but it didn't matter. He didn't want to join the Wankong Sect; he wanted to join the Shuiyao Sect.

He gently waved his hand and refused: "I have no intention of joining the Wankong Sect."

"What? You're not willing?" Sun Bao's face flashed with anger: "Letting you join the Wankong Sect as a servant is a favor. Do you think anyone can be a servant in our Wankong Sect? Since you, a waste, are so ungrateful, don't blame me. The selection in this village is over, and I should return to the sect."

Sun Bao turned to look at Xiao Hu'er and the others, his voice becoming much gentler: "Come, let's return to the sect. From today, you are disciples of the Wankong Sect."

As Sun Bao was about to leave, he was surprised to see that Xiao Hu'er and the others didn't move, but instead looked at him with disgust.

"We're not going, we're not joining the Wankong Sect!"

"You insulted Brother Yiming, we won't go with you."

"We're not going, we want to stay with Brother Yiming!"

Sun Bao's steps froze, and he was stunned. This wasn't his first time recruiting disciples from a village, but this was the first time he encountered disciples who refused to join the sect.

Sun Bao's face turned sour. If one child refused, it would be one thing, but so many excellent children refusing together was a problem. If these children were taken to the sect and performed well, he would be rewarded by the sect.

But if these children refused to join the sect and the higher-ups found out, he would be punished. If other halls of the sect took these children, the punishment would be even more severe. His master would surely punish him heavily.

Although they were in the same sect, the halls within the sect had intense competition.

No matter what, he had to take these children to the sect this time, but forcing them wouldn't work. If he forced them, they would be disobedient and wouldn't learn martial arts, which would be useless. He had to make them willing to go.

But how could he make them willing to go?

Sun Bao felt his head was about to explode.

Facing Sun Bao, Lin Yiming, hearing that Xiao Hu'er and the others refused to join the sect because Sun Bao insulted him, was deeply moved. But he knew that Xiao Hu'er and the others couldn't stay in the village. He could teach them the basics, but for further cultivation, he had to rely on the sect's resources and experience. Xiao Hu'er and the others going to the sect was the best choice, and he couldn't let them stay because of him.

In this situation, he had to persuade Xiao Hu'er and the others.

Lin Yiming walked a few steps to Sun Bao, glanced at Xiao Hu'er and the others, and then looked at Sun Bao, his expression calm, as if speaking to an equal: "I have no intention of joining your sect, but I hope these children can join your sect. Give me some time to persuade them."

Sun Bao, hearing that the other party wanted to persuade Xiao Hu'er and the others, was delighted. The children refused to join the sect because of this person. Having this person speak would be the best.

"Alright, go ahead. You seem to be a reasonable person. If you can persuade one of the eight children to join our sect, I'll give you one tael of silver." Sun Bao thought the other party was trying to please him, and indeed, this person was good at speculating.

"I don't need your money. Letting them join the sect is for their own good." Lin Yiming shook his head, refusing Sun Bao's offer, and then pulled Xiao Hu'er and the others to the side.

He looked at each child's face, paused for a moment, and then spoke earnestly: "Alright, you've followed me for a long time and are more mature than other children. I know why you don't want to join the sect, but that's wrong.

In this world, the strong are respected. Everything is decided by the strong. Just now, they insulted me, and you could only watch and be angry. But if you were strong enough, you could help Brother Yiming teach them a lesson.

And you should know what has been happening in our village. We've had no water for a long time. Why? Because our village isn't strong enough. If you were all powerful martial artists, who would dare to bully our village?"

Lin Yiming took a deep breath and continued: "To become strong, joining the sect is the best choice. Not only that, but once you join the sect, you must work hard to become the best and strongest. Only then can you help Brother Yiming and the village. Remember, the stronger you are, the better life will be for our village and our families. Do you understand?"

Lin Yiming's words, though children of the same age might not understand, the village children were more mature. Moreover, he had been teaching them not just martial arts but other knowledge, making them more mature than their peers.

Hearing Lin Yiming's words, the children, led by Xiao Hu'er, nodded vigorously.

"Brother Yiming, we'll listen to you. We'll join the sect."

"Yes, we'll join the sect. We'll work hard to become stronger and surpass that big bad guy. Then we'll help you take revenge and teach him a lesson."

"That's right." Lin Yiming smiled, relieved. Seeing the children agree, he led them back to Sun Bao and said calmly: "Alright, the children have agreed to join the sect."

"Oh? It seems you are a reasonable person." Sun Bao nodded, not wanting to say more. He had already said too much, causing the children to refuse to join the sect. Now that they had agreed, he didn't want to say more and risk them changing their minds.

He glanced at Lu Tao and the others and ordered them: "You scoundrels, stop wasting time. Go find more martial artist seeds. I'll take them back to the sect first. If I find out you're not serious, I'll skin you alive."

Sun Bao left with Xiao Hu'er and the others, fearing any further delays might cause more problems.

Seeing Xiao Hu'er and the others leave, Lin Yiming turned and left the area.

Lin Yiming continued to wander around the Wankong Sect's recruitment area. Soon, his eyes suddenly lit up.

In front of him, a familiar figure appeared.