My junior sister sees everyone as a heretical cultivator.

Chapter 225 You're living a pretty comfortable life, aren't you?

Qingxu Temple.

But that didn't stop them from starting to fantasize.

Those disciples, especially those deeply influenced by Dong Changsheng's "mindset of the strong," were particularly excited at this moment.

"Did you hear that? It's all the outer disciples! The sect leader is finally going to see our efforts!"

“That’s right! Senior Brother Dong is right! The sect leader has seen our hard work and dedication here and the contributions we’ve made to the sect!”

"Heaven rewards diligence! Heaven has indeed been right! Our good days are coming!"

However, they firmly believe that this is the result of their long-term silent dedication, constantly cleaning the sect and contributing to everyone in the sect.

The sect leader finally recognized their value and prepared to bestow these outer disciples as gifts!
Perhaps someone can be promoted to the inner sect?

Or perhaps they are teaching even more advanced techniques?

"Exactly, where has Senior Brother Dong been lately? Is he on some kind of mission?"

Just as this group of outer disciples were immersed in the beautiful fantasy of "heaven rewards diligence", several figures appeared at the end of the path in the back mountain.

Leading the group was none other than Xuan Yuan Daoist, the head of Qingxu Temple.

But at this moment, he bowed slightly, lagged half a step behind, and carefully accompanied an old man in a red-gold Taoist robe holding a beast bone cane.

Elder Huohua of the Heavenly Furnace Sect.

Elder Huohua's gaze swept over the hundreds of outer disciples in front of him.

Looking at their hopeful faces, and thinking of the meager "tithe" that Qingxu Temple had been struggling to collect this year, he couldn't help but sneer.

“Xuan Yuan, your Qingxu Temple is quite large and powerful, having taken in so many outer disciples.”

"No wonder your 'offerings' this year have been so neglected."

"With so many people serving you, you must be living a very comfortable life, to the point that you've forgotten your duties to the sect?"

Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuan Daoist broke out in a cold sweat and quickly bowed in agreement.

"Elder, you jest! Absolutely not! Absolutely not!"

This scene was witnessed by the group of outer disciples.

The excitement and fantasy on their faces seemed to freeze.

They don't understand.

Why would the once aloof and powerful Sect Leader Xuan Yuan appear so humble and subservient at this moment?
That cautiousness and fear were completely at odds with the image of the dignified yet kind sect leader they had in mind.

What exactly is going on?

Elder Huohua snorted coldly as he looked at Xuan Yuan Daoist's obsequious posture.

"Xuan Yuan, it seems you're living too comfortably."

These words, spoken out of nowhere, struck Xuan Yuan Daoist's heart like a hammer blow.

Elder Huohua ignored him and instead turned his gaze to the group of bewildered outer disciples, saying something inexplicably to Daoist Xuanyuan:
"It's a pity that these people all met their tragic ends at the hands of demonic sorcerers while guarding Anhe City."

"Xuan Yuan, it is your responsibility to take care of their families."

We, the followers of the righteous path, have always been compassionate towards ordinary people and would never mistreat them in this regard.

The due compensation and the erection of a memorial archway must be provided; nothing should be omitted. They must be honored and made to feel the boundless benevolence of our Xuanmen sect.

Xuan Yuan Daoist understood instantly.

This is a self-reflection.

He blamed himself for not paying the full amount of "tribute" this year, yet still supporting such a large group of people, and for living a seemingly comfortable life. He felt he needed to be punished and, incidentally, make up for some of his losses.

These hundreds of outer disciples were the price he paid to appease the anger of the upper sect and ensure they would stay and wait a little longer.

Xuan Yuan Daoist felt a pang of heartache.

He didn't care about the deaths of a few, or even dozens, of outer disciples. In his eyes, these people were nothing more than free laborers dreaming of cultivating immortality.

But if they all die, who will take care of these inner disciples and elders in the future?
We can't expect those inner sect prodigies to do everything themselves, can we?

Then, we'll have to go through the trouble of recruiting a new batch.

Furthermore, some compensation should be given to the families of the deceased outer sect members.

Although Qingxu Temple had accumulated a considerable amount of gold and silver treasures from the secular world over the years, the sheer number of deaths meant that the compensation and procedures required would be a significant expense and trouble.

but……

He quickly reconsidered, and the pang of heartache he felt vanished.

After all, Anhe City was one of the three cities agreed upon by the righteous and the demonic paths.

The elder's words were perhaps a form of guidance for me.

Anhe City is about to descend into chaos.

This mortal city is on the verge of collapse.

Then perhaps those so-called "compensation" and "favors" don't really need to be fulfilled.

As if they were still alive... by then, these people would all become materials for demonic blood sacrifices, and who would remember them then?
Letting these outer disciples die here will make it easier for me to lead the core forces of the sect to relocate in the future.

After all, those useless outer disciples who can't even fly on swords will have to be sent home one by one, which is a real hassle.

If the trip is delayed and the temple gets caught up in the turmoil, the lineage of Qingxu Temple will perish.

Now, letting them bear the reputation of "fighting against demons and monsters and sacrificing themselves for the righteous path" can be considered as fulfilling their ridiculous dream of cultivating immortality.

Even if this group of good-for-nothings embarks on the path of cultivation, they will ultimately become nothing more than cannon fodder in the war between good and evil, ready to be sacrificed at any time.

No, or rather, they might not even qualify as cannon fodder.

Elder Huohua simply wanted to recoup some of his losses from me and give me a warning so that I wouldn't dare to have any more ulterior motives in the future.

Perhaps, by sacrificing these hundreds of worthless lives, we can buy some time and give Qingxu Temple a chance to breathe.

……

At the foot of the mountain lies Anhe City.

In a blacksmith's shop in the east of the city, a man was wielding a hammer, his clothes soaked with sweat.

Whenever he stopped to wipe his sweat, he would subconsciously look towards Qingxu Mountain outside the city.

His son went up the mountain five years ago, saying he was going to seek a path to immortality. He said that his master had taught him that there was a difference between immortals and mortals, and that he would come down the mountain once he had mastered his skills.

Although we never met in person, we did correspond.

He could tell from those words that his son was not doing well in the outer sect, and the words were full of hardship. But at the end of each letter, he wrote, "Your son is doing well and will definitely work hard to cultivate and live up to your father's expectations."

Zhang the blacksmith didn't know whether his son had already mastered his skills or had long been worn down by reality and come to realize the difficulties of the path to immortality.

He only knew that his strength in swinging the hammer was decreasing year by year, and his back was starting to stiffen.

Zhang the blacksmith always thought that when his son came back, he would hand over the shop to him, so that he could marry a good wife and live a peaceful life.

But these five years have felt like a long dream, and he fears he won't live to see his son wake up from that dream.

(End of this chapter)