Chapter 109: Corrupting The Good

Chapter 109: Corrupting The Good

While Song Song terrorized the local higher-ups, I observed the technique she was using. It would be interesting to see how this technique developed in the future.

As for what Song Song was doing to the local people in power? There wasn't much I could do without blatantly undermining her authority. Honestly, I didn't want to help these people who had been a pain in the ass. They had treated me as if I were an overbearing tyrant. It had taken literally defeating an army for them to start showing me some respect. Even then, I wasn't sure if it was genuine or just an act.

Now, they had to deal with an actual overbearing person like Song Song.

Also, not having to worry about the leadership part of this whole endeavor was quite nice.

"Lady Song," I addressed her formally. "The governor and two clan leaders have been very helpful. It would save me some face if you would let them off the hook this once. I'm sure they won't forget to get on their knees from now on."

Despite everything, the governor had given me that carpet artifact, and we had fought shoulder to shoulder. The least I could do was ask Song Song to go easy on them. Whether she followed my advice was up to her.

"I'm already being lenient with them, Liu Feng," she said as she withdrew her killing intent. "If this were any other place, I would have had them bow with their foreheads touching the snow. Weaklings, trash, and the incompetent should know their place."

Okay, she wasn't going to follow my advice. Oh well, there were some things I would never be good at, no matter how hard I tried. One of those things is appeasing crazy women.

I shrugged and let her do her thing.

Instead, I approached Speedy, put him on the ground, and patted his head. The little guy glanced at Song Song and seemed intimidated, but I reassured him.

"Just cover your body in Qi, which should stop most of the technique's effects. The technique is nothing special despite how scary it looks," I said.

I hadn't had time to teach Speedy something like that, so he just looked at me confused.

While petting Speedy, I zoned out. What happened next was just Song Song indulging in her usual cruelty. She was testing how much resistance these guys would dare put up against her, which was none.

"Since I am new here, I will partake in the hospitality of Whitewall Town," Song Song said, lowering her killing intent until it completely disappeared. "Do you have a place where I can stay for a few days?"

When the pressure lifted, the Hong Clan Leader stood up, his knees still shaking from being forced to kneel in the snow. Despite his sorry appearance, he had a smile on his face. That same fake smile he always wore.

"Then, Lady Song, the Hong Clan will offer you the best accommodations in the city," the Hong Clan Leader declared boldly.

Usually, I would have been annoyed by his attitude. But right now, I felt sorry for him. He had just picked the worst possible target for that kind of behavior.

I glanced at Song Song. Surprisingly, she only had a slight smile without the malicious intent I expected. However, a certain unreadable glint in her eyes made me uncomfortable. I wasn't even her target.

Poor guy...

"Really? Then let me check your clan compounds and wherever the governor is staying. I will choose whichever building I like," Song Song said with the sweetest smile as if she wasn't planning to kick people out of their own homes.

At least it was the clans, not civilians who might struggle to find a place to sleep. Despite her actions being a bit on the nose, I didn't publicly speak up or challenge her authority.

Even though they were experiencing blatant disrespect, the three town leaders were forced to smile stiffly and nod. The governor looked especially bad, his face pale and covered in sweat, like someone who had seen a ghost.

I followed along as a spectator while Song Song inspected the places she planned to make her temporary home. Though the Clan Leaders were displeased, they didn't dare express their opinions.

With everyone focused on Song Song, I put on a cloak, pulled up my hood, and hung at the back of the group. This was the most fun I'd had in a while, watching the mess unfold like a reality TV show while petting Speedy.

"See, Speedy, always make sure not to pick women who only have beauty to offer. Otherwise, you end up with women like Song Song," I advised the little guy. In response, he rubbed his head against me.

What did that gesture mean? I had no idea, but I got the feeling that Speedy understood. As an honorary father, I could only hope he wouldn't end up picking some crazy turtle for a wife or getting a harem.

I had nothing to worry about with Song Song around, so my mind wandered to weird places.

...

Despite her harsh words, there was a teasing smile on her face, so I knew not to take her words to heart. But as she was about to hurl more insults, I picked up one of the pillows and threw it at her face.

Sadly, she had good instincts, and she easily caught it midair without even looking at the projectile.

She even had the audacity to keep staring at me with mock worry and said, "You must have had a horrible childhood to come up with wild fantasies like that."

I sighed and leaned on the couch, waving her words away. "Yeah, yeah, continue bullying your helpless subordinate."

"Now you just had to go and ruin it," she pouted. "This is more fun when you are annoyed."

No matter what I told her or how she might change in the future, I realized that Song Song just had a shitty personality, and there was nothing I could do about that.

"Despite those people being put in charge here as governors or even smaller clan leaders, they're all under the protection of the Blazing Sun Sect. There is no free meal in this world, and the Blazing Sun Sect doesn't do this just because they're nice. This protection comes with a cost, and that cost is their service to the Blazing Sun Sect," she stated, throwing the apple she finished away, which perfectly landed in a trash can in the corner. "In essence, everyone here is our servant. No matter how they might look at it, or whether they like it or not they're here to serve us, not the other way around."

I understood what she was saying in principle, but that did not mean I agreed with her view. Before I could speak, she continued her explanation.

"A leader is not supposed to sacrifice themselves for the people; he just has to be there to show his power and protect them. But the ones doing the sacrificing should be the servants, and they should try to do anything to please their leader and keep their overlord's protection. After all, the leader's life is much more important than all of their subjects," she explained and stared at me as if waiting for me to challenge her opinion.

Here, when someone was in a leadership position, it usually meant they were a strong cultivator compared to the other people around them. There were many variations of what it meant to be "strong" depending on the region. Either way, this was just a different way of looking at things, and no matter what I said, it would be impossible to convince Song Song otherwise. A part of me understood where she was coming from.

"We have different views on the matter," I shrugged and left it at that.

"No. You're just plain wrong," she refuted. "After all, if you want to be so self-sacrificing, the people you're trying so hard to protect will spit on you and stab you as soon as a stronger cultivator comes around. Why would you want to sacrifice yourself for someone who would do that to you?"

That made me think. Despite how I treated these people, they were from this world. It didn't matter how I looked at things; my views would not change how they would act.

Also, she was speaking in absolutes here. But I was more worried about her next breakthrough than this.

The dangerous glint in Song Song's eyes intensified. By the time I noticed that she had likely read me like a book in that split second of showing weakness, it was too late as she continued talking.

"Do you want to test that out?" She smirked. "We just have to call the three Qi Gathering Cultivators and act like we had a conflict. Then I can order them to beat you to death. Do you think they would refuse my orders and valiantly stand by your side?"

It was a question I knew the answer to...

"Yeah, and even the normal civilians would do the same too, stab you in the back without an ounce of hesitation," Song Song said while stretching on the couch like a cat. "Don't try to be righteous and risk your life for people who don't care about you."

She was... right...

No matter how I thought of Song Song as a crazy maniac even when she was at her best, she was absolutely right. Despite how hard I had fought for this town, all I had earned was a bit of respect. They would probably support me when it came to most other things, but none would go through the danger I did for me as I did for them.

Perhaps, I should abandon the mentality I had in my previous life regarding certain things. Helping people was okay as long as I had the power, but risking my life for people who would stab me in the back without a second thought was just being cruel to myself.

I never looked at it that way before.

Oh well, that was enough philosophical discussions for today. We had more important matters to attend to. When I turned toward Song Song to ask her something, she looked mighty pleased with herself while staring at me. But as soon as she noticed my gaze, she smiled and acted like nothing happened.

Whatever it was, I was no longer in the mood to talk about useless things. “When do you want to try and breakthrough?”

That was the reason she had even bothered coming here after all.

“Tomorrow,” she said. “Even though I didn’t waste much Qi coming here, I want to be in top shape just in case.”

I stared at Song Song and couldn’t help but wonder just how scary she would be when she became a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.