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Clever Tactics

Shui Ling's answer somewhat surprised Yang Haoran. He had assumed this area had already been seized by the Spirit Mediums, but he never expected it would be the Holy Mother Cult that took control.

"The Holy Mother Cult, eh? That truly comes as a surprise."

A look of astonishment crossed Yang Haoran's face. Shui Ling observed his reaction and immediately explained.

"The Holy Mother Cult managed to seize this area before the Spirit Mediums could. Though the Spirit Mediums were somewhat displeased by this, they didn't want to fall out with the Holy Mother Cult. After all, the Holy Mother Cult wields considerable influence in the New Beginning Realm, and Gu Mo City was no exception. The Spirit Mediums didn't want to offend the Holy Mother Cult, so this area naturally became their territory. The Holy Mother Cult, for their part, publicly declared that they do not advocate for bloodshed. They claimed that if the Spirit Mediums had taken over the former Yin Division territory, a bloody massacre to eliminate Death God believers was inevitable. They didn't want to see such a tragedy occur, so they exhausted every means to snatch this area before the Spirit Mediums, successfully preventing a bloody slaughter that would have otherwise erupted."

Yang Haoran smiled faintly after hearing Shui Ling's explanation, then sighed softly.

"Heh heh, how impressive!"

Shui Ling understood what Yang Haoran's sigh meant. Before she could speak, however, Lu Wu, who was standing nearby, interjected.

"Indeed, the Holy Mother Cult is truly formidable. Snatching this area from the Spirit Mediums was no easy feat, yet they accomplished it. It was a good thing they were here, otherwise, the ordinary people in this area would have suffered greatly. Who knows how many would have survived."

Huang Sha frowned slightly, a thoughtful expression on his face, wondering what was on his mind. Xiang Chuan, meanwhile, stared at Lu Wu with a look of astonishment, as if flowers had bloomed on Lu Wu's face. Shui Ling, however, simply shook her head, a helpless expression on her face, but said nothing.

As for Yang Haoran, he remained as ever, a faint smile on his face, with no change in expression.

Just like before, none of them said anything to Lu Wu, quickly withdrawing their gaze. This couldn't help but fill Lu Wu with intense confusion; he simply couldn't understand what was going on.

"Uh, uh, uh, I. . ."

Lu Wu wanted to ask, but Yang Haoran smiled and waved his hand, interrupting him and indicating that he didn't need to continue. Though puzzled, he dared not defy Yang Haoran's wishes and could only obediently shut his mouth. Yang Haoran then continued to speak to Shui Ling.

"If my guess is correct, most of the believers who originally followed our God have now embraced the Holy Mother, haven't they?"

Shui Ling nodded and said,

"The ordinary people in this area believe that the reason they were able to survive is entirely due to the Holy Mother Cult intervening and seizing this area from the Spirit Mediums. Otherwise, they would have long since died at the hands of the Spirit Mediums. Therefore, they are extremely grateful to the Holy Mother Cult. Conversely, they harbor significant grievances towards our Yin Division. Because our Yin Division couldn't even provide them with the most basic security, and couldn't even protect ourselves, the vast majority of them are not only deeply disappointed in our Yin Division, but have even developed intense resentment."

At this point, Shui Ling sighed softly, pausing slightly before continuing.

"Furthermore, every few days, the Holy Mother Cult preaches their doctrines to the ordinary people in this area and elaborates on their contributions to this area. Over time, the believers who once followed our God have all converted to the Holy Mother, becoming her followers. Only a very small number of believers remained firm in their faith, unaffected by external factors and did not change their beliefs. However, for their own safety, they had no choice but to feign belief in the Holy Mother."

Shui Ling's gaze swept across the surrounding rooms, then she continued.

"The ordinary people in this courtyard, they appear to believe in the Holy Mother like other ordinary people in this area, but in truth, the deity they inwardly worshipped was still our Yin Division's Death God. Only, others were unaware of this. The reason I know this is because I've always maintained contact with them. Occasionally, I also come over to see them and bring them some simple daily necessities and food."

Yang Haoran smiled and nodded in understanding. Hearing Shui Ling's words, Lu Wu couldn't help but speak up again.

"You're truly stingy! If it were me, I'd bring over a few wild beasts for them, let them properly nourish themselves and have a good feast. Unlike you, only ever bringing simple trifles."

Shui Ling frowned. She had no desire to acknowledge Lu Wu, but at this moment, she couldn't hold back.

"What do you know, you pig? If I brought them sumptuous meals, would they still be alive now?"

This brought a puzzled expression to Lu Wu's face. He frowned and asked seriously,

"Why couldn't they be alive?"

Shui Ling looked at Lu Wu, hesitated, stopping herself short, and finally shook her head. From her expression, it seemed she had no intention of answering Lu Wu's question.

"Watch out, someone's coming."

Just then, Huang Sha, who had been respectfully standing behind Yang Haoran, suddenly spoke.

Lu Wu, who had originally wanted to say something, immediately shut his mouth upon hearing this. He briefly extended his senses and found that indeed several people were approaching their courtyard.

Their pace was somewhat slow, and while life fluctuations could be sensed from them, there were no power fluctuations. It seemed very likely they were ordinary people.

Of course, it was only a possibility; it didn't completely rule out non-ordinary people deliberately feigning such a state.

Although they hadn't set up any restrictive barriers in this dilapidated courtyard, they had sealed all their own fluctuations, including life fluctuations. So not to mention ordinary people, even non-ordinary people wouldn't be able to sense their presence.

A moment later, the courtyard gate was opened. Under the bright moonlight, Yang Haoran and the others clearly saw the situation of the newcomers.

The one who opened the door was an old woman past seventy. Behind her followed several others—old and young, male and female. Though their genders and ages differed, one thing was the same: including her, they all wore fatigued and listless expressions.

Especially the old woman who opened the door, due to her advanced age, the fatigue on her face was far more pronounced than on the others. And it wasn't just simple fatigue; she also gave off a feeling of extreme weakness. If she continued like this, it wouldn't be long before the lifespan of her physical body would reach its end.

"Everyone get some rest early, tomorrow. . ."

After opening the courtyard gate, the old woman began to instruct the people behind her. However, before she could finish her sentence, she discovered Yang Haoran and the others in the courtyard.

Not only did she discover them, but the people behind her also saw them. A look of panic, like startled birds, appeared on their faces.

Huang Sha sensed something was amiss. He quickly flicked his finger, and a restrictive barrier suddenly materialized, enveloping the entire small courtyard and the old woman's group within the restrictive barrier.

No sooner had the restrictive barrier enveloped the old woman's group than someone among them let out a terrified shriek. The sound was ear-piercing and incredibly penetrating. If it weren't for the restrictive barrier, the sound would certainly travel far. Many people would naturally have known that something had happened here, and it might even have drawn the Holy Mother Cult members guarding this place.

"Don't panic! Don't panic! It's a divine messenger! A divine messenger has come to see us!"

The old woman at the front recognized Shui Ling and immediately stopped the panicking people.

They were just ordinary people, their eyesight not as good as non-ordinary people. Coupled with the suddenness of the incident, and having long been living in fear, their strong reaction was normal. Fortunately, the moonlight was bright tonight, and Yang Haoran and the others were not far from them, which allowed the old woman at the front to quickly discover Shui Ling's presence.

The old woman's reminder prompted the others to come to their senses, but their hearts still pounded uncontrollably. Only when they, too, saw Shui Ling did they breathe a sigh of relief.

Evidently, not only did the old woman know Shui Ling, but the others did as well.

"My apologies, our arrival was a bit sudden and startled you."

Shui Ling said apologetically, while the old woman and the others prostrated themselves on the ground, performing a kowtow ritual to Shui Ling.

They were just ordinary people, and in their eyes, Shui Ling was a divine messenger. As devout believers, performing such a grand courtesy to a divine messenger was the most normal thing to do; to not do so would, on the contrary, seem abnormal.

"Please rise first. We can talk inside."

Shui Ling first offered an apologetic bow to Yang Haoran, then spoke to the believers kneeling before her.