Chapter 1409 - 707: Spreading the Faith (Part 2)
The Sect Leader flew into a rage at the sight, glaring viciously at the villagers and threatening, "All of you, shut up! Have you gone mad? Or have your minds been bewitched? Stop spouting this nonsense here!"
Lin Beichen listened carefully as the villagers described, one by one, some of the Sect Leader’s crimes, and he could hardly believe it. This Sect Leader he had tied up before him had actually done so many evil deeds.
The villagers shouted one after another, "Hurry up and get rid of him! Don’t let him stay and harm people anymore! He’s absolutely terrifying!"
Lin Beichen fixed his gaze on the Sect Leader, whose eyes were wide with defiance. To the Sect Leader, everything Lin Beichen had done seemed simply unbelievable, but Lin Beichen did not take it to heart.
He still stood tall on the sacrificial altar, overlooking the Sect Leader, and asked again, "Well? Do you still feel no repentance for all the evil you’ve done? Do you still think you’re innocent, that you can go on slaughtering these kind-hearted villagers?"
"To know one’s fault and mend it—no greater goodness than that. Everyone has a spark of kindness in their heart. Why are you the exception? Why must you err again and again?" Lin Beichen questioned the Sect Leader, hoping to give him a chance to reform, to stop harming the villagers and doing those heaven-outraging deeds.
However, after hearing Lin Beichen’s words, the Sect Leader suddenly threw back his head and laughed, a trace of contempt on his face. He looked up at Lin Beichen standing high on the altar and said, "Who do you think you are? You really think you can save them? You think you’re so great? What a joke."
"Everyone comes into this world with their own purpose and mission. Just mind your own business and stop pretending to be some righteous savior here. I won’t accept your so-called kindness." The Sect Leader looked utterly unconcerned, as if he didn’t know what he’d done wrong at all.
This instantly ignited Lin Beichen’s fury. The Sect Leader had committed so many monstrous crimes, slaughtering countless common folk, and yet he remained unmoved by his own wickedness, without the slightest hint of repentance. Lin Beichen thought, if he let him go today, it might be the villagers’ great misfortune. A man like this, living in the world, would only bring disaster upon others; his existence had no meaning.
Lin Beichen slowly closed his eyes, chanting under his breath; a flash of killing intent passed through his gaze. The moment he opened his eyes, the Sect Leader suddenly collapsed to the ground, struggled a few times, and then died. It was so swift that no one saw clearly how Lin Beichen had killed him.
Everyone looked at Lin Beichen in astonishment, but it was not fear; it was mostly admiration for him. Lin Beichen slowly walked down from the high altar, gazing gently at the villagers.
The Missionaries saw the Sect Leader killed without the slightest warning, and they panicked, staring at Lin Beichen with terrified eyes. Lin Beichen had no intention of venting his anger on them. He knew every debt has its debtor; he believed these Missionaries had not truly wanted to harm the villagers—they were only carrying out their orders.
Lin Beichen looked at the Missionaries with a stern face and advised, "You’ve all seen it now. If you continue doing evil, this is the end that awaits you. Life is hard-won—think it over carefully. If you’re willing to submit to me, I will surely teach you well, so you can cast off evil and embrace good."
"I will also give you a chance to turn over a new leaf. I don’t know what you truly think in your hearts. If you want to follow the Sect Leader, I can grant your wish right now and send you to join him." After these words, the Missionaries no longer dared to resist. They looked at each other, at a complete loss for what to do.
The Missionaries backed away step by step, no longer daring to come forward and oppose Lin Beichen. Seeing that they no longer resisted, Lin Beichen, who disliked killing and did not want to burden himself with further sin, smiled faintly and said to them, "If you want to submit to me, go to the Daoist Temple. I will teach you with care, help you grow a kind heart, and from now on live your lives properly."
Lin Beichen gave the Missionaries detailed instructions, and they believed his words completely, each of them obediently doing exactly as he said.
Hidden within the crowd, Zhou Yi had witnessed everything with his own eyes. He felt some regret and began to feel afraid. Zhou Yi also felt guilty about what he had done before. He quietly stepped out of the crowd, trembling as he came before Lin Beichen and said, "I know it was all my fault. It was because I clung to life and feared death that today’s outcome was brought about."
"Please forgive me and don’t hold me accountable. Other than being cowardly by nature, I’ve never done anything truly heinous. Please give me another chance. I will never act like that again; please believe me."
Zhou Yi’s sudden appearance shocked Lin Beichen and Hu Yi. They had not expected Zhou Yi to still be here, quietly hiding in the crowd all this time, silently watching everything unfold.
Hu Yi looked at Lin Beichen with eyes wide in surprise, wanting to know how her master would deal with Zhou Yi.
Would He punish him severely, or take back His earlier words and allow him to return to the sect? Silently, Hu Yi guessed at Lin Beichen’s thoughts but did not dare to speak them aloud.
Lin Beichen turned around, His gaze sweeping over Zhou Yi, a fleeting flash of cold light passing through His eyes.
This tiny change did not escape Hu Yi’s notice as she stood to the side. She caught the anger in Lin Beichen’s eyes and couldn’t help but feel a trace of pity for Zhou Yi.
However, this was all Zhou Yi reaping what he himself had sown; he had no one but himself to blame, certainly not Lin Beichen. Lin Beichen frowned as He looked at Zhou Yi kneeling before Him and said in a deep voice, "Stand up. The bond between us is at an end. I don’t want to force anything anymore."
"From this day on, you have no further connection with Daoism, and no ties with me. Live your own life well and fulfill your own dreams. I don’t want to bind you, forcing you to stay by my side against your will."
"Since you know you were wrong, I hope you can devote yourself to goodness and refrain from doing anything that betrays your conscience. If I find out, I will come for you myself," Lin Beichen said, His tone brooking no argument. "By then, you will know the consequences. Go."
Lin Beichen expelled Zhou Yi from the sect without the slightest mercy, leaving him no room to turn things around.
Even though Zhou Yi begged and pleaded, Lin Beichen remained unmoved. He did not want to do anything he would later regret, so he dealt with the matter cleanly and decisively, to avoid future trouble.
Seeing that things could no longer be reversed and that Lin Beichen’s decision was final, Zhou Yi’s face showed his disappointment. He looked at Hu Yi with deep reluctance, as if there were a thousand unsaid words in his eyes.
Yet Hu Yi simply stood there in silence, not even sparing Zhou Yi a glance. This filled Zhou Yi’s heart with sadness and grief.
After Zhou Yi left, everything temporarily returned to calm. Lin Beichen planned to begin preaching in the village, so that the villagers could properly study Daoism and learn some Daoist Art.
Ever since this incident, rumors about Lin Beichen spread like wildfire. All the villagers knew how formidable he was and held him in deep admiration and respect.
Many people came from afar just to see Lin Beichen for themselves, to see whether he was truly as powerful and as merciful and compassionate as people said.
Hu Yi silently stayed by Lin Beichen’s side, looking at him with admiration as she asked, "Master, what plans do we have next? Where do you intend to go?"
Lin Beichen turned back to glance at Hu Yi and said, "Of course there are plans. I won’t be leaving this village for the time being. I intend to preach here and save the villagers."
As he spoke, Lin Beichen looked at those villagers who had come in admiration; they were all casting reverent gazes at him. Hu Yi saw this scene as well and, smiling happily, said to Lin Beichen, "Master, you’re truly amazing! I’ve never met anyone like you."
"Not only do you have a heart full of compassion, you’re always thinking of these simple, honest villagers. It seems I didn’t choose wrong at all. I’m truly grateful that I was able to take you as my master."