CFSMS -Chapter 13 A Heretical Cult Gathering—Should I Report It?

After posting a message and seeing the envy, jealousy, and resentment from the other members of the sect, Grandpa Li lifted his chin proudly, his brows filled with satisfaction.

He, the Grand Elder of the Bun Sect and the driving force behind its establishment, would naturally lead by example and spread the glory of their sect far and wide.

One day, the Bun Sect would conquer the entire Qingyuan Realm and make sure everyone got to eat these buns.

Grandpa Li was determined to devote his remaining years to this grand cause.

Meanwhile, Lu Wu, who had been browsing RealmNet, unknowingly fell asleep.

By the time she woke up, dusk was approaching.

Yawning, she began preparing the ingredients she would need for the evening’s stall.

The sunset stretched across the skies above Little River Town, orange clouds spreading for thousands of miles like colorful cotton candy. It was breathtakingly beautiful.

Many unfamiliar faces appeared on Yanliu Street today.

They had all seen the posts on RealmNet and traveled here out of curiosity, wanting to taste these buns that people were praising to the heavens.

They had assumed this was some sort of food street.

Instead, upon arrival, they found flower houses lining both sides of the road.

Many visitors wore profound expressions.

Could it be that the disciples of the Joyous Union Sect had fallen so low that they were using bizarre gimmicks like this to attract customers?

Or perhaps the men here had already been drained dry, forcing those seductive demonesses to expand their business elsewhere?

“Is there really anything good to eat here?”

Xu Gu was highly skeptical.

Ever since RealmNet had appeared, the major factions of the Qingyuan Realm had become less hostile and much more interested in gossip.

News traveled quickly, and interesting stories emerged from every corner of the world.

Xu Gu made his living as a courier.

Whenever rumors surfaced about ancient ruins appearing somewhere, people would hire him to investigate whether the news was true.

Of course, those were major commissions.

Most of the time, he handled smaller jobs.

Like purchasing local specialties for wealthy clients.

Today’s employer happened to be a young lady.

He knew nothing about her background, but she was extremely generous.

She had paid him ten spirit stones just to buy two buns—more than the buns themselves were worth.

As a first-time visitor to Little River Town, Xu Gu looked at the packed street and hesitated.

Were they really selling buns?

Or was this actually a gathering point for some strange cult?

Maybe he should report it.

As he seriously considered that possibility, he met the gloomy stare of the man he’d just questioned.

“Of course there is. Boss Lu’s cooking skills are absolutely incredible. Nobody who’s eaten her buns has ever said a bad word about them.”

The speaker was Wang Changgui, the drunkard who had been the very first person to taste Lu Wu’s buns.

Since then, he had become one of Boss Lu’s most devoted fans.

As a loyal customer, Wang Changgui absolutely would not tolerate anyone doubting Boss Lu’s greatness.

“I’m telling you, Boss Lu’s buns aren’t something I’d trade even for heavenly nectar. Dragon liver? Phoenix gall? Hah! That’s pig feed compared to these!”

Spittle flew everywhere as Wang Changgui enthusiastically launched into a lengthy explanation.

Yet the more he praised the buns, the more exaggerated it sounded to Xu Gu.

Seeing the suspicious look in Xu Gu’s eyes, Wang Changgui grew anxious.

“Hey! You don’t believe me, do you? How about a bet? If Boss Lu’s buns aren’t delicious, I’ll give you one hundred spirit stones.”

“Of course, if I win, I don’t want your spirit stones. I only want you to shout, ‘Boss Lu’s buns are the most delicious in the world!’”

His confidence in Boss Lu’s cooking was absolute.

The way he looked at Xu Gu practically screamed:

Just wait. You’re about to get slapped in the face by reality.

“Uh…”

Xu Gu hesitated.

One hundred spirit stones was no small amount.

He’d have to run errands several times to earn that much.

And even if he lost, all he’d have to do was shout a single sentence.

“Fine, I accept. But I’m here buying on behalf of someone else. There’s a purchase limit on these buns, right? I won’t even get to taste them.”

He took contracts very seriously.

His client’s goods were off-limits.

Upon hearing this, Wang Changgui’s face scrunched up.

Faced with Xu Gu’s reluctance, he gritted his teeth.

“Alright. I’ll split one of mine with you later. Try it, then tell me what you think.”

To keep the bet going, he was practically giving away a bun for free.

His heart already ached at the thought before he’d even eaten it himself.

But for the sake of the Bun Sect, it was worth it.

“That settles it, right?” he asked.

Naturally, Wang Changgui had ulterior motives.

As an Outer Sect Disciple of the Bun Sect, he needed to spread the fame of Boss Lu’s food to more people if he wanted to rise into the sect’s core ranks.

He had heard that the mysterious Grand Elder got to enjoy food personally prepared by Boss Lu every single day.

He was insanely jealous.

He, Wang Changgui, would step on the shoulders of these blind fools, rise through the ranks of the Bun Sect, and one day receive Boss Lu’s personal feeding.

“Sure, sure.”

Under Wang Changgui’s fierce gaze, Xu Gu agreed verbally while growing even more suspicious internally.

He had read educational materials before.

When cults recruited followers in their early stages, they often used exactly this kind of enthusiastic generosity to lure people in.

But the man was offering too much.

Xu Gu decided to observe for a while longer.

Where there were people, there would always be conflict.

The flow of visitors on Yanliu Street had been enormous these past few days.

The once-spacious road was no longer enough to contain the crowds.

After learning from veteran customers that Lu Wu’s buns were sold in limited quantities and subject to purchase restrictions, many latecomers refused to patiently queue up.

After all, they were cultivators.

When reason failed, violence should naturally be the answer—

Except it wasn’t.

Nobody could move.

A few outsiders initially refused to comply and prepared to start a fight.

Yet before they could even unleash their techniques, an irresistible spiritual pressure descended upon them.

The terrifying sense of standing on the edge of death told them one thing:

The moment they attacked, they would die.

There was an expert overseeing this place.

The news spread rapidly.

For the sake of their lives, nobody dared act recklessly.

One by one, they lined up obediently according to arrival order.

Among the crowd was a group of young boys and girls.

They whispered among themselves, their expressions bright and cheerful.

Many people’s eyes were drawn to them.

Because their faces were covered with spots and marks.

Xiaohua was among them.

Only one day had passed, yet now she could hold her head high under everyone’s gaze, brimming with confidence.

A closer look would reveal that the spots on her face had faded significantly.

According to estimates, after eating two more red bean buns today, the blemishes would disappear completely.

Thinking about how she had previously wallowed in self-pity, Xiaohua felt guilty toward her mother.

Fortunately, Boss Lu had appeared.

Boss Lu had saved her.

After all, those experts had said the poison affecting them could be cured, but they had no solution for its side effects—the marks left on their faces.

Boss Lu had given them the chance to live with clean, normal faces again.

To repay her, Xiaohua had decided to join the Bun Sect.

Her application was still under review, but she was extremely confident.

“Boss Lu is here! Make way!”

A shout came from the entrance of the street.

The people who had been waiting eagerly immediately looked over with shining eyes.

Whoosh!

A pathway instantly opened before Lu Wu.

Having just arrived, Lu Wu stared blankly at the scene.

Did she come to the wrong place?

Or had she somehow wandered into an inspection tour by a major leader?

Why were everyone’s eyes shining so brightly while staring at her?

For some reason…

She suddenly felt a little panicked.