Chapter 98

  "That's right!" Tang Yin didn't know why the other party was so surprised to hear his name, he looked around at the four people and asked: "And you are..."

  "My name is Cheng Jin, I've long heard that the County Magistrate of Pingyuan County, Tang Yin, is a cultivator of the Dark Arts. So," he said, glancing at his three companions, "I and my three friends have come to surrender, hoping that you, sir, will accept us four!"

  What? The four of them had actually come specifically to throw themselves in with him, which made Tang Yin extremely surprised.

  Feeling Tang Yan's confusion, the young man who claimed to be Cheng Jin explained: "We came here not to look for trouble, but to see the master. However, we couldn't find a way in, so we had no choice but to offend those few younger brothers earlier, hoping to lure the master out. Who would have thought that the master was actually here all along!"

  It turned out to be this way! Tang Yin couldn't help but laugh, no wonder with their powerful cultivation they would go find trouble with ordinary government soldiers. And the government soldiers had already drawn their swords, yet they didn't kill them, instead intentionally letting them escape. It turned out it was just to lure themselves out. There was only one point that Tang Yin didn't understand, he hadn't been in office for a long time in Pingyuan County and hadn't shown any achievements, how could he attract the top masters of Lingwu to come to Pingyuan County and deliberately surrender to him?

  "He shook his head and said: 'I don't understand why you came to me.'"

  "Because adults are dark spiritual practitioners." Cheng Jin replied succinctly.

  After a while, seeing that he had nothing more to say, Tang Yin asked uncertainly: "Is that all?"

  "Yes, it's just that simple." Cheng Jin nodded affirmatively.

  Tang Yin shook his head and smiled, asking: "Even if I am a dark cultivator, what does this have to do with you coming to me for help?"

  Cheng Jin's face revealed a bitter and astringent expression, while the other three also removed the spiritual armor from their bodies, took off their fighting hats, and revealed their true faces. The expressions of the three were similar to Cheng Jin's, all bitter and astringent.

  Up to now, in the Empire of Haotian, Dark Spiritual Cultivation is still taboo and not tolerated or recognized by various vassal states. Although Fengguo has relaxed its rejection of Dark Spiritual Cultivation due to the increasing scarcity of spiritual talents and has even issued a recruitment order for Dark Spiritual Cultivators, that was just a superficial gesture, only acknowledging Dark Spiritual Cultivation on the surface. In reality, Dark Spiritual Cultivators, whether they join the army or enter politics, are suppressed everywhere. Even if they achieve merits, it's not their turn to receive recognition, but if there's any fault, they will definitely be held accountable.

  For dark system cultivators, relying on robbery and theft to make a living is beneath them. They want to serve the country, but the country looks down on them. The saying "learn literary and martial arts, then sell yourself to an emperor's family" does not apply to them. After cultivating their skills, they are unable to use them, and can only rely on physical labor to make a living like the lowest-level poor citizens. This is the sorrow of dark system cultivators.

  Tang Yin can only be considered a lucky one, initially hooked up with the great backing of Wu Jia, but even so, he was still transferred to the border due to his identity as a dark system spiritual warrior, otherwise, with his relationship with Wu Jia, he would definitely hold an important position in the military and political center of Fengguo, Du Cheng.

  But being in a remote border area also has its advantages, that is, it is unrestricted and can do what it wants to do.

  Because he was a dark spiritual practitioner, after becoming the county guard of Pingyuan County, the news spread quickly in the dark spiritual martial arts world. Many dark spiritual practitioners who were willing to come and join him did so, although Pingyuan County belonged to the remote area of Fengguo, but joining Tang Yin would at least not receive unfair treatment, let alone suffer from the oppression and squeeze of the light spiritual practitioners. This temptation was too great for those dark spiritual practitioners who were unwilling to be mediocre and wanted to find their own place.

  Cheng Jin poured out all the grievances and discontent in his heart, and finally, he looked at Tang Yan with a straight face, clasped his hands together and said: "We have come to surrender with sincerity, as long as Your Excellency can accept us, we will be loyal to you and work for you like horses and dogs!"

  This is truly a pie that has fallen from the sky and hit him on the head. If he weren't in front of people, Tang Yin would definitely throw his head back and laugh loudly three times. Not to mention that he was a cultivator of the dark system, even if he wasn't, he didn't have any prejudices against different families or sects. If there really were dark system cultivators who came to join him, he would also accept them unconditionally.

  He gazed at the four of them, and only then did he notice that there was also a woman among them. She wasn't particularly stunning in appearance, but she had a heroic air about her, with sword-like eyebrows that seemed to defy the heavens, exuding a strong sense of stubbornness and ferocity. He asked: "What are your three names?"

  "My name is Jiaxi."

  "My name is Jiang Mo."

  "My name is Ao Qing!"

  Tang Yin nodded, took note of their names, then patted Cheng Jin's shoulder and smiled: "From now on, you are my people. As long as I have a mouthful of food to eat, you will too."

  Upon hearing this, the four of them were both shocked and delighted. They looked at each other, and without prior agreement, they all knelt down on one knee, saying in unison: "Thank you, sir! From now on, we will definitely do our best for you, dedicating ourselves wholeheartedly!"

  Tang Yin lowered his head, looking at the four people with curved eyes and a heartfelt smile. These four were all masters of Lingwu, and Tang Yin had done nothing to bring them under his command; how could he not be delighted?

  Little did he know, this was only the beginning. It also marked the start of a trend where dark cultivators came to seek him out. Later on, even more dark cultivators flocked to him from all over, including those from Wind Country and other vassal states. Pingyang County, and even the entire Tianyuan Prefecture, became a gathering place for dark cultivators.

  But also because of the large number of dark system cultivators who defected, a hidden danger was buried for the future struggle between factions, of course, this is a later story.

  Just as they were talking in the tavern, they suddenly heard shouting outside, with people clamoring and not knowing what had happened. The crowd rushed out of the tavern to take a look, only to see that the outside was packed with people, torches lit up like a forest, illuminating the streets as bright as daylight. At least over a thousand government soldiers were gathered in front of the tavern door and surrounding it, besieging it so tightly that not even water could leak through.

  "It's him, it's them, they're barbarian soldiers who sneaked into the city as spies!" The several officials and soldiers who were just scared away by Cheng Jin are now surrounding a mounted military officer, and when they see Cheng Jin come out of the wine shop, all six of them point at him with their hands, also including Tang Yin and the Shangguan brothers.

  The officer looked up with a haughty expression, craned his neck and scrutinized him closely.

  When his gaze slowly swept to Tang Yin's face, his eyes suddenly widened, stretched his neck and looked for a moment, hastily turned over and got off the horse, rushed forward, and when he reached Tang Yin's side, he knelt on one knee, trembling with fear, saying: "Great... great... sir, how are you here?"

  Tang Yin tilted his head and glared at the officer, asking in return: "You brought so many brothers here, what's your purpose?"

  "I... I heard there were barbarian spies in this area, so I brought people here specifically to surround and annihilate them!"

  "Are you saying I'm a barbarian spy?"

  "Ah?" The officer's jaw almost dropped as he repeatedly said: "I don't dare, I don't dare!"

  Tang Yan raised his head and said: "Get up! There are no spies here, take your people back."

  "Yes, yes, yes!" The officer hastily stood up and waved his hands repeatedly at the soldiers under him, shouting: "Withdraw, withdraw, all of you go back!"

  "Wait a minute!" The officer had just taken two steps when he was stopped by Tang Yin.

  "What else can I do for you, sir?" The officer asked in a soft and respectful tone.

  Tang Yin looked at the six officials who were spreading the news and said lightly: "These six people, are they your subordinates?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "They deserted their posts during the night watch and sneaked into a tavern to drink in secret, did you know that?"

  "I don't know anything about it!"

  "This matter must be punished."

  "Ah..." The officer's body trembled, and he glared fiercely at the six soldiers, asking: "How does your excellency want to punish them?"

  "What should be done according to military discipline?"

  "Fifty lashes with the heavy rod!"

  "Alright!" Tang Yin nodded and looked around at the surrounding soldiers, pointing to that officer: "Give him fifty military lashes as punishment!"

  "What?!" The surrounding soldiers were all stunned, the person who made the mistake was not an officer, so why should he be punished?! That officer also looked bewildered, staring blankly at Tang Yin, speechless.

  Tang Yin said expressionlessly: "If you can't even take care of your own subordinates, then you are naturally the most responsible. In the army, there are no soldiers who do not fulfill their duties, only generals who do not fulfill theirs. This time, I will punish you with 50 military clubs, just as a warning. If there is a next time, I will definitely heavily punish you without mercy!"

  When subordinates make mistakes, superiors are punished. The officer heard this and sweated like rain, the surrounding officers and soldiers were also shocked, and for a long time they couldn't come back to their senses.

  Seeing everyone like a wooden stake, unmoving, Tang Yin narrowed his eyes and asked in a soft voice: "Do you want to take the punishment yourself or do you want me to do it personally?"

  The officer shivered with fear, repeatedly saying: "I will take the punishment myself, I will take the punishment myself!" As he spoke, he beckoned to his soldiers and then walked aside, fell to the ground, turned around and shouted: "Hit me!"

  With Tang Yin present, the soldiers who were about to use force didn't dare show any mercy. They rolled up their sleeves and started beating him violently with a loud cracking sound.

  Tang Yin didn't see how the officer was punished, he walked out with a straight face and said: "Later go find the military doctor to get medicine yourself, fifty military sticks don't constitute serious injury, but also can't be ignored, if you don't want to die heroically on the battlefield, then don't bring your injuries onto the battlefield."

  "Understood......" The officer nodded slightly while enduring the military stick and gritting his teeth.

  Tang Yin's approach left the newly arrived Cheng Jin and his three companions in awe, but the Shangguan brothers took it in stride, having long since grown accustomed to Tang Yin's unconventional methods.

  Returning to his residence, Tang Yin summoned Qiu Zhen, Xiao Mucqing, Zhang Zhou, Ding Guyue, the commander of the Fourth Legion, Chen Fang, the deputy commander, Li Wei, the commander of the Fifth Legion, and Liu Zhongsheng, the deputy commander.

  He first introduced Cheng Jin, Jia Xi, Jiang Mo and Ao Qing to the crowd, then said: "Tomorrow, I will take people to Yuwang Town. The affairs of Biancheng will be temporarily handled by Qiu Zhen!"

  Qiu Zhen and others were unwilling to see Tang Yin take risks in person, but they couldn't persuade him, so they could only nod in agreement.

  They all knew about the plan, but Cheng Jin and his three companions were confused like Zhang Er's monk who couldn't grasp it.

  Cheng Jin asked: "I heard that the barbarian army will attack the border city recently, but why do you want to go to Yuwang Town?" Is it more important than the border city? He silently added another sentence in his heart.