Chapter 21: The Origins of the White Lotus Society

"Qinghe County has a population of less than thirty thousand. Even within the entire Great Qian Empire, it is considered a small town among small towns. There is nothing here worth the Bone Branch of the White Lotus Sect coveting."

"If they were merely performing a blood sacrifice, they wouldn't go to such lengths, even sending an Elder at the peak of the Seventh Grade to oversee it personally and gathering every single White Lotus follower in the region."

"Master, to be honest, I truly don't know why they came."

Faced with Yang Le’s confusion, Li Qi'er shook her head, a rare gesture for her.

In such an inconspicuous place like Qinghe County, even if the White Lotus Sect truly wanted to sacrifice the entire city, they could have achieved it by sending an Eighth-Grade entry-level disciple, along with a hundred outer-sect disciples and several hundred followers at the Tenth-Grade quasi-martial artist level.

But the formation they were facing now…

It would be more than enough to swallow the entire Cang Province. After all, a week ago, Li Qi'er had heard that the Great Qian Empire had abandoned the entirety of Cang Province.

In that entire province, 99.9 percent of the population were humans; let alone pure-blooded demons, even half-human, half-demon hybrids were a rare sight.

"I suppose we are just unlucky. Let’s change the subject."

Hearing this, Yang Le smiled. "Do you know the background of the White Lotus Sect?"

Since the intentions of the White Lotus Sect and why they were targeting Qinghe County remained unclear, Yang Le decided not to dwell on it, instead abruptly asking Li Qi'er about the sect. After all, Yang Le knew absolutely nothing about them.

The only thing he recalled was that when he had first arrived in this world, someone had told him that joining the White Lotus Sect would grant him access to talisman water that could cure all illnesses, and that he could even become an immortal. At the time, however, Yang Le had simply dismissed such claims. His own understanding of the world made it impossible for him to believe such rumors.

"I don't know much," Li Qi'er replied with a nod. "In short, they are the remnants of the previous dynasty."

"A hundred years ago, the White Lotus Sect was the largest sect of the former dynasty. But following the founding of the Great Qian, they were branded an evil cult and subjected to purges. Their leader was killed, many high-ranking members were either executed or turned into human slaves, and the remaining factions were forced underground. For decades, they have been dormant."

"However, a few years ago, after a 'Saintess of the Green Lotus' appeared within the Lotus Branch, the White Lotus Sect experienced a resurgence and grew increasingly powerful. Today, they occupy most of Cang Province and a small portion of the border in Ci Province."

"Because the Lotus Branch kills off the local aristocratic families, redistributes land, and provides porridge wherever they go, anyone who joins the sect gains their protection. They have truly won the hearts of the people."

"It is said that the 'White Lotus Heart Sutra' is one of the few complete, uncorrupted human cultivation techniques passed down through the ages."

"If not for the Great Qian’s Protectorate Army heavily guarding the border between the two provinces, Ci Province would likely have fallen as well."

As she spoke, Li Qi'er’s eyes glimmered with a strange light. Clearly, she found this version of the White Lotus Sect quite impressive.

*Create the White Lotus, cultivate the peaceful immortal, banish the calamitous demons, save the common people.*

The Lotus Branch had indeed lived up to those ideals.

"You know quite a bit. One shouldn't be overly humble."

After listening to Li Qi'er’s account, Yang Le took the opportunity to correct her earlier statement. This wasn't "not knowing much"—this was knowing a great deal.

"If that’s the case, the White Lotus Sect shouldn't be slaughtering ordinary civilians. So, what we are seeing right now..."

Yang Le still had some lingering confusion.

"These people here cannot be considered 'saviors of the common people'."

In Qinghe County, Yang Le was not the only one looking for a chance to escape. Especially after the death of Changsun Ji and with the human slaves' defenses growing lax, many had realized they could flee.

But in these few moments, another dozen people had already died under the scythes of the White Lotus followers before them.

"That is because this is the 'Bone Branch' of the White Lotus Sect. Their creed is: 'Kill the life of a chaotic world, become a ghost of the peaceful era; this place is hell, and only after death is there bliss.'"

"The Bone Branch only emerged after the White Lotus Sect fell apart. They practice demonic arts and feed on blood and vitality. Wherever they go, they slaughter an entire city. To join them, one must kill a blood relative and hold their severed head to be initiated."

As she said this, the look in Li Qi'er’s eyes changed instantly. Disgust and contempt were written all over her face. She looked at the tens of thousands of White Lotus followers as if they weren't human at all... but rather a pile of trash.

Yes, they were indeed a pile of trash.

"I see. The Bone Branch and the Green Lotus Branch..."

Yang Le was shocked. It was hard to believe that the same sect could have such stark, even diametrically opposed, factions. But in the next second, he composed himself and drew his sword. Regardless of the origins or the doctrine of the Bone Branch, he had to act.

He didn't know why the Bone Branch had come to Qinghe County, but he knew what he had to do: resolve this unexpected trouble.

"Master, there are two ways forward. First, we retreat back into Qinghe County, gather the people, and face this crisis together."

Seeing Yang Le draw his sword, Li Qi'er knew what he intended. "Second, we kill the Great Elder of the Bone Branch inside the sedan chair. Once he is dead, these troublesome followers will lose their focus, and we will only need to deal with the inner and outer sect disciples."

After a moment of analysis, Li Qi'er offered these two solutions.

"Before we left, there were still some martial practitioners in the Martial Arts Battalion. Though they aren't much, they could help us share the burden in this situation, which would reduce the pressure significantly."

Li Qi'er clearly favored the first option: using the city walls of Qinghe and the local martial practitioners to resist the White Lotus followers.

"A good analysis, but I choose to kill him directly."

The moment her words fell, Yang Le had already made his choice.

With a flourish of his sword, his gaze locked onto the old Taoist priest sitting inside the white-topped sedan chair several kilometers away.

Yang Le didn't have many particular habits, but... not retracing his steps happened to be one of his triggers. The sword in his hand was not meant for running away. Furthermore, entering Qinghe County now would be no different than being a turtle trapped in a jar.

The land outside the city was vast and unobstructed; if he really couldn't win, he could at least sharpen his edge and retreat later. If he re-entered the city and reached the point of exhaustion, that environment would be no different than seeking his own death.

"Since Master has decided, I won't say more. I may not be of much help in the fighting, but I can keep myself safe."

Seeing this, Li Qi'er pulled out a dagger... and in the next second, she instantly slipped behind Yang Le.

"I thought you would say you’d go into battle with your master."

"I am a weak woman with injuries, Master. Do you have the heart for it?"

"It’s not about having the heart, but you should say 'a girl'."

"Master, you!"

After the correction, Yang Le glanced at Li Qi'er’s chest—she was indeed a girl.

The next second, Yang Le drew his sword completely, its edge pointed forward.

Toward the white-topped sedan chair!