Is It Wrong to Bully the Novice Village for System Rewards?

“Reporting to the Deputy Hall Master! Subordinates have located several surviving disciples on the outskirts of Blood Refining Peak!”

Just as the silence on the peak was becoming stifling, a group of Inner Sect enforcers hurried back to the bone carriage. Trailing behind them were five or six demonic cultivators dressed in the ragged robes of the Outer Sect.

Situ Kong’s eyes lit up. He sat forward, his apathy vanishing.

“Excellent. Bring them forward. I want answers.”

“As you command!”

Moments later, the survivors were shoved to the front of the assembly.

The moment they saw the carpet of corpses, their knees buckled. Dumbfounded horror washed over their faces. When they recognized two specific bodies lying broken in the dirt, the screaming started.

“Senior Brother Chi! Senior Brother Wu!”

“We… we just went to the market for a few hours! How is everyone dead?!”

“Weren’t they just going to kill the guy in Grade A Courtyard No. 1? Why is it…”

“Silence!”

An Enforcement Hall disciple barked, cutting off the hysteria. “Deputy Hall Master Situ is present. Cease your wailing and speak clearly!”

“D-Deputy Hall Master Situ?!”

The blood drained from the survivors’ faces. They threw themselves to the ground, trembling so violently they couldn’t form sentences.

Qi Yuan, watching from the side, let out a silent breath of relief.

Thank god there are witnesses.

If he had truly wiped out the entire peak—leaving not even a chicken or dog alive—it would have been hard to spin. ‘Total extermination’ was a bad look, even for him.

Besides, the whole situation was bizarre. Even he was confused.

It wasn’t like the entire population of Blood Refining Peak belonged to a thieves’ guild that decided to rob him simultaneously.

Now that people who knew the context were here, they could clear up the confusion and, more importantly, prove his innocence.

Situ Kong wasted no time. He looked down at the shivering disciples.

“Tell us everything you know. And explain… what is this ‘Grade A Courtyard No. 1’ business?”

One of the survivors swallowed hard, terror in his eyes.

“R-replying to the Deputy Hall Master… This disciple only knows that someone seized Grade A Courtyard No. 1. This angered Senior Brother Chi and Senior Brother Wu, who were competing for ownership of that cave dwelling. They… they gathered everyone to…”

As the survivors stammered out the details, the full picture emerged.

When the explanation finished, a pin-drop silence fell over the peak.

Qi Yuan stared, his eyes wide. A sense of utter absurdity rose in his chest.

That’s it?

The truth was so stupid it felt magical.

This whole massacre… was a dispute over a dorm room?

Are the people on Blood Refining Peak mentally deficient? It’s just a place to sleep! Was it really necessary to turn it into a meat grinder?

Surely, after the first wave of people died, they should have realized something was wrong. Instead, they charged in wave after wave, tripping over the corpses of their friends to feed his kill count.

It was an organized suicide run. A group wipe.

With an IQ like that, how did they even get into the Demonic Sect? Did they buy their way in through the backdoor like me?

Honestly, if Qi Yuan had known the courtyard came with this much drama, he wouldn’t have bothered.

He was here to speedrun system tasks, not to fight a bunch of brain-damaged extras over real estate. What was the point of dominating a trash heap like Blood Refining Peak?

While Qi Yuan stood there, grappling with the stupidity of his enemies, the atmosphere around him shifted.

The crowd’s silence deepened. But the way they looked at Qi Yuan changed. The confusion vanished, replaced by a complex mix of fear, shock, and dawning awe.

To them, the picture was crystal clear.

Everything… from start to finish… was under this guy’s control!

From the moment he stepped foot on Blood Refining Peak, he had set the board.

He deliberately occupied Grade A Courtyard No. 1—a location with heavy political significance—to act as the perfect bait. He knew it would trigger the egos of the two local tyrants, Chi Yinghu and Wu Renjie.

Blood Refining Peak was a lawless hellhole where life was cheap. To survive, disciples had to cling to a boss. Chi and Wu were ruthless predators accustomed to dominating the Outer Sect. They would never tolerate a newcomer slapping their faces by taking the best spot.

They were predictable. They would gather their armies and come to ‘demand an explanation.’

And Qi Yuan had been waiting.

He had turned his home into a slaughterhouse, luring the victims in batch by batch.

He must have used unfathomable psychological tactics to keep them coming, feeding them false hope, misleading them into charging to their deaths until the entire peak was depopulated.

And the most terrifying part?

According to the Saint Sect’s ironclad laws, a cave owner has the right to kill trespassers on sight.

Big Qi’s massacre was legally flawless.

He had blood-sacrificed hundreds of fellow disciples to refine their souls and boost his own power, and he had done it in a way that rendered the Enforcement Hall powerless to punish him.

A born demon.

A monster among monsters.

Even these ‘survivors’ were probably spares he intentionally released, timed perfectly to arrive and provide the testimony that would exonerate him.

Every link in the chain connected perfectly. It was a textbook execution of a scheme so vicious it made one’s scalp tingle.

Realization washed over the crowd like a cold bucket of water. Chills ran down their spines.

This man was terrifying.

He wasn’t some lucky Outer Sect disciple. He was a demonic dragon lurking in the abyss, baring his fangs only when the trap was snapped shut.

“So… that is the truth.”

Situ Kong broke the silence. He exhaled a long breath, the sternness in his eyes replaced by glowing appreciation.

“These petty scoundrels attempted to invade another’s sanctuary. They violated the sect’s most sacred property laws. Their deaths at the hands of Junior Qi were entirely self-inflicted.”

He gestured to the carnage.

“The corpses are the material evidence. These testimonies are the human evidence. The chain of proof is complete.”

Situ Kong straightened his robes, projecting the aura of an impartial judge.

“As the Deputy Hall Master, I declare: Qi Yuan acted in legitimate defense of his dwelling. His actions were reasonable, justified, and compliant with sect law. He shall face no punishment.”

His voice hardened, echoing across the mountains.

“Furthermore, let no one use this incident to slander him. To accuse him is to question the laws of the Saint Sect, and the Enforcement Hall will show no mercy to such liars!”

The verdict snapped the crowd out of their trance. Immediately, the air filled with sycophantic praise.

“The Deputy Hall Master is wise and mighty! A pillar of the Sect!”

“I knew it! I knew Junior Brother Qi was innocent! A classic case of self-defense!”

“Trespassing is a capital offense! Junior Brother Qi was practically enforcing justice on behalf of the Heavens! Satisfying!”

“Junior Brother Qi is a young hero! Both brave and terrifyingly intelligent. A role model for us all!”

Amidst the noise, Qi Yuan blinked, realizing he had won. He quickly stepped forward, bowing with practiced humility.

“Thank you, Deputy Hall Master Situ, for your keen eyes. This disciple is grateful for your fairness.”

Situ Kong smiled, his expression now paternal and warm.

“No need for thanks, Junior Qi. It is my duty.”

Internally, however, the old man’s mind was racing.

The Demonic Sect has no shortage of butchers and madmen. But a butcher with a brain? That is rare.

Most disciples were thugs. This kid… he was different. Ruthless, yes. Demonic nature? Clearly off the charts. But his planning was meticulous. He had engineered a mass slaughter within the bounds of the law.

This is talent.

If the Situ family could recruit him… with a few years of resources, he would be a terrifying enforcer for the clan.

Situ Kong’s gaze softened further.

He’s going to have enemies after this. That makes him vulnerable. Perfect for recruitment.

I don’t know how deep his connection is with the Ji girl, but Ji Chan’er is arrogant. She probably sees him as a pet or a temporary amusement. If the Situ family shows him real respect and heavy investment, we can steal him away.

However, as a Deputy Hall Master, I can’t look desperate. It would be beneath my station to recruit an Outer Sect disciple personally. I’ll send one of the juniors to befriend him later.

Plan set, Situ Kong smoothed his eyebrows and adopted an air of indifference.

“I have pressing matters at the Main Hall. Since this case is closed, I will take my leave.”

With a wave of his hand, he floated back to his bone carriage. The terrifying procession of undead and elites rose into the air, departing as grandly as they had arrived.