Let You Be the Sect Leader, But You Only Recruit Protagonists? - Chapter 2

"Let You Be the Sect Leader, But You Only Recruit Protagonists? - Chapter 2: The Rules of the Wild!"

Chapter 2: The Rules of the Wild!

Sect Prohibitions:

1. No sect member is allowed to provoke anyone who meets any of the aforementioned conditions.
2. No sect member is allowed to randomly provoke others. Our principle is: if others do not offend us, we will not offend them.
3. If someone offends us, we must eliminate all evil, eradicate the roots, leave no survivors, and scatter their ashes to the winds. It's best to also wipe out their family, sect, close friends, etc., leaving no trace behind!
   Afterward, choose a windy spot to scatter their ashes so they can be blown further away.
4. If the third condition cannot be met, under no circumstances should we provoke them. Simply choose to endure. A true gentleman can wait ten years for revenge.
5. If, for special reasons, it becomes necessary to provoke someone who meets the 'recruitment conditions,' they must be killed instantly, and their entire family, especially their girlfriend, must be exterminated within the shortest possible time!
   At least send someone three major realms stronger than their strongest member to act, giving them no chance to react.
   If the sect lacks sufficient strength...
   No matter how special the reason, provoking them is strictly forbidden!
   Even if it means apologizing.
   Even if one of our disciples has been cuckolded by the other party.
6. ...

After reading through this series of new regulations, the five elder masters were utterly stunned.

The new recruitment rules earlier on were somewhat acceptable, though they didn't quite understand their purpose. At least they weren't too outrageous and could be tolerated. But what in the world were these sect prohibitions?!

Not allowed to provoke those who meet the disciple recruitment conditions?

Fine, whatever.

But if we do take action, we have to exterminate their entire family, even their close friends, leaving no survivors, and then scatter their ashes. Wouldn't such behavior make us seem like a demonic sect?

The Grand Elder shivered and said, "Sect Leader, aren't these prohibitions somewhat inappropriate?"

"What's inappropriate about them?"

Lin Fan retorted with a roll of his eyes.

"To exterminate an entire family... that's too cruel. It goes against the natural order and invites backlash!"

"What backlash?"

Lin Fan shot back again: "If we've already wiped out their entire family, killed all their close friends, and scattered their ashes without a trace, who would even know it was us?"

"Even if they did find out, with no relatives left, who would seek revenge for them?"

"Or does the Grand Elder think killing just one person is safer? Do you think their family and friends won't seek revenge for them?"

Su Xinghai was at a loss for words, his eyes wide open but unable to come up with a rebuttal.

Second Elder Wu Xingyun pondered deeply: "Sect Leader, with our current strength, the Lan Yue Sect might not be capable of such actions."

"Even if all of us old folks join forces, we're barely a third-rate sect in terms of power."

"So, didn't I make it clear enough?"

"If we don't have enough strength, then endure! Without the ability to exterminate an entire family, how dare we provoke them? Are we not afraid of being exterminated in return? Have we never died before?"

The beautiful woman of great principles didn't give him any face either.

Lin Fan knew exactly what he wanted and how to 'survive'!

Therefore, these terms had to be enforced.

With this statement, Wu Xingyun's red lips opened and closed several times, but in the end, she remained silent.

Of course, she wanted to argue back.

But truth be told, Lin Fan's words made a lot of sense.

Rough words, but sound reasoning.

The greatest truths are often the simplest.

"Especially for those who meet our recruitment conditions. If we really offend them, we must kill them instantly, along with their entire family! Not only humans, even dogs must be beaten to death with two slaps, their eggs shaken until smooth, and earthworms must be dug out and cut vertically!"

At this point, Lin Fan looked at them: "Anyone else have any questions?"

Fifth Elder Duan Qingyao raised her hand lightly: "Sect Leader, I have a question. What does 'cuckold' mean?"

"It means being cheated on," Lin Fan responded casually.

The five elders' expressions synchronized, equally bewildered: "Huh?"

"Understand now? Hatred for having your wife stolen, your woman running off with someone else."

"..."

Sssss!

The five elders collectively gasped.

Good grief.

You mean we have to endure even this kind of grudge?!

Fourth Elder Chen Erzhu quickly interjected: "Sect Leader, this is truly inappropriate. If such hatred festers in one's heart without release, it blocks the flow of thoughts, which is detrimental to cultivation. It may lead to a demonic mindset, causing stagnation at best, or even... regression of cultivation, or worse, exploding from internal energy!"

"What kind of demonic mindset can this create?"

The other four elders nodded in agreement.

Lin Fan crossed his arms: "I understand your concerns, but why don't you think about it from another perspective."

"A woman or Dao companion who can be taken away—do they even deserve to be your Dao companion?"

The five of them paused, then shook their heads one after another.

No, definitely not.

A good horse doesn't eat grass it's already stepped on, let alone people.

"So what are you suppressing?"

"Think about it differently: you got to enjoy someone else's Dao companion for free for a while. What's there to suppress?"

"Even if you spent money, isn't everything in life costly? Isn't visiting a brothel also expensive? Isn't a virtuous woman better than visiting a brothel?"

"Suppression? Shouldn't you feel secretly pleased? Or, if you're still unhappy, you can strive harder, cultivate, and after you're done, go beat them up. Strive with the goal of beating them up!"

"Sleep with their Dao companion, then beat them up afterward. Are you suppressing anything?"

"Even if you can't wrap your head around it, at least this situation makes you realize what kind of person your Dao companion truly is. Isn't that better than them betraying you at a critical moment and killing you?"

The five elders: "Huh?!"

(ΩДΩ)!!!

At this moment, they were all dumbfounded.

What kind of twisted logic is this?!

Never-before-imagined reasoning.

But you know what?

Don't even say it!

Third Elder Li Changshou slapped his thigh repeatedly, his gaze burning with admiration as he stared at Lin Fan.

Well said!

In the end, even the most stubborn Grand Elder felt there was some merit to it, but still found it inappropriate: "What the Sect Leader says isn't entirely without reason, but... this is still somewhat unbecoming, isn't it?"

"These sect rules, if leaked, will surely invite ridicule."

"It's one thing for us elders to see them, but for the disciples to see them... it's inappropriate."

"Inappropriate?"

Lin Fan sighed softly: "Ridicule?"

"When has it ever been about saving face?"

"Is face more important, or is the survival of the sect and our lives more important?"

"Grand Elder, you've been in the Lan Yue Sect far longer than me. In terms of seniority, I should call you ancestor. So tell me, in previous generations, our sect did manage to recruit some promising talents, so why is it now my turn to be Sect Leader?"

The Grand Elder's expression changed slightly, thinking of many things... many things.

His fellow disciples, junior disciples, grand-disciples, and even...

All vanished without a trace!

Too many, too many...

Over the years, they've all turned to a handful of yellow earth.

His voice gradually grew hoarse: "Everyone else... they're all dead. Sect Leader, you are currently the best seedling our Lan Yue Sect has."

"Among them, was there even one who died of old age?"

The Grand Elder's voice became even hoarser: "No."

"Don't you understand yet?"

Lin Fan sneered: "At a time like this, if you still can't face reality, what are you talking about when you mention dignity?"

"If we can drag on by enduring, then endure! When the time comes that we don't even have the chance to endure, that's when it'll truly be hopeless."

"And besides, I know why you chose me as Sect Leader."

He didn't hide it: "That night when you were talking, by sheer coincidence, I overheard."

"You didn't want to take on this responsibility, so you picked me. Well, I'm not afraid."

"But since you've chosen me, you need to hand over the power to me. Only then can I act boldly and make sweeping changes!"

"Whether I succeed or fail, at least I will have tried."

"I owe it to the sect, and more importantly, to my own conscience!"

"Don't let me be Sect Leader in name only while shooting down everything I do, even when you know deep down that what I'm doing makes sense..."

Lin Fan gave a self-deprecating smile.

"If that's how it's going to be, then I'd rather not be Sect Leader at all. You can pass it on to whoever wants it—or maybe one of my other fellow disciples? Why don't you let them take over as Sect Leader?"

With that, Lin Fan let out another long sigh.

"The Lan Yue Sect is already sick—terminally ill."

"Change may not guarantee survival, but without change, death is certain."

"In turbulent times, severe measures must be taken. A loud drum doesn't need a heavy mallet."

"Whether you agree or not, it's up to you to decide."

He stared directly at the five elders, his gaze devoid of any humility. At this moment, he was the true Sect Leader—not a puppet, and certainly not a scapegoat!

If you want me to lead, then damn it, give me the authority to actually lead! If you don't want me to lead, then you can carry the burden yourselves!

These words were far from polite. In this era, they could even be considered rebellious and unconventional.

But they left the five elders speechless.

Finally, the Grand Elder lowered his head and sighed: "Let's do as the Sect Leader says."

"I have no objections." Wu Xingyun nodded.

Soon after, the remaining three elders also voiced their support.

Seeing this, Lin Fan finally smiled: "Elders, don't blame this junior for disrespecting his seniors. I simply had no other choice."

"After all, you all understand the current state of the Lan Yue Sect better than I do."

"This is the only way."

"And rest assured, I'm not just playing around. I've already made up my mind to live and die with the Lan Yue Sect!"

Upon hearing these words, the five elders were stunned but couldn't help but feel deeply moved.

A sense of shared purpose began to spread.

Live and die together, huh?

We old folks... haven't we always felt the same way?

At this moment, they even felt something stirring within them.

Perhaps... perhaps this little guy, whom we reluctantly pushed into this role because we didn't want to bear the burden ourselves, might actually bring about some change...

"So, I ask all of you, Elders, to assist me!"

"Rest assured."

Duan Qingyao smiled, brushing away the earlier awkwardness, and patted Lin Fan on the shoulder: "Our goals are the same, and we will fully support you."

"That's right! Perhaps this is our last chance, and we must give it our all!" Chen Erzhu also patted Lin Fan on the shoulder.

Then came the First, Second, and Third Elders.

Each of them patted Lin Fan on the shoulder, indicating their full commitment.

"Then let's get to work."

The five elders' expressions turned serious: "Whether we can make any changes... perhaps it all depends on what happens three days from now..."

"Mm, thank you for your hard work."

Lin Fan nodded.

Watching their retreating figures, Lin Fan silently exhaled: "Thank goodness. At least things didn't fall apart with them. As long as they're willing to support me fully, there's still hope."

"As for my fellow disciples..."

Thinking of them, Lin Fan scratched his head.

They were all outer sect disciples, with negligible talent.

It was almost impossible for them to achieve anything significant.

"I'll try to protect them as much as I can. Even if they don't accomplish much, they can still serve as mascots or fill out the numbers."