lcionline Chapter 481: Coercion and inducement?
Chapter 481: Coercion and inducement?
"Oh, is that so?" Lu Wensheng's voice was still gentle enough to drip water. He took two slow steps, his eyes sweeping over every genius who tried to "play dumb". "It doesn't matter if you can't read. I'll read to you later. It'll be the same. If that doesn't work..."
He paused, a subtle yet heart-pounding spiritual energy wave lingering at his fingertips. "Demonstrate? Lead by example and experience the effects of the technique yourself? That's fine too—there are always more solutions than problems, not to mention..."
Lu Wensheng deliberately dragged out the last syllable, his clear eyes curved into crescents, revealing a harmless, perfectly standard "Lu smile." Then, he casually unleashed his trump card: "What's more... I just casually flipped through a few of your bills, and they seem a bit... long—those points and spirit stones owed on credit, even without interest, are still a considerable amount."
"!!!" The air froze instantly, and the bodies of some geniuses froze.
Lu Wensheng seemed oblivious to their sudden change of expression and continued in his gentle, weather-discussing tone, "You are all renowned geniuses with promising futures and illustrious reputations. I imagine... you wouldn't want to have the label 'debt-ridden' hanging on your Jade Mirror year after year, would you? It would be so detrimental to your image and your Daoist aspirations."
He changed the subject, whispering like a devil, "However, participating in the improvement of the technique will be rewarded handsomely. Not only can you earn spirit stone points to repay your debts, but you can also pave the way for these lost demonic cultivators to return to the right path. Isn't this a win-win situation, immeasurable merit, and a very meaningful thing?"
Yan Qingshu watched Lu Wensheng's "kind" smile and his precise, heartbreaking speech from the sidelines. Then, glancing at the group of geniuses whose expressions were all ablaze with excitement, a drop of cold sweat silently trickled down her forehead. "...Lu Wensheng finished speaking. A sense of danger washed over me! This wasn't a negotiation; it was clearly a precise debt kidnapping! It was shady, too shady!"
She wrote it down in her little notebook; it turned out she was still not experienced enough!
"What?!" Canglige, Tanheng and Li Zeng, the three geniuses of the demon clan, suddenly widened their eyes, with shock and anger written all over their faces as if they were "Can we play it like this?!" and "We've been tricked!"
The human race is very cunning, and they want to return to the demon race now!
When human geniuses like Yan Zhaoming, Jiang Jinyue, and Jiang Caixue heard the key words "bill", "debt title", and "earning spirit stone points", the resistance on their faces quickly melted away like ice and snow, and was replaced by an almost tragic realization and... flattery?
"Oh my! Look at what you're saying!" Yan Zhaoming was the first to jump out. His hands, which had been waving wildly just now, immediately turned into patting his chest with force, making a loud thumping sound. "Who said we don't like studying the skills?! We love it! We will share the worries of the leader and restore the reputation of the Demonic Path without hesitation!"
Canglige even secretly corrected someone's idiom: "Duty-bound! Duty-bound!"
"That's right!" Jiang Jinyue nodded like a chick pecking at rice, fearing that if he ordered too late, the debt would double. "It's just a small favor! It's just a small favor! It's our honor to contribute to the leader's grand plan!"
Tan Heng silently lowered his hand from the whip and said, "I'll just follow the leader's orders."
Yun Wujiu smiled with a look of understanding and resignation: "The leader is far-sighted, this plan is very good, we... will do our best." Even Jiang Caixue nodded almost imperceptibly.
Li Zhe started the fight by saying, "Me too!"
The swift movement of the "Yamidie" hand gestures that had been in perfect unison just a moment earlier had transformed into an even more coordinated "Duty-bound" gesture!
The human race's geniuses: Look at what's going on, they have no choice but to do this! Waving hands doesn't mean refusing, it means Brother Lu, there's no need to say more!
Who says they don't like studying the techniques?! They absolutely love it! It's definitely not because they're in debt.
Xun Ruo, Ye Yingzhou and others were naturally happy to help with the matter of martial arts.
They were already good friends with Lu Wensheng and were capable of taking on responsibilities. As "capable people themselves," those with greater abilities carry greater responsibilities. Being able to participate in such a groundbreaking undertaking not only paves the way for the magic cultivators, but also opens up new cognitive boundaries for the world of cultivation, which is of extraordinary significance.
Without saying much, they stood behind Lu Wensheng tacitly, indicating that they were ready to be ordered at any time.
However, there are still some "non-stick pans" who want to stay out of it - such as Song Wen, who crossed his arms and looked like he didn't care.
No matter how small an ant's leg is, it's still meat. There's strength in numbers. Since they're idle anyway, how could Lu Wensheng let them go?
"Hey!" Song Wen immediately widened his eyes in alertness, and took the initiative to express his position, trying to draw a clear line, "We don't owe any debts!" He deliberately emphasized "we" and swept his eyes over the disciples around him who were also from the five major sects.
The disciples also nodded, trying hard to act like "honest people" and "pure passers-by", trying to prove that they had nothing to do with Lu Wensheng's "points debt" and naturally had no obligation to participate in this "hard job".
Qin Xiao snorted softly, raised his chin slightly, and added slowly with his unique lazy arrogance: "Lu Kui Shou, I am not your disciple either."
The implication is clear: those geniuses are the ones who owe the debt. I, Qin, do not owe any debt and am not under your jurisdiction. What can you do to me?
Facing Qin Xiao's refusal, Lu Wensheng was not annoyed. Instead, he showed a challenging smile, with a mischievous glint in his eyes: "Fellow Daoist Qin is right. But..."
He changed the subject, tapping lightly on the dusty doorframe of the library with his fingertips. "I've heard that Fellow Daoist Qin has unique insights into martial arts, and is particularly adept at deducing changes. He refines magic, eliminates evil and preserves righteousness, and transforms decay into magic. Isn't this a challenge to the mind and a sharpening of understanding more interesting than ordinary duels? Would you like to... compete in this?"
The three words "compare" directly triggered Qin Xiao's keywords.
Qin Xiao heard this and his half-closed peach blossom eyes suddenly opened a little. He sneered and turned his head to the side, looking disdainful: "Oh, provocation? It won't work on me..."
Without waiting for Lu Wensheng to say anything, he paused for a moment, as if he was extremely reluctant, yet a little awkward because his interest was aroused, and hummed in a tone of "reluctantly giving you face".
"...But since I have nothing else to do, I might as well give it a try. I want to see if your deduction skills, as the 'leader,' are really as amazing as the rumors say."
Song Wen was stunned watching from the side, his jaw almost dropped: "???"
He was furiously complaining in his heart: Damn you! Is this what you call provocation?! You can hardly hide that eager look in your eyes! Qin Xiao, you thick-browed, big-eyed guy, you've betrayed me too?! I thought you were honest!