Is this the right choice?
"So, here's the thing. You're not gonna join the Blue Moon Sect." I spoke.
"Wait, didn't you just say that I was going to? Then what's the point of convincing me and stuff?" Liling asked.
"Oops. I worded it wrong. I meant to say that you will not be joining the sect just yet." I replied.
"Why? There shouldn't be any problems with me joining, right?" She asked.
"Okay, here's the thing. You know our sect is a minor one, right? So, I'm recruiting members to elevate the piss poor status of the sect. But here's the thing. Rather than a slow increase, a straight up increase is always better because the major sect can't lure your members away with that." I explained.
"But they're gonna be aware of your actions when the number increases abnormally, right?" She questioned.
I hadn't thought of that before. The Blood Moon Sect won't notice the initial stages. However, once the sect crosses two hundred or something along that number, they're gonna notice. And then they're gonna lure away the members. And if one of those traitorous bastards snitched on me, the entire sect will be in trouble.
"Hmm, you're right. So, I got a plan for that." I spoke.
Well, this one wasn't my actual plan, but a slightly modified version.
"What is it?" She asked again.
"You see, we're building an unofficial Blue Moon Sect base around here. It will hold the members and act as a development facility until the numbers get to the point that it becomes the number for a minor sect to officially become a major sect." I explained my alternative plan.
"... It sure sounds plausible, but can the sect manage the group with a measly grant they receive monthly?" Her questionnaire continued.
"It won't. I know that. That's why the unofficial sect has to be self-sufficient. Build connections and stuff to the point that once you officially join the Blue Moon Sect, our sect becomes the most prominent sect in just a fortnight." I proclaimed my aspiration.
"So, where do I come in? What's my role?" Liling brought forth what was supposedly her last question.
"Hehe, you're gonna be the one who's gonna be leading the group alongside me." I replied with a smile on my face.
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After an intense back-and-forth session, Liling finally agreed to becoming the head of the unofficial group. It was important to do this conversation before we reached our base, since our base is the former bandit base and our core members are all former bandits in one way or the other. It was more like a rehabilitation center, if you ask me.
"So…. This is the base?" Liling asked in a calm voice, but her face didn't look calm at all.
"What? You don't like it or what?" I asked.
"Who in the right mind chooses a bandit base as their own base?" She asked.
"I do." I smiled.
"Exactly! You are crazy, you know that?" She sounded frustrated as she spoke.
"Well, just think about it. It's got basic facilities, it's in a remote space and it's got notoriety, so no one will try to step in on purpose. Even if it's in a remote space, you can traverse to any region you want in ease. And if you cleared some dust off this place, you'll actually find a training ground as well. What else do you need?" I asked.
I was genuinely excited that I got hold of such a brilliant place. It's the high ground if you ask me.
"Hmm, I get what you're saying. However, there would be a lot of mouths to feed when this organization grows. I know you said to be self sufficient, by without a capital investment, we can't do jack shite." Liling spoke out her concern.
"Well, I knew you were gonna say that. So, there's this loot from the bandits that I've kept hidden in a certain area. Would that be enough?" I asked.
"How much is it?" She asked, to which I whispered the number to her. "My goodness! That's way more than what I expected. Anyhow that would be enough." She assured me.
"Great! I'll draw a map for you." I gave out a thumbs up. "So, let's get in, shall we?" I invited her in.
The bandit base was beautiful—something it should never have been. Bandit bases are supposed to be menacing. However, this one's just the best. The floor and ceiling were literally glimmering. The place had beautiful antiques and looked extremely luxurious. My favorite would be the fluffy bed in the boss' room. Everything's so pretty that my room back in the sect seems like a little kid before it.
Anyhow, it's because of the boss of the bandits that this base became different compared to the other ones. The boss was the kind of person who spends money in leisure. So, he kinda spent money on literally anything and everything—which is something I didn't like.
"Hey, if you wanna sell some of the shite here, please do that! We just need a place to live. I have no use of luxurious stuff." I spoke to Liling.
"Ha, I can agree with you on that!" She chuckled.
"So, look over there. That's Guo Ning and the new members of the unofficial sect. Go have a chat with them. You're gonna be living together after all." I nudged Liling on her back.
"Okay, I'll see you later then." She waved me bye and headed towards them.
It was truly a peaceful sight to watch!
[First Guo Ning and now Liling. You're picking up all the op dead characters from the game, huh?]
{Emphasis on the dead. They're no op if they die, Goldy. And anyway, the death of Ning wasn't that significant in the game, so we should be fine there. However, the problem is-}
[Tao Liling. She is a really important cannon fodder in the game, eh?]
{Yup. She's the one who gave him love apart from his family. And she's also the one who's death actually gave some character development for the hero.}
[You're contemplating whether you did the right thing, eh?]
{...}
[Don't worry. She came here by her own accord. So, we have the responsibility to protect her. And the bandits that killed her are dead, right?]
{Yea, but…}
Something was bothering me, but seeing her blend in with the other members really did put me in ease. I know this development would take away that one lovely year from Zhangsun Shan, but I think the game version of him would appreciate my actions if he comes to know about it. He dearly loved Liling, after all.
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