They saw the wolf smoke and felt they spotted a beacon of hope for organization and survival, only to find themselves inexplicably fed a grass seed when they arrived.
Everyone was bewildered and clueless about what was happening.
Just at that moment, some miscreant suddenly threw out a dead chicken.
The crowd was still pondering, could this be a test from Eighth Master?
Before they could take any further action, the dead chicken suddenly moved.
Everyone was stunned, then witnessed an incredible scene.
The chicken quivered, its belly quickly swelled, and then burst open, as a green vine shot out from inside.
The crowd was dumbfounded, each asking those around them, "What... what’s going on?"
"Did... did you see that?"
For some reason, they suddenly felt discomfort in their stomachs.
It was then Black Eight silently emerged with a grave expression, "The grass seed you just swallowed is this."
He lifted the dead chicken with the vine coming out of its belly.
Though the chicken’s back was still intact, there was a hole in its belly where the vine was growing crazily from the rupture, and as the vine thrived, the chicken became more and more deflated, apparently going to be hollowed out by internal consumption soon.
Witnessing this scene, everyone was in shock.
Some clever folks started to induce vomiting, just like Black Eight.
With the air of someone who’d been there, Black Eight told them, "It’s no use, the seeds have attached themselves to your intestines and won’t be easily thrown up."
"Eighth Master, why would you doom us ?" The crowd was at a loss for words, wishing they could turn back time.
"..." Black Eight also wore a look of helplessness.
He didn’t want to trick anyone; he’d rather not eat those dreadful grass seeds himself!
However, he too had a bomb in his stomach now, and if he didn’t comply, he would be the first one to start sprouting grass.
"Actually, these grass seeds aren’t such a big deal. Just treat them like air. As long as you behave and don’t get up to no good, they won’t cause any trouble."
"???" the crowd was completely baffled.
They had already become bandits, so what was this talk of behaving? Was this some sort of joke?
"In fact, a new path now lies before you all, so please listen carefully to what I have to say."
Black Eight cleared his throat, attempting to sound more serious, "I know you all have been driven to desperate straits by this harsh world, forcing you to become bandits.
But now a clear path has opened up before you. From today onward, you can choose to live properly, just like me!"
"Don’t you long to stop your weary journeys?
Don’t you desire to live peacefully?
Don’t you miss the calm days of the past?
Do you really want to keep having your lives bought by The Government’s men every so often?"
A barrage of questions stirred emotions among the crowd.
Bai Junjun watched from behind a house as Black Eight masterfully brainwashed them.
Seeing this, Bai Junjun knew there was no doubt they’d be captured without resistance.
At the time, Bai Junjun had Black Eight stay behind in Zhao Family Village to brainwash the people, while the unfortunate Pawn once again took on the task of guiding them, leading them to the so-called grave.
Both brothers were reluctant, but faced with the sinister expressions of the red-clad Asuras, they dared not voice their refusal and could only silently lead the way as pawns.
Bai Junjun sped along, finally arriving at a dense forest by evening.
The forest was originally overgrown with weeds and seldom visited by people.
But now, the forest was in chaos, with traces of human activity everywhere.