Record of a Demon's Cultivation Chapter 2: Henchman

Translator: Cinder Translations

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Song Wen's submissive demeanor greatly pleased Gou Hang.

The fury etched on his face vanished in an instant. Having appraised Song Wen closely, he inquired,

"Do you know how to read?"

He had watched intently as Song Wen shoved past the crowd, scrutinized the notice meticulously, then departed in disappointment.

No one had bothered to clarify the notice's contents at that moment.

Song Wen's chain of reactions made it simple to conclude he possessed literacy.

At these words, Song Wen froze briefly. He never anticipated this detail drawing such notice.

A torrent of ideas surged through his thoughts in a flash, balancing gains against risks to settle on a reply.

After deep deliberation, Song Wen opted for the truth.

This "Sir Gou" boasted acute perception; tricking him would prove no easy feat.

Decision reached, Song Wen bowed even deeper, his expression blooming into a more servile grin.

"Replying to Sir Gou, I attended a private school for a few years in my youth and recognize some characters."

Song Wen kept his poise steady and serene. Falsehoods slipped from him effortlessly, betraying no hint of deceit to onlookers.

Gou Hang nodded approvingly. Song Wen's deference and reply delighted him thoroughly. Clear admiration gleamed in Gou Hang's gaze.

The scholars he'd met earlier always strutted with arrogance. Penniless and starving, they scorned his overtures merely because he led at the lowest rung of Tian Sha Gang.

At last, Gou Hang had found a worldly scholar who honored him properly, right there amid the crowd, stroking his ego immensely.

Gou Hang lifted his chin, upholding his haughty air.

"How old are you this year?"

"Sixteen."

To dodge underestimation, Song Wen claimed an age slightly advanced, matching his sturdy build.

"What is your name?"

"Song Wen."

Gou Hang nodded once more and pressed on,

"How do you make a living?"

"I write letters for people and scrape by on a pitiful income." Song Wen spun another tale.

Next, Gou Hang probed Song Wen's family background.

Song Wen painted a picture of ruined lineage, dead parents, and no surviving kin.

"Stick with me, Sir Gou, from now on. My endorsement will get you into Tian Sha Gang without a hitch, pulling in one or two silver coins monthly."

Truth be told, in Qian Guo's era of rampant illiteracy, literate folks still commanded decent regard.

These days in Qian Guo, one or two silver coins sufficed for a household's full month's needs.

Hesitation flickered across Song Wen's features. By instinct, he distrusted overt favors from unknowns.

Gou Hang struck no chord as a decent sort on first sight. Could his promises hold water?

"What's the matter? You sneer at my Tian Sha Gang?" Gou Hang's irked tone boomed.

A forced grin spread on Song Wen's face as he clarified smilingly,

"Sir Gou, you've got it wrong. I'm just green and barely literate, worried I'll burden you."

"If I, your master, fear no such thing, why should you? You whelp, too dense to seize fortune."

Detecting menace in the man's voice, Song Wen yielded without fight. Gratitude lit his face instantly as he responded,

"My thanks for your patronage, Sir Gou. I'll revere you henceforth and obey every command."

Profound thankfulness shone in Song Wen's eyes, evoking the warmth of reunited guardians. The fervor and awe in his stare thrilled Gou Hang; such deference had eluded him for ages.

Gou Hang fished from his trailing lackey's chest pocket and drew forth half a pancake.

"You seem starved for days. Take this half pancake I saved from breakfast."

"Thank you for your reward, Sir Gou."

Song Wen snatched the pancake and devoured it ravenously.

Two motives drove him: genuine gnawing hunger, plus a bid to further inflate Gou Hang's pride.

While munching, he tallied inwardly.

Evidently, Tian Sha Gang rank-and-file fared poorer than envisioned, or Gou Hang wouldn't hoard half a pancake so stingily.

Still, on second thought, should Gou Hang's words ring true, enlisting in Tian Sha Gang promised no raw deal for him.

Tian Sha Gang reigns as the mightiest underground faction in Yan Cheng. As a scholar who knows his letters, I doubt they'll drag me into fights. My safety ought to be somewhat assured, while also handling my daily sustenance woes. In my present straits, this stands as the prime solution.

This boon traces back to Sir Gou standing right there. Though Sir Gou appears none too clever, he's truly tackled my direst need to survive.

Gou Hang had come to this avenue to stick up the Tian Sha Gang's call for child recruits. He bellowed out the notice's details.

Naturally, reading wasn't his skill, yet he'd been briefed on the words ahead of time.

They pierced through layers of stern guards manned by Tian Sha Gang disciples before reaching the gang's central base.

Tian Sha Gang sprawled across a huge expanse. Guided by Gou Hang through winding paths, they reached a line of dwellings.

Stepping into one such building, Gou Hang spoke deferentially to an aged man,

"Elder Yan, I've brought a fresh face, a scholar who can read."

Elder Yan, past fifty in these chaotic days of famine and scarce healers, counted as quite old.

His murky gaze fixed on Song Wen, then he flung a slim volume his way.

With an unyielding bark, he commanded,

"Recite what's inside this booklet."

Song Wen caught the book, aware this was his proving ground.

'Feels just like some old-school hiring trial!' Song Wen mused craftily inside.

He flipped open the slim tome and voiced aloud,

"The universe holds mysteries profound and yellow, the cosmos stretches endless. Sun and moon wheel through their cycles, stars crowd the firmament. Icy winters yield to scorching summers, autumn reaps bring winter hoards..."

"Enough, halt there."

Elder Yan cut Song Wen off before he could complete it, right after roughly a hundred glyphs.

To Gou Hang, Elder Yan remarked, "Fortune favors you. Elder Ji Yin just took on more reading youths, and this one fits perfectly."

Gou Hang fidgeted with his palms, letting out a sheepish laugh,

"Elder Yan, word is Elder Ji Yin pays out silver for bookish finds. So, how about..."

Elder Yan grinned, "You've got sharp ears. I figured it was sheer chance, but you planned this. Head to the ledger office for your ten-tael prize."

"Gratitude, Elder Yan." Gou Hang dipped low in a bow, grin plastered on with unease.

Song Wen observed all this from nearby, mind swirling in confusion.

What's the deal? Why snag scholars and fork over ten taels per head?

In Yancheng, ten taels snagged a pair of fetching maidens.

A chill premonition gripped him; he'd clearly been hawked off.

Earlier, he'd smugly believed he'd toyed with Gou Hang. Now he saw himself as the dupe.

As Gou Hang departed, Song Wen's fading hope cried out,

"Sir Gou, won't you look after me properly?"

Gou Hang shot Song Wen a scornful look brimming with apathy and derision.

Wordless, he spun about and vanished in haste.

"Mere street punk like him treat you right? Off to Elder Ji Yin—no pleading gets you there. That's your golden chance. Don't squander it."

Elder Yan's frosty words rang out from behind Song Wen.

"Escort this boy to Elder Ji Yin."

Two burly warriors strode in from the doorway, three-foot steel blades dangling at their belts.

*Clang!*

The sword half-unsheathed, its gleaming edge flashed a frosty gleam that stung Song Wen's sight.

"Boy, best you play nice and stay put," one growled icily.

Wrath and resentment boiled in Song Wen. Elder Yan's 'chance' spiel was pure deceit.

If it truly was the prized shot all coveted, would they need to abduct and conscript by force?

Yet against that icy blade, he swallowed his pride and bowed to fate.

The powerless bend to the mighty's will!

Still, trailing those brutes out, his fists balled hard, knuckles cracking.

(End of the Chapter)