Martial Saint with Passives

As the eerie purple light slowly faded, Zhao Kang’s previously unfocused eyes snapped back into focus.

This time, however, the fear that had filled his gaze completely vanished.

In its place was an indescribable mix of...

Fervor and adulation!

Looking at Jiang Che before him, he felt not a shred of resistance or fear. Instead, a sense of intimacy and belonging welled up from the depths of his soul.

He even felt the urge to kneel and kiss the man’s feet.

"Ma... Master..."

Zhao Kang’s voice trembled as an incredibly fawning smile spread across his face.

His gaze was cloying, filled with a disquieting fanaticism.

"Gag..."

Watching him, Jiang Che’s stomach churned, and he nearly threw up.

’It’s a good thing the control was successful, but this sycophantic display is just nauseating.’

"Enough! Stop looking at me with that disgusting expression! Act normal!" Jiang Che snapped, his brows furrowing.

A jolt went through Zhao Kang. He immediately wiped the obsessive look from his face, respectfully bowing his head and standing at attention like the most loyal old servant.

"Yes! Master! Your word is law!"

Looking at the incredibly obedient "King of Lin Yuan," Jiang Che let out a silent sigh of relief. A dull ache throbbed in his head as a profound sense of exhaustion washed over him.

’It seems controlling a human at the Refining Organ Realm is my limit...’ he thought.

’Compared to unintelligent beasts, a human’s Divine Soul is not only stronger but also far more complex, filled with all sorts of desires and distracting thoughts.’

’Completely suppressing and imprinting it is no easy task.’

’If I were facing someone in the True Master Realm... even the First Layer of True Master Realm, I doubt I could force a Pupil Seal. I might even suffer a severe backlash!’

Still, he had succeeded.

Looking at the puppet before him, who now followed his every command, the killing intent in Jiang Che’s eyes finally began to fade.

Honestly, given his personality, the most satisfying thing would have been to simply cut down a scumbag who had committed so much evil.

But...

Reason told him that Zhao Kang couldn’t die. Not yet.

In Lin Yuan City, the Zhao Family reigned supreme.

If Zhao Kang were to die suddenly tonight, all of Lin Yuan City would surely descend into chaos by morning.

Besides, he had already killed his younger brother, Zhao Ran.

The Zhao Family would be leaderless. To seize power, their arrogant and ruthless commanders would undoubtedly ignite a new round of bloody infighting.

Then, other factions would make a comeback, taking advantage of the chaos.

And in the end, the innocent people of this city would be the ones to suffer.

’For the peace of Lin Yuan City...’

’I’d better spare his worthless life!’

’Besides, under my control and command, Zhao Kang won’t be able to tyrannize the people anymore.’

His mind made up, Jiang Che commanded Zhao Kang:

"Open your mind and do not resist!"

"Yes, Master." Without hesitation, Zhao Kang completely opened his consciousness.

With a thought, Jiang Che connected his Divine Thought and began to read Zhao Kang’s memories!

Instantly, a flood of countless chaotic images, sounds, and memory fragments poured into Jiang Che’s mind.

It was over forty years of Zhao Kang’s life.

Bullying men and abusing women, robbery and extortion, elaborate schemes to frame others, even poisoning his own uncle by any means necessary to seize power...

Each and every incident was more shocking than the last.

Jiang Che felt like he was watching a movie on fast-forward, rapidly skimming through the life of this so-called "King of Lin Yuan."

’Tsk... he really is a scumbag through and through.’

’Killing you ten times wouldn’t be enough.’

Suppressing his revulsion, Jiang Che quickly filtered out the useless information, searching for anything of value.

Suddenly.

His focus locked onto a recent memory.

It was a memory of Zhao Ran reporting to Zhao Kang.

In the memory, Zhao Ran was reporting with a sinister expression, claiming that he had captured all the remnants of the Seven Stars Gang and thrown them into the dungeon!

’The Seven Stars Gang?!’

A jolt shot through Jiang Che.

’They were locked in a prison?’

He instantly severed the connection, his gaze turning ice-cold as he stared at Zhao Kang.

"Zhao Kang."

"Master?" Keenly sensing the violent shift in Jiang Che’s mood, Zhao Kang looked up, trembling.

"The members of the Seven Stars Gang. Where are they being held?"

Zhao Kang froze for a moment. Though he didn’t understand why his master cared about a group of prisoners, under the absolute domination of the Pupil Seal, he instinctively blurted out:

"R-Replying to Master... they’re all locked up in the Water Prison beneath the mansion."

"Take me there!"

Without another word, Jiang Che kicked him, his tone ice-cold:

"Now!"

"Yes, yes, yes! Please calm down, Master! I’ll take you there right now!"

Terrified, Zhao Kang scrambled to his feet, ignoring the pain, and rushed toward the door to lead the way.

...

「Prince Zhao’s Mansion, the underground Water Prison.」

Descending the winding, damp stone steps, the air grew thick with moisture. A nauseating stench—a mix of rot, excrement, and mildew—assaulted them.

The place was built like a massive, deep well, surrounded by cold stone walls with a pool of stagnant black water at its center.

A narrow stone path, barely wide enough for two people to walk abreast, cut across the middle of the pool.

On both sides of the stone path were iron cages half-submerged in the black water.

Locked in the cages were none other than the members of the Seven Stars Gang.

The bone-chilling wastewater rose past their waists, even to their chests.

Soaked in the filth-ridden water, their skin was pale and bloated. Open sores festered, turning purulent from the constant exposure.

TAP, TAP, TAP.

Hearing the footsteps, the people in the cages struggled to lift their heads.

When the torchlight revealed Zhao Kang in his brocade robes at the front of the path, the once deathly silent Water Prison instantly erupted.