I am becoming the ultimate demon.

Chapter 21 Strange Movements in the Refugee Camp, Blood Lotus Cult; Work-for-Relief Program, Eating

Outside Xiong'an County, heavy snow was falling.

The number of refugees surged, but food supplies remained inadequate, leading to widespread starvation.

The imperial court made no mention of disaster relief, and cannibalism had already broken out among the refugees, making it likely that most people would struggle to survive the harsh winter.

Those among the refugees who were more talented or had some fortuitous encounters had long since joined rebel armies, major sects, or aristocratic families, living a life of luxury.

Those who were physically strong also joined the mountain bandits and outlaws, and began to burn, kill, plunder, and commit all sorts of evil deeds.

Even more disturbingly, a "Blood Lotus Cult" began to circulate among the refugees, claiming that those who believed in the "Blood Lotus Holy Mother" could be well-fed and free from cold and disease.

A group of people dressed in red who appear and disappear without a trace, often chanting something:

"The world is full of suffering, and life is hard. People freeze to death or starve to death, and no one cares."

"When the blood lotus blooms, warmth and sustenance come. The Holy Mother, who saves us from suffering, is here."

These two folk songs are widely circulated among the refugees, and even three-year-old children in Xiong'an County can sing them.

Ji Lin led Huang Yu and Tang Wu to the city gate, followed closely by dozens of night patrol members dressed as refugees.

"Big Beard and Little Black, each of you take a group of men and blend into the refugees to find out what's going on with the so-called Blood Lotus and the Holy Mother. Get as much information as possible. Also, check for any unusual activity or traces of awakened individuals."

His feelings were complicated, and a hint of worry appeared on his face.

It is well known that cults are extremely harmful, as they mislead the public and create trouble.

If they gain power, at best their families will be destroyed, and at worst they will bring disaster to the country and its people.

At that time, the entire Xiong'an County will face a huge blow.

"Don't worry, buddy, we've got your back."

"Boss, don't worry, we're professionals at this."

After they finished speaking, each of them led a dozen or so men and dispersed to various corners to carry out their mission in secret.

They finally sent back a message that evening.

They went to Ji Lin's room and explained in detail what they had discovered during their investigation that day.

"Hey buddy, let me tell you slowly, there's a lot more to this damn Holy Mother Lotus than meets the eye..."

Huang Yu roared, his voice tinged with anger.

According to the information the two gathered, the symbol of the so-called "Blood Lotus Mother" is a twisted lotus pattern drawn with fresh blood, which can cause dizziness if looked at for too long.

Among them was a group of people draped in red cloaks, appearing and disappearing mysteriously, constantly spreading their doctrines among the refugees:

"With suffering as soil and sincerity as nourishment, the day the blood lotus blooms will be the day when eternal sustenance arrives."

It is said that the "Blood Lotus Holy Mother" is a deity of the Blood Lotus Cult.

Legend has it that she was once a mother who died of hunger and cold, and her blood, when it soaked into the snow, bloomed into a crimson lotus flower.

She understands the extreme suffering of mortals, and also possesses the forbidden power to reverse life and death and satisfy desires.

The initiation ceremony for recruiting believers is very simple: just offer a small bowl of your own blood, drip it into so-called "holy soil," and recite prayers.

They would periodically distribute a dark red, paste-like food called "blood lotus soup," which, when consumed, would provide a brief feeling of fullness and warmth, and even mental euphoria; this was known as "holy communion."

Experienced believers will perform a "blood tattoo" ceremony for their followers, using special pigments to draw lotus patterns on their wrists, claiming that it can ward off cold and illness and is a blessing.

On the surface, it is secretly spread among the refugees by the extremely approachable "Lotus Messengers," who are often the most helpless refugees who have become fanatical preachers because of their "salvation."

The core members of the Blood Lotus Cult are those mysterious Blood Lotus "protectors," who are physically strong, with indistinct faces, and silently maintain order and distribute supplies.

The messenger of the "Blood Lotus Mother," who is praised by everyone, has never been seen in full, but has many believers among the refugees.

Upon hearing this, Ji Lin's face showed a look of horror.

The Blood Lotus Cult has grown to a considerable size, with a detailed organizational structure, strict hierarchy, and extremely secretive operations, making it difficult to eradicate completely in a short time.

There must be some dark secrets behind the Blood Lotus Cult, and every unsettling "gift" must come with a price.

The so-called "blessing" and "holy communion" cannot be given to those refugees for no reason.

Moreover, the doctrines are extremely tempting, directly addressing the most fundamental survival needs of refugees: food and health.

The fact that displaced people exhibited signs of euphoria after consuming "Holy Communion" is highly suspicious.

A little analysis using modern common sense would reveal that blood lotus soup may contain hallucinogenic or addictive ingredients.

His biggest concern is that some of the awakened individuals are exploiting the despair of the displaced people to develop their power and then threaten Xiong'an County and surrounding cities.

He has a bold conjecture that believers who take "Holy Communion" or receive "blessings" for a long time may gradually become abnormal and eventually become "Blood Lotus Demon Puppets" without self-awareness, becoming the sect's army.

The following day, Ji Lin discussed solutions with the county magistrate and Ji Chang'an, based on the information he had gathered.

In the main hall of the Ji residence, the three men looked worried, and a somber atmosphere permeated the air.

"Oh dear, what should we do? There are too many refugees, and it's difficult to distinguish which ones are members of cults." The county magistrate was quite troubled by this.

"Lin'er, you usually have the most clever ideas, do you have any good suggestions?" Ji Chang'an asked.

Ji Lin was taken aback. So, after I investigated the situation and came here to discuss it with you, I ended up having to find a solution myself?

He sighed helplessly and fell into deep thought.

To eliminate the Blood Lotus Cult, two issues must be addressed.

The first task is to solve the food problem for the refugees, and the second is to root out the Blood Lotus Cult members hiding among them.

The first problem, besides opening granaries and distributing food and porridge, was hiring these refugees to do labor.

The answer to the second question is hidden in the first question. It's clear who does the work and who doesn't. We can then focus on investigating those with strange behavior.

Finally, the principle of collective punishment was introduced, with five people forming a group. Those who report crimes are rewarded, and those who know about a crime but fail to report it are punished as well. This is the principle of collective punishment.

He then suggested to Ji Chang'an: "The solution is to use work relief instead of labor relief, recruiting refugees to build city walls and clear ditches. This will not only alleviate the pressure on order, but also allow us to select able-bodied men and observe whether any have been misled."

Upon hearing this, their eyes lit up, as if enlightened, and they felt that this method was feasible.

"Lin'er, this is a good idea; it has to be you. What do you think, sir?"

Ji Chang'an's bitterness dissipated considerably, and a look of joy appeared on his face.

The magistrate slapped his thigh suddenly.

Snapped!

"It's settled then!"

Ji Lin knew that the sooner the better to handle this matter.

So he immediately organized people and posted recruitment notices at the city gate.

Then they set up a stall, ordered people to bring in cartloads of grain, set up pots to cook porridge on the spot, and sprinkled on scallions and salt to make the aroma more fragrant, in order to attract more people.

Finally, several groups of skilled men were sent out of the city to shout orders:

"Hiring! Hiring!! Eat porridge first, then get to work."

Upon hearing this, the displaced people outside the city flocked into the city, eagerly signing up.

Ji Lin watched from the sidelines and, sure enough, there were quite a few strange-smelling individuals hidden among them...