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墨書 Inktalez
Every team has its laggards, especially in a group like the Pyramid Scheme. Dealing with such individuals is quite challenging. Being too lenient doesn't work, while being too harsh can backfire. In the past, the Northern Faction's Pyramid Scheme used brute force to tackle this issue, but after numerous setbacks, they learned a painful lesson: fists are never as effective as words.
The essence of the Pyramid Scheme lies in brainwashing, achieving maximum benefits through gentle means that do not involve theft, robbery, or violence. Resorting to physical force is illegal; if the police get involved and someone points fingers at you, you can expect to spend time in jail. Moreover, the negative consequences of violence are evident—injuries, self-harm, or pushing someone to desperation can all exceed what they can handle and may lead to severe repercussions, essentially destroying their own foundation.
Thus, the Northern Faction Pyramid Scheme, which traditionally relied on violence for sales, began to adopt the more gentle approach of the Southern Faction. As Lu the Madman put it, it’s better to engage in verbal battles than physical ones.
They arrived at a relatively remote location—a suburban village called Xiangzhuang on the outskirts of a county town. A few people were waiting at the village entrance. Boss He mentioned that there were over thirty individuals present, categorized into several types: those who remained silent; those who stubbornly refused to part with their money; those who felt cheated and harbored a rebellious mindset; and finally, those who were utterly broke and couldn’t even scrape together two or three thousand yuan.
These were the undesirable types. Yang Menglu pursed her lips and gave a playful smile. Even Chief Lecturer couldn’t handle such people. Normally, if someone couldn’t be swayed after seven days of brainwashing and two purchasing attempts, they shouldn’t be pressured further. If pushed too hard and something went wrong, she truly wondered if Lu Hongbo had lost his mind by sending such an innocuous-looking young man to deal with them.
Baldy turned pale upon hearing this and quietly suggested to Boss He, “Boss He, isn’t this a bit inappropriate? He’s a newcomer; what if something goes wrong… there are over thirty people here; it could be troublesome.”
“Ask him; I was actually considering pulling out of this point,” Boss He said, pointing at Lu Hongbo.
Old Lu was focused on Xiao Mu, who seemed deep in thought. He smirked and said, “The emperor isn’t anxious; it’s the eunuchs who are worried. Look at how calm he is.”
“He doesn’t understand the stakes; if he runs into someone reckless…” Baldy whispered. Boss He and Lu the Madman shot him a glare simultaneously, silencing him.
“I’m not worried… well, Old Lu, I can guarantee my involvement but not the results. How about Yang Beauty accompanies me?” Xiao Mu suggested. Old Lu immediately rejected this idea and pulled Yang Beauty behind him, saying, “Not a chance; this is specially prepared for you.”
“What about passing the test?” Xiao Mu asked.
“Uh…” Old Lu hesitated; he had spoken without thinking and clearly hadn’t prepared any rewards.
Xiao Mu seized on this point and said, “Just like you said earlier—if we can make them willingly stay or even convert one or two… how about you cover my travel expenses and send me off?”
"Alright," Old Lu immediately agreed.
After waiting for a while, it was only when dusk fell that someone came to pick them up—two individuals dressed like standard salespeople, adhering to the formalities of welcoming superiors. Xiao Mu had a rough understanding of the hierarchy here; each town and village developed a few small C-level managers. If they could lead a team of over a hundred, they might qualify as B-level managers for a county area. As for rising to A-level… forget it. It was as difficult as a turtle climbing a mountain; no one could reach the top.
"There are 21 men and 13 women..."
"They're all gathered in one place, which makes things difficult. Some have been here for over ten days, and the longest has been nearly a month..."
"If it really doesn't work out, we can abandon this location and pull everyone out."
"There are a few inside who are very unstable emotionally. I'm worried something might happen, so I brought them all out to the suburbs... If they really run off to the police, it would ruin us completely."
"This place is safe; it just opened less than a week ago."
The two junior managers reported the situation. After listening to their accounts, it became clear that dealing with such stubborn individuals who refused to be deceived—even if it meant resorting to a Pyramid Scheme—was going to be challenging. The priority was obviously to avoid any incidents; stabilizing emotions was crucial. This task was indeed difficult, especially since even in a closed environment, they hadn't managed to eliminate the resistance mindset. Now it was up to those orchestrating the Pyramid Scheme to deal with the headache.
Psychological inertia and resistance.
Xiao Mu thought of this term as he listened. Simply put, it was akin to the human body's resistance to a specific drug after prolonged use; inevitably, this would lead to a form of counter-resistance. How should one put it? Although the Pyramid Scheme was an innovation, it still felt somewhat simplistic and juvenile. When dealing with different individuals, there wasn't—and couldn't be—a universal approach.
They were renting a house in a courtyard. Outside, an old van was parked, and four guards were watching over the yard. Upon reaching the entrance, Lu the Madman rudely pushed Xiao Mu forward and introduced him to the two individuals: "Instructor Lin, just returned from abroad; he will handle everything today."
The two had already seen Xiao Mu and clearly held doubts about him. Just as they were about to enter the house, Xiao Mu hesitated at the door. Lu the Madman mischievously shoved him inside and then partially closed the door, peeking in like a thief.
A hawk that flies higher only has one chance to learn how to fly: being pushed off a cliff.
Old Lu quietly said this to everyone while keeping his eyes fixed on Baldy, who had been pushed off that metaphorical cliff. Baldy clenched his fists several times in frustration but ultimately released them helplessly because Boss He had also prepared for the worst. Outside the courtyard gate and in the van, there were seven or eight people hiding in the shadows. If chaos erupted or someone attempted to escape, they would likely resort to any means necessary...
As soon as Xiao Mu stepped into the room filled with a heavy atmosphere, he frowned. A group of people occupied half the space, and he instinctively moved toward a corner. Under the glaring fluorescent lights, Xiao Mu saw pairs of terrified, suspicious, angry, and even desperate eyes. They resembled a pack of cornered beasts… no, a group of isolated creatures, each wary and doubtful of one another. Their trembling expressions, ready to retaliate at any moment, were enough to make even the General Manager and Chief Lecturer feel fearful.
At that moment, Xiao Mu felt a sharp pang in his heart. He understood that sense of despair and helplessness; it was the last flicker of light before total collapse.
Either they would sink into darkness together, or they would perish, becoming torches for their own destruction.
With that thought in mind, he suddenly shouted, “Stand straight!”
His voice was short, sharp, and fierce. As soon as the words left his mouth, the people looked at him in surprise and instinctively stood at attention. They began to spread out and gather closer together—some bowed their heads, some turned their heads aside, while others glared back at him with hostility.
Brainwashing had indeed been effective; at the very least, it had planted seeds of obedience in their minds. Xiao Mu felt adrenaline surging through him. He knew he had to deal with the most aggressive among them. Those who bowed their heads could be temporarily ignored; a group of desperate creatures feared nothing more than an individual willing to risk everything. Once someone erupted in violence, even sheep could turn into wolves.
He searched for the source of the fierce gaze and took a few steps until he stood beside a tall man in his twenties with short hair. He looked up and met the man’s intense gaze. The man’s teeth were clenched tightly, his knuckles white from gripping his fists… perhaps he was waiting for Xiao Mu to threaten him. But unexpectedly, Xiao Mu suddenly smiled brightly and said, “I can’t beat you; one punch from you could leave me half-dead… but if you really want to hit me, that would be bullying the weak. Isn’t that unfair?”
Some tension eased among the crowd as the man relaxed his grip.
With the tension dissipating, Xiao Mu seized this opportunity to speak: “But I’m not afraid of you either. If you were truly a ruthless person, this organization wouldn’t dare to take you in; if you were genuinely willing to fight to the death, they should have released you long ago. Since neither has happened, it shows you’re not that kind of person. Your ferocity is merely a facade; deep down, you are kind-hearted… Am I right?”
Kindness—it's a positive term that no one would reject, even if they didn’t embody it.
The man felt his nerves relax even further; it seemed that their levels didn’t match up, leaving him without a place to exert his strength. The other’s politeness pulled him back into a more normal world.
"Your physique... is quite enviable, isn't it?" Xiao Mu remarked, appreciating others without any downside. Indeed, the young man crossed his arms and angrily retorted, "I came from Tagou Martial Arts School. You tricked me into this Pyramid Scheme, and I absolutely refuse to buy into your nonsense. What are you going to do about it? If you're sensible, give me my travel expenses back... If you want to fight, let's go head-to-head."
He was a typical Baldy type of thug, leaving Xiao Mu momentarily stunned.
Outside, Old Man He was furious. He grabbed the young manager and delivered a solid punch, cursing, "Damn it! Who can deal with someone like this that you brought in?" The young manager took the beating in silence, feeling wronged as he muttered about just trying to recruit people without realizing he had brought in a Martial Arts Instructor.
With a slap on the back of his head from Lu the Madman, he was silenced. A circle of heads turned to listen.
Xiao Mu was being roasted on the hot seat; he chuckled and gave a thumbs-up to the man's bravado, subtly saying, "You're right; you were tricked into this. You've all been deceived, but the reason you were fooled is probably because there wasn't much of a livelihood or future for you... It's really just a Pyramid Scheme; we all know that, just like we know we've been scammed. Among all scams, Pyramid Schemes and Ponzi schemes are among the simplest... So here's the question: if you can't even handle such an obvious scammer, what are you planning to do next?"
Xiao Mu's question caught most of the struggling individuals present off guard. Indeed, if one wanted a good livelihood, why would they believe in tales of earning tens of thousands monthly? It seemed simple enough—just recruit a few acquaintances.
Speaking such truths had an effect; many people's expressions softened as they accepted their unfortunate reality.
"Steal? Rob? Murder and set fires? Any of those crimes are worse than being part of a Pyramid Scheme... This big brother here clearly doesn't intend to be a villain; why act so fierce?" Xiao Mu continued. The man's expression relaxed slightly, prompting Xiao Mu to add, "Let's think about this differently. I can help you find a solution; would you like to hear it?"
"I'd rather believe in ghosts than trust your Pyramid Scheme nonsense... Go ahead; I'm listening," the man scoffed.
"Oh, it seems you know exactly what this organization is about. It's essentially layers of deception. If you really don't want to participate anymore, no one will force you; otherwise, they would have done something by now... So the goal is clear: continuously recruit newcomers and then distribute their money among those at the front in proportion. Am I right?" Xiao Mu asked.
"Yeah, they're all damn scammers," the man replied.
"Well said! Who around you isn't a scammer? You went to school, right? Did they teach you that hard work leads to wealth? The truth is that those who work hard are often the poorest. You've been in society long enough; surely you've heard news broadcasts glorifying honesty and integrity? But does being honest really pay off? You should know better than I do. I suspect that martial arts school scammed you out of quite a bit of tuition without fulfilling any promises... You were also tricked by someone familiar to you. I bet you've been scammed more times than you can count throughout your life... So I don't understand why you're still clinging to honesty and integrity when you're left with nothing after so much deception... Let me tell you, my friend, it's not just Tagou Martial Arts School; even Shaolin Temple has gone public with shares nowadays—it's all about economic interests." Xiao Mu rolled his eyes and teased him, clearly noticing the man's helpless expression.
The man's bravado deflated.
He exhaled deeply, his face filled with sorrow—not knowing whether it was for himself or for his unfortunate circumstances.
"What's your name, big brother?" Xiao Mu asked.
"Wang," the man replied, his voice weak.
"Oh, you're from the same family as the great swordsman Wang Wu. What's your full name?"
"Wang Lishong."
In that moment of hesitation, the man spoke his name. He had unconsciously shifted from resistance to acceptance, seemingly anticipating that the person before him would lend him a hand. He felt it was entirely possible; that smile, that confidence, were silently conquering him.
Xiao Mu smiled and said, "As the old saying goes, while there's still green mountains, one need not worry about firewood. There are many paths to take. I think deceiving three or five people isn't hard at all. Even if you just trick one person, you could blend in here and perhaps even have a chance to share in some profits... If you really don't want to deceive anyone, is there any need to resist? You're a martial artist; don't you understand that two fists can't fight against four hands? There are many ways to go about this. For instance, this organization needs upright, strong, and brave people like you to maintain order..."
The man slowly relaxed his grip. This loose group was simply too lonely. He clearly appeared strong on the outside but was weak inside. His gaze turned towards Xiao Mu with even greater expectation.
"Brother Wang, you can leave now. There are two paths: one is to walk out the main door and stumble into the darkness; the other is to turn left upon exiting and wait in an empty room. We're still one big family here, and there are plenty of places where we could use your help..." Xiao Mu said with a smile. The man hesitated for a moment, and Xiao Mu added weight to his words: "If you have nowhere else to go for now, I think it's better to stay. It's really not easy to navigate these dark roads... Please."
The man hesitated for a moment as he looked at the others—some were looking down, some avoided his gaze, and some even envied his treatment. In an instant, he made a decision, parted from the crowd, and walked out towards the left into another room.
His attitude was clear; he wasn't leaving anymore.
It became simple after that—the psychological defenses had been breached. The rest would come crashing down. Xiao Mu specifically sought out those tough nuts to crack—those who looked defiant and wore fierce expressions—and presented them with two arguments: First, is deceiving people really that hard? Are you so foolish that you can't trick even one person? Or are you just so cowardly that you endure being deceived without fighting back?
The second argument was: Brother, you're so strong and fierce; there are many places in this organization where we could use someone like you.
Amidst an uncertain future with potential threats looming and safety at stake, seven individuals abandoned their resistance and obediently returned to another room. The most solid part of their psychological defenses had been shattered.
Xiao Mu glanced at the now relaxed group and prepared to target a woman next. He approached a woman with shifting eyes and a face full of freckles who instinctively avoided his gaze. Xiao Mu asked her, "Do you want me to tell you the truth or lies... You must answer."
“Truth… the truth,” the woman murmured after a long pause.
“The truth is, in your current state, men see you as worthless, and women see you as unappetizing. Even if you escape this Pyramid Scheme, what can you do? If you truly have no money and can’t do anything, they will send you away. Honestly, you don’t even have the qualifications to be a con artist, let alone to be a victim of one… there’s really nothing to gain from you,” Xiao Mu said, his words laced with malice. He knew that only the most vicious words could extinguish this pitiful woman's hopes of finding a new life and force her to comply.
A new life? Forget it. Outside, Old He was waiting with the little manager and some thugs; it was clear what would happen if she tried to leave the organization.
Crying, the woman began to sob uncontrollably, her body shaking as she whimpered. Xiao Mu coldly shouted, “Get out of here. It’s dark outside; don’t run around and scare people.”
With that, the woman covered her face and ran out, hesitating for a moment before rushing into the next room.
At that moment, Old Lu and a group of others who had prepared for the worst were left dumbfounded. In just a few exchanges, some were left dejected while others were crying loudly. No extreme actions had occurred; everyone remained obedient. Throughout it all, Xiao Mu had been brutally honest about the scam and the con artists involved, yet they all accepted it.
It was far more skillful than simply boasting about how much money one could make in six months. Old He quietly asked Lu the Madman, “This kid is indeed a genius.”
“That’s because I discovered him,” Old Lu replied proudly.
One by one, they began to leave; the collapse was inevitable. Many walked away with their heads down, still too afraid to look up. It was hard to tell whether they were lost or silently resisting. However, Xiao Mu leaned towards the idea of herd mentality; these individuals had lost their goals and confidence under group influence. Perhaps those who were worse off couldn’t even choose to conform anymore.
“To those of you still looking down, you don’t need to lift your heads. I understand your feelings; most of the time in your experiences, you’ve kept your heads down.”
Xiao Mu stood with his hands behind his back, truly embodying Instructor Lin’s demeanor. The boyish absurdity he once displayed no longer seemed laughable; instead, he slowly raised his voice:
“When you’re pitied by others, you lower your head in fear of sympathy; when insulted, you lower your head out of lack of courage; when beaten or scolded, you lower your head even more in fear of retaliation… Even now, having been conned into a dead end, you lack the courage to lift your head or straighten your back… You’re nothing but a bunch of bullshit… Look at me! Am I that terrifying? Listen carefully; I’m insulting you! I’m degrading your dignity… In your impoverished and pathetic lives, think about it: have you ever done even one thing that made you feel proud?”
This harsh provocation finally stirred some of them to lift their heads. The extreme self-deprecation required the sharpest words to provoke any reaction. Xiao Mu succeeded in drawing a crowd of hostile gazes.
But these people posed no threat; they lacked courage and spirit. Instead, they were shrouded in darkness and self-isolation, living in mediocrity. Xiao Mu took an even bolder action; he walked past each one and spat at them—one by one—each spit eliciting a jolt from those targeted. As they reacted more visibly, Xiao Mu viciously declared:
"That's right. Your cowardice and tolerance will only embolden those who insult you. Your silence and retreat will only make those who look down on you more disdainful... Now, I give you a choice to change your fate."
Xiao Mu was furious, pointing wildly as he continued:
"Either you crawl out of here with your heads down like before, where no one cares about you pitiful creatures... or you walk out with your heads held high and chests out, starting anew as a qualified and successful con artist. Repay this damned world with tenfold or a hundredfold deception, making those who have deceived you, insulted you, and never cared about you bow their heads before you one day... Start from yourself; make your choice now."
Xiao Mu grabbed one person and pushed him forward. The man was already so agitated that his veins were bulging. He gritted his teeth, standing tall, but still felt a bit of fear looking at the crowd outside. However, at that moment, his resentment had overshadowed his fear. He strode out boldly and deeply bowed to the stunned junior manager, expressing his determination. "Senior Manager, I'm not leaving. I want to stay and turn over a new leaf. Just watch my actions."
The junior manager nodded mechanically in fear, repeatedly saying he welcomed him to stay. The man wiped his nose and went to another room. This marked the beginning of an unstoppable momentum; there was no need for further words. Even those who harbored doubts thought about returning to their past lives as mere weeds and gritted their teeth to stay.
In truth, there wasn't much difference—just a slight variation between bad and worse; it couldn't get much worse than this.
With hurried footsteps, only one person remained in the room as the junior manager went to check another area. There, over thirty people stood in military posture, their gazes unwavering. This was the pinnacle of what the Pyramid Scheme and Brainwashing aimed to achieve; it was clear they had made an irrevocable decision.
He looked back in astonishment at the superior who had arrived, recognizing the notorious name of Professor Lu but not expecting someone with even greater persuasive power than him. Like a pilgrim chasing after the group surrounding Xiao Mu, he condensed countless words into one question: "Instructor Lin, when will you come again?"
Boss He answered on behalf of the junior manager, kicking him twice while scolding him for not handling such trivial matters properly in the future; otherwise, he shouldn't expect any more money.
This was far more intimidating than any family threat. The junior manager bowed apologetically, insisting he would repay with his life—alive as Boss He's man and dead as Boss He's ghost.
He Yuguo found it amusing and told him to get lost; it was embarrassing enough already. When they reached the car, Boss He acted unusually, rushing forward to open the door for Xiao Mu. Xiao Mu stopped and turned back to ask, "Old Lu, do you mean what you say?"
"What do you mean?" Old Lu was startled, his eyes darting around.
"Give me travel expenses so I can leave," Xiao Mu replied.
This shocked Boss He into silence; he hesitated. Old Lu maintained a straight face and denied it: "Did I ever say that? Big Mouth, did you hear anything? Baldy, did you hear anything?"
Several people shook their heads in unison, indicating they hadn't heard. He Yuguo comforted, "The travel expenses are really nothing; you'll earn a lot of money."
"And you'll become a super lecturer, experiencing an unparalleled sense of achievement," Lu the Madman said seriously.
"We're all frauds here, so there's no need to be so polite. It's clear that I'll be the one facing retribution," Xiao Mu remarked, knowing that these birdmen were unlikely to keep their promises.
"Who says that's not true? Haha," Lu the Madman laughed heartily. This seemingly unfunny statement made everyone burst into laughter as they each got into their vehicles and drove toward their accommodations.
Indeed, talking about retribution with these people was truly laughable.
Xiao Mu thought to himself, the desperate, angry, pitiful, and pathologically excited pairs of eyes lingered in his vision. He knew he had done something he could never forgive himself for. Amidst the joy and laughter of others, he felt a strong urge to cry...
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