Chapter 49: The Rules of the Mask

Two days later, in Dao City.

As soon as Wangquan Zui and Yang Qingyuan stepped foot into the Yang family estate, two figures instantly materialized in the courtyard.

"Brother, Brother Yitan, why are you here?"

"You still have the nerve to ask? Where on earth have you two been these past two days? Do you have any idea how worried sick we were about you?"

Wangquan Baye glared fiercely at Wangquan Zui, then reached out and flicked her gently on the forehead.

"We went to Tushan..."

Wangquan Zui giggled, her body dodging backward with the effortless grace of a butterfly flitting through flowers.

"Tushan?"

Yang Yitan looked at Yang Qingyuan with a hint of surprise.

"That's right. Didn't we all agree beforehand that Qingyuan and I would go investigate Tushan?"

"But didn't I say that everyone should return to rest and recuperate for a while, and we would take action together later?" Wangquan Baye frowned.

"Oh, come on! Besides, our destinations are all different this time anyway. What difference does it make whether we go together or not? Besides, that 'circle' doesn't exist in Tushan, and I really wanted to see what it looks like with my own eyes! By making a prior trip to Tushan, wouldn't I be able to join you all in visiting the other places where the circle actually exists?"

Hearing this, Wangquan Baye let out a helpless sigh.

"Sigh, fine... But let this be the first and last time, understand?"

"Understood~"

Wangquan Zui stuck out her tongue playfully, her expression clearly conveying that she knew she was in the wrong, but would definitely do it again next time.

"Word came from the Taoist League a couple of days ago that the lord of Huangfeng City, a border town near Tushan, was murdered—suspected to be the work of demons. Don't tell me you two were behind that?"

"That's right, we did it! Brother, let me tell you, this Huang Tianfang..."

After Wangquan Zui explained the ins and outs of the matter to Wangquan Baye, the expression on his face instantly darkened into a scowl.

"Good riddance! Hmph! A city lord who would deliberately provoke conflicts between humans and demons, disregarding the lives of the ordinary citizens in his city purely for his own selfish gains—what use is there in keeping him alive?!"

Seeing Wangquan Baye's righteous indignation, Yang Qingyuan had no doubt that had he been present, he would have drawn his sword and stabbed Huang Tianfang twice on the spot!

Beside him, Yang Yitan's expression was equally grim.

After all, downplaying Huang Tianfang's actions, he was trading the lives of an entire city's residents for a chance to suck up to his superiors; speaking more gravely, he was intentionally instigating a war between the Taoist League and the countless demons of the Huangfeng Ridge!

If the demons of Huangfeng Ridge flew into a rage and truly launched an attack on Huangfeng City, wouldn't it ultimately fall to the One Qi Taoist League to send people in to clean up his mess?

After a massive battle, goodness knows how many innocent humans and demons would have died for nothing!

For that alone, killing him a hundred times over would not be too harsh!

"You two don't need to worry about this matter anymore. I will inform the Taoist League and have them arrange for a new city lord to take office in Huangfeng City."

As soon as Wangquan Baye said this, Yang Qingyuan couldn't help casting an extra glance at him.

Judging from his words, it seemed he was gradually beginning to take over the levers of power within the Taoist League's administrative apparatus.

It made sense, too. Wangquan Baye had reached adulthood now, and it was about time the Wangquan family let him gradually touch the highest echelons of power within the League.

Give it time, once the current League Leader, Wangquan Shouzhuo, stepped down, there was no doubt that Wangquan Baye becoming the next leader was an absolute certainty!

There was not the slightest room for doubt on this point, because while the One Qi Taoist League had many noble clans, there had always been only one Wangquan!

"Mm-mm!" Wangquan Zui nodded enthusiastically.

"Oh, right, Baye, there's something I need to discuss with you."

"What is it?" Wangquan Baye looked at Yang Qingyuan with a hint of bewilderment.

"During this trip to Tushan, I recruited a new member for our Mask organization."

"You added a member? Who?"

"The Second Madam of Tushan, Tushan Yaya."

At these words, Wangquan Baye's pupils instantly constricted violently.

"What? A Tushan fox demon?!!"

Wangquan Baye cried out in shock, before immediately realizing that such a reaction was inappropriate and hastily lowering his voice.

"Do you have any idea what you're doing? She is a demon!"

"So what if she's a demon? Wasn't it you who said that once we put on our masks, we must cast aside all previous identities? Does that previous identity not also include your identity as a human?"

"Stop trying to twist logic with me; this is completely different!" Wangquan Baye glared at him with exasperation.

"You can't possibly be unaware of the Taoist League's current attitude toward demons. Back then, Muren Zhi was almost taken away by the Obsidian Inspector on his wedding day simply for harboring demons. Have you forgotten?"

"The Obsidian Inspector? The Xiao family, Heh... I'll settle accounts with them sooner or later!"

"This isn't about the Xiao family's problem. You need to realize that the entire Taoist League currently harbors a deep-seated hatred for demons! If others find out there is a demon in our organization, how do you expect the other brothers to conduct themselves in the future?"

"Calm down and listen to me first."

Wangquan Baye took a deep breath, taking quite a while to smooth down the churning emotions in his chest.

"Fine, I know. Qingyuan, you're not the type of person to act recklessly out of a momentary impulse. Tell me, what's your reasoning?"

"First of all, Tushan has always been very friendly toward humans over the years. Moreover, when Little Zui and I went to Tushan this time, the Fox Queen, Tushan Honghong, merely treated us with courtesy even after discovering our presence. The fox demons of Tushan never kill humans, so the enmity between the Taoist League and Tushan isn't as profound as you imagine. In the future, the Taoist League trying to fight a four-front war, simultaneously facing attacks from all four major demon realms, is an utter impossibility. After all, there is only one Wangquan Sword, but how many Demon Emperors are there? A full four of them! Since we know it's impossible, why not try blazing a new trail and attempting to befriend Tushan first?"

Yang Qingyuan's words plunged Wangquan Baye into deep thought.

Seeing that his words were finally taking effect, Yang Qingyuan pressed the advantage:

"Tushan Yaya is the Second Madam of Tushan and the younger sister of the Fox Queen Tushan Honghong. Her status in Tushan carries immense weight. We might as well use this opportunity to try interacting with her. That way, once you become the leader of the Taoist League in the future, you'll have an extra pathway available if you ever want to befriend Tushan, won't you?"

Wangquan Baye pondered for a long moment, but ultimately still found it somewhat difficult to accept.

The deeply ingrained prejudices of the human heart remained like a towering mountain blocking his path, making it impossible for him to convince himself to accept this.

"I'm sorry, Qingyuan. I know what you're saying makes a certain amount of sense, but a demon is, after all, a demon..."

Seeing this, Yang Qingyuan shrugged. He had known it wouldn't be easy to persuade Wangquan Baye.

After all, the education they had received from childhood was rooted in slaying demons—that all demons deserved to die, and so on.

However, Yang Qingyuan was also well aware that he was no Zhuge Liang and lacked the eloquence to debate a whole hall of scholars, so he had never intended to rely solely on his tongue to convince Wangquan Baye from the very beginning.

"Alright then, Baye. Since this involves a new member of the organization, let's handle it according to our organization's rules."

Wangquan Baye mused for a moment, then nodded with a solemn expression.

"Very well, I have no objections."

"Where to?"

"Luofeng Plain, three hundred miles outside Dao City."

"Good, let's go."