Chapter 17: Are You Wang Yun’er’s Mother?

Li Mengyun's expression instantly darkened upon hearing this.

A hesitant look appeared on Tang Zheng's face as he said, "But Master Fang, that head was likely placed up there by a powerful Protectionist or perhaps even a Guardian..."

"Who cares?" Fang Che shrugged. "It's nothing important, and right now, I'm the one overseeing this southern area. If anyone has any objections, they can come to me. I've already permitted them to have the head up there for close to ten days now, is that still not enough?"

What do you mean you're the one overseeing this southern area?! This is your first day on the job!

In spite of his exasperation, Tang Zheng had no choice but to carry out Fang Che's orders.

Unable to stand back and watch any longer, Li Mengyun stepped forward as she challenged, "That head is being displayed up there as a beacon of justice and a warning to all evil-doers! Surely it's not appropriate for you to take it down!"

Fang Che had already spotted them some time ago, so he was able to mask his reaction, remaining calm and composed as he asked, "Who're you to be telling me what to do? Inappropriate? How so?"

"Our venerable seniors risked their lives to slay this abhorrent demon! Removing the head would be a gesture of disrespect to those brave heroes!" Li Mengyun declared.

Fang Che clasped his hands behind his back with a cold expression as he asked, "Do you know what happens when the human body begins to decompose? Are you aware that it could give rise to a plague? Besides, it's already been up there for close to ten days, so surely it's served its purpose. I only allowed it to be kept up there for the past few days because the weather was accommodating.

“Under normal circumstances, it should've been taken down within a single day! In fact, at the height of summer, it would've been taken down within the hour to be disposed of. These are the rules of the Hall of Protectionists, so how are my actions inappropriate? Who do you think you are, the hall master? How about you show me your identification token?"

"I don't have one!" Li Mengyun declared in defiance.

"Alright, then show me your identification documents or travel permit," Fang Che demanded.

"I didn't bring any."

"You don't have any identification documents? Who are you, and what is your objective for interfering with my work?" Fang Che snapped. "I have reason to suspect that you're a demonic church member!"

Li Changbo hurriedly stepped in with a fawning smile, presenting a travel permit as he said, "My sincerest apologies. Please forgive our young mistress if she spoke out of turn."

They were on the territory of the Protectionists, so if a conflict were to arise, then they would surely be captured and killed.

Fang Che was grappling with an intense internal conflict as he inspected the travel permit.

Should I escalate this matter to have these four detained?

However, he then looked at all of the displaced people around him and the guards at the city gate, who were barely even warriors.

There was no way he had the personnel to deal with four Emperors.

With that in mind, he could only heave an internal sigh.

Perhaps he could've made a move had they still been in the city, but at the moment, they were already outside the southern gate, making for an easy escape.

Furthermore, his vendetta was against the entirety of the Li Clan and the Wang Clan, and there was really next to no point in killing these four.

"Who's Wang Yun'er?" Fang Che asked after glancing at the travel permit.

"Me!" Li Mengyun replied in a huff.

"You?" Fang Che asked as he raised an eyebrow. "It clearly says on here that Wang Yun'er is twenty years of age, but you look at least forty! Are you Wang Yun'er's mother?"

This was the most hurtful insult that Fang Che could've possibly delivered, and Li Mengyun was unable to suppress the urge to slap him, but she was caught by the wrist by Li Changbo, who gave her a warning look.

Fang Che tossed the travel permit back to them as he said in an indifferent manner, "Mind your own business from now on."

"What's your name?" Li Mengyun demanded, feeling as if she were about to explode with rage.

"You tryna hit on me?" Fang Che sneered. "Sorry, I'm not into geriatrics."

Li Mengyun was absolutely livid!

"Let's go, Young Mistress."

Li Changbo hurriedly ushered Li Mengyun away, terrified that she would make a rash move.

This place was a complete power vacuum for the Church of the Self-Righteous, and any misstep here could result in their demise.

Meanwhile, Tang Zheng had already climbed up to the top of the city wall and was about to pull out the saber.

Sun Yuan's head was already beginning to thaw under the sun.

"Hurry up!" Fang Che snapped. "I'll hang you up there if you keep wasting time!"

He then gave Li Mengyuan a disdainful wave as if he were shooing away a fly.

"Get out of here! If everyone interferes with our official duties like you, we'd get nothing done! Old hags like you should learn to mind their own business and stay home and knit!"

Li Mengyun was seeing red as she was forcibly dragged away by Li Changbo.

The saber had already been pulled out, and light of the sun shone down onto its surface, reflecting a bright gleam straight into Li Mengyun's eyes.

For some reason, she felt a slight chill run down her spine, and much of her fury instantly dissipated.

She departed with Li Changbo and the others, and by the time she turned back again, both the head and the saber were already gone.

She felt like she had missed something, but she couldn't put her finger on exactly what it was.

The group left the White Cloud Prefecture altogether, venturing into the snow-covered wilderness.

"Let's go to some other city to continue our search! There's no way Night Demon could've simply vanished into thin air! The White Cloud Prefecture may be a power vacuum, but surely that doesn't apply to the entire southeast! I'm going to find him if it's the last thing I do!"

***

Fang Che closed his eyes as Li Mengyun and the others faded away into the distance.

Please don't be unhappy with me, Master. I could've thought of a way to attract the attention of the Protectionists and have them kill those four, and that was my plan prior to returning to the White Cloud Prefecture, but after seeing what they did with your head, I've changed my mind.

I can't let them die so easily, and certainly not at the hands of the Protectionists! I have to kill them myself and make sure that my face is the last thing they see before they die! Rest easy, Master. I will avenge you soon.

In addition to his desire for personal vengeance, Fang Che was also concerned about all of the displaced people gathered at the southern gate in the wake of the recent heavy snowfall.

He desperately desired vengeance, but the lives of so many innocent disaster victims would be far too heavy a price to pay.

Tang Zheng brought Sun Yuan's head to Fang Che right as he reopened his eyes.

"Could you not have at least wrapped it up in a piece of cloth?!" Fang Che snapped.

"I don't have one!"

"Then cut a piece off your robe, you idiot! Think! Gimme that saber."

He examined the Soaring Saber momentarily, then nodded to himself as he remarked, "This is a fine saber."

"In exchange for taking your saber, I suppose I'm obligated to give you a proper burial," he mused as he accepted the wrapped head from Tang Zheng.

That entire afternoon, he continued to make positive changes outside the southern gate, only returning home with Sun Yuan's head once he was off duty for the day.

He felt no pressure at all from his actions because he knew that the Hall of Protectionists had allowed this, orchestrated it, in fact.

Otherwise, why had they assigned him to patrol the southern area of the city? That was where Sun Yuan's head was situated, and they just so happened to send his disciple there? Clearly, this was no coincidence.

Fan Tiantiao and Chen Ruhai were aware of his identity as Sun Yuan's disciple, so they clearly wanted him to do this, and in doing so, they would become even more convinced of his status as a demonic church member, but Fang Che didn't care.

***

After Fang Che's first day at work, Yin Shengong received a report from the mole planted in White Cloud Warrior Academy.

"Our little Night Demon is now an administrator in the White Cloud Prefecture Hall of Protectionists," Yin Shengong mused to Mu Linyuan and the others. "Seems a little unbalanced, don't you think?"

Mu Linyuan already knew what Yin Shengong was referring to, but he decided to humor him and play along.

"What do you mean, Pope Yin?"

"I'm saying Night Demon can't just have an official post over there, we need to give him an official post in our church as well," Yin Shengong said. "Otherwise, I'll look like a rather stingy master, won't I?"

"But what official post could we possibly assign him in the White Cloud Prefecture? We don't even have any branch helms left here!" Mu Linyuan said with a wry smile.

"In that case, we'll reconstruct a branch helm and have Night Demon serve as the White Cloud Prefecture Branch Helmsmaster!"

"You're making a helmsmaster right away?" Mu Linyuan exclaimed.

"That's right," Yin Shengong confirmed.

"Isn't that a bit too much?" Mu Linyuan asked. "I know you think very highly of Night Demon, Pope Yin, but if we're too hasty with his development, that could work to his detriment."

"Relax!" Yin Shengong chuckled. "Helmsmaster is basically an empty title right now. The branch helm doesn't even exist anymore, so he has to reconstruct everything and recruit his own subordinates from scratch."

"Then what about the branch helm's missions?"

"What missions could he possibly complete on his own? Just focus on earning money for now," Yin Shengong scoffed. "The branch helm is gone, but some of the connected businesses are still standing. For now, Night Demon's mission will be to collect money from them. Due to lack of personnel, we haven't collected any money from them for several months already, so that'll be Night Demon's first mission."