Chapter 48: More Unwelcome Guests

That night, the hideous Helmsmaster Starlight descended upon his branch helm once more.

He was met with a huge surprise!

The gates were tightly shut, but it seemed that a banquet was being held in the branch helm, and there were quite a few tables full of people drinking and reveling in festivities!

It was like a gathering between a large group of friends!

Fang Che leaped onto a distant tree, and from that vantage point, he counted close to fifty people gathered in his branch helm.

Fang Che jumped down in a discreet manner, then dragged over one of the Grandmasters stationed at the entrance before asking, "Who are these people? Why is it that everytime I come to this branch helm, it feels like someone else's territory?"

The Grandmaster was on the verge of wetting himself as he replied in a trembling voice, "They told us that they're from the branch helms of the other subsidiary churches and various other factions. Just like last time, we didn't dare to stop them. Please forgive us, Helmsmaster."

"It's fine. Just like last time, I still don't blame you," Fang Che said with a reassuring smile.

At the same time, he couldn't help but wonder why he had suddenly received so many visitors.

Our branch helm hasn't done anything, and it hasn't been exposed, either, so how do they know where it is?

However, the fact that these people had come here and were making themselves very much at home in his absence clearly indicated that they had less than friendly intentions.

Hold on a second, this is a brilliant opportunity!

Fang Che's eyes immediately lit up as he pulled out his communication jade before sending Yin Shengong a message.

"Master, I've just arrived at my branch helm, and it's packed with people from the branch helms of the other subsidiary churches and some other factions! It's like they're having a meeting in there!"

Yin Shengong was astonished.

"How did this happen? How has your branch helm become so completely exposed?"

"I don't know, but they're all drinking and enjoying themselves inside. The fact that they're doing this in my absence clearly tells me that they've come with nefarious intentions."

"If it's a confrontation they want, then give them what they came for! Go in there, ask for their names, and tell them that you're currently in communication with me and will continue to be throughout the rest of the night! If they dare to so much as lay a finger on you, tell them that they'll have to answer directly to me! You have my full backing, so go in there and make them regret ever encroaching on your territory!"

Yin Shengong had no doubt that these people would dare to kill Starlight and destroy the One Heart Church branch helm.

However, there was no way that they would dare to kill Starlight under his watch! In fact, even their popes wouldn't dare to do something so brazen!

𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Yin Shengong was renowned for his vengeful nature, and anyone that made an enemy out of him would have to constantly watch their back day and night!

"Alright, Master. I'll be using your name to teach them all a lesson!"

"Go right ahead! If anyone dares to speak or act against you, tell me their name! I'll make their ancestors regret having them as a descendant, and I'll make their pope regret ever indoctrinating them into his church!"

With Yin Shengong's full backing on his side, Fang Che swaggered confidently into the branch helm.

"Ah, welcome, Helmsmaster Starlight!"

The people inside had already detected his presence, but only now that he had revealed himself did they come out to greet him.

All of the people in the branch helm were quite young, with the exception of their leader, who was an elderly man with an extremely formidable aura.

"Where am I right now?" Fang Che asked. "This place seems rather unfamiliar to me."

The elderly man stood before Fang Che with a warm smile, but there was a frosty look in his eyes as he replied, "Please allow me to apologize on everyone's behalf for our unannounced visit, Helmsmaster Starlight."

"I am honored by your visit, Senior," Fang Che said with a hospitable smile. "May I ask your name and which church you come from? Also, who are all of these esteemed guests that you've brought with you? I would be honored to make everyone's acquaintance."

The old man was rather taken aback by Starlight's easygoing demeanor, and a haughty look appeared on his face as he declared, "I am the helmsmaster of the Night Demon Church's White Cloud Prefecture branch helm, Sword King Liu Hanshan!"

"Ah, I am truly honored to be in the presence of a King!"

"I am the helmsmaster of the White Cloud Prefecture branch helm of the Church of Light, Wang Zilin."

"It's a pleasure to meet you."

"I am the helmsmaster of the Three Saints Church's White Cloud Prefecture branch helm, Deng Fangping."

"It's a pleasure to meet you."

Several more people introduced themselves to Fang Che one after another, and sure enough, there were representatives from all of the four churches, three guilds, and two gangs.

Actually, it was only three churches because the Divine Heavenly Church's branch helm had already been destroyed.

"Are all of these young men and women your subordinates?"

"Not at all, Helmsmaster Starlight. These are people sent down from the main church to assist us."

Liu Hanshan naturally wasn't going to fall into such a simple trap. If he were to declare that all of these people were his subordinates, then the more petty ones among them would be sure to report him for overstepping his authority, landing him in severe trouble.

"Welcome, everyone! I feel truly honored that all of you have taken time out of your busy schedules to visit my humble branch helm!" Fang Che said with a warm smile as he made his way into the hall, followed by everyone else.

The hall was a complete mess, with cups, plates, and cutlery strewn all over the place.

Fang Che immediately called over one of the nearby Grandmasters with tightly furrowed brows.

With a sweep of his sleeve, he sent all of the tables, tableware, and cutlery flying out of the hall before falling to the ground in an almighty commotion.

He then slapped the Grandmaster across the face as he asked, "What's going on here? You're here to look after the branch helm, not to drink and party!"

It was a very forceful slap, causing the Grandmaster to pirouette on the spot thrice before throwing up a mouthful of blood.

He immediately fell to his knees and began kowtowing incessantly as he frantically explained, "We wouldn't dare, Helmsmaster! It wasn't us..."

"If you're going to drink, at least prepare some decent accompanying dishes! Even a dog wouldn't eat this shit! And look at the state of this place! It's an absolute pigsty! Is this how you treat the branch helm when I'm not around!

“You're embarrassing our branch helm in front of all of these people! With subordinates like you, they'll think I'm some uncultured swine who can't even keep his branch helm clean and presentable! Hurry up and clean this place up!"

After tearing into the Grandmaster with that furious tirade, Fang Che turned to his guest with an apologetic smile.

"I'm sorry you had to see that."

At this point, everyone in the hall was already glowering at Fang Che with intense fury, looking as if they wanted to tear him to shreds.

They were the ones who had been eating and drinking here just now.

Their plan was to intimidate and humiliate Starlight by making him eat their leftovers once he arrived, and they had intentionally made a mess to desecrate his branch helm.

However, Starlight wasn't following the script at all!

"I'm afraid you're mistaken, Helmsmaster Starlight," Liu Hanshan said with a dark expression. "We were the ones eating and drinking here just now, not your subordinates!"

Fang Che feigned a stunned expression as he exclaimed, "You mean you were the ones eating that filthy shit that even dogs wouldn't touch?!"

"How dare you! Have some respect, Helmsmaster Starlight!" Liu Hanshan roared in a furious voice.

Fang Che remained completely unfazed as he smiled and said, "Before coming in, I was communicating with Pope Yin. I thought that I had received a visit from the Hall of Protectionists, but I'm glad that's not the case. I've informed Pope Yin of all of your names, and I've reassured him that there's nothing to worry about."

He pulled out his communication jade as he spoke to show Liu Hanshan the messages he had been exchanging with Yin Shengong, and Liu Hanshan's eyes instantly widened in shock and horror.

Cold sweat began beading up on Liu Hanshan's forehead as he read through the most recent messages.

"It's alright, Pope Yin, it was a false alarm. As it turned out, I've been visited by Helmsmaster Liu Hanshan of the Night Demon Church, Helmsmaster Wang Zilin of the Church of Light..."

After that came Yin Shengong's response.

"I haven't heard of any of those names. In any case, I'm glad they're not from the Hall of Protectionists. Keep me updated if anything else happens."

Liu Hanshan, Wang Zilin, Deng Fangping, and the others were all completely rooted to the spot.

They were stunned that Fang Che had already reported them to Yin Shengong in such a short time, and they were even more astonished by Yin Shengong's responsiveness.

Why are you instantly responding to the messages of a helmsmaster?! Aren't you supposed to be the pope of the One Heart Church?! Don't you have better things to do with your time?!

Now that Yin Shengong had a list of everyone's names, they were all at a complete loss for what to do.

Fang Che casually put his communication jade away, then turned to Liu Hanshan with a cold expression before asking, "What did you say to me just now, Helmsmaster Liu? I couldn't hear you clearly through all the shit in your mouth!"

All of a sudden, he had turned from an easygoing and hospitable host into a rude and hostile thug!