Chapter 49: Complete Turnaround

Everyone was stunned into silence.

Never had they imagined that Starlight would treat them with such open hostility, completely trampling on their dignity without any hesitation!

With Starlight still in touch with Yin Shengong, Liu Hanshan didn't dare to step out of line at all, and he replied in a sheepish manner, "I didn't say anything."

"Oh, so that's it? You're taking the cowardly way out now?" Fang Che mocked. "Weren't you really tough just now?"

"Please be polite and civilized, Helmsmaster Starlight," Liu Hanshan requested through gritted teeth.

Fang Che immediately pulled out his communication jade and flashed it in front of Liu Hanshan to show him the latest messages.

"Pope Yin, Liu Hanshan of the Night Demon Church has told me to be more polite to him, and I think that's very rude! The Night Demon Church is nothing more than a third-rank church, so I think he's overstepping his boundaries by telling me what to do!"

"Tell them that all of them must be polite to you and respect you! Tell him that this is a request to them from Yin Shengong. Ask them if a pope like me can make such a humble request to them."

The threat and malice in Yin Shengong's message was very apparent, and Liu Hanshan and the others were instantly left sweating profusely.

This was no request, it was a death threat!

"Did you see that, Liu Hanshan? Our pope has just made a humble request to you."

Liu Hanshan's face had already turned deathly pale.

If Yin Shengong wanted him dead, then even Hai Wuliang wouldn't be able to save him. In fact, Hai Wuliang may even personally kill him to appease Yin Shengong!

After all, no one in their right mind would be willing to make an enemy out of Yin Shengong over a mere King.

"Pope Yin is far too modest! Someone of his lofty status need only speak the word, and we would be willing to go to hell and back to carry out his orders!" Liu Hanshan said in a trembling voice, bowing so low that his forehead was almost touching the ground.

He was truly terrified! He felt as if he were standing before the gates of hell, and he could be shoved inside at any moment!

"What the hell is wrong with all of you?!" Fang Che scoffed. "All of you think you're hot shit, coming here in droves to intimidate me, but as soon as our pope says something, you start pissing yourselves and begging for mercy! You wanna come threaten

me

on

my

territory?!"

Everyone was gritting their teeth and clenching their fists in fury, but they had to tolerate the humiliation.

Of course, Fang Che wasn't going to let up, glowering intently at all of his guests as he yelled, "All of you better settle the fuck down, or I'll make it so that none of you get to leave the White Cloud Prefecture alive! Don't try and get cocky with me! You think I care if you're from the main church? You're on

my

territory right now!

“You're gonna start drinking in my house while I'm away? Who gave you the permission?! The sheer audacity is astounding! And how did you all find this place? Liu Hanshan! Raise your head and look at me! What're you looking down at the ground for? Did you drop money or something? I'm asking you a question! Are you deaf?!"

Liu Hanshan was panting with barely contained rage as if he were suffering from an asthma attack, and he spat through gritted teeth, "I am not your subordinate, Helmsmaster Starlight!"

"You're not my subordinate?" Fang Che sneered. "During the Parasite Ascension Project, Master Night Demon claimed the top spot, and Deputy Pope Bi personally promoted our church! From that point onward, our One Heart Church became a second-rank church, elevated beyond the Night Demon Church, the Divine Heavenly Church, the Church of Light, and the Three Saints Church!

“Are you not aware of this, Liu Hanshan? In the presence of Pope Yin, even Pope Hai Wuliang is required to bow in submission! Both of us are helmsmasters, but my church ranks above yours, so how are you not my subordinate? What do you think, Helmsmaster Wang?"

Wang Zilin was much less defiant, immediately folding like a house of cards as he greeted, "Subordinate Wang Zilin pays his respects to Helmsmaster Starlight!"

"How about you, Deng Fangping?"

"Subordinate Deng Fangping pays his respects to Helmsmaster Starlight."

Deng Fangping knew that his top priority right now was to remove himself from Yin Shengong's blacklist, and he was willing to do just about anything to accomplish that objective!

Fang Che began cackling to the heavens in glee and satisfaction, while everyone shuddered in fury and disgust.

After his cackling died down, Fang Che strode over to Liu Hanshan before asking in a menacing voice, "What do you say, Liu Hanshan?"

He could sense that Liu Hanshan was the most powerful warrior among everyone present, so taming him was a priority.

Liu Hanshan was trembling in fear and rage, and he said in a submissive voice, "Subordinate Liu Hanshan pays his respects to Helmsmaster Starlight."

"Speak up! I can't hear you!"

"Subordinate Liu Hanshan pays his respects to Helmsmaster Starlight!"

"Didn't you eat just now? Why do you sound like you still have no energy? I can't hear you at all!"

Fang Che was swaying his head back and forth as he spoke while glowering at Liu Hanshan with unadulterated provocation in his eyes.

Go on then! Resist if you dare!

In the end, Liu Hanshan didn't dare to resist, and he yelled with all his might, "Subordinate Liu Hanshan pays his respects to Helmsmaster Starlight!"

"What the hell are you screaming so loud for?! Are you trying to make me go deaf?! What was your name again? Liu What Shan?"

"Liu Hanshan."

"What What Shan?"

"... Liu Hanshan!"

"Liu Han What?"

"Shan!"

"What Shan?"

Only after eight more repetitions of this did Starlight finally stop toying with his prey.

"Ohhh, so it's Liu Hanshan. Man, you must be going senile if you can't even properly tell someone your name! Are you sure you're fit to continue serving as helmsmaster?"

Lui Hanshan was so humiliated that he had turned deathly pale, and he had half a mind to kill himself out of embarrassment.

Fang Che knew that he couldn't push him much further, finally relenting, "Alright, I know jokes shouldn't be taken too far, so I'll let you off the hook for now."

Everyone was rendered speechless once again.

You call that a joke? You probably only stopped because you can tell that Liu Hanshan is about to explode!

All of a sudden, Fang Che's hospitable host demeanor returned, and he exclaimed in mock surprise, "What are you all doing standing? You are all esteemed guests of my branch helm! You there, go fetch our guests some tea!"

The Grandmaster that was still kneeling nearby hurriedly scurried away to prepare some tea, while Fang Che sat down onto his throne, raking his gaze back and forth over his "guests" with faint killing intent emanating from his body.

Now that he had these people completely at his mercy, he was going to use them to his benefit. However, before that, he had to discipline them a bit more!

At the moment, they were only scared of Yin Shengong. If he wanted to make them truly obedient, then he would have to make them fear him as well.

"Please have some tea, everyone. This is the finest tea in my collection."

Fang Che smiled as he raised his cup, while everyone else sat in orderly rows before him, looking at the tea leaf scraps floating in their cups in silent exasperation.

This is your finest tea? It's almost an insult to call this stuff tea at all!

Despite their internal grips, all of them pretended to sip on their tea before giving disingenuous praise.

"I'm glad you all like the tea!" Fang Che said with a smile. "When you leave the White Cloud Prefecture, you can each take a kilogram of this tea back to the main church with you! It would serve as a perfect gift for your seniors!"

Everyone internally rolled their eyes at the idea.

If they were to take this trash back to their seniors, they would surely be banished from their clans!

"It's truly an honor to have all of you gathered in my branch helm today," Fang Che said with a warm smile. "May I ask how you all found this place? This branch helm was only recently established, and I thought I'd done a decent job of keeping its location secret."

"Do you still recall Qiao Yishu of the Divine Heavenly Church, Helmsmaster Starlight?" Deng Fangping asked with a smile.

Fang Che was instantly enlightened upon hearing this.

"Ah yes, I do! Brother Qiao and I became good friends during his last visit, and we thoroughly enjoyed each other's company! I hope he comes back to visit again soon."

"Have you not heard, Helmsmaster Starlight? Qiao Yishu has already been killed by the Hall of Protectionists."

"Really? That's fantastic news!"

Fang Che immediately burst into laughter, then seemed to catch himself as he amended, "What I meant to say is, that is truly a tragedy."

Everyone: "......"

Can you make your schadenfreude any more obvious?!

"Helmsmaster Qiao was the one who told us the location of your branch helm. He informed us of the location right after he left your branch helm that night."

Seeing as Qiao Yishu was already dead, Deng Fangping felt no qualms selling him out.

"How could he! That two-faced bastard! I saw him as one of my closest friends!"