Chapter 64: Night Demon's Long-Awaited Re-emergence

Zhao Wushang and Zheng Yunqi hurriedly nodded obediently in response.

"I hope Head Escort Yin Xiu will take this matter seriously," Fang Che reiterated.

"Yes, Administrator Fang. We'll be sure to relay your message to him!"

With that, Fang Che bade the two men farewell before departing, and they immediately collapsed onto their chairs, feeling completely drained.

It felt like they had survived two close brushes with death in one day, and they didn't know if their hearts could take much more of this!

After taking some time to catch their breath, they immediately gathered everyone together for a meeting.

"It's clear that the people reporting us are also from the main church! Otherwise, there's no way they'd be able to call us out by name!"

Zhao Wushang was barely able to contain his rage!

He had never been betrayed like this before, and it was more than a bitter pill to swallow.

Zheng Yunqi was also furious, but he was able to retain some mental clarity, and he said in a cautious manner, "This is all very suspicious, so let's not make any rash moves. We'll discuss this matter with Helmsmaster Starlight when he comes to visit tonight. Otherwise, if we take matters into our own hands, we run the risk of falling into an enemy trap."

"Yes, let's wait for the helmsmaster," Zhao Wushang agreed. "This is not something that we can handle on our own."

That night, Starlight arrived very late, reeking of alcohol.

Zhao Wushang and the others hurriedly reported the bad news to him.

"What? You were reported?! When?"

"In the morning."

Everyone hurriedly explained the situation before expressing their utmost gratitude to Starlight.

If they hadn't undergone makeovers and memorized the legal code under his instructions, they would've all been caught and killed!

After hearing their story, Starlight's brows became tightly furrowed in contemplation, making his already hideous face even more unsightly, and the women present couldn't help but avert their eyes, unable to bear looking at such an unappealing sight any longer.

Starlight's hideous face was particularly jarring compared with the incredibly handsome Administrator Fang that they had been visited by in the afternoon.

Even though his advice had saved their lives, their gratitude still couldn't allow them to see past his hideous exterior.

"We can allow this to keep happening!" Starlight spat through gritted teeth. "There are over forty of you, if even a single one of you slips up, then all of us will be screwed! Why are those people only reporting you and no one else? There has to be a reason! Think! Do you or your clans have any enemies in the main church? Could that be why you're being targeted?"

Zhao Wushang and Zheng Yunqi both wore sullen expressions as they replied, "We did consider that, but we genuinely don't recall our clans having any enemies. Something like this is completely unheard of!"

"Of course it's unheard of, you fucking idiot! Even if it's happened in the past, all those who were reported would've been killed by the Protectionists, so none of you would've heard anything!" Starlight snapped. "You think the world is a safe and innocent place where everyone looks out for each other? You're all naive fools! You've never heard of it, so it's definitely never happened before?

“How were you even able to survive to this point with such naive logic?! If all of you had died today, who could've possibly known that you were reported? Can you try to think at least a little bit before you speak?! Are you all really branch lineal descendants of your clans? You're even more sheltered than your direct lineal counterparts!

“I genuinely can't believe I have to teach you something so basic! Have the seniors of your clans not told you anything before sending you out here?!"

Everyone hung their heads in shame. Once again, they were forced to admit that Starlight was right!

"The fact of the matter is that we've been reported, and we have no idea who it was that reported us," Zheng Yunqi sighed.

Starlight was so exasperated that he almost fell off his throne!

"You don't know who it was that reported you?! It was me! I reported you!"

𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"Surely you jest, Helmsmaster. There's no way that's true."

"Oh, so you know that it's not me? Wow, you're smarter than I thought! Incredible!" Starlight jeered. "Let's think about this another way then. You don't know who reported you, but surely you know some of the people who were sent down with you, right?"

"Yes."

"Clearly, you're being reported by your own acquaintances! If they're reporting you, then why can't you report them? Retaliate, goddammit! If all you do is come crying to me, they'll think you're all easy targets and continue to report you! You have to strike back! Get a few of them killed in retaliation, and the rest will learn not to mess with you! Do I really have to spoon-feed all of you like infants?

“Do you not have any ability to think for yourselves? I'm actually gobsmacked right now! If I were your seniors, I would be terrified at the thought of releasing all of you out into the world! Are all of you pampered young masters and young mistresses from the main church like this, or did I just end up with a particularly stupid batch?!"

Everyone's eyes instantly lit up at this idea.

"Does that mean we should start reporting people as well?"

"Don't just go reporting anyone! You have to choose your targets!"

"Helmsmaster Starlight is right," Zheng Yunqi said. "Even if you're going to retaliate by reporting others, we have to do so with discretion."

Everyone was eager for revenge.

"Send out a few people tomorrow and see if they get reported as well," Fang Che instructed. "However, you have to remain calm and composed. Zhao Wushang and Zheng Yunqi were able to get through just fine, you can all do the same, particularly now that you're all mentally prepared. Make sure to be alert and try to identify the people that report you.

“If you don't recognize them, then at least try to remember some distinctive traits, like birthmarks or unique items of clothing. After that, we'll come up with a plan to strike back at them. Understood?"

"Understood."

"I can't believe I have to teach you all of this! Have you not been taught anything at all by the seniors of your clans? We're demonic church members! Screwing over other people should be our bread and butter! All of you are putting the main church to shame!"

Starlight departed after reprimanding everyone for a while longer.

In the wake of his departure, the meeting continued.

"I think the helmsmaster is right."

"I agree. The way he speaks can be a little difficult to stomach, but what he says is always very sound and correct."

"We can't just passively tolerate this! Otherwise, at this rate, those people will eventually get us killed! They clearly want us dead, so why can't we retaliate? What choice do we have but to retaliate? Besides, even if they die, no one will know that we're to blame!"

***

The next day, several people were sent out of the escort agency, one of whom was Zhou Mei'er, and she intentionally crossed paths with Fang Che.

As they passed each other by, a flash of recognition appeared in Fang Che's eyes, and he even gave her a smile and a nod.

However, right at this moment, someone suddenly yelled from within the crowd, "Administrator Fang, that woman is Zhou Mei'er of the Church of the Self-Righteous!"

Zhou Mei'er immediately turned around, just in time to see a white blur vanish into the crowd.

She then turned back to Fang Che with an indignant expression.

"It's fine, you can go," Fang Che sighed in an exasperated manner. "It's a good thing you ran into me. Otherwise, you would've been apprehended again."

"Thank you, Administrator Fang," Zhou Mei'er said in a grateful manner, but she was fuming internally.

Elsewhere, someone else was reported, and they were apprehended by Tang Zheng before being released following some questioning.

Several more people were reported that day, leaving everyone furious.

"I thought maybe they'd give up after one day, but it seems like they're determined to get us all killed!"

"We have to retaliate!"

By the time Starlight arrived at the branch helm, the emotions of fury and resentment had already been marinating for an entire day, and as soon as he set foot inside, he was immediately confronted by Zhao Wushang.

"Helmsmaster, we also want to make reports!"

"Settle down!" Starlight snapped with a stern glare. "Our escort agency has only just opened for business, let's get it on the right track first before we start getting embroiled in trouble."

The more Starlight denied them, the more furious they became, and with no avenues to vent their fury, even their daily sparring matches had become much more vicious and competitive.

That night, a major incident took place.

The Fierce Tiger Guild's White Cloud Prefecture was completely eradicated, and there wasn't even a single survivor.

All of the victims had perished with no visible injuries aside from a red spot on each of their throats.

That was once Yin Shengong's signature mode of killing, but it had since been inherited by Night Demon.

Night Demon was back!