Monarch Night

Fang Che washed his face and headed to the living room, where he attended to four Old Demons playing chess.

Yin Shen Palace looked up, noticing his complexion had recovered quite a bit, and said lightly, "Why, feeling better?"

Fang Che nodded, "A bit down, but I'm alright. I've mostly adjusted this afternoon. Instead, I feel somewhat regretful."

"Regretful? Regretful of what?" Yin Shen Palace asked.

"These ten people were the ones I was closest to and who supported me the most. I planned to cultivate them into close confidants to have some power by my side as I advance in the future. So, it's a bit regretful,"

Fang Che said.

"Their cultivation isn't enough,"

Yin Shen Palace said, "Also, they don't have any background you can leverage, unlike those Shi family's sons in the Escort Agency. So, the same tactics won't work here."

"Yes, I've realized that now. Indeed, things have gone too smoothly for a while, and I've gotten a bit carried away."

Yin Shen Palace pondered and placed a piece on the chessboard, "Tomorrow, your second mentor and I will head back, and then report back to headquarters. The inspection from headquarters will also come down. Be prepared."

Fang Che moved a small stool to sit beside Yin Shen Palace, "No, that won't do. If my mentor leaves so hastily, it doesn't sit well with me. People might think I'm mad at you for what happened this afternoon and chased you away. You must stay a few more days, mentor."

Yin Shen Palace rolled his eyes and sneered, "As if you could chase me away? What are you thinking with that little brain of yours!?"

Mu Lin Yuan and the other two laughed.

Hou Fang smiled and said, "Yemo, what insights did you gain this afternoon?"

"Insights?"

Not only Fang Che was stunned, but even Yin Shen Palace and the others were interested and looked up.

Fang Che cautiously asked, "Are you referring to insights about that hole... or...?"

Hou Fang, with a face full of black lines, said, "You idiot, that hole might have some charm, but with your cultivation, you can't comprehend a damn thing from it. It's obviously about insights on killing."

Fang Che understood what he meant long ago; he was just buying time to think while his mind was still in chaos.

He pondered, "The true insight is only one."

"What?"

"It's... stance."

All four chuckled, "Is that what you call an insight?"

"Yes, it's an insight, a very important one."

Fang Che said seriously, "And it's also about life and death. A person, no matter how glorious they are when alive, will not have a name once they're dead. Emotions are useful to the living, but they are useless to the dead."

Yin Shen Palace instantly laughed and shook his head, "Your way of thinking... is very much that of a demon."

Fang Che smiled and said, "If the mentor is a Great Demon, then naturally, I must be a good Little Demon."

"You wish!"

All four laughed heartily.

The chess game ended.

Yin Shen Palace announced the dispersal and then called Fang Che to his guest room.

Mu Lin Yuan and the other two gathered in Mu Lin Yuan's room.

Qian Sanjiang kept sighing, "The Sect Hierarch moved too fast, too abruptly."

Hou Fang and Mu Lin Yuan nodded slowly, "Yes, after all, such methods are too cruel."

"Arranging for a chance encounter, letting them accidentally meet Yemo and see through his identity... Then being forced to kill them, using such an unavoidable situation as a buffer would have been better."

"Instead, until a moment ago, they were gently and patiently teaching a disciple, getting married and entering the bridal chamber, kind and warm, and then such a thing happens, personally killing colleagues..."

Hou Fang shook his head repeatedly.

Putting themselves in his shoes, the three Old Demons felt that if they were in Fang Che's position, undercover here,

suddenly faced with such a test, their minds would surely go blank in an instant.

Emotionally, they wouldn't be able to accept it, that's for sure.

Yemo's quick reaction to it already shows enough strength.

"On the way back, the Sect Hierarch didn't say a single word," Mu Lin Yuan said.

"So it shows that the Sect Hierarch somewhat regrets it too,"

Qian Sanjiang said, "That's why he specifically called him over, which is like apologizing to the disciple."

Mu Lin Yuan said, "This incident is undoubtedly a significant blow to Yemo; that's for sure. Sigh, we persuaded the Sect Hierarch so many times, yet he still chose the most intense and cruel way for Yemo."

"No choice; the Sect Hierarch has high expectations of Yemo."

"It isn't necessarily a good thing; after this, Yemo's inclination to kill might become even stronger."

"... After returning, think of a way to ease the situation. Take advantage of the Sect Hierarch's regret, let's talk some sense."

"Alright."

"I truly like Yemo; although we must distinguish ourselves from the Guardians, we shouldn't push it to the point of being completely heartless."

"Indeed!"

...

On the other side.

Yin Shen Palace, hands behind his back, led Fang Che into the room and then asked him to close the door.

With a wave of his hand,

a soundproof barrier was formed.

He turned to look at Fang Che, smiling, and asked, "Do you hate me?"

"I wouldn't dare, disciple doesn't dare."

"Wouldn't dare? Then you still hate me?"

Old Demon Yin was very gentle, gently sighed, and said, "I know you hate me. After all, there are countless ways to draw the line, and I chose the most severe one."

"It's understandable that you hold it against me. But... you and I are different from ordinary sect members; though your cultivation is still low now... in the future, I hope you can become the Yixin Sect Leader, or even rise to a higher position."

"If that's the case, you can't walk an ordinary path."

Yin Shen Palace spoke earnestly, "Moreover, crossing the hurdle of sentiment is essential!"

He said softly, "Yemo, the mentor often says, we of the Wei Wo Zheng Sect, talk about what sentiment. Though this phrase is often said, but... people are not made of stone. How can they truly be without it? So I understand the hesitation and pain you felt this afternoon."