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"Lady Zhuo Xueer, the degree of your Demonization..."

"…I'm alright."

As her words fell, she strode forward again, but her expression had turned considerably gloomier.

The degree of Demonization gradually increased; only by nurturing life, restraining breath, and containing Spirit could it be somewhat suppressed.

A great battle yielded no gains but brought much trouble.

"We've arrived."

Ahead, a building resembling an ancient tower came into view.

Its name was quite straightforward—Yangshen Hall.

Stormwind Tower is where the Wind Team and Rain Team of Yangshen Hall conducted their affairs.

Zhuo Xueer and the other reserve deputy captains, deputy captains, and captains of the Wind Team and Rain Team would typically gather at Stormwind Tower to work under normal circumstances.

It's just that captains and deputy captains were usually harder to find.

Only the Cloud Team seemed to have a different place to work.

Yangshen Hall, however, was the meet-up place for all three teams, different from Stormwind Tower, where even lower-ranking members could come and go as they pleased.

Here, those who were not at least deputy captains were not qualified to enter.

Of course, exceptions were made for special situations.

"Brother Hai, Brother Ming, I have an important matter to report to Uncle Zhou. Please help me notify him."

Uncle Zhou was Dong Xingzhou.

Fang Yu had thought Zhuo Xueer wanted to see some high-ranking figure, but it was just this.

Fang Yu was speechless.

Your connections, they don't seem that great.

The two guards at the gate both had Thousand Blood Power.

However, their status seemed higher than Zhuo Xueer's; in a world where power structures were complicated, connections were the key to determining status.

Fang Yu sighed.

"Dong Xingzhou? He's been suspended for half a month; you won't be seeing him anytime soon."

"Suspended for half a month?!"

Zhuo Xueer was dumbfounded.

"Uncle Zhou? Suspended? Why??"

Zhuo Xueer didn't understand.

Although Uncle Zhou had been a deputy captain for several decades and was one of the most senior and loyal among them, why would he be suspended for half a month??

"I don't know."

The guard simply shook his head; not getting involved in such matters was the key to their survival in the Foolish Underworld.

"…"

Zhuo Xueer fell silent, then suddenly as if she realized something, whirled around to look at Fang Yu.

Huh?

Why are you looking at me?

Fang Yu was confused.

"Lady Zhuo Xueer, since Lord Dong Xingzhou isn't here, shall we go back first?"

"…"

Zhuo Xueer remained silent, pondering, and then slightly shook her head.

She then turned to the guards.

"Then may I ask if Lord Zhang Zhenyi is available?"

"He's not."

The guard answered very quickly.

Fang Yu was taken aback.

"My lord, don't you need to go in and check?"

The guard glanced at Fang Yu sideways and remained silent.

Zhuo Xueer hurriedly smiled apologetically.

"He's new and doesn't understand how things work, don't take offense, big brothers."

These two were professionals.

Ever since she came to the Foolish Underworld, the guards had changed several times, but these two had never left the rotation.

Whether it was due to a profound background or being reliable professionals, they were not to be easily offended.

After some thought, Zhuo Xueer spoke.

"In that case, I would like to see… our Lord Yangshen Hall Master."

The Hall Master?!

Hearing that they were requesting to see such a high-ranking official, the two guards finally showed a change in expression, becoming more serious as they exchanged glances.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

"…Alright, I'll notify them."

Fang Yu thought there would be complications.

After all, he couldn't even meet a deputy captain, much less jump straight to the Hall Master; wasn't this kind of a leap?

But after a short wait, the guard returned.

"You may enter."

Zhuo Xueer strode forward, Fang Yu followed but was stopped by the guards.

"Just her alone."

This treatment, Fang Yu was familiar with.

It was the treatment of a sidelined sidekick!

Fang Yu was frustrated, but Zhuo Xueer only asked him to stay put and wait for her to return.

Fang Yu remained in place while the guard led Zhuo Xueer forward.

Soon, they reached a courtyard.

In a small pavilion, an old man leisurely enjoyed his tea and book.

Zhuo Xueer and the guard, heads bowed and bending at the waist, remained motionless, quietly waiting.

After a while, the old man finally spoke up abruptly.

"Since you're here, sit down. There's no need to just stand."

"Yes! Thank you for allowing me to sit, my lord!"

Zhuo Xueer walked over, sat down, and out of the corner of her eye, she had already noticed the sensible guard silently retreating.

"Speak, what is it you have to report?"

The old man put down his book and looked at the visitor.

"The Lin Family and the Li Family have broken into chaos. The Bonfire Gathering was making trouble in secret, and someone I led has executed one of their high-ranking members."

"Not bad. But such matters aren't necessary to report to me personally."

Although it was just a calm statement, it made Zhuo Xueer's heart tremble, and hastily she gritted her teeth and said,

"...During the chaos, we also captured a woman from the Li Family and are currently holding her in prison."

"Catching her is minor; such small matters don't warrant a special report."

The old man shook his head slightly, then said, "Zhuo Xueer, you look too much before and after you leap. Those who achieve great things don't fret over trifles. When your father first joined us, he captured more than a dozen people from the Five Great Families, and even when a sword was at his throat, he never softened. You still fall far short of his courage..."

Zhuo Xueer quickly bowed her head.

"My father is indeed my role model!"

"Enough, he passed too early, and wasn't able to teach you much. But, the blood of his remains in you, you shouldn't just exhibit this low level of performance. You must work harder."

"Yes...yes!"

A heavy expectation can be both a pressure and a motivation.

Zhuo Xueer, whose mind had been agitated, for some reason, suddenly felt much calmer.

With such a lord backing her, imprisoning Li Xunxue in the prison didn't seem like such a big deal after all.

After some thought, she asked her final question.

"My lord, why was Uncle Zhou suspended? Did he violate something?"

"Dong Xingzhou?"

The old man chuckled.

"He crossed a line."

Zhuo Xueer waited, but the old man said nothing more.

A shock went through Zhuo Xueer's heart as she realized the situation might not be that simple.

"Then, I won't disturb the lord any further."

She stood up, ready to leave.

Suddenly, the old man spoke again.

"Rest assured. If there's no issue, Dong Xingzhou will return in half a month. By the way, how's the newcomer you were asked to bring along doing?"

Zhuo Xueer was momentarily stunned.

The exalted Yangshen Hall Master was actually inquiring about a newcomer who hadn't even been with the team for half a month?

She was a bit bewildered.

Although Diao Deyi had been placed there by the lord himself, she assumed it was because the Hall Master wanted to honor her father's death in service to the Yangshen Hall by arranging a skilled hand under her command to assist her.

She hadn't expected that, perhaps, the Hall Master cared more about Diao Deyi than herself?

Connecting this to Uncle Zhou's suspension, Zhuo Xueer's heart leaped, and she quickly bowed her head and said,

"Diao Deyi... has made rapid progress in strength and has repeatedly achieved military exploits. He has a promising future."

"Not bad."

The old man stroked his beard.

"Right now, the situation is starting to change, and it's exactly when we need to use him. After you return, arrange for him to come to me; I have a task for him."

A person who wasn't even a Deputy Captain was being personally assigned a task by the Hall Master??

Zhuo Xueer was dumbstruck.

If at first she had merely had a high opinion of Fang Yu, thinking he might be some secret illegitimate offspring or the like,

Now, Zhuo Xueer regarded Diao Deyi as someone on par with a team captain!

What merits does this guy have??

Indeed, Zhuo Xueer recognized that Fang Yu had previously shown great combat strength, but that was it. If it really came to a fight, he might not even be able to beat her.

What kind of nepotism was this?

Zhuo Xueer pondered; there didn't seem to be anyone in the Yangshen Hall with the surname Diao who had strong connections.

But still thinking, Zhuo Xueer quickly responded and bowed her head.

"My lord, Diao Deyi is currently waiting outside the Yangshen Hall."

"Oh?"

The old man perked up, even setting aside the book in his hands.

"Then have him come in."

"Yes!"

Zhuo Xueer rose, withdrew, and went to call someone.

"Eh? The Hall Master wants to see me???"

Fang Yu was flabbergasted.

Following behind Zhuo Xueer, he barely had time to take in the surroundings.

Not just because he was very confused, but also because Zhuo Xueer was moving very fast ahead, plodding along.

The Yangshen Hall Master, huh.

Isn't that an absolute senior-level position!

Perfect, let me test what you're made of!

Following Zhuo Xueer into the courtyard, he immediately saw in the small pavilion the amiable old man with a smile, standing and stroking his white beard, looking towards him.

Battle power detector, activate!

[Wu Lvzhu: 8000/8000.]

Fang Yu:...

An eye for eye detection, firmly identified as... Monster!