The group of five was clearly instigated by Kinnara, Rahu, and Ketu. Gandharva joined in the fun without much interest, since she was free anyway. Garuda, being rather aloof, wasn't particularly interested in the "excitement," but was dragged along by Rahu and Ketu, so she had no choice but to go along. After all, she was just acting as the Garuda King, and her status was not comparable to those of the people in front of her.
The five escaped successfully, and everyone leisurely prepared to disperse and go about their business. However, a guard rushed over, urgently saying, "My lords! The Xuanlang Sect has sent a challenge!"
Kinnara strode over, took the invitation presented by the guard, glanced at it, and a smug, eager smile suddenly appeared on his face. "Well done, Xuanlang Sect, still unwilling to give up the challenge of being the 'Number One Evil Cult of the Demonic Path'," he waved the invitation at the others, "Let's go, we've got something else to do!"
The Gandharva King smiled elegantly, her strikingly beautiful face both alluring and sinister. Rahu Ketu was already prepared to unleash a massacre. "With our Eight Legions here, the Xuanlang Sect will only be experiencing defeat once more!"
"Of course! With our eight tribes joining forces, we'll wipe out the Xuanlang Sect! Let's go!"
The five members of the Eight Legions, each carrying their own weapons, walked towards the gate in high spirits—
—At this moment, the forgotten Mahoraga was digging for earthworms as bait by the pond in his yard—
Before they even reached the gate, the group paused as they saw a large sign posted across it: "Unprovoked injury is forbidden, murder is forbidden, gang fighting is forbidden!"
Bai Mo, dressed in white, stood solemnly before the gate, not yielding an inch.
This... I forgot about his existence.
They exchanged glances and then pushed Kinnara forward to negotiate. He took two steps forward and said, "Bai Dutang, since you are here, you must already know what has happened—this is not something we caused, but rather the Xuanlang Sect has come to challenge us. We cannot refuse this challenge."
"It's called a challenge, but it's just gang warfare."
"This is a matter of reputation. Since someone is challenging our position as the 'Number One Evil Cult of the Demonic Path,' wouldn't refusing to accept it be tantamount to handing over the title to someone else?"
"Why fight so fiercely for a mere title when it's just an empty name?"
"What people in the martial arts world care about is nothing more than a 'reputation'?"
"Good! Well said!" Luo Houjidu cheered from behind him. Kinnara turned around gracefully (please pronounce as pia pia), clasped his hands in thanks, and said, "Thank you for your support."
Turning back, Kinnara continued, “Bai Dutang, you are a businessman. In business, there is also a concept of ‘reputation’ that is valued. Although they are different, I hope you can understand. After all, you are not a member of the martial arts world. The martial arts world has its own set of rules. Please do not force your understanding of the rules onto the Demonic Sect.”
Ultimately, how can someone who isn't a member of the martial world understand it? How can someone who isn't a member of the demonic sect comprehend the demonic path? The righteous path has its rules, and the demonic path has its rules—how can an outsider possibly interfere with these matters?
Bai Mo frowned and pondered for a moment. Had he considered things too one-sidedly? "I have learned from King Kinnara's words and will naturally think them through and make up for any oversights. But please give up any pointless fighting."
—They rolled their eyes and collapsed in a panic.
"Didn't you hear what Bai Dutang said?" Long Jue appeared behind them, his face cold. "Whether it's the rules of the martial world or the rules of the Demonic Sect, you'd better not forget the rules of the Netherworld Heaven—since Bai Dutang was personally appointed by the Sect Leader, you should obey his words." Just looking at those defiant faces, Long Jue knew what they were thinking and ordered, "Everyone is confined to their quarters for three days."
"..."
"..."
Long Jue, you're the most ruthless.
...
The Demonic Cult—what kind of place is this really? Bai Mo began to realize that perhaps he hadn't truly understood it. His knowledge of the Demonic Cult was as vague and biased as that of others who had only heard stories about it. They were indeed reckless and unrestrained, but it couldn't be denied that they lived a carefree and happy life.
How do we judge right and wrong between the thrill of bloodshed and revenge, and the peaceful tranquility of following the rules?
This was the first time in over twenty years that Bai Mo had a slight doubt about the life principles he had always adhered to.
Doubts sprouted, but before they could grow and be pondered, a major event in the Netherworld interrupted all thoughts—the Xuanlang Sect came to provoke them!
The Xuanlang Sect has always been one of the top sects in the Demonic Cult. In terms of scale, although it is not as large as the Cangming Water Pavilion, it is larger than the Youming Heaven. Originally, there were occasional minor frictions, but they were able to live in peace. However, ever since the Youming Heaven appeared on the Demonic Path Cangming Ranking and was called the "Number One Evil Cult of the Demonic Path", the Xuanlang Sect and the Youming Heaven have become irreconcilable enemies.
The Cangming Ranking, written in blood, has stirred up waves of bloodshed within the demonic sects, with people fighting tooth and nail for a place on the list. How much more so when it's a struggle between the "Number One Evil Cult of the Demonic Path" and the "Number Two Evil Cult of the Demonic Path"?
Having grown accustomed to the laid-back yet peaceful atmosphere here, Bai Mo was uneasy about the sudden tension. He truly didn't understand the Demonic Sect well enough; it wasn't that trouble wouldn't come knocking if he didn't fight back.
The gates were tightly shut, and several followers climbed the tower, bows drawn and arrows nocked—the Xuanlang Sect's forces, unstoppable, had already stormed outside—
"Where is the Dharma Protector?! Quickly go and inform the officials of the Eight Departments!"
"We've already sent people, but Lord Naga, the Master, and the Left Envoy are in a meeting and cannot come in to inform them. The other officials from the Eight Tribes said they are under house arrest and refuse to come—"
—It's not that they can't come, but that they refuse to come. It seems they're acting out of spite, deliberately making a mess of things and leaving it to Long Jue and the sect leader to deal with.
They can walk away and not care how things turn out, but these guards can't bear such a heavy responsibility!
"Is there no one else left in the church now—?"
(—At this time, the forgotten Mahoraga had finished picking up the earthworms and was still leisurely fishing in the pond in his yard, dressed in black and wearing a black hat—)
"Go and inform Lord Jialing!"
"yes!"
A follower approached Bai Mo and said to him, "Bai Dutang, there may be danger here at any time. Please go to the main altar to take refuge."
Bai Mo shook his head and asked, "Is Jialing Ning Xian?"
"Yes, it is Lord Ningxian."
Bai Mo listened to the sounds of clashing weapons outside the door and looked at the rows of bows and arrows on the tower. It seemed that in just a short while, this place was no longer the Netherworld Heaven where he had stayed for the past few days. "How can such a dangerous place be left to Ning Xian to deal with? She's just a woman!" Because she was married, no one treated her like a child, but Bai Mo suddenly remembered that she was only seventeen or eighteen years old. A girl, leading her subordinates alone to face such a scene?
His words startled the followers, who didn't know how to respond. But, clearly…
"Lord Jialing is already used to this kind of thing..."
This time, it was Bai Mo's turn to be stunned—had he already gotten used to...this kind of scene? This scene before him was something he had never imagined before...firelight, bloodshed, these things had never existed in his life. But for her, it was already something she was used to.
It turns out I never really understood her; it turns out we never lived in the same world.
In a moment of distraction, a dark shadow leaped across the sky, and Ning Xian headed straight for the tower, with Du Cisheng following closely behind.