Mina crossed her arms in annoyance as she stared at them. Seeing how they were still standing, she thought to herself, ‘my grace is weak because Long Di possesses so many blessings. Damn him!’

Putting this to the back of her mind, she stood before them draped in garbs of indifference, “tell me everything that just happened.”

****

“Tempesta Mina is as comely as ever.”

When Mina heard who it was, her expression changed and the effects of her grace crumbled, shaking the guards from their stupor.

“W-What just happened?” They shook their heads with confused expressions.

When they saw who it was approaching, their postures immediately stiffened, and they executed a swift salute.

“G-Greetings Minister Yaomu Lie!!”

This newcomer barely spared the guards a glance, if you could call it that. What stood out most was the striking resemblance he bore to Yaomu Shou, in that he was a Yuan demon, much like the matter.

His skin was dark blue, and his grin revealed his white fangs. His black hair shone with a dark blue hue that was exceptionally striking in the sunlight. There were grey strands that started to appear at the side that betrayed his advanced age, but they only added to his regal air.

His eyes had thin pupils, much like Yaomu Shou and many other demons for that matter.

The unique tail all Yuan demons possessed was wrapped around his waist like a belt of sorts. The style reminded Mina of her favourite character in that manga she read. That person was an actual prince, though, and rightfully arrogant, too.

All in all, the demon was quite attractive. His middle-aged visage made him appear mature and collected. He wore a smile no matter the circumstance and always appeared to be in control of the situation.

Coupled with his high position and noble blood, he was everyone’s worst nightmare: the perfect politician.

Yaomu Lie didn’t notice the guards’ odd mannerisms before this, since he only had eyes on Mina, much to her dismay.

“Hello, Minister Yaomu Lie…” Mina didn’t like him. That much was obvious.

“There’s no need for that,” Yaomu Lie said with a smile. “You can call me Yaomu Lie.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. How can I help Minister Yaomu Lie today?” Mina asked, not accepting his low key request to address him more intimately.

Yaomu Lie’s smile never left his face, and it creeped Mina out, ‘I never thought I would miss that idiot’s dead and colourless expression.’

…

“Achoo!”

“Looks like someone is talking about you. Not that I’m surprised.”

“Seeing as how you’ve never sneezed, I’m guessing no one’s talking about you.”

“Screw you!”

…

“All high-ranking family members have been summoned to the court. I was passing by when I saw you and thought I would pay you a visit while I was at it.”

“Lucky me,” the sarcasm didn’t just infect Mina’s tone, it was a cancerous tumour that went terminal.

Of course, Yaomu Lie didn’t mind this and asked her an unexpected question, “would you like to come with me?”

Mina didn’t expect this, and was caught off guard. “I-I can come?”

“M-Minister Yaomu Lie…!”

Vwhum!

A crushing pressure descended as killing intent ran wild.

Yaomu Lie looked at the guard with that smile before he asked, “Was I speaking to you?”

“N-N-N…” the guard felt like he was plunged into an ice locker and that a claw from the lowest depths of hell had crept out and gripped his throat.

Mina saw this and frowned. Sure, she didn’t like the guard’s tone from before, but that was no excuse for the treatment she saw here. She saw many of this as well during her time here. Yaomu Shou was an exception and Mina realised that the situation in this place was far from perfect.

“Stop!”

Vwhish!

The crushing, killing intent receded like the dying tide.

“Hm? Is there something wrong?”

Mina felt disgusted when saw this. This Yaomu Lie stared at her with a dumbfounded look, as if he was truly unaware of his actions.

No… he was unaware. She understood this, and it sickened her even more. However, though he was someone she hated, she had a goal to accomplish. That goal was to find Long Di, and this person, as deplorable as he might be, possessed the authority to release her from here.

“I wish to leave here now,” she said, in response to his earlier question.

“Ah,” he exclaimed in surprise, not expecting her to accept his invite. After all, she spurned his attempts to coerce and/or court her at every turn.

He sneered when he saw this. ‘Hmph! Just playing hard to get! When it comes down to it! You’re just a woman!’

Misogyny at its finest ladies and gentleman.

“Shall we be on our way, then?” It didn’t take long for him to regain his composure and offered her his arm to take.

Mina looked at it and inwardly shuddered, but she steeled herself and took it with a smile.

The guards didn’t dare to say anything when Mina left and they didn’t follow either even though this was their job as her security detail.

They stared at the duo until they disappeared behind a structure.

“Sighs…”

“The young miss is truly different from everyone else,” one guard said after a while.

The other nodded in agreement, “She treats us as equals. I hear that’s why they’re giving her such a hard time.”

“I hope the young miss can enact a change!” one said spiritedly.

“She’ll need power for that. More than what’s offered to her now. Especially with the recent rebellion of certain powers.”

“There’s only one power able to orchestrate and we all know it’s the-”

“Shush!” his friend quickly covered his mouth while putting a finger to his own to signify silence. “The walls have ears and the sky has eyes.”

When he saw that his friend calmed down, he slowly removed his hand.

“Sorry, I got out of hand.”

“It’s okay. I hope the young miss comes back soon.”

“Me too.”

…

Barring when Yaomu Shou was with her, Mina didn’t really explore this place, so most of what she was seeing was new to her.

However, even she could tell that where she was heading was a road less travelled.

“Where are we going?” Mina finally asked.

“There are sites within these grounds considered sacred and not easily trod upon,” Yaomu Lie stated.

Mina was surprised he didn’t take the chance to make a pass at her. She wasn’t bothered by this and listened intently for any secrets she could get, or what she considered secrets.

He continued, “To be honest, we regularly head here to make offerings to the benefactors of our ancestors. This time, however, things appear to be different.”

“The tremor from before,” Mina brought up.

He nodded, “that has never happened before. So there will surely be a show ahead.”

As he said this, they came to a clearing. It was obvious at a glance that there were no ordinary members here. Only high-ranking members could be seen, made obvious by their bearing and aura alone.

They all stood within the clearing and surrounding them were many open door temples.

Each temple was massive, and the open entrances were easily eighty feet high and thirty feet wide. Darkness took up residence in many, having them appear like the gaping maw of a primordial beast.

Each temple had, over its entrance, the statue of a particular figure. There were numerous temples and thus numerous figures above each.

There was one temple that stood above the rest. It was completely royal blue and exuded an old but regal air. The entrance was gargantuan, standing at a massive 120ft high.

The inside was lit up, but the specific scene was blurred as if there was some power at work that blocked any prying eyes.

The statue above this temple was that of a Yuan demon. She stood arrogantly above all and wielded a sword that stabbed towards the heavens. Many of the Yuan demons here that looked at this temple did so with a worshipful expression.

There was another set of temples that stood apart from the rest. Two, to be specific. They were smaller than the Yuan temple, but larger than the rest.

They stood at each side of the Yuan temple as if to help prop it up. However, each of these temples were dark. There was no haze here, not that it was needed as the darkness told the story of its quietus.

Everyone was facing the temple on the left-hand side of the Yuan temple. The status above this temple was that of a wolf-like demon. Powerful muscles decked its body while its fangs were bared in a feral snarl.

In front of this temple was an old demon facing everyone else. It was Uncle Yan who took Tie Lang from Long Di and the others.

“Ban Yan, what is the meaning of this!?” One of the members asked.

Uncle Yan’s expressions changed upon hearing this address, “Second Minister Bei, I would advise you to address me using my title!”

The second minister snorted in derision at Uncle Yan’s request. “Only a glorified bodyguard, and nothing more!”

Dum!

Uncle Yan’s cultivation erupted as nine cauldrons burst into being behind him!

“Ban Yan, you dare!?” The second minister couldn’t believe that Ban Yan dared to challenge him.

Ban Yan was a kindly uncle to Yaomu Shou, but to everyone else, he was an existence that was far from easy to deal with!

“You tell me if I dare or not!” Ban Yan was painfully aware of a growing problem within the demon region and his origin painted him as a target of scorn because of it.

Ban Yan wanted one reason and one reason alone and he would cut down this second minister!

Consequences be damned!

Everyone held their breath to see what would happen.