Monarch Night

"What about me?" Fang Che asked.

"Of course, you're at the uncle-master level, we'll handle it together."

"Alright then."

Fang Che reluctantly agreed, but suggested, "But we can't all be chiefs and escorts... We need some people working behind the scenes as well."

Everyone exchanged glances.

Obviously, no one wanted to work in the shadows where they couldn't be seen.

But the overall plan was finally settled.

"Leader, when we create fake identities, do we use real names or aliases?" Zhao Wushang cautiously asked.

"Real names, few know my true identity anyway."

Fang Che replied.

"May I ask the Leader's great name is..."

"Yin Xiu."

"The Leader's name sounds really good."

"Then why don't you marry me?"

"..."

A few women were speechless.

They realized that our Leader truly was a hopeless romantic!

This made it risky to joke around.

If taken seriously, it could lead to trouble.

Thus, the women's expressions turned solemn and serious.

Next was naming the Escort Agency.

"Heida Escort Agency, how's that for a name?" suggested the Starlight Master.

"..."

Everyone looked exasperated: "Leader, that's not appropriate."

"Then you name it. Damn, today's just not my lucky day, whatever I say gets opposed! Can't even find a wife!"

The Starlight Master slumped onto the throne and began to complain.

The women pretended not to hear.

"From now on, whoever messes up, I'll marry them as punishment."

Fang Che said.

The women's faces suddenly turned deadly serious!

I'd better work with utmost care from now on. Messing up could ruin my life!

After some discussion, the name emerged.

"Worldwide Escort Agency"!

Imposing and dominant!

Chief: Yin Xiu.

Chiefs: Zhao Wushang, Zhao Wubai, Zheng Yunqi...

Masters: ...

Messengers: ...

Finance: Wu Lianlian and others.

Operations: Zhou Mei'er and others...

Immediately, everyone had their roles.

"Hurry and get our identities sorted, I'm registering at the Guardian Hall tomorrow! From now on, we'll all be law-abiding citizens!"

Fang Che declared.

"Guardian Hall!"

Instantly, many looked at the Leader with awe.

That their Leader would dare go to the Guardian Hall, how brave must he be?

Fang Che angrily said: "What are those looks? In the future, not just me, but even all of you should establish good relations with the Guardian Hall. Whenever we need access, do I always have to go myself? We conduct business lawfully, what are we afraid of?!"

Everyone fell silent.

Though they weren't really afraid, they simply didn't want to go.

"You're acting so cowardly. To be undercover, you need to be calm and collected, look at yourselves!"

Fang Che encouraged them with frustration: "Find your courage and face the storms of the mortal world, if we don't fear life and death, how can we fear a Guardian Hall? Come on, who volunteers to go to the Guardian Hall? There's a reward for you!"

But no matter how he encouraged them.

Everyone decided to act like turtles today, not uttering a word.

The Guardian Hall... Damn, we usually worry about being caught on the streets, now you want us to voluntarily go there for affairs... Whoever wants to go, go!

Fang Che, defeated: "If no one goes, I will! Let me show you the might of your Leader!"

"Get those identities ready then."

And so Zhao Wushang began reaching out to family and a Sect to sort it out.

After some screening, Yishan Sect, a neutral Sect, was chosen.

Things were easier from there.

The various demon leaders were working.

The Starlight Master cursed a bit, then left.

...

As Fang Che walked down the street, he glanced back, the sub branch was now far behind, completely swallowed by darkness.

Finally, the sub branch had taken shape.

Yet he felt no joy in his heart; instead, he felt a sense of solitude.

And with the sub branch's formation and tasks underway, this solitude would only grow stronger.

By day, he was a Guardian ensuring people's safety, by night, he was building a sub branch for the Demon Sect.

Each step forward, he felt like a schizophrenic, one foot in the light, one in the darkness.

The dividing line between light and dark was like a sword splitting him in half.

With every step, he drew closer to life-and-death dangers.

And this was just the beginning.

Thinking of Ye Meng, of Mo Gan Yun, of family...

Thinking of leaving the Martial Arts Academy, leaving the brotherhood team...

Thinking that with just one step forward, he could easily become the center of attention at the Martial Arts Academy, yet he stepped back to be a lone walker.

Abandoning a life of brilliant respect for a future of inevitable betrayal and condemnation as a dark walker...

He shook his head, gave a wry smile, swept away the cluttered thoughts, and vanished.

What's the use of thinking so much.

The road still needs to be walked, the work still needs to be done.

...

Three days later...

The Starlight Master looked hesitant.

"Today's the day to register at the Guardian Hall... Who's going?" Fang Che asked.

Everyone: "..."

Weren't you supposed to go? How come now you're hesitating? We remember what you said that day clearly.

"It's just a trip to handle some business, come on, someone step up!"

The Starlight Master urged.

"..."

"With you like this, how can I expect you to accomplish anything big..." Fang Che looked exasperated: "Come on, who's stepping up!"

Everyone: "..."

If I play dead, nothing will affect me!

"Damn it!"

Fang Che was furious, slamming the table: "You guys act like quails and dare call yourselves demons!"

We're not!

We're good citizens now!

Everyone stayed silent.

"Damn it!"

Fang Che stood up: "I'll go myself!"

Everyone: "Huff..."

In the end, it's best if you go.

It must be you.

After you bragged so much that day!

"I'm not going by myself either!"

Fang Che had a determined look: "Zhao Wushang, come with me!"

"Huh?!!"

Zhao Wushang looked up, innocent and terrified: "Leader... Leader... this... this isn't right..."

Behind him.

Jiang Bin and others kicked him in the butt: "The Leader calls you, hurry up!"

What if they choose me if you refuse?

Zhao Wushang looked like he was headed for execution, utterly hopeless.

Rumor has it Guardian Hall has eyes like flames...

Morning.

The cold wind blew.

The Starlight Master and Zhao Wushang walked the path to the Guardian Hall.

Along the way, Zhao Wushang's legs went weak three or four times.

But weak legs were not an excuse, he still had to support the Starlight Master, whose legs were also giving way.

Finally, they stood before the Baiyun State Guardian Hall entrance.

Both were drenched in sweat.

Glancing at each other, Zhao Wushang almost bolted: "Sta-sta-sta... Leader..."

"You're supposed to call me the Chief!"

Fang Che slapped him: "You idiot?"

Zhao Wushang's lips turned pale: "Chi-chi-chief... maybe we should... go back?"

"Slap!"

Another slap: "We're here, and you want to go back, do you think the Guardian Hall will eat you?"

"It really might..."

Just then.

Someone stepped out, frowning: "Hey... Who are you, hitting people at the Guardian Hall's entrance? What's going on?"

Caught.

Zhao Wushang's legs started to shake uncontrollably.

"Sta-sta-sta..."

"Shut up!"

Fang Che gave him a look, then approached smiling: "Officer, I opened an Escort Agency in town... haven't registered yet? Haha..."

Rubbing his hands, looking every bit the honest, simple villager: "They said the Guardian Hall eats people... didn't dare enter."

"Eat your grandpa!"

Zuo Guanglie scolded: "Registering an Escort Agency and look at this mess! Get in there! Hurry! Why are you shaking?!"

"Too imposing..." Zhao Wushang stammered.

With Zuo Guanglie's cultivation, in the Jianghu, even if Zhao Wushang couldn't beat him, he wouldn't be scared.

But it couldn't be helped.

Now he was in the Guardian Hall, and he himself... was part of the demon race.

Natural suppression!

"What Escort Agency?"

Zuo Guanglie, having come out to wait for Fang Che, ended up meeting someone registering an agency instead, glanced at the paperwork: "Wow, Worldwide Escort Agency, that's ambitious."

"Oh, not at all..."

"Registration is over there..."

Zuo Guanglie scolded: "Stop shaking, keep shaking and I'll take you as a demon race member..."

Zuo Guanglie threatened.

Zhao Wushang sat on the ground: "Spare me, sir..."

"Damn you!"

Fang Che slapped him twice: "Have some dignity!"

Zhao Wushang snapped out of it.

"You're just in time. From today, our Guardian Hall will start offering smile service to those conducting business."

Zuo Guanglie said: "Damn it's strange, my first time hearing about smile service in my years at the Guardian Hall..."

He led Fang Che and Zhao Wushang to the window.

Sure enough, there was a smile service: "What can we do for you two?"

"I'm... I'm here from Yishan Sect... to register an Escort Agency," Starlight Master said.

"Oh, a stutterer, a stutterer starting an Escort Agency... interesting, give it here..." said the person inside.

"I'm not a s-s-s-stutterer..."

"Got it, you're not a s-s-s-stutterer. Pay up."

"H-h-how much?"

"One thousand taels."

"And these industry rules, law-abiding promises, and this this this..."

"Yes yes... I'll take them all!"

"Take? It's called collecting! Collect them! Understand? Pay up!"

"H-h-how much?"

"One hundred taels each!"

"Here, here's your business license, Guardian Hall approved..."

"Okay, thank you... Is there anything else?"

"Nope, go put up a sign and open for business."

"..."

As they walked out of the Guardian Hall entrance.

"Phew!..."

Both sighed in relief to the sky.

Especially Zhao Wushang: Oh my, we did it.