As soon as Mi Hengpeng began speaking, others also started to voice their positions.
A good meal turned into something resembling a military edict.
Fang Yu actually understood Mi Hengpengâs caution, worried that he wouldnât be able to cling to his rising status.
However, what he said made some sense. It was about time to expand their manpower and influence on the human side.
After a hearty meal and saying goodbye to the others,
Fang Yu helped his second sister clean up the dishes. Timing his departure, he spoke,
"Iâm stepping out. Lock the door tight, and donât let anyone in."
"Going out this late?"
Diao Ruru was taken aback.
"Just strolling around with friends from the Hei Family and Zuo Family. Donât worry, nothing will happen."
Diao Ruru immediately thought of the two people who visited their home in the afternoon.
Hei Family, Zuo Family...
These were once just big names she overheard on the streets.
But now they were so closely connected to her little brother.
This feeling gave her an inexplicable sense of unreality.
Watching Fang Yu change his clothes and ready to leave, Diao Ruru hastily said,
"...Iâll wait for you to come back."
"No need, rest early. Iâll be back before dawn."
Fang Yu waved his hand and walked away.
Diao Ruru stared at the empty room, somewhat dazed,
Then patted her cheeks, slowly tidied up, washed up, and went to bed.
...
Liufeng Street, Big locust tree.
Under the big locust tree, there was actually a single-person swing.
A girl swayed leisurely on it, enjoying the night breeze, swinging her delicate feet, and seeming in good spirits.
Tap tap tap.
At that moment, footsteps approached from far to near.
The girl, as if aware in advance, spoke up,
"Youâre finally here."
Fang Yu stopped in his tracks, standing by her side, looked around and asked curiously,
"How come itâs just you?"
Zuo LĂŒ pointed upward with her finger,
"Some people like to stand in high places."
Fang Yu looked up in confusion.
A shadow was standing on the big locust tree.
Because it was night and visibility was poor, and because his attention had been on Zuo LĂŒ swinging when he arrived, he did not notice that Hei Ao was actually in the tree.
Whooshââ
Right then, Hei Ao jumped down from the tree with a whoosh.
Thump.
His feet hit the ground, and Hei Ao glanced at Fang Yu,
"Everyoneâs here, letâs go."
Saying that, he put on the dragon head mask.
The mask fitted seamlessly to his face like human skin, making him appear to have transformed his face into a dragonâs.
At the same time, his figure subtly adjusted, becoming sturdier and a bit portlier as he walked.
Fang Yu was shocked.
What kind of mask is this, with such incredible effects?
He hurriedly put on his own red leather bull horn mask.
But it only felt like he had a thin film on his face, and his figure didnât change. Touching his face, it felt somewhat tender.
At this time, Zuo LĂŒ also got off the swing and came next to Fang Yu.
"His is different, top-quality stuff."
Zuo LĂŒ smiled at Fang Yu and then put on a monkey mask.
And so, three people each wearing a bull head mask, a monkey mask, and a Dragon King mask, roamed the dark streets.
Whoosh whooshââ
Suddenly, two shadows flashed across the rooftops from both sides.
"Theyâre likely also heading to the Bonfire Gathering."
Zuo LĂŒ explained to Fang Yu.
"Hmph!"
Hei Ao snorted coldly, then leaped up high.
Fang Yu noticed a faint mist dispersing around Hei Ao when he jumped, masking the line of sight slightly.
He didnât use this tactic before, did he? Is that the effect of the mask?
Fang Yu and Zuo LĂŒ exchanged a glance and leaped onto the rooftops.
Once on the rooftop, Fang Yu surveyed the surroundings. Though the moonlight was sparse that night, he still noticed several groups moving swiftly across the rooftops, heading in the same direction.
It seems the Bonfire Gathering isnât much of a secret.
Right, the Five Great Families just turn a blind eye, other powers know but wonât interfere.
Fang Yu didnât know the exact location of the event, so Hei Ao led the way.
Zuo LĂŒ wasnât the type to seek attention and followed behind with Fang Yu.
After about ten minutes of travel, someone suddenly called out from behind.
"Hold on, the three brothers ahead!"
Tap!
Fang Yu stopped in his tracks.
Snap.
Then Zuo LĂŒ grabbed his hand and pulled him along.
Not only Zuo LĂŒ, but Hei Ao, who was leading the way, was also seemingly deaf to the caller behind, blind to the shouts, and heads down in haste.
"Donât mind him, theyâre all backstabbers."
Left in confusion, Fang Yu heard Zuo LĂŒâs soft voice, and the three of them quickly widened the gap with the man behind, who stopped and silently turned to leave.
"Backstabbers? Isnât he afraid of encountering tough opposition?"
Zuo LĂŒ laughed, "You think heâs alone? Thatâs to lower your guard. Once you stop, a bunch of martial artists will emerge from the shadows to gang up on you. Then they strip you of your clothes, toss your body anywhere, and by the next day theyâre all out of Tianyuan Town."
Hearing this, Fang Yu shivered internally.
The world is perilous.
He had thought the presence of demons was enough to cause alarm, but the human heart proved to be even more unfathomable.
"Why do such a thing, arenât they afraid the Foolish Underworld will pursue them?"
"Theyâre long gone, not just the Foolish Underworld, even us, the Five Great Families, only take care of Tianyuan Townâs affairs. Outside this area, unless itâs exceptional, we usually wonât waste too much manpower to track down murderers."