Ban Yan wanted one reason alone and he would cut down this second minister. Consequences be damned!

Everyone held their breath to see what would happen.

****

Second minister Bei was in a tough spot as Ban Yan’s aura locked him down when he wasn’t prepared. However, he couldn’t take his words back, as that would make it look as if he was backing down from a mongrel.

The atmosphere turned stiff for a moment, since neither of the two was taking a step back. Sweat beaded down the Second minister’s forehead as Ban Yan’s eyes narrowed.

“One would expect one of the two Imperial Protectors to act with more class,” a shrill voice cut through the tension like a knife, causing both men and everyone else to turn their heads to see a demon with a group surrounding him.

He appeared middle-aged, just a bit older than Yaomu Lie. He was a Yuan demon as well, however, his impression was less than comely.

His nose was crooked, and his eyes were like a fox. His lips were thin and were upturned in a perpetual scowl.

“Grand Secretary Mishu, I didn’t see you there.”

Ban Yan turned wary upon seeing this demon and he watched the latter’s actions closely.

It could be seen that this Grand Secretary held quite a high position for Ban Yan to act in such a manner.

“This is what happens when certain individuals get a taste of power.”

Another comment eked out, this time from a different area. Looking to see who it was would reveal not a Yuan demon but a demon that had several bone spurs running down the middle of his back.

There were also bone spurs that jutted out from his jaw to the side, giving him a terrifying look. This was a pureblood Gu demon, a kind of demon who excelled in fighting and war.

“Grand Commandant Siling, greetings,” Ban Yan offered the same greeting as well.

“Now, now young ones, I’m sure the Imperial protector has a reason for summoning us,” an aged voice drifted out.

Though it sounded weak and faint, everyone could hear it clearly. The entire crowd turned to where the voice came from to see a demon, much older than any demon here.

His face was filled with so many wrinkles that it resembled dried tree bark and one could hardly see his eyes. His hair was as white as snow and his skin was a faded cream-like colour. It was impossible to tell if it was always like this or if the years stripped him of his colour.

In addition, he wore none of the expensive clothing like the others, but donned a simple grey hemp robe instead.

His position reigned supreme amongst demons and stood second to only one. It was this one that commanded the following actions.

Everyone except Mina got down on one knee with their head down. Though Mina remained standing, oddly enough no one pointed out this oddity, not even Yaomu Lie, who knelt down beside her.

“Rise.”

A cold voice filled with prestige and authority echoed out. Obviously, the one who told them to rise was not the old demon, but another who walked slightly ahead of him.

It was a woman, and she was a Yuan demon as well. She bore much more resemblance to Yaomu Shou than anyone else.

However, her expression was absent of the playfulness one would attribute to the young Yuan demon.

Her bearing was imperial, and it sunk into her bones and orchestrated her steps. This was a true ruler, and no one spoke out of turn before her.

Though everyone stood following her order, all actions became reserved. Even Ban Yan, who rarely backed down in front of anyone, called back his cauldrons in her presence.

The demon region was a peculiar place and to assume the highest point among them required power, noble bearing and a demeanour that wrested respect from even the most arrogant of them.

There was no queen of the demons, as to be a queen meant to be a woman, and many demons thought a woman to be soft and merciful. Unfit of the moniker of the ruler of their species.

With this mind, only a king could rise from their ranks. The joke here was that this title was assumed by that which would be a queen anywhere else.

Their current ruler was no tyrant but possessed a heavy hand and an iron rule to boot. The challenge to their authority was met with swift retribution and cruel suppression. As barbaric as it may seem, this embodied the ‘King’ that the demons sought and required.

So even though this most august of them was by no means a man, she was a King through and through. There was a weight that came with this title, but she wore it well.

Imperial robes dragged on the ground behind her as she made her way over, but no dirt clung to them. It was as if filth itself knew it was unworthy to even touch the hem of her garment.

In addition, no crown adorned her head, for her power took that role whilst her wisdom played the sceptre.

This was the one who assumed the highest position among the demons, King Yaomu Wei.

Her eyes scanned the surroundings to assess the situation. When she saw Imperial Protector Ban Yan standing before the Yu Lang temple, a brief flash of emotion flitted across her face.

She made her way to the front without any fanfare, only the old demon trailed behind her with a faint smile.

Upon arriving at the front, she bent down to sit and when, with nary a word, the old demon waved his hand, summoning a throne composed of energy.

She knowingly sat down and crossed her legs, staring at Imperial Protector Ban Yan coldly.

“How is she?” was the only question she asked before anything else.

Though Ban Yan was allowed to stand before, he quickly knelt back down and reported, “the young miss is doing well, your Majesty.”

She only nodded in response and waved her hand, allowing him to proceed.

“Thank everyone for coming today,” Ban Yan started as he got back up.

“As you all know, we are always looking for the last of the descendants of the original demons from back then. With that in mind, I believe we have located one of the ‘Hands,’ a true Yu Lang demon.”

“What!”

A furore immediately erupted at the revelation. Discussions popped up all over regarding the possible implications such news would bring.

The Yu Lang demon was an extremely powerful demon within the demon race. Their killing prowess was legendary and their ferocity was uncontested. They assumed the moniker of ‘Hand’ as they were one of two species within the demon race that supported the Yuan demons and boosted them to their current height. The right-hand man was the meaning behind this title and something which was shared only by one other.

“Imperial protector Ban Yan, are you sure!? This wouldn’t be like last time when you reported the discovery of the… long-lost ‘Hand,’ would it?” A big shot asked.

Upon hearing this question, Ban Yan reddened in embarrassment. That was a shameful moment for him.

The ‘Hand’ pointed out here was of the other temple that stood by the Yuan Temple’s side, mirroring the Yu Lang Temple.

This was not only the demon region’s most mysterious temple, it was also their greatest shame.

This temple belonged to one of the greatest benefactors of not only the Yuan demons but of the demon race as a whole alongside the Yu Lang Demons. Don’t even mention them being unable to locate a descendent of this particular sub-race. They were even unable to tell what species of demon the temple was built for.

This amounted to them forgetting a great contributor to their race, which was a significant shame to them.

The statue above the temple was that of a demon the populace themselves have never seen before and, as a result, didn’t know who to look for to populate and activate it.

A commotion had broken out the last time that Imperial Protector Ban Yan brought a demon he believed matched the description enough to enter the temple. However, this demon was unable to enter this most mysterious temple, and it also became a stain on Imperial Protector Ban Yan’s record.

Nevertheless, because he was carrying out a great deed for the demon race, punishments were avoided despite the commotion caused. However, it didn’t mean he didn’t feel ashamed because of this failure.

Now here he was again at the head of an even bigger commotion that managed to draw out even the King.

Imperial Protector Ban Yan not only wanted the demon race to return to its former glory, but he also wanted to wipe away his past disgrace.

“It is by no means similar to that time,” Ban Yan pointed out.

“And you know this how?” someone asked.

Ban Yan gestured to the entrance behind him, “I have already had the child enter the temple.”

“You what!?”

Another uproar erupted almost immediately.

“Imperial Protector Ban Yan, you dare to desecrate these sacred halls!?”

Ban Yan expected such a response. These temples were built by the very ancestors of the demons. The ones who blazed the trail and claimed these lands as their own.

They built these temples as a way to make sure their inheritance was never lost. So these temples were both priceless and holy in the minds of the demons. They were not a place where one could come and go as they pleased.

“He was able to enter the temple, so he is a Yu Lang Demon,” Ban Yan stated.

“Hmph!” The Third Minister Yaomu San snorted in contempt. “It’s widely known that having a trace of the blood of the purebloods will allow one entry, but gaining the inheritance within is another matter entirely!”

Ban Yan’s expression went dark at the comment. He was basically saying that mixed-bloods were only allowed to enter the temple but were unworthy of what their ancestors left behind for them.

Shing!

Suddenly, a ringing sound echoed out as the statue above the Yu Lang temple shone like a beacon in the night.

Following this, the darkness that hung over the entrance like a dark curtain receded and before long, the scene within presented itself to everyone.

“This…”

The scene was that of many-pillared halls of stone with lit torches burning with flames of a peculiar nature, as they were clear, almost see-through. They painted the walls within in an eerie, near ghostly nature.

The entryways for these many halls were arranged in a semicircular fashion and only one was lit up with the torches.

Before them, sat a figure in a meditative pose with his back to the crowd facing the numerous halls.

Seeing this, Ban Yan let loose a sigh of relief that this time was right. He already knew the minute the Yu Lang temple allowed Tie Lang to enter but seeing all this put him even further at ease.

That is… until a certain voice sounded its opinion.

“You dare bring this not Yu Lang thing inside the holy halls of the Yu Lang temple!?”