Time slipped by.
The gathering reached its final activity: telling stories.
After three or five stories, the yao dispersed, their minds heavy with worries. But Black Widow, White-Headed Eagle, Bǐ Nǚ, Su Changsheng, Bai Ling, and the other pillar heads of the Four Beams and Eight Pillars stayed behind.
"Since we have a 'newcomer,' let me explain the rules first."
Fox Woman Little Four surveyed the surroundings before fixing her gaze on Su Changsheng. "Our Fox Book Yao Alliance is loosely organized. We're all unfortunate yao constrained by the Turtle Breath Art and threatened by 'its' contamination, so we don't have many rules."
"However, the Four Beams and Eight Pillars system is the foundation that keeps the Yao Alliance stable. Those of us who serve as beams and pillars absolutely must not carry out secret vendettas against one another."
"Eagle Immortal, Black Widow, what happened today stays in the past. Can you agree to that?"
Su Changsheng neither agreed nor disagreed.
Black Widow looked displeased, but eventually nodded. She was also somewhat afraid of Su Changsheng. His strength and methods were nothing like those of a fifth-level yao; they were practically comparable to a sixth-level yao's.
Losing two capable subordinates pained her terribly, but it was better than getting injured or killed herself.
After all, this reckless fool Eagle Immortal looked exactly like the sort who would throw his life away in a fight-rash and crazed. Without the certainty of killing him in one strike, she was better off leaving him alone for now.
Su Changsheng naturally knew nothing of Black Widow's thoughts. But seeing that she seemed to have softened her stance, he knew the persona he had deliberately constructed had worked.
His efforts had not been wasted.
"Very good."
"Since neither of you objects, this matter is settled.