"Eighteen... look into the outstanding eighteen-year-olds in Jiangzhou. A Demon Womb is generally exceptionally gifted. It would be hard for one to remain unknown."
"Cult Master, I have already investigated. Of those who meet all three conditions-eighteen years old, born in Jiangzhou, and exceptionally gifted-the likeliest is Lianshan Xin, known as Heavenly Eye. But I believe there is something fraudulent about him."
"Go on."
"If I could discover that Yama last appeared in Jiangzhou and deduce the Demon Womb's age from that, would Yama, who is stronger and more ruthless than me, not have taken precautions? I believe this Lianshan Xin is very likely a decoy. Moreover..."
"Moreover?"
"Moreover, there are serious problems with Lianshan Xin's record. His Heavenly Eye title was earned almost entirely at Thousand Faces' expense. He became famous for repeatedly seeing through Thousand Faces' disguises, which secured him last place on the Hidden Dragon Ranking."
"Thousand Faces? Thousand Faces is involved too?"
The Cult Master was very surprised.
"Cult Master, if I remember correctly, weren't Thousand Faces and Yama on fairly good terms back then?"
The Cult Master fell silent.
Silence meant assent.
"Thousand Faces and Yama cooperated twice. Back when you sent Thousand Faces to hunt Yama down, Thousand Faces failed to complete the mission too. Cult Master, I venture to ask: could this Lianshan Xin be a stand-in deliberately put forward by Thousand Faces and Yama?"
"You question Thousand Faces' loyalty?"
"You ordered Thousand Faces to contain Heavenly Sword in Jiangzhou and thereby contain Nine Heavens. Yet Thousand Faces suddenly went to the Divine Capital. Although Thousand Faces attacked Emperor Yongchang, the wounds were not fatal, and instead disrupted Elder Guanyin's plans. Cult Master, Thousand Faces disobeyed your orders in this matter."
"A general in the field need not obey every command from his