Jadeface had been dithering around outside, wondering if he should go to Forefather Evilshadow. He wanted to, but he still had his doubts. What if all of this was part of Jiang Chenâs plan?
Perhaps Jiang Chen himself didnât know where the forefather was. Otherwise, why hadnât the human done anything yet?
Perhaps the human leader was waiting for him to reveal the forefatherâs location!
However, he was the only active shadow demon at the moment. The others had gone silent in the ancient times. Jadeface had no one to turn to other than Forefather Evilshadow. He couldnât very well turn to yin demons for help, could he?
âWait, the yin demons!â
A bold idea flourished in his mind. He could let yin demons take the fall for him!
The malicious idea took root and flourish. The more he thought about it, the more he found the plan to be a solid one.
Heâd direct Jiang Chenâs attention to Forefather Stonefiend of the yin demons. Then Stonefiend would be the one targeted!
Demons were prohibited from fighting and selling out one another, but it wasnât rare for demons to plot against their peers.
Jadeface soon found a reason to justify his behavior. He was simply going to find Roguemist. He wasnât selling anyone out.
Shadow demons were talented trackers. Jadeface found Roguemist in two days.
Roguemist had believed Serratewindâs word and summoned a great number of ghouls to attack two of the formation nodes. But not only had the plan failed to be effective, more than half of his puppets had been taken out!
The resulting backlash damaged him greatly, and when heâd recovered enough to investigate what had happened, he found out that the entire shadow demon force had been wiped out!
The terrifying realization gripped him in a claw of fright.
He was fortunate to have been in charge of keeping the other two formation nodes occupied. If heâd attacked Jiang Chen with Serratewind, he wouldâve stepped right into the humanâs trap.
Lingering fear deepened his dread of the human leader.
As soon as he saw Jadeface, his immediate reaction was that this was an imposter!
âHear me out, Daoist Roguemist, I swear on the supreme god of demons that Iâm not an imposter.â Jadeface worried that Roguemist would just leave.
Roguemist considered Jadeface carefully and the two sensed the otherâs bloodline. Only after making sure that this was the real Jadeface did Roguemist relax.
However, he maintained an impassive expression. He didnât want to get too involved with shadow demons again.
âWhy the cold treatment, Daoist Roguemist? We may be from different tribes, but weâre all demons, arenât we?â Jadeface wore an innocent look while he spoke in a dejected tone.
Roguemist scoffed. âI warned Serratewind that your plan was too risky, but he didnât listen. Look at what happened to him. Heâs dead, isnât he?â
Jadeface sighed. âStop rubbing it in. We have a chance to turn the tides, Daoist Roguemist. Donât you agree?â
Roguemist sneered. âYou turn the tides yourself. Donât drag me down with you. Iâm not playing this game again.â
âWhatâs this about, Daoist Roguemist? Iâm not the only one who should help our race. You yin demons should make your contributions as well. Once the young man reactivates the formation, we arenât the only ones who will suffer now, are we?â
Roguemist exercised the highest degree of caution now when it came to shadow demons, like he would with humans. No matter what the shadow demon said and how he said it, Roguemist didnât believe him.
Heâd made up his mind to ignore the demon and stay far, far away.
âThe human domain is not to be underestimated. We shadow demons have risked and given our lives to gain insight into the domainâs strength. If we let humans activate the formation, those of us left here will be trapped. You donât need me to tell you what will happen next, do you?â
Roguemist picked at his ear lazily. âAre you done? If youâre done, scram!â
He wouldnât fall for any shadow demon trick again. The previous operationâs failure was a stain on his record. If the forefather later found out that heâd been suckered in again, heâd pay with his life several times over!
Jadeface pouted. âWhy are you being so stubborn?â
Roguemist huffed. âYou shadow demons are going to bring me misfortunes of ten lifetimes. You wanna stick around? Fine, then Iâll go!â
He vanished in a puff of smoke.
Jadeface sneered. He wouldnât let the yin demon go just like this. He shadowed Roguemist closely.
Noticing his tail, Roguemist had had enough with the harassment. He stopped Jadeface with a fierce expression. âAre you haunting me now? Should I send you to the underworld?â
Jadeface smiled fawningly. âWe demons arenât allowed to fight each other. My companions are dead now, Daoist Roguemist. I have no one to turn to. Of course Iâm going to go with you. Thereâs strength in numbers. Itâs better for us to stick together than fight on our own.â
âCut that crap,â Roguemist snapped. âI told you to bounce and you better do so. Donât anger me further, or Iâll refine you like a ghoul!â
Jadeface continued shamelessly, âYou wouldnât do something so reckless. Neither of us can take the punishment for fighting each other.â
Roguemist would love to squash the shadow demon. Unfortunately, even infighting was strictly prohibited, let alone killing a peer.
He tamped down his rage with effort. âYouâre Forefather Evilshadowâs man. Your companions are dead, but you can go to your forefather. What are you following me around for?â
âI made a mistake,â responded Jadeface. âIâm worried that the forefather will punish me.â
Roguemist scoffed with disbelief. Suddenly, realization dawned on him. His face tightened into a scowl and his eyes blazed with fury.
âYou conniving bastard, Jadeface! You just escaped from the humans. You didnât return to your forefather for fear of exposing him. But you came to me. You...â
It suddenly came to him what Jadeface was planning.
He could no longer contain his rage. He could take a little harassment, but he wasnât going to tolerate such a despicable plan!
The bastard dared let yin demons take the fall?! If humans had been watching Jadeface, Roguemist must have been spotted as well!
If he then returned to Forefather Stonefiend, heâd be unknowingly revealing his forefatherâs location!
Roguemist burned with fury.