Chapter 38 Get Out of My House

"Most of the time, they are quite easy to talk to."

In the dim basement, Chisaki Yazaki offered Erii a harmless smile. "Perhaps it is because of your status as the Uesugi Clan head that they..."

He did not finish his sentence, nor was there any need to; the pairs of malicious eyes peering from the darkness said everything. Yazaki’s expression was playful. He had no intention of speaking up to shield the girl; instead, he watched her reactions with keen interest. He was eager to see what kind of person this previously unheard-of Uesugi Clan head was, and how she would respond to the undisguised, vicious malice of those around her.

The Uesugi Clan head was indeed feeling curious and somewhat uneasy. Erii was highly intuitive, especially sensitive to malice. She could sense the ill intent of these people and did not know how to handle it. Over the years, she had been sheltered too well by the Niigata-hachi-ka; she had hardly ever encountered a true villain. Even the worst among them, Tachibana Masamune, had always maintained a perfect facade in her presence—unlike these people, who wore their malice on their sleeves.

If not for the presence of the madman Chisaki Yazaki, these vicious ghouls might have already attacked. They hated everyone from the Niigata-hachi-ka equally and longed to tear everything beautiful to pieces. Although they would undoubtedly be unable to defeat Erii collectively, it did not stop her from feeling unsettled.

But unfortunately for them, it was Tang Xi who was in control now. Yazaki found no trace of abnormal emotion on her face—no fear, no trepidation, and perhaps even a hint of... satisfaction that he could not quite fathom?

It must be an illusion, he thought. Otherwise, why would anyone feel satisfied instead of afraid when confronted by a horde of ghouls? He could not know what Tang Xi was thinking. Tang Xi never worried about how wicked her followers were; she only worried that their bloodlines might not be strong enough.

Ghouls were excellent. Ghouls were all individuals with unstable bloodlines—in other words, they all possessed powerful bloodlines. Was this not exactly what she needed?

The door was pushed open, and Sakurai Kogure, dressed in a professional suit, walked in gracefully. She nodded at Yazaki, signaling that all members had arrived. Seeing this, Yazaki turned to Tang Xi, his tone nonchalant: "Everyone is here. If you have anything to say, you may begin."

Tang Xi nodded and raised a hand toward the whispering crowd. Everyone turned to look at her. The girl’s voice was not loud, but it rang out clearly in everyone’s ears.

"You may not know me, but you must have heard of my deeds. Just a short while ago, I killed Tachibana Masamune."

At these words, everyone’s eyes widened, and a variety of complex gazes were cast upon her. Before they could react, Tang Xi’s next words rang out.

"I know you hate the Niigata-hachi-ka, and I know of the hatred and resentment in your hearts. I have come here to realize your deepest wishes."

"I killed the leader of the Niigata-hachi-ka. Could there be a more glorious achievement? I have proven my strength. What do you think?"

They looked at each other, no one speaking for a moment. Ignoring their reactions, Tang Xi continued, "But my help comes at a price. I can grant any wish you have, but I require you to believe in me."

"As long as you become my believers, I guarantee you will no longer have to live like rats in the dark. You can walk in the sun with your heads held high, and you can even replace the clan. You will become the new... Niigata-hachi-ka!"

The girl’s voice remained level, as if she were merely stating a fact. Yet, it was precisely this attitude—the sense that everything was within her grasp—that made her convincing.

Yazaki’s eyes flickered. Though he hated to admit it, he knew clearly that his own interest had been piqued. Every member of the Monster Clan was someone abandoned by the Niigata-hachi-ka, and their greatest desire was vengeance against the clan; Yazaki was no exception. He longed to know how Yagami Yazaki would react to seeing him alive. The mere thought made him tremble slightly, his eyes flashing with brilliant gold—a sign of pure excitement.

He was not alone. Pair after pair of golden eyes lit up in the darkness. They were all stirred to action; for these ghouls, destruction was the ultimate desire.

Tang Xi was satisfied with the effect she had created. Her voice, filled with allure, sounded again: "Just believe in me, and I will grant all your wishes."

"Remember, all of them. And what you must pay is merely your faith..."

"It is a very fair trade, is it not?"

Under the weight of her seduction, everyone’s expression grew restless. No one could refuse a free lunch, especially when Tang Xi’s words had struck a chord deep within them.

Yet, at this critical moment, a hoarse voice broke the silence. It was so abrupt that it made everyone’s expression change instantly. Yazaki went rigid, like a beast sensing danger.

The voice said: "What is this, Yazaki? Are you playing games with your friends?"

Following that voice came the sound of an indescribable wooden clacker.

Almost the instant the clacker sounded, Yazaki’s eyes turned bloodshot. He seemed to suffer some horrific injury, his expression twisting in agony. In her mind, Erii also reacted, causing the physical body to tremble. Tang Xi frowned.

A man wearing a strange mask emerged from the darkness, holding two small wooden clackers. He walked slowly behind Tang Xi and whispered, "What are you doing? Being this mischievous does not make you my good child..."

The man’s voice was almost gentle, yet those vicious ghouls showed expressions of terror, as if he were an unspeakable horror.

But Tang Xi only curled her lips and asked in return, "Who are you?"

The man seemed stunned that she could still speak. Tang Xi reached out, pulled out Gungnir, and thrust it into the man’s chest. "You are very rude, barging into someone else’s home."

The Wang Jiang instinctively tried to dodge. He was fast, but the spear, which should have missed, miraculously adjusted its angle to follow his movement. He reached out to block it, his arms covered in dense, hard scales—scales capable of stopping bullets—but before the spear, they were like paper, failing to delay it for even a fraction of a second.

He could only watch as the spear pierced his chest, draining his blood in an instant. Before losing consciousness, he heard the girl say:

"Next time you come to my house, remember to knock."

As the corpse slumped limply to the ground, Tang Xi looked up to see everyone staring at her with strange expressions. She asked, puzzled, "Hm? Is this not my house? Do you not believe in me?"

She pulled the spear out, flicked the blood off it, and added casually, "If anyone is unwilling, speak up. I am very democratic; we can have a good talk."

"Also, the name 'Monster Clan' is unpleasant. From now on, we shall be called the World Tree. Did you hear me?"