Full of Stereotypes

Net Purity's paper hands began to tremble again.

Plague Rat patted its shoulder. "Alright, old man, stop thinking about it."

"It is a good thing no one knows. Since Wan Xiu doesn't know where that place is, they must be safe for now."

As they spoke, they did not bother to hide their conversation from the small demons cowering in the corners.

Those little monsters had overheard everything—Duke Wu's words about the old subordinates of the Royal Capital and Wan Xiu's terrifying presence.

The surviving small demons were all pale with fright.

They did not know what the Eternal Scars were or who Wan Xiu was, but they knew the name Net Purity.

That name had been whispered across Tianchi Province for a thousand years.

The source of the rampant plague.

The culprit behind the Royal Capital's downfall.

The one responsible for turning this land into the wretched state it was in today.

A few of the braver ones huddled behind rocks and whispered among themselves.

"That paper man... is that Net Purity?"

"Heavens! I heard from my great-great-grandfather that Tianchi Province only became this hellhole because of that God of Plague!"

A demon next to him desperately covered his mouth. "Shut up! Do you want to die?"

But the voice still carried, and Net Purity heard it.

He turned around and looked toward the small demons.

They all recoiled in unison, taking a step back.

Some clapped their hands over their mouths, others dove behind rocks, and a few simply collapsed as their legs gave out.

Scorpion Demon stood at the front, his expression grim.

He turned back and glared at the others. "Shut the hell up!"

The demons fell silent, but the terror in their eyes was plain to see.

Scorpion Demon was also afraid, though he felt that Net Purity seemed different from the legends.

Would a cold-blooded old bastard kneel on the ground and weep? Would he allow a little black rat that saved his life to be so close to him?

Yet, he could not find any words of comfort.

What could he say? "Don't worry, we're not afraid of you"? That would be a lie.

This was Net Purity. The man who had slaughtered millions of demons a millennium ago. Who would not be afraid?

Net Purity stared at them, falling into a heavy silence.

He had expected this. He had known it would happen the moment he set foot in Tianchi Province.

Annoyed by their stares, Plague Rat spoke up in its defense. "What are you looking at? Never seen a paper man before?"

"The old man is with our Lord now. He is not what you think."

The small demons quickly lowered their heads in fear.

However, one demon hiding in the back muttered defiantly.

"How is he not? If it were not for him, Tianchi Province would not be like this..."

"He was just talking to that monster. Maybe they are in on it together, putting on a show to trick us into throwing our lives away for them!"

Plague Rat's sharp ears caught every word.

Its face darkened as it marched over, grabbed the demon by the scruff of his neck, and yanked him out of the crowd.

"What did you say?"

The demon was scared out of his wits and struggled desperately.

"N-nothing... I did not say anything..."

Plague Rat glared at him. "Say it again."

On the verge of tears, the demon stammered, "I r-really did not say anything..."

Plague Rat huffed and tossed him back to the ground.

The demons trembled, not daring to make a sound.

But Plague Rat could tell they were not convinced.

That kind of gaze and deep-seated fear could not be erased with a few words.

Feeling frustrated, it sighed and walked back to Chen Zhou's side.

"Lord, these little runts are being difficult."

"I am not much of a talker, but they will not believe me when I say Old Man Net Purity is not a bad guy."

Chen Zhou nodded. He understood. Some things could not be explained away with words.

Net Purity's reputation in Tianchi Province had been building for a thousand years.

Plague, slaughter, and destruction—these words were inseparable from the name Net Purity, woven into the collective memory of every living being in the province.

If you told them he was framed and was a victim himself, they would not believe it.

They would ask why he was still alive. Why did everyone else die while he survived?

Why did he not deny it when those hundred corpse patchworks called his name? He was even talking to them just now.

Scorpion Demon decided this was his chance to prove his worth. He was terrified of both Net Purity and Chen Zhou, but he was an expert at bullying smaller demons.

With that in mind, he marched over and smacked the demon Plague Rat had just tossed aside right on the head.

Smack!

A large bump immediately formed on the demon's head, making him wince in pain.

"You little brat, you are still wet behind the ears! What do you know?" Scorpion Demon barked.

The demon looked at him with teary eyes.

Scorpion Demon glared at him. "What do you even have that is worth them putting on a show just to trick you? You think you are worth dying for?"

"Did you not see them killing those hundred corpse patchworks just now?"

"A single blow from one of those things could have crushed us all!"

"Could ten thousand of you even scratch one of those hundred corpse patchworks?"

The small demon shrank back, weeping silently and not daring to argue.

Scorpion Demon huffed and scanned the other demons.

"That goes for the rest of you too!"

"The Lord saved your lives. We should be grateful instead of whispering like cowards."

"Do you have a death wish?"

With a huff, Scorpion Demon turned and walked back to Chen Zhou.

"Lord, they have lived in the Earth Dissolving Cave their whole lives. They are ignorant and do not know any better. Please do not take it to heart."

Chen Zhou looked at him and suddenly smiled.

"You certainly have a way with words."

Scorpion Demon felt a surge of pride, though he looked a bit embarrassed.

"Well... I just feel that since you saved us, we should not return kindness with ingratitude."

"Besides..."

He glanced at Net Purity and whispered, "Whatever Net Purity did in the past, he is your man now."

"Since he is yours, I would not dare speak ill of him."

Chen Zhou nodded and calmly surveyed the area.

Under his gaze, the small demons all bowed their heads at once.

The Earth Dissolving Cave was now filled with human-shaped marks and plague miasma; it was no longer fit for low-level demons to inhabit.

Before long, this place would turn into a total death trap.

"The invasion of the hundred corpse patchworks into the Earth Dissolving Cave is indeed my responsibility."

Had Chen Zhou not come here, Wan Xiu would not have activated so many hundred corpse patchworks to test him.

The demons were stunned. They had not expected this seemingly aloof man in black robes to take responsibility.

"Since I have caused you to lose your home, I will take responsibility."

"I will find a new home for you. If you trust me, you may follow."

"If you do not, I will not force you. You may take some life-saving pills and leave on your own, leaving your fate to the heavens."

Chen Zhou did not offer any further explanation. He would fulfill his duties, but he would not beg for their trust.

Their path was theirs to choose; he was under no obligation to coddle anyone.

After speaking, he looked away from the small demons and turned to Scorpion Demon.

"Lead the way. We are looking for Earth Cicada."

Scorpion Demon blinked, then nodded vigorously.

"Yes, of course! This way, Lord!"

He turned and led the way, limping as he went.