Ye Yu couldn’t help feeling a little dazed.
From this youth named Tao Ku he actually sensed a roving-outlaw vibe—something he’d thought belonged only to rough-and-tumble circles in the mortal world. Finding it among yokai in the God Realm was... unexpected.
Talk about whiplash.
Seeing Ye Yu hesitate, Tao Ku stepped up and said gently, "Come on, Fellow Daoist, don’t overthink it. Our Divine Alliance is just ahead. We’ll share a drink, you tell us what’s weighing on you, and we’ll help you sort it out."
That kind of enthusiasm made Ye Yu reflexively want to refuse.
But looking at that harmless, boyish face, he could only nod.
He consoled himself: maybe he could pick up some useful information inside Tao Ku’s alliance.
A short while later—
With Tao Ku leading, Ye Yu arrived at the mouth of a massive cavern.
A huge stone stele stood there, four bold characters carved across it:
Home of Yokai Gods.
Ye Yu’s gaze turned complicated.
What was with this dream?
Why were there so many banded-together factions in the God Realm?
First the Tongtian Pavilion formed by demon gods, and now this Home of Yokai Gods.
He didn’t remember anything like these alliances existing in the God Realm.
Was it just that the realm was so vast that anything could exist?
Ye Yu gave a small shake of the head and followed Tao Ku deeper into the cavern.
The place covered a huge area, but felt a little empty.
Apart from two equally scrawny girls at the far end, he didn’t see a single other god on the way in.
"Do you have very few members in your alliance?" Ye Yu asked, curious.
An awkward look crossed Tao Ku’s face.
"Forgive the joke it makes of us, Fellow Daoist. We really don’t have many people—counting me, there are four in total.
"But our intelligence is top-tier, and the food we make is excellent. Plenty of gods around the realm are regulars here.
"As for prospects—rock solid."
Ye Yu forced a polite smile.
Right—put nicely, a developing alliance; put bluntly, a small workshop.
Food, though?
Come on. Once you’ve become a god, how many gods still need to eat?
Is that really a selling point?
From what he’d seen so far, Ye Yu was already thinking about making a quiet exit.
Staying here looked pointless.
He’d just opened his mouth to excuse himself when a figure condensed out of the air—
A strikingly pretty woman with a swaying, alluring figure.
She drifted up to Ye Yu, smiling coquettishly. "No wonder I sensed an unfamiliar aura—turns out we’ve got a newcomer. Fellow Daoist, you smell wonderful."
"Is he our guest—or a new recruit?"
As the woman leaned closer and closer, Ye Yu couldn’t help stepping back half a pace.
"To answer you, Big Sis—this yokai god is a newcomer I just brought in. He’s called— uh— right, what was your name again?" Tao Ku looked at Ye Yu expectantly.
Ye Yu quietly gave his name.
Tao Ku’s grin immediately grew brighter. "That’s right—Brother Ye Yu. I think he’s exactly the kind of yokai talent our alliance needs to grow!"
"Ah, I haven’t introduced you. This is Tao Hua of our alliance. You can call her Big Sis, or Boss."
Ye Yu gave a slight nod and cupped his hands. "Fellow Daoist, I don’t plan to join any alliance for now, and I have something I need to do. Why don’t we part ways here—"
Before he could finish, Tao Hua cut in. "No need to be so absolute. Come on, I’ll give you a tour of our alliance. Just half an incense stick. If you’re still set on leaving after that, I won’t stop you—deal?"
Her words were phrased as a question, but there wasn’t a hint of asking in her tone. She took Ye Yu by the arm and steered him aside, then called back to Tao Ku, "You stay here. Our honored guest should be arriving about now. Make sure you receive him properly. If anything goes wrong, watch your neck."
"Got it, Big Sis!"
Tao Ku beamed and gave a mechanical little wave.
After a few twists and turns,
Ye Yu was brought into a brightly lit, sprawling wooden hall.
No exaggeration—it looked exactly like a mortal kitchen.
All kinds of ingredients and seasonings were laid out and ready.
It gave Ye Yu the distinct feeling he’d stepped into another world.
Tao Hua took her place at the center, proudly explaining, "This is the core area of our Home of Yokai Gods alliance."
"I’m sure you can tell what it’s for.
"That’s right—it’s a kitchen.
"Our alliance’s mission is to build the God Realm’s premier restaurant—while dealing in intelligence on the side.
"Don’t find it strange. Gods aren’t like immortals. We don’t feel hunger either, but at this level we also don’t have to worry about food having any negative effect on the body.
"As long as the flavor is exquisite and the intel is solid, they’ll pay sky-high prices."
Ye Yu raised an eyebrow.
It was definitely a new track—and if run well, it could actually blow up.
He still had no interest in this kind of alliance, though.
He was just about to speak when something familiar caught his eye—
Luo Shu was lying in a cage in the corner, eyes shut, seemingly unconscious.
Ye Yu was genuinely surprised to run into him here.
He’d just opened his mouth when Luo Shu’s voice sounded in his mind:
"Kid, shut up. Do not let this woman know we know each other, or you’ll die on the spot."
Ye Yu’s heart tightened.
Luo Shu was faking unconsciousness?
Was this woman really worth that level of caution?
Judging by appearances, Tao Hua seemed to be only at the Great God realm.
Never mind anything else—at this range, Ye Yu was completely confident he could take her out in an instant.
Clean and simple. No loose ends.
Should he?
While Ye Yu weighed it, a drawling voice sounded from outside:
"Sister Hua, I’m here—where are you?"
A surge of overwhelming pressure flickered past.
Tao Hua’s smile bloomed. She called toward the door, "Little troublemaker, I’m coming right out. Wait for me in the private room."
"All right, I’ll be waiting—"
The voice outside grew oilier by the word, making Ye Yu’s skin crawl.
Tao Hua just gave a sultry little laugh and beckoned a young girl over.
Ye Yu had seen this one outside earlier too—pretty enough, but her eyes were oddly blank.
"Ye Yu, this is Xiao Hong," Tao Hua said. "Let her take you for a bath and a rest. Then think it over—whether you want to stay with our alliance. I’ll come back to hear your answer."
With that, Tao Hua turned ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) on her heel and headed out.
