Oops, the princess is surrounded by the male protagonists

Although Zhiqi knew that the other party was Bai Dazhuang, who was known as "One-Punch Hero Bai Plague God" by everyone, when it came to his wife, he would never back down an inch, even if the other party was a plague god.

When Luosha saw that Zhiqi actually regarded Bai Yue, who was dressed as a man, as a "love rival," she raised her hand and slapped him on the back of the head.

"You blind fool! What nonsense are you spouting! She's not some love rival, she is—"

Before Luosha could finish speaking, Baiyue had already rubbed her face. Under the dim oil lamp, a beautiful face was revealed. Even though she was dressed in men's clothing, it added a unique androgynous charm.

"Fairy... Fairy! I deserve to die! I was blind and didn't recognize your greatness, how dare I offend you!"

Wang Ba and Zhi Qi were initially shocked, then both knelt down on the ground. Zhi Qi even kowtowed repeatedly, eagerly trying to defend himself for his previous slip of the tongue.

"Forgive me, Fairy! I was blinded by my own eyes! You truly are a celestial being; even disguised as a man, your bearing and elegance are beyond the reach of mortals..."

"Alright, alright, stop with the nonsense!"

The Rakshasa impatiently interrupted their flattery, her tone suddenly becoming serious.

"I'm asking you, have any of you been wearing masks and peddling a red pill called 'Ascending to Heaven Pill' to martial arts practitioners participating in the martial arts tournament lately?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Ba shook his head vigorously, like a rattle drum.

"No! Absolutely not! The mission we two brothers were given was to infiltrate the martial arts tournament and gather information. How could we dare to reveal our whereabouts even slightly? There was this clueless guy who put some laxatives in his buns before, and I gave him a good scolding!"

However, Zhiqi's expression changed slightly after hearing the word "mask." Bai Yue immediately noticed his unusual expression and spoke calmly.

"Zhiqi, did you remember something?"

Zhiqi suddenly looked up, his lips trembled a few times, and then he asked cautiously.

"Protector Luo, those masked people you mentioned... are they wearing three completely different, eerie masks—one with a crying face, one with a smiling face, and one with an angry face?"

Rakshasa's gaze sharpened, and he took a step forward.

"Yes, that's right. You've seen it?"

Zhiqi swallowed hard, lowering his voice even further, tinged with barely perceptible fear.

"If... if it really is those three masks... then... then they are very likely not ordinary members of the Demonic Cult, but... but the 'Three Emotional Guards' by the cult leader's side!"

"The Three Guards?"

Rakshasa frowned, his face full of doubt.

"I've been in the church for so many years, why have I never heard of this person?"

"Well, actually, it was the younger ones who gave them this name. After all, they wear three masks: joy, anger, and sorrow. Isn't that just like the three emotions among the four emotions?"

Zhiqi scratched his head sheepishly, then said in a serious tone.

"I believe these three are the leader's henchmen, and they only obey his orders. After all, they never interact with ordinary members or appear publicly within the sect. I only caught a glimpse of them once by chance."

"Oh? What coincidence?"

Zhuang Xiaoye, who was standing to the side, asked in a deep voice.

Zhiqi looked embarrassed and stammered as he spoke.

"Well... Once, when it was my turn to patrol the outer perimeter of the main altar's forbidden area, I couldn't hold it in any longer and thought I'd sneak into that old forest on the edge of the forbidden area to 'relieve myself'... As a result, right after I finished, I heard faint footsteps not far away, which scared me so much that I quickly hid behind a big rock."

He paused, as if recalling the scene from that time.

"Then I saw the cult leader, accompanied by three people wearing masks that read crying, laughing, and angry. They came out from the depths of the forbidden area, whispering something. I didn't hear the exact words, but I was terrified. I didn't dare to sneak out until several hours after they left. I haven't dared to tell anyone about this, for fear that the cult leader would find out and silence me!"

Wang Ba, who was listening nearby, stared wide-eyed and couldn't help but push Zhiqi.

"You idiot! You've got some nerve! How dare you go to the forbidden area to relieve yourself? You're only alive now because your ancestors are blessing you!"

Zhiqi said awkwardly.

"I... I was just thinking of going in for a quick while and coming out right away, without anyone noticing... Who knew it would be such a coincidence..."

"What a coincidence! Don't you know that 'forbidden area' means no entry? If anything were to happen to you, I'd have no choice but to take care of Second Brother..."

Before Wang Ba could finish speaking, Zhiqi's eyes widened.

"Taking care of Er Ya? Wang Ba, so you really are planning to take on two families at the same time. Have you been eyeing my wife for a long time? I've caught you red-handed today!"

Hearing the two start their usual banter again, Bai Yue showed no amusement, but instead continued to ask Zhi Qi questions.

"Zhiqi, think back carefully again. What other characteristics do those three 'Three Emotion Guards' wearing masks of crying, laughing, and anger have in terms of their physique, voice, or behavior?"

Zhiqi frowned, trying hard to recall, and after a moment said uncertainly.

"I remember the one wearing the angry-face mask; he was exceptionally tall, almost a head taller than the two next to him, with broad shoulders and a thick back, like a moving iron tower. The other two were about the same size, both rather thin, but..."

He paused, his eyes becoming even more certain.

"The one wearing the smiling mask seemed to have said something to the cult leader. Although he deliberately lowered his voice, the end of his voice was a bit high-pitched, not like a man's voice. And his walking posture was also... well, he took small steps. Now that I think about it, he was probably a woman!"

Bai Yue was suddenly shocked. The tall, iron tower-like figure wearing an angry mask perfectly matched the one who had helped Hua Yixiao bind her with black iron chains when she jumped off the cliff!

She then turned to Luocha and Zhuang Xiaoye, and after a moment's consideration, she spoke.

"If what Zhiqi said is true, and these 'Three Emotions Guards' are inseparable from Hua Yixiao, protecting him every step of the way, then it can be almost concluded that Hua Yixiao himself is currently somewhere in this martial arts tournament, secretly observing everything."

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Xiaoye's face instantly turned extremely ugly. He grabbed Luocha's wrist abruptly, his voice filled with unprecedented urgency and fear.

"Shuang'er! This place is no place to stay! You must leave immediately. If that demon finds you, he will never let you go!"

Rakshasa, however, gripped his hand tightly with a firm grip and slowly shook her head.

"Xiaoye, I said I would never be separated from you in this life, and we will walk side by side, no matter life or death."

She took a deep breath and calmly analyzed the situation.

"Moreover, based on my understanding of the cult leader, if he really wanted to cause me trouble, he would have done so long ago. The fact that things are still peaceful around us can only mean that he has found something new that can arouse his interest more..."

At this point, Rakshasa seemed to suddenly realize something, and she looked sharply at Bai Yue, exclaiming in surprise.

"Xiaoyue! That new target... could it be you?"