"It’s a good thing he didn’t come."
The Night Ghost Demon Monarch suddenly interrupted, his tone serious. He then looked at the surrounding Demon Generals. "I heard what these youngsters had to say. Unlike me, he’s a Demon Monarch who’s soft-hearted, just like you."
"The Demon-slaying Bureau has our auras on record, but not his. With him here, these young ones will actually have a chance to survive."
"..."
Demon Monarch Bi Hai clenched her fists tightly.
She suddenly understood what he meant.
According to her original plan, if they lost this battle, the demons were to scatter and flee for their lives.
But in the face of the menacing Demon-slaying Bureau, it was obvious that their chances of truly escaping with their lives were slim.
If one Demon Monarch remained behind to hold the mountain, they wouldn’t be left completely leaderless. The situation would be much better.
"You have a point."
She gave a forlorn flick of her sleeve and turned to walk out of the cave residence.
Now that things had come to this, there was nothing more to say.
All they could do now was go all out. For every Golden Core Cultivator or Immortal Descendant they managed to seriously injure, the mess left behind for Demon Brother Lin would be a little less dire.
「Several days passed.」
On the plains outside Anren Prefecture City, three figures in plain clothes quietly appeared.
Lei Shouren wore a long gray gown, while his two personal vice generals were shirtless, clad only in simple trousers.
They didn’t look at all like important figures from the Demon-slaying Bureau. Instead, they resembled a master and his disciples from a martial arts hall.
Soon, Chen Zihang also arrived, seeming to glide through the air.
The group was finally complete when Qian Yiru and Miss Yun emerged from the city.
These five Golden Core Cultivators were the main force for this battle.
Aside from the Mountain Master, only they knew the specific time of the operation, so there was no risk of the plan being leaked.
Aside from the vice generals and captains already lying in wait in the mountains, they hadn’t brought a single subordinate with them.
As for Miss Yun, her master, Yu Xin, had fallen at Yongzhou Pass. Her presence on this trip down the mountain was a matter of principle—an act of vengeance for her master. Thus, she had to be present for any demon-slaying operation.
"Oh? So Immortal Yu Sheng really couldn’t manage to get involved?"
Lei Shouren chuckled, his tone laced with sarcasm. "I thought I’d get to see that third Mountain Master Disciple today."
"You seem quite displeased with the disciple named Lin?"
Chen Zihang remarked, glancing over with feigned nonchalance.
’His clan’s ancestor had ordered him to gather information on Lin Shu. He didn’t know why, but since the opportunity had presented itself, he didn’t mind asking a casual question.’
At his words, Lei Shouren and his two personal vice generals simultaneously glanced toward the two Mountain Master Disciples from the Yu Family, but didn’t take the bait.
’Yu Sheng and his disciple had kept Wuyang and the other counties, big and small, perfectly safe. Compared to other regions, it was a deliberate attempt to make the Demon-slaying Bureau lose face.’
’What’s more, the two of them had even requisitioned *his* vice generals and captains.’
’They were acting so high and mighty with their Celestial Pride status, overstepping their bounds by a long shot.’
’The General was busy these days and couldn’t pay attention to Anren Prefecture.’
’And that group of sniveling opportunists led by the Ruan Clan siblings... the moment they saw their master wasn’t around to back them, they immediately latched onto Yu Sheng, acting like his personal lackeys. They didn’t even acknowledge him, the General, anymore.’
’As expected of the General’s personal disciple... unwilling to suffer in the slightest.’
’Just wait until Yu Dongjun kicks Yu Sheng out of Anren Prefecture. Then I’ll see how I deal with this pack of disgraceful bastards!’
"Senior Brother Qian, let’s head into the mountains."
Lei Shouren gave Qian Yiru a respectful smile, then transformed into a streak of light and shot toward the distant mountains.
With this Mountain Master Disciple handling the Wind-Riding, everyone’s speed was astonishing. Not to mention the others, even Miss Yun, who had the lowest cultivation, was incredibly fast when she used her Light Body Technique.
"..."
Miss Yun listened quietly to the conversation, with no intention of interrupting.
’She actually thought it was a good thing that Brother Lin couldn’t participate in this demon-slaying operation.’
’Even though he was powerful, he was still too young. No matter how many experts Anren Prefecture dispatched, this was still magical combat that involved cultivators of the Golden Core Realm.’
’Back on the mountain, Miss Yun had once personally witnessed a sparring match between the Yu Family’s Golden Core Mountain Masters.’
’The way heaven and earth trembled during the fight was the most terrifying scene she had ever witnessed in her life!’
’Besides, for some reason, she felt that Senior Brother Qian’s attitude was a little strange. Especially after they left the Stargazing Pavilion that day, whenever he saw Yu Sheng or Brother Lin, a shadow of malice would flicker deep in his eyes.’
This sense of wrongness also resonated with her Innate Sword Heart.
Take today’s operation, for example. She felt an indescribable sense of panic.
It wasn’t a premonition of danger, but rather an inexplicable feeling of strangeness. Neither deep breaths nor circulating her Cyan Simurgh Sword Heart Formulas could calm her agitated mind.
"Actually, that day I only asked half of my question."
Qian Yiru noticed his junior sister’s unusual expression. Keeping his eyes fixed ahead, he said softly, "You said he’s very important to you. But what about you to him?"
"Hmm?" Miss Yun turned to look at him, confused.
"I mean, in his heart, are you just as important?"
Qian Yiru sighed softly. "Important enough for him to give things up for you? Like his future, for example?"
Now that they were away from Anren Prefecture, the Mountain Master Disciple clearly showed much less restraint. He no longer bothered to hide his words.
"I don’t understand," Miss Yun said, lowering her head.
’It wasn’t that she didn’t understand. It was that she didn’t dare to answer.’
’To Brother Lin, she was just the little maid from Black Water City who washed his clothes and cooked his meals. How could she possibly be involved in something as serious as his future prospects?’
Just then, the group, now deep in the mountains, slowly came to a halt.
Miss Yun sensed that something was off and looked up nervously. But then, her panicked heart suddenly settled.
There, by the side of a stream.
A figure in a Flowing Cloud Sword Robe stood as the mountain wind rustled the fabric.
A handsome young man was leaning leisurely against a green boulder, casually watching the group. He had clearly been waiting for some time.
"How did you know our whereabouts!"
Rage filled Lei Shouren’s eyes. After a moment’s thought, he whirled around to glare at Miss Yun in the crowd.
"It doesn’t seem to matter anymore."
Qian Yiru’s expression gradually grew cold.
’Obviously, in order to get a piece of the glory from this demon-slaying mission, the young disciple before them had used some sort of trick on the person who trusted him most.’
’He wondered if she would regret today’s actions if she knew the truth.’
’For Junior Sister Yun’s sake, he could refrain from attacking Lin Shu. But today, whether Lin Shu was willing or not, he could forget about ever returning to Anren Prefecture.’
’Just obediently follow me into the Demon Sect!’
"Go on about your business. I’ll just tag along and watch."
Lin Shu lazily rubbed his arms. Watching the group approach, he stood up and retrieved the wisp of his soul from the sword scabbard at Miss Yun’s waist.
’He could have gone straight to the Demon Mountain to wait for his payment.’
’But on second thought, he was still a little worried about the girl.’
"Watch..."
Lei Shouren licked his lips and suddenly sneered. "Of course you can only watch. With me, the General, keeping an eye on you, you can forget about anything else."
’He originally hadn’t planned on getting involved in the struggle between Yu Sheng and Yu Dongjun.’
’But now it seemed there was a good reason why Yu Sheng was being ostracized.’
’This master and disciple pair were greedy and ill-mannered. Their audacity was simply beyond reason!’
"..."
’Lin Shu didn’t have a habit of talking to dead men.’
’Based on the conversation Qian Yiru just had with Miss Yun...’
’...he couldn’t for the life of him figure out how this Demon-slaying General was going to survive the day.’
"Brother Lin, it’s too dangerous."
Miss Yun murmured in a low voice. But even as she bit her lip, the corners of her mouth couldn’t help but curve into a slight smile.
’Now she could give Senior Brother Qian a definitive answer.’
’She was quite important after all.’

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