https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-223-Leaving-the-Imperial-City-Heading-to-Songzhou/12554355/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-225-Slaying-Demons-in-Song-State/12554357/
Chapter 224: The Fury of the Princess Consort, the Desolation of Songzhou (4000)
Chapter 224: The Fury of the Princess Consort, the Desolation of Songzhou (4000)
In the imperial city, within the compound of Prince Ji's mansion, the princess consort sat before a vanity mirror, her exquisite makeup accentuating her elegant and noble features. However, the smile on her lips slowly faded.
She toyed with a jade bracelet in her hand.
As she clenched her fist, the bracelet shattered with a loud bang, but the fragments of jade couldn't pierce her fair skin.
"Are you saying that the Commander of Qingzhou hasn't visited the mansion?" The princess consort turned her head, her voice calm yet chilling.
She had eagerly awaited for a day and a night, anticipating the moment when she could mock Jiang Yuanhua.
But even now, the mansion's entrance remained deserted.
A maid knelt on the ground, her body trembling. "Princess Consort... the Commander who came to the capital this time is not the one you know... it's that General Xuanjia who visited the mansion last time."
"..."
The Princess Consort of Ji raised her eyebrows.
If Qingzhou had a new commander, then what happened to Jiang Yuanhua?
Was he dead?
If so, the current crisis in Qingzhou must be even more severe than she had imagined.
"Hmph."
She coldly huffed, "If that disciple of Jiang doesn't come, and instead sends this Little General Shen, it means he's unwilling to lower himself before me."
Thinking of this, the Princess Consort of Ji gently flicked her sleeve. "If he comes to visit, just say that I'm not in the mansion. There's no such easy deal in this world. If the master doesn't show himself, there's no need for a subordinate to take his place."
Just because they gave a young man the title of commander, it didn't mean she would truly view him as one.
"Princess Consort..."
The maid's frail body trembled even more violently, and she said in a small, scared voice, "That general might not come to the mansion."
As those closest to the princess consort, the maids understood her thoughts the best.
Even before they saw the Commander of Qingzhou last night, they had already sent people to the Martial Temple to inquire on the mansion's behalf.
When the group of escorts returned today, their expressions were extremely strange.
"What do you mean?" The Princess Consort of Ji's fingers, which were combing her hair, paused slightly.
"General Shen has been promoted to commander, and he has come to the imperial city, not for aid..." The maid raised her head, only to be kicked in the face. Her whole body rolled out in circles, and her cheekbones seemed to have caved in.
She covered her face in shock, but still tried to swallow the blood back into her throat.
"Are you playing riddles with me?" The Princess Consort of Ji slowly stood up and walked in front of her.
The maid held back her tears and panted, "General Shen has been promoted again. He's now the Deputy Inspector of the Demon Suppression Bureau! And there's no news of a demon disaster in Qingzhou."
Upon hearing this, the Princess Consort of Ji was stunned.
Deputy Inspector of the Demon Suppression Bureau?
She suddenly felt that she might have guessed wrong.
Could the demon disaster in Qingzhou have been resolved? But even if it was, how did he get this promotion?
Even if he had personally slain the Demon King, it wouldn't be enough for this position.
"General Shen! General Shen has entered the Martial Temple's Jia Yuan! He's now a disciple of the Martial Temple!"
The maid dared not beat around the bush anymore and blurted out all the information she knew. Then, she covered her face and lowered her body again.
"Hmm."
The Princess Consort of Ji stood stiffly for a long time before finally letting out a breath and sitting back down.
If the identity of the inspector had merely surprised her, then the meaning behind being a disciple of the Martial Temple was entirely different.
In name, the Martial Temple was on par with Xuan Guang Dong and Wu Tong Mountain.
Even in its current state of decline, there were still Spirit Refinement Realm cultivators sitting in the temple.
The Princess Consort of Ji's arrogance stemmed from her Immortal Sect background and her disdain for the secular world. But now that Shen Yi had entered the true Martial Temple, he was a bona fide disciple of an immortal sect.
Moreover, the Martial Temple had specifically prepared a vacancy for him as an inspector, which showed their regard for him. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him a true disciple.
In terms of status, he was even higher than her, a princess consort with some connection to Xuan Guang Dong.
After a long contemplation, she forced a smile, "Send someone to pick a treasure from my collection, something that can nurture the soul, and deliver it to the Martial Temple to congratulate General Shen on his promotion."
The guards outside the door nodded in agreement.
Before they had walked far, they suddenly heard the Princess Consort of Ji speak again, "Forget it, prepare the carriage. I'll go and congratulate him myself."
If she remembered correctly, there was no enmity between her and General Shen.
It was always a good idea to befriend such a young genius early on. She must not let Jiang and his disciple create any misunderstandings or leave unnecessary barriers between herself and Shen Yi.
The guards were all stunned for a moment, but they secretly complained in their hearts.
Earlier, she had said to refuse him at the door, but now she was going to congratulate him herself.
However, they didn't dare show any disrespect on the surface, "We will prepare the carriage immediately."
About an hour later.
The luxurious carriage of the Ji mansion slowly drove out of the long street and soon stopped in front of the Martial Temple.
Inside the carriage, the Princess Consort of Ji opened the box next to her and looked at the deer antlers inside, which resembled jade. She reached out and gently caressed them for a moment, making sure that the gift was significant before nodding in satisfaction.
"The Princess Consort of Ji is here to visit. Please help to inform the Inspector."
Hearing this, Liu Kun looked up in confusion and asked, "Visit whom?"
A princess consort, no less the infamous Princess Consort of Ji, had come to the headquarters of the Demon Suppression Bureau. What business could she possibly have here?
"Could it be that she's here to visit you?"
One of the maids, the younger one, scanned the area, her brow furrowing as she failed to spot the person she was expecting.
The older maid patted her arm gently and said in a soft voice, "The Princess Consort has come to congratulate the newly appointed Inspector Shen. They are old acquaintances."
Another old acquaintance? Liu Kun couldn't help but think of Jiang He from earlier that morning. Given the Princess Consort of Ji's status, she wouldn't dare to blatantly lie.
However, if they were truly good friends, why would she come to a place like this and inquire about the Inspector's whereabouts from a mere clerk?
Furthermore, considering the Princess Consort's reputation, tsk, did she really take him for a fool?
Shaking his head, Liu Kun politely replied, "I apologize, but Inspector Shen is not present at the moment. Please come back another time, ladies."
The younger maid was taken aback for a moment before her expression turned cold. "Where has Inspector Shen gone?" she demanded.
Hearing the questioning tone, Liu Kun raised an eyebrow and slowly stood up, looking down at the two maids.
As he slowly closed the ledger in front of him, a mocking smile played at the corners of his mouth. "Oh?"
These two maids from the royal palace dared to inquire about the whereabouts of the Inspector of the Demon Suppression Bureau. If the Princess Consort herself came to ask, she would only get an eye roll.
The Inspector of the Demon Suppression Bureau investigated demons, monsters, and the influential families.
And among them was the Princess Consort of Ji, who hailed from Xuan Guang Dong, making her the most prominent figure.
This situation was as absurd as bandits asking about the whereabouts of the chief constable.
"..."
The two maids were met with mocking gazes.
They suddenly realized that this was the Demon Suppression Bureau, independent from the imperial court, and that their usual tactics wouldn't work here.
"I, Liu, hold a lowly position and dare not divulge information about Inspector Shen's whereabouts." Liu Kun gathered his things and started to walk towards the door, casually adding, "If there's a need, I will inform the Inspector when he returns. If it's urgent, you may wait outside, but as for how many days that will be, I'm not too sure."
"You!"
The younger maid glared at him, her eyes wide with anger, but her companion pulled her back, preventing her from saying more.
The two maids quickly returned to the carriage and reported what had happened in hushed voices.
"He's not here?"
The Princess Consort of Ji lifted the carriage curtain, her eyes calm as she gazed at the towering Martial Temple.
She remained silent for a long while, a meaningful smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "Are you telling me to wait?"
Lowering the carriage curtain, her face now wore a gloomy expression.
A new disciple of the Martial Temple, who didn't cultivate martial arts and wasn't at the headquarters—could he have gone out for a stroll? What a ridiculous excuse! It was obvious that he had arranged beforehand to avoid meeting her.
No matter.
So what if he was a disciple of the Martial Temple? What was so great about that?
Did he really think he was some important figure?
She tried to calm her rapid breathing, but moments later, she lost control and violently smashed the green jade deer antlers, "How dare he treat me with such contempt!"
...
On a certain official road of the Great Qian Dynasty.
A black-scaled demon horse galloped with exceptional elegance, its speed resembling a flowing light as it raced like a soaring evil dragon.
Zhang Xuan suddenly slapped his forehead. "Oh no!"
Shen Yi pulled on the reins and turned back, asking, "What's wrong?"
"Inspector Shen, I forgot to receive the reward on behalf of my colleagues..."
Zhang Xuan wore a set of dark green armor, but it did little to enhance his presence. Instead, he looked like a farmer weighed down by life's hardships.
"It's fine. We can get it on our way back." Shen Yi retracted his gaze and continued riding forward.
"Back?" Zhang Xuan was perplexed. He couldn't quite understand how Inspector Shen spoke and handled matters. Even his decision to leave the imperial city earlier had caught him off guard.
Hearing that he was from Qingzhou, Zhang Xuan wondered if everyone from the Demon Suppression Bureau there spoke and acted in such a mysterious manner.
"Inspector Shen, I would like to report the situation in Songzhou once more."
Zhang Xuan hesitated for a moment. Although he had reported it three to five times already, he still felt uneasy.
The reason for his unease was that Inspector Shen's expression hadn't changed at all after hearing the report, and his response had been a simple nod. This made Zhang Xuan doubt if he had even listened to the report at all.
After all, it concerned two Demon Kings!
"As you wish."
Shen Yi didn't mind. If Zhang Xuan wanted to talk, he could go ahead. At least it was more interesting than listening to Jiang Yuanhua constantly brag about his disciple.
He truly couldn't understand how Jiang Yuanhua managed to praise Jiang Qiuluan from various angles and then force those praises into his ears, as if trying to brainwash him.
Yet, this insignificant place had attracted the attention of two Demon Kings.
For the past two hundred years, the Demon Suppression Squad and demon catchers of Songzhou had only done one thing.
They had tirelessly stirred up disputes between the two Demon Kings.
From framing their wives, children, and subordinates, to deliberately spreading rumors about treasures to incite their greed and rivalry, and even spreading whispers about which was stronger... They had stopped at nothing to create an irreconcilable feud between the two.
Even so, Songzhou had paid a steep price.
Of the eight counties, four had been lost.
These four counties were now under the control of one Demon King, while the other Demon King was kept at bay outside of Songzhou.
A stalemate had formed, with each side keeping the other in check.
The Songzhou General had lost half of his territory, and the spiritual energy of the populace was insufficient to sustain even his Martial Immortal realm.
However, what truly disrupted this balance...
Was the impending death of the One-Horned Demon King outside of Songzhou, whose followers had been decimated, leaving him too weak to continue his struggle against the other Demon King.
"That Demon King intends to borrow the power of faith to establish a temple and ascend to godhood... If it occupies Songzhou, unless an Incarnation Realm expert intervenes, who could stop it?" Zhang Xuan sighed.
To become a Demon Suppression General, one must have been brimming with ambition and passion in their youth, swearing to accomplish great feats.
Who would have thought that they would end up relying on demons and monsters to resist other demons and monsters?
Even having to worry about the death of a Demon King was a headache.
Ascending to godhood?
Shen Yi furrowed his brows slightly.
He had encountered such a situation before. The river demon in Watercloud Township had harbored similar aspirations, proclaiming itself the River God.
But in truth, it had only managed this feat due to its control over Yangchun River, which the local villagers relied on for their livelihood.
As for the Demon King of Songzhou, it had taken control of four entire counties.
The power of faith gathered from these counties was almost enough to sustain a Martial Immortal.
"Will the people believe in it?" Zhang Xuan asked.
In the case of the river demon, it had been able to leverage its control over Yangchun River, which the villagers depended on for their livelihood.
What could a Demon King do for the people of four counties?
"They will believe or die. They have no other choice," Zhang Xuan said, closing his eyes. True persuasion came not from a balance of kindness and severity, but from pushing severity to its extreme, rendering kindness irrelevant.
In that living hell, the mere act of sparing their lives was the greatest kindness.
"Senior Shen, the Songzhou Demon Suppression General has suffered heavy casualties, and we can barely hold on to the remaining four counties," Zhang Xuan said, his voice carrying a plea for aid.
Rather than seeking help, it was more like a mournful cry.
Zhang Xuan wasn't merely venting his frustrations; he still had the opportunity to go to the capital and chat leisurely here. Compared to the plight of the people in those four counties, the pressure he felt was negligible.
He wanted Shen Yi to understand the severity of the situation.
As someone who had just joined the Martial Temple, Shen Yi hadn't lived through the long years like the other disciples, and he didn't view himself as a mortal anymore, always looking down on the Nine Provinces from a lofty position.
To them, the loss of life was merely a number to be made up for after a setback.
It could be rectified.
If the Martial Temple were willing to lower their heads, they could seek help from the immortal sects, and perhaps many disasters could be averted.
With their strength already insufficient, why bother chasing the pipe dream of a resurgence? It was embarrassing enough to maintain this nominal tripartite alliance.
Why not ask Xuan Guang Dong to send back a Grand Master of the Mystical Origin Sect from the Great Qian Dynasty?!
"... " Shen Yi remained silent, only tightening his grip on the reins and urging his demonic steed to increase its speed. Instead of turning back toward the imperial city, he continued toward Songzhou.
"Oh well," Zhang Xuan said with a resigned sigh as he followed suit.
He could only hope that after witnessing the dire situation in Songzhou, Shen Yi would use his position as a disciple to speak well of Songzhou before the Martial Temple.
As the road became more rugged...
A desolate city came into view, its gates adorned with tattered flags, and its walls piled high with human heads.
"Senior Shen, we need to detour to the right," Zhang Xuan said, his gaze dropping in shame as he left the latter half of his sentence unspoken.
A member of the Demon Suppression Squad, returning to Songzhou...
And yet, they had to first bypass the demon's territory. How laughable and embarrassing!
"... " Shen Yi pulled on the reins, his gaze fixed on the distant city walls.
He closed his eyes.
The next moment, a yin spirit surrounded by auspicious clouds quietly appeared in the air, resembling a descending immortal.
The yin spirit's expression was indifferent, its eyes filled with killing intent.
Lady Qinghua didn't know what lay ahead, nor did she care.
She only knew that when her master summoned her, it was time to unleash her full power.
Even if there was a Demon King ahead, so what?
Hmph, as if she hadn't killed enough of them already.
(End of Chapter)
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