Chapter 66: Friendship
Chapter 66: Friendship
Cangyu City.
Apart from the Demon Suppression Bureau and the City Lord's Mansion, three major families also held sway, with the Liu Family being the most prominent. They had been rooted in Cangyu City for over a century.
The other two families, the Qi Family and the Zhao Family, had risen to prominence more recently. The Qi Family was a branch of a family from another city that had migrated here, and within a few decades, they had built a substantial foundation through their efforts.
At this moment, news of the demon attack on the city had already reached the heads of the three families.
When they saw the news, all three families were shocked. In nearly a century, Cangyu City had never experienced a demon attack of this scale.
The most significant incident was thirty years ago when a few Great Demons entered the city, causing numerous casualties and creating a stir at the time.
But now, only the older generation could still recall that event.
"The Military Report can't be wrong. Old Zhang, go and verify it quickly."
Liu Shunqing, the head of the Liu Family, immediately dispatched a family elder to investigate the situation.
The other two families also sent people to check, and they quickly returned with concrete information.
A large number of demons were advancing from the north, sweeping through the area. A rough estimate put their number at around forty to fifty thousand.
Various Mountain Spirits and Ghosts were mixed in, clearly under the command of Great Demons.
These demons had taken over the main road and sealed off several other routes. It was reported that two escort agencies on the southern trade route had been raided, and jewels hidden in grain shipments had been found.
With the demons blocking the roads and the Great Demons approaching, it was clear they intended to attack the city!
"From the north? Could it be the demons from the Blackwind Mountains?"
"Are these demons insane? How dare they invade like this? Don't they fear the Xia Clan's wrath and being wiped out entirely!"
"Damn it, what is Yue Shuhong doing? Did he offend the Demon King?"
"Has anyone seen anyone from the Xia Clan?"
The three families were in a panic. With forty to fifty thousand demons, the implications were severe. The entire military force of Cangyu City, including the city guards, numbered only around twenty thousand.
The sheer number of demons was a secondary concern; the fact that they were planning an attack indicated they had a high degree of confidence and were well-prepared.
Moreover, to command such a large number of Great Demons, the leader must be at least at the Divine Roaming Realm, or even the Fifteen Li stage!
...
Meanwhile, in the north, a dark cloud of demonic energy was approaching.
The city was on high alert as the storm clouds gathered.
With the purple warning smoke rising into the sky, all four city gates were sealed, and the city defense forces, who were on rotating duty, donned their armor and took their positions on the city walls.
Looking from the northern wall, many of the soldiers' faces were pale.
They saw the dense, dark cloud, tinged with a hint of red, swirling in the northern sky, rapidly approaching.
"These demons must be insane to dare attack the city!"
Many of the city guards found it hard to believe. This was Dayu, a border city, but not the most remote. How could the demons dare cross the border and provoke the royal family, risking a major military retaliation?
In their decades of service, these demons had only occasionally caused disturbances in the outskirts, never appearing in such a large force.
The news of the demon attack spread throughout the city. With the city gates sealed and the city guards mobilized, it was impossible to keep the news from spreading.
Every household was ordered to stay indoors, and the streets were filled only with the sound of galloping hooves.
Many inns, taverns, teahouses, and shops had closed their doors.
Some people were worried about the demons breaching the city defenses, while others complained about the disruption to their businesses. Still, others were already packing their valuables and preparing their carriages, ready to flee the city at a moment's notice.
However, some wealthy families were using their connections to offer assistance to the city defense master, willing to provide gold and supplies to help fend off the demons.
In times of disaster, the true nature of people is revealed.
At this moment, in the City Lord's Mansion.
In the grand mansion's backyard, there was a dark, dungeon-like basement.
Yue Shuhong stood there, gazing at a painting before him.
Tall and slender, he wore a scholar's robe, exuding an air of intellect. However, half of his face was hidden in the shadow cast by the oil lamp, making it hard to see.
The painting depicted a woman in a light green silk dress, her eyes and posture captured with such skill that she seemed almost alive.
Suddenly, a black smoke emerged from the shadows behind him, twisting and forming into a large, muscular man.
The man had a broad face and large eyes, with a thick beard. In the darkness, his eyes glinted with a faint red light.
"Brother Yue, thinking about your sister-in-law again?"
The broad-faced man smiled, a half-grin on his face.
Yue Shuhong did not turn around, but his expression seemed to shift slightly, as if he was coming out of a reverie.
He let out a light sigh and said, "Tiger Robe, how long have we known each other?"
"More than twenty years", the broad-faced man replied.
"Twenty years..."
Yue Shuhong murmured to himself, "I am fifty-three this year. At thirty, I reached the Divine Roaming Realm, full of vigor and ambition, and was appointed as the City Governor here. In the blink of an eye, it has already been twenty years."
The man who once wore a sword at his waist now had an empty belt.
The broad-faced man nodded slightly, his eyes filled with a mix of sighs, envy, and jealousy.
"You humans are naturally intelligent, standing above all races. In just a few decades, you can cultivate to the Divine Roaming Realm, while we demon beasts need several centuries to absorb the essence of the sun and moon to reach this level. How envious I am!"
The corner of Yue Shuhong's mouth twitched. "But have you ever seen many humans live for hundreds of years, Tiger Robe?"
The broad-faced man shook his head, a hint of disdain in his eyes.
"Once you reach the Divine Roaming Realm, you can live for nearly a thousand years. However, your human race prefers to seek death on its own. Look at those guys from the Divine General Manor. They could live a long and peaceful life, yet they choose to fight to the death with us demon beasts on the border. In the end, they all die young."
Yue Shuhong couldn't help but laugh.
"Yes, that might be the difference between our human race and your demon beasts. The countless citizens of Dayu, the vast lands of the Nineteen Provinces, every inch of soil has been stained with the blood of those prodigies."
"Because some people die, many more can live on!"
The broad-faced man narrowed his eyes. "Brother Yue, I hope you won't be as foolish as those idiots, will you?"
Yue Shuhong turned around, his previously half-illuminated face under the warm glow of the oil lamp now hidden in darkness.
"For the past twenty years, I have provided you with human meat, trying my best to satisfy your needs. Why has it come to this?"
His voice was soft, as if he were talking to himself.
The broad-faced man looked at him deeply and sighed. "This journey was not my choice. Red Eyebrow Daoist has just come out of seclusion and is very hungry. Besides, the purpose of this trip is not just to satisfy his hunger. The true target is the Xia Clan."
"The Xia Clan?"
"Yes, you sought help from the Xia Clan, but they dared not come because they are facing a more pressing issue and cannot afford to be distracted. If Cangyu City falls and the entire city is destroyed, it will certainly affect them. If the emperor in the palace becomes angry and punishes the Xia Clan, it would be even better."
The broad-faced man continued softly, "So, Cangyu City... you can't save it."
Yue Shuhong took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
So, the demon beasts were playing this game.
"Brother Yue, I came here to ask you to open the northern city gate. The fall of Cangyu City is inevitable. If you open the gate, I can speak a good word for you to Red Eyebrow Daoist and give you a chance to live", the broad-faced man said.
Yue Shuhong opened his eyes and smiled. "Thank you, Brother Tiger Robe."
"Take care of it right away", the broad-faced man said. "Our friendship is here, and I will definitely do my best to protect you."
"Alright."
Yue Shuhong nodded and then turned to walk to the side, not to the desk but to the weapon rack.
"Brother Yue?"
"Brother Tiger Robe."
"I see."
The red light in the broad-faced man's eyes grew brighter, and his mouth curled into a grin. "Brother Yue, this really hurts me!"
"I am also very sad, sad for you."
Yue Shuhong smiled lightly. "Brother Tiger Robe, for the friendship of the past twenty years, I will use your tiger head to brew the best wine."
"Thank you."
The broad-faced man's teeth gradually extended and sharpened. "I will savor you slowly."
As their auras grew stronger, their Divine Souls began to manifest. Yue Shuhong's Divine Soul gathered above his head, while the broad-faced man's back revealed a monstrous, fierce tiger.
"So, you are here."
A voice suddenly sounded in their ears.
Immediately, a crack appeared in the ceiling above the basement, and a figure slowly descended, standing between the two of them.
Wearing a Mystic Uniform and holding a broken Black Knife, the newcomer was none other than Li Hao, who had just returned to the city.
(End of Chapter)
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