Chapter 1439: Questions
“Even if you only benefit me, I don’t want you!”
The Yin Demon continued patrolling along the tundra. If he had to be honest, this job was actually quite boring. It had been so long, and he had not even seen a proper demonic beast, let alone a demonfolk. It was not nervous or exciting at all.
Don’t tell me they’ve all curled up because it’s cold?
He had rejected the Black Sun Demon heart, but as someone who almost became a demonic seed, the Demon domain did not reject him at all. Instead, it allowed him to use the Illusionary Demon Movement Technique with greater ease. He had an even better time than in the Human realm.
Speaking of which, the only trouble he had encountered since he left the stronghold was from his own people. He did not encounter any attacks from demonfolk. Instead, he had been threatened by his own people, suffering a palm strike for nothing.
And those three bastards happened to be three prominent figures with the strongest cultivations in Black Cloud city. Sure enough, the greatest enemy is always lurking behind me! It’s all thanks to the fact that I have a sense of loyalty. If it had been someone else, they would have joined the enemy a long time ago!
But this is far too boring. Have I really just been sent on an errand? I better find a way to catch a demonfolk and ask for directions to Qingqin mountain! According to the reports, the demonfolk have a fortress as well which stands facing Black Cloud city in the distance. Why don’t I go there and take a look? Just one glance will do.
Li Liehuo had never asked him to investigate there, as that was no different from sending him to his death. At the very least, that was true with regular Yin Soul cultivators.
Even to him, this was very dangerous. A fortress watched by a Demon Sovereign was no less dangerous than Ao Xuan inside the Xuanming dwelling, and he had no allies this time. His main body was not around either. Once he was exposed, his Yin Soul would definitely be destroyed.
However, he had always been the kind of person who would only be content if he was staring death in its face. He still arrived before the fortress standing in the valley of the ice mountain.
In the wind and snow, he could vaguely make out three large, crimson words, Cold Blood Pass.
Li Qingshan curled his lip. “What a chuuni-ass name!” However, according to the culture and practices of the Demon domain, being called “cold-blooded” should have been a praise, just like being called despicable and shameless or heartless and cruel, so there was nothing strange about it.
However, what piqued his curiosity was the fact that the city walls were empty. Only the great banners swayed in the wind. The fortress was empty.
The city walls don’t even have anyone standing guard. Is the military discipline of demonfolk really that bad? But even with that, there should be an army of two hundred thousand here at the very least, so why is there no sound at all? Aren’t they just too disciplined at the same time?
He tried approaching the place silently. Arriving below the pass, he still did not sense any formations standing in his way. Just a stone fortress alone was completely insufficient to stop him. He basically suspected this to be a trap, where soldiers would spring forth with battle cries the moment he set foot in there.
However, that was simply absurd, so he still ended up passing through there bravely and entering the fortress. Yet, the sight before him left him astounded. Even an ambush from all directions could not leave him so surprised.
The collapsed structures and crumbled rock formed a huge expanse of ruins as if a vicious beast had rampaged through the place. The corpses of demonfolk filled the entire valley. Not even the great winds could disperse the reeking of blood. In particular, there were several large pits filled with incomplete remains of demonfolk. Their blood froze into icy puddles.
The glassy eyes stared at him, and the faces were twisted with hatred and fear. It was basically a living hell.
“This is just far too exciting!”
Li Qingshan pursed his lips with brimming interest and carefully made his way forwards. However, even after a good while, he did not encounter anything alive.
“Don’t tell me this is all done by that woman Chao Tianjiao? It’ll be far too awesome if it was!”
Li Qingshan never imagined this had all happened because of him. Instead, he thought of Chao Tianjiao who radiated with murderousness. However, could she really breach a demonfolk stronghold alone and butcher the entire place too?
No, that was completely impossible! If the Human Sovereigns of the Human realm all possessed such vicious power, they would have sent the demonfolk running back to their granny’s homes.
In reality, after completing his task of cleaning up, the Demon Sovereign Tu Wancheng immediately returned to the depths of the Demon domain under the watch of the Faceless Heretic God to await further orders. As a result, he just left behind an empty fortress. It was not like humans could occupy the place anyway.
Li Qingshan had no idea why this had happened. However, he determined a few things based on his instincts. “Something big must have happened. It’s probably connected to that woman Chao Tianjiao!” He developed a little more admiration towards her. “Even for me, I gotta say I’m speechless that you’ve created such a great scene.”
He had not captured any demonfolk to ask for directions, but he had already made an absolute killing. He took out his sumeru ring and collected over a hundred thousand corpses effortlessly, bringing them back for Xiao An to incinerate. There were many fine sets of armour and weapons too. All of them had their uses.
As a result, he left the Cold Blood pass fully loaded and returned to Black Cloud city.
……
Black Cloud city, the Scorching Fire hall.
The Scorching Fire army was holding their monthly meeting. Li Liehuo asked the bearded man with a smile, “Old Hu, how are the preparations for the army-wide martial arts competition going?”
Hu Zhigang patted his chest. “Don’t worry, first senior brother. I’ve told the brothers to train harder. This time, we’ll definitely own those girls from the Xuanwu army!’
Everyone laughed aloud. A warm and enthusiastic atmosphere enveloped the hall.
Someone asked, “Has that Li person left the city yet?”
Hu Zhigang sneered. “Probably not. Just yesterday, I saw him gardening outside the tower. That kid probably still thinks this is the Hundred Herbs garden!”
It led to another roar of laughter, and they all chimed in.
“I really wonder what he’s thinking when he’s growing flowers in Black Cloud city!”
“He’s afraid, so of course, he has to find a way to cope and comfort his emotions.”
“Hmph, he’s such a coward, and he still struts around first senior brother! He’s better off running back to his mother!”
Li Liehuo said to a minor officer at the entrance, “If he still doesn’t set off, send someone to urge him along. He better not say that I didn’t warn him when he gets punished for his delays!”
“Yes, I’ll go to urge him right now. Hehe, I’ll check out his garden in the meantime too.” The minor officer immediately stood up and left, but he returned again before long. He had quite a strange expression.
Li Liehuo asked, “Why have you returned so quickly?”
“This… I don’t know how to explain it!”
Hu Zhigang said impatiently, “Stop dawdling. Has he left the city already, or is he afraid to see you?”
“He said he’s already completed first senior brother’s mission and has something to report. He’ll be coming here very soon!”
The Scorching Fire hall was thrown into an uproar. Everyone glanced at one another. In such a short time, how could he have checked through such a large region?
Hu Zhigang even cursed aloud as he said, “That bastard is actually treating military orders as a game and toying with us! Damn him!”
Li Liehuo sneered. “What a joke!” The hall immediately fell silent.
“Have him report back immediately! I’d like to see just what he has to report!”
Li Liehuo’s voice was murderous. He had actually carried out his military order just for show, like it was of no importance at all. Even if they had no feud, he would not spare him.
“No need. I’m right here!”
Li Qingshan’s voice rang out from outside the hall.
Li Liehuo called out, “Get your ass in here!”
As a result, Li Qingshan simply strode in.
“What do you have to report?” Li Liehuo held back his anger as his eyes shone, like he was ready to eat him alive. “Think about what you’re going to say. Making false reports is a crime punishable by death!”
“Understood!” Li Qingshan shrugged and dug at his ear before looking up and scratching his head, like he was trying to find the words.
The hall became so quiet that it was possible to hear a pin drop. Everyone stared at him, only to hear him say, “The two or three hundred thousand demonfolk in Cold Blood pass are all dead.”
“You motherfucker!” Li Liehuo flew into a rage, kicking the stone table before him, which smashed towards Li Qingshan.
Li Qingshan shattered the stone table with a punch and pieces shot through the hall. The officers there all possessed reasonably high cultivations, but it contained the power of a furious strike from Li Liehuo, coupled with the power of tremors that Li Qingshan had released silently, so a series of painful cries rang out. Basically everyone was injured, and even the lucky ones ended up dishevelled.
Li Qingshan’s lips curled into a smile. He took a step forward and said righteously, “Why are you hitting me? Do you really think you’re so impressive just because you’re the captain? Are you allowed to hit people whenever you want just because you’re the captain?”
His three questions were like claps of thunder. The entire Black Cloud city heard it loud and clear.
In the Xuanhu hall, Chao Tianjiao was holding a meeting too. The officers were all shocked by that, gazing at their captain together.
Chao Tianjiao’s expression changed, and she began to laugh. “It’s that kid!”
Originally, she was angered over the fact that Ge Xing had not sent Li Qingshan to her Xuanwu army, but now, she suddenly felt rather fortunate. Given the kind of person that kid was, it would be strange if he did not stir up a mess!
In the Pure Land temple, the Upraised Light abbot was currently holding the morning chanting ceremony. He was also stunned by the three questions. The two captains in the city were both violent-tempered people who could kill without batting an eye.
“Just who’s so bold to say something like that?”
