Guzang, known in ancient times as Wuwei, was the seat of the Liangzhou Prefecture during the previous dynasty.
Eight hundred li west of Guzang lies Yumen Pass.
This pass is the gateway to the western frontier of the Great Tang, separating the Central Plains from the Western Regions.
For who knows how many years, it has withstood the Northern Barbarians and suppressed Demons; the earth beneath the pass walls has long been soaked through with blood, turning a dark, purplish hue.
Dozens of Red-Eyed Colts galloped day and night, their hooves churning up a long, golden dragon of dust across the desolate Gobi Desert.
At the very front of the procession.
Jiang Yuechu suddenly pulled on her reins.
"Whoa—"
With a long neigh, the dozens of Red-Eyed Colts came to an immediate halt.
The sound of hooves ceased abruptly, leaving only the sound of the wind between heaven and earth.
As the dust slowly settled, at the end of the horizon ahead, an endless black line stretched across the space between heaven and earth.
Even from dozens of li away, the overwhelming aura of blood and iron, along with a sense of desolation, was enough to make anyone feel their own insignificance.
"That is... Yumen Pass..."
Even with Chen Tong's fearless nature, looking at that majestic pass at this moment, his face showed nothing but shock.
Legend has it that this pass was built by the first Demon Quelling General using supreme Divine Ability to move sacred mountains from the Western Regions and smelt them with tempered black iron, suppressing the Demon kingdoms outside the pass for thousands of years and preventing them from daring to take a single step across the line.
Above the pass walls, banners fluttered in the wind.
One could vaguely see countless soldiers in armor patrolling back and forth, and the chilling aura of slaughter, even from several li away, still rushed forward, making one's heart tighten.
"Let's go."
Jiang Yuechu nudged her horse's flanks and led the way toward that majestic pass.
The others snapped back to their senses and hurriedly followed.
The closer they got, the stronger that sense of oppression became.
The walls were of unknown height; standing beneath them, one felt as insignificant as an ant.
The city gates were tightly shut, and the drawbridge was hoisted high.
As the group arrived at the foot of the pass, the guards on duty immediately shouted a challenge.
"Who goes there?!"
Jiang Yuechu said nothing; she took a black iron waist token from her bosom and flicked it with her finger.
The token streaked through the air like a black light, landing with pinpoint accuracy in the hands of the soldier on the ramparts who had called out.
The soldier lowered his head to look, and his hand shook, almost dropping it.
With a black iron base and red cloud patterns, the four characters "Demon Suppression Captain" were inscribed in the center in a bold, sweeping calligraphy.
"Demon Suppression Division, Vanguard Battalion Captain, Jiang Yuechu."
A cold, clear voice came from below.
The top of the wall instantly fell into a dead silence.
An officer beside the soldier, who appeared to be a centurion, snatched the token and examined it over and over, the look of shock and suspicion on his face growing deeper.
"A Captain? Such a Little Girl?"
"The token is real, it's the standard issue of the Demon Suppression Division, it can't be wrong."
"Damn it, such a young seventh-rank Captain? Could it be the daughter of some noble in the capital, coming to our godforsaken place to gild her resume?"
"Stop your damn blabbering!" The centurion slapped the back of the talkative soldier's head and lowered his voice, "This is a military order from above. If you dare to be negligent, are you tired of having your head on your shoulders?"
"Open the gates! Quickly!"
Accompanied by the teeth-gritting sound of gears turning, the immensely heavy drawbridge slowly lowered, and the thick city gate opened inward with a rumble.
Jiang Yuechu nudged her horse's flanks and entered first.
Chen Tong and the others followed closely behind, and upon entering the pass, they were stunned by the scene before them.
On both sides of the main road, which was wide enough for dozens of riders to travel abreast, stood towering arrow towers and barracks, with countless soldiers in black armor rushing about, their expressions stern and murderous.
Just then, a squad of heavily armed soldiers in armor hurried up to meet them, led by a burly Commander.
The Commander swept his gaze over the group and finally landed on Jiang Yuechu, who was leading them, and cupped his hands in a salute.
"Are you Captain Jiang of the Demon Suppression Division's Vanguard Battalion?"
"I am."
"I am a Commander under the garrison general of Yumen Pass, surnamed Zhou, and I have been waiting here for a long time."
Commander Zhou's attitude was very respectful, "The barracks have been prepared, please follow me, Captain Jiang."
"Thank you."
Under Commander Zhou's guidance, the group passed through several streets and finally arrived at a relatively quiet camp area.
This place was clearly a restricted military zone, with guards posted every five steps and sentries every ten, heavily fortified.
"Captain Jiang, this is the station for the Vanguard Battalion." Commander Zhou pointed to a row of barracks ahead, "If you have any needs, you can come to the main army tent to find me at any time."
"Many thanks."
Commander Zhou exchanged a few more pleasantries and then cupped his hands and left.
After Commander Zhou left, the atmosphere in the area finally quieted down.
Dozens of gazes fell squarely on Jiang Yuechu.
For this campaign to suppress the Core Formation Great Demon, the Vanguard Battalion had arrived first, and those behind her were the entirety of the Vanguard Battalion's personnel.
Excluding the five familiar faces under her command, the rest were mostly Demon Suppression Guards of the Wen Xian Realm, all sitting on their horses, not daring to speak.
Only the two men at the very front of the procession had a calm and heavy aura, similar to that of No Abstinence and Liu Ke, clearly possessing the cultivation of the Half-Step Ming Gu.
These two were the two Squad Leaders with the highest rank in the Vanguard Battalion besides Jiang Yuechu.
"Captain Jiang." One of them, a burly Man with a dark complexion, was the first to cup his hands, "We were in such a rush earlier that I didn't have a chance to introduce myself. I am Wang He."
The other Man beside him, who was slightly thinner, also followed suit and cupped his hands, but his attitude was not as respectful.
"Li Gui."
Jiang Yuechu's gaze swept over their faces, and she understood.
"Before the main army arrives, our duty is to guard this Yumen Pass well and strictly prevent any Demons from sneaking into the city."
"When the main army arrives, our Vanguard Battalion will pave the way for them and clear away all Demons along the path."
"Those who act without authorization will be executed. Those who disobey orders will be executed."
"Do you all understand?"
"Understood!" Wang He's voice was loud and clear, without hesitation.
Li Gui, however, frowned, "Captain Jiang, are we just going to wait here like this?"
"Since that Demon dared to establish a manor outside the pass, it must have scouts under its command. If we sit here idly, aren't we just waiting for death? In my opinion, it would be better to take the initiative and go scout the situation, rather than being blind here."
As soon as these words were spoken, many Demon Suppression Guards behind him showed expressions of agreement.
Chen Tong's face darkened instantly, the veins on his hand gripping his sword hilt bulging, and he was about to step forward.
The monk No Abstinence, however, calmly stopped him and shook his head slightly at him.
This is a military camp, not the Jianghu.
Jiang Yuechu looked at Li Gui with no expression on her face.
"Are you the Captain, or am I the Captain?"
The smile on Li Gui's face stiffened, and he wanted to say something, but he heard the young girl speak again:
"The military order is to wait. Do you want to disobey a military order?"
Li Gui's expression changed repeatedly, and in the end, he lowered his head and squeezed two words out through his teeth.
"I dare not."
"Very good."
Jiang Yuechu nodded, stopped looking at him, and turned to instruct Wang He, who had been silent the whole time: "Squad Leader Wang, rest for a moment, and then take half the men to be responsible for the patrol of the East City."
"Yes!"
"Squad Leader Li, you take the remaining men and be responsible for the West City."
"...Yes."
"The rest of you..." Jiang Yuechu's gaze fell on Chen Tong and the others, "Follow me to provide support from the center."
"Go."
No one dared to say another word, and under the leadership of the two Squad Leaders, they quickly dispersed and went to their respective barracks to settle in.