Dog Second was depressed.
Quite depressed.
He was originally a wild dog in the mountains of the Longyou Circuit. By some stroke of Opportunity, he obtained some essence of the sun and moon, and one day, he awakened his intelligence and became a spirit.
Over several hundred years, living in the wind and sleeping in the dew, hiding here and there, he had finally cultivated to the Minggu Realm. Just as he thought he could be considered a Demon King of a region, he was slapped to the ground by that Old Thing who called himself White Ape Duke and taken in as a lackey.
He had been doing this for over a dozen years.
Working diligently and without complaint, he had finally managed to wait until the day the Old Thing was packing up to return to the Demon Court.
That was the Western Regions Demon Court.
In legend, it was the Holy Land of the Yao Race, a true paradise.
There, the Yao Race walked the world without needing to hide, and could even keep the Human Race in captivity like pigs and dogs, deciding their life and death on a whim.
Yet, at this critical juncture, the White Ape Duke had gone mad for some reason, insisting on waiting here for that reckless child of his.
Mentioning this child made Dog Second feel even more bitter.
It was just a tiger that had been lucky, having awakened its intelligence by chance like him, and happened to have some connection with the White Ape Duke.
Why?
They were both wild Beasts from the mountains that had become spirits, so why could that Beast gain the favor of the White Ape Duke, be treated as his own flesh and blood, and be taught everything he knew?
He had worked diligently for over a dozen years, and in the end, was he not even as good as a tiger?
Could it be that in this world, a dog was truly inferior to a tiger?
Ridiculous.
Everyone walked on four legs and ate with one head; who was to say that tens of thousands of years ago, their ancestors weren't the same family?
Dog Second grumbled to himself and poked his head out to look at the pass.
The White Ape Duke had ordered him to scout for news inside the pass.
But Yumen Pass was like an iron turtle shell; let alone him, even a fly couldn't fly in.
Scout for what, his ass.
Just as Dog Second was preparing to return and report, planning to make up some excuse to fool the Duke, a faint sound of hoofbeats suddenly came from the direction of the pass gate.
Hm?
Dog Second's ears pricked up sharply.
He narrowed his eyes and saw that the thick city gate had actually opened a crack, and over a dozen riders were sneaking out, heading deep into the Gobi Desert.
...
A dozen or so Red-Eyed Colts spread out in a sparse formation across the Gobi.
"Captain Li, your foresight is truly unmatched!"
The Man with the shifty eyes from earlier was riding beside Li Gui, his face full of flattery, "If we had actually listened to that woman and stupidly patrolled the streets in the city, let alone merit, we probably wouldn't even get a single hair!"
Another trusted subordinate chimed in, "A woman, what does she know about marching and fighting? She should be in the backyard doing embroidery. The merit outside Yumen Pass belongs to us men to earn!"
"Hahaha!"
A burst of laughter erupted in the ranks.
Listening to these compliments, Li Gui was humble with his words, but felt incredibly gratified in his heart.
Indeed.
Why?
Why should some young girl be able to ride over their heads?
He, Li Gui, refused to accept it!
His father had struggled and climbed in the army his whole life only to reach the rank of Assistant General, and he himself had been sent to the Demon Suppression Division since he was a child. What hardships had he not endured? What suffering had he not tasted?
Yet in the end, he had to take orders from a woman.
"Don't let your guard down, dammit!"
Li Gui shouted in a low voice, putting on a grave expression, "The Heaven-Pacifying True Lord is a Core Formation Great Demon. On this trip, we are only scouting the perimeter; we must not go too deep!"
"Yes! We'll listen to Captain Li!"
Everyone responded in a chorus.
A Man asked, "Captain Li, if we really run into a lone Demon, should we kill it or not?"
"Nonsense! Why would we turn down merit delivered to our doorstep?"
Li Gui snorted coldly, "No matter how powerful that White Ape is, are all the Demons under his command at the Core Formation stage? Besides, if we move quickly, kill it and leave, how could the enemy react in time?"
"Yes..."
Hooves flew, and dust rolled.
The group traveled another ten or so miles forward. Seeing the sky growing late, the wind on the Gobi became increasingly cold.
"Captain Li... we've been out for nearly an hour and haven't even seen a ghost. How about... we head back first?"
A Man rubbed his hands, which were stiff from the cold, and suggested cautiously.
Li Gui frowned.
Dammit, was his luck really that bad?
He was unwilling, but said calmly, "What's the rush? Let's go another five miles. If we still don't find anything, we'll go back. It won't hurt to wait a little longer."
The group dared not object and had to bite the bullet and follow.
Just then, a Demon Suppression Guard at the front of the group suddenly pulled on his reins, pointed into the distance, and shouted, "Captain Li! Look! There's someone there!"
Everyone perked up and looked in the direction he was pointing.
They saw a thin, dark figure on a sand dune not far away, crouching on a rock about half a person's height, with its back to them, seemingly gazing into the distance.
At this hour, in this desolate Gobi, how could such a figure appear?
How could it be a human?
"It's a Demon!"
A gleam of light instantly erupted in Li Gui's eyes!
Dammit, at least this trip wasn't for nothing!
Furthermore, looking at that thin, small figure, it must be an insignificant, low-ranking character from the Demon's lair!
"Spread out! Surround it!" Li Gui lowered his voice, his face full of uncontrollable ecstasy, "Don't let it run!"
The dozen or so riders instantly spread out in a crescent formation, silently closing in on the dark figure.
The horses' hooves made dull thuds as they stepped on the sandy ground.
The dark figure seemed completely unaware, remaining crouched there, motionless.
Closer.
Even closer.
Li Gui had even drawn his saber, preparing to personally claim this first merit.
Just as the encirclement was about to close.
The dark figure that had been facing away from them slowly, ever so slowly, turned its head.
What kind of face was that?
The skin and flesh were withered, clinging tightly to the bones, the two eyes were a murky yellow, and the corners of its mouth were pulled back, revealing two rows of jagged, sharp teeth.
"Heh... it really is the Demon Suppression Division..."
Li Gui's heart sank to the bottom in an instant.
No matter how foolish he was, he knew at this moment that the opponent had come prepared.
Boom—the Demon's aura was no longer concealed, surging into the sky.
Minggu Realm!!
This Demon was actually a Ming Gu Great Demon!!!
"Run!"
This was the only thought left in Li Gui's mind, and he immediately wanted to turn his horse around.
But it was too late.
The thin, dark figure instantly left an afterimage in place.
"Ah—"
A scream.
One Demon Suppression Guard, along with his horse, was torn in half by a massive force!
Blood and internal organs splattered all over the ground.
"Don't panic! Form up! Form up!"
Li Gui's eyes were splitting with rage, and he roared hoarsely.
But despite saying that, he was the one running the fastest.
Seeing him like this, did the rest of the Demon Suppression Guards have any heart left to resist?
Everyone turned their horses around and fled for their lives in the direction of Yumen Pass, regardless of anything else.
"A bunch of trash!"
Li Gui cursed angrily.
However.
The Dog Demon followed behind the group unhurriedly, as if a cat playing with mice.
In just the time it takes to burn a stick of incense.
Of the dozen or so riders, only Li Gui remained, fleeing for his life.
He didn't even dare to look back, only frantically urging the Red-Eyed Colt beneath him. In his ears were the shrill whistling of the wind on the Gobi and the unhurried footsteps behind him.
Finally.
A foul wind struck from behind.
Li Gui felt a chill in his back, and his whole body was yanked off the horse's back by a tremendous force, slammed hard onto the ground, and knocked senseless.
He struggled to lift his head, and that withered, dog-like face was already right before his eyes.