The river wind was damp and fishy.
Her dark, long hair clung wetly to her cheeks, and water droplets slid down her fair neck into her collar, making her quite uncomfortable.
But even after she wrung out her hair, she saw the three of them still standing there in a daze.
"Why are you all standing there dumbfounded? I can't take this head back to Longyou, do you want it?"
"Yes! Why wouldn't we!"
Old Zhang suddenly snapped back to reality, let out a yell, and scrambled over.
He didn't mind the dirt, directly pouncing on the Flood Dragon head, his gaze more affectionate than when he saw his own wife, "This is the head of a Perfected Core Formation Great Demon!"
With that, he tried to lift the head.
"Lift!"
Old Zhang's face turned red, veins bulged on his neck, and he exerted all his strength, even his last ounce.
It didn't budge an inch.
Such weight... what a Core Formation Perfection Demon head.
Even more terrifying was...
Such a heavy object, yet she could bring it back from the bottom of the water!
Just how terrifying was this girl's strength?
Jiang Yuechu glanced at him, not intending to help, and merely said indifferently, "Don't bother, just call a few people to carry it."
Old Zhang awkwardly let go, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and chuckled dryly, "Miss Jiang's Divine Power, Divine Power."
By now, the Demon Suppression Guards from the stronghold had finally mustered the courage to approach.
The earth-shattering commotion earlier had scared them half to death.
Now that the wind and waves had subsided, and seeing the Qiang River Dragon King, who had previously stirred up trouble, reduced to just a head, their eyes nearly popped out.
"Dead... it's really dead..."
"This was a Core Formation Great Demon..."
Someone couldn't help but reach out to touch the scales, their fingers trembling.
Gu Changge also recovered at this moment, "This White Flood Dragon is a treasure from head to tail. Its skin can be made into armor, its bones can be used as medicine, and even its meat is a great tonic for martial artists. Just... thrown away?"
Jiang Yuechu paused, her expression unchanging, "Just this one head tired me out. The undercurrents below are too strong, and the body was swept away the moment I let go. It's probably dozens of miles downstream by now. If Lord Gu can't bear to part with it, you can go chase it now, and perhaps you'll still find two bones."
"If that's the case... then it's that beast's misfortune, and our lack of good fortune."
Gu Changge didn't think much of it and simply moved on from the topic, following her lead.
He then turned to look at the Demon Suppression Guards gathered around the Flood Dragon head, pointing and gesturing. His face darkened, and he shouted, "What are you all staring at! Haven't you seen a dead thing before? A few of you, get a large cart over here and load this head!"
"Yes!"
Before long, a flatbed cart normally used for hauling supplies was pushed over.
Seven or eight brawny Demon Suppression Guards worked together, shouting a chant, and barely managed to get the Flood Dragon head onto the cart.
Gu Changge's gaze lingered on the Flood Dragon head for a long time before he spoke, "I will truthfully record today's events in a memorial and send it urgently to the capital within 800 li."
"Single-handedly slaying a Perfected Core Formation Great Demon and pacifying the Qiang River's demonic scourge of over ten years—if the Jiannan Provincial Command tries to claim this Merits, I will personally block them."
Jiang Yuechu lifted her eyelids and glanced at him.
Hoh.
This person is quite good.
Although she didn't care for empty fame, it didn't mean she was happy to have her achievements stolen.
"Lord Gu, thank you for your trouble."
Her tone was light, but it was an acknowledgment of his favor.
Gu Changge gave a bitter smile and shook his head, "What trouble? If not for Miss's intervention, how could such a Demon have been eliminated? Rather, I owe you a favor."
"…"
This was the truth.
Without her, the Qiang River Dragon King would have long since fled into the river.
Demons weren't stupid.
Once it recovered its senses and learned of Guan Youlong's demise, there's no telling where it would have fled to.
While the two were talking, Old Zhang ran over, panting.
"Brother Gu, Miss Jiang! We're almost packed up, when should we depart?"
Gu Changge's expression sobered, returning to his stern demeanor.
"Depart immediately."
After he finished speaking, he turned to Jiang Yuechu, "Miss Jiang, I'll have to trouble you to travel with us. Until the General Bureau sends people to rendezvous, the Demon's corpse is too valuable... I'm afraid some short-sighted individuals might..."
Jiang Yuechu didn't refuse.
Anyway, the journey back to Longyou was along the same route as theirs.
"Alright."
...Guan Youlong was escorted out of the house by two Demon Suppression Guards.
His hair was disheveled, and his expression was vacant.
When his gaze fell upon the Flood Dragon head...
His entire body stiffened abruptly.
"This... this..."
Is... that beast's head?
"Impossible... this is impossible..."
Guan Youlong muttered to himself, shaking his head as if insane, "It's of the White Flood Dragon Clan... it's a Perfected Core Formation..."
"How could... how could you possibly kill it..."
Jiang Yuechu said indifferently, "It wasn't that hard to kill, was it? A few punches and it was pretty much done."
"Heh... hehe..."
Hearing this, Guan Youlong let out a tragic laugh, his laughter shrill like a night owl.
"If only I had known it was this easy... why... why did this old man make so many concessions back then... if this old man had been a bit more ruthless, why would it have come to this..."
At these words...
Before Jiang Yuechu could say anything...
Old Zhang became displeased.
"You old scoundrel, Miss Jiang was just being polite, and you actually took it seriously? If your old bones had gone down back then, the grass on your grave would probably be three zhang high by now, and you wouldn't be standing here talking!"
"Old Zhang!"
Gu Changge frowned and reprimanded him.
Old Zhang shrank his neck and obediently shut his mouth.
Jiang Yuechu watched this scene with cold eyes.
She felt no satisfaction, only a touch of sadness.
Shaking her head, she swung onto her horse.
"Let's go."
She shook the reins, and the black horse snorted, taking the lead.
Gu Changge looked at the girl's tall back and sighed inwardly.
He feared it wouldn't be long before the name Jiang Yuechu would resonate not just in this northwestern frontier, but throughout the entire Great Tang.
The group, escorting the prisoner's cart and pulling the Flood Dragon head, majestically departed from the desolate Qingshi Ferry.
The river wind still blew.
But the gloom here seemed to dissipate somewhat with the fall of the Flood Dragon's head.
Only the surging river waters continued to flow eastward, as if nothing had happened... The group traveled along the official road, stopping and going, leisurely for over half a month, finally reaching the borders of Prefecture.
After all, it was the administrative seat of the Longyou Circuit. Although it also bore the title of a frontier Region, upon entering Prefecture, the scenery was vastly different.
Yellow sand had vanished, replaced by vast stretches of lush green. The official road was wide and smooth, not even appearing crowded with four carriages side by side.
Willows lined the road, and in the distance, fields crisscrossed, with wisps of smoke rising, hinting at the prosperity of the central plains.
As the group traveled, they attracted a considerable amount of attention. Even though the Flood Dragon head was wrapped in three layers of tarpaulin, the faint, bloodthirsty aura emanating from it, and the occasional glimpse of a corner, still made passing merchants and commoners both curious and fearful. They all craned their necks to look but dared not get too close.
Jiang Yuechu sat on her horse, feeling somewhat bored.
She had originally thought that by traveling slowly on the way back, she might encounter some reckless Demons.
But Demons didn't seem as foolish as she had imagined.
Upon seeing a team of Demon Suppression Division personnel in black robes with red patterns from afar, they had long since fled.
Who would be so idle as to cause trouble in front of them?
"Prefecture Prefecture is just ahead."
Old Zhang rode up, his voice full of emotion, "Prefecture is prosperous, known by the world as the Jiangnan of Longyou."
Jiang Yuechu looked up.
Even from a distance, she could feel the prosperity emanating from that great city.
Compared to the constant tension and grimness of the Region, this place indeed had more of a human touch.
"Miss Jiang, if you have time, why not stay in Prefecture for a few more days?"
Gu Changge also rode up, a relaxed smile on his face, "The wine in Prefecture is good. Although not as strong as Jiannan Shaoshun, it is known for its lingering flavor and is worth a try."
Jiang Yuechu shook her head, "No, I still need to return to the Region to report."
She didn't like to drink anyway.
Moreover, in such a peaceful town, there were likely no Demons wreaking havoc.
What was there to stay for?
Just as she was speaking...
A cloud of dust suddenly rose on the official road ahead.
A troop of about twenty cavalrymen was galloping towards them.
They were uniformly dressed in black with red patterns, their horses' hooves thundering in unison like muffled thunder rolling across the ground.
Old Zhang and the others subconsciously tightened their grip on their saber hilts, their expressions wary.
Gu Changge, however, narrowed his eyes, then waved his hand, signaling everyone to relax.
"It's the people from General Bureau coming to rendezvous."
Whoa—
The cavalry troop reined in their horses simultaneously about a hundred paces from the group.