Thirty Li Slope.
At dusk, the blood-red setting sun in the distance shone upon the scattered rocks covering the mountainside.
Wei He stood rooted to the spot, his hands and feet cold.
Although the two slender fingers had released their grip, the sharp pain in the web of his hand constantly reminded him of the terrifying existence of the Demon before him.
The man slowly put away his handkerchief, standing with his hands behind his back. "Lord Wei is, after all, the Seal-Holder of a regional Dusi. Such timidity is somewhat disappointing."
Wei He exhaled, released his grip on the Broken Saber, and simply stopped maintaining a defensive stance.
In front of a Seed Lotus Demon King, his Core Formation Realm cultivation was no different from a child playing with a sword.
"Since Your Excellency is a Supreme Demon King, why are you not enjoying blessings in the Western Regions but instead infiltrating the heartland of my Great Tang from thousands of miles away? Do you perhaps think our Region is deserted?"
Hearing this, the man tilted his head slightly and sighed, "Lord Wei is an intelligent person. Some things don't need this King to spell out. The Region is harsh and cold, and the Demon Suppression Dusi doesn't even have a single Commander. But if there were truly no one in charge, why would my Demon Court still be confined to the Western Regions?"
Wei He narrowed his eyes and looked at the other party.
What the other party said was indeed true.
Although the Imperial Court seemingly prioritized Jiangnan over the Northwest, the Longyou Circuit was, after all, the gateway to the Northwest, a crucial strategic location.
Ostensibly, the Longyou Commandery was gradually declining, even having to rely on a small girl like Jiang Yuechu to grow up and stabilize the situation. But secretly... if there were truly no one holding the fort, how could those unruly Demon Kings of the Western Regions Demon Court be so compliant?
Since the Demon King before him dared to show up, it meant that the one guarding the Region had already noticed.
Thinking of this, Wei He's expression returned to normal.
He had been comfortable for too long... seeing a Demon King almost caused him to lose Face.
The man shook his head. "This King knows what you are thinking. This King also admits that if we truly fought, this King would not be that person's opponent. To be honest, if the Demon Emperor hadn't personally issued the order, this King wouldn't even bother coming to your Liangzhou Prefecture..."
"It doesn't matter if the Old White Ape died. Even if two more Core Formation Demons died, the Demon Court wouldn't care. But... that White Flood Dragon, you truly should not have touched it."
Hearing this, Wei He's heart stirred.
"Black River White Flood Dragon?"
"Correct. She was a direct descendant of the Flood Dragon and Dragon Race. Although she hadn't transformed into a Dragon yet, she still carried the blood of that Old Dragon King. With her death, the White Flood Dragon Clan is causing a huge uproar in the Demon Court, and the Demon Emperor must give them an explanation."
Wei He's heart sank.
Although the White Flood Dragon Clan was arrogant by nature and always sought revenge against the murderers of their kin, they were far away in the Demon Court's heartland. Coupled with the deterrence of the Former Emperor, they dared not openly enter the Great Tang territory for revenge.
But the one who died was actually of the direct Bloodline... "When this King entered the city, I heard those mortals discussing that the one who killed her seemed to be a Little Girl?"
"How about this."
The man stretched out his hand and said indifferently, "This King doesn't want to make things difficult for you, but I must return to report my mission... Hand over that woman, and I will leave immediately. How about that?"
"..."
Wei He shook his head solemnly. "I cannot hand her over."
"Oh?"
Seeing Wei He's decisiveness, a hint of coldness flashed in the man's eyes.
"Do you truly think this King dares not attack? Since this King dared to come, I naturally calculated the timing accurately."
Boom—!
As the words fell.
The might of the Seed Lotus was unleashed without reservation.
Wei He let out a muffled groan, his knees slightly bent, yet he stubbornly resisted the pressure and did not kneel.
Gritting his teeth, he said in a deep voice, "...If you think the Demon Emperor can still protect you when I have the Commander-in-Chief on my side, you are welcome to try."
The man frowned, and the suppressive aura slightly subsided.
Commander-in-Chief?
How did she get involved with someone like that?
"What? Does that woman... have some kind of background?"
Wei He gasped for breath, straightened his back, and sneered.
"Your Excellency is an Old Demon who has lived for millennia. Your eyes should be brighter than mine."
"Since you inquired, you naturally also know the situation with that girl. To be able to slay a Core Formation White Flood Dragon at the age of eighteen or nineteen, do you think... someone like that could be raised without a powerful background?"
"..."
The man narrowed his eyes, and the light in them flickered erratically.
As a Demon King who had lived for six thousand years, who had even guarded the Demon Court's frontier back then, and was the first to Face the Great Tang Emperor's personal expedition, yet still managed to survive unscathed until now.
What he relied on was not just his cultivation, nor was it some unyielding integrity.
It was, more importantly, the ability to assess the situation and act accordingly.
Which is what common folk call—fear of death.
In this world, those with hard bones have had their grave grass replaced several times over.
The man walked back and forth twice on the pile of scattered rocks, his hands behind his back.
At seventeen or eighteen, possessing the strength to slay a Core Formation Demon, such power was indeed rare within the entire Human Race... If, as Wei He said, this girl had some heaven-shaking background... killing her would be easy.
But if he provoked retaliation from the forces behind her... given the Demon Court's current situation, they truly couldn't protect him.
The golden light in the man's eyes flickered erratically.
He looked at Wei He, seemingly trying to detect even a hint of guilt on the other party's Face.
Unfortunately.
Wei He's expression was calm, like still water.
Forget it.
Sacrificing his life just to appease the White Flood Dragon Clan was simply not worth it... At worst, he would just leave now, return to Face punishment, or simply find a scapegoat to report to.
At most, he would lose a few centuries of Dao Cultivation and endure some physical suffering.
As for sentiments like 'Humans and Demons cannot coexist,' to him, that was utter nonsense.
Having figured this out, the man instantly retracted his aura, reached out a finger, smoothed his wind-blown sideburns, and chuckled, "Lord Wei, you jest. This King merely asked casually, why be so nervous?"
"Since she is such a Prodigy, if this King were to kill her, it would make me seem intolerant."
"My visit this time was merely to fulfill a commission entrusted to me."
Wei He sighed internally and cupped his hands in salute.
"However..."
The man changed the subject. "Although this King won't trouble her, the White Flood Dragon Clan is not as magnanimous as I am."
"With a direct descendant dead, they will not let the matter rest."
"Go back and tell that Little Girl to pray for good fortune."
Having said that.
The man waved his large sleeve.
Boom—!
A fierce wind rose from the ground, sweeping up dust across the sky.
When the wind and sand dissipated.
The tall figure had long vanished, leaving behind only a single golden-red Feather that slowly drifted down in the wind.
"Oh, and please pass this item to that Little Girl for me. Today's incident counts as her owing this King a favor. If she truly grows up in the future and reaches the Peak... for the sake of this Feather, she must not kill this King."
"..."
...The golden-red figure did not leave directly but transformed into a magnificent Demon Bird with a wingspan of several zhang, its entire body shimmering with brilliant golden light.
It was the True Form of the Maori Demon King.
It flapped its wings and soared high, reaching the upper sky in an instant, disappearing into the clouds.
However, it hadn't flown far before a trace of suspicion arose in its heart.
Although what Wei He said didn't sound like a lie, it was still only his side of the story.
"No."
"This King must go back and take a look."
"If it's true, then so be it. But if it's false..."
The Maori Demon King shook its wings, just about to turn back.
However.
The moment it turned around.
Its massive body suddenly froze in mid-air.
Right above the surging Sea of Clouds ahead.
A figure had appeared at some unknown point.
Wearing a Cyan Daoist Robe and straw sandals, his hair was silver like snow, yet styled into a casual Daoist topknot, secured by a hairpin carved from deadwood.
His complexion was rosy, and his skin was smooth like a baby's—the very definition of youthful Face and snowy hair.
The Old Daoist smiled. "You Little Chick, instead of nesting and laying eggs in the Western Regions, why have you come to my Longyou territory on official business?"
Little Chick?
Hearing this appellation, the Maori Demon King was so angry that smoke seemed to pour from its seven apertures.
But it dared not erupt.
"Sen... Senior is joking. This Junior... heard that the Longyou scenery is boundless—a lonely smoke in the desert, a long river reflecting the setting sun—and has admired it for a long time, so I specially came to see it."
The Old Daoist looked at it with a half-smile.
"Oh? Just sightseeing?"
"Absolutely true!"
The Maori Demon King quickly swore an oath. "Since entering the pass, this Junior has strictly adhered to my duties, never harmed a single Human Race civilian, nor touched a single blade of grass or tree!"
"Even just now at the Liangzhou Military Command, I merely sought out Lord Wei to catch up, drank a cup of tea, and left."
"If Senior doesn't believe me, you are welcome to investigate!"
The Old Daoist nodded, seemingly believing its nonsense. "In that case, this Humble Daoist has indeed wronged you."
The Maori Demon King was overjoyed and quickly seized the opportunity to smooth things over.
"Not at all, not at all. It was this Junior who didn't understand the rules and disturbed Senior's Peaceful Cultivation."
"Since the misunderstanding has been resolved, this Junior will not trouble you further. I will return to the Western Regions now, return to the Western Regions now!"
Saying this, it shook its wings, about to make a swift escape.
"Wait."
The Maori Demon King's movement stalled, and it turned its head. "Senior... do you have any other instructions?"
The Old Daoist looked at it with a smiling gaze.
"Since you've come, why rush to leave?"
"Since you have the leisure to admire the scenery, coincidentally, the views on this Humble Daoist's mountain are also quite good. Why not return with me and stay for three to five days, drink some tea, and discuss the Dao? Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
"Thank you for Senior's kind invitation, but next time! I will definitely visit next time!"
The Old Daoist squinted. "Are you really not going?"
"Truly not going! Truly not going!"
How could the Maori Demon King dare to linger?
The entire 'chicken' transformed into a bloody long rainbow, frantically fleeing toward the Western Regions.
In the blink of an eye, it vanished at the edge of the sky.
Leaving behind only a trail of panicked afterimages.
"..."
The Old Daoist watched the distant bloody light but did not pursue it.
He simply tilted his head back, took a swig of wine, and smacked his lips.
"If it weren't for the fact that you guided the way for my Great Tang back then, how could I truly let you go..."