The rain curtain was bleak and hazy.
A Silver Robe was somewhat conspicuous in the mud.
Someone from the General Bureau.
And a Silver Robe Inspector!
The imperial court hasn't forgotten the Region East of the River!
"This subordinate is Brigade Commander Wang Shuixiang of the Jiangdong Military Commission."
The one-eyed man, disregarding the mud and water covering him, knelt on one knee, cupped his fists, and roared hoarsely.
"Greetings, Lord Jiang!"
Dozens of men behind him knelt in unison.
"Greetings, Lord!"
The crying inside the dilapidated temple ceased.
Although the ragged common folk didn't know what official position this Inspector Envoy held, seeing the usually formidable military gentlemen kneeling, they too hastily prostrated themselves, only daring to steal glances at this god-like figure from the corners of their eyes.
Jiang Yuechu's expression was calm, and she nodded slightly.
"Rise."
She had no mind to exchange pleasantries with this group.
Her gaze fell upon the enormous headless Demon corpse, and a faint red glow flickered in her eyes.
However, there were too many people here, making it inconvenient to openly perform the Blood Food Technique.
With this in mind.
She grabbed the thick Demon tail with one hand and carried the Demon head with the other.
"Since there's nothing else, I'll be going now."
Watching the young woman gradually walk away, with the white Horses Name obediently following behind her, Wang Shuixiang suddenly looked up.
"Lord, wait!"
"Please, Lord, save the people of City!"
Jiang Yuechu paused, then turned around.
"Now, City's Great General has been severely wounded by a great Demon, poisoned, and his life hangs in the balance."
"The City is leaderless, surrounded by Demons."
"If that beast returns, the hundreds of thousands of people in this City will likely become blood food!"
"This City..."
The man kowtowed heavily.
"Cannot be held!"
Hearing this roar, the dozens of men behind him finally awoke as if from a dream.
There was no longer any hesitation.
They knelt one after another with thuds.
Mud splashed.
"Please, Lord, save City!"
The wave of voices drowned out the sound of the rain.
At this desperate juncture, this Silver Robe woman who had descended from the heavens was their only straw of hope.
Even if there was only a glimmer of hope, they had to cling to it desperately.
Jiang Yuechu frowned slightly.
She had always disliked such scenes.
Moreover.
She was already troubled by not being able to find Demons, so upon suddenly hearing news of two great Demons, how could she stand by and do nothing?
With this in mind.
A rare touch of warmth appeared on Jiang Yuechu's usually cold face.
"All of you, rise."
She shook the heavy Demon corpse in her hand and said indifferently, "You all take the common folk back to the City and settle them."
"I'll deal with this beast's corpse, and then I'll be there. At that time, you can tell me more about the situation in the City in detail."
Wang Shuixiang straightened up and wiped the mud from his face.
Looking at the figure standing proudly in the rain, although he desperately wanted to invite this divine figure into the City to take charge immediately.
The words that were on the tip of his tongue were forcefully swallowed back.
A master's actions have a master's reasons.
"Yes!"
"This subordinate will await your arrival at the City gate!"
With that said.
He didn't dally, stood up and ordered his subordinates to escort the old and young from the temple, braving the wind and rain, stumbling along towards City.
Until the figures of that group completely disappeared into the end of the rain curtain.
Only then did Jiang Yuechu withdraw her gaze.
Carrying the Demon corpse, she found a sheltered dirt mound.
She casually tossed the several thousand jin heavy Physical Body onto the ground.
Her slender white palm pressed against the still-warm chest.
Blood Food Technique.
Boom—
Countless red mists spread out, enveloping the Demon's corpse.
The originally full and firm Demon body shriveled at a visible speed.
The Golden Core inside her spun wildly.
Under the refinement of the Demon's blood and flesh essence, another Ink Dot pattern actually emerged.
Now, Jiang Yuechu was no longer the martial arts novice she once was; she naturally understood the cultivation matters of the Dianmo Realm.
In the Ink Dot Realm, every three patterns constitute one stage.
Until after the nine-pattern late stage, if another pattern is born, it signifies Perfection in the Ink-Dipping Realm.
"Hoo..."
Jiang Yuechu let out a long breath, a flush appearing on her face.
Compared to before, the blood and flesh of Demons of the same realm seemed to have a gradually diminishing effect on her cultivation speed.
"I wonder if that Pig Demon can comprehend something that will further increase the efficiency of refinement..."
She casually shattered the remains in her hand, waiting for them to turn into smoke.
Only then did she flip onto her Horses Name, gently stroking its mane.
Her gaze swept towards the lonely City swaying in the wind and rain in the distance.
"Let's go."
"Time to feast on the wealthy."
...After Wang Shuixiang led everyone to settle the old and young from the temple, he took two Cavalry Commanders and hurried back to the North Gate.
All three were covered in mud and water, their clothes tattered, and the horizontal sabers at their waists had several chips.
City was an important town in the Region East of the River, prosperous and bustling. Even with Demons lurking outside the City, life within the City had to continue as usual.
On the long street paved with bluestone slabs, puddles reflected the red lanterns hanging high on the wine towers on both sides.
Several Young Masters from aristocratic families, dressed in brocade robes, holding gilded oil-paper umbrellas, laughed and chatted as they waded through the water, accompanied by several graceful young women.
"Just now I heard a loud noise outside the City; I wonder which Demon is causing trouble again."
One of the Young Masters fanned himself with a folding fan, trying to maintain a dashing demeanor even in the cold, rainy weather.
A gentleman next to him scoffed, his face full of indifference.
"Why bother? Yesterday, I heard my Old Ancestor say that if those beasts really dare to break through the City, our entire family will move to Suzhou Prefecture."
"Exactly, exactly. I'm tired of City; it's good to change places. I heard the girls in Suzhou are even more exceptional; we must go and see them together then."
The few of them exchanged glances, letting out waves of disgusting lewd laughter.
As for the lives of the hundreds of thousands of common folk in this City?
What did it have to do with them?
Aristocratic families were deeply rooted.
If the City fell, it was just a matter of changing residences.
If everyone died, they would just recruit another batch of tenants.
As long as the Old Ancestor was still around, the aristocratic family would remain an aristocratic family.
Wang Shuixiang listened to the commotion behind him, remaining silent.
A Cavalry Commander beside him gritted his teeth and whispered, "Boss, this bunch of..."
"Let's go."
Wang Shuixiang took a deep breath, looked up blankly, and stared absently at the rain curtain outside the City.
This was the current state of the world... They fought desperately to defend.
Yet what they protected was this kind of people.
But what could be done?
Behind them were hundreds of thousands of unarmed City common folk... North of City, the City gate was wide open.
The autumn rain had not stopped, streaming down the dark grey brick walls, washing away years of accumulated dust from the City top.
The crisp sound of horse hooves pierced through the rain, drawing nearer from afar.
Wang Shuixiang's body trembled, and his previously somewhat hunched back instantly straightened.
"She's here!"
Between the hazy sky and earth, a white figure broke through the wind and rain.
Horses Name was magnificent, treading water without a trace.
On its back, the Silver Robe young woman had a serene expression, her cloak gently fluttering in the wind.
Wang Shuixiang saw the white horse and Silver Robe approach, took a few steps forward, and reached out to grab the reins.
Horses Name snorted, somewhat disdainfully avoiding the large, muddy hands.
Wang Shuixiang wasn't embarrassed, he cupped his fists, bowing his waist, "Lord."
Jiang Yuechu had always disliked putting on airs, so she immediately jumped off the horse and casually flicked Horses Name on its head.
"Let's go, first we'll go see your Great General."