The official roads in the Region East of the River were not as wide as those in the north.
On both sides were dense rice paddies and mulberry groves. A gentle breeze swept through the golden rice, revealing waves of wheat-yellow ripples extending to the horizon.
Clip-clop-clop—
A group of over ten riders galloped along the muddy dirt road.
The white horse at the lead was especially magnificent, with a single horn on its forehead, leaving a blur in the darkness and pulling two body lengths ahead of the others.
Xie Tinglan lay prone on his horse, squinting, staring at the silver-white figure ahead, a mix of emotions in his heart.
As a Personal Disciple of Lu Jingchun, the Commander of the Jiangdong Military Commission, at twenty-two years old and at Perfected Core Formation, he considered himself a Prodigy.
Even compared to Zhang Daoxuan of Dragon-Tiger Mountain, he only lost out due to age.
If he were the same age as the other party, Perfection in the Ink-Dipping Realm would not be difficult.
That was until he saw Inspector Jiang from the capital.
Only seventeen, and already in the mid-stage Ink Dot Realm.
"Is this the foundation of the General Bureau..."
Xie Tinglan tightened his grip on the reins, sighing inwardly.
"Whoa—"
Ahead, the white figure suddenly reined in the horse.
Yunbo neighed, its front hooves rearing high, hovering twice in the air before coming to a steady stop.
Xie Tinglan quickly pulled on his reins, and the more than ten riders behind him also stopped in unison.
"Lord Jiang?"
Xie Tinglan spurred his horse forward two steps, "What's wrong?"
Jiang Yuechu did not turn around, merely gazing silently ahead.
"Where is this place?"
Xie Tinglan was startled, then quickly reacted, pulling out a sheepskin map from his Huai and glancing at it under the faint moonlight.
"Replying to Lord, another thirty li along the official road, and we will be in the territory of Yu Hang County."
"Yu Hang..."
At the mention of Yu Hang, Xie Tinglan's previously relaxed expression darkened.
"Lord does not know, among the nineteen counties of the Region East of the River, if we speak of the severity of Demon infestations, besides Danyang City, it would be Yu Hang."
"Yu Hang is located at the mouth of the Qiantang River and is also the southern terminus of the Grand Canal. In the past, half of the empire's wealth and taxes came from Jiangnan, and half of Jiangnan's wealth and taxes passed through Yu Hang northward."
"Where there is more money, there is more human activity; where there is more human activity, it naturally attracts the attention of great Demons."
Jiang Yuechu was thoughtful.
People flock to places of wealth and prosperity, and so do Demons.
Small Demons in the wilderness only scare country bumpkins; the truly powerful great Demons all burrow into crowds of people.
"Moreover..." Xie Tinglan glanced at Jiang Yuechu, hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice, "Rumor has it that a great Demon at Perfection in the Ink-Dipping Realm is also entrenched here."
Perfection in the Ink-Dipping Realm?
Jiang Yuechu's eyes narrowed.
"What kind of path does it follow?"
Xie Tinglan shook his head, smiling bitterly, "I don't know."
"Don't know?"
"That beast is extremely cunning; it has never revealed its true form."
"Even the great general of Yu Hang only exchanged one blow with it from a distance before it disappeared without a trace."
Jiang Yuechu narrowed her eyes.
Hiding its head and tail, insidious and cunning.
This Demon... might be something special.
"From what you say, Yu Hang is probably even more dangerous than Danyang City."
Jiang Yuechu said faintly, "Then why hasn't the City fallen yet?"
The two early-stage Ink Dot Realm experts in Danyang City working together forced a great general into a desperate situation.
With a Perfection in the Ink-Dipping Realm expert guarding Yu Hang, and surrounded by a multitude of Demons, logically, it should have become a dead land long ago.
Hearing this, Xie Tinglan straightened his back and cupped his fists towards the southeast in a distant salute.
"Because the one guarding it is Yue Huaiyuan, General Yue!"
Although Jiang Yuechu had not heard of this name, she could tell from the other party's expression that this person's strength should be considerable.
"Lord has been in the north for a long time, so perhaps you do not know."
Xie Tinglan said in a deep voice, "Before my Master stepped into the Zhonglian Realm, in terms of actual combat power, the title of 'Number One' in the Jiangdong Military Commission always belonged to General Yue."
"Even after Master broke through, he personally said..."
Xie Tinglan paused, imitating Lu Jingchun's tone, "When it comes to the art of killing, and fierce Qi, I am far inferior to Huaiyuan."
"As long as he draws breath, that City gate of Yu Hang will not collapse."
Hearing this, Jiang Yuechu's eyes showed a hint of interest.
To be so highly praised by the Commander-in-Chief of the Zhonglian Realm, this Yue Huaiyuan must be an extraordinary figure.
Yet, precisely such a fierce individual, stationed in Yu Hang, could not slay that Demon beneath his horse.
What did this mean?
"How fat must this Demon be..."
Jiang Yuechu's throat subtly moved.
Her pink tongue peeked out, lightly licking her somewhat dry red lips.
"Lord?"
Xie Tinglan was just speaking of the dangers of Yu Hang when he looked up and saw that the young girl in front of him had an unusual expression.
That look in her eyes... "Lieutenant Xie."
Jiang Yuechu suddenly spoke, "I'll go ahead. You all follow."
Her words had not even finished.
The silver-white figure ahead suddenly squeezed the horse's belly.
"Hup!"
Its four hooves generated wind, and mist swirled around it.
Its already extremely fast speed instantly surged even further.
Like a white bolt of lightning, it tore through the tranquility of the official road, streaking wildly towards the southeast.
Leaving behind only a trail of splashing mud.
"Eh?! Lord Jiang!"
Xie Tinglan was dumbfounded.
What was she doing?
Rushing forward so impatiently, one who didn't know would think there was some great treasure waiting to be picked up ahead!
"Everyone, follow! Quick!"
"Don't let Lord Jiang be alone!"
...Qiantang has been prosperous since ancient times.
Even with the current situation, the appearance of Yu Hang County remained unchanged from its former days.
Willow smoke and painted bridges, wind curtains and emerald drapes.
The Grand Canal's water flowed through the City, and homes on both banks rested by the river.
White walls and black tiles, arranged in dense rows, and even in this continuous autumn rain, the long streets were still bustling with traffic.
By the Qiantang River, the river waters surged.
"Splash—"
A loud crash.
The turbid river water suddenly exploded, and a huge black shadow, carrying a foul-smelling mist, heavily stepped onto the shore.
The figure was over a zhang tall, wielding a steel trident, with a hideous head covered in green hair like water plants.
"Roar—"
The Demon roared to the sky, its steel trident swinging violently.
Boom!
A pavilion by the shore, used by merchants to rest, was instantly smashed to pieces.
The surrounding commoners screamed and scattered.
The Demon bared its teeth in a grin, not venturing deeper, but instead rampaging along the riverbank, smashing houses or overturning stalls.
In just a few breaths.
Clip-clop-clop—
Urgent and orderly footsteps pierced through the rain curtain.
Hundreds of men, dressed in dark-colored brocade robes with red patterns and carrying horizontal sabers at their waists, emerged from the end of the long street.
Their faces were stern, their movements uniform.
Though silent, they exuded a chilling aura of slaughter.
"Kill!"
The leading captain roared, and hundreds of horizontal sabers were drawn simultaneously.
The Demon's movements paused, a flicker of impatience in its eyes.
They came so quickly... "How boring."
The Demon mumbled, casually swinging its steel trident twice, forcing back several Demon Suppression Guardss who tried to advance.
Although it had thick skin and flesh, there was no need to fight head-on with this group of desperate mad dogs.
The time was about right; it was time to go back and report to the Little Demon King.
With this thought, the Demon turned around, dragging its steel trident, and strode towards the river.
However.
The instant it took two steps.
A chill suddenly locked onto its Qi mechanism.
"Vile beast! How dare you think Yu Hang has no one?!"
Boom—!!!
An explosive sound ripped through heaven and earth.
The rain curtain was forcibly torn open, creating a vacuum tunnel.
A long spear, entirely black with golden dragon patterns coiling around its shaft, pierced through the air.
The spear tip rotated, its accompanying airflow like a flood Dragon leaping, sweeping with the speed of lightning.
It could move stars and land, and cause clouds to rise from the cauldron lake!