The next morning.
The Golden Crow rose in the east.
Although Liangzhou Prefecture had suffered a great calamity last night, it did not show much sign of decay.
Although the Qiankun Demon King possessed monstrous power, he ultimately did not rampage through the city for too long.
Therefore, aside from the area surrounding the giant pit smashed by the Great Halberd being devastated, the rest of the land was relatively unharmed.
Now.
The streets and alleys of Liangzhou City were already a scene of bustling activity.
Large numbers of Demon Suppression Division personnel, coordinating with the soldiers garrisoned in the city, were either moving earth and stone from the ruins or helping to repair houses.
The order was perfect, without any chaos.
Porridge stalls and silver distribution points were even set up along the long streets.
An Old Man with white hair tremblingly accepted the silver handed over by a Demon Suppression Guard, his cloudy old eyes filled with tears.
"This... this is too much..."
"Our family only had half an earthen house collapse; why would we need so much?"
The Demon Suppression Guard handing out the silver was a young man, smiling honestly.
"Old Man, please just take it!"
"This is an order from our Commander. She said everyone should take this money, not only to fix their houses but also to ensure they have a good New Year!"
"Commander..."
The Old Man grasped the Silver Ingot and was about to kneel toward the Dusi's direction.
This scene.
played out in every corner of Liangzhou City.
For a time.
The reputation of this newly appointed Commander quickly spread throughout the city.
Inside the teahouses and taverns.
The storyteller slapped his Storyteller's Gavel, spraying spit everywhere.
"Esteemed listeners, please hear my words!"
"How vicious was that Demon King last night? Ten thousand feet tall, with a green face and fangs, he could swallow half of Liangzhou City in a single gulp!"
"Just as it looked like our Liangzhou was about to suffer disaster, at this critical moment!"
"Our Commander stepped forward!"
"She was seen wearing a Red Cloak, and with just one punch!"
"Hah! She smashed that Demon King until his brains burst and his Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering!"
A well-informed Tea Patron below couldn't help but interject:
"I heard that our Commander's methods are not just heaven-defying..."
"Oh? How do you mean?"
The Tea Patron said mysteriously, "Do you still remember the Black River incident a few days ago?"
"Of course, we remember! That was the Dragon-Slaying Fairy!"
"Hehe, let me tell you a shocking piece of news..."
The Tea Patron paused, looking pleased.
"The Dragon-Slaying Fairy is none other than our current Commander!"
"Moreover..."
"She is also the younger sister of the current Sage, our Great Tang's Grand Princess!"
Boom—!
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire audience erupted in an uproar.
"What?! The Grand Princess?!"
"A Golden Branch and Jade Leaf of the Imperial Family actually came to serve in this desolate and cold place of ours?"
"No wonder! No wonder that golden light shot into the sky last night; it was the Imperial Dragon Qi protecting her body!"
Someone questioned:
"You can't just talk nonsense like that! Speaking carelessly about the Imperial Family is a capital offense!"
The previous Tea Patron sneered.
"I'm not talking nonsense. This news has long spread throughout the Qinzhou Region. Go outside and listen—it's being spread throughout the streets and alleys now. Have you seen the Demon Suppression Division officials arresting anyone?"
Everyone pondered this carefully.
It was true.
If it were a rumor, given the swift and decisive methods of the Demon Suppression Division, people would have been thrown into the Great Prison long ago.
This meant... they tacitly approved!
"Good heavens... the Grand Princess is guarding our city gates..."
Several Young Masters who usually considered themselves dashing and romantic were now beating their chests and stamping their feet, regretting so much that their intestines turned green.
"Oh dear! This pain is killing me! This pain is killing me!"
"If I had known her identity earlier, I would have peeled off my face and put it in my pocket, just to guard the entrance of the Demon Suppression Dusi for three days and three nights!"
"If I had only persisted back then, and after time revealed my sincerity, truly gained her secret affection—even if it was just for one night as Temporary Lovers..."
Speaking of the emotional part, this fellow actually drooled, his eyes shining.
"Then... wouldn't I have become the current Imperial Son-in-Law?!"
"At that time, wasn't all that glory and wealth, those Mountains of Gold and Silver, within easy reach?"
When the surrounding people heard this, not only did no one laugh at his foolish daydream, but they all followed suit, sighing heavily.
"Heavenly Wealth was dangling right before your eyes, and you somehow managed to avoid it!"
For a moment.
Inside Liangzhou City, Resentment Qi soared into the sky and regret permeated the air.
Countless men were unable to sleep at night.
They only regretted that there was no Regret Medicine to buy in this world.
Little did they know.
If they had truly persisted back then.
They probably wouldn't have waited long enough for time to reveal their sincerity.
They would have first been sent to the Western Paradise by Jiang Yuechu's Black Tiger Steals the Heart... Time flew quickly, and it was already noon.
Outside the Dusi's main gate.
You Wujiang stood before his horse.
Behind him, Ji Shuyu couldn't help but say, "Senior Brother... are we really leaving? I wanted to stay in Liangzhou and play for a few more days..."
You Wujiang sighed, "The Demon Corpse is a matter of great importance and must be sent back to the capital as soon as possible to report; we cannot delay."
As he was speaking.
A dark, profound figure, surrounded by a group of Demon Suppression Guards, slowly walked out.
The young woman was not wearing the Red Cloak, only an ordinary Black Robe.
Even so.
Her cold and transcendent aura, amidst the swirling snow, still made people dare not look directly at her.
Jiang Yuechu walked closer and nodded slightly.
"The journey is long, and the path is filled with wind and snow. Please take care, both of you."
You Wujiang cupped his hands in return, "Thank you, Your Highness, for your concern."
Having said that.
He mounted his horse.
But just as his foot stepped into the Stirrup and he was about to raise his whip to spur the horse.
You Wujiang suddenly paused.
A rare look of hesitation appeared on his face.
If it were someone else's request.
He would naturally only be responsible for delivering the message, and wouldn't bother with anything else.
But the person concerned... was His Majesty.
"Your Highness..."
You Wujiang steeled himself and finally spoke.
"Are you... not returning with us?"
Jiang Yuechu was slightly taken aback, then shook her head and said, "Liangzhou has just been stabilized. Although the demon calamity is resolved, the aftermath is complex. As the Commander of this Prefecture, leaving now would likely be inappropriate."
You Wujiang pursed his lips.
Indeed.
What the young woman said.
Was reasonable and flawless.
But he still said, "It is already the 19th day of the 12th lunar month, and in a few more days, it will be the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month..."
The implication was very clear.
If she didn't return with them along the way.
She might not make it in time.
To the side.
Wei He, who hadn't dared to utter a sound, now cautiously approached.
"Commander..."
"In This subordinate's opinion, since three Lotus Cultivation Demon Kings have already fallen in our Longyou Region, the Demon Court probably won't dare to act rashly anytime soon... and with the Old Daoist Priest secretly looking after things, presumably, nothing will go wrong..."
Jiang Yuechu waved her hand, interrupting him.
"You two go ahead. As for the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month... I will rush back myself by then."
Hearing this, You Wujiang felt a murmur of doubt in his heart.
Rush back?
It wasn't like strolling from the east of the city to the north.
This was Liangzhou to Chang'an!
It was already the 19th day of the 12th lunar month.
At most, there were only four days left.
Thousands of mountains and rivers separated them.
If she didn't leave today.
Even if she rode a Demon Horse like Yunbo, she might not make it in time.
Unless... she was a Great Power of the Mountain Gazing Realm, capable of flying through the air.
You Wujiang felt helpless.
He just assumed that His Highness was offering an excuse to reassure them.
Never mind.
Anyway, he had said what needed to be said.
If His Majesty asked about it later.
His conscience would be clear.
Thinking of this.
You Wujiang stopped trying to persuade her.
"Since Your Highness has made a decision, I, You, will not say anything further."
"May the Green Mountains Remain Unchanged, and the Green Waters Flow On."
"Your Highness, take care!"
Having finished speaking.
He yanked hard on the Reins.
"Hah—!"
The Long Whip cracked sharply, slicing through the sky.
The sound of hooves shattered the silence.
The two riders kicked up piles of snow, escorting the Jade Pendant containing the Demon Corpse, and rushed like arrows shot from a bow into the vast wind and snow.