Chapter 363: Entering the Demon Court

Chapter 363 -219: Entering the Demon Court

For an envoy to die in the capital of another nation during peace talks is utterly indefensible.

“Su Mu can die, but it must not affect our peace talks with Da Xuan.”

Liang Jinglue tapped the armrest of his chair. “Has the Thirteenth Prince returned yet?” he asked slowly.

“Not yet. The last message we received from Brother Shisan said he should be back soon,”

Niu Zhong replied.

“Tell the Thirteenth Prince to return as soon as possible. I will create an opportunity for a spar, allowing him to kill Su Mu openly and honorably,”

Liang Jinglue said.

The Thirteenth Prince of the Demon Court, a Tier Two Demon, was equivalent in rank to a Taiping Captain.

But he was the strongest Tier Two Demon in the Demon Court, with a recorded victory in a head-on battle against a Tier Three Demon.

Su Mu was strong, but he often relied on human Profound Weapons.

In a direct confrontation, he would not necessarily be a match for the Thirteenth Prince.

In a spar, injuries were only to be expected.

“Teacher, what should we do about the letter of state?”

Tushan Hanyu asked.

“Arrange the ceremonial guard. Welcome the Da Xuan Envoy into the city,”

Liang Jinglue said coolly. “Things have already come to this. There’s no reason to let Da Xuan underestimate the Demon Court.”

“Yes.”

The assembled demons bowed and replied in unison.

The civilizing of the Demon Court was beginning to bear fruit.

…

“Why do I get such a surreal feeling from all this?”

Xu Chongyuan murmured, walking slowly beside the envoy’s convoy as it headed toward the Demon Court.

“Anyone would find it absurd,” a Taiping Captain said. “Seeing a pack of demons dressed to the nines and acting like they’re from some bastion of civility.”

If you ignored their demonic heads, their every move was indistinguishable from the officials of the Ministry of Rites back in the Da Xuan Court.

Although they had seen plenty of demons who could speak human words on their journey, witnessing firsthand the Demon Court’s mastery of etiquette was still somewhat jarring.

The Taiping Bureau fought demons year-round. They were used to seeing them devour flesh and drink blood, savage and cruel. Now, to suddenly have a demon calling himself the Demon Court’s Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites bow and scrape so formally, speaking in such ornate prose… it would feel strange to anyone.

Zhu Jiuyuan had changed into his formal robes, and Lu Mingyang had ordered the banners of the Da Xuan Envoy to be unfurled.

As Vice Envoy, Su Mu kept a low profile to the side, careful not to upstage the Chief Envoy.

Truth be told, Su Mu’s knowledge of diplomatic protocols was likely inferior to that of the Demon Court’s Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites.

‘A Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites…’

Su Mu couldn’t help but marvel.

He observed the demons of the Demon Court as well as its architecture.

They were now walking down a straight, wide avenue lined with orderly buildings.

While the buildings couldn’t compare to the exquisite architecture of Da Xuan, they clearly followed a distinct style of their own.

Most importantly, Su Mu saw all sorts of shops.

That’s right.

‘Savage, cruel demons, actually opening up shops to do business. Who would believe it?’

Shops selling liquor, clothes, and miscellaneous goods—there was even a brothel!

‘They’re copying Da Xuan in every possible way.’

The demons crowding the streets to watch the commotion were a mix of types. Some had human bodies and demonic heads, while others showed no human features at all. Regardless, all of them wore clothes, and their behavior and mannerisms were virtually identical to humans.

‘If these demons could just hide their demonic heads, they could blend into a human crowd without a trace.’

As a Taiping Captain, Su Mu instinctively considered the situation from an adversarial point of view.

If demons could flawlessly infiltrate human society, it would pose an immense challenge to the Taiping Bureau.

A demon’s nature is hard to change. Su Mu refused to believe that learning Da Xuan’s culture and etiquette could alter their inherently cruel and bloodthirsty instincts.

‘Demons eat people. That won’t change just because they take on a human form.’

‘Fortunately, even when they take human form, they still carry Demonic Qi.’

Su Mu mused. ‘What makes a creature a demon isn’t its appearance, but the Demonic Qi it absorbs.’

‘A human who cultivates with Demonic Qi is said to be on the Demon Dao.’

‘And if a demon were to—’

‘No, that’s impossible.’

‘If it didn’t cultivate with Demonic Qi, it wouldn’t be a demon. It would be a Spirit Beast.’

‘Are there even Spirit Beasts in this world?’

‘The Primordial Four Divine Beasts might count, but they’re only legends. In any case, Su Mu had never heard of anyone actually seeing a Spirit Beast.’

“The Demon Court has shops selling weapons! Don’t tell me demons have Weapon Masters, too?” one of the Taiping Captains suddenly whispered in astonishment.

Su Mu followed the sound of the voice and saw a shop with a weapons rack out front, displaying a full array of sabers, spears, swords, and halberds.

The shop’s name was just as straightforward: Weapon Shop.

“It doesn’t necessarily mean demons have Weapon Masters. It could be that some traitors to humanity are smuggling weapons to the Demon Court,” another Taiping Captain said.

A buzz of discussion rippled through the group.

On their first visit to the Demon Court, everyone was filled with curiosity.

Soon, under the guidance of the Demon Court’s Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, the Da Xuan Envoy settled into the residence the Demon Court had prepared for them.

It was a sprawling compound built in the Demon Court’s style. The buildings were astonishingly tall, making anyone inside a room feel incredibly small.

“Lord Zhu, please rest for a few days. When the Saint Venerable has time, he will summon you all.”

The Demon Court’s Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites said, his speech still flowery.

Then he and his subordinates swaggered away.

“So they’re just going to leave us hanging?”

Xu Chongyuan said, annoyed.

“Not exactly. According to diplomatic protocol, we are indeed required to wait for an audience with the Demon Court Saint Venerable,”

Lu Mingyang explained.

“That applies to two equal nations. You’re calling the Demon Court a nation?”

Xu Chongyuan challenged.

“Whether we like to admit it or not, the Demon Court is now, in fact, a nation,”

Lu Mingyang said with a solemn expression. “A nation whose power is no less than that of Da Xuan.”

Xu Chongyuan sneered. He wanted to argue, but couldn’t find the words.

…

After settling into the residence, the Da Xuan Envoy began the most idle period they had experienced since crossing the border.

Despite being in the Demon Court, they could not relax their vigilance for a single moment.

But it was far safer here than in the desolate wilderness.

Leaving other matters aside, the Demon Court’s attention to etiquette was truly impeccable.

All manner of supplies were provided, even down to rice, flour, and vegetables.

The only problem was that the Demon Court’s Saint Venerable and National Preceptor had yet to see them.

Lu Mingyang went to the Demon Court’s Ministry of Rites to negotiate almost every day.

The other party simply stalled, promising that the Saint Venerable and National Preceptor would see them the moment they were free.

Their attitude was excellent, but they had mastered the art of stalling.

Su Mu knew this kind of diplomacy was just endless wrangling; it was a contest of patience.

He had no good solution for this sort of thing. It wasn’t as if he could just fight his way to the Demon Court Saint Venerable.

The demons were acting reasonably and justifiably. If the Da Xuan Envoy were to make a move, their hosts could retaliate without hesitation.

This was the Demon Court, after all. Even with Ao Qing on his side, Su Mu wasn’t confident he could carve a path of slaughter through the entire court.

While waiting, Su Mu organized the daily guard schedules and also took time to wander around the Demon Court, trying to learn more about it.

Know thy enemy and know thyself, and you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles.

These peace talks were merely a temporary measure for both sides. Whether it was Da Xuan or the Demon Court, both knew that war between them was inevitable.

One day, Su Mu was returning to the residence with Shi Ziran when Xu Chongyuan rushed to greet them.

“Junior Brother Su, the Demon Court is up to its old tricks again!”

Xu Chongyuan said gravely.

“What happened? Are they still refusing to see us?”

Su Mu stopped in his tracks and asked.

“No, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites came to inform us that Mr. Zhu is to go to the palace tomorrow,”

Xu Chongyuan continued. “But that’s not what I was talking about. The Demon Court’s Thirteenth Prince wants to challenge you to a spar.”

“A spar?”

Su Mu shook his head. “I have no interest,” he said coolly. “Refuse it.”