Chapter 1091.2: Have to Try - Part 2

At the time, the two of them had been by their sides as they lay dying. As for Zuo Mu, he had died in the midst of battle and had not even been able to leave behind any last words.

Chen Chao said, “This official, the imperial court, and the common people, will all remember them.”

Xu Yin wiped his face and smiled. “It doesn't matter whether anyone remembers us or not. We chose this ourselves, after all. Dying in the north isn't a pathetic way to go. If there's anything to regret, it's only that we didn't kill enough demons!”

Huang Ying glanced at Chen Chao and changed the subject. “Lord Warden Commander, are you traveling alone because you're returning to the Northern Frontier?”

While traveling south, they had also heard plenty of news along the way. They knew that Yin Mountain in Ying Prefecture had been destroyed, and that all of it had been the work of this very Lord Warden Commander.

“Now that I've finished what I came to do, I'm returning to the Northern Frontier. The situation there is still rather dangerous.”

Chen Chao asked, “What about you?”

“We're going to make a trip to Yellow Dragon Prefecture, and then we'll return to the Northern Frontier.”

Wu Yi spoke up. “That big fool Hai Qing was from Yellow Dragon Prefecture. He was always going on about how fallen leaves should return to their roots. We've brought his remains back, so at least we've fulfilled that wish of his. But honestly, it makes no sense. He came from a place so rich in sword qi, yet he wasn't a sword cultivator.”

In their earlier years, they had often teased one another, saying that there were far too many strange things in the world. Hai Qing, who was clearly born in Yellow Dragon Prefecture, was a martial artist, while Li Qingshan, who was born in White Deer Prefecture, was not a scholar at all, but a sword cultivator.

Back then, Hai Qing would only give a simple, foolish grin, while Li Qingshan would most likely ignore the remark.

While the others would burst into laughter.

At the time, it had all seemed so ordinary.

Xu Yin said, “I've come back to see my hometown this time, so I can at least say I've been home once more. If I die later, there's no need for you all to trouble yourselves over me.”

Wu Yi rolled her eyes at him. “Do you think that if you die, we'll have to treat you the way we treated that blockhead Hai Qing?”

Huang Ying smiled faintly. She was long accustomed to these two bickering, so she said nothing.

But Chen Chao looked at them and said, “If possible, do your best to stay alive.”

Li Qingshan smiled. “Lord Warden Commander, there's no need to worry. We've already come to terms with life and death.”

Xu Yin hurriedly waved his hand. “What kind of bullshit is that? I still don't want to die. It's just that sometimes, you have no choice but to.”

Chen Chao smiled and changed the subject. “Daoist Li, did you see Yu Xiyi on the city walls this time?”

Li Qingshan nodded. “I saw him from a distance, but I didn't get the chance to speak with Great Sword Immortal Yu.”

Chen Chao smiled. “When this official returns to the Northern Frontier this time, if I run into that fellow Yu Xiyi, I'll mention it to him and see if I can arrange for the two of you to sit down and share a drink.”

“That doesn't really matter. I just hope Great Sword Immortal Yu will draw his sword and kill a few more demon lords, so he can restore some of the pride of us sword cultivators.”

Li Qingshan thought for a moment before saying, “If possible, Lord Warden Commander, it would be great if you could mention to Great Sword Immortal Yu that there's a sword cultivator named Li Qingshan who once fought shoulder to shoulder with him on the city walls of the Northern Frontier.”

Chen Chao nodded his head.

Wu Yi suddenly spoke up in a rather timid voice. “Lord Warden Commander, may I ask for a favor?”

Chen Chao smiled. “Go ahead.”

“Could Lord Warden Commander pass a message to that Temple Master Yun for me? Tell him... tell him that Wu Yi has always liked him very much.”

Wu Yi's face flushed red, but it had taken considerable courage for her to say such a thing at a time like this.

Actually, this was hardly surprising. Yun Jianyue had never lacked female admirers in the foreign lands. After all, with his looks, his background, and even his personality, all he had to do was say that he was looking for a dao companion, and countless women would have thrown themselves at him.

Chen Chao's expression turned peculiar. He remembered Yun Jianyue mentioning that he was becoming a father. But after thinking it over, he decided not to spoil the mood by bringing it up. He merely smiled and said, “I'll pass the message along.”

Then Chen Chao turned to Huang Ying of his own accord and asked, “What about you, Fairy Huang?”

Huang Ying shook her head and teased him, “I don't think I'm definitely going to die, you know. I'm not going around leaving last words and the like.”

Chen Chao smiled and nodded. “That's true.”

Afterward, the group said their farewells at the ferry crossing. They would first head south before making their way north again. While Chen Chao would proceed directly to the Northern Frontier.

After bidding one another farewell, Chen Chao headed north along the riverbank, while the others remained where they were, watching him go.

Xu Yin could not help sighing with emotion, "Is there anyone else like Lord Warden Commander?" “He's already reached such a realm, yet he's still so young. His future should be limitless, and yet he still has to risk his life, with his head practically hanging from his waist. That's not something many people could do, is it?”

“Otherwise, why would so many people admire him?” Huang Ying said with a smile.

The group continued south. Suddenly, Xu Yin remembered something and asked, “Huang Ying, didn't you buy a portrait of the Lord Warden Commander in the Divine Capital earlier? What did you buy that thing for?”

Huang Ying replied nonchalantly, “What's it to you?”

“Don't tell me you like the Lord Warden Commander?”

Xu Yin teased her, his face full of smiles.

Huang Ying did not give him a direct answer. She merely said, “How many women in this world don't like him?”

Xu Yin pondered this for a while and realized that it was indeed the plain truth.

......

......

After leaving the demon race's royal city but before returning to the desolate north, Demon Lord Redsleeve encountered Demon Lord White Jing once more, this time in the lower reaches of the Onan River.

This demon lord, who held a lofty position in the vast demonic sea of the north, no longer commanded quite as much attention as before. After all, many demons had clearly witnessed how that young martial artist had nearly stomped him to death with a casual kick on the battlefield. Besides, those great demons of the Fuyun Realm had now also appeared on the battlefield.

With such existences making their presence known, it was only natural that White Jing no longer left such a deep impression on everyone.

Demon Lord Redsleeve looked directly at White Jing and got straight to the point with a smile, “Let's make a deal. I'm certain you won't refuse.”

Demon Lord White Jing narrowed his eyes. He had never regarded this eldest princess as a simple person, “What deal?”

“You will bring all the tribes of the demonic sea to the desolate north and place them under my command. Once we breach the Great Wall of the Northern Frontier and exterminate the human race, the Southern Frontier will help you ascend to the throne.”

Demon Lord Redsleeve did not beat around the bush in the slightest. She laid her bargaining chip on the table at once, offering a condition that White Jing seemed to have no way of refusing, no matter how he looked at it.

White Jing did not respond to her offer. Instead, he asked, “Why are you so determined to exterminate the human race? Don't you like their culture and customs?”

“Precisely because I do. Their gradual rise in strength doesn't surprise me, nor would it surprise me if they grow even stronger in the future. That's exactly why they must be exterminated.”

Demon Lord Redsleeve smiled. “I failed to ascend to the throne back then, but royal blood still flows through my veins. These people all count as my subjects. How could I stand by and watch them become enslaved by the human race in the future?”

White Jing sneered. “Since you call them your subjects, don't you find what you just said rather laughable?”

“That might be the case, but I have a grudge against that nephew of mine, as you well know. Women have always been petty and prone to holding grudges. It's hardly anything unusual.”

Demon Lord Redsleeve smiled. “You don't have to believe me. But if you refuse to make this deal with me, you'll have little chance of becoming the demon emperor.”

White Jing remained cautious. “At his level of cultivation, I'm afraid killing him will be extremely difficult.”

“Since he's the strongest, naturally he'll attract the most attention. It's no secret that the human race wants to kill him. And as for those Fuyun great demons on our side, do you really think they came out here of their own accord? Anyone forced into doing something against their will would feel resentful. And once resentment takes hold, they might very well make a move.”

Demon Lord Redsleeve continued, “Even if he doesn't die, he'll be gravely wounded. By then, with the army from the Southern Frontier under your command, you may not have a 100% chance of winning, but at least 80%.”

“Besides, you'll also have all the tribes of the demonic sea behind you. Everyone knows that those fellows might ignore anyone else's orders, but they would never refuse to listen to you, White Jing.”

White Jing asked, “How do I know you won't deceive me?”

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