Chapter 184: The Princess

After a night of wind and snow, the sky over the Snow Domain gradually brightened.

However, because the cold mist after the snow was too thick, the streets were a vast expanse of white.

At this moment, demon merchants doing business on the Ascent Avenue suddenly heard the clanging of iron armor. Looking up, they saw a group of imperial demon soldiers and generals escorting a group of people through the cold mist, heading toward the right peak of the towering Twin Peaks.

Thus, in front of their steaming pots, the merchants couldn't help but stop what they were doing, watching them all the way.

There were over a hundred people being escorted. As they marched, their figures gradually disappeared into the cold mist, but the clatter of shackles remained clear.

Afterward, the group walked against the wind and snow, which were as sharp as knives, heading up the mountain ridge.

The Patriarch of the Scale Clan and the Patriarch of the Tooth Clan were expressionless, showing neither sorrow nor joy.

They did not regret it; they were loyal to His Majesty.

Last night's ambush was no different from the coalition army attacking the Cold Iron Pass; they were both fighting for their clans. They also knew that His Majesty understood their hearts.

At this time, the sun began to slightly pierce through the cold mist, and the inner and outer cities of the Demon Emperor City were already buzzing with discussion.

Everyone knew that the Scale and Tooth clans had ambushed the human envoys at the Jade Garden, but they were unclear about the details or the impact it had caused; they only knew that some people had been locked in the Cold Prison.

At this moment, Ji You walked out of his room, glanced at the crystal-clear icicles hanging from the eaves, and then stood on the veranda with the others, golden light gradually emerging from his eyes.

The top of the right peak of the Twin Peaks was the demon race's Cold Prison, a jail that the demon race spoke of with fear.

This was not because there were cruel tortures or beatings inside, but simply because the endless pure white that met the eyes was enough to cause one's spirit to collapse during the period of imprisonment.

Ji You used his spiritual sense to pierce through the cold mist, watching the gate of the Cold Prison slowly open, seeing the members of the Scale and Tooth clans who participated in the ambush being sent inside, and then he withdrew his gaze.

After the night raid on the Jade Garden, not a single human was injured or killed. The Demon Emperor had sent troops to arrest the Scale and Tooth clans; next, he should make his promises, and then they could head home.

Demon women have tails; this fact was confirmed by the demon princess's backside, filling a major gap in the human race's data regarding the demon race.

In addition, he had picked up a wild blade.

However, his hand could no longer move; he didn't know how long it would take to recover.

Furthermore, something important had been seen by the maid beside the demon princess, losing a little bit of his innocence.

Ji You silently calculated the gains and losses of this trip and was fairly satisfied; after all, his greatest harvest was preventing the devastation of Fengzhou.

But one thing was a pity: the legendary demon treasure vault—he hadn't gotten inside.

Stealing is detrimental to professional ethics. Ji You, who aspired to be a fierce bandit, was only willing to rob, and the definition of robbing was taking things away while someone was watching, and that person didn't dare to make a sound.

But the treasure vault belonged to the Demon Emperor; this matter probably couldn't be done...

It doesn't matter; remember the location, go back and practice, then try again.

"This matter of the Demon-Barbarian Alliance will probably come to a temporary end."

Ji You spoke softly: "But it is only temporary, because the demon race's goal of returning to the Nine Provinces will not change. And this escorting of the Scale and Tooth clans up the snow peak is probably just for us to see; they won't actually receive any punishment."

The people on the veranda couldn't help but look at the snow peak outside the window, barely able to see the people walking through the snow with their naked eyes.

"Big figures like the Demon Emperor consider things on a level far more complex than ours; naturally, we cannot guess, but fortunately, the result is what we wanted."

"It seems we can go back..."

"Mm."

Ji You nodded and then raised his eyes: "It should be entering winter over in the Nine Provinces, right?"

Brother Gongshu Chou nodded: "Looking at the time, it should be about right."

"After winter passes, it will be time for spring plowing."

Ji You was still thinking about going back to carry out the joint cultivation project.

Just at this moment, a tall figure walked through the mist under the morning light, with a slender waist and graceful steps, carrying a medicine box on her shoulder, looking toward Ji You on the veranda.

【A serious physician, here for a follow-up visit.】

Seeing this scene, everyone turned their heads to look at Ji You.

This demon princess had rushed here yesterday, only seeing Ji You, and unexpectedly, she had come again early in the morning, her face seemingly still carrying signs of fatigue.

Brother Gongshu Chou stood on the veranda, turned his head to look at him upon seeing this: "This demon princess seems very attentive to you."

Ji You glanced at him: "Just a simple doctor-patient relationship; she is also on the side that doesn't want to fight, which aligns with my philosophy."

"I don't think so. Otherwise, with her golden-branch-and-jade-leaf status, why is she always so proactive toward you?"

"Naturally, it is the dedication of a serious physician to a patient, and also pacification. After an ambush like this occurred, someone from the Demon Emperor's lineage must come out to soothe us; the princess's status counts as sincerity."

"Why is this sincerity only directed at you?"

"You just keep solving cases; who can solve them better than you..."

Ji You dropped a sentence, turned his head to look at Princess Princess Fengyang, and said "please."

He still didn't understand why Brother Gongshu Chou harbored goodwill toward him, but he felt that this guy was already forty years old, an age that should be mature and steady. He usually looked unfathomable, so he shouldn't be taking groundless rumors and spreading them around.

But what he didn't know was that Brother Gongshu Chou's heart was already itching to return to the Nine Provinces and become a masked storyteller.

Because on this trip, besides Ji You, who picked up a wild blade, his harvest was the greatest.

This harvest wasn't any physical object, but rather materials that could be called intangible cultural heritage.

Hand-to-hand combat with barbarians, sword-slaying a soldier king, counter-killing demon generals—he felt his own value was rising crazily along with it.

Now, if one were to add that this demon princess saw his bravery and secretly fell in love with him, that would be even more incredible.

Because the first three events were direct boasting, which might sound a bit hollow, but the latter could subtly and vividly highlight Ji You's bravery from the side.

【As expected of Senior Brother Brother Gongshu.】

【Senior Brother Brother Gongshu can actually go back and forth with such a figure?】

Brother Gongshu Chou stood with his hands behind his back on the veranda, looking at the pure white in the distance with a faint expression, not knowing how to accept this praise after returning.

At this time, Ji You had already returned to the room with Princess Princess Fengyang, and he saw Princess Fengyang lift Ji You's arm and bend it a few times.

Perhaps because the matter of showing him her tail through her clothes yesterday seemed a bit over the line now that she thought about it, this demon princess was a bit quiet today and didn't have much to say, only gently holding Ji You's palm, her expression serene and soft, her movements gentle and slow, occasionally yawning.

Ji You also acted like a gentleman, eyes observing his nose, nose observing his mouth, mouth observing his heart.

It's just that he still wasn't very clear about whether a follow-up visit required holding hands.

At the same time, Ye Han had come to Princess Princess Fengyang's residence again.

But after searching a circle, he couldn't find his sister's tracks, so he sought out her personal maid, Xiao Rou: "Where is Princess Fengyang?"

"The Princess has gone out."

"Gone out?"

"To provide medical treatment to the humans."

Ye Han was stunned for a moment: "When?"

Xiao Rou glanced at the sky: "Replying to Your Highness, probably around the hour of the rabbit (5-7 AM); she went as soon as the sky was just brightening."

Ye Han opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.

Although Princess Fengyang looked sensible and well-behaved, she actually had a bad habit that only family members knew about.

She had been very lazy in bed since she was a child, and her morning temper was also great; she basically slept until the hour of the snake (9-11 AM) before getting up, and had never gotten up this early for anyone...

At the same time, the follow-up visit in the Spirit Garden had ended. Princess Fengyang let her little hand stay for a while longer before slowly pulling it away from Ji You's hand, then she put on her medicine box and returned to the residence.

Ye Han had not left and was still waiting in the residence.

Seeing her Imperial Brother staring at her, Princess Princess Fengyang took the initiative to speak: "I went to provide medical treatment to the humans."

Ye Han looked at her, pondered for a long time, and then spoke: "Do you know that those humans are about to leave?"

"?"

"After locking the participants of the ambush from the Scale and Tooth clans into the Heavenly Prison this morning, news came from the palace that Father Emperor wants to summon the human mission. I think their mission is about to end."

Princess Fengyang was silent for a long time before nodding: "That is also good. The human mission brought a turmoil as soon as they arrived in our Snow Domain. Who knows what will happen if they stay longer? Leaving early now is not a bad thing."

Ye Han was slightly startled, a bit confused: "Weren't you quite attentive to that human?"

"Just some appreciation, but... they are guests after all. Imperial Brother also said they are leaving soon. Humans and demons should just keep to their own affairs."

"You... you make me not know how to persuade you."

Ye Han previously always had the feeling that his Imperial Sister was going to be abducted by a human, and this time he came to explain it to her.

Although according to the current situation, demons and humans could still coexist peacefully, the core problem of the Nine Provinces could not be solved, and future wars were definitely unavoidable.

A demon princess, a direct eldest daughter, how could she like a human male?

But he didn't expect his Imperial Sister to be so indifferent about the human leaving the Snow Domain, as if it had nothing to do with her, which left him bewildered.

Princess Princess Fengyang noticed Ye Han's expression and, after thinking for a long time, spoke thoughtfully: "Imperial Brother thinks I like him?"

Ye Han came back to his senses: "You specially changed your clothes to see him and got up early for him; isn't that so?"

"I said it was just appreciation. I felt he was very brave and resourceful, so I had a lot of curiosity in my heart, but it is not as Imperial Brother thinks."

Princess Fengyang murmured, not feeling that she was lying.

She didn't want humans and demons to go to war, but having heard so many stories about the Nine Provinces since she was a child, curiosity was naturally unavoidable.

On the day the human mission arrived, she followed to welcome them because of curiosity. Later, because of her identity as a physician, she saw that human named Ji You more often, and her curiosity shifted to him.

Then came the night of the ambush; his meticulous thinking and bravery in slaying Shu He made her appreciate him endlessly.

But demons and humans are not the same race. As a demon princess, even considering her status, she wouldn't like a human male.

Even if she showed him her tail, that was through her clothes...

Ye Han blinked after hearing this, thinking to himself that he hadn't expected this, so he set his heart at ease.

Afterward, the sun began to rise slowly, and the cold mist gradually dissipated.

A demon minister came from the Demon Emperor's Palace, then rushed into the Spirit Garden, bringing the Demon Emperor's oral decree, saying he wanted to summon the human mission again.

Thus, the humans went to the Demon Emperor's Palace to have an audience, staying in the Imperial Palace until noon.

After dining in the Imperial Palace, they rushed back to the Spirit Garden to start packing their luggage.

It's over...

From traveling through the Cold Iron Pass to the Wilderness, and then to the Snow Domain, after countless storms, this matter finally ended.

The Demon Emperor had just opened his golden mouth, promising not to ally with the barbarians.

Just as Ji You said, figures at the Demon Emperor's level consider the world and the rise and fall of races. Their status is extremely high, and what they see and feel is not something ordinary people can understand.

The sudden action of the Scale and Tooth clans was just pushing the boat with the current; the Demon Emperor chose not to fight, and there must be other reasons.

It's just that this matter has nothing to do with them. What they wanted was just a result of not fighting, and with this result, the mission was considered complete.

Outside the Nine Provinces are places of right and wrong everywhere. Even if it is peaceful for now, no one will forget that night of the ambush.

So for them, the longer they stay here, the greater the risk; it's better to leave early.

In fact, ever since they left the Cold Iron Pass, these people had not had a day where they weren't longing to return home.

At this time, Ji You sat in the carriage, his two hands hanging by his sides, looking at the vast white Snow Domain.

The peace between humans and demons is only temporary; perhaps one day, the flames of war will reignite...

And at this time, Ye Han had already left the Princess's residence and arrived at the Demon Emperor's Palace, looking at that great Demon Emperor on the throne.

He also learned of the Demon Emperor's decision and that the human mission was leaving. He was still a bit puzzled in his heart, so he wanted to come and ask.

At this time, the Demon Emperor was holding a scroll, and inside the scroll was a map of the vast demon Snow Domain.

After the Ancient War ended, the demon race migrated from south to north to here. At first, their survival range was only a small place under the Twin Snow Peaks.

And at that time, the remaining demon subjects were actually only a few thousand.

Later, after a thousand years of development and recuperation, they learned to dig for food in the snow, learned to fish in the frozen East Sea, carved out snow mountains, cleared snow valleys, and their lives gradually stabilized, which is how they reached their current state.

But the Demon Emperor's lineage has never forgotten the heavy responsibility left by their predecessors since ancient times, which is to lead their people back to the Nine Provinces.

Ye Han bowed down at this time and spoke: "Father Emperor, did you never intend to go to war with the humans from the beginning?"

The Demon Emperor's gaze swept over the scroll, and only after looking for a long time did he close the scroll, then raised his eyes to look at Ye Han: "What you said is correct; I indeed never thought about going to war with the humans at this time."

"Since that is the case, why did you summon the barbarian envoys earlier?"

"Because the demon race is not my demon race alone; it is the demon race of all demons."

The Demon Emperor raised his eyes and said in a deep voice: "After the Qiling incident, the ministers in the court began to have the idea of returning to the Nine Provinces, and it became increasingly intense. I cannot suppress it by force, because sometimes public opinion is something even the monarch's will cannot suppress. So if I don't want to go to war, I need someone to make a mistake."

Ye Han was extremely puzzled: "Why exactly is Father Emperor unwilling to go to war? Do we really have to give up the Nine Provinces?"

"Give up? No, it's just that the timing is not yet right."

"The human race's fortune has already gone wrong; I don't understand what timing we are still waiting for."

"I said before that the broken Heavenly Dao should collapse on its own, and the new Heavenly Dao should be born after selecting the sages, then descend the clan's fortune and start the Holy War. But I only see dead silence now, and I never see where the new fortune falls."

Ye Han tightened his brows after hearing this: "Could it be that the Qiling incident was a misunderstanding?"

The Demon Emperor shook his head: "No, that was a beginning, meaning that the human race must have gone wrong. The Heavenly Dao has rotted from the inside out, but I don't know why it hasn't collapsed. But the more it is at this time, the less we can be impatient, because we cannot know if there is another conspiracy hidden within."

"Another conspiracy...?"

"Just like Qiling, the humans who wanted to seek immortal destiny ended up becoming someone else's immortal destiny. This itself is a conspiracy. Humans have an old saying called 'the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind,' which is what this means."

Ye Han raised his eyes upon hearing this: "Then we just wait, and do nothing?"

The Demon Emperor looked at him: "What is wrong with waiting?"

Ye Han clenched his fists: "Waiting will lead to falling behind."

The Demon Emperor chuckled after hearing his words: "That is because you don't understand history, which is why you have such delusions. Don't forget, back then our demon race was the first to raise troops against the Remnant Race, but what happened in the end?"

Ye Han was stunned for a moment, then opened his mouth: "In the end, all the fortune went to the human race, and our clan could only be trapped in the Snow Domain, unable to see the clear sky."

"Correct. Our demon race suffered heavy casualties back then, and public grievances were fierce. We couldn't uphold the Dao for the clear sky, but ended up doing the wedding dress for the humans. So rushing to the front has never been the best way. This is also the reason why I have been hesitating; my demon race cannot afford another toss."

"Then how long do we have to wait?"

"Wait another two years."

A look of doubt appeared on Ye Han's face: "Why two years?"

The Demon Emperor suddenly stood up, came down from the throne, and walked toward the outside of the hall: "Because in two years, the lifespan of that old guy in the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan will be exhausted."

Ye Han widened his eyes in shock: "The Dean of the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan is going to die?"

"Soon. I think it's not just me; many people are waiting for him to either die or ascend. This old guy has been shielding the Heavenly Dao all these years, making the ten thousand Daos chaotic. But before his lifespan is exhausted, he must choose to either ascend or die. At that time, I will be able to see everything clearly."

The Dean of the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan, over three hundred and fifty years old, has been in the Approaching Immortal Realm for a hundred years.

But in the hundred years of time, he has never attempted to ascend to the Immortal Realm. This matter actually has many speculations whether it is in the human race, the demon race, or the barbarian race.

But only figures like the Demon Emperor know that he not only didn't ascend, but also shielded the Heavenly Dao.

But life always has an end. In the Demon Emperor's view, what is two short years? Seeing everything clearly at that time is better than blindly rushing into this Heavenly Dao game.

"Father Emperor, just how strong is that Dean of the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan?"

The Demon Emperor turned his head to look at him: "The strongest in the world."

Ye Han was silent for a long time, then bowed: "I understand."

"Shu He is dead?"

"Dead, killed by a person named Ji You."

The Demon Emperor turned around after hearing this: "The one with one person and seven swords?"

Ye Han was slightly surprised: "He is just a wild private cultivator in the Realm of Profound Understanding; how can he make Father Emperor remember him?"

"There are actually not many humans as interesting as him. Hand-to-hand combat with barbarians, sword-slaying a soldier king, and even killing Shu He—I am very curious about where his inheritance comes from."

"It is said that he is a wild private cultivator, and because life was too difficult, he has been cultivating chaotically."

The Demon Emperor waved his hand after a long silence: "Let's not talk about this. Where is Princess Fengyang?"

Ye Han thought of his sister: "Princess Fengyang should be providing free medical treatment."

"You go find craftsmen and repair the damaged Jade Garden."

"Yes, Father Emperor."

Ye Han bowed and saluted, then left the Imperial Palace. He first found a group of craftsmen to repair the Jade Garden, then went to see his sister.

Seemingly to prove that she didn't like that man, Princess Fengyang did not go to see the humans off when they left, but had been providing free medical treatment, her expression as usual, without much reaction to the humans leaving.

Ye Han arrived at her medical building at this time and sat opposite her: "Have you eaten lunch?"

Princess Fengyang shook her head: "Not yet."

"You must eat well."

"I know, wait until I finish seeing this patient."

Ye Han looked at her calm eyes and felt that he seemed to be thinking too much; he had truly misunderstood his sister's thoughts.

Having heard so many stories about the Nine Provinces since she was a child, it was inevitable that his sister would be curious about the human race. He was just too nervous.

Afterward, the Jade Garden entered the repair work. The main hall, side halls, and verandas that were collapsed by the demon generals of the Scale and Tooth clans all had to be rebuilt, and only the West Courtyard was not too affected.

Ye Han had nothing to do, so he often came to watch the progress of the project, but one time he saw his Imperial Sister's figure appearing around, which made him a bit puzzled.

The Princess's residence and the medical clinic were both on the south side of the Ascent Avenue, not in the same direction as the Jade Garden. On normal days, his Imperial Sister would never come to this side.

However, he didn't pay much attention, just thinking she was strolling here, until the second day.

The repair work of the Jade Garden was progressing quickly, and the pavilions and towers were gradually beginning to return to their original appearance. Ye Han came here to check the restoration of the main hall, but as soon as he entered the gate, he saw his sister.

She was wrapped in a cotton robe, sitting quietly in the courtyard, her red lips slightly parted, seemingly staring blankly at the second floor.

Ye Han was stunned for a moment, not understanding why his sister had come here again, so he casually called over a craftsman: "Why is the Princess here?"

"Replying to Your Highness, since the day before yesterday, the Princess has come every day, sitting for half a day facing a room on the second floor, and sometimes she goes to the West Courtyard to stroll for a long time, as if checking the sword marks on the doors and windows."

"?"

Ye Han's face suddenly became serious: "Which room? Point it out to me."

The craftsman raised his hand upon hearing this, and after gesturing on the second floor for a while, he stopped: "It's that one."

"It's broken."

"It's not broken, it was just repaired."

Ye Han glanced at him, thinking to himself, you don't know anything, and then he cast his gaze back to his Imperial Sister's blank back, unable to help but clench his fists.

The good news is that the person wasn't abducted, but the bad news is that her soul seems to have been abducted...

This imperial craftsman didn't know what His Highness the Prince was thinking, so he packed up his things, took a few people, and headed toward the location of the Demon Emperor's Palace treasure vault.

He didn't know who had actually made a mark outside the gate of that treasure vault, just giving them work to do.

(The carriage is repaired, going to pick it up, begging for monthly tickets.)

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 185 =====