My Wife Is The Leader Of A Demonic Cult-Chapter 269 - The Houjin Descends South, The Beacon Fires Rise
Chapter 269: Chapter 269 The Houjin Descends South, The Beacon Fires Rise
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Zhao Qingmei’s brows slightly lifted, “Please let them in.”
Ever since Yuan Feng had died, Ouyang Ping rarely meddled in the affairs of the Demon Sect, and Jun Qinglin was even more ‘hands-off,’ often not inquiring about the sect’s business. Whenever there was a major event, it was Zhao Qingmei who would have Duanmu Xinghua draft letters to be sent to the Sealing Demon Platform.
It was the same during the battle at Blue Sky Island, and it was the same now with the frequent movements of the Houjin.
If the last event concerned the future plans of the Demon Sect, then the actions of the Houjin this time related to the very survival of the Demon Sect.
At such a time, as elders of the Demon Sect’s Sealing Demon Platform, they naturally couldn’t remain uninvolved.
Before long, Jun Qinglin and Ouyang Ping entered and greeted Zhao Qingmei at the head of the room with clasped hands.
“Sect Hierarch!”
“Great Elder, Second Elder, please take a seat,” Zhao Qingmei stood up, indicating for them to do so.
The two slowly sat down, while An Jing, standing to the side, noticed that Jun Qinglin’s qi mechanism hadn’t changed at all, which meant that Jun Qinglin had not yet attempted to take that step.
Thinking this, he let out a faint sigh of relief.
He then shook his head secretly. Why did he feel relieved? Did he also think that Jun Qinglin couldn’t break through that barrier?
Great Grandmasters were known as Land Immortals, the threshold for all the Five Qi Grandmasters; anyone who could step beyond this threshold would truly become the foremost in the world.
The Great Yan Emperor had also suffered heavy injuries when breaking through this barrier and had been unable to manage court affairs since. Qi Xuan Dao also stayed at the level of a Five Qi Grandmaster, unable to enter this realm for a long time.
Before them, there were Five Qi Grandmasters who had stalled at this point.
This checkpoint stopped many of the world’s most extraordinary masters.
Duanmu Xinghua, Yi Daoyun, and Mu Xiaoyun stood up to pay their respects to Jun Qinglin and Ouyang Ping. “We greet the Great Elder and the Second Elder.”
Jun Qinglin glanced over and thought for a moment. “Duanmu Xinghua? Yi Daoyun?”
“Indeed.”
The two nodded in acknowledgment.
Jun Qinglin couldn’t help but smile upon hearing this.
Back when he was at Dongluo Pass, Duanmu Xinghua had been in his forties, at the peak of his career, while Yi Daoyun was an extremely young swordsman. Now, Duanmu Xinghua had become grey-haired, and Yi Daoyun also began to show his age.
Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but glance at An Jing and Zhao Qingmei. At such young ages, they had reached heights that others could not in a lifetime. They seemed to possess endless possibilities.
Ouyang Ping also felt quite emotional, as if aging had happened in just a flash of time.
Zhao Qingmei gestured to serve tea and then asked, “May I know if the Great Elder and the Second Elder’s sudden visit is concerning the southward movement of the Houjin army?”
“Correct.”
Jun Qinglin nodded slightly, “Zongzheng Huachun has been scheming for decades; naturally, he won’t give up on moving south because of one or two setbacks. The attack on Dongluo Pass by tens of thousands of Houjin soldiers has become a certainty. Although we have retired to the Sealing Demon Platform, this matter is related to the life and death of the Demon Sect, and we have an inescapable responsibility.”
The Demon Sect experts present were delighted upon hearing this.
With Jun Qinglin, who stood at the summit of the martial world, their hearts were somewhat reassured.
Zhao Qingmei took a deep breath and spoke earnestly, “With the Great Elder and the Second Elder present, we have a greater chance of holding Dongluo Pass.”
After pondering for a moment, Jun Qinglin asked, “Actually, does the Sect Hierarch have any other thoughts?”
Zhao Qingmei asked, “What thoughts?”
Jun Qinglin said, “Such as, abandoning Dongluo Pass.”
“Abandon Dongluo Pass!?”
As Jun Qinglin finished speaking, Zhao Qingmei’s eyebrows knit together more tightly.
Duanmu Xinghua, Yi Daoyun, and others exchanged looks of surprise and bewilderment.
Jun Qinglin continued, “Now that our sect is allied with Yan Country, we are allowed to spread our teachings in all places in Yan aside from Capital Road. Why be fixated on this small Dongluo Pass? After all, people are alive. As long as we have followers, it will still be Outer Heaven, but if we no longer have followers, if we no longer have the people present here, even if we continue to hold Dongluo Pass, what meaning does it have?”
Zhao Qingmei’s brow didn’t ease at Jun Qinglin’s words, instead furrowing deeper, “Dongluo Pass is the main stronghold of Outer Heaven, and we have been rooted here for hundreds of years. Many of our followers have already come to see this place as their home.”
The others also nodded repeatedly. At this moment, Dongluo Pass was their home. How could they possibly give it up without a fight?
Jun Qinglin heard this and fell silent.
Once people develop feelings, they become bound, true for relationships with people and matters alike.
To some, the ground underfoot was just ordinary land, but for others, it was a home watered with sweat, blood, and affections.
To ask them to put down their weapons and leave their homeland without a fight, what would they think in their hearts?
The entire hall became quiet, with everyone feeling a suppressive atmosphere.
The Demon Sect was powerful, but faced with the immense entity of Houjin, it seemed somewhat insignificant.
Not to mention top-level masters; Houjin had many, such as the Soul Seeker Mansion, Snow Mountain, and Royal Court Guards. In terms of soldiers, Dongluo Pass was far outnumbered.
Houjin could easily muster tens of thousands of soldiers, while Dongluo Pass, at its full capacity, only had fifty to sixty thousand soldiers.
Despite knowing that the vast armies of Houjin were about to attack, the only thing they could do was wait for the storm to hit.
After a while, Ouyang Ping spoke out, “The Yan Kingdom Court won’t just watch Dongluo Pass fall either.”
Jun Qinglin nodded in agreement, without saying another word.
The Yan Kingdom Court still needed to use Dongluo Pass, so how could they allow it to fall?
But living in the cracks between these two colossal forces, the future of the Demon Sect also appeared bleak.
After all, sometimes you don’t know whether persisting is a mistake or if giving up too easily until you’ve reached the last step.
Seeing this, An Jing chuckled softly and said, “Today marks the end of the year, and tomorrow is the start of a new one. Why don’t we put aside the current affairs for now and have a good drink?”
Jun Qinglin shook the teacup in his hand, “Then it seems this tea must be replaced with wine.”
“Bring the wine.”
Zhao Qingmei smiled faintly.
Before long, the fine wine was brought forth, and everyone’s wine cup was filled to the brim.
Ouyang Ping poured a cup of wine and said to everyone, “It has been many years since I’ve enjoyed such a lively scene.”
The Sealing Demon Platform was aloof in status, inhabited only by several servants and the offspring of the Sealing Demon Platform’s elders, thus it was always very quiet throughout the year.
In the past, he didn’t like the hustle and bustle, but after a long period of quietness, he discovered that enjoying the liveliness occasionally seemed to be very good.
The change in Ouyang Ping was most deeply felt by Duanmu Xinghua, Yi Daoyun, and others. Ouyang had previously been extremely cold, but in recent years he had become much gentler.
Duanmu Xinghua looked at the wine cup in her hand and sighed inwardly, “Once this battle against Houjin is over, it’s time for me to retire within the Sealing Demon Platform.”
She had served as the Sect Master of the Heavenly Sect for decades, especially when Jiang Shang left the Demon Sect and Zhao Qingmei had just taken over, she had exhausted all of her energy. Now the time had come to step away from the Jianghu and make way for the younger generation.
Zhao Qingmei raised her wine cup, looking at An Jing with a soft light in her eyes, “My husband.”
“My wife.”
An Jing looked at the tender and attractive face before him.
Fondness for a person cannot be hidden, especially in the eyes when looking at you, they shine with a bright light.
Zhao Qingmei was stubborn, confident, and suspicious, especially under the subtle influence of the Demon Seed, her paranoia and suspicion became increasingly severe.
But at the same time, her eyes when looking at An Jing also turned increasingly ardent.
Just like she once said, she didn’t want to be the red rose in An Jing’s heart; she wanted to be the wild grass that’s undying and sprouts with every gust of wind.
Everyone raised their wine cups.
In such a scene, everyone present was filled with their own deep emotions.
….
After three rounds of wine and a variety of dishes,
The crowd gradually dispersed.
The cold weather at Dongluo Pass grew several degrees colder, with a full moon in the sky, casting a chill on people’s brows and hair.
All lights in Dongluo Garden were ablaze, yet it was very quiet.
The vast garden had few servants, and because of the holiday, they all had gone home.
An Jing and Zhao Qingmei walked through the garden, their hands tightly clasped, feeling each other’s warmth.
“My husband.”
“Hmm?”
“Do you think what the Great Elder said makes sense?” Zhao Qingmei asked.
Jun Qinglin was among the top experts in the world today, but even he seemed somewhat uncertain about this battle. Could Dongluo Pass really hold against the tens of thousands of Houjin’s troops?
And even if they held this time, what about the next?
As long as Dongluo Pass stands, it will remain a thorn in Houjin’s side, a nail in their eye; only by removing it could they rest at ease.
An Jing gently squeezed her hand and said, “The Great Elder makes sense, but now that tens of thousands of Houjin’s troops have already gathered on the plains, retreating would likely be incredibly difficult.”
Zhao Qingmei took a deep breath, her brow furrowed with worry.
Sometimes, she had to be cautious.
Things were far more complicated than imagined, and one wrong step could cost the Demon Sect the lives of countless experts.
Besides that, what worried Zhao Qingmei the most was the ‘traitor.’
This was the most deadly issue at present. She clearly knew there was a traitor among the high ranks of the Demon Sect, but was unable to weed them out, leaving everyone unsure of what sort of twists this traitor might cause.
Looking at the somewhat weary Zhao Qingmei before him, An Jing gently pulled her into his embrace.
Zhao Qingmei buried her head in An Jing’s chest and said, “My husband, the Demon Seed within me has been providing more and more cultivation lately, I think I will soon reach the Three Qi.”
Feeling the warmth within him, An Jing said softly, “As long as you are confident.”
Zhao Qingmei wrapped her arms around An Jing’s neck and whispered in his ear, “Husband, this time we will definitely get through the difficulty smoothly, and then I will go back to Yu State City with you. It has been a long time since we rowed a boat together.”
“All right.”
An Jing gently touched Zhao Qingmei’s hair.
Both showed a trace of a smile.
…….
North Field, Heavenly Water City.
Inside a grand hall of a tower, although it was deep into the night, the place was still brightly lit.
Sitting in the chief seat was a general with a tiger’s back and bear’s waist, clad in black scale armor. He had a Houjin-style curved saber hanging at his waist, and his entire presence exuded a chilling aura of blood.
Ordinary martial arts experts from Jianghu would feel a shiver inside their hearts upon seeing this man.
Zongzheng Huachun had unified the grasslands, and among his subordinates were two mighty generals who not only possessed profound strength but were also seasoned strategists who had seen countless battles.
Now, sitting in the chief seat was one of them, the Black Tiger Jin Lv.
Jin Lv was calm and composed, with measured action, and extremely sensitive to grand military battles. His military exploits were magnificent and rarely seen. He had faced off against the Marquis Wang Shiyi on the borders of Houjin and Yan Country several times, with victories and losses on both sides.
However, their encounters had been just minor skirmishes, stopping at the first blow.
Besides Jin Lv, sitting below were the leaders of the Water Cloud Banner, Flying Horse Banner, and Heavenly Eagle Banner, Jiang Shang, the chieftain of the Snow Mountain tribe, Mu Yuan Great Dharma King, Soul Seeker Mansion, and many other experts.
Meeting together were top forces from the military and Jianghu, which made the atmosphere in the room grow heavy.
Jin Lv glanced around and said in a deep voice, “Since everyone is here, I will speak directly. Dongluo Pass is easy to defend and hard to attack. If Dan Jun wants to break through Dongluo Pass, he can only do so via Sanfeng Pass and Knife Pass. Clearly, both places must be guarded by people from the Demon Sect. But according to the intelligence we received, the Black Armored Army of the Demon Sect is only 60,000 strong. If they divide their forces to guard both places, they will be spread too thin; there’s nothing to fear. What had been worrying me was the experts of the Demon Sect. Now, not only do we have Prefect Zeng inside Dongluo Pass to cooperate with us, but also the Great Dharma King, Sect Hierarch Jiang, and Chieftain Wu. With them, all these worries are dispelled. Based on my estimation, if the great army sets out tonight and focuses on attacking Sanfeng Pass, within ten days we shall be celebrating with drinks inside Dongluo Pass!”
With the absolute advantage in forces, there was no need for trickery or stratagems; a straight push would suffice.
Mu Yuan Great Dharma King nodded and looked at Jiang Shang, “Sect Hierarch Jiang, what do you think?”
Jiang Shang waved his hand indifferently, “Marshal Jin can proceed with his own plan.”
He understood Zhao Qingmei’s stubborn nature all too well.
Jin Lv said, “When the troops reach the city, it would be better for Sect Hierarch Jiang to show up.”
At present, the Demon Sect’s momentum clearly indicated their intention to hold Dongluo Pass at all costs. Having Jiang Shang intervene at that point would be less favorable. But once they were under the city walls of Dongluo Pass, if Jiang Shang then stepped forward, there would naturally be many within the Demon Sect ready to side with him; thus, Dongluo Pass would fall without a fight.
Jiang Shang said indifferently, “Actually, I know of a small path that leads straight to Dongluo Pass.”
A gleam flashed in Jin Lv’s eyes, “Oh? Please do tell, Sect Hierarch Jiang.”
Dongluo Pass was under-manned at the time, and just tens of thousands of soldiers could break into Dongluo Pass. Thus, the Black Armored Army guarding Sanfeng Pass and Knife Pass would have no choice but to surrender.
Reducing casualties was naturally a good thing.
Not just Jin Lv, but the leaders of the three banners were also deeply shocked, understanding the impact this path could have on the current war.
Jiang Shang said, “It’s not far from Knife Pass. Few people know of this path, and there are often sandstorms. The troops that could be dispatched may not be many, and some might be lost along the way…”
“Then dispatch twenty thousand cavalry.”
“When twenty thousand cavalry reach Dongluo Pass, probably about seventeen or eighteen thousand will remain.”
“No matter. When we attract the Demon Sect’s attention at the front, Sect Hierarch Jiang, Great Dharma King, and Chieftain Wu will lead the cavalry through this path into Dongluo Pass. How could they defend against that?”
Jin Lv laughed heartily and boisterously said.
If this move to undermine the enemy’s base were successful, the gains would far outweigh the loss of two thousand cavalry.
Mu Yuan Great Dharma King and the chieftain of the Snow Mountain tribe exchanged glances and then nodded in agreement.
Jin Lv then began issuing commands, “Heavenly Eagle Banner and Flying Horse Banner, you suffered heavy losses at Sanfeng Pass last time; this time you will lead the main force in attacking Sanfeng Pass. I will personally lead twenty thousand Tiger Guards to attack Knife Pass. Water Cloud Banner and thirty thousand Snow Mountain soldiers will be responsible for defending Heavenly Water City. Wang Shiyi will surely come. You need only hold for ten days.”
“Subordinates obey!”
The leaders of the three banners stood up to receive their orders.
As commands were issued, the massive war machine began to operate, turning the entire Heavenly Water City into a hubbub. This activity could not possibly be concealed, and spies from all forces quickly spread the news.
The clamor from the encampment outside the city triggered a wave of noise; the sound of horse hooves rolled like thunder, as if the very ground was roaring.
The great army of Houjin finally set out.
The new year was indeed ushered in with the great battle between Houjin and Dongluo Pass.
……
The night grew deeper.
From the day before the lunar new year, Dongluo Pass had entered a state of high alert. All four city gates were sealed, and without the Sect Hierarch’s decree, no one could enter or leave.
Inside Dongluo Pass, a pervasive tension and unease filled the air.
Oppressive.
Suffocating.
Even on the eve of the new year, the streets were sparsely populated. Most of those remaining in Dongluo Pass were either family members of the Demon Sect or civilians who had long been rooted in the pass. As for merchant convoys from various forces, they had left long ago.
Clearly, everyone harbored doubts that the Demon Sect would be able to hold Dongluo Pass, even with the aid of Yan Country’s great army.
At the North Gate, several masters from the Azure Dragon Sect were guarding the firmly shut city gates; the leader among them was none other than Zhu Cheng of the Azure Dragon Sect.
Just then, a figure approached from a distance.
It was a woman, with a voluptuous figure and a seductive charm. The sight of her stirred a burning desire in men, and if summarized in one word, it would be ‘provocative’.
“Mu Elder!”
Zhu Cheng’s eyes brightened, and he quickly bowed his head.
The sensual woman before him was the Mu Xiaoyun of the Vermilion Bird Seat, also the current favorite of the Sect Hierarch. Not to mention him, even his direct superior, Lin Tianhai, would have to show her some courtesy.
Mu Xiaoyun glanced at the people in front of her and said, “You truly have worked hard.”
“Not at all.”
Zhu Cheng hastily shook his head, then curiously asked, “May I inquire why the respected Mu Elder has come so late?”
Mu Xiaoyun offered a faint smile, “The White Tiger Sect’s experts have returned from an assassination mission, and the Sect Hierarch sent me here to receive them?”
“The White Tiger Sect carried out an assassination mission?”
Zhu Cheng murmured to himself; he hadn’t received any news about this.
However, upon thinking harder, it made sense. Historically, only the White Tiger Sect’s experts and the Sect Hierarch would be privy to important assassination missions. It was normal for him to be uninformed.
But why send the Vermilion Bird Seat’s Elder for the reception?
Listening to the distant sound of the watchman, Mu Xiaoyun said, “The hour of Zi (11 PM – 1 AM) has arrived, open the city gate.”
Zhu Cheng revealed a trace of hesitation, “This… ”
Mu Xiaoyun’s brows furrowed, “What? Are my orders not effective here?”
“It’s not that. It’s just… the Sect Hierarch has ordered…”
“This is a verbal decree from the Hierarch himself. If you delay, your life could not compensate for it.”
Facing the cold gaze in Mu Xiaoyun’s eyes, Zhu Cheng felt an immense pressure and his heart wavered. If it were anyone else, he would have dismissed them without a second thought, but this woman could influence the Sect Hierarch.
Mu Xiaoyun noticed Zhu Cheng’s hesitation and snapped sternly, “Open the gate quickly!”
“Open the gate.”
With a deep breath, Zhu Cheng eventually waved his hand.
“Ka-ka—!”
The city gate slowly opened, and Mu Xiaoyun let out a slight sigh of relief.
Before long, several figures in black appeared outside the gate, each emanating a lethal aura, particularly the leader, whose gaze was especially chilling.
Zhu Cheng glanced over them and felt something was amiss, but couldn’t quite place it.
The White Tiger Sect was responsible for assassination and beheading within the Demon Sect, thus their members were not only highly skilled but also held extremely secretive identities. They usually moved in and out of the Demon Sect with concealed faces, rarely showing their true appearances.
“Let’s go. The Sect Hierarch has been waiting for a while,” Mu Xiaoyun said indifferently as she surveyed the group.
“Yes.”
The leader nodded to Mu Xiaoyun and followed behind her, heading into the city.
The group moved in perfect unison, without the slightest sound, surrounded by an eerie atmosphere.
Zhu Cheng gestured to his men to close the city gate, without giving it another thought.
After all, Mu Xiaoyun was the Elder of the Vermilion Bird Seat.
“Ka-ka–!”
The city gate was closed again.
Zhu Cheng bowed and said, “Safe travels, Mu Elder.”
“Of course.”
Mu Xiaoyun waved her hand and continued along the street into the depths.
The moon grew deeper, and the air carried a biting chill.
As the group made their way along the street, the lead figure, Mu Xiaoyun, suddenly paused, and under the faint moonlight, her pupils could be seen sharply contracting.
“What is it?”
The leader of the men in black asked softly, then followed Mu Xiaoyun’s gaze.
On the dark, icy street, someone had appeared out of nowhere.
……
