Author's notes

Xiao Lanhua comes out of his memories and...

In the North region, more precisely in the furthest part of the border with the South, a notorious demon master...

Chapter 25 – The bitter and cold lands of the North

The young woman remembers the story that her grandfather told her in detail while looking at the medallion that rested on his chest while not doubting his words.

In fact, that story was part of the stories that fascinated her since she was little, with him making a point of raising her so that she wouldn't have any prejudice towards demons.

Meanwhile, in the North, in the furthest part of the border with the South, a group was walking among the snowy mountains while they commented among themselves about the massive summoning of demon masters and among them there was a notorious demon master with the title "notorious " was given to the most powerful demon masters who stand out from the rest in terms of power.

The others who accompanied this powerful demon master found it strange that even with his level of power, he was not summoned, only to remember that the leader of the Demonic Platform announced the need to maintain a powerful demon master in that region because no one knew how long the mission on the capital's beach would last and many had been relocated, causing the remaining demonic regions to be without manpower at the same time that few demon masters were summoned from the Demonic Platform due to the fact that there were some tribes demonic remains in that region.

Due to the fact that few were called up from the North, the rest of those who remained in that region were discouraged because they still remained in that place because they wanted to be called up to have the opportunity to go to a warm place, even if it was only for a short period of time because living in an inhospitable place could feel like a punishment.

After all, the title 'bitter cold lands of the North' that that region received was befitting its climate. Many considered it a punishment to live in that place.

Of the four who walked, one remained silent while ignoring the excited conversation of the other three while questioning himself why he couldn't carry out that mission alone until he remembered the report he had received and the fact that those three had obtained authorization to obtain their respective demons in order to tame them for themselves after going through the training required to tame demons.

This man had long white hair with a small part tied into a bun on his head, as well as having onyx eyes and was walking with a group of three other men in black clothes and dark brown eyes.

Everyone wore black haifus, but his had some silver patterns, in addition to the color of his clothes in many places and his upper cloak being indigo. He gave up the circular men's clip on top of his head that men usually wore, especially those of his status, to use long silver metal chopstick-shaped clips that held a small bun of hair at the back while the rest of the hair was left loose at the same time as there were two long locks, one on each side of the head, which rested in front of his chest.

Their footsteps didn't sink into the snow because they had used a magical technique that was practically mandatory in such an inhospitable and icy place whose ground was covered by several layers of soft snow.

After all, they were in the so-called bitter cold lands of the North and even in the summer, the snow did not melt completely in the part closest to the southern border of the continent while further north, the summer only made the temperature rise a few measly degrees. Only demons and demon masters or monks with spiritual powers would be able to survive in this even more inhospitable place, this being the same place where the group was heading.

"You should wear a hairpin befitting your title, Dong Hua."

"That's right. You are one of the six notable demon masters. Your fame precedes you."

"He's right. No matter how elaborate this single simple hairpin is, it doesn't change the fact that you should wear those that form a bun on your head."

"Yes. At least, partial. You are very disinterested in these aspects. I'm even surprised that you wear a more elaborate outfit."

"I don't care about demonstrating my status and I only wear this elaborate outfit upon insistence. The only clothing I wear for pleasure is this cloak. In fact, I prefer more comfortable clothes." Dong Hua responds, only to then go back to being lost in his own thoughts while ignoring their conversation.

One of them shakes his head to the side, then sighs, "Many wanted to be as powerful as you."

"That's right."

"I would definitely wear the most imposing clothes possible, as well as those elaborate hairpins."

"The same."

"Me too."

"Changing the subject. I envy the few who were selected for the mission in the south. Imagine staying in a warm place and taking some time to enjoy and enjoy the heat and the beach."

"It sure would be amazing."

"True. They were so lucky. Why did they only get a few of us? From the Demon Valley and the Demon Mountain a considerable number will be sent. The Valley will be the one that sends the most demon masters."

"Indeed. I also wanted to know the reason why there are so few demon masters in this region."

Dong Hua momentarily comes out of his thoughts and when he realizes that they are still chatting beside him, he sighs tiredly while massaging his forehead while questioning the reason for being with them until he remembers, again, the report that the Demonic Platform had received that morning.

Furthermore, he felt that he had to be there and that his presence was irrefutable on that mission. Something compelled him to express his desire to join the group even though he had no interest in being with others because he preferred solitude considering the nature and actions of others, in addition to the usual topics of conversation that other demon masters practiced and they spoke.

The notorious demon master couldn't explain what drove him so much. He only knew that he couldn't refuse because the desire was stronger than ever and it was also something that intrigued him. It was as if there was a calling and if there was something he enjoyed, it was solving a mystery because it turned his previously monotonous life into something interesting. Breaking the monotony and training was a good thing.

"You excel in formations and sword art. I envy you for being Wuchang Shengzhe Ning Ruochu's only disciple."

"Yes. It was a shame that he sacrificed himself along with other great demon masters to seal the Jade Phoenix and thus put an end to the Jade Plume rebellion."

Dong Hua rolls his eyes at being forced to hear that lie again because he knew what really happened.

After all, there was never a rebellion and his shifu wished to stay with Qing Ji forever within the Ten Squares Formation.

As he thought about it, he wanted to know who had spoken about that formation and why they hadn't alerted him to the fact that it was impossible for him to join his beloved due to the life toll that technique took on those who cast it.

After all, he believed that Ruouchu would never make others sacrifice themselves without warning of the consequences, in addition to the fact that he wanted to be together with his beloved. Dying did not enter into that equation.

At the time, as he reflected on the fact that his shifu was unaware of the cost, he came to believe that it was a plan created by someone with some purpose other than the murder of the most powerful demon masters at the time, and that he did not participate because the project had already been completed number needed for training and that was why his life was saved.

What confirmed their suspicions and equal fury at what happened to their shifu and the others who had been killed by the formation was the fact that the narrative emerged that their sacrifice was to suppress a supposed demon rebellion led by the Jade Phoenix, confirming thus the fact that it was a well-elaborated plot to kill several notable demon masters at once while provoking and intensifying the demon masters' hatred towards demons, which in fact occurred in the following decades and which still it persisted.

After all, intense hunts arose without any discrimination or pre-judgment when defining that all demons were equal, causing a considerable reduction in their number and even the extinction of some species while others were at risk of becoming extinct, not to mention the exacerbated increase in slaves, in addition to the domination becoming even more violent to the point of possessing perversity refinements.

Of course, he decided to stay silent and pretended to believe the rumors because he knew he couldn't do anything considering their source, Ning Qing, and then become irate upon seeing his rise to the title of Demon Grandmaster because at the time he was the he was the only one of the renowned demon masters left and his rise was meteoric while he, Dong Hua, was still developing his powers, leaving behind the intense feeling of injustice that arose from the hunting and cruelty that the demons suffered daily because of these rumors liars.

After all, these lies justified the use of violence and wickedness against demons for the majority. All were summarily condemned without any distinction, giving rise to true perverse sadists who could freely torture demons without any consequences.

In fact, this was one of the main reasons that made him want to isolate himself on the Demonic Platform, in addition to the desire to further increase his powers without Ning Qing knowing and although the others practiced cruelty there also against the demons, he was not forced to face the grand master of demons daily because he was the mastermind behind this lie when he was in the Sect located in the capital after being forced to leave the demonic Valley by orders of the grand master of demons.

He had to use the emperor to be able to go to the furthest place from the capital and that was the Demonic Platform by using the justification of needing more power because of the number of remaining demonic tribes, with this argument being enough for the monarch to authorize his departure to the bitter cold lands of the North.

Then, the notable demon master snapped out of his thoughts as he listened to them talk to each other excitedly.

"Yes. They were heroes. They helped the world become a better place and with that, we were able to effectively suppress these monsters."

"Of course. After all, these monsters lost their main leader."

"They were amazing at getting her into the trap."

"Yes. The problem is that the Demon Valley got all the glory."

"Don't even get me started! Meanwhile we were condemned to come to these cold and bitter lands of the North. What surprises me is why were you sent here? You should be in the Grandmaster's sect with your level of power." One of them asks the white-haired man.

"That's right. Why didn't you go to the sect? The most powerful stay in the sect. Or why didn't you stay in the Demonic Valley?"

He sighs deeply as his annoyance is visible because he had wanted to be kept away from the conversations and after a few minutes, he decides to answer the question while hiding his true reasons, "I wanted to come to the North and considering the need Having a powerful demon master, the emperor decided that my services would be better utilized there. Furthermore, when I developed my true level of power a few decades after my shifu's death, I was already here in the North. After his death I didn't want to stay in the Demonic Valley and so I requested a transfer, with the emperor agreeing to it."

"I imagine you must hate demons a lot because I knew that before he died because of the training, your shifu hated them deeply."

He automatically ignores them when he hears, once again, another of the lies propagated by Ning Qing because his shifu never deeply hated demons, in addition to always having tried to judge a demon beforehand to avoid the murder of innocents by distinguishing the good from the bad they were evil, in addition to being against enslaving them.

Therefore, he decides to admire the passage and ignore the trio, making the other men roll their eyes because they knew how much the notorious demon master disliked company.

In fact, he was considered, practically, a hermit who insisted on living in the house furthest from the center of the demonic Platform even though his status guaranteed a larger house with the best possible location, something that was only allowed to the Leader of the demonic region and his eventual successor.

"You didn't need to come with us. They aren't powerful demons. Or are you interested in the fox, too? After all, they can grow nine tails."

"Will you want her for yourself?"

"I hear there are other demons involved."

"I hope it works for everyone."

"But, are you really going to capture a slave? You never had a slave."

They notice that he no longer wishes to answer their questions and sigh, deciding to stop trying to talk to the powerful demon master next to them.

While the others were talking among themselves, Dong Hua was deep in thought.

In fact, he never enslaved a demon because he did not agree with enslaving another living being even if it was a demon.

In fact, he always sought to save good or innocent demons in his missions by faking their deaths, limiting himself to only killing those who were cruel or evil when they did evil because they were wicked because there were those who wanted to take revenge for their loved ones dear ones killed brutally.

In cases that involved revenge for the brutal death of loved ones, the demon master always sought to save because he understood that they were provoked while confirming that in the overwhelming majority of cases, the loved ones who were murdered were innocent.

Dong Hua also showed no mercy to criminals of his race when using his powers against evil humans.

In fact, he often used his powers to kill groups of bandits who invaded villages to loot them.

Then, they approached the designated location and felt four demonic energies at the same time as they saw several falling trees and even rocks from the top of a mountain in the distance. The sounds of whining, banging and explosions permeated the air.

Then, two young demon masters appear and after greeting them with Dong Hua being indifferent and just focused on the sources of power and what he was feeling, he just listens to the others' exchanges of words.

"I'm glad you came."

"Yes. We were on patrol and came across these demons. There is a considerable trail of destruction. But with our level of power we realize that we cannot deal with them."

"You did well to communicate the Demonic Platform through a message seal."

The notable demon master continued to look intently into the distance as he felt that something was calling him and that this call was coming from his heart, which made him surprised because he had felt this sensation before arriving at that place.

However, it wasn't clear enough to feel the origin and now it was evident that it came from his heart, in addition to the fact that he felt immense pain and despair that wasn't his at the same time that he didn't know the source of these feelings that intensified as he grew older approached the location.