Author's Notes

In the Shou District of the Fallen Kingdom of Tang...

General Ashile Sun decides...

In the Demon Valley...

Chapter 32 – Changge's Decision

"No. It won't. I've cultivated enough. I can handle this stress and it won't stop me from fighting. Besides, I can use the snow and cold to deal with our attackers and thus spare the troops. Let me handle the frontal attack. I'll be the shield and spear."

"What if they have water or fire demons?"

"For some reason, I'm very powerful. I don't remember my childhood yet. But, I believe it will be a territorial dispute and I won't allow those bastard demons to dare subjugate my domain. I will keep Shuo safe."

"And how are the people? Are they preparing to leave?"

"A small portion. Many are still here."

The governor sighs tiredly, before saying, "As much as this attitude moves me, they should think of themselves first. For now, we have managed to keep the route clear. But it is only a matter of time before Ashile Sun arrives here and takes control of the offensive. Dacheng is tired of losing to us. I can imagine how annoying it must be that even with the kingdom fallen, a district still stands firm."

"At least we have the satisfaction of knowing that we can anger Dacheng."

"Yes."

The young snow tiger demon looked out with a determined gaze as she thought of the governor, his wife and her little sister who made up her beloved family, as well as the subordinates and the people who, even in the face of this ordeal, still wanted to stay in the province. Li Changge swore to himself that he would do everything to save his family and loved ones, as well as the people who refused to abandon Shou, without caring about their future or consequences.

In fact, she revealed her identity on purpose because it would not change Dacheng's offensive against them in any way, and Ashile Sun was coming even before she revealed her true form.

After all, she had to guarantee the lives of her family and those in the room, in addition to saving everyone who placed their faith and trust in her adoptive father. A powerful snow demon could be a good bargaining chip in a time of need, and considering that there were more demon masters, who wouldn't want to have someone like her as a slave? Her freedom and future were nothing compared to the lives of her family and loved ones. If it was necessary to use herself as a bargaining chip, she would do so because she knew that her family would never use her as a bargaining chip. It was up to her to do it herself if necessary.

Now, the young woman was sure that she was being coveted by many. This was her final bet because she believed that Shou wouldn't resist for long if Ashile Sun's fame was true.

Far away, crossing the border of Dacheng with the fallen kingdom of Tang in front of her, Ashile Sun was leading many demon masters and their respective slaves, as well as the soldiers sent by the kingdom.

He rode alongside them while among the demons in the sky, four stood out like huge eagles that flew close to him, projecting their shadows on the ground.

Many thought that he did not ride his four slave eagle demons because many of them were traveling on horses, unaware of the fact that to Sun they were his best friends and confidants.

In fact, he considered them as his brothers and hated treating them coldly in public due to the rules of the Demon Mountain.

The four who were flying knew that the cold and distant treatment that Sun was forced to practice in public hurt him, in addition to the fact that he hated having them tied to a slavery contract and that at the time it was done to save them from suffering torture and humiliation at the hands of other demon masters when they were young and their parents had been killed at the same time that many members of the demon eagle tribe managed to escape while others were captured.

At the time, they were the youngest, practically cubs, and Ashile, using all his military achievements, managed to get them into his hands and convinced them to make the master-slave contract after showing what happened to the demons who were destined for taming.

The four also knew that he hated the idea of using the human family that adopted the demon tigress as a bargaining chip for her subjugation and subsequent slavery while the Leader made it clear that she could be his property.

After all, he hated the slavery imposed on demons, but he could do nothing but save whoever he could, including this tigress.

Therefore, he should be the one to capture her.

After all, he had sympathized with this demon because even though she was not tied up in any contract, she was still besieged in the Shuo province to defend the place even with the expectation of ending up as a slave just for love and because she wanted to repay the kindness of the couple who adopted her when she was a cub, according to some reports he managed to obtain, with him finding her attitude a commendable act, causing her to instigate him to save her from any suffering and torture.

Dozens of kilometers away, in the late afternoon, more precisely in the Demon Valley, A-Ji's two servants decided to give in to their curiosity to see the merman after being dismissed that night.

After all, it was a species whose appearances were extremely rare. Seeing one in person was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in their view.

As the two maids descended the stairs of the house intended to receive members of the royal family after being dismissed by their master, they did not notice the furtive arrival of the young girl's friends to meet in secret with the princess.

After they left the building that was one of the best in the valley, they used the guidance of demon masters to reach the place and after entering the prison for demons, the maids observed through the small gap of the black door the jiaoren imprisoned by black chains and handcuffs.

They were both horrified by his state while they were astonished that even in that half-dead state, he still maintained a handsome face while at the same time his defined torso and muscular arm were visible. His tail still showed a hint of its former beauty, but they believed that it would be much more beautiful and majestic if it were healthy. It was an originally imposing and magnificent tail from what they had heard from the demon masters along the way.

"We are lucky to see a jiaoren. It is a mysterious species of demon."

"In the water, they are very powerful. I heard that every drop of water in the ocean is under the command of the jiaoren."

"Yes. The control of water magic of this species is phenomenal, from what I have heard, and is even superior to many other species of water demons."

After a few minutes of silently contemplating the merman, who, even though injured, still maintained traces of his former beauty and grandeur, they began to talk among themselves again.

"Did you see the luxury of the second princess' palanquin, clothes, and jewelry?"