Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 353 Some are happy and some are sad

Sheng Yuanyao had no concept of the Demon Realm, but Lu Xingzhou was prepared and knew that the Demon Realm must be very large.

It even surpasses the proportion of the northern grasslands to China in its own world, perhaps even doubling it.

It's easy to imagine, since many of the demon race are extremely large beings, including Long Qinghuang, whose true form is a dragon tens of feet long. Such a race would certainly not inhabit a small place.

Most demon races reproduce very quickly. Given their large numbers and size, what size territory would be suitable for them?

Furthermore, it is not a barbaric place; barbaric lands cannot nurture a dragon with such elegance and grace.

The yellow sands of the Gobi Desert, similar to those before, marked the border between the two sides. Whether it became borderland because it was barren, or because no one cultivated it, is unknown; in any case, it wasn't the entire Demon Realm like that.

The entire Demon Realm must contain a wide variety of geography, and there must be many ancient secret realms among them.

After the army marched north for several days, they arrived at a very large city. The city stretched as far as the eye could see, with eagles soaring in the sky and the spiritual energy abundant. Sheng Yuanyao thought they had arrived at the Demon Capital so quickly.

When asked, the demon soldiers replied, "This is our border town, similar to your Demon-Repelling Pass. However, there is more than one of us; this is the territory of the Lion Clan."

Sheng Yuanyao was dumbfounded. Such a big city, and it was just a border town. And there was more than one such border town!
I thought I was going to the countryside, but it turns out I'm the country bumpkin in the city.

The sense of superiority that Daqian, a land of abundant resources and treasures, almost got destroyed.

Fortunately, once inside the city, it became clear that while the city was imposing, its civilization was relatively crude, lacking refinement and elegance. Utensils were simple, and there was little cultural atmosphere. As for the local customs, it was impossible to discern; with the massive army marching into the city, the people seemed to shrink back.

All that could be seen were many monsters that had not yet taken human form, with lion heads and tiger brains peeking out from the street, and a pig's head resting on a roadside chopping board, making Sheng Yuanyao want to ask the stall owner to cut it in half.

But the stall owner himself was a complete idiot, selling mixed grain porridge.

Sheng Yuanyao found it quite interesting.

How do lions, tigers, and pigs get along...?

It's easy to imagine that, in daily life, they are mostly the kind of people with a fierce and unruly character, like lions and tigers running rampant.

Only after entering the city and settling in did Long Qinghuang begin to reward those who had contributed to the war. Long Zheng was wrong to think that others hadn't been rewarded; he generously distributed official positions and money without any stinginess, showing that the Demon Court was very wealthy.

Afterwards, the armies of other tribes gradually left, and the lion tribe's army also returned home one after another. It was clear that these were not professional armies; they were civilians in peacetime and formed an army in wartime. Every demon was a potential elite force.

Sheng Yuanyao observed these things from a scout's perspective, her mind somewhat heavy.

In theory, the same applies to the Great Qian Dynasty. So many immortal sects stand tall across the land, not just for show, but to provide strength to the imperial court. Even Lu Xingzhou is now theoretically "a person from the Heavenly Sword Sect serving in the Ministry of Rites," and disciples of the Holy Land are in various armies, such as Tu Yugui, the garrison commander of Dongjiang County. Zhao Jiayong, whom she knows, also has a background with the Holy Land.

However, this level of organization is far from the scale of an emperor wielding his whip and unleashing a global torrent. In the Northern Frontier War, only Shen Tang's sect participated... So many first and second-grade experts stayed in their own mountains, without making a sound.

Although Gu Zhanting had his own plans and did not deliberately recruit experts from various sects, Sheng Yuanyao knew that even if they were recruited, it would only be done occasionally during national wars, and it would be difficult to mobilize them at other times.

But the demon race seems to have that kind of spirit. With Long Qinghuang's order, all races gathered and their elites were deployed. This is no longer a war for the fate of the nation.

"No need to look so worried." After resting in the city that evening, Lu Xingzhou brewed tea in the guest courtyard: "Look, the demon race doesn't even have a Court of State Ceremonies. They've put us in an inn. They're not civilized enough."

"...This is the border town of the Lion Clan. What kind of Honglu Temple could there be? Aren't you afraid that Long Qinghuang will chop off his head?"

"I bet Long Qinghuang's side doesn't have it either, and even if they do, it's not quite the same as ours."

"why?"

"Because they have no diplomatic relations. And there is diplomacy between different ethnic groups."

Sheng Yuanyao paused for a moment, then realized what Lu Xingzhou meant.

Every family has its own troubles. The demon race is indeed not as glamorous as it seems on the surface. There are many troubles inside, so there's no need to create unnecessary worries for themselves.

If they were really that good, they wouldn't have suffered such a crushing defeat ten years ago.

"And did you see that... there's actually a temple here." Lu Xingzhou laughed as he spoke, "There aren't many temples in the Great Qian Dynasty, and they're not very popular in the capital. But there's a fake temple in Dream City, disguised as a demonic temple. I never expected to see a temple among the demon race. Isn't that strange? It shows that the demon race also has spiritual needs and places to rely on..."

Sheng Yuanyao also found it very strange that the demon race actually had monks.

Sheng Yuanyao couldn't imagine what those lion-headed, tiger-faced men in robes chanting scriptures would look like. Did they eat meat? How did they spread their teachings? She couldn't even picture it.

"Forget it, let's talk about it when we get to Yaodu." Sheng Yuanyao complained, "How far is it anyway?"

"I estimate the trip will take about half a month, no rush."

"I'm not in a hurry," Sheng Yuanyao said with a grin. Being able to spend time alone with Lu Xingzhou like this, she was happy no matter where they went. Even that glittering lantern, Anuo, wasn't here; this was even more comfortable than being in her own city. "Speaking of which, where's Anuo?"

“Anuo followed Long Qinghuang.”

"You trust Long Qinghuang that much?"

"...She's very nice to Anuo. She calls her a little liar, but she still hugs and rubs her face." Lu Xingzhou said, "I also intend to let Anuo and Long Qinghuang have more contact. Long Qinghuang's cultivation is most suitable for Anuo. Let's see if we can get some benefits for Anuo if we get to know each other well."

Sheng Yuanyao's face turned a little red. She used to be the one who loved to hug and rub Anuo's face the most, but now the cat that did a backflip was thrown over the wall and someone else got to rub it.

That said, Sheng Yuanyao had believed the rumors that the Demon Emperor was stealing men, including the fact that the Demon Emperor had deliberately abducted Lu Xingzhou on his mission, clearly with ill intentions. She had even considered sabotaging their relationship while accompanying him. However, after traveling for the past few days, she hadn't actually seen Long Qinghuang and Lu Xingzhou interact at all. They hadn't even exchanged a single word. Any communication with the envoy was relayed by an old goat, or sometimes by A'nuo.

Something doesn't seem right now. Could we have wronged him...?

"Did you and Long Qinghuang have a fight?"

"No, I've already told you who Long Qinghuang is, how could there be anything between us? You just wouldn't believe me, but now you do?"

Sheng Yuanyao fawned over him and massaged his shoulders, saying, "Alright, alright, I guess I wronged you."

Inside a mansion, Long Qinghuang held Anuo in one arm and flipped through the reward and punishment documents with the other. But for some reason, her grip suddenly tightened, the documents became wrinkled, and Anuo's expression twitched.

These past few days, Long Qinghuang hasn't said a word to Lu Xingzhou. She seems to be still sulking, but in reality, she's observing whether A Nuo has lied to her again.

What female brothers... The mother dragon said she had never heard of them and didn't believe them. But after observing for a few days, hmm... it seems that apart from the occasional slightly intimate physical contact, such as Sheng Yuanyao occasionally putting her hand on Lu Xingzhou's shoulder when she was happy, and now pretending to massage his shoulder, there really isn't anything else.

Even while massaging their shoulders, Lu Xingzhou didn't take the opportunity to make any unwanted advances. Eavesdropping on their conversation, it was all about brotherhood, with no hint of intimacy; half of it was about the demon race. This "brotherly relationship" seemed genuine.

Whether it was a deliberate act or not, Long Qinghuang said she would continue to observe, as she was afraid of being fooled by these scammers.

It really wasn't an act.

Lu Xingzhou consistently denied any "romantic entanglement" with Sheng Yuanyao, fearing a beating and refusing to believe they had conspired to act... It was simply how they normally interacted. The previous kiss and hug were due to Sheng Yuanyao's overly excited state of mind. They were still keeping their relationship private, acting like brothers, and wouldn't act recklessly without special circumstances. Sheng Yuanyao wasn't that self-degrading, and Lu Xingzhou wasn't that lustful.

Besides, being in a foreign land, with a large army accompanying them and the enemy chieftain by their side, who could possibly be in the mood for flirtation...?

However, it's not the act that's more terrifying; the ignorant mother dragon will eventually learn the true power of her female brothers.

Even now, I'm already annoyed but don't know how to vent my anger.

It's okay for a brother to massage a man's shoulders for no reason?
Then, while trying to distance himself from the situation, he casually drinks his leftover tea as if nothing happened. What is this man doing? Does he even like her or not?

But there was really no reason to have an outburst, and now everyone really had no relationship with each other... In the end, it was still Ah Nuo who didn't lie who took the blame.

…………

The journey here is long, and Long Qinghuang is still resting in Lion City, while Gu Zhanting and the others have already returned to the capital.

The air in the capital was very quiet.

News of the army's defeat, the demons' siege of the Demon Pass, and His Majesty's dispatch of envoys for peace talks has already reached the capital.

Fortunately, although the army was defeated, its casualties were minimal, reportedly due to the rescue efforts of Shen Tang of the Heavenly Sword Sect and Sheng Yuanyao and Lu Xingzhou, allowing for a safe retreat. Furthermore, the soldiers trapped in the border city were successfully ransomed by Lu Xingzhou through negotiations.

This battle brought Lu Xingzhou unprecedented prestige. He was no longer just a student of the Dan Academy. With the encouragement of the National Forum and the extensive publicity by a talented woman from the capital, the title of "unparalleled national hero" was almost confirmed.

Shen Tang and Sheng Yuanyao also gained immense prestige. The threshold of Sheng Qingfeng's house was worn down by the families of soldiers who came to express their gratitude. Old Sheng's face beamed with joy, and he was happy every day. Who would have thought that this day would come when he sent his daughter to the army?

As for his daughter's mission, although it was a dangerous task, Old Sheng felt that her safety shouldn't be a major concern as long as she was with Lu Xingzhou. As long as she returned safely, the mission's success itself would be a merit, practically a freebie. The real worry was whether or not to consider what to name his grandson… Hmm, should he buy a house near the Imperial Academy?

The entire Pei family was overjoyed. Their eldest son, Pei Zhao, who had been captured along with Zhao Jiayong and others, had been redeemed by Lu Xingzhou. Although not Pei Qingyan's son, he was her close nephew, the son of Pei Qingyan's younger brother. The Pei family had few male heirs in the next generation; Pei Yu and Pei Zhao were both single sons in their respective branches. Lu Xingzhou's act of kindness made the entire Pei family extremely grateful, and even Pei Chuyun felt a surge of pride.

Everyone thinks my relationship with him is too ambiguous, right? Now your young master has to rely on my man for a life-saving measure.

Before he could even boast for a few minutes, Pei Qingyan confined him to his quarters.

"One thing at a time. Our gratitude towards him is a separate matter from you running off to fool around with him in the middle of the night. You've also been writing articles lately, bragging about being a peerless national hero. Aren't you ashamed? We're ashamed for you. Is this how you use your reputation as a talented woman? How many people do you want to know that you're in love?"

"I use a pen name, a pseudonym. Nobody knows it's me."

"What pen name? Anyone with a discerning eye can recognize your writing style at a glance. So you want everyone to know your pen name, A-Yi? How utterly foolish! Go to the study and study for three days. You're not allowed to leave until you've memorized all these classics and histories!"

Compared to the joy of these families, there are naturally several other families with sorrowful faces.

For example, Su Yuan, the acting national advisor.

The Holy Lord's reprimand was met with furious rage: "I ordered you to assist Lu Xingzhou, and this is how you assisted him! You handed him over to Long Qinghuang?!"

Su Yuan felt that even a dog couldn't have been wronged: "Lu Xingzhou went north on his own without telling me, how would I know! Besides, it was Gu Zhanting's order to send him on this mission, and he didn't refuse..."

"If he didn't tell you, you wouldn't know. What are you good for!"

"Your Majesty, please calm down. With Young Master Lu's wisdom, even if it is a dragon's den or a tiger's lair, he will surely cross it safely as if it were flat ground."

"Of course I know he won't get into any serious trouble. What I'm afraid of is that he'll cross a dangerous river and end up in a dangerous one!"

Su Yuan: "?"

Is that what I understand?

You could have just spoken to Lu Xingzhou directly. Why did you contact me instead? What can I do to stop you?

Ye Tinglan seemed to remember that she could curse Lu Xingzhou out, so she quickly hung up the call and went directly to Lu Xingzhou: "Tell me your location, I'll come to rescue you."

"No need," Lu Xingzhou replied gently. "I'm not in danger. I had some considerations for coming to the Demon Realm... I just missed you a bit."

Ye Tinglan's anger to interrogate him was immediately dispelled: "You...you, if things can't be done, don't force it."

Lu Xingzhou said, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Look, I even brought A'nuo and Yuan Yao with me. Would I do that if there was any danger?"

"Then, then you are not allowed to have anything to do with Long Qinghuang."

Lu Xingzhou thought to himself that this was difficult to comply with. The reason there was no danger was because of their connection... He had even used his charm to drink her leftover tea...

Ye Tinglan knew this was difficult, and after grumbling for a while, she angrily threw down the words: "You scumbag."

The other family facing difficulties was the Prince of Jin's residence.

After returning to the capital, Gu Zhanting locked himself in the palace and refused to see anyone, but it is said that the impeachment memorials on his desk had piled up like a mountain.

The impeachment memorials were largely the same, all stating the same thing: On the day Your Majesty was besieged, the Prince of Jin was overjoyed and spread rumors in the capital, indicating his intention to oversee the state. This is extremely disrespectful, and Your Majesty is urged to investigate.

There is also substantial corroborating evidence from Gu Shaoli.

Gu Zhanting roared in the palace, "Chen Yu betrayed the country, making this battle so difficult. It was all because this fool leaked the secret! I was even considering how to cover for him in front of the generals! But it turns out he's so absurd. What use is this beast to me!"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

PS: 4K, are there still monthly passes available?

(End of this chapter)