Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 388 Bloodstained Demon Capital

Sheng Yuanyao sat angrily in the Court of State Ceremonial, with more than a dozen cut melons in front of her.

General Sheng, who was caught after her escape attempt, was both humiliated and felt like she was under house arrest. She was heartbroken and ordered the people of the Court of State Ceremonial to get her some melons to eat, otherwise she would go on a hunger strike.

Then Xiao Liang, the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies, actually gave her several loads of watermelons.

Sheng Yuanyao looked at the melon in front of her with her hands clasped together, feeling as if the heavens were against her.

Is this the melon I want to eat?
Xiao Liang said helplessly, "Vice Envoy Sheng, we don't have the kind of melon you're looking for... The secrets of the upper echelons of the Demon Capital are not something we can just pry into."

Even if I knew, I wouldn't dare tell you, otherwise wouldn't that be considered leaking secrets to an enemy country?
Furthermore, Xiao Liang felt that this Deputy Envoy Sheng knew more gossip than they did, such as how the Prime Minister's family possessed those things... and the unrequited love letter from General Long Lie, which was now in the hands of everyone in the Court of State Ceremonial, and many people could already recite it from memory.

Xiao Liang believed that this Deputy Envoy Sheng could also be considered a kind of demon, a chacha demon.

If the badger really exists in the world, it should look like this.

But this deputy envoy was someone they couldn't afford to offend. To this day, the rebellion in the Demon Capital is in complete chaos, and no one knows exactly what happened. But this fierce warrior who ransacked the mansions of two generals and the prime minister escaped the Demon Capital unscathed, and was politely invited back by the Demon Emperor's secret guards.

Then this Deputy Envoy Sheng added a harsh threat: "Your Empress will regret this!"

No one among the secret guards dared to object.

In truth, the Empress was now genuinely regretting it, deeply regretting it. Since Lu Xingzhou hadn't left, why keep this woman around? Was she just making things difficult for herself?
"Bring me paper and a pen!" Sheng Yuanyao had lost all interest in the melon in front of her and made other requests: "I need a fine wolf hair pen, the kind that's easy to write small characters with. Of course, it would be even better if it were a pen plucked from your wolf clan chief's own body... Wait, are you a fox clan member? I've heard that pens made from fox tails are quite good too..."

Xiao Liang was terrified: "What are you going to do?"

"What else could I do but write a travelogue of the demon realm?" Sheng Yuanyao said matter-of-factly. "I've been catching up on so much gossip along the way. If I don't record it and share it with the world, wouldn't it be a waste?"

Xiao Liang asked cautiously, "Aren't you... the commander-in-chief?"

Look at the way our General Long Lie writes love letters! Is that even readable? Even a child could write better ones.

Sheng Yuanyao turned to the clerk behind her and said, "Tell him what this general does."

The clerk shrugged: "Minister Xiao, have you seen the Great Qian Dynasty's List of Heroes?"

"Of course I've seen it."

“Our General Sheng is the editor-in-chief.” The clerk complained, “My uncle was at the bottom of the list of heroes. He used to keep a low profile and nobody knew about it. But ever since Editor-in-Chief Sheng took over the compilation, people have found out about how my uncle was kicked out when he tried to marry a girl from the Lu family in Fanyang when he was young. There’s even a sharp comment: ‘Don’t underestimate a poor young man, he’ll be just as poor in middle age; it doesn’t matter, being at the bottom is still impressive.’ Now my uncle doesn’t dare to go out and see people.”

Sheng Yuanyao: “…”

Xiao Liang: "..."

Helpless, Xiao Liang could only find paper and pen and watch helplessly as Sheng Yuanyao picked up the pen and wrote "A Record of Encounters in the Demon Realm".

He secretly groaned inwardly, thinking, "This is it, I'm doomed. I wonder how the Demon Realm will be portrayed."

Unfortunately, the Demon Realm has been rife with embarrassing incidents lately. The filth of the Holy Mountain alone is enough to fill a book of unofficial history that one could read without putting it down.

Sheng Yuanyao was engrossed in writing when a little girl rode a pig through the door: "Sister Yao, I'm back~"

Sheng Yuanyao was overjoyed and stopped writing: "Where is your master?"

"Master is injured and recuperating..." Seeing Sheng Yuanyao's changed expression, A'nuo smiled and said, "Don't worry, with the Dragon Emperor by your side, nothing will happen."

"It's precisely because the Dragon Emperor is by my side that I'm afraid something might happen!" Sheng Yuanyao said angrily. "As Shen Tang's friend, I have to supervise him to make sure he doesn't go out recklessly."

Ah Nuo: "...I think the best way for you to supervise is probably to just steal it."

Sheng Yuanyao stroked her chin: "I see they're in complete chaos. What's the Demon Emperor doing right now?"

"Should we be chairing the meeting and handling the aftermath?"

"How about I secretly steal Lu Xingzhou and run away?"

Ah Nuo looked at her as if she were an idiot, and after a long while said, "Let's forget it, there are dragons outside."

Sheng Yuanyao had a bitter face and was about to say something when she heard a commotion outside.

The two, eager to see what was going on, quickly ran to the door to watch.

Then they saw dragon soldiers escorting one group after another of the rebels into the bustling city streets. Leading the way were Prime Minister Long Yan and his clansmen, as well as Long Yun's clansmen... The long street was packed with countless people.

At the same time, a large number of troops were dispatched to capture "accomplices," and it is unknown how many people will be implicated in this battle.

As dusk fell, the setting sun cast a blood-red glow, and the city of demons was shrouded in desolation.

The executioners raised their thick-backed swords, their blades gleaming coldly in the setting sun.

Long Zhan's voice echoed: "By order of His Majesty, Long Yan, Long Yun, and their ilk have colluded with evil monks, wreaked havoc on the court, corrupted the Buddha's teachings, and jeopardized the Holy Emperor's succession. Their crimes are unforgivable, and their entire families shall be executed."

Countless swords fell in unison, and dragon heads rolled to the ground.

Yes, whether it's Long Yan, Long Yun, or their clansmen, these are all leaders.

This battle was tantamount to an internal strife within the Dragon Clan, while the majority of the outsiders were the heroes who assisted Dragon Cliff in suppressing the rebellion.

Such a bloody massacre of the already small number of dragons, with blood staining the entire demon capital, truly shocked the city into silence, leaving everyone feeling uneasy.

Even though Sheng Yuanyao had been on the battlefield, she still felt instinctively uncomfortable in this kind of scene, and covered her mouth as she returned to the Court of State Ceremonies.

Then I saw a bunch of cut-up watermelons and I really threw up.

A'Nuo's face was also deathly pale. Rumors had circulated that the Dragon Emperor was cruel and tyrannical, but after spending time with her, she never seemed like the cruel person she was supposed to be. Now she'd witnessed it firsthand, and it was truly terrifying. Had Master been secretly skinned bald by all this...?

Sheng Yuanyao pulled the clerk from the Court of State Ceremonial and whispered, "Go and find out how many people were killed in this battle."

The Dragon Emperor quelled the rebellion at Sacred Mountain and quelled the chaos at Dragon Cliff. With his sword raised, the sun and moon lost their light. In this battle, Prime Minister Long Yan and General Long Yun's entire clans were exterminated, and tens of thousands of their accomplices, mostly of the sub-dragon race, were implicated and all were beheaded. Dragon heads filled the streets and alleys of the Demon Capital, stopping the river's flow; blood soaked the bluestone, and even days of heavy rain could not wash it away. This was the Dragon Emperor's wrath; mountains and rivers changed color, the earth cracked, and the sky collapsed. —Excerpt from *Records of Encounters in the Demon Realm* by Sheng Yuanyao, Deputy Envoy of the Great Qian Dynasty and then General Yingyang.

The last sentence of the original version is: "The Demon Emperor is so cruel that he has no one to respect. The envoy from the Qian Kingdom despises him and refuses to see him."

Later, for some unknown reason, I heard from a rumor that General Sheng was beaten by his sisters at his husband's home, so this sentence was deleted and changed in the reprint.

…………

As the entire Demon Capital was gripped by terror and fear, and the name of His Majesty the Dragon Emperor was said to be able to stop children from crying at night, a light drizzle fell all night, and the Palace of Rebellion was filled with a warm fragrance.

Lu Xingzhou awoke from a deep sleep to find the ruthless Dragon Emperor lying beneath him, gently giving him a good morning bite.

Actually, Lu Xingzhou had some regrets, because he realized after personally trying this method of waking people up that it was completely unscientific.

Who would want to do that when they get up? It's just annoying.

Of course, when the other party is Long Qinghuang, the sense of accomplishment can overshadow all other emotions.

Long Qinghuang knew he was awake, but she didn't stop. Under his shining gaze, she bowed her head and served him until she swallowed her first breakfast.

Then she looked up, a hint of resentment in her voice: "You clearly weren't driven by ambition this time, so why are you still like this first thing in the morning..."

“All men in their prime are like this, especially since I have a pseudo-dragon body and dragon nature… well.” Lu Xingzhou reached out and pulled her into his arms, saying softly, “You don’t have to do this anymore… well, I mean you don’t have to do it in the morning.”

Long Qinghuang blinked: "Wasn't this what you asked for?"

"You'll listen to me just because I ask you to? Then why didn't you shout that when I told you to?"

"Hmph." Long Qinghuang said, "Do you know that your request is outrageous... and guess what happened to the person who was outrageous last night?"

Lu Xingzhou was silent for a moment: "How many did you kill?"

"Tens of thousands."

"Overnight?"

"It's not just that, it starts from evening."

"..."

Long Qinghuang observed her expression and said, "You... think it's too brutal? But it can't be done otherwise. If it's not iron-fisted enough, people will think that if even rebellion can be tolerated, then what else can't be done? Only an iron-fisted approach can subdue people's hearts."

"No, we'll do what needs to be done," Lu Xingzhou said. "I was thinking, there are many other clans outside who are colluding with the Prime Minister. Are you planning to do the same?"

"I received the letter." Long Qinghuang pondered for a moment: "What do you think is the best course of action?"

"Do not open the seal. Burn it in public during the morning court session."

Long Qinghuang thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "Okay."

"You really want to listen to me?"

"Hmm." As if sensing what he wanted to say, Long Qinghuang whispered, "Xingzhou, as long as you don't leave, I'll listen to whatever you say, I'll even call that word to you, okay?"

Lu Xingzhou was silent.

Long Qinghuang looked somewhat disappointed, but she didn't press him. She simply rested quietly against his chest, listening to his heartbeat.

My heartbeat is strong and powerful; my injury has healed considerably.

This is not a wound to the soul; even if the physical injury is severe, it is relatively easy to treat at their level.

Lu Xingzhou sighed: "My injuries have healed a lot, but some lingering wounds need to be treated slowly. It doesn't require Your Majesty's personal attention anymore. Your Majesty has so many things to attend to recently, please take care of them first. I plan to go for a walk on my own."

Long Qinghuang asked instinctively, "Where to?"

I'm still worried he'll leave... Once this is involved, it becomes the biggest hurdle between the two of us.

So much so that even though Lu Xingzhou knew perfectly well that if he wanted to take up his spear and mount his horse now, His Majesty the Dragon Emperor would be willing and even overjoyed, he dared not.

Once you do it, you might never be able to leave.

"Don't worry, I don't plan to leave for now." Lu Xingzhou kissed her forehead and whispered, "I want to go to the Holy Mountain again with Anuo and Yuanyao."

Long Qinghuang was taken aback: "Go where?"

Lu Xingzhou said frankly, "There are still many mysteries to be solved on the Holy Mountain. I want to study them. Regarding the reverse qi meridian I promised you, I only have some knowledge in this area, but I am not particularly proficient. I can't do it without studying and pondering it myself. I may have to look through the scriptures in the Holy Mountain temples. In addition, I knew an ancient monk named Zhao En before. His tricks are similar to but different from Du Juan's. I want to see if I can find any connection. This matter is quite important."

"enemy?"

"Yes." Lu Xingzhou really wanted to say that you had also seen him, that he was the "Yu Jingfeng" who appeared in the sea competition, but saying it would inevitably make Long Qinghuang feel that he was plotting for Ye Tinglan and causing trouble, so he kept quiet.

Long Qinghuang said, "It's fine if you bring A'nuo along, but why bring Sheng Yuanyao along?"

“Sheng Yuanyao is a mortal, and her path to ascension is arduous. The Sacred Mountain Secret Realm is the site of an ancient battlefield, and there are still many opportunities that Dujuan has not been able to digest. I want to see if there are any suitable for Yuanyao.” Lu Xingzhou sighed, “She ate dirt all the way to the Demon Capital, and now she’s going back empty-handed?”

"Then why did you arrange for her to slip away first?"

Lu Xingzhou smiled but didn't reply.

Times have changed. Since we can't leave, we might as well seek some benefits.

His candid words lessened Long Qinghuang's jealousy considerably, but she still warned, "I won't say anything if you help your friend seek good fortune, but if you dare to cause trouble with Sheng Yuanyao, I will strike first, tie her up, and take you by force! I mean what I say!"

(End of this chapter)