Returning from the abyss

Chapter 1374: A Gathering at Guanshan

After Lu Ning closed the door with difficulty, she felt a little scared.

Although she could use the rules of the square cauldron to seal off the Yuwen family compound, she had no way of predicting what kind of monster would appear inside.

According to the restoration of all the rules, the people of the Yuwen family are changing back to what humans were originally supposed to be. However, this "originally" is just a rigid rule inferred according to the original fairy rules, and does not take human changes into account - or the fairy rules assume that all changes are caused by the fairy rules.

"Solved?" Mr. Jia asked while lying on the ground. Lu Ning didn't know how he managed to lie down after going out.

"You're pretty strong, right? Why are you so scared?"

"That's a magical weapon! You're so young, you don't know how powerful a magical weapon is, but I've seen it before. But then again, did you really solve the problem of Fangfu?"

"How could I have that ability? You already know it's a magical weapon. I just used the rules that the magical weapon is changing, mixed in more variables, and sealed off this house. Next, we need to inform the government and the remaining four families here about this incident. As for how to end it, let them think about it."

"Ah? The emperor doesn't care?" Jia Chong was stunned.

"You also know what happened in Xingyin City. The capital will not take care of the problems within these aristocratic families for a while. The same goes for Tiemianlou. Your immortal weapon has not changed to the level of Fangfu. It is probably because the Yuwen family has never abused it so much, so the backlash has not come. But you can't be careless. If Yin Yang Mirror really wants to solve it, it's best to contact a few demon stars to deal with it together - maybe Jiuli can help you."

"Jiuli?" Jia Chong was startled by the name again. "I will convey it, I will... If you want to leave, this girl..."

“Take her to whichever family you want. She has some residues of the Fangfu, but not much, and can still be suppressed. How to deal with it depends on the family. I only do things, not comment.” Lu Ning turned her head and took another look at the Fangfu. The bacteria colony left inside had gradually cut off contact with her, and what she finally sensed was a strong appetite, a desire to fight and grow.

The "bacteria" actually began to develop desires.

"By the way, don't forget to tell them that the method I used to seal off Yuwen Mansion is like drinking poison to quench thirst. When they want to deal with the problems here in the future, they will have to use fire."

"Okay, okay." Jia Chong nodded hurriedly, then carried Yuwen Qing on his back and ran away as fast as if he was escaping for his life.

Lu Ning also felt quite tired. The Demon Blood Curse had no other negative effects, except that it would consume the user's blood. When she had just exploded, it was fully activated in an instant, and the consumption was not small. Now she has developed some anemia symptoms. Fortunately, the physique of a martial artist is here, so she only needs to rest for a period of time.

She did not intend to waste any more time in this strange city, so she went straight to the prefectural government office, opened the door with her token, explained the incident in the Yuwen Mansion to the prefect, and ordered him to deal with it together with the four noble families. Then, she did not stay any longer and quickly set off.

It is no wonder that humans are not as good as demons in physical fitness and innate abilities, but can suppress demons. Anyone who reaches a high position basically has some means. These noble families are completely incomparable to the emerging ordinary noble families like the Lu family. As a result, Lu Ning has been walking around the capital city where the noble families are entrenched, except for supplies on the road. If she has to deal with a situation like the Yuwen family again, she is afraid that she will have to pay with her life.

On her way north this time, she did not pass Yongzhou, but went directly from Kuizhou to Lingzhou to participate in the battle in the northern part of the Great Wall. When the weather was warm, she entered the territory of Kuizhou.

People all say that Kuizhou produces brave men and heroes. In the history of this scene, many brave generals were born here. After Lu Ning's previous experience, she was always worried that she would encounter another accident - it was not a problem of her luck, but simply that strange things happened more frequently when the world was on the verge of chaos.

Therefore, after entering Kuizhou, she still followed her previous methods and did not make much contact. But soon, Lu Ning discovered the situation in Kuizhou - she passed through more than a dozen villages and towns, and every village and town was in mourning.

This is not because of Dong Zai’s death, but because someone has died in almost every household here.

However, the whole city was in mourning, but there was no trace of mourning. When one heard the occasional drumbeat of conscription, there would always be someone going out of every household, with a white scarf tied on the head, and their name would be written in the military log.

The folk customs here are so bloody that it makes your scalp tingle. Even if many people are killed, as long as someone takes out the banner of Qin Zhong and comes here to issue a conscription order, there will definitely be people coming. Even old men in their sixties and seventies will come here with sickles to inquire.

"Father-in-law, your family doesn't need anyone anymore. Your two sons and one daughter have already gone to Saibei. Without you, what will happen to the children?"

"The child is twelve years old and can carry a hoe. If he can't lift a knife, he can come too." The old man held a pipe in his mouth, with an indescribable pride on his dark face. "I'm just over sixty, and I also joined the army and fought in wars when I was young. Why can't I do it now? My children are all good. Do I, as a father, have to be looked down upon by others just because I'm a little older?"

"No, it's really the Grand Tutor's order that every household must keep at least one laborer... The battlefield is ruthless, if you die in battle, you must leave a way out for your family." The conscripted soldier hurriedly said, "Father, go back. The battle on the front line is not so severe that you have to go. If you have to go, there will be an order. Military orders are like mountains. Since you have been a soldier, you should know that."

The old man wanted to say something, but was immediately pulled away by the younger and stronger man behind him.

"Old man, it's not your turn here. My brother was killed by those barbarians in the northern part of the Great Wall. I have to come back to kill him, otherwise my brother will come to my dream and beat me up at night."

"Hahaha! Just go home and retire if you're old. We have people around. It would be embarrassing if we let you go."

A few young men who looked like they had just reached adulthood pulled the old man away and registered their names at the conscription office without hesitation.

After seeing this scene, Lu Ning just passed by silently.

Then, when she passed by a village, she saw a child about twelve or thirteen years old sitting by a well crying.

A woman with gray hair but who looked to be in her forties came over, looked at the crying child, said nothing, but put her hands around the child's shoulders.

There were few people living here, and there was only this house nearby. Lu Ning looked at the door, and the white banners that had been connected into a piece were slowly floating in the warm spring breeze, carrying a solemn atmosphere. She felt that the sunshine and wind were not so warm, and there was only a haze of death, hanging over everyone's head.

At that moment, Lu Ning suddenly realized that he was approaching the battlefield and the final crisis of this scene. At the same time, he realized that he was not much different from these people. Whether they were recruited voluntarily or went there under the mission requirements of the distribution center, they only had one common destination.

The child's crying gradually stopped, and then Lu Ning heard the woman's voice.

"The day after tomorrow... Mom will be leaving. What do you want to eat? Mom will make it for you tomorrow."

Lu Ning turned around suddenly and saw the mother and son supporting each other back to the door. An old man with a cane and an empty trouser leg stood at the door, his face calm and resolute, welcoming the two back into the house.

She let out a breath. It was time to speed up.

=

The galloping horses passed through the official road, causing a series of ups and downs. The cavalry of more than 20 riders was quite conspicuous, attracting the attention of passers-by.

The imperial spy Jiang Yao and his companions were required to report all the changes in the court to the Grand Tutor Qin Zhong in the northern frontier. Jiang Yao and his companions were also in a bad position to protect the emperor, so after delivering the news, they had to stay in the northern frontier to help the Grand Tutor defend against the enemy. As for the Grand Tutor's opinions, others could send them back.

But for Jiang Yao, this was probably a journey from which there would be no return.

On the side of the road where the galloping horses passed by, the wine flag was flying. In the slightly dilapidated tavern, Li Duanyu drank the remaining wine in the glass, picked up the refilled gourd, stood up, and placed a few large coins on the table.

"Are you leaving?" The tavern owner threw a towel over his shoulder and came over to start clearing the table. Li Duanyu nodded and asked, "Shopkeeper, should we take this road to Saibei?"

"Are you going to the northern frontier to join the army? Then I will charge you less. There are many places to spend money when you go to the northern frontier."

"It's okay, just accept it." Li Duanyu laughed, pushed aside the door curtain and walked out. The boss ran out of the door, but he was nowhere to be found.

"Hey……"

The boss sighed helplessly.

In the wilderness at the border of Lingzhou and Kuizhou, a flame was lit. Surrounded by a dozen people, Qiu Suying came to the campfire and placed a small refining furnace above it.

"Today is the last lesson. After today, I will enter Lingzhou, and you should disperse and pass this method on to every person who is predestined to be taught it." Qiu Suying raised his head and looked at the more than 300 new "believers" who followed him. "If you want to keep it to yourself, it's up to you. I won't ask any more questions from now on. However, how you two will perform depends on whose fire can truly burn through this wasteland."

"Let's all follow the Holy Lord's instructions!" Everyone bowed their heads.

"Our sect worships fire. Along the way, I have taught the fire-refining method. This method has been improved. Even if it does not become a great instrument, it will not backfire on you. And ordinary people can make a embryo out of a pile of soil and weave grass to become a minor art. I do not teach the refining of magic tools, not to hide it, but if the person who obtains the method is weak, he will suffer from it."

At this point, Qiu Suying started laughing.

The cult is known as the Demonic Cult, but it is not afraid of anyone doing something wrong and tarnishing its reputation.

"And for today's last lesson, I will teach you the method of forging heavy weapons. Your future achievements will depend on how much you can learn today."

Everyone was full of confidence, being able to follow Qiu Suying here. They were not from ordinary backgrounds, but they all wanted to make achievements in the field of refining equipment.

People with the same ambitions are setting out from the capital. Ning Ke, a newcomer among the demon-suppressing officials who was promoted to Juntian for his outstanding performance, has already selected a team of demon-suppressing officials and is ready to go to the northern frontier to suppress demons. In the chaotic world of demon stars, the demon-suppressing department has a responsibility, and now Qinchen is unable to get away due to the power transition in the capital, so Ning Ke took the initiative to accept this task. Lin Xiyin naturally joined this team. After the battle of Xingyin, she became much more calm.

Many of those who saw her off at the long pavilion were colleagues. The demon-suppressing officials who survived the battle had a deeper friendship with each other, especially those who were saved by Ning Ke. Her act of killing the rebels was later admired by everyone, and some even thought that since she was able to kill Qin Chen, Ning Ke should be promoted to Qin Chen.

However, when the throne was passed, the officialdom was turbulent. Even the Demon Suppression Division could not avoid the internal struggles. After all, it was impossible to push someone as young as Ning Ke directly to the position of Qin Chen.

"Well, everyone, I've seen you off for ten miles to show my sincere gratitude. We are heading north, and we should do our best for Grand Tutor Qin. If we win, we will have a drink with you again." Ning Ke bowed and said to his colleagues who had seen him off.

"Juntian is taking a risk on this trip. The northern demon star is coming with great force, so I wish Juntian good luck in his military career."

"Thank you, but please don't send me off!"

Ning Ke and his companions rode on their horses and set off to the north. Lin Xiyin lagged behind Ning Ke by half a body length, and after walking away, she said, "Ning Ke, we are going to face the army when we go there."

"exactly."

"The Demon Suppression Division is not good at military formations. Killing demons is one thing, but if they want to fight against a mortal army..."

"Xiyin, at this point, you shouldn't treat them as mortal troops anymore." Ning Ke said seriously, "If Saibei has mixed the power of humans and demons into a new army formation, and applied various special abilities to the army formation, we shouldn't look at it with the same perspective as in the past. Besides... maybe there will be no difference in the future."

In a prefecture city in Huazhou, when Yuchi Long led his team into the city, the plague in the city had already been brought under control.

"The Gongsun family no longer exists... See, I said that this model of one family controlling the entire city is unreliable. If something goes wrong, there won't even be anyone to clean up the mess."

Zhao Yuqiao walked along the central avenue, holding a bamboo basket that was constantly twisting. Around the street, disciples of the Qihuang Sect were setting up large pots and boiling medicine, some of which were used to sprinkle on the streets, and some were used to eliminate the plague for the people in the city.

"Mr. Zhao..."

"Okay, don't think you can solve all the problems in these places. This medicine basket can only be controlled by my professional counterparts. If you change it, I can't control it. Don't stay in Huazhou any longer. After you help me put an end to the plague, you and I will go north together."

Zhao Yuqiao was a quick-witted man and Yuchi Long had no choice but to agree.

Across the Guanshan Mountain is Lingzhou. At the foot of the Guanshan Mountain, the mountain folks gathered together. Wen Rong disguised herself as a street performer this time. After making some candies for a few children, she easily found out the situation of the war in Lingzhou.

Due to the sudden attack in the northern border, many cities and counties in Lingzhou were lost. Now the war is spreading in multiple places. Qin Zhong is in charge of the main battlefield, and the other routes are also busy. Even in this mountain village where information is cut off, we know that at least five or six troops and horses have been assigned to it.

Wen Rong was a little dumbfounded when she heard the news.

"Which way should I go then?"