So it turns out I'm the demon!

The bull chieftain's head was pressed against the ground, his expression one of flattery and respect.

A hush fell over the tent.

Those monsters who were cheering in their hearts just moments ago were now all gaping in disbelief, their mouths agape.

Even Jiang Mu was a little confused by the bull demon's actions.

The opponent's smooth little combo.

That's awesome.

Jiang Mu didn't bother to ask any questions. A flash of blood-red light appeared at his fingertips, and he was about to continue his attack.

"My lord, spare my life!"

Sensing the murderous intent, Niu Xiaoliu was so frightened that he immediately kowtowed and quickly said,

"Old Niu knows most of the demon army's deployment and patrol routes. If Lord Jiang doesn't mind, Old Niu is willing to be your guide, serving you faithfully and even unto death!"

Only at this moment did the other petrified monsters inside the tent finally awaken from their daze.

Combining Niu Xiaoliu's earlier shout of "Lord Jiang" with the conversation among the demons, they realized that the person before them was Jiang Mu! "Run!"

A monster screamed, a cloud of yellow smoke rising from its body, and turned to crash into the back of the tent, attempting to escape.

However, just as it stood up, a blade of energy suddenly slashed out from nowhere.

The monster's head immediately separated from its neck and rolled into the corner of the tent.

Jiang Mu looked down at Niu Xiaoliu kneeling on the ground and laughed, "You stupid ox, you're quite sensible."

Upon receiving Jiang Mu's praise, Niu Xiaoliu felt as if he had heard heavenly music.

It raised its bull-like face and forced out a fawning smile that was even uglier than a grimace:

"Lord Jiang is the number one genius of the human race, with unparalleled elegance and divine might, like a god descended from the heavens. I, Old Niu, have long admired your heroic figure since Yan City, and it is my great honor to see your face today."

As it happens, my family has a wife who is incredibly beautiful, with a face that could shame the moon and make fish sink and geese fall from the sky. She is called "Little Sweetie" and is a famous beauty in our Niu clan, known for miles around.

"If Lord Jiang is interested, I, Old Niu, am willing to be the matchmaker and strip Little Sweetie naked and send her to your bed to warm the blankets, what do you think..." Jiang Mu was completely speechless.

Sweetie F***ing!

"Shameless spineless coward!"

The toad demon beside him finally lost its temper, trembling with rage, and pointed at Niu Xiaoliu, shouting angrily,

"Niu Xiaoliu, you were just bragging about how great you were, saying you'd exchanged hundreds of blows with Jiang Mu. Now that he's standing right here, you're kneeling down without even uttering a fart."

He even sold his own wife!

You have utterly disgraced our demon race!

Have you forgotten the great king who promoted you all the way? You ungrateful beast!

Niu Xiaoliu turned his head and glared at the toad demon, then retorted confidently:

"You don't know anything! Our King praised me personally back then, saying that I am a rare talent among the demon race!"

Since Your Majesty has said so, and since the saying goes "a wise man submits to circumstances," am I not putting Your Majesty's teachings into practice by submitting to circumstances in order to save my life?

The toad demon was rendered speechless by the retort, his face turning a deep purplish-red: "You...you..."

"What a talent!"

Jiang Mu sighed softly, her right hand slightly open, then clenched.

"Sizzle sizzle"

In an instant, a dark red light shone brightly inside the tent.

Several blood-red blade energies swept out in all directions, centered on Jiang Mu.

The few demons inside the tent, still in a daze, didn't even have time to think of resisting before they were shredded into pieces by the blade's energy.

Only Jiang Mu and Niu Xiaoliu remained in the tent.

Niu Xiaoliu, who witnessed this scene, was terrified.

Although it had been boasting, it had indeed caught a glimpse of Jiang Mu making a move from afar on the battlefield of Yancheng.

Although Jiang Mu was powerful back then, he was definitely not as terrifying as he is now.

What does this tell us?

This shows that the power of this killing god has experienced another leap forward in less than two months!

Horror!

Thinking of this, Niu Xiaoliu buried his head even deeper, wishing he could burrow into the soil, and said tremblingly, "M-Master, your divine might is boundless! Old Niu's admiration for you is like a surging river..."

"Alright, stop spouting nonsense."

Jiang Mu coldly interrupted its flattery and asked, "I'm asking you, who is the leader who commanded the demon army to besiege Fazhou City this time?"

Niu Xiaoliu dared not hide anything and quickly said:

"In reply to your question, although the main force attacking Fazhou City this time is a large army assembled by our various demon kings, the real leader is not any of our demon race's great saints, but a human demon cultivator!"

This person's cultivation has reached the peak of the eleventh level, and his name is "Wen Tianque".

"My lord, your human race may not know his background. But I, Old Niu, being a confidant of the King, have overheard some inside information. Our King said that this eleventh-tier great demon cultivator named Wen Tianque was once a member of your Great Qing Demon Slaying Division." "Oh?"

Upon hearing this, a strange light flashed in Jiang Mu's eyes.

The former demon slayer actually defected and became a demon cultivator?

Moreover, his cultivation level had reached a terrifying eleventh rank?

Within the Daqing Demon Slaying Division's system, those who can reach this level are at least powerful beings at the level of Guardian Envoy!

This indicates that this person was once a prodigy.

Such a being actually defected to become a demonic cultivator and even became the commander of the demon army?

However, he had absolutely no recollection of the name "Wen Tianque".

I haven't seen it in the files of the Demon Slayer Division either.

Is it a pseudonym?

Jiang Mu stared at Niu Xiaoliu and asked in a deep voice, "Which prefecture's Demon Slaying Division did he work for before? What position did he hold?"

Niu Xiaoliu shook his head with a bitter face:

"I really don't know about this old ox. The king only mentioned it casually at the time and didn't dare to discuss the details of that person."

Jiang Mu nodded slightly and continued to ask:

"So what was his purpose in going to such lengths to gather a demon army to attack Yunzhou City? Was it, like other powerful demons, to devour the 'city fortune' of Fazhou City in order to break through the shackles?"

"Yes, devouring the city's fortune is naturally of paramount importance."

Niu Xiaoliu nodded repeatedly, "Breaking through from the eleventh to the twelfth level is extremely difficult, and it is impossible to defy fate without the fortune of a city."

Then, it added mysteriously,

"However, I heard our King mention it briefly when he was drunk. The reason why this Lord Wen ignored the other prefectures and focused on attacking Fazhou City is because of a personal grudge."

"Personal grudge?" Jiang Mu raised an eyebrow slightly.

"yes."

Niu Xiaoliu whispered, "I heard it's related to the garrison commander currently stationed in Fazhou City. Many years ago, this garrison commander killed Wen Tianque's wife!"

Jiang Mu suddenly understood.

Therefore, this demonic cultivator named "Wen Tianque" has two purposes in going to great lengths to attack Fazhou City:

Firstly, it was to devour the city's fortune in Tanzhou City, thus helping him to forcibly break through the shackles of the twelfth rank.

Secondly, he wanted to find Tian Wenyuan, the garrison commander currently stationed in Fazhou City, to avenge the murder of his wife!

With public and private grudges piled up, it's no wonder that this time the demon army's offensive was more ferocious than any previous siege.

Next, in order to survive, Niu Xiaoliu spoke without reservation.

He revealed everything he knew about the demon army's troop deployments, patrols, and troop rotations.

The main force that actually participated in the attack on Tanzhou City consisted of about 16,000 troops.

There are more than 300 minor leaders of the fifth rank or above who govern a region, and six major demons of the eighth rank or above.

As for the remaining vast horde of demons, they were all invited to provide support and create a festive atmosphere. They would absolutely not risk their lives if the battle remained intense.

This situation is exactly the same as the Battle of Yancheng.

The only difference was that, in Yancheng at that time, the imperial court had already arranged for support from various officials.

This greatly slowed down the monsters' offensive pace.

In addition, Jiang Mu's interference outside the city caused the suspicious Peacock Demon King to misjudge the situation, ultimately missing the best opportunity to break through the city and delaying the arrival of top-tier reinforcements like Mo Huaisu, who then decided the outcome of the battle.

This time, the city of Fazhou is temporarily isolated and without help.

If Jiang Mu hadn't sent Shui Miaozheng a warning via flying eagles in advance, allowing the city to prepare defenses, the city's protective array would likely have been breached by a surprise attack long ago. However, Fazhou City also possesses a significant advantage.

The garrison commander of this city is still alive!

Back then, Yuan Qianfan, the garrison commander of Yancheng, was just a wisp of a soul still playing the Empty City Stratagem. Everyone was dancing on a tightrope; one wrong move and the whole game would be lost.

With Tian Wenyuan in charge, Fazhou City can at least hold out for a while longer.

"Come on, write it down."

Jiang Mu pointed to a table next to her, her gaze deep and thoughtful.

"Write down everything you just said about the troop distribution in black and white. I'll take this statement to the monsters in the other camps to verify and interrogate them."

If I find out that you have concealed even the slightest thing or lied to me…

"Lord Jiang, please rest assured!"

Niu Xiaoliu patted his chest vigorously and said confidently,

"I, Old Niu, live by my word in this business. I would never dare to lie to you, not even a single word. If I uttered a lie, may I be struck by lightning and reincarnated as a donkey pulling a millstone!"

Seeing that Jiang Mu was still looking at it coldly, Niu Xiaoliu shrank its neck in embarrassment and immediately crawled to the table on its knees.

He grabbed a pen and paper, bent over, and started writing furiously on the paper.

After finishing writing, it seemed to feel that it was not enough to show its sincerity, so it suddenly slapped its forehead, pulled out another map, spread it on the table, and began to write and draw carefully on it.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the bull demon finally put down his pen.

Holding the map and confession in both hands, it presented them to Jiang Mu with a fawning expression, saying ingratiatingly:

"Lord Jiang, please take a look. On this map, I have marked the location of the central army's main camp, the supply depot, the patrol rotation times, and several of the weakest points in the defense."

"Please take a look, is there anything else I need to add?"

Jiang Mu took the map and paper, glanced at them, and his expression turned strange.

The map was covered with symbols.

Next to each marker, the number of monsters was noted in small print.

The paper even listed the approximate cultivation level of each camp's demon soldiers, the names of their leaders, and any past grudges between them, all arranged by camp number. This guy's got some serious talent.

No, he's a genius!

Jiang Mu stored the information in his storage ring, patted the bull demon's broad shoulder, and exclaimed in admiration:

"Well done."

Upon receiving the praise, Niu Xiaoliu's face immediately broke into a wide smile, and he rubbed his hands together repeatedly, saying:

"Lord Jiang, you flatter me. To be honest, although I may be wearing a fake coat, my heart is pure and kind."

I am a cow who pursues truth, goodness and beauty. I have been a vegetarian since I was a child. I don't even dare to step on an ant, let alone kill you humans.

I've even thought of a name for my future son: "Awesome Person".

Lord Jiang, if you ever need to inquire about any top-secret information within the demon race, just ask me, Old Niu. I'll be there whenever you call, and I'll tell you everything I know!

"In life, I am yours; in death, I am yours!"

Jiang Mu looked at the bull demon, whose will to survive was at its peak, and laughed, "Alright, I'll let you go this time. I believe you're a good bull." Hearing this, Niu Xiaoliu burst into tears, kowtowed to the ground again, and cried out in a sobbing voice:

"Lord Jiang's kindness and virtue are unforgettable. I will repay your kindness even if I am reborn as an ox in my next life!"

Jiang Mu ignored the dramatic performance of this bull, and with a flicker, disappeared from the spot.

The next moment, he appeared in the dense forest on the outskirts of the camp, and under the cover of night, he sped towards another camp where monsters gathered. "Brother Jiang, you really let it go?"

Ji Hongyuan's alluring soul emerged from mid-air, her long, beautiful legs shimmering in the night.

She floated beside Jiang Mu, her red lips slightly upturned, a playful smile on her face. "That bull-headed creature looks honest, but it's got quite a few tricks up its sleeve." "Why kill it?"

Jiang Mu said calmly, "Keeping this kind of demon in the demon army is sometimes more useful than killing it. Who knows, this 'Bull Talent' might give us an unexpected surprise someday."

Inside the city of Fazhou.

Shui Miaozheng stood quietly atop the city wall, her long, light blue dress billowing like a butterfly in the night breeze, outlining her voluptuous and mature figure. Days of defending the city and overseeing the battle had left her with almost no sleep.

The area under his eyes was covered with fine blood vessels.

Ming Cuicui stood beside her, watching the ever-growing number of demons below, and said anxiously:

"My lord, this demon army is even more ferocious than the one that attacked Yan City last time. The materials needed to maintain the city's defensive array can only last for three more days at most, and we don't know if reinforcements will arrive in time."

Shui Miaozheng parted her red lips slightly:

"With the Garrison Commander in charge, the foundation of the great formation won't easily crumble. As long as we hold our ground and don't retreat, there's hope of receiving reinforcements from the Commander-in-Chief. If the city truly falls, and reinforcements never arrive..."

Shui Miaozheng was silent for a moment, then said calmly,

"It's nothing more than death. When that moment comes, I will personally cover your retreat and fight my way out for you. Whether you can escape or not depends on your own fate."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of all the hall masters and demon-slaying guards present changed.

One of them drew his weapon and shouted:

"Your Excellency, you are too kind! We are willing to live and die with Yunzhou City!"

"That's right, we've come to this point, what's the point of talking about escaping! The worst that can happen is death!"

"We swear to follow Commander Shui to the death!"

The crowd shouted in unison.

Shui Miaozheng remained silent as she listened to her subordinates' impassioned statements.

She gazed silently at the menacing, seemingly endless sea of ​​demons outside the city, her beautiful eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and tenderness.

She is not afraid of death.

But... she still had some regrets in her heart.

Having finally let go of societal prejudices and the constraints of age and status, she chose to be brave for that passionate love. She finally experienced the joy of being a woman and the sense of security of being protected.

She hadn't even had a chance to be with that young man forever.

I haven't even had a chance to see him reach the pinnacle of the Great Dao yet.

If he were to die like this, then this relationship would have ended far too abruptly, leaving one with a deep sense of regret.

But there are not that many perfect things in the world.

Just as Shui Miaozheng was secretly grieving, Zhu Chang, who was observing the enemy's situation, suddenly exclaimed in surprise, "Huh? Commander, look! It seems like thick smoke is rising from the demon's rear camp in the distance?!"

Everyone was taken aback upon hearing this and looked up.

really!

In the distance, thick black smoke billowed into the sky from the direction of the demon army's rear camp.

You can even vaguely see the flames shooting into the sky.

Before long, the sound of horns rang out one after another, and it was clear that some commotion had occurred behind the demon army.

Meanwhile, the vanguard of the demons, who had been frantically attacking the city's defensive formation below the city, seemed to have received some urgent military order, and their offensive came to an abrupt halt.

They all turned around and began to retreat.

The low-level troops on the front line retreated first, followed by the flying monsters providing cover, and finally even the massive siege beasts that were bringing up the rear turned around.

The pressure on the city wall decreased dramatically within a short period of half an incense stick's time.

"Could it be that the imperial army has arrived as reinforcements?!"

One of the hall masters exclaimed in surprise.

The demon slayers on the city wall also showed expressions of ecstatic joy at having escaped a desperate situation.

The low morale instantly soared.

Ming Cuicui frowned slightly in surprise:

"I didn't expect the reinforcements to arrive so quickly. Could they have come from Yancheng or Huzhou? After all, those are the only two cities closest to us."

Shui Miaozheng did not participate in the group's discussion.

She stared at the distant, towering flames. As she watched, the beautiful woman's chest suddenly heaved, and her breathing became rapid.

wrong!

It couldn't be a demon-slaying army sent from other cities!

Firstly, it's simply impossible for a large army to move and mobilize that quickly.

Secondly, even if it were reinforcements from the Demon Slayer Division arriving, the normal tactic would be to break through the city's defenses from the outside and join them inside. Why would they launch a lone, infiltrated attack, like assassins trying to take out the enemy's rear base?

only...

"Little Jiang!"

Shui Miaozheng's heart skipped a beat, and her beautiful eyes flashed with an astonishing light.

She instinctively took a step forward, but stopped as soon as her foot touched the edge of the stack.

A large array of light barriers was blocking her way.

To leave the city, the city's protective array must be deactivated.

Once the array is shut down, restarting it will require a long debugging process.

If those powerful demons outside, who are eyeing us covetously, were to launch a surprise attack, it would be a catastrophic disaster for Fazhou City.

"It must be that silly kid, Xiao Jiang!"

Shui Miaozheng was very certain in her heart.

Although she had long anticipated that Jiang Mu would rush to the rescue once he learned of the news.

But she didn't expect the other party to arrive so quickly.

Clearly, he had broken away from Ran Qingshan's main force and arrived at this place alone.

"This silly child, why didn't he wait for the main force to move together? How dangerous it would be if they were surrounded by those great demons..." A thin mist welled up in the woman's eyes.

She suddenly remembered something, immediately turned around and quickly walked down the city wall.