So it turns out I'm the demon!

Soul-Sinking Swamp.

This is a place of malevolent and deadly influence.

The area was surrounded by dead trees, endless mud, and a pervasive miasma.

Deep within this dead land, a simple array was slowly turning, and inside it sat a burly man sitting cross-legged.

The man was dressed in tattered black armor and at first glance looked like a corpse puppet.

Wisps of black energy intertwined around him.

It was the Black Armor Divine Weapon.

Not far above the array, Cypress stood quietly and gracefully.

The woman, still dressed in her simple gown, stood out like a delicate orchid in the murky, gloomy swamp, radiating an ethereal glow. Bai Xiang gazed at the black-armored divine soldiers below, her slender eyebrows slightly furrowed, a hint of helplessness in her expression.

Previously, Jiang Mu had helped her find Uncle Huo by a twist of fate.

However, due to the severity of his injuries, his body was barely sustaining its life force thanks to a mysterious bead. And that bead needed death energy to nourish it, which is why Bai Xiang brought him here.

This place was once an ancient battlefield, filled with a deathly aura.

Right now, she is trying to use an array to collect the Yin energy and death energy here to help Uncle Huo prolong his life.

Unfortunately, progress has not been very smooth.

"Your Highness."

A sudden ripple of water appeared in the air behind them.

A female guard dressed in black appeared out of thin air, knelt on one knee, and said respectfully,

"I have investigated and found out that the two demon armies that passed through here a couple of days ago, as well as the tenth-level demon king who appeared later, were not heading this way. They went towards Tanzhou."

"Tanzhou City, Yao".

A hint of surprise flashed in Bai Xiang's cool eyes.

They had only been gone from Yunzhou City for a few days when the demon army attacked the city. What a coincidence!

However, the city of Fazhou was located in a strategic location, making it a target coveted by the Red Umbrella Cult.

She turned to the female guard kneeling on the ground and asked, "Do you think the Demon Slayer Division of Yunzhou City can hold out?"

The female guard hesitated for a moment, then shook her head and said:

"It's hard to say. When we left, we didn't receive any news about the demon army attacking Yunzhou, which shows that the Red Umbrella Sect's attack was premeditated. Tanzhou City is now isolated and helpless. Whether it can be defended depends entirely on whether the support from the Daqing Dynasty can arrive in time."

In any case, relying solely on the troops of Fazhou City, it's unlikely they can hold out for long.

Seeing the worried look on Bai Xiang's face, the female guard said:

"My lord, so what if Fazhou City falls? It's a city of the Great Qing Dynasty anyway, so how many people die is none of our business."

Our most pressing objective right now is to find the cave left behind by the great demon Jiang Chaoxi, retrieve the Twin Fish Jade Pendant, and restore our kingdom. As for the fate of Fazhou, we don't need to get involved in that mess.

"That being said, but..."

Bai Xiang gently bit her moist lower lip with her pearly teeth, and the image of Shui Miaozheng appeared in her mind.

If it were the old her, no matter how many people died in Daqing, it wouldn't matter to her.

The problem is that the beautiful manager of Fazhou City has a very good relationship with Jiang Mu.

Why don't we lend a hand for that man's sake?

However, Uncle Huo is currently unable to leave his post.

The female guard had been secretly observing her mistress's expression. Seeing her brows furrowing more and more tightly, she finally couldn't help but tentatively ask, "Your Highness, you wouldn't happen to...?"

"I'm worried about the vegetable garden."

Bai Xiang interrupted her calmly, "I forgot to ask someone to take care of it when I left. It wouldn't be good if it were violated by a demon."

A vegetable garden?

The female guard opened her mouth, unsure how to respond.

In the first few days after their master arrived in Yunzhou City, he did indeed clear a plot of land in the courtyard and plant a lot of things.

It is taken very seriously.

Perhaps, that vegetable garden really did have some special meaning for the master.

"I plan to drain all the Yin energy from this dead land and pour it into Uncle Huo's body all at once."

Bai Xiang suddenly said.

The female guard was stunned.

She looked at General Huo in the formation.

At this moment, a bead was slowly rotating in the chest cavity of the black-armored warrior, each rotation drawing in the surrounding death energy. "Isn't this a bit risky?" the female guard asked worriedly.

Bai Xiang said calmly:

"Don't worry, there won't be any problems. Although it can't compare to the nourishing effect of a gentle, continuous flow, it can at least help him maintain his vitality for a period of time, and then we'll think of other methods."

In short, let's finish things here as soon as possible, then go back and check on the vegetable garden.

In fact, Bai Xiang really cared about that vegetable garden.

After all, she had secretly carved her and that man's names on some tender leaves.

She would be very angry if the monster really stepped on it.

very angry.

Outside Tanzhou City.

Just as Nan Zhi had predicted, after that absurd internal strife, the demon army's offensive clearly weakened in the subsequent siege.

Many leaders, both big and small, were harboring resentment and were only going through the motions.

Especially the Fallen Soul Corpse Demon clan.

Even though Nan Zhi came forward to clarify the misunderstanding, they were still ostracized and guarded against by other demon races on the battlefield.

They seem to be some kind of battlefield plague.

During the siege, the various units worked in perfect unison.

As soon as the Corpse Demon Clan's formation charged forward, the surrounding demon soldiers would unanimously slow down, waiting for them to finish their charge.

Enraged, the leader of the corpse demons began to curse loudly.

After that, he simply moved all his men to the hillside outside the battlefield to set up camp, and he himself moved a cool chair and lay down at the camp gate.

It's obvious that I'm just playing the role of a mascot; let whoever wants to fight me can fight me.

Seeing these guys slacking off in the back, the other monsters rushing to the front felt even more resentful.

Why should I be the one suffering the backlash from the city's protective formation and bleeding profusely?

You guys were just watching the show and getting paid?

As a result, the enemy's passive resistance spread like a plague among the demon army.

The siege gradually devolved into a war of attrition that was all bark and no bite.

The enemy's complacency allowed the demon slayers and city guards, who were struggling to hold out, to breathe a sigh of relief.

at the same time.

In a secluded mountain valley ten miles from the demon army camp, a reinforcement team from the Demon Slayer Division was quietly arriving.

This team comes from the Demon Slayer Division of Yuancheng.

The leader was a middle-aged man in his forties with a thin face and a mustache.

This person is Lin Anchang, the head of the Demon Slaying Division of Yuancheng.

He led a team during the crisis in Yancheng last time.

Moreover, there was a conflict and friction with Jiang Mu at that time because his subordinate was killed.

His subordinate Xue Bayuan was killed by Jiang Mu, which enraged him so much that he almost drew his sword. However, Jiang Mu threw Xue Bayuan's demonic corpse aside, publicly humiliating him.

In the end, he could only swallow his anger and resentment.

"Master Boss."

A scout tasked with gathering intelligence slipped into the mountain valley and reported in a low voice, "I have ascertained that the defensive array of Yunzhou City is still intact, but it seems that it won't last much longer."

"Is the grand formation still in place?"

Lin Anchang stroked his mustache, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes.

According to his calculations before setting off, with the demon army besieging the city for so long and with a powerful eleventh-level demon cultivator like Wen Tianque personally overseeing the battle, the small number of troops in Fazhou City simply couldn't have held out until now.

The best outcome would be to launch a surprise attack on the demon army from behind after the city falls.

But the city walls haven't been breached yet?

Is it that Fazhou City is too resilient, or that these demon soldiers are too useless?

A trusted aide stepped forward and suggested:

"Commander, since Fazhou City is still holding out, should we fire a whistle to signal to Commander Shui that our reinforcements have arrived and boost their morale?"

"madness!"

Lin Anchang shook his head decisively and scolded him impatiently.

"Sounding the whistle signal at this time, are you afraid the demon army is blind and can't see us? We only have about two hundred people, how can we confront the demon army head-on? We're not hiding in the city."

The order was given that the entire army should take cover and remain stationed on the spot.

"Once the reinforcements from the Demon Slayer Divisions of other prefectures arrive and join the main force, we'll launch a joint attack."

The confidant responded and turned to instruct the others to set up camp.

Just then, another scout responsible for rear guard rushed over: "Sir, an army has appeared behind us!" "An army?"

Lin Anchang was taken aback and asked in surprise, "Who is the general leading the troops?"

"It is not yet clear which flag it belongs to."

The scout shook his head.

Less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, accompanied by the sound of horses' hooves, a group of more than thirty men galloped to the front of the mountain pass.

These people were all wearing heavy armor.

Although their numbers were small, they exuded a fierce and ruthless aura.

The armor of the two leaders was clearly a level higher.

One of them was tall and imposing; he was Chang Dawei, the commander who had led the troops to quell the rebellion in Yancheng.

The man next to Chang Dawei appeared much thinner.

With a long, narrow face, slightly high cheekbones, and a pair of slender eyes that held a hint of self-satisfied sharpness, he was Vice General Chen Xuan.

Back when Jiang Mu was drinking with Chang Dawei in the military camp outside Yancheng, Chen Xuan had sarcastically questioned Jiang Mu's identity. As a result, the hot-tempered Chang Dawei immediately retorted.

The other party left in a huff.

After that, they never crossed paths again.

Lin Anchang recognized the two men's faces, paused for a moment, then put on a smile, stepped forward, and cupped his hands in greeting:

"So it's General Chang and General Chen. How have you two been?"

Chang Dawei reined in his horse, leaped off, and cursed as he spoke:

"Damn it, finally we see reinforcements from our Demon Slayer Division. Commander Lin, you're pretty fast, you arrived just in time." Although Chang Dawei's cultivation was only at the fifth realm, which was no match for an eighth-realm commander like Lin Anchang, his family background was illustrious. General Chang was a pillar of the nation guarding the border, wielding considerable military power.

Even though the emperor was dissatisfied with the Chang family due to some court turmoil recently and secretly made things difficult for them, in Daqing, few people still dared to disrespect the Chang family.

As for Chen Xuan next to him, she is also a formidable character.

Although this man was a deputy general in the army, his godfather was a powerful eunuch in the Directorate of Ceremonial.

These days, any eunuch who can gain a foothold in the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs is no ordinary person.

Lin Anchang said solemnly:

"Upon hearing of the troubles in Fazhou, I was filled with anxiety and rushed here day and night, hoping to relieve the people of the city as soon as possible and do my part."

Chang Dawei nodded, and without any formalities, said directly:

"As it happens, we have also received orders from the imperial court to come and assist you in dealing with the demon army."

"I see."

Lin Anchang nodded repeatedly, but was secretly surprised.

Logically speaking, the regular army of Daqing would rarely participate in such a large-scale siege by the demon race.

After all, most soldiers in the army are ordinary mortals who have no cultivation.

Mortal beings are at a great disadvantage when they encounter demons.

Especially in the last battle of Yancheng, Chang Dawei, as the commander-in-chief of the suppression campaign, led his army away from Yancheng after suppressing the rebel army of the Red Umbrella Sect, without directly confronting the demon army.

But why would the imperial court issue such an order now?

Chang Dawei saw Lin Anchang's doubts and, without hiding anything, readily said:

"Commander Lin, you know the disadvantage of our ordinary army against demons. If we were to go head-to-head and fight the demon army hand-to-hand, it would definitely be suicide. But to say that our army has no fighting power is impossible."

"It's not like we haven't fought to the death against demons before, and we have specially made weapons to counter them."

As he spoke, he drew a simple diagram on the ground in front of Lin Anchang with his toe:

"My battle plan is this: your Demon Slayers will form a shield in front to protect our formation."

Our main force will remain in the rear, using those specially made weapons for long-range attacks. Dealing with a demon king is risky, but suppressing demons below the sixth or seventh rank shouldn't be a problem.

Lin Anchang's eyes flickered slightly, and he tentatively asked, "General Chang, how many troops did you bring this time?"

"A little over five thousand."

Chang Dawei gave a number and added, "They're all veterans, not a single one is a greenhorn, they won't be afraid of those demons."

Five thousand...

Lin Anchang quickly calculated in his mind.

If deployed in an open area, the ranged firepower of five thousand elite troops could indeed achieve considerable results against low- to mid-level demon groups.

But right now, the demon army numbers at least ten thousand.

It also included many powerful demons and several demon kings.

Even if all two hundred members of the Yuancheng Demon Slayer Division went up to fight, they wouldn't be enough to provide cover for five thousand people.

Thinking of this, Lin Anchang said earnestly:

"General Chang's tactics are brilliant, but the demon army is currently overwhelming. If we rely solely on our two hundred or so men from Yuancheng, we will find it difficult to hold them off alone. My suggestion is that we play it safe and wait patiently."

Anyway, the main formation of Yunzhou City hasn't been broken yet, and the Water Guard can still hold out. Once the main forces from other states arrive, we can swarm in according to your tactics, wouldn't that guarantee a victory?

"The problem is, the formation probably won't last much longer."

Chang Dawei frowned and said, "I just sent someone to check, and the city's protective barrier can only withstand two rounds at most."

Once the city falls, the demon army will surely enter and massacre its inhabitants. If we then charge in, hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians will inevitably die or be injured. Who can bear that responsibility?!

Lin Anchang looked troubled and sighed softly:

"General Chang, I understand the reasoning you've given. But as you can see, the demon army still numbers at least ten thousand."

If our small force is exposed, they can easily turn around and surround us. In that case, we will suffer the heaviest casualties. Of course, I am paid by the emperor and am naturally not afraid of death.

"But if we sacrifice these two hundred-odd brothers and your five thousand soldiers in vain, and still fail to save the city, what's the point?" Chang Dawei opened his mouth to argue further, but Chen Xuan spoke up:

"What Commander Lin said is absolutely right. General Chang, military strategy says, 'Avoid their sharp edge and strike when they are tired and retreating.' Let's play it safe."

Moreover, judging by the travel time, the reinforcements from Ran Zhangsi of Huzhou City and from Yancheng should arrive soon.

Once reinforcements arrive from all directions, the game will be won.

Chang Dawei glanced at Lin Anchang, then at Chen Xuan, and finally relented, saying in a deep voice:

"Then let's wait a little longer. But let me make this clear: if the great formation is broken before reinforcements arrive, we must go to their aid no matter what. We cannot just stand by and watch the demons slaughter the city."

"Don't worry about that!"

Lin Anchang patted his chest and said, "I will personally keep an eye on the movements on the city wall, and if anything changes, I will not hesitate."

As night deepened, in a courtyard in the city of Fazhou.

The candlelight flickered slightly.

The two shadows cast on the wall, one long and one short, appeared to be intertwined.

The shadows sometimes overlapped and sometimes separated.

Like two light strokes of ink on rice paper, which, when blown by the wind, acquire a lingering meaning.

The air was filled with a lingering, warm fragrance.

After a long while, accompanied by a sigh, the graceful and voluptuous figure collapsed first.

Before long, the sound of even, deep breathing could be heard from the bed.

Shui Miaozheng is not a woman who easily falls asleep.

But no way.

Sometimes, the intertwining of physical and mental pleasure and exhaustion is more potent than any calming incense.

Jiang Mu, however, was full of energy and showed no signs of sleepiness.

He turned to his side, looking at the beautiful woman sleeping soundly beside him, his eyes filled with tenderness. He gently tucked a corner of the blanket under her bare shoulder and casually brushed a strand of damp hair that clung to her cheek behind her ear.

Then, he put on his clothes and went out of the house.

A cool night breeze swept over me.

Jiang Mu took a deep breath of the cool air outside, which calmed the restless pure yang fire within her body somewhat.

He walked to the stone table in the courtyard, sat down, closed his eyes, and probed a wisp of his divine sense into the [Zombie King's Decree] in his sea of ​​consciousness.

Within the token space.

Just as Ji Hongyuan had said, the bronze-armored zombie that had been blasted apart by those great demons had indeed reformed its outline.

But at this moment, they are like petrified statues, wrapped in a plastic film.

It is slowly recovering and nourishing.

It looks like it will take some time to fully repair.

"It's a pity that this thing has a locked limit and can't be upgraded or advanced."

Jiang Mu pouted with some regret.

If I could cultivate them into flying corpses and drought demons at the seventh or eighth level, I could walk sideways in the future.

Suddenly, Jiang Mu's expression shifted slightly.

He immediately severed his divine sense and withdrew, looking up at the courtyard wall beside him.

A seductive figure appeared atop the wall.

It was Ji Hongyuan.

A cool breeze swept by, blowing open the side slit of the woman's black and red dress, revealing a section of her perfectly sculpted long legs tightly encased in black silk stockings. Jiang Mu thought to himself.

If those legs were used to pedal a tricycle, the chain would probably be smoking.