Great Wilderness Demon Lord

Xiao Yunlan halted his horse and gazed into the distance. Beyond the fortress lay an endless wilderness, its desolation amplified by the twilight—that was the Great Wilderness.

The fortress and the commotion in front of it represent the last tentacles of the civilized world reaching out to that unknown land.

He raised his hand and touched the Soul-Stabilizing Jade around his neck, sensing the movements of the eight demons within his body.

The Courageous Demon was burning with excitement for the upcoming challenge, the Wise Demon began to calmly plan the steps after entering the pass, the Deceitful Demon vigilantly examined the chaotic pass, and the Plague Demon felt a strange resonance with the faint "desolation" aura emanating from the wilderness beyond the pass.

"Walk."

He gently spurred the horse's belly, and the convoy slowly merged into the sea of ​​people and vehicles in front of the pass.

The closer you get to the gate, the louder the noise becomes.

The sounds of vendors hawking their wares in various accents, haggling over prices, the neighing of carriages and horses, and the clanging of metal create a cacophony of noise.

Xiao Yunlan caught glimpses of vendors selling specially made "malaria-repelling talismans," itinerant doctors soliciting business for "accompanying physicians," and even storytellers spouting tales of "a certain pioneering team discovering a spiritual vein and becoming rich overnight" in front of a tent.

After waiting in line for about half an hour, it was his team's turn to be inspected and cleared.

The gatekeeper was a dark-skinned, weathered middle-aged man. After examining the Ministry of War's appointment document and the Xiao family's credentials, he clasped his hands and said, "So you are the newly appointed gatekeeper of Shuofeng Plain."

Vice Commander Han has already given instructions that Lieutenant Xiao should first settle in the "Northern Border Xiao Clan Merchant Guild" after entering the pass, and then report to the military headquarters tomorrow to hand over his duties.

Xiao Yunlan returned the greeting: "Thank you for your trouble."

The heavy iron-clad gate slowly opened, its hinges turning with a deep, creaking sound, like the sigh of an ancient behemoth. The convoy entered the pass.

The scenery inside the pass is different from that in front of the pass.

The streets are wide and straight, paved with bluestone slabs, and the houses on both sides are mostly stone and wood structures, rugged and sturdy.

Shop banners fluttered, and goods were displayed in abundance—rice, flour, cloth, and salt transported from within the country; animal hides and bones hunted outside the borders; strange artifacts salvaged from the ruins of the Great Wilderness; and even a few shops openly selling low-level talismans and crudely refined pills.

The pedestrians were dressed in various styles: there were standard leather armor worn by soldiers stationed in the inner garrison, durable and strong clothing worn by pioneers, brocade robes worn by merchants, and barbarian merchants dressed in foreign attire.

The area is a mix of accents, with Mandarin, northern dialects, and ethnic slang intertwined, resembling a flowing borderland landscape.

The air was filled with the scents of livestock, medicinal herbs, and the quenching of iron, along with a unique, frontier atmosphere that was a mixture of danger and opportunity.

Zhao Kun, who was leading the way, led the convoy through the main street and turned into a slightly quieter but still bustling side street, stopping in front of a rather large courtyard. Above the gate were five thick and simple characters: "Xiao Clan Northern Border Chamber of Commerce".

The courtyard walls stood tall, the gate tower imposing, and the black lacquered gate was studded with large copper nails that gleamed eerily in the twilight. Several people were already waiting in front of the gate.

The leader was a middle-aged man in his fifties with a sharp face, wearing a dark blue brocade robe and a black fox fur vest.

Seeing the convoy stop, he quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and smiled with just the right amount of respect and warmth: "Are you the Second Young Master? I am Liu Heyang, and I am the head of the Xiao Family Northern Border Chamber of Commerce."

You must be tired from your journey! Hot water is ready in the room, and food and drinks will be served shortly. Please, please come in.

Xiao Yunlan dismounted and returned the greeting, his gaze sweeping over Liu Heyang's back—there were scholars dressed as accountants and burly men dressed as guards, all standing respectfully with their hands at their sides, silent and well-trained.

"Thank you for your help, Manager Liu."

He stepped into the courtyard.

Behind him, the heavy city gates of Zhenhuang Pass slowly closed in the twilight, making a dull thud, leaving behind the dust and toil of the past three months, and pushing a completely new and unknown frontier world before his eyes.

-----------------

Night falls late at Zhenhuang Pass; even past midnight, a sliver of bluish-gray still lingers on the horizon.

The east wing of the Xiao Clan Chamber of Commerce was brightly lit. Liu Heyang dismissed the servants and personally poured a cup of tea for Xiao Yunlan.

The tea is a unique dark tea from the north, with a dark brown liquor and a rough taste, yet it has a burning sensation in the throat, which is perfect for this cold night beyond the Great Wall.

"Second Young Master, you must have had a long journey." Liu Heyang put down the teapot, his expression turning solemn. "Now that we have arrived at Zhenhuang Pass, I will speak frankly."

Xiao Yunlan put down his teacup: "Please speak freely, Master Liu."

"Young Master is going to take up his post in Shuofeng Plain." Liu Heyang pondered for a moment, his fingertips gently stroking the rim of the teacup, as if carefully choosing his words. "That place... I went there with a caravan three years ago."

At that time, there was still a small garrison fort established by the imperial court on the Shuofeng Plain, called "Wangbei Fort," garrisoned by more than a hundred soldiers. Although it was simple, it was enough to maintain trade routes and provide a place for passing caravans to rest and resupply.

He paused, lowering his voice even further, as if afraid of disturbing the night outside the window: "Last autumn, the Wolf Rong Three Tribes Alliance gathered troops and marched south, with Wangbei Fort bearing the brunt of the attack."

The battle lasted two days and one night. By the time the reinforcements from the Northern Expeditionary Army arrived, the fortress walls had been breached, and not a single soldier survived. Their corpses were all dragged away by the Langrong people to be used as a sacrifice to their flags.

Now only ruins remain standing in the windy wilderness, barely enough to provide shelter from the wind and rain.

Xiao Yunlan frowned. The situation was more serious than expected—it wasn't about taking over an existing stronghold, but about rebuilding it from scratch on ruins.

"So, young master, your journey is not to take up a post, but to pioneer new lands." Liu Heyang looked at him, his eyes filled with the prudence typical of a merchant. "With only these twenty armored soldiers, three artisan households, and some supplies, it will be difficult to establish a foothold in the Shuofeng Plain..." He slowly shook his head. "It will be difficult."

"What insightful opinion does Master Liu have?"

Liu Heyang stroked his beard and leaned forward slightly: "In my humble opinion, it is not advisable for you to take everyone to Shuofeng Plain. That place seems like a piece of fat meat—it is located at a crucial point on the way from Zhenhuang Pass to the depths of the Great Wilderness, and many caravans traveling north and south pass through this place."

If one can establish a foothold, collecting tolls and setting up a warehouse will bring in a steady stream of profits.

Furthermore, within a hundred miles of the Shuofeng Plain, scattered small spiritual veins had been discovered in earlier explorations. Although they had not been extensively mined, they were by no means barren land.

He changed the subject, his expression turning serious: "But this fatty meat is also the most difficult to chew. Precisely because it is a vital transportation hub, most of the Langrong tribes that raid southwards take this route."

Since the fall of Wangbeibao last year, no new troops have been stationed there. The place has become a dangerous, no-man's-land – ahead lies the unpredictable dangers of the deep wilderness, and behind lies the ever-present threat of barbarian hooves.

"If you want to establish yourself there, besides dealing with the harsh weather, poisonous insects, and miasma of the wilderness, you must also be able to fight, dare to fight, and fight skillfully. Without a tough backbone, you can't control that land."

Xiao Yunlan remained silent for a moment, digesting the information in those words. The value and risks of Shuofeng Plain were equally stark, like two sides of a double-edged sword.

"In your opinion, what should be done?"

"In my humble opinion," Liu Heyang said slowly, "Young master, you can first take twenty armored soldiers, and then recruit a group of people in Zhenhuang Pass. This place is a gathering place for people from all walks of life, including desperate fugitives, rogue cultivators who want to make a fortune, and martial artists who have committed crimes and are trying to avoid trouble."

Once the young master has established a firm foothold in Shuofeng Plain, built a preliminary camp, and constructed walls and watchtowers, then the artisans' families and other follow-up personnel can be gradually moved in. In this way, there will be room for both advancement and retreat.