One Dao Fruit a day, starting with the Dragon Taming Technique.

Chapter 88 The Road Ahead

Xu Guang wiped the blood off his hands and looked at the demon core in his hand.

The demon core of a hundred-year-old demon is quite large.

This was Xu Guang's first time slaying a century-old demon, which was weaker than he had imagined. Of course, this was also related to the snake demon, whose strength was probably the weakest among demons of the same level.

Of course, Xu Guang didn't care.

Even if it's weak, the demon core and other treasures on its body are still at the level of a hundred-year-old demon.

With the Guiyao (归爻) present, the materials for enhancing one's nature and skills using the Life Fruit (命果) are not so rigid. Perhaps some inconspicuous items are the key to enhancing a certain core nature and skill.

[Slay a century-old demon, obtain 2 Demon Seeds of Sexual Nature, and inherit its karma, gaining 642 negative karma and 23 positive karma.]

The Sawtooth Army, lacking top-tier combat power, was already outnumbered by the Imperial Guard, not to mention that it included experts like Uncle Li and Xu Cheng.

The sawtooth army quickly retreated, leaving only the ragtag troops, who were soon suppressed.

Chaos was inevitable. Many family members of the soldiers and the Li family went missing, and it was unknown whether they were separated from their families or died.

When Xu Guang returned, he saw two soldiers crying and complaining to Du Zhong.

He didn't say anything, but went to the carriage where Du Zhao was. After seeing that the other party was safe and sound, he breathed a sigh of relief.

After a while...

The two soldiers left the group with their weapons, but some members of the group chose to follow them.

Soon, seven or eight figures, each with their families, followed the other party away.

Du Changwei's face was grim as he spoke softly.

"Zhang Yuan and Zhao Hong's child went missing in the previous battle. They wanted to go find him, but my father refused, and they said some nasty things to him—"

Du Changwei glanced at Xu Guang and said softly.

"They think Sun Ganxuan won't let you go, and it's too dangerous for them to follow you."

Xu Guang remained silent.

This is the nature of the government troops: they fight desperately in wartime, but when their own interests are involved, they can unhesitatingly abandon so-called morality.

Those who were willing to leave with the two were probably related by blood or marriage.

In the past, before the establishment of the official system, the military forces relied on the military strength of various regional military governors.

However, when the Taoist priests emerged and were able to completely replace the military garrison, it was only natural that the military governor would kick them out without hesitation.

Frankly speaking, Zhang Yuan and Zhao Hong's thoughts are quite normal. Judging from what the fat man said earlier, Sun Ganxuan hates him and the Li family more. After separating from them, Sun Ganxuan might not send a large force to hunt down a few insignificant soldiers.

Xu Guang approached Du Zhong and said, "Uncle Du, ask how many people still want to leave."

Du Zhong suddenly looked up at him, "You—"

He was a traditional officer who had risen from the ranks. Whether he had soldiers under his command or not was a completely different matter. He couldn't bear to give up the feeling of having a large following and wielding great power.

But he quickly realized what Xu Guang meant.

His garrison troops were a burden to Xu Guang at this moment, especially with so many family members with him.

Xu Guang knew that Du Zhong had figured it out, so he didn't urge him. He simply stood up in silence and looked around.

Having come from a military background, he had seen many dead people, but he remained calm.

The pursuit made him realize one thing: surrounded by enemies on all sides, he couldn't protect his people.

For some, protecting just a few people around them is already the limit.

Everything depends on yourself.

Du Zhong quickly relayed Xu Guang's message to the soldiers below.

Perhaps influenced by Zhang Yuan and his companion's departure, far more government troops chose to leave than Xu Guang had anticipated.

"Team leader, I—"

He Nian, his arm wrapped in bandages, head bowed, face flushed, said, "My mother—is getting old—"

Xu Guang looked at him and said softly, "Leaving me may not be a bad thing. I hope we will meet again someday."

He Nian finally raised his head and nodded vigorously, "I'll be waiting for you at Yuemen Pass in Youzhou with my mother. If we meet again, I—will still follow you."

Xu Guang had never mistreated him, and if it weren't for his mother's advanced age, he really wouldn't want to leave.

With He Nian, who was most loyal to Xu Guang, leaving, everyone else in Xu Guang's team was tempted to leave.

In just a short while, apart from the Du family father and son and Xu Guang, only seven or eight people remained in the yamen army.

Du Zhong gave a bitter smile and said nothing.

Du Changwei clenched his fists, his eyes bloodshot. His youthful temperament clearly showed his dissatisfaction with the cold departure of his former comrade.

o

Xu Guang didn't say anything, but reached out and patted Du Changwei on the shoulder.

He then said in a deep voice.

"Everyone's injured, let's find a place to rest."

the other side.

The changes in the military garrison were naturally noticed by the Li family.

Li Qian's expression was solemn as he said softly, "The morale of the yamen soldiers has changed."

The expressions of the Li family members changed slightly, and they began to discuss among themselves.

They all knew about the deal between the military garrison and the Li family to protect them from leaving Shuofang Prefecture, but now that the military garrison was gone, it would be even more difficult for Xu Guang to leave Shuofang Prefecture on his own.

"This complete lack of military discipline is unacceptable!"

"Yes, clan chief, what's the situation with the military garrison?"

Li Zhen suddenly said.

"Li Qian, ask those who are supposed to stay with us. Those who don't want to leave can go now."

Upon hearing this, Li Qian's face showed shock. "Uncle—"

Li Zhen simply shook her head slightly.

The Li family was already in disarray, and Zhou Meng's incident further eroded Li Zhen's trust in these offerings.

"Don't worry, Brother Xu, my uncle and I trust you."

Li Qian said this to Xu Guang.

Xu Guang nodded, without saying anything more.

After most people left, the originally bloated procession became much smaller, leaving only two carriages belonging to the Li family's direct descendants and the Du family's carriage.

That's actually a good thing.

A small number of people means less noise when they move around, which is a good thing.

Unless something like Zhou Meng happens again, it will be very difficult for the pursuers to find them.

and--

Many of those who left were also traveling together, and the noise they made while walking attracted the attention of their pursuers.

It's like two people being chased by a bear; if one can outrun the other, there's hope for survival.

Xu Guang felt that having such thoughts made him seem somewhat cold-blooded.

A moment later, the group stopped in a grove of trees.

Du Zhong and his son, Xu Guang, and Li Zhen and his nephew sat together.

"What's the next step?"

Li Qian unfurled a huge map.

"Two options: take the detour via the mountain path, where there are about ten more small hills ahead. The advantage is that there are fewer people and it won't attract attention. The disadvantage is that the mountains are too easy to ambush, and I'm worried that the governor's mansion and the Night Wind's men might be lying in ambush in the mountains."

The second route, descending the mountain from here and taking the official road, will pass through four county towns. The advantage is that we can obtain ample supplies along the way, but the disadvantage is that there are many people and eyes watching us; many recognize us, and our whereabouts could easily be discovered by Sun Ganxuan.

After Li Qian finished speaking, his gaze fell on Li Zhen, Du Zhong, and Xu Guang.

It seems they are waiting for them to make a decision.

Du Zhong and Li Zhen frowned. After a moment of silence, Xu Guang said, "I can scout ahead and see if there are any ambushes."

He paused, then looked at Xu Cheng, "Cheng, you haven't spent much time in Shuofang Prefecture. Later, put on some disguises and go down the mountain to get some supplies."