Becoming a wet nurse is not the end of the story.

Lin Xueyin carefully took the luminous green leg bone from Besna's gloved hand. She had wanted to handle it herself, but Besna stopped her, saying that the situation was unclear and she had to wear gloves to retrieve it.

Upon seeing the leg bone, Kono was trembling and hiding to the side. Although Lin Xueyin had tried to comfort her, she was still quite frightened.

But thinking about it, it makes sense. If you were walking along and suddenly came across a real human skeleton, it would make you feel uneasy no matter how many times you did.

"Xueyin, look ahead."

Following Orichalos's finger, Lin Xueyin looked at the tree not far away, where bones, now only a faint green color, were scattered haphazardly. These bones were not only from humans, but also from many other races, such as the hooves of demons.

It seems there are more than just human bones here, and these dead are not just humans; there are probably many more races that perished here.

Lin Xueyin walked quietly to the foot of the grove of trees. The grass was filled with the bones of various races, scattered about. It seemed that the masterminds behind the scenes did not care about the situation here, or that they were certain that no one else would come in.

Lin Xueyin gave a bitter smile. Was there even a question? The other party must have been certain that no one could leave this place, which was why they were so fearless. It was a pity that she had actually walked in. She would also inform Nana about the situation here in time.

"Everyone be careful. These bones couldn't possibly be made from the Dragon-Eating Flower. I'm afraid there's an even bigger danger waiting for us inside."

Regarding the previous hiatus, the author apologizes first. Due to chapter review procedures, the chapters from the 9th and 13th were not reviewed in time. Although the reason is unknown, the author still feels very sorry and feels a little sad. The author clearly stated that they would not stop updating; if they had been more careful, this could have been avoided.

Now the author can only contact Sister Orange, but she's probably not available on Sunday. We'll have to wait until Monday to see how to resolve this. I'm so frustrated... I don't even know how to put it. I feel so depressed.

What's most frustrating is that I don't know how to make amends, and it's really upsetting.

Volume 9: The Demon Clan's Journey: Chapter 44 The Dilapidated Village

The ruins, collapsed courtyard walls, dilapidated courtyards, houses that have lost their roofs and are now only half-built, with the broken beams and pillars in front of the doors overgrown with weeds, and the shattered signs that record the former prosperity.

"This must have been the village of the Kulun people. I never imagined it would be reduced to ruins overnight."

At this moment, Ke Nuo watched Lin Xueyin squat down and carefully wipe a plaque, and couldn't help but sigh, as if he was thinking of himself back then.

"Yes, it collapsed overnight. Who would have thought that disaster would befall them while they were just sitting at home? They were just ordinary people who became innocent victims because of the ambition of some people."

Scanning the surrounding ruins, Lin Xueyin still felt a pang of sadness. Although they were of different races, they were still living, breathing lives. A village, a race, were so cruelly and brutally wiped out. Did those people have no humanity at all?

"Your Highness, please quell the flames of thunder. The demons have always..."

"What are they? Besna, tell me, if the weak are destined to perish, then how many races will be left in this world? The entire Kuren race became Nana's vassals, but what was the result? Since they joined the Demon Clan, they have an obligation to protect these weaklings. In any case, this is the Demon King's responsibility, and it is also her dereliction of duty."

Lin Xueyin stared wide-eyed, finding it hard to believe that this person would say such a thing. Is this how the law of the jungle is understood? The weak must perish. No one on Earth would dare to say that. Even in racial discrimination, probably no one would dare to say that they want to completely exterminate Black people.

Do you think tens of millions of unlucky people are wiped out so easily? Luck can't change bad luck, and spending money can't change fate. Even God can't do that. Yet, they dare to use such nonchalant words to explain this human tragedy.

Besna opened her mouth but said nothing. There were some things Lin Xueyin could say because she wasn't worried about what the Demon King would do to her, but she couldn't say them. Even though she knew such a tragedy shouldn't have happened, she couldn't doubt the Demon King in any way.

"Alright, I understand what you mean and I know your predicament. Don't say these things next time. You only have one life. Sometimes we can't choose our birth, but no one can arbitrarily decide whether they live or die."

As they strolled along the road that could still be vaguely identified as once a street, the group gradually fell silent. Kono noticed that the gazes of the others were intentionally or unintentionally sweeping over the dilapidated houses and courtyards around them.

A restaurant, a restaurant that has collapsed, which may have once been full of distinguished guests, is now just a ruin, leaving only desolation in the breeze.

"Besna, this place must have been very lively back then."

"Yes, although the Kuren people don't have any high-end combat power, the foothills where they live are rich in herbs and animals, and it's one of the few passages connecting the two sides of the Lebrus Mountains. So, it's also a gathering place for merchants. Accordingly, these Kuren people live a very prosperous life thanks to their advantageous location."

Even now, Lin Xueyin still doesn't understand why those people would kill these people so ruthlessly. Although they don't have any strong individuals, the caravans that can come here are not without some experts. Moreover, although this place is deep in the dense forest, roads have long been opened up due to the comings and goings of caravans.

This is not a peaceful place. Doing something like this here will definitely be exposed immediately. So, what are those people after?

Seeking wealth? Absolutely impossible. How could an organization capable of supporting a Dragon-Eating Flower be so desperately short of money? Seeking revenge? Someone who doesn't even have a basic level of strength—where would they possibly offend those truly capable organizations that can afford to support the Dragon-Eating Flower?

She initially thought she had taken a liking to the people here in order to feed the Dragon-Eating Flower, but after discovering the remains, Lin Xueyin wavered in her opinion once again.

If the goal is to feed the Dragon-Eating Flower, then everyone should be fed as well. Why should other beings be allowed to eat it? Besides, based on the number of skeletons from before, there were probably quite a few dead.

Could placing the Dragon-Eating Flower outside be seen as a first line of defense to prevent anyone from sneaking in?

When Besna saw Lin Xueyin standing there motionless as if she was thinking about something, she took out a water bag and waved it in front of her.

"Your Highness, why don't you rest for a while? Some things can be thought about slowly, there's no rush."

"Well, I still don't quite understand why those people turned this place into ruins."

Besna shook her head slightly. "Your Highness, there are some things that we can't understand just by thinking about them now. This place has a history of tens of thousands of years, and the Kuren people have lived here for generations. Perhaps there are things that we don't know about that they might covet."

"That seems to be true. I don't really know much about the history of the Kulun people. It's better to let someone knowledgeable look it up."

These words were like a wake-up call for Lin Xueyin. Besna's words opened another window for her. Simply relying on her imagination without any clues was just wild speculation. She still needed Nana to help her to properly investigate the history of the Kuren people.

"Ah... what is this...?"

A terrified scream rang out from an abandoned house not far away. It was relatively well-preserved, so Connor and Ariel decided to clean it up and use it as their accommodation for the night.

The group rushed into the courtyard as fast as lightning, only to find Kono tightly holding Lilia's petite body, comforting the terrified little girl.

"what happened?"

Kno's face was also deathly pale. She raised her hand in alarm and pointed to a dark corner not far away. It seemed there was something there that terrified her.

Arya raised her shield, gripped her longsword, and cautiously made her way to the corner. Lin Xueyin was still a little uneasy, so she activated a holy shield around Arya to prevent any unforeseen events.

"This is...."

Before even getting close to the corner, a stench filled the air. Then, what came into view were corpses that had not yet been completely devoured: succubi, demon infants, and some Kuren.

Their bodies generally bore traces of dark magic, poison, and some ice magic. Behind the collapsed wall nearby, a huge footprint of some unknown creature was clearly visible.

Volume 9: The Demon Clan's Journey: Chapter 45 Temporary Encampment

What animal made this huge footprint? Lin Xueyin was a little confused. It looked enormous, and judging from the depth of the footprint, it probably weighed quite a bit.

But where is this behemoth hiding? Even if it were lying down, it would probably be the size of three trucks. But there's nowhere left to hide here. So where is it now?

Aria did not put away her weapon; she even gripped her shield tightly, standing beside Lin Xueyin to prevent any unforeseen circumstances. Her eyes were alert as she observed everything around her, ready to protect Lin Xueyin at the first sign of trouble.

Besna put her boxing gloves back on. This was the first time Lin Xueyin had seen her use her most powerful weapon, the one she used against the Dragon-Eating Flower... Well, okay, she killed the Dragon-Eating Flower all by herself; none of them helped.

After examining the wounds on the corpses, Lin Xueyin cremated them with sacred fire. Then she returned to the group with Aria.

"It looks like we can't stay here. Let's camp outside tonight. Also, no matter what happens, we must not leave the group alone. We must be careful that the other side doesn't use tricks to lure people out and then pick them off one by one."

Lin Xueyin felt this was particularly important. Having watched so many horror movies, she knew that in every one of them, someone disobeyed orders, ran away, and was then killed by the other party in unimaginable ways. Not only did they lose their lives, but they also needlessly added to the horror atmosphere.

There are children here, and for their healthy development, it's best not to let those terrifying memories linger in their minds. Lin Xueyin stated that she wasn't afraid of such things at all. When she watched horror movies, she never skipped anything, never. Nor did she cover her eyes with her hands.

"If we all gather together, we won't even know when the enemy comes, which puts us at a great disadvantage."

The first to voice her objection was Aria. As a knight, she was responsible for her master, and Lin Xueyin's safety was of paramount importance to her, even more so than her own.

"That's right, we can't all stay together. If someone launches a sneak attack, we'll be at a disadvantage..."

"Hey, I was just saying, are you guys alright? I'll set up a protective barrier outside the camp. Then, not even an insect, let alone an enemy, will be able to get in. What are you afraid of? I don't believe they can still emerge from underground."

Lin Xueyin pursed her lips. This was truly an unnecessary worry. In this situation, the enemy was in the open while she was in the dark. If she went out alone, she would most likely become the enemy's target. Whether they wanted to capture her alive or kill her, it would be a huge blow to the morale of her side.

Therefore, Lin Xueyin hoped that everyone could gather together so that they could look after each other and alleviate the sense of oppression and panic that comes with nightfall.

"Your Highness, are you frightened...?"

"I'm not scared at all. I'm just worried about your safety. I'm not afraid of those corpses or anything."

Imagining the corpse she had investigated earlier, which was so swollen and disfigured and emitting a foul stench, and seeing those eerie demonic runes on it, Lin Xueyin felt a strange, indescribable feeling.

"Yes, yes, don't be afraid, Your Highness. Even if we don't go out, we still need someone to patrol at night. This is essential. However, if there is any problem, the patrolmen cannot leave the camp. They must wake us up immediately. Is that alright?"

While Lin Xueyin and the others were chatting, Kono and the others had already started setting up camp outside, erecting all the barracks. They even temporarily built a campfire for cooking and daily life.

Looking at the completed barracks, Lin Xueyin agreed to Besna's suggestion. It was indeed necessary to have someone on night watch. Even with her own shield, who could guarantee that there wouldn't be any problems? Therefore, Lin Xueyin could only nod in agreement.

"Um, Arya can sleep with me..."

"No, Your Highness, please be mindful of your status."

"Huh? Aria is a woman..." The more she spoke, the more guilty she felt, so Lin Xueyin simply didn't finish the last few words, especially after seeing Besna's strange look, she couldn't bring herself to say the rest.

"Okay, okay, I know, I can sleep by myself, right?"

"If Your Highness is truly frightened, you may have Kaliel and Kashael accompany you. I believe their age should not displease His Majesty the Demon King."

"Hmph, why don't you just say that your demon king won't be jealous of two little lolis?" Pouting, Lin Xueyin expressed her true dilemma. She thought she was going to build a grand crystal palace, but instead, a demon king wrecked it.

And it's not just that it was smashed; I'll probably be taken into her Crystal Palace as well, which makes the situation a bit complicated.

Besna hesitated again, but after thinking about it, she decided not to say what was on her mind. After all, given the Demon King's personality, she figured the two little girls would be jealous. However, considering that this was the best protection for the Queen, she suppressed her dissatisfaction.

Of course, His Majesty will eventually take his revenge on the Queen, and then she'll have a good show to watch. If it were Aria, His Majesty might secretly cause trouble for her, which could create a rift between her and the Queen and implicate her as well. In order to both watch the show and avoid being implicated, she naturally has to make the best choice.

Unaware that she was about to be sold out by her own guards once again, Lin Xueyin had already focused her attention on lunch. The grill that had already been set up told her what the girls wanted to eat today.

Taking out a pre-prepared lamb from her backpack, Lin Xueyin began preparing today's lunch. Well, once it's finished, it'll probably be dinner time.

He scratched his head, took out some snacks, and prepared to give them a little something to eat before having a big meal later that evening.

While Lin Xueyin was busy, the others were not idle either. They took out some fruit to process and then heated water. The journey over the past few days had left many people without a proper rest. Although the situation was still fraught with danger, they still wanted Lin Xueyin to take a hot bath and have a good rest.

Volume 9: The Demon Clan's Journey - Chapter 46: The Night Watch

As the sun set and dusk approached, fires began to glow in the small camp, radiating their warmth and light. However, this light was still insufficient in Lin Xueyin's eyes. She deliberately hung magic lamps on nearby trees, bringing light back to the forest that should have been gradually sinking into darkness.

In this way, even those patrolling at night will not have blind spots, allowing them to better observe their surroundings and ensuring the safety of everyone.

The roasted mutton, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with an incredibly delicious flavor, was cut into pieces by Lin Xueyin with a small knife and handed to Ariel and Lilia, who had been waiting on the side, and then they distributed it to others.

Only at this moment would Aria forget her duty as a guardian knight and choose to enjoy the rare delicacy with a clear conscience. Meanwhile, Besna would selectively forget that the person who prepared dinner for everyone and distributed it to them was the current Demon King's favorite concubine, whom she was responsible for protecting.

As an elf who does not eat meat, Orichils was enjoying a hearty meal of mushroom soup that Lin Xueyin had specially prepared for her, along with delicious flatbread that had been made earlier, sitting on the wooden fence at the edge of the camp.

As night falls, time flows like a quiet stream, bringing tranquility to the world. The campfire crackles as it burns dry wood.

The flickering flames echoed the white glow of the magical lamps in the distance, dispelling the darkness in this small area. Lin Xueyin also raised her hand and used a sacred barrier to protect the entire camp. In this way, the first line of defense was established.

The whole roasted lamb was a delicious meal, leaving everyone with lingering fragrance on their lips and teeth. Each person rubbed their slightly bulging bellies, looking reluctantly at the lamb carcass on the wooden rack, which had been reduced to bones.

"Ariel, you guys tidy up properly. I'm going to take a shower. I'm covered in the smell of smoke from the barbecue, and it's really uncomfortable."

"Okay, Xueyin-neechan, go quickly. The hot water has already been heated for you. I guarantee you can have a comfortable hot bath."

She gave the little girl a charming glare and then slowly walked towards her barracks, confident that a warm bath was already prepared inside, waiting for her arrival.

Arya placed her shield across her crossed legs and gently wiped the dust off it with a towel. Although she didn't say anything, she consciously took on the night watch.

Orichalos surveyed the area around the camp and, where no one was watching, secretly released a few small butterflies. A relieved smile appeared on his face.