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

It has two black bean-like eyes, and its whole body is made of a dark brown clay-like substance. On its face is a not-so-small mouth with a half-smile.

"Your Highness, believe me, if you hug me like this, the entire race will probably be wiped out."

"Huh? What the hell is this?" Lin Xueyin was a little confused. She had just hugged a doll, how could it cause the extinction of an entire race? This was too sensational.

"Um, actually, I really want to say that I am a clay person, not a clay puppet as you described." The clay person who had been standing on the box spoke in a deep male voice with a hint of crying.

"Huh? This isn't a doll, it's a person?"

Looking at Besna's dark expression and the clay man she had mistaken for a clay doll who looked utterly hopeless, she awkwardly tried to laugh a few times to ease the tension.

"Guest, our Mud People do sell some unique clay items, but they are usually small pieces. Would you like to take a look?"

Emmm, you've been waiting here all along, haven't you? We're in such an awkward situation, how could we not buy something? Lin Xueyin glanced speechlessly at the innocent-looking Besna.

Damn it, she knew from the beginning that I hadn't warned her when I spoke. She clearly just wanted to watch the show. This woman is so despicable. I actually thought she was a good person at first.

His tiny, black bean-sized eyes blinked rapidly, prompting his wife to quickly unload some goods from the truck, her face plastered with a sly smile typical of a cunning businessman.

"Look, these are unique pottery items from our Mud People tribe. This indigo dragon and phoenix auspicious bottle is a loving water cup that you can give to your husband. Of course, there are also things to add some romance to your bedroom... well, you can take a look for yourself, sir. If you like any of them, you can secretly tell me."

Looking at the ceramics in front of her, Lin Xueyin pushed aside all the things that made her blush, and only picked up a very ordinary water cup and a vase for arranging flowers with some incomprehensible paintings carved on it.

"That's all. How much will it cost approximately?"

Lin Xueyin glanced at these ordinary items and clearly sensed a fleeting look of disappointment on the merchant's face. Ha, does he really think he's a sucker? He wants me to buy the most expensive kind of things?

"10 silver coins, a fair price."

Lin Xueyin glanced at Besna and saw her nod, knowing that the other party's offer was normal, so she readily paid the bill and then hurriedly left with the others.

Here, Lin Xueyin always felt like she was being watched by someone. Whenever she came out, someone would linger beside her, seemingly out of sight. At first, she thought it was a guard specially sent by the city lord because he was worried about her safety. However, after a series of actions, Lin Xueyin realized that this person's attitude towards her was probably that of an enemy rather than a friend.

"Your Highness, have you noticed it as well?"

"Hmm, their tracking ability isn't very strong. I just don't understand why they would use someone like that to track me. Isn't it obvious they wanted me to find out?"

Not only Lin Xueyin found it strange, but Besna also found these people's thoughts very strange. If it were just Lin Xueyin herself, then sending this person over might not have been discovered. However, knowing that the Demon King's guard commander was nearby, it was a bit unreasonable to send such a low-level person to follow him.

"Yukine, should I go...?"

Lin Xueyin made a downward cutting motion, but shook her head, indicating that it was not necessary. Since the other party had sent people out, there would naturally be follow-up actions. A discovered rat is much more harmless than a hidden venomous snake.

"In that case, let's continue shopping. We don't have anything else to do anyway."

"Okay, let's continue then."

Lin Xueyin and the others continued walking on the bustling street, unaware that the Mudman Clan behind them had already begun packing up their stall. They were no longer as composed as before, but instead appeared quite flustered.

"Honey, what if we get caught doing this? Will we get killed?"

"Killed? You're thinking too simply. Do you think those people would let us go so easily without being found out? I just hope that lord can see the clues I left for her and come to save us in time."

The Mudman men had already loaded all the goods back onto the cart. Earlier, those people had kidnapped all their children and threatened them to sell the goods they specified to the princess.

For his own life and for his family, he had no other choice. However, that didn't mean he wouldn't have a backup plan. Some things were already hidden in the cargo; he just hoped she would notice them in time.

Volume 9: The Demon Clan's Journey - Chapter 67: Intelligence

Inside the Demon King's Castle, Krastor walked slowly toward the hall, carefully recalling the results of his previous investigation. This matter was troublesome, really troublesome. At first, he didn't understand why Elufina would give him such an order, but after the results came out, he understood everything.

The doors to the council chamber were slowly pushed open by two female warriors guarding the entrance. The entire hall, illuminated by a ghostly blue flame, exuded an eerie and inexplicable atmosphere.

Eluferna did not sit on the throne as he had expected. Instead, she stood indifferently in front of the sunlit, painted window, seemingly lost in thought.

"Your Majesty, I have investigated the matter thoroughly, and that is why I have come here to report back to you."

A faint sigh, seemingly both distant and near, echoed in Krastrum's ears: "What kind of temptation could make someone so addicted? And what kind of existence could make someone abandon years of friendship and turn against you in an instant?"

"Your Majesty, please try to see things more clearly. I think that since we are not in his position, we may not be able to see his helplessness."

"Xiaoxue told me back then that many people and many things were right in front of her, and many of them had their own reasons for not being able to do it. I understand her and the resentment in her heart. But the Demon Clan has finally achieved its current level of development. Can't they just give up their ambitions? Do they really want to let the Demon Clan return to the fragmented state it was back then?"

Krastom listened quietly to the demon king's inner turmoil. He knew he didn't need to say anything, because there was already a girl by her side who could accompany her forever.

"Have all the units of the Western Route Army been infiltrated by Elisil?"

"No, it's actually quite strange. Ailisil didn't infiltrate the various subordinates in the western region. Instead, he delegated a lot of authority."

This unexpected information caused Elufina to frown, unsure of what the Western Marshal, her childhood friend, was really thinking.

Krastrom was also unsure about this intelligence. If they really weren't colluding, the intelligence clearly stated their various connections.

“Everything has a motive. Tell me, what is Elisil’s motive?”

Elufelna turned her gaze to Krastrum. She had been deeply feared by her father because of her outstanding abilities, and he had even poisoned her when she was off guard.

Even so, they still sent assassins to kill me, making multiple preparations, but I killed them all on the spot. I also encountered Yukine during my escape.

That period was probably the most comfortable and carefree time I've ever had. If I could, I really wish I could stay with her forever and live that kind of life, watching the flowers bloom and fade in front of the door and the clouds drift and gather in the sky.

During the day, he would go out to kill monsters and come back to cook for the little girl. Every day was carefree and leisurely. There was no more scheming and intrigue among the demons, no more love and hatred between races, and no more heavy pressure.

They lived each day leisurely until the end of the world, but all of that disappeared with that message.

Elisil's scout finally found him, but instead of good news, he brought news that the Demon King, having discovered he was not dead, would continue to hunt him down.

It was at that time that she, Elisil, Krastom, and some other generals who had followed her in her campaigns came together and ultimately defeated the Demon King. Afterwards, they gathered all the divided lords and suppressed them with overwhelming force. This is how the Demon Race came to be.

But why is Alisil helping him now? Is there something wrong with what he did?

Krastrom remained silent, unsure of what to say. In truth, he had a vague idea about what was going on with Alisher, but who could truly understand it besides Alisher himself?

The Demon King is very clever and very strong, but it is precisely because of her cleverness and strength that she always overlooks too many details.

"I think you've already found out what his plans are now."

With a complicated tone, Elufelna didn't know how to face that person. Elufelna had known about this matter for a long time and had sent Krastrum to investigate it.

However, after the final result confirmed her imagination, Elufina regretted it. She had hoped that Yukine could help her solve the troubles in Izumo Castle, but in the end, she was pushed into a fire pit.

If she had known it would be this complicated, she would have made sure Lin Xueyin came back immediately and wouldn't have let her play there.

However, it was all too late. Lin Xueyin had already been deeply involved. Even if she wanted to extricate herself now, she would have to see if the other party was really so kind as to let her go.

“Your Majesty, I believe the Princess Consort will be safe there. With so many guards and being a strong woman herself, I don’t think she is in any danger. On the contrary, as long as she is there, they won’t dare to act recklessly.”

How could she not have thought of this? However, the very existence of Yukine was already an obstacle. There would be no problem now that she wasn't fully prepared, but once she was fully prepared, who knew how those people would treat her?

"No, I can't wait here any longer. I have to go to Chuyun City right now. I must bring her back. Even if she doesn't want to, I will bring her back, even if she hates me."

"What if she still refuses, even at the cost of her life?"

Elufina glared at her friend with hatred and said through gritted teeth, "Then break her legs, I'll carry her back even if I have to."

It seems this demon king has lost his composure. Krastom sighed helplessly. Once things get involved with the queen, she's bound to become this irrational.

"Your Majesty, please calm down. No matter how you go to Chuyun City, those people will notice. Once they realize you are coming, they will be hesitant to act and will strike first. At that time, the Princess Consort will be the first to suffer."

Krastrom's cold remark instantly deflated Elufelna's spirits. Indeed, who knew what he might do if he knew she was coming?

"Alright, let's find a way to inform Yukine about this and share all the information with her."

She handed back the thick stack of intelligence that Krastom had given her earlier, and she was willing to trust that Yukine could handle the rest.

I've been having a really bad writer's block lately, and I feel completely exhausted. My writing hasn't been very good, so please forgive me, dear readers. I'll try my best to write better in the future. o(╥﹏╥)o

Volume 9: The Demon Clan's Journey - Chapter 68: The Secret Within the Palace

Lin Xueyin looked at the auspicious dragon and phoenix bottle in her hand and felt that something was wrong. There seemed to be a strange energy fluctuating in this thing, but this fluctuation was covered by something.

She was a little confused, but couldn't figure out what was going on. There had been no problem with her expression or words when she talked to that mudman man, so Lin Xueyin was even more confused. Was she overthinking things?

"Xueyin, you've been staring at this bottle ever since you got back. Did you discover something?"

"No, not really. It's just a bit strange. I feel like the Mudman merchant gave me this bottle with some kind of hint, but I can't figure out what that hint was."

Lin Xueyin trusted her intuition, but for a moment she didn't know what to say about the bottle. No matter how she used magic to probe it, she couldn't find anything wrong.

Aria looked at the little girl with amusement, "You know, there's actually an even simpler way."

Looking at Lin Xueyin's bewildered eyes, so confused that she wanted to hug her tightly and rough her up, no wonder the Demon King liked her so much.

Taking the ceramic bottle from Lin Xueyin's hand, Ailiya said, "I'll help you." Then she lifted the bottle high and smashed it heavily on the ground.

Lin Xueyin stared in horror at the fragments of the bottle. A strange aura disappeared, and then, hidden in the bottle's inner lining, was a strange piece of paper.

"The palace is in danger."

The palace, dangerous? Lin Xueyin seemed to realize something, a chill instantly running down her spine to the top of her head. She had been incredibly stupid. Why had that maid suddenly appeared here? How did she know about these places? Hadn't she already told her that this palace wasn't as simple as she had imagined?

I really want to slap my head. I've watched so many anime and played so many games, how could I not know this? In the game's dungeons, this palace is clearly the final dungeon.

"Yukine, what are you thinking about?"

“Ailiya, summon Lord Musa immediately, and also send out all the city guards. No, no, we can’t do that. Since the enemy has managed to find so many wealthy merchants, who knows if they have other tricks up their sleeves? We can’t let the city guards get involved.”

"Yukine..."

"Aria, you and everyone else should leave this palace quickly and go out to have some fun. I want to catch some ghosts here."

"Catching ghosts? I don't know what you mean by that, but leaving you here alone is too dangerous. No, absolutely not."

"No? Aria, you should know what kind of battle might break out here. What do you think would happen if Ariel and the others were here?"

Silence fell over Aria. She knew Lin Xueyin was right, and she had even saved face for her. Let alone Ariel, even she herself would likely be of little use. In other words, she was just a hindrance.

But how could she accept this? How could she be willing to do this? As Lin Xueyin's guardian knight, she was utterly useless at this time, which only added to her inner turmoil.

"Arya, I command you as your lord to take Ariel and the others and get out of here. Do not test my patience any further. If you cannot do so, then you shall no longer be my guardian knight."

She turned away angrily, not wanting to see Aria's distressed expression. At that moment, she knew she couldn't be soft-hearted, absolutely couldn't be soft-hearted.

Hearing Ailiya's hurried footsteps as she left, Lin Xueyin knew that Ailiya would handle the matter well, and that she should also do what she was supposed to do.

With her staff in hand, she gently drew one pattern after another on the ground. The guards around her were also very puzzled. This concubine of the demon king was actually drawing circles outside, and various strange patterns formed one magic circle after another.

"Your Highness, may I ask where you are...?"

"It's nothing. I'm thinking about some magic. You all should leave now. Remember to wait for me outside the palace. I'm worried that something might happen here and I don't want to cause any more trouble for you."

Staring in horror at the princess, they wondered if it was really this terrifying. Were all the magical experiments conducted by human priests this dangerous? The surrounding guards all took a step back in unison, wiped their cold sweat, exchanged glances, and resolutely prepared to leave the palace as the princess had requested.

“You, take those maids out too. Remember, keep them far away. I can’t guarantee how powerful the aftershocks will be.”