thefictionvixens Chapter 819 Discussion
Chapter 819 Discussion
The most important thing right now is to stabilize the situation and quietly await news from Lord Long Si. The dragon lord had said before he left that he would personally come to fetch them back to the dragon clan's territory after he finished dealing with the clan's affairs in the East Sea. There, they would find a spiritual spring that could cleanse all impurities; its babbling waters could purify even the most stubborn demonic energy. There would also be a thousand-year-old, indestructible dragon scale wall, its layers of scales so tightly interlocked that even ancient divine weapons could hardly leave a mark. That was the true foundation of the demon race, a sanctuary where their people could breathe peacefully, and only there could they have the confidence to fight against any invading enemy.
“Alright, we’ll do as you say.” The old fox was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded. His amber eyes gleamed in the twilight, a subtle calculation flashing across them. “We can send twenty of our people, skilled in concealment and tracking, to help you set up checkpoints along the border. But one thing must be made clear—your people must not step even half a step across the barrier, not even a single foot. To avoid unnecessary misunderstandings and damaging the harmony we’ve finally achieved.”
The weight that had been hanging over Wang Ran's heart finally lifted, and a look of relief and satisfaction appeared on his face. He hadn't expected the demon race to be at the forefront anyway; after all, the two races had a long-standing feud, and it was already a pleasant surprise that they had agreed to send people to cooperate. As long as these demons could guard the few hidden paths in the back mountain and block the gaps in the demon race's infiltration from their territory, the human race could concentrate on dealing with the threat on the front lines, and that would be enough. As for that transparent barrier, it didn't matter that it couldn't be moved for now. They could deal with the demon race, this major threat, first, and then slowly wear it down later—the human race's patience had always been good enough, good enough to gradually erode even the strongest barriers.
“It’s a deal.” Wang Ran stretched out his hand, palm up, his knuckles slightly white from the force. “I will have someone send over the deployment map of the outpost within three days, along with instructions on how to use the communication talisman. I hope we can both keep our word and not let the demons lurking in the shadows laugh at us, thinking that our two races can be so easily divided.”
The old fox didn't shake his hand, but instead raised his furry front paw and gently waved it, his tone carrying an innate aloofness: "Don't worry, although the demon race dislikes the human race's intricate schemes, we still know what's important. If the demon race dares to come, our claws and teeth won't be just for show." He paused, his amber eyes sweeping over the human cultivators standing guard behind Wang Ran, "I just hope you don't forget today's agreement, and don't turn your swords on us after the demon race retreats."
The setting sun cast its last rays through the layers of treetops, scattering them like scattered gold, stretching their shadows long and thin. The shadows overlapped and separated on the leaf-strewn ground, much like their current relationship—a relationship of both interdependence and mutual wariness. An agreement concerning the safety of both races was thus made, though both knew perfectly well that beneath this temporary cooperation lay their own calculations—the humans wanted to use the demons' strength to stabilize their defenses and free up manpower to fortify their positions; the demons wanted to use the humans' power to buy time until the dragons' reinforcements arrived; and the lurking demons, however, were the most dangerous element in this delicate balance, capable of shattering this fragile peace at any moment.
The wind grew cooler, carrying the dampness from the depths of the valley, the cries of birds returning home at dusk, causing their clothes to flutter wildly. The old fox turned and walked behind the screen, its bushy tail held high like a flagpole always on guard, glancing back every two steps in the direction of the humans; Wang Ran stood still, gazing at the western horizon, where the clouds were dyed a blinding blood red by the setting sun, edged with an eerie gold border, much like the sky stained with blood when the demons crossed the land a hundred years ago. He gripped the sword at his waist, his fingertips tracing the cold scabbard—this battle, it seemed, was unavoidable.
The old fox looked at Wang Ran, his smile as thick as a layer of down, his politeness perfectly measured. His tail slowly swept across the soft grass, making a soft rustling sound. "Sir," he said, "the sun is already setting, and the mountain night wind is like a knife, chilling you to the bone. Why don't you have dinner here before you go? The younger members of the tribe have just hunted some muntjacs and wild deer, and they've also made wild fruit wine with spring water. With a little preparation, we can have a good meal. Consider it a celebratory drink to mark this cooperation and share in the joy."
Wang Ran shook his head, tapping his fingertips lightly on the hilt of his sword. His gaze inadvertently drifted towards the direction outside the valley—where the twenty cultivators he had brought were hidden in the forest. They appeared to be there on a mission, but in reality, half were his trusted confidants who had followed him for years, while the other half were spies specially sent by their superiors. These men had eyes as sharp as eagles and noses as keen as dogs; if they lingered too long in the demon territory, rumors of "colluding with the demons" or "working in concert from within" might spread.
Although he held some weight among human cultivators and could mobilize manpower from three camps, the accusation of "colluding with the demon race" was far too heavy, heavier than the stone pressing down on Mount Wuxing. If his superiors were to seize upon this, not only would he lose his position, but even his ancestral graves might be desecrated. He should leave as soon as possible to avoid any unforeseen complications and to prevent others from finding fault with him.
Wang Ran showed just the right amount of apology, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and spoke with a tone so sincere it was impeccable: "Thank you for your kindness, sir, but this cooperation with the demon race is ultimately a matter of great importance concerning the safety of both races. I must hurry back and report to my superiors so as not to cause them any worry. Today's cooperation went very smoothly. From now on, let's act according to the agreement and each perform our duties. I'll take my leave now."
Seeing his resolute attitude, the old fox's politeness faded somewhat. He waved his paw and said, "In that case, I won't keep you any longer, sir. The mountain path is difficult to traverse, and there's miasma at night. Shall we escort you to the valley entrance?"
"No need," Wang Ran waved his hand. "We cultivators have decent night vision, so there's no need to trouble ourselves." With that, he turned and waved again. "Let's go."
The accompanying cultivators immediately followed, their footsteps echoing dully in the valley before quickly disappearing into the light and shadow at the valley entrance.
The old fox watched their retreating figures disappear completely, the smile on its face vanishing instantly. It turned and walked deeper into the clan's territory, its tail taut like a wary whip. It ordered a blue fox that darted out from the shadows behind it, "Go and summon all the demon clan chiefs to the council cave. Tell them there are important matters to discuss, and not a moment can be wasted."
The blue fox nodded in agreement and transformed into a streak of blue light, disappearing into the forest.