He Yuzhu returns in Siheyuan

Chapter 787 The Real Demons

The atmosphere in the ancestral hall was as still as ice. The clansmen dared not breathe, all staring down at the blue stone floor tiles. Just then, Xiao Shuai's father took a step forward. His back was hunched, his hands were nervously clasped together, and after a moment's hesitation, he knelt down on the cold ground with a thud, his forehead almost touching the tiles: "Clan chief, I beg you... I beg you to listen to Xiao Shuai's explanation. Although this child didn't handle things well this time, he is usually reliable and capable. Please give him a chance to explain himself."

The clan chief sat regally in the head wooden chair, his fingers tapping heavily on the armrest, his face ashen. He had originally thought that sending Xiao Shuai to invite He Yuzhu would have been a sure thing by now, given the reputation of the demon clan and Xiao Shuai's abilities. But he had waited and waited, only to have Xiao Shuai return dejectedly with a few subordinates, failing to even truly "invite" He Yuzhu. Thinking of this, his anger flared, his voice filled with suppressed rage: "Hmph, competence? Can't even get one person to come, and you still have the nerve to talk about competence?"

His gaze swept over Xiao Shuai, who stood in the hall with his head bowed, and he said coldly, "Tell me yourself, what exactly happened? Why did you mess up even such a small matter?"

Xiao Shuai shuddered, knowing he couldn't hide anything now, let alone mention his schemes along the way. He simply recounted the whole story honestly, his voice tinged with regret: "Clan leader, it was my incompetence. When I found He Yuzhu, he was surrounded by many helpers, each with exceptional skills. The few of us were no match for them. If we had forced our way in, we feared we wouldn't have been able to call for reinforcements and would have lost more brothers. So I didn't dare to launch a full-scale attack and had to retreat first."

The patriarch sitting next to the clan leader hadn't spoken until now, when he raised his eyelids slightly, his tone carrying a hint of displeasure: "So, you've just slunk back like this? Without bringing back any decent news?"

Xiao Shuai quickly shook his head, raised his head and looked directly at the ancestor, his tone urgent: "No, ancestor. I later managed to meet with He Yuzhu alone. He said that there were still many things he didn't understand about the matter we wanted to know, but he specifically asked me to remind you—this time, not only were humans behind the scenes, but there were also traces of demons. The mastermind behind it is very likely that the demons are manipulating things in secret."

The old ancestor's brows relaxed slightly, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes. Although he hadn't managed to invite He Yuzhu, bringing back this news meant he hadn't returned entirely empty-handed. He pondered for a moment, then looked at Xiao Shuai: "Since He Yuzhu told you all this, he didn't mention when he'd be willing to come see me?"

Xiao Shuai knew perfectly well that the ancestor was the most senior elder in the clan, having managed clan affairs for many years; this respect had to be given. He bowed slightly, his waist bent just right, his tone full of reverence: "Ancestor, He Yuzhu originally intended to come to see you in person. However, as you know, after that devastating siege, he was the only one from our clan to escape from the edge of the Demon Realm alive. Now, the eyes of the entire human realm are on him, and his every move is being secretly watched. He simply cannot leave. Once this storm has passed, he will definitely come to your door in person to apologize."

The patriarch sat upright on the head stone chair, crafted from millennia-old black stone, its cool surface reflecting his aged features. He lightly tapped the armrest with his fingertips, producing a soft "tap-tap" sound, a knowing glint in his cloudy eyes—he had long heard of He Yuzhu's predicament. Humans were always deeply wary of survivors returning from the Demon Realm; he wouldn't be allowed free movement so easily. The patriarch nodded slowly, his tone unreadable, yet carrying an undeniable authority: "Alright, you handled this matter fairly well. According to clan rules, you trespassed by bringing outsiders into the barrier, which should have been punished with thirty lashes—I'll make a note of that for now. Go."

Xiao Shuai dared not ask for anything more; he was already incredibly lucky to have escaped immediate punishment. He quickly bowed deeply, his back almost touching the ground, and forced a grateful smile onto his face: "Thank you for your mercy, Ancestor." With that, he lowered his head and tiptoed out, keeping his footsteps as quiet as possible—he knew in his heart that the upcoming meeting would definitely concern the safety of the clan, and it was not something a junior like him could listen to; staying even a second longer would be an overstepping of his bounds.

Only the patriarch and a few clan elders remained in the stone hall. The air, which had been faintly moving just moments before, suddenly felt heavy, as if a massive boulder had been placed upon it. The patriarch glanced at the assembled members; some had already transformed into human form, dressed in ancient robes; others still retained characteristics of half-demons, such as the faintly visible scales on Elder Green Snake's neck and Elder Azure Eagle's unfolded wings on his shoulders. At this moment, everyone held their breath, even their breathing became soft, and no one dared to speak easily.

"Speak up," the patriarch's voice broke the silence, carrying a penetrating authority. "Do you think that kid He Yuzhu lied? Was his story about the demons' whereabouts true, or was it just a pretext to exonerate himself?"

The elders below exchanged glances, none daring to speak first. Demons… they were beings only recorded in yellowed ancient texts. Legend had it that they fed on the essence of living beings, were ferocious and bloodthirsty, and the devastation of their past wars with other races was chilling even from surviving murals and written descriptions. If they were to truly reappear in the world, it would be no joke; it would likely unleash a bloodbath throughout the entire Three Realms.

After a long silence, Elder Black Bear, seated first on the left, finally spoke in a deep voice. He was Xiao Shuai's father, in charge of the clan's defenses, and was known for his composure and decisiveness. "Ancestor, in my opinion, although Xiao Shuai is sometimes reckless, he wouldn't dare lie about something that concerns our survival. A few days ago, I went to investigate the location he mentioned, and there was indeed a faint trace of demonic energy remaining in that valley, cold and piercing, with a corrosive stench that was definitely not found in our clan or among humans. Perhaps... there really are demons active nearby."

The old ancestor's brow furrowed even more deeply, his knuckles turning white from the force, leaving shallow finger marks on the hard stone chair armrests. "If the demon race truly exists, then this matter needs careful consideration." He paused, his voice unusually grave. "You should know that the appearance of the demon race means war is imminent. Their power is a hundred times more ferocious than our demon race. If it weren't for the combined efforts of humans, demons, and immortal sects, at the cost of countless lives, they would have already razed the Three Realms to the ground. Now, if they truly return..."