Chapter 485: 妖族

A beautiful woman in an ice-blue long dress stood out in the crowd, her long hair flowing and her features exquisitely drawn. It was none other than Chu Chuyan. There had been too many people and too much gleaming armor around just now, so no one had noticed her.

Zheng Dan, standing nearby, caught sight of Chu Chuyan's unparalleled beauty and sighed inwardly. No wonder Zu An had been willing to walk into a trap for the Chu family. But then, she remembered how he had also surrendered to the demon cultists to save her, and had even risked his life to protect her on several occasions. A soft smile involuntarily graced her lips.

Sang Qian gazed blankly at the woman in the long dress. She mused that the capital's circles had long whispered about Chu Chuyan's enchanting beauty, and seeing her now, she truly possessed a mesmerizing, nation-toppling charm. It was no wonder so many young masters in the capital had fallen for her; even her own brother had seemingly held a strong affection for her once. The thought of her brother's tragic condition made her nose sting, and she almost started crying again.

"Chuyan, why are you with them?" Pei Mianman asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice.

Chu Chuyan dismounted, approached Pei Mianman, and explained, "I heard about the Chu family's trouble while in the capital, so I hurried to Brightmoon City. Then I learned about Zu An. On the way, I happened to run into Commander Zhuxie leading his men this way, so I joined them. They have more complete information, which makes it easier to find Zu An."

"I see," Pei Mianman responded, though she knew Commander Zhuxie Chixin's identity was shrouded in mystery. Without Chu Chuyan's stellar reputation in the capital over the years, an ordinary person seeking his help would likely have been ignored.

"What about you? Why are you here?" Chu Chuyan asked, blinking curiously.

"I..." Pei Mianman began to answer, but then hesitated, unsure how to phrase it.

"Are you here to save Zu An?" Chu Chuyan asked, her lips curving into a smile, as if she had guessed Pei Mianman's thoughts.

Pei Mianman gave a slightly guilty hum. "We're good friends, and you weren't in Brightmoon City when this happened, so of course, I couldn't just stand by and do nothing."

"Manman, thank you, truly," Chu Chuyan said, deeply touched, as she instinctively took Pei Mianman's hand. Her emotions had been on a roller coaster these past few days, and she had no one to confide in. Knowing that a close friend was going to such lengths for her filled her with warmth in that moment.

"Chuyan, you're being too kind; this is just what I should do," Pei Mianman replied, feeling increasingly awkward. *I'm doing a good deed, why do I feel so guilty?* she thought to herself. Besides, the Chu family had already issued a divorce decree; they weren't even husband and wife anymore. Why was she acting like a mistress caught by the legitimate wife? It was infuriating! She regretted it instantly, but it seemed too late to backtrack now.

Just then, the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard spoke up. "Minister Sang, have you escaped? I never imagined that someone as loyal as you usually are would dare to commit such a rebellious act." His voice was as sinister as his appearance, sending shivers down everyone's spine.

Sang Hong replied in a low voice, "Reporting to Lord Zhuxie, we did not escape. First, rebel forces attacked our convoy, and then Dark Elves and members of the Demon Cult launched a second assault. Our guards were all killed in the fighting. Commander Huang Huihong, wanting to prevent us from falling into the hands of the villains, released our bonds and let us go before he died."

"Huang Huihong is dead?" Zhuxie Chixin's eyes narrowed, revealing nothing of his inner thoughts.

"Indeed," Sang Hong said, breaking into a cough. Sang Qian, standing by, then recounted the general situation for him.

"Ding Run, the 'Money-Adder Hermit'... Good, very good," Zhuxie Chixin sneered repeatedly. Everyone expected him to speak of avenging Huang Huihong, but instead, he turned to his Embroidered Uniform Guards and declared, "Did you hear that? Huang Huihong was killed so easily because his skills were insufficient. If you want to live a long life, then train, train, and train every single day!"

Zheng Dan and the other women were secretly appalled. This man was so callous; was everyone within the Embroidered Uniform Guard so heartless?

"Yes!" The Embroidered Uniform Guards, sparing their words, replied once and then fell silent, as if such matters of life and death were commonplace to them.

Zhuxie Chixin nodded in satisfaction, then suddenly turned to stare at Pei Mianman. "Are you the illegitimate daughter from the Pei family?"

Pei Mianman felt a surge of displeasure but couldn't show it. She simply replied, "Yes, I am Pei Mianman."

"From what you've said, you want to save Zu An, so you've come to break him out of prison?" Zhuxie Chixin stared at her coldly.

Under his piercing gaze, Pei Mianman felt as if she had been plunged into an ice cellar. She couldn't even contemplate resistance and found herself unable to string together a coherent sentence.

Chu Chuyan quickly interjected, "Lord Zhuxie, I used the wrong words just now. She and I are friends. She came to help me protect Zu An because she knew various forces were plotting against him."

Zhuxie Chixin simply uttered an noncommittal "Oh," and after a long pause, finally shifted his gaze. Relieved from his intense gaze, Pei Mianman instantly felt much lighter. She was secretly astonished; everyone rumored Zhuxie Chixin's cultivation was unfathomable, but now it seemed even more formidable than the rumors suggested.

At this point, Zhuxie Chixin looked at Sang Qian. "And Miss Sang, are you planning to break your father and brother out?"

Sang Qian experienced the same unsettling feeling Pei Mianman had just felt. Sang Hong quickly spoke for her, "My daughter heard that some might wish us harm and was concerned for our safety, which is why she came to check on us. She would never dare to consider freeing prisoners from the convoy."

"From Minister Sang's words, it seems Miss Sang doesn't trust the imperial court to protect its prisoners?" Zhuxie Chixin scoffed.

Sang Qian inwardly grumbled, *They didn't protect them well in the first place!* But, of course, she dared not voice that thought. "I certainly trust the imperial court," she said aloud, "but I was simply worried about my father and brother, so I came to check on them."

"Very well, considering your filial piety, this official will not pursue the matter," Zhuxie Chixin said, his gaze turning coldly to Sang Hong. "Minister Sang, will you come with us quietly, or do you require us to use force?"

Sang Hong's face paled. He quickly cupped his hands and replied, "I wouldn't dare trouble Commander Zhuxie to act. I will surrender myself, but before that, I hope you will permit me to avenge my son." He knew perfectly well that even if he hadn't been severely wounded, he would have been no match for Zhuxie Chixin in his prime, so resistance was out of the question.

"Sang Qian? What happened to him?" Zhuxie Chixin asked, somewhat surprised not to see him present.

Sang Hong looked at the mummified corpse on the ground with a sorrowful expression. "My son was murdered, and his death was tragic. Unfortunately, I don't even know who the killer is."

Zhuxie Chixin now noticed the corpse in the grass, his pupils contracting involuntarily. He quickly dismounted and squatted beside it, examining it closely. His voice became grave as he concluded, "This was done by a member of the Blood Clan."

"The Blood Clan?" Sang Hong was startled, then quickly grasped the meaning. "Haven't the Blood Clan been defeated and disappeared for hundreds of years?"

Zhuxie Chixin examined the wound on Sang Qian's neck and stated grimly, "It seems the Demon Emperor is unwilling to accept defeat. He has set his sights on the Central Plains once more."

The women nearby all blanched. As talented students from various academies, they were naturally aware of the relevant history. Years ago, there was a great war between humans and the so-called "foreign races," which were, in fact, the demon race. To ordinary people, the various races today—demons, elves, dark elves, beast-kin, and even dragons—are all broadly referred to as "demons" or "demon races." However, cultivators from prestigious families understood that these races were distinct from the pure demon race. The true demon race was simply the most powerful, and these other races had merely sworn allegiance to the Demon Emperor.

Between heaven and earth, all living beings—animals, plants, and other life forms—possess the potential to cultivate into demons. Even certain inanimate objects, if circumstances align, can achieve demonhood and assume human form. Naturally, these are "acquired" demons, and the conditions for such cultivation are extremely stringent. There are also innate demon races who require no cultivation; the power in their bloodline grants them humanoid bodies from birth. The Blood Clan is a unique branch within the demon race, naturally subsisting on blood. Their original forms are numerous, including bats, leeches, mosquitoes, and lampreys. Even other great demons within the demon race view them with considerable apprehension.