Chapter 194   The Devil Out from His Retreat

Hua Qiyue was an extraordinary granddaughter. Her words surely could be trusted.

“Tell Father the same thing for me. Don’t let anyone else know this.”

Hua Qiyue said in a whisper. The Old Madame nodded heavily. “Don’t worry, Grandma won’t let you worry.”

“Well, I’ve shielded Hua’s Mansion with a powerful Protection Array. Ordinary people won’t be able to enter. At least... no one from the capital can.” Hua Qiyue gave a faint smile. Two days ago, she had got the servants to purchase plenty of grains and necessities for storage in the house.

After she bid farewell to the Old Madame, Hua Liting stared quietly at Hua Qiyue.

He was a great general. Yet, in front of his daughter, he now seemed so insignificant.

“Father, you must take care of yourself. Best listen to Grandma.” Hua Qiyue gave a faint smile, a mysterious look in her eyes. Then, she went up the carriage with Tianci.

The company stood at the entrance of the courtyard, watching this scene. When the carriage had disappeared, the Old Madame made her men place a heavy bar on the gate of the mansion.

In the study, the Old Madame passed on Hua Qiyue’s words to Hua Liting.

Hua Liting remained rooted to the ground, stunned. His face was ashen.

“You mean the Emperor... wants to kill Qiyue?”

“Maybe not. Perhaps it’s someone from the martial arts world trying to kill her. They may abduct us to threaten her!”

The Old Madame was very worried. She stared at the misty sunlight and said, “Let’s hope that... Yue Er can be back safely. May Heaven bless her!”

Hua Liting’s hands were trembling. His daughter was of the weaker sex, yet she had to go on a warring expedition like a man. She still had to protect them well.

He recalled Hua Qiyue’s childhood. Who had offered her any affection then? Or love?

Hua Liting heaved a heavy sigh. The rims of his eyes were wet.

—

After sending Tianci into the tower, Hua Qiyue left the capital with Yun Shimo and the rest, heading for the headquarters of the Gnawing Devils Sect.

The reason they were taking the initative and striking first was because there was no advantage to be had in the terrain there.

They could only settle for this decision. Since the Venerated Supreme Devil wasn’t out from his retreat, they would make adequate preparations there first. Even if both sides suffered heavy casualties, they could at least kill the Supreme Devil.

In the carriage, Hua Qiyue was shutting her eyes, resting.

Ji Jing sat by her side, fondling the white fur of the hare gently.

“If only I were a hare. Then, I wouldn’t have any worries and wouldn’t need to suffer fear over this matter. Sister Qiyue, although I’m scared, I still must turn up... it’s far better to die honorably than to end up a plaything of the Gnawing Devils Sect!”

Worry could be seen on Ji Jing’s face.

The hare gave a cold snort. “Lass, you think being a hare’s so easy? Getting fondled day and night... it makes me very unhappy!”

Hua Qiyue opened her eyes and gave the hare a kick. “Sir, this time, you must give us a helping hand!”

“Hey hey hey, things aren’t looking so good, alright? I haven’t recovered my full powers yet! Otherwise, why am I still a hare?”

The hare started to rant.

Ji Jing felt extremely amused. “So, what’s your true body like?”

The hare caressed his little face with its claws. “I used to be an absolutely handsome guy!”

Ji Jing heard it and immediately cast the hare aside in fright. She, carrying a “handsome guy” and caressing him? Good God!

The little hare started to caress his hurt bum, displeased. “Hey, lass, how could you be so heartless! How could you just cast me off like that?”

Ji Jing’s face started to redden. “Men and women shouldn’t be so intimate.”

“Humph! Didn’t you see Princess Qianyang take the initiative and seduce Yun Shimo? Or Yun Shimo kissing that girl Qiyue... ”

Hua Qiyue hit out a palm. The hare whizzed and managed to dodge it.

Facing the little hare on the opposite, Hua Qiyue was too lazy to dispute with it.

Ji Jing covered her mouth and started to titter. But she recalled the strange interactions between Hua Qiyue and Yun Shimo. “Sister Qiyue, what really is your relationship with Prince Nan? Rumors are rife in the capital that he’s going to be the Prince Consort. Is it true?”

Hua Qiyue shook her head. “Go ask him yourself and you will know.”

Ji Jing felt snubbed and finally shut her mouth.

Hua Qiyue shut her eyes again, continuing to practice quietly. The most important thing now was to comprehend the Spirit Summoning Art. She had reached a bottleneck. She could not break into Lvl 5, try as she would.

If her Spirit Summoning Art reached the fifth level, they would have a better chance of beating the Venerated Supreme Devil!

After three days and three nights of journeying, they finally reached the huge mountain where the Gnawing Devils Sect stood.

The company had received reports that the Devil was not yet out of his retreat. The unexpected demise of Chou Tianhen meant everyone in the Gnawing Devils Sect felt endangered. After all, their leader was not yet out, and their vice leader had been slain. Their hearts were panicking. The remaining disciples were not strong enough to resist Hua Qiyue and her allies. Naturally, no one dared to come out and fight.

The alliance was led by Yun Shimo, Hua Qiyue, Ji Feng, Zhen Ruyi and the Leader of Huangyu Sect, Yun Yang.

Yun Yang was a man around 30, young and with great achievement. He had reached the lower level of Moon Eclipse. Although he was not as outstanding as Hua Qiyue, his Qi Art far surpassed most ordinary Qi Artists’.

“Princess, are we staying here to guard?” Yun Yang asked in a soft voice. He had witnessed Hua Qiyue’s guts and abilities all along the journey and admired her greatly.

“Let everyone rest first. We can discuss later,” Hua Qiyue answered. “Someone’s here.”

The company turned back their heads in great surprise. They did not know Hua Qiyue’s senses were so acute. Someone was really here.

Those were Lightning Steeds, as swift as lightning. They soon arrived before the company. “Princess, you are fast. It took us so long to catch up with you. But I hope we aren’t too late!”

The man on the horse gave a radiant smile. Yun Shimo’s countenance sank.

It was the Crown Prince, Huangfu Shenglin.

The people were extremely shocked. This was an exceptionally dangerous battle. Anyone could easily lose his life. Yet the Crown Prince of the state was here on the campaign. Everyone was surprised.

“Your Royal Highness, why are you here? It’s so dangerous here. You are the great hope of our nation. Better go back quickly!” Hua Qiyue too felt quite worried. After all, she had a good impression of the Crown Prince.

If Huangfu Shenglin could retain his righteousness and integrity, Changjing Kingdom would be a great nation in the future.

“It doesn’t matter. I’ll be fine.” The Crown Prince was extremely confident. Hua Qiyue and the others stared at one another. They knew it would be a hopeless task trying to dissuade him.

Once he had made up his mind, Huangfu Shenglin would not change his decision.

“His Royal Highness’s our future Emperor. How can you go on this campaign?” Ji Feng’s impression of Huangfu Shenglin was also quite good. He said with a solemn face, “The terrain here’s extremely dangerous. Anyone can be killed here. I advise your Royal Highness to go back. We have the confidence to annihilate the Devil.”

Huangfu Shenglin shook his head. “Don’t try to dissuade me, friends. I’ve made up my mind.”

The company heard him and started to gaze at him with admiration. If it had been the former Crown Prince, Huangfu Changyu, he would have run away long time ago—let alone join them on this campaign.

“Alright, everyone, let’s first take a rest. Then, we will send scouts out and decide if we’ll stick to our plans,” Yun Shimo said, his eyes settling on Hua Qiyue’s face.

Hua Qiyue’s watery eyes stared into his. The two of them smiled at each other, encouraging each other with their look.

Huangfu Shenglin saw their actions and his heart skipped a beat. But he said nothing.

The company rested for a quarter of an hour. Hua Qiyue and the others started to discuss and decided to send out troops to kill the Qi Artists guarding the foot of the mountain.

The alliance now comprised 4,000 people. 200 of them were elite Qi Artists. Although Hua Qiyue wasn’t that confident, yet, barring an accident, they might...

She cast her eyes on that hare.

The hare detected Hua Qiyue’s hopeful gaze and started to wave its paws. “Hey hey... don’t even think about me. I have recovered only around 30% of my powers. I won’t beat an opponent at the Great Completeness of Round Sun!”

Hua Qiyue gave a cold snort and no longer said anything.

Everyone was quietly overjoyed. A talking spirit animal... that meant that Hua Qiyue and Yun Shimo would have more trump cards up their sleeves?

Yun Shimo gave a gentle smile. “Sir, you must remember to repay a debt with gratitude. You don’t mean to say that you’re an ingrate?”

The little hare was so angry that it started waving its paws. “Nonsense! I haven’t recovered even 40% of my powers. I will only create trouble if I help... ”

“That’s an excuse.” Ji Jing too chimed in.

“Yes, repaying a debt with gratitude. Abilities aren’t everything. What counts most is the heart.”

“So, you’d rather watch your own benefactors die?”

The company all spoke in one voice, trying to persuade the hare.

The hare sounded a long rasp. “Sigh, alright. You humans are as cunning as foxes! I’m scared of you. Stop hollering and proceed quickly with the plan!”

Everyone started to smile. In other words, they would have a higher percentage of winning again.

After all, no one knew whether the hare had only recovered 30 or 40% of its powers. A talking spirit animal could not be that weak.

In accordance to their earlier plan, Hua Qiyue now commanded a troop of Qi Artists, hiding in ambush at the foot of the mountain to slay those people.

Then, they would set up the Killing Array to lure out other disciples from the headquarters and annihilate them all.

Therefore, with Hua Qiyue as their leader, a contingent of 50 elite Qi Artists arrived at the foot of the mountain. They slew all the Qi Artists guarding the entrance.

Once these Qi Artists were dead, the alarm bells started to ring on the mountain.

Since their Vice Sect Leader was dead, there were only five elders and two assistants on the Gnawing Devils Sect mountain. They had 500 disciples with them.

The Gnawing Devils Sect was not large in numbers. They had relied more on their bizarre powers. Although they had committed many atrocities over these years, they had not reached a stage where they were beyond all forbearance.

No one expected them to remain in the shade, only to cultivate a group of Soul Puppets.

When the elders and assistants heard the alarm, they were greatly astounded. Three of the elders immediately led 200 disciples down the mountain. But two hours later, these 200 or so men were all annihilated by Hua Qiyue’s array. It made light work of it.

Of course, the three elders were extremely difficult to deal with. But they, too, died after four hours.

The remaining two elders and 300 disciples were all infuriated. They dashed down the mountain in a feverish rage. Another four hours elapsed, and more than 300 men died. Not a single man survived.

Piles of dead bodies were everywhere at the foot of the mountain. Blood was flowing like a river.

At the summit of the back mountain of the Gnawing Devils Sect, their two disciples’ knees were weak from fear. They kept whispering in front of the Matchless Saint Cave, “Master, come out from your retreat quickly! Hua Qiyue and the others are at the foot of the mountain... all our Sect’s disciples seemed to be dead!”

“Yes, Master, please hurry out from your retreat. Otherwise... they will fight their way up soon!”

The other disciple was trembling incessantly. Although they said this, Hua Qiyue and her allies were not so stupid. If they fought all the way up to the Matchless Saint Cave, the Supreme Devil would have hit them all down the mountain with one palm once he was out from his retreat. The geographical location of this cave did not favor attackers.

The prayers of these two disciples seemed to have been heard by the Supreme Devil. The door sounded a loud boom. The two of them gazed joyously back—

The stone door opened slowly, emitting dim rays from the inside. There was a strange crimson light. A figure streaked out suddenly.