Chapter 308 - 192: Seen Through

Chapter 308: Chapter 192: Seen Through

"They say a hundred thousand Demon Soldiers, but I’d guess they’re bluffing."

"It’d be incredible if they even have seventy or eighty thousand," Xu Chongyuan said.

"That’s still terrifying," one of the Taiping Captains said. "It’s comparable to a level-seven Demon Tide."

"This isn’t the time to worry about that."

Su Mu said gravely, "We need to survive this immediate test first.

For now, it seems this Grand General of the Demon Court doesn’t necessarily suspect our identities. Senior Brother Xu, you’ll still take the lead. We’re all your subordinates, Shi Ziran is the assassin we caught, and we’re on our way back to Hujue Pass to report to Sha Tongtian."

"No problem," Xu Chongyuan said gravely, his expression stern.

"Everyone, be ready to improvise," Su Mu whispered. "If our cover is blown, run for Hujue Pass."

Everyone nodded, their hearts heavy.

If it really came to that, even the strongest among them, Su Mu, might not make it to Hujue Pass alive.

"Everyone, relax. Watch me put on a show."

Xu Chongyuan rolled up his sleeves and said, "Come on. It’s just one demon. You think I can’t fool it?"

"Brother Erzhong, get a move on. The Grand General is waiting for you all."

Just then, the Demon Soldier Captain’s voice came from outside.

Xu Chongyuan had told the Demon Soldier Captain his name was Xu Erzhong, and over the past few days, the captain had started calling him brother.

Giving Su Mu and the others a look, Xu Chongyuan raised his voice.

"Coming."

The group checked their weapons, trussed up Shi Ziran tightly, and then followed Xu Chongyuan out of the tent.

...

The Demon Court’s army was camped dozens of miles from Hujue Pass.

The so-called military camp was actually just clusters of demons scattered here and there, not at all what Su Mu had imagined.

Although the demons were learning from the Da Xuan Dynasty, they had only managed a clumsy, mismatched imitation.

The few tents were the only things that looked anything like a military camp.

Despite the chaotic scene, the oppressive feeling created by tens of thousands of demons gathered together made the group’s breathing grow short.

Even though Su Mu, Xu Chongyuan, and the others were Taiping Captains who had fought demons for years, it was the first time any of them had seen so many in one place.

Their entire field of vision was a dark, teeming mass of demons, and the foul, bloody stench was so thick it was nauseating.

On top of that, the demonic aura they radiated was enough to drive a person mad.

Resisting the invasion of the demonic aura, the group was led by a demon into the largest tent.

Inside, a demon over ten feet tall with the head of an ox and the body of a man sat in the center of the large tent. It was holding a roasted leg and gorging itself, its mouth dripping with grease.

"So you’re the ones who work for that whelp, Sha Tongtian?"

Seeing Su Mu’s group enter, the Ox-headed Demon glanced at them and spoke, its voice booming.

Its voice was loud, echoing inside the tent and making the men’s ears ring.

Combined with the oppressive presence of its massive body, an ordinary Martial Artist would have likely been paralyzed with fear before it.

But Su Mu and his men were no ordinary Martial Artists, after all.

Which Taiping Captain hadn’t spent years fighting demons on the brink of life and death?

Though their faces were pale, they at least managed not to disgrace themselves.

"I’ve got to hand it to you humans, you know how to eat. This meat, roasted, is definitely better than eating it raw."

A flash of surprise crossed the Ox-Headed Demon Fiend’s bovine eyes. It devoured the roasted meat in a few bites, wiped its greasy hands haphazardly on its body, and said, "The last time that whelp Sha Tongtian came, I don’t remember any of you being with him."

Xu Chongyuan’s heart leaped. ’This Grand General from the Demon Court has actually met Sha Tongtian’s group before?’

He cursed inwardly, but his face betrayed nothing. Putting on an anxious expression, he bowed and said, "Reporting to the Grand General, our statuses are low. We weren’t qualified to have an audience with you alongside Sect Leader Sha before."

The Ox-headed Demon didn’t dwell on it. Instead, it sized them up and said, "So he’s the one who tried to assassinate that whelp Sha Tongtian?

He looks rather delicious. Leave him here. The rest of you can go.

It’s been a long time since this Grand General has eaten a human True Essence Realm Martial Artist."

It raised a finger and pointed at Shi Ziran.

The group was shocked, not having expected this at all.

Leaving Shi Ziran behind as food for the demon was out of the question.

"Grand General, if you wish to eat a True Essence Realm Martial Artist, once our Sect Leader opens the gates of Hujue Pass, we’ll make sure you can eat your fill."

Xu Chongyuan reacted instantly, forcing a smile. "To be honest with you, Grand General, this assassin is a bit special. He’s an old rival of our Sect Leader, and our Sect Leader wants to have some fun torturing him."

"You disagree?"

The Ox-headed Demon stared, acting as if it hadn’t heard Xu Chongyuan. The temperature in the tent instantly dropped.

Xu Chongyuan’s teeth chattered, and his face was deathly pale.

"F-forgive me, Grand General," he stammered. "I-it’s not that I d-disagree..."

His teeth clattered nonstop as he stammered, "I-it’s just that... this person is old. His skin is all saggy. He definitely won’t taste good.

H-how about... you wait a few days, Grand General? Once we’re back in Hujue Pass, we’ll be sure to catch a fresh True Essence Realm Martial Artist for you first..."

"And what if I want to eat *him*?"

The Ox-headed Demon’s bovine eyes stared at Xu Chongyuan as it spoke coldly.

"If the Grand General insists on eating him, then of course we have no objection,"

Xu Chongyuan said. "It’s just... could the Grand General wait just two days?

There are many people behind him who oppose our Pure Land Sect. If the Grand General would allow us to interrogate him and root out everyone behind him, how about you eat him then?"

"Other than the Saint Venerable, no one has ever dared to make this Grand General wait,"

the Ox-headed Demon said coldly.

The Saint Venerable it spoke of was the Master of the Demon Court.