143: Chapter 143 A Heavenly Demon, a Demon King, and a Demon Child

[Palace Master Su Yousi's voice echoed throughout the great hall.]

["The great cause of our Demon Race unifying the Northern Region requires everyone's mutual encouragement."]

["Nine Nether Palace will dispatch thirty thousand troops, commanded by Rumeng."]

[Yu Rumeng stood up, cupped her fists to accept the command, her face expressionless.]

[Chu Sheng sat beside her, feeling every gaze in the hall fall upon him.]

[Blood Demon Ancestor coughed lightly and spoke slowly:]

["With Devil King Rumeng commanding the three armies, this old man naturally has no objection."]

["However, for the choice of the vanguard, shouldn't we pick someone with experience?"]

["This old man's worthless Disciple, Xuan Mingzi, might have a bit of a foul mouth, but he's a capable hand at warfare."]

[He paused, gave Chu Sheng a half-smile, and continued:]

["He's certainly better than some people who have never been on a battlefield."]

[Yu Rumeng spoke indifferently:]

["Regarding the vanguard, I have my own arrangements."]

[The smile on Blood Demon Ancestor's face stiffened, and he didn't speak further.]

[Madam Huayue raised her hand and said with a beaming smile:]

["Big sister can contribute too."]

["My male consorts are all strong and sturdy; if pulled onto the battlefield, they can at least make up the numbers."]

[White Bone Madam sneered and retorted:]

["Those consorts of yours? Their legs will only go weak on the battlefield."]

["Each one has been squeezed dry by you like a mummified corpse, they'd fall over if the wind blew—and they're going to fight a war?"]

[Madam Huayue didn't mind, unhurriedly sniffing the black flower she held as she spoke:]

["Once they're actually on the battlefield, I guarantee they'll be better than some people."]

[Old Man Styx had kept his eyes closed all along, looking as if he were asleep.]

[Everyone thought he wouldn't speak, but he suddenly said:]

["Tianfeng Kingdom has ancestors in the Palace Building Realm."]

[No one in the hall showed a look of surprise; Blood Demon Ancestor scoffed and said:]

["Old man, your information is quite well-informed."]

[White Bone Madam picked up her teacup and took a sip, not even lifting her eyelids.]

[Chu Sheng was instantly stunned.]

[Tianfeng Kingdom actually has ancestors in the Palace Building Realm still alive?]

[Jiang Wuji's face flashed through his mind; he was only at the Sea Opening stage, and Chu Sheng had originally thought he was the strongest in Tianfeng Kingdom.]

[The Old Grandfather's voice rang in his mind, saying with a hint of disdain:]

["The various kingdoms of Tianfeng are nails driven into the Northern Region by the Righteous Path."]

["Do you really think they could hold their ground with just a few Sea Opening Realm Cultivators?"]

["Those great Sects in the Central Region aren't that stupid."]

["They can't uproot the Demon Race, but they won't let the Demon Race comfortably swallow the Northern Region either."]

["The Tianfeng Kingdoms are the nails they've inserted, and they've been there for over a thousand years."]

["Those old fellows don't usually show their faces, but when it truly comes to a life-or-death moment, each one is more capable than the last."]

[Chu Sheng asked in his heart:]

["Then why didn't they take action earlier?"]

[The Old Grandfather went silent for a moment before slowly saying:]

["If they acted, it would be total war."]

["Now is not yet the time."]

[Palace Master Su Yousi suddenly looked at Chu Sheng.]

[That gaze was very indifferent, like looking at an ant, or perhaps like looking at a chess piece.]

["Rumeng's Dao Companion shall also go out with the army."]

[Her tone brooked no doubt, as if stating an established fact.]

[Yu Rumeng's expression changed instantly, and she hurriedly stood up, saying:]

["Palace Master Su Yousi, his cultivation is too low, if he goes to the battlefield..."]

[Palace Master Su Yousi interrupted her directly, her voice still flat as she said:]

["A Heavenly Demon Body, it would be a waste not to go to the battlefield."]

[Yu Rumeng opened her mouth to say something, but ultimately swallowed it back.]

[She tightly gripped Chu Sheng's hand, her strength so great it felt like she might crush his bones.]

[Chu Sheng braced himself and stood up, cupping his fists in a salute and saying:]

["Your subordinate obeys."]

[Under the table, Yu Rumeng gripped his hand tightly; Chu Sheng didn't make a sound, only giving it a gentle squeeze.]

[Madam Huayue leaned over, her lips close to his ear:]

["Little brother, if you can't survive the battlefield, come find big sister."]

["Big sister will protect you."]

[Her warm breath brushed against his earlobe, itchy.]

[Yu Rumeng smashed the table in front of her with a palm strike, wood splinters instantly flying everywhere.]

[Madam Huayue dodged with a laugh, retreating three feet away and raising her hands to show her innocence.]

[Chu Sheng sat in place, his face splattered with wood chips, thinking to himself that this woman did it on purpose—absolutely on purpose.]

[Palace Master Su Yousi stood up and declared the meeting adjourned.]

[The various Devil Kings returned to organize their armies, waiting to set out after coordinating with the Blood God Sect and Hall of Ten Thousand Demons.]

[Before leaving, Madam Huayue looked back at Chu Sheng and winked, as if saying 'remember'.]

[White Bone Madam walked past expressionlessly, not even glancing at him.]

[Blood Demon Ancestor left with his subordinates, his expression looking quite ugly.]

[Old Man Styx leaned on his bone staff and walked out slowly, his figure hunched as if he might fall apart at any moment.]

[On the way back, Yu Rumeng remained silent.]

[She walked in front, her back held rigidly straight like a fully drawn bow.]

[Chu Sheng followed behind her, wanting to speak several times but not knowing what to say.]

[As they neared the city, he hurried to catch up and asked:]

["Are you worried?"]

[Yu Rumeng stopped, not turning back, and said with a firm tone:]

["I will protect you."]

[Looking at her back, Chu Sheng felt a pang of bitterness in his heart.]

[A Devil King saying such words was like making a life-or-death military pledge.]

[The Old Grandfather suddenly spoke, his tone uncharacteristically serious:]

["This woman is truly afraid of you dying."]

[Chu Sheng stepped forward, took her hand, and said softly:]

["Don't be afraid, I won't die."]

[Yu Rumeng didn't speak, only gripping his hand even tighter.]

[Chu Zhan was waiting for them at the city gate; seeing the two return, he rushed over on his short little legs and hugged Chu Sheng's leg, shouting in a milky voice:]

["Daddy!"]

[Chu Sheng picked him up and held him above his head; Chu Zhan immediately giggled, drooling all over Chu Sheng's face.]

[Watching this scene, the cold expression on Yu Rumeng's face finally softened slightly; she reached out to take the child and gently wiped the drool with her sleeve.]

[Looking at her gentle appearance while holding the child, Chu Sheng suddenly felt that to hell with the war between Righteous and Demon, to hell with Palace Building ancestors, and to hell with Madam Huayue.]

[He only needed to come back alive.]

[At night, Chu Zhan fell into a deep sleep, his small hand tightly clutching the corner of Chu Sheng's clothes, refusing to let go.]

[Yu Rumeng leaned against the couch, looking at the sleeping father and son, and suddenly said:]

["When the war is over, let's find a place where there's no one else to live."]

[Chu Sheng asked in confusion:]

["You don't want the city anymore?"]

[Yu Rumeng shook her head gently and said:]

["I don't want it anymore."]

[Chu Sheng smiled and replied:]

["Okay."]

[Yu Rumeng smiled too, a smile that was uncharacteristically free of exhaustion or calculation, filled only with tenderness.]

[Looking at her smile, Chu Sheng thought to himself that they had to win this war, and he had to come back alive.]

[The moonlight outside the window was faint, and the distant sound of bugles calling the troops to order could be heard faintly.]

[Chu Zhan rolled over, his small hand letting go of Chu Sheng's clothes and grabbing Yu Rumeng's hair instead.]

[Yu Rumeng looked down at her son, the corners of her mouth turning up slightly.]

[Chu Sheng leaned over and gave her a light kiss on the cheek.]

[Yu Rumeng glared at him but didn't pull away.]

Chu Sheng looked at this scene, staring at the family of three in the image, and continued:

"I feel like this scene is quite eerie; a Heavenly Demon, a Devil King, and a Demon Child, all clamoring to live in harmony."