Chapter 127: The Great Wall
Clear and crisp birdsong drifted leisurely from the forest.
Bright sunlight filtered through the window ledge, quietly climbing onto the bed and falling between the woman's long eyelashes and silver-white hair.
She lay on the bed, sleeping exceptionally peacefully, as tranquil as a little girl.
Xiao Mo sat on the edge of the bed, quietly watching the sleeping woman while gently holding her hand.
After an unknown amount of time had passed, Xiao Mo carefully placed her small hand inside the blanket, meticulously tucking in the corners for her before standing up and slowly walking out of the room.
Outside the house, Fuchen and Li Sisi were waiting for him.
"In the days to come, I must trouble you both to take extra care of Ruxue," Xiao Mo said as he solemnly bowed in salute.
"Please rest assured, Master Xiao," Fuchen nodded. "Not only Miss Ruxue, but after some time, I will have Sisi go bring Little Green back as well."
Li Sisi stepped forward, her face filled with worry, "Big Brother Xiao, are you really departing now for the Great Wall to participate in that battle between humans and demons?"
"Yes," Xiao Mo turned back, his gaze once again falling upon the sleeping woman inside the room. "It's better to go early, otherwise I fear I'll be too late." Li Sisi seemed to want to say something more, her lips moving slightly, but in the end she closed her mouth.
Xiao Mo took a step back, "Mo takes his leave now."
Fuchen nodded in response, "Master Xiao, take care."
"I'll do my best."
Xiao Mo revealed a faint smile, bowed once more, then turned around. His figure transformed into a stream of light, flying swiftly toward the direction of the Great Wall.
"Master, will Master Xiao... really be able to accumulate enough merit on this journey?" Li Sisi asked anxiously, looking toward her master.
Fuchen shook her head slightly, "Who knows?"
Li Sisi lowered her head, her voice tinged with sadness, "Miss Bai and Big Brother Xiao are truly pitiful. They already waited through such long years in their previous life, yet in this life, they must continue waiting for each other."
"Indeed."
Fuchen raised her head, gazing deeply toward the vast horizon.
"How much longer will the Heavenly Dao make them wait?"
…
It took a full two months before Xiao Mo finally arrived at Demon-Suppressing City.
Demon-Suppressing City was a massive city built behind the Great Wall.
Though called a city, its actual scale was so vast it could rival a medium-sized nation.
Xiao Mo raised his head to look up, seeing that towering Great Wall reaching a thousand zhang high, like a giant dragon winding and stretching for tens of thousands of li. It seemed as if a celestial deity had taken brush to paper, drawing a massive boundary line between heaven and earth, forcibly separating the Demon Realm from the Ten Thousand Laws Realm.
Stepping into Demon-Suppressing City.
At first glance, this city didn't seem much different from ordinary towns in the mortal world.
The streets bustled with people, small stalls and vendors lined both sides enthusiastically hawking their wares, and inn attendants stood at tavern entrances energetically calling out to attract customers.
There were even courtesans wearing cool, thin gauze that revealed large patches of snow-white skin, standing at brothel entrances continuously waving scented handkerchiefs to entice patrons.
However, the most fundamental difference from mortal towns was that nearly everyone walking through Demon-Suppressing City were cultivators, with very few ordinary people to be seen.
Even the women in the Emerald Flower Tower were all female cultivators from the Blissful Union Sect.
Some cultivators, feeling their lifespans nearing an end with no hope of breakthrough in seclusion, would choose to come to Demon-Suppressing City, descend from the Great Wall, and venture deep into demon territory to fight desperately, hoping to find opportunity for breakthrough in life-or-death situations.
Even if they ultimately failed to break through, dying in battle on the battlefield was still a form of resolution for them.
Additionally, the Ten Thousand Laws Realm also had many cultivators who had been exiled here after committing grave errors.
They could never leave this place for life, only able to guard the frontier here to atone for their sins.
Still others came to Demon-Suppressing City seeking opportunities.
Any cultivator brave enough to descend from the Great Wall and slay demons could earn corresponding battle merits.
With these accumulated battle merits, they could exchange for almost anything they desired, including legendary immortal weapons.
Not to mention, personally slaying demons allowed them to directly plunder various treasures carried by their opponents.
Therefore, over time, cultivators came to Demon-Suppressing City in an endless stream.
Now, with full-scale war about to erupt and demon forces already massing heavy troops below the Great Wall, more and more cultivators, whether willingly or not, were being conscripted or voluntarily coming here to defend.
Strategic fortresses as crucial as the Great Wall existed in two other locations in the Ten Thousand Laws Realm.
One was the Sword Pavilion.
The other was Dragon Emperor Island in the North Sea.
If any of these three places fell, the Ten Thousand Laws Realm would inevitably suffer massive casualties and fall into catastrophe.
Xiao Mo found a housing agency, indicating he wanted to rent a courtyard.
Finally, the agency clerk brought Xiao Mo to a relatively secluded courtyard in the northern part of the city.
This courtyard was in a remote location, far from the bustling marketplace, which suited Xiao Mo perfectly.
However, when Xiao Mo prepared to pay, the agency clerk waved his hand and refused to accept payment.
"Sir, there's no need to pay this rent," the agency clerk explained with a smile on his face.
"Why is that?" Xiao Mo looked puzzled.
"Because the rent for the courtyard you're staying in has already been paid in advance by the city lord," the agency clerk answered respectfully.
"With the great battle imminent, the city lord has specifically instructed that as long as it's not purchasing property, merely renting, all expenses are to be covered by the Demon-Suppressing City Lord's mansion."
"I see," Xiao Mo nodded. "Then I've gained an advantage."
The agency clerk smiled, "Sir, you speak too seriously. That you've personally come to this frontline to defend against demons for our human race, the entire human race should be thanking you instead.
If this Great Wall is ever breached and Demon-Suppressing City falls, with the Ten Thousand Laws Realm becoming scorched earth, then no amount of courtyards and property would continue to exist."
"Oh, there's one more thing."
The agency clerk's expression became serious as he carefully instructed.
"Sir, you must pay attention to the bell sounds within our Demon-Suppressing City.
The great bell in the city is a special magical artifact. Once struck, its sound can immediately spread throughout all of Demon-Suppressing City.
If the bell rings only once, it represents merely small demon forces coming to harass.
If it rings twice, it means demons have assembled an army of one hundred thousand pressing at the borders.
If it..."
"Dong!"
Before the agency clerk could finish speaking, a resonant and deep bell toll suddenly rang out, instantly spreading throughout all of Demon-Suppressing City.
"Dong!"
"Dong!"
Within three breaths, the bell rang three times.
"What do these three bell tolls represent?" Xiao Mo withdrew his gaze from the direction of the bell tower and looked at the agency clerk.
He saw the clerk's face instantly turn deathly pale.
"Sir..."
Cold sweat immediately beaded on the agency clerk's forehead.
"Three bell tolls... means that the war between humans and demons has truly begun today."