72.3

"So he wants to isolate us," Ji Yunhe said.

"The court wasn't able to do it, why would he be able to?"

"The court has help from the Grand Master's house, but ultimately their number is low. The only thing they can really rely on is the imperial army. I have demons that can avoid their blockades easily, traveling by air or water, or around the mountains."

"Mhm," Luo Jinsang nodded.

"This time it's different. Good thing I can stealth, else I wouldn't have been able to come back. Their demon masters are controlling so many powerful demons, flying in the sky, swimming in the river, running on the ground… All the paths are now under their control."

Changyi thought for a while then said, "I was able to take down the Demon Terrace because many demon masters here did not really fight back. I am afraid the situation now is different."

Ji Yunhe said, "Lin Haoqing's move seems as if he really does want to take you down, but why? The longer you fight with the court, the better it is for him and his demon masters, no? What exactly did Princess Shunde promise him? He shouldn't really want to destroy the Northlands..."

"What are you guys talking about?" Luo Jinsang was confused.

"Why didn't the demon masters here fight back six years ago to protect the Demon Terrace? But ran off to the south? And... if Lin Haoqing doesn't really want to destroy the Northlands, then why did he march all his men over?"

"Moving to the south was to combine and strengthen the forces of the demon master tribe."

Ji Yunhe answered, "Demon masters were divided into four quarters across the land and their freedoms were restrained because the imperial court wanted to limit their power. When rebels overturned the Demon Terrace, they evacuated the Northlands but did not go to the east or west which were closer, instead, they went straight to the southernmost Demon Valley. That's because it's the strongest."

"While the imperial court was busy dealing with the north, the demon masters grew and developed their own forces. They must have a plan." Ji Yunhe murmured to herself, "Lin Haoqing, Lin Haoqing… Why did you come? What do you want?"

"He wants you," Kongming interrupted her thoughts.

Everyone turned their heads, and the monk threw a letter that still had a chill on it onto the table in front of Changyi. Luo Jinsang asked,

"Baldy, what do you mean by that?"

"Lin Haoqing has sent a letter asking us to hand over Ji Yunhe. Once he gets her, he will retreat immediately. Here's the letter." Kongming looked at Changyi.

"The courier is still here as well, waiting for your response." Changyi did not even unfold it. His hand chilled and froze the letter, then crumpled it into pieces.

"Tell the courier to get lost."

Kongming sneered, "I thought so." He turned to go, but Ji Yunhe stopped him.

"Wait a minute." As soon as she called out to Kongming, Changyi followed up with an order,

"No waiting!" Ji Yunhe looked at Changyi, both a little amused and a little frustrated.

"I have not yet finished talking..."

"No need to say anything. My mind is already made up."

"How do you know what I'm going to say?"

"I just know."

"You don't know."

Luo Jinsang interrupted the two, "Grow up, you guys. Together you are almost a hundred years old..." Ji Yunhe was not going to have it.

"He is a demon, age is all grown on his head. A hundred years? He has to take eighty percent of it! I am still young!" Luo Jinsang looked at Ji Yunhe with disapproval.

"Yunhe... you're acting childish now."

"I'm trying to stop the argument here! Don't start with me, I warn you."

"Warn me? Luo Jinsang, you left the city again without telling anyone, I haven't even called you out on it yet..."

"So? You get upset when I stay, then you get upset when I leave! How come nothing I do is ever okay?" Seeing those two had hijacked their squabble, Ji Yunhe felt a little dumbfounded.

"Enough!" Finally, it was Changyi who took on the role of an adult.

"If you guys want to argue, go outside." Ji Yunhe rubbed her temples.

"Enough, all of you! Didn't you say the courier is still waiting? Can we talk about business?!"

The arguments finally came to an end. Ji Yunhe let out a deep sigh and said, "Let me meet with Lin Haoqing."

"No way."

"I didn't say I'd go with him, what I said was: meet with him." Ji Yunhe looked at Changyi.

"I need to know what he's planning on."

"No."

"Why not?"

Changyi paused for a long while then said, "Ji Yunhe, don't forget you are still my prisoner."