85.2

"You can't kill anyone here." Fox fire lit up and four black tails appeared as she struggled to maintain her transformed face.

Everyone knew a fox demon grew much stronger with each additional tail. They looked at Aji and saw her black gas suddenly swirl up, breaking the chain around her wrists.

Sounds of swords leaving their sheaths instantly filled the hall. In Changyi's eyes, Aji was obviously a man. But she spoke with a familiarity that he could not ignore, and he watched until her black demonic gas darkened his blue pupils.

The familiarity was fleeting, but it was enough to make him stay and survey the tails behind Aji.

A black, four-tailed fox demon...

He still remembered that Ji Yunhe's demon half was a black, nine-tailed fox...

"On what basis?" he asked her.

"Why should you be allowed to live?"

The fox fire died down and Aji stepped up.

"On the basis of my belief that the Northlands should not be like this," she said. "I also believe the venerable Lord of the North, who's able to convince an army of demon masters to join him, is not a cruel tyrant."

Changyi's eyes fluctuated. After sealing Ji Yunhe at the bottom of the lake, Changyi forced himself to forget her and their past. But at times of weakness, all the images and memories lying dormant would break through and rip into his mind.

Just like now. Two horses outside the Demon Terrace, walking through the wind and snow, and Ji Yunhe's composure and demeanor, they all surfaced.

The fox demon in front of him spoke with confidence, just like Ji Yunhe when she fearlessly faced the army that day.

"Lu Jinyan joined the north because he placed his trust in you. The snake demon knew the world was full of suffering, him coming to the north was also a promise to trust you. If you kill them, not only do you fail their trust, you also fail all the demon masters and demons that have joined. They all came seeking survival and dignity. If they are executed because of personal grudges, and the jailer killed because of prisoners escaping, then this place will be no different from the imperial court. And you will be no different from the Grand Master -- feared by the world and abandoned by the people."

Everyone listened to Aji as she spoke. Lu Jinyan even nodded his head a few times.

"I refuse to believe that you do not understand this." Changyi understood, he just did not care anymore...

Aji continued, "I think you've been sitting too high for too long, and have completely forgotten your original cause. I am afraid right now you are not worthy of all those who have died in the north!"

The guards looked at one another, visibly moved by her words. A few gathered up enough courage to peek at Changyi. He stood alone and silently watched the fox demon in the hall. Aji was not done.

"With your power, you can kill me easily. But I will also place my trust in you today, and believe that you will not take my life."

She stared at Changyi. The hall was now so quiet one could hear the drop of a pin. Changyi eventually broke the silence.

"What is your name?"

"My name is Aji." His gaze drifted away for a moment then he turned to leave.

"Your lives are spared," he said in a low voice as he walked out. Well, that went better than expected.

As soon as Changyi left, Lu Jinyan stood up and said to Aji, "Awesome! You got quite a mouth on you! Even I believed everyone would rebel if he were to kill us! I've never felt so important before!"

Ji Ning wiped away some nervous sweat. "I'm the one who was really scared to death. Brother Aji, you kept arguing why they should be spared, I thought I'd be the only one dragged out and beheaded..."

Lu Jinyan laughed and smacked Ji Ning on the head. "Scaredy cat! Even your hair is wet!"

The three guards also came over to show gratitude.

"Aiya! Thank you, Mr. Aji, thank you!"

Amidst the cheering of the crowd, Aji blankly scratched her head and looked in the direction where Changyi had left. The snake demon saw her expression and laughed.

"What's wrong with you? After that incredible speech, now you've dumbed down?"

Aji shook her head and smiled. "No... I just think maybe it wasn't the speech that saved us..."

"What else could it be?" Lu Jinyan laughed too.

"Your name? Hahahaha!" Aji looked squarely at Lu Jinyan and said, "It was exactly my name." They saw it as a joke and did not take her seriously.

Aji glanced back again as she exited the hall with everyone else.