Chapter 118: A Turning Point in Despair—The City Lord’s Token

The weather was gloomy, with a steady drizzle falling over the cemetery.

In front of the shopkeeper’s tombstone, the cat spirits wept for over an hour before gradually dispersing.

Afterwards, they would leave Winterlin City, seeking a new refuge where they could rebuild their lives.

Of course, a few among them were determined to grow stronger, hoping one day to avenge the shopkeeper’s death...

Only two people remained in the vast cemetery.

Though the sky wept its gentle rain, neither showed any intention of leaving; they stood silently before the gravestone.

Cheng Feng remained silent.

Xue Ju was lost in sorrow over the passing of Hei Ye Cha.

And now that Hei Ye Cha was gone, the matters concerning Red Moon City would never be resolved.

She had fled to Winterlin City for so long, carrying the burden entrusted by the Ghost Princess—her mission was to bring Hei Ye Cha back and settle the political turmoil in Red Moon City, to overthrow the Ghost Shura.

But now, with Hei Ye Cha’s death, all her hardships, sufferings, and efforts over this long time had come to nothing...

Soon, the Ghost Shura would likely succeed in ascending the throne, gaining control over the entire city; nothing could stop it.

She had no means left to intervene, feeling she had betrayed the Ghost Princess’s trust and the faith of the former city lord...

Standing in the wind and rain, Xue Ju bit her lip tightly. Rainwater traced down her drenched bangs onto her cheeks, blurring the line between tears and rain.

“If you want to cry, then let it out,” Cheng Feng’s gentle voice came from behind.

“Cheng Feng... I... I...”

Tears brimmed in Xue Ju’s eyes, her expression on the verge of breaking into sobs. She turned and threw herself into Cheng Feng’s embrace, knocking him off balance and causing him to stagger back a step unexpectedly.

Cheng Feng did not refuse. He knew how fragile Xue Ju was at this moment and how much she needed shelter from the storm.

She buried her face deep into his chest, clutching his coat tightly with both hands, choking on her words, “I don’t know what to do anymore...”

Cheng Feng patted her back gently, his voice soft, “It’s not your fault. Don’t be too hard on yourself.”

“I’ve failed the princess’s hopes. Red Moon City is doomed, and Winterlin City is doomed too...”

Xue Ju’s voice was hoarse, her tears flowing freely as she spoke with a painful tone that moved all who heard it to tears, “Cheng Feng... please, tell me. What should I do... What should happen next? I don’t know anything anymore, nor where to go...”

Cheng Feng sighed and stroked her hair, his tone calm, “Stop overthinking. You should just stay at my place for now.”

“...Is that really okay?”

Xue Ju hesitated slightly, still buried in his chest, unable to raise her tear-streaked eyes to meet his, “Cheng Feng, you must hate me, right? If it weren’t for me staying at your place before, you wouldn’t have so many troubles now...”

Cheng Feng’s voice was indifferent, “And then? What should you say?”

Xue Ju’s head bowed low, “I’m sorry...”

“Is that all you have to say?”

Cheng Feng chuckled softly and pinched her ear, “Shouldn’t you try your best to make it up to me? Promise me you’ll do anything I ask.”

Though Cheng Feng couldn’t see her expression, he could feel her head warming against his chest. She nodded faintly as if agreeing.

Cheng Feng had only been joking casually, but his words dispelled much of the sorrow, calming Xue Ju’s troubled heart.

Cheng Feng casually pulled a golden object from his pocket. “Look at this. What do you think it is?”

“It’s... it’s the City Lord’s token...”

Xue Ju’s eyes widened in disbelief, her voice filled with stunned surprise, “How do you have the City Lord’s token? That belongs only to Queen Tamamo.”

Cheng Feng smiled faintly. “Judging by your reaction, this thing really is authentic—and it carries great weight.”

“Of course. To see the token is to see the City Lord. With this token, in Red Moon City, thousands of demons will obey...”

“This was left to me by the shopkeeper.”

Cheng Feng clenched the golden token tightly. “He knew well he might not survive, so he made preparations beforehand for Red Moon City’s future and entrusted me with the token, hoping I would complete what he couldn’t.”

This news was like sunlight piercing through dark clouds, bringing hope from despair.

Wiping away her tears, Xue Ju showed a faint smile, “So, there’s still a chance.”

“That’s right. There’s still room for a turnaround.”

Cheng Feng looked at her. “When the time comes, I’ll go with you to Red Moon City.”

“You’ll come with me?” Xue Ju blinked.

“Mm. With the token in hand, saving the Ghost Princess shouldn’t be difficult.”

Cheng Feng said, “Besides, I don’t want to see Red Moon City invading Winterlin City in the future.”

...

In the days that followed, life went on as usual.

Because the Disaster Association was hunting down the remnants of Hei Ye Cha’s faction throughout the city, Cheng Feng insisted Xue Ju stay at home, going nowhere.

If she were caught by demon hunters while outside, it would be disastrous.

They had to wait until the heat died down before considering a journey to Red Moon City.

During this time, Cheng Feng often pondered the shopkeeper’s final words, analyzing the crucial information hidden within.

The origin of the monsters...

The approach of the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons...

The world’s impending destruction...

These baffling and shocking revelations stirred a complex turmoil within Cheng Feng.

The shopkeeper would never speak nonsense at the moment of death.

Therefore, these messages were very likely true.

Unfortunately, the shopkeeper died too quickly, leaving no opportunity for Cheng Feng to ask for details. With his passing, the specifics behind these revelations remained unknown.

Since he could not unravel the mystery, Cheng Feng resolved not to dwell on it.

Soon after, he set these perplexing matters aside, at least for the time being.

With the City Lord’s token, Cheng Feng’s journey to Red Moon City would be far easier, and he expected no major obstacles.

His reasons for going to Red Moon City were not solely to help the Ghost Princess reclaim her throne; there was another matter.

He needed to resolve the issue of his bloodline power. The influence of his vampiric strength was growing increasingly pronounced.

He often felt the urge to drink blood, which had become more frequent recently.

Cheng Feng sensed his body quietly transforming. Each time he looked in the mirror, his teeth appeared sharper, his skin paler.

This obvious sign of monstrous transformation troubled him deeply. If unchecked, he feared he would soon become a true vampire creature.

The shopkeeper had once said that to solve the problems caused by this bloodline power, he must go to Red Moon City; only the Ghost Princess could resolve it.

“Brother Shen!”

“Hmm!”

Shen Changqing walked down the street, greeting acquaintances with nods or brief hellos.

But no matter who he encountered, everyone’s faces were devoid of emotion, as if indifferent to everything.

Shen Changqing had long since grown accustomed to this.

Because this was the Demon Suppression Division, an institution dedicated to maintaining the stability of the Great Qin.

Its primary duty was to slay demons and monsters, though it also handled other secondary tasks.

In short,

everyone in the Demon Suppression Division bore blood on their hands.

When one becomes accustomed to life and death, one grows indifferent to many things.

At first, Shen Changqing had difficulty adjusting to this world, but over time he grew used to it.

The Demon Suppression Division was vast.

Those who remained within it were either formidable experts or possessed great potential.

Shen Changqing belonged to the latter.

The division was divided into two roles: Guardians and Exorcists.

Everyone began as an Exorcist, the lowest rank, then gradually rose through the ranks, hoping eventually to become a Guardian.

Shen Changqing’s former self had been a trainee Exorcist, the lowest of the low.

With memories of his past life, he was well acquainted with the division’s environment.

It did not take long before Shen Changqing stopped in front of a pavilion.

Unlike the rest of the division’s grim and blood-soaked places, this pavilion stood out like a crane among chickens, offering a rare tranquility amidst the pervasive bloodshed.

At this moment, the pavilion doors were open, with occasional comings and goings.

Shen hesitated only briefly before stepping inside.

Upon entering, the atmosphere changed instantly.

A blend of ink fragrance mixed with a faint metallic scent of blood filled the air, causing his brows to instinctively knit, but then quickly relax.

The blood scent on everyone in the division was almost impossible to wash away.