Chapter 122: Imminent Departure, Crimson Moon City

"I never imagined such things had happened..."

Cheng Feng felt a pang of sympathy for Liu Shiyu's past. Putting himself in her shoes, he realized that if he had endured the same experiences, he likely wouldn't have fared any better. Carrying such hatred from a young age made healthy psychological development nearly impossible. Over the past decade, this tragedy must have left an indelible, negative mark deep within her soul.

Liu Shiyu never enjoyed the bright, carefree life of a normal girl—no shopping for clothes, no manicures, no innocent romances. Instead, she stood in the darkness, blade in hand, abandoning human sentiment to become a heartless demon hunter. Every day was a battle against monsters, driven by the struggle for future vengeance. She never spoke of her past; as an independent and strong woman, perhaps she chose to shoulder this tragic history in silence, unwilling to be pitied by others.

Yan Ruying furrowed her brows, her voice tinged with complaint. "I still cannot comprehend it. Liu Mocheng possessed a strong sense of justice and a promising future within the Association. Why would he be tempted by power and choose to join the side of the monsters?" Her tone grew laced with hidden anger. "He even went as far as harming his own kind. He was never that sort of person; to abandon his humanity to such a vile degree is truly insane."

Cheng Feng replied, "Regardless of the reason that led him to choose the monsters, he has already betrayed humanity."

"Indeed." Yan Ruying changed the subject. "But thinking about it won't change anything. It is done, and dwelling on the 'why' is no longer important. No matter how close we once were to Liu Mocheng... if we meet again, he will remain our enemy."

Cheng Feng resolved that if he were to encounter Liu Mocheng again, he would certainly help Liu Shiyu take him down. After all, Liu Mocheng had completely devolved into a demon.

Pushing aside these emotions, Yan Ruying brushed a lock of golden hair away from her chest and stood up. "Enough talk. Let's begin training."

Cheng Feng made no move to train, as another important issue had crossed his mind. "Wait, I have one more question."

Yan Ruying looked at him in confusion. "I have said everything there is to say. What else is there?"

Cheng Feng hesitated before asking, "How much do you know about Red Moon City?"

"...Red Moon City? Why would you suddenly ask about that?" Yan Ruying blinked, baffled as to why Cheng Feng would bring up that kingdom of monsters.

Cheng Feng said solemnly, "I plan to set out for there in two days."

"What? You want to go to Red Moon City?" Yan Ruying’s eyes widened. Thinking he didn't realize how dangerous it was, she immediately explained, "Do you have any idea what kind of place that is? It is the territory of the third Abyss-dweller, the Nine-Tailed Fox, Tamamo Snow Princess. That monster kingdom is officially listed as a forbidden zone; it is an area humans must never set foot in."

Red Moon City possessed vast monster forces, guarded by Tamamo Snow Princess herself. With at least a million monsters within its walls, its political and military systems were on par with any human nation. Winterfell City and Red Moon City remained distinct, separated by thousands of meters of ocean, maintaining a relationship of mutual non-aggression—like well water never interfering with river water. Any human who dared venture to Red Moon City would never return. Consequently, Winterfell City had declared it a forbidden zone, and no ships were permitted to enter its territorial waters.

Cheng Feng was well aware of the dangers. "I know."

"And you still want to go?" Yan Ruying was stunned.

"That's right."

"Have you lost your mind?" Yan Ruying squinted at him in shock, as if looking at a brainless fool. "Didn't I just make it clear? That is a kingdom of monsters! What are you thinking? Are you trying to go there and die?"

Seeing her reaction, Cheng Feng calmly explained, "I have a matter of great importance that I must attend to there. I mainly wanted to know if there are any ships at the docks that travel directly to Red Moon City."

Yan Ruying felt as though Cheng Feng had gone mad. If a human were to arrive in such a place, they would likely be torn apart and devoured by the sea monsters before even reaching the city gates, leaving not even bones behind.

"Cheng Feng, you want to go to Red Moon City?"

Liu Shiyu’s cold, melodious voice rang out. Cheng Feng turned to see her approaching; she must have overheard their conversation. Liu Shiyu frowned, warning him, "That monster kingdom is extremely dangerous. Why would you want to go there?"

Knowing she was concerned for him, Cheng Feng said earnestly, "I know, but I must go. If I don't, Winterfell City will soon face a war."

Hearing the word "war," Yan Ruying and Liu Shiyu immediately sensed the gravity of the situation. "What exactly is going on?"

Cheng Feng then explained the entire sequence of events to them.

...

Meanwhile, in the far East, Red Moon City.

This nation was once human territory. A hundred years ago, with the arrival of Tamamo Snow Princess, the entire population was bewitched and devolved into monsters, allowing her to establish her own kingdom. A century had passed since then, but some time ago, for unknown reasons, Tamamo Snow Princess vanished. Now, her son, Ghost Asura, served as the acting city lord.

In a quiet study within the brightly lit palace, the floor and surrounding library shelves were a warm brown, and the walls and ceiling seemed to have been freshly painted, creating a cozy atmosphere. On the walls hung several stylish sconces, emitting a soft, gentle glow.

A striking young man sat at the desk in the center, reviewing documents. He appeared to be under thirty, though he was actually nearly a hundred years old. His skin was an unhealthy, corpse-like white, and a pair of long, sharp dragon horns protruded from his head. This youth was the temporary lord of Red Moon City, Ghost Asura. As long as the true lord, Tamamo Snow Princess, was absent, he was the Demon Emperor who ruled over all monsters in the city.

*Tap, tap, tap...*

Footsteps echoed as a figure entered the study. It was one of the three great generals of Red Moon City, Xuanwu.

In the legends of this world, there were three legendary divine beasts: Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise (Xuanwu), and White Tiger. In their early years, these three had become the subordinates of the Nine-Tailed Fox, Tamamo Snow Princess, serving her with absolute loyalty and being granted the surname "Ghost" by her. In Red Moon City, the "Ghost" surname was a symbol of nobility and strength. Thus, they were the three most powerful generals in the monster kingdom, holding positions of great authority, second only to the city lord.

Ghost Xuanwu bowed respectfully and asked, "Lord Asura, what are your orders?"

...

"Brother Shen!"

"Hmm!"

Shen Changqing walked along the road, nodding or greeting those he knew. But no matter who it was, no one wore any extra expression on their faces, as if they were indifferent to everything.

Shen Changqing had grown accustomed to this. This was the Demon Suppression Division, an institution dedicated to maintaining the stability of the Great Qin. Its primary duty was to slaughter demons and monsters, though it had other secondary functions as well. It could be said that everyone in the Demon Suppression Division had blood on their hands. When one has seen life and death enough, one becomes indifferent to many things.

When he first arrived in this world, Shen Changqing was somewhat unadjusted, but over time, he had grown used to it. The Demon Suppression Division was vast. Those who remained here were either powerful masters or those with the potential to become such. Shen Changqing belonged to the latter. The Division was divided into two roles: the Suppressors and the Demon Slayers. Anyone entering the Division started as the lowest-level Demon Slayer, then advanced step by step, with the ultimate hope of becoming a Suppressor.

His predecessor had been a probationary Demon Slayer, the lowest rank of all. With the memories of his predecessor, Shen Changqing was very familiar with the environment of the Division.

Before long, Shen Changqing stopped in front of a pavilion. Unlike the rest of the Division, which was filled with a murderous aura, this pavilion stood out, offering a different kind of tranquility amidst the blood-stained surroundings. The doors were open, and people occasionally walked in and out. Shen Changqing hesitated for only a moment before stepping inside.

The environment changed instantly. A scent of ink mingled with the faint smell of blood rushed toward him, causing him to instinctively frown, though he quickly relaxed. The scent of blood on everyone in the Demon Suppression Division was almost impossible to wash away.