The Blood Palace in the city.
This place had been heavily sealed even when Chen Yu was still in the city.
"Commander."
The guards saw the blood at the corner of Er Gou's mouth and rushed forward.
"What happened to you?"
"Don't mind me, what's the situation with the Blood Palace?"
Er Gou's face was slightly pale. He had wanted to prove his loyalty with his heart, but the little demon stopped him at the last moment, slapped him, and drove him out.
As he left, Er Gou received a telepathic message from the little demon, urging him to guard this place strictly.
Er Gou, who had almost given up hope, was filled with renewed vigor.
He knew that despite Rou Si's malicious slander, the little demon still believed in his loyalty to Chen Yu.
And that was indeed the case!
No matter the time, his loyalty to Chen Yu had never wavered. While he did engage in some shady dealings in private, he could honestly say with his hand on his heart that he had never done anything to betray Chen Yu.
"Keep a close watch on everything."
Er Gou, with his brows furrowed, shouldered his greatsword, his tiger-like eyes scanning his surroundings.
With Chen Yu absent, the little demon was the backbone of the city.
Although Kailin appeared to be the city lord, Er Gou, as one of the Divine Generals, knew very well that the true authority in the city lay with Suona and the little demon.
Even Chen Yu treated them with great respect, and they, as subordinates, should do the same.
At this moment—
Outside the Blood Palace were elite soldiers trained by Er Gou during this period.
The lowest rank was Gold Realm.
They were all equipped with the finest gear and were strictly guarding the palace.
As Er Gou surveyed his surroundings, a ghostly afterimage, clinging to the ground like a shadow, surged forward unnoticed by all the beast soldiers.
"Heh—"
Er Gou smiled indifferently. Just as the shadow was about to pass him, he grabbed the greatsword in his hand and slashed it fiercely onto the ground.
*Bang~!*
The immense force instantly shattered the green pine rocks on the ground.
The vigilant guards were also greatly alarmed.
*Gasp!!!!*
Painful screams followed, and from the shadow Er Gou had attacked, a demon with a sword mark on its body suddenly emerged.
"Damn Orcs!!!"
"Heh, you think you can slip past under my nose?" Er Gou swung his greatsword horizontally. The shadow demon dodged nimbly, but in the next moment, Er Gou's left hand, holding his battle blade, grabbed its shadow.
He dragged the shadow demon before him, his eyes filled with contempt.
"You're too young."
"Even your Shadow King was my defeated opponent in ancient times, let alone you, a mere grunt now."
Holding the shadow demon's shadow, golden light surged from Er Gou's hand.
The golden light transformed into thin threads, encasing the shadow demon.
"Hand him over to Lady Barbara and say you captured him while patrolling the Blood Palace! Remember, absolutely do not say I caught him, especially with Commander Rou Si present."
"Yes!"
The beast soldier, clutching the shadow demon, hurried away, while Er Gou placed his greatsword back on his shoulders and looked at the other guards.
"Don't just stand there dumbly, move around! Shadow tribe demons are skilled at hiding in shadows, you must not let them use your shadows to enter the Blood Palace!"
"Yes, Commander!" the guards responded.
Er Gou's brows remained tightly knitted.
Shadow Demon.
This type of demon was considered a relatively high-bloodline demon. Shadow demons appeared so soon after Rou Si entered the city. Had she colluded with the demons?
"Damn traitor!"
Er Gou's clenched fists creaked.
He did not want to engage in fratricide. Once upon a time, they had all followed Chen Yu, sharing jokes and banter with him by the campfire.
But if he had truly harbored betrayal, the greatsword on his back would never show him mercy.
And the Blood Palace, what was hidden inside?
Boss Chen Yu had strictly ordered its封锁.
Lady Barbara also wanted him to keep a close watch on the Blood Palace.
Judging by the movements of the shadow demon, it seemed to be heading for the Blood Palace. This meant that Rou Si's target was also this Blood Palace. Was this palace truly that important?
"Not good!"
Suddenly, Er Gou's expression stiffened.
Was it possible that a shadow demon had already infiltrated?
Rou Si had been in the city for some time, and he had only just received the order to come here. Although people had been watching the place, these beast soldiers did not understand demons.
With this thought, Er Gou's gaze became even more solemn. He glanced up at the Blood Palace.
"You all keep watch here, I'll go in and take a look."
...
Office building, reception area.
Rou Si, with her delicate and effeminate features, leaned back in her chair, her fingers interlaced on her chest.
"My return to the city this time has no other purpose than self-preservation and consolidating my forces to defend the foundation of Free Town for Boss Chen Yu."
"Self-preservation?"
"Yes, precisely for self-preservation."
Rou Si nodded faintly. "Several days ago, Kuka came to my territory and took more than half of my elite soldiers. I can no longer defend the border, and Kuka is eyeing me covetously. I need to ensure that my soldiers can survive, and returning to Free Town is my only option."
"Why would Kuka go to your territory and snatch your people?"
"This is a long story."
Rou Si shook her head and whispered in a low voice.
"After the fusion of the Divine Generals, my contact with Kuka became less frequent, and we rarely communicated. But not long ago, when I was in danger outside, I told my most trusted deputy that if anything happened to the fortress, he should take the men to Kuka."
"Oh? What kind of move is this?" the little demon asked softly.
"I trusted him."
Rou Si took a deep breath and sighed.
"Although I indeed had little contact with Kuka, among the various commanders, he and Black Donkey were the ones I trusted the most. But Black Donkey was assigned to Fengqi City by Boss Chen Yu, so I could only choose to have my people seek refuge with Kuka. Based on my understanding of the Divine Generals, his actions would be the least, and his methods the cleanest."
"Mm, and then~"
"Subsequently, because my Divine General is skilled in a soul-dividing ability, which is to scatter the soul into various parts of the body. Although my spiritual sea was destroyed when I was in danger, the soul fragment hidden within my torso still existed. As time passed, I used the residual soul to re-condense a complete spirit, being reborn from death."
"I've heard of this ability, but it seems to be an ability of the Shadow Tribe demons."
The little demon smiled faintly.
No one could surpass her in their understanding of demons.
"I am a demon!"
Rou Si suddenly exclaimed, her voice serious.
"Lady Barbara, do you happen to know about the few Divine Generals under the Demon King? One of them is the younger brother of the Shadow Demon King, and my divine soul—is him!"