Chapter 1102: The Master's Peril

At dawn the next morning, the coalition of demon clans at the Blackwater Plains finally began to retreat in full.

When Green Bull Demon Emperor learned of the Silver Wolf Demon Emperor's death, he could no longer remain idle. He hastily led his army in withdrawal.

If he lingered, he feared he would lose every advantage.

Silver Wolf Demon Emperor had commanded six or seven other demon emperors, each nearly as strong as the Green Bull Demon Emperor himself. If they turned their wrath on him, the consequences would be disastrous. He had to plan ahead.

Once the Green Bull Demon Emperor departed, the coalition quickly disintegrated. The remaining demon clans scattered without order.

The long and bitter battle had left not only the humans in ruin, but the demon forces as well. Both sides were exhausted in body and spirit.

By the next day's dawn, only two clans remained in the Blackwater Plains: the Lin Demon Clan and the Black Jiao Clan, who had long dwelled in the region.

Because Hai Lingxiang had carefully avoided direct clashes between her clan and the Tianfeng Battalion, the Lin Clan had suffered almost no casualties.

That result pleased her greatly.

...

In the human camp.

A messenger rushed into the command tent.

"Report! The Lin Demon Clan has sent an envoy. They wish to discuss peace."

"The Lin Demon Clan?"

Ling Feng touched his nose, already guessing it was Hai Lingxiang who wanted to express her thanks.

According to his original plan, both sides should have rested for a full month. Though a few accidents had occurred, the outcome was still satisfactory.

Hai Lingxiang had indeed kept her word.

"Well, everyone is weary. Peace talks are necessary."

He gave a slight nod. "Invite the envoy in."

"Yes, sir!"

Soon after, a young girl with graceful bearing entered the tent. Ling Feng vaguely remembered her face; she seemed to be one of Hai Lingxiang's attendants.

"Your servant Yun Shu greets Prince Long Fei!"

The maid bowed deeply to Ling Feng.

"Impudent! Open your eyes. There is no Prince Long Fei here, only His Highness Jingwang and General Weiyuan!"

Xu Zhongda barked in fury as he stepped forward. Having lost an arm to the demons, his hatred burned deep.

"It is fine. She is addressing me." Ling Feng motioned for Yun Shu to rise. "Yun Shu, is it? Your princess... no, she is now the clan chief, isn't she?"

"

Heehee,

Prince Long Fei still remembers me." Yun Shu smiled, her eyes narrowing in delight. "The clan chief asks that at noon today, both sides meet by the Blackwater River to discuss peace."

"The Blackwater River, then."

Ling Feng raised his brows. The river marked the border between humans and demons. By choosing that place, Hai Lingxiang clearly wished to reaffirm the boundary and have both sides honor it.

The river still teemed with demon dwellers. If humans tried to seize the entire plains, conflict would never end. Ling Feng had no wish to invade another's home. Using the river as the line of truce was the best solution.

"Very well. Tell your clan chief that I will personally be there at noon."

"Understood.

Heehee...

"

Yun Shu bowed again and departed.

Once she left, Xu Zhongda frowned. "General Ling, could this be a trap?"

"Commander Xu, your prejudice against demons runs too deep. Not all of them are bloodthirsty. Once they gained wisdom and shed the instincts of beasts, they became intelligent beings like us. If we continue to treat them as animals, that bias will only poison both sides."

Ling Feng smiled faintly. "Why not try to be their friend instead?"

He thought of the Qiongqi Demon Emperor, of Hai Lingxiang, and of the Purple Dragon Envoy. Among demons he had met cruelty, but also compassion. There was no reason humans and demons had to remain eternal enemies.

"Friends?"

The other commanders frowned. To them, demons were lifelong foes. After years of defending Tianmang Fortress, such beliefs were difficult to abandon.

Ling Feng did not press further. Both sides were too weakened to wage another large war. For the next decade at least, no large-scale war was likely to break out.

...

At noon.

Ling Feng arrived as promised. By the banks of the Blackwater River, Hai Lingxiang, now chief of the Lin Demon Clan, had already been waiting for some time. Beside her stood her mother and several elders of the Black Jiao Clan.

"Long Fei!"

When she saw him, her joy nearly drove her to rush forward. But remembering her new position, she bit her lip and steadied herself. "General Ling, you are punctual!"

"I would never be late to meet an old acquaintance."

Ling Feng smiled lightly and produced a wine jar.

"We accept the Blackwater River as the boundary for peace. There is no objection on our side."

He opened the jar. "If you are sincere, share this wine of truce with me!"

The Black Jiao elders were caught off guard. They had expected long negotiations and had even prepared maps to argue over territory.

In their view, the humans had clearly won, and Ling Feng would surely press for concessions. Instead, he asked for nothing at all.

Where else could they find such a bargain?

The Lin Demon Clan was only there to lend support, with no interest in territory. For Hai Lingxiang, however, the truce carried another meaning. Without it, she would never have seen Ling Feng again.

"General Ling is truly benevolent!"

One Black Jiao Clan elder rose and bowed. "On behalf of my people, I thank you."

Ling Feng touched his nose. In truth, their clan chief had died indirectly because of him. But after so much bloodshed, raising it now served no purpose.

The leaders of both races sat together, and soon the wine jar was empty.

"

Hahaha,

Ling Feng, you look far too pleased with yourself these days."

Just as the agreement was about to be signed, mocking laughter swept down from the empty sky.

That voice was one Ling Feng could never forget.

The Demon-Masked Lord, Lin Canglang.

"You again, Lin Canglang. You are like a ghost that refuses to leave!"

Ling Feng frowned. Back when he had unleashed the Chaotic Rebirth technique against nine demon emperors, he regretted not cutting Lin Canglang down as well.

"

Hehe,

you survived even the Demon Ruler's palace. Truly difficult to kill."

The voice drifted near and far, echoing through the void. Not even Ling Feng's Boundless Vision could find him.

"Since you are here, why not show yourself?"

Ling Feng drew the Eradicator of Realms. Its blade sang as it left the sheath.

"Boy, I came only to tell you one thing. That wretched master of yours, Duanmu Qingshan, is now in my hands. If you wish to save him, come to the Wind-Burial Plains within three days. Of course, given your lofty rank as a great general, his life or death may no longer matter to you.

Hahaha...

"

The laughter faded into the distance.

From the sky, a greenwood wine gourd plummeted. Ling Feng's hand shot out, snatching it midair. The instant his gaze landed on it, his pupils constricted in shock.

It was Duanmu Qingshan's wine gourd, the very one he always carried with him!