Chapter 2

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Chapter 2: Demon Valley

Jiaoren were feminine and almost always female. Males were so rare that it was just about impossible to find one. Even if you did, their powerful demonic energy would make them extremely difficult to catch, let alone be sent to the Demon Valley.

Princess Shunde must have put in a lot of effort this time, Ji Yunhe thought. Just then, she saw him abruptly lift his long tail again. This time everyone was exposed to his attack. Ji Yunhe could not dodge while lying on the ground, so she made a shield spell with her hand to block her front.

Ji Yunhe felt a whirling wind force pressure against her shield, producing loud grinding sounds from the friction. Lying on the ground with his hands over his ears, Qu Xiaoxing repeatedly screamed with fright.

A few steps away, weaker demon masters who could not resist the impact of the demonic force were knocked away with blood spewing from their mouths. The dungeon turned into a mess.

Ji Yunhe looked around in shock.

She had never seen a male jiaoren before, but she knew what kind of demonic power they typically harnessed. The one here today, his power was far greater than anything she had ever seen.

Afterall, she had never witnessed a demon sealed by the black iron incantations but was still powerful enough to hurt and kill.

With wailing all around, Ji Yunhe looked at the jiaoren. She narrowed her eyes and her hand moved to grip the sword hilt at her waist. She could not allow this demon to go on unchecked, else even Qu Xiaoxing and herself would not end well.

With just a slight movement from Ji Yunhe, the jiaoren immediately turned to stare at her. His eyes were a strange blue like the frozen sea, icy cold and bone-chilling. They were filled with rage.

The eye contact alone made her body shiver. Looked like some real effort would be necessary to suppress this demon today.

He raised his tail again, preparing for another attack. Suddenly, a long golden arrow flew in from the other entrance of the dungeon. It shot between the black iron bars and straight through the fish tail, pinning it against the wall behind.

At the end of the long arrow was a black iron chain. As soon as the arrow pierced the tail, the iron chain magically crawled up like growing vines and wrapped around and around.

Binding his tail tightly.

The jiaoren let out a muffled grunt. Cold sweat seeped out of his forehead from the pain, yet his eyes did not show any sign of weakness. He struggled again, tearing at the wound on his tail. Blood fell like a waterfall.

And at the same time, from the direction where the arrow had come from, a man's low voice sounded, "What are you all lying down for? Get up and set the formation!"

Ji Yunhe turned her head and took a look. "Qu Xiaoxing," she called out to her assistant who was lying on the ground trembling. "Get up, we have nothing to do here. Let's go."

Only then did Qu Xiaoxing lift his head. "All… all good now?" Crawling on all fours, he took a peek to the side and saw the man who had just arrived. "Whew, the young valley master is here..."

Ji Yunhe threw some side eyes at him. "What? I heard that. You think I alone can't protect you?"

Qu Xiaoxing, being the smart young man that he was, immediately put on a smile. "Master Warden, don't kid me. You are so mighty, how can you not be able to protect me? I just think the young valley master being here will save you some effort. I am always on your side, don't worry."

Ji Yunhe withdrew her gaze and glanced at the jiaoren. The cell door was now open. Two iron hooks protruded out from the wall behind him, penetrating his clavicle and striking at him with lightning. His low grunts were quickly drowned out by the sound of demon masters chanting their formation spell.

Golden beams of light appeared all around. All the black iron started to glow, basking the entire dungeon in brilliance.

And aside from trembling in pain, the jiaoren no longer had any power to attack.

"Let's go," Ji Yunhe said to Qu Xiaoxing.

As she was turning the corner, Ji Yunhe saw Lin Haoqing, the young valley master, discussing matters with others in the prison cell while watching her.

Ji Yunhe's footsteps kept going as if she did not see him, and left.

The relationship between Ji Yunhe and Lin Haoqing was more than awkward to describe.

The Demon Valley Master, Lin Canglan, was very old, but his attitude remained ambiguous regarding the position of his successor.

Lin Canglan's son, Lin Haoqing, was known as the young master of the valley. However, Lin Canglan had never publicly announced that he would pass the lead to Lin Haoqing. Instead, he always seemed to favor his adopted daughter, Ji Yunhe. He had even created a position of Master Warden for her.

Ji Yunhe's demon mastering skills topped the Demon Valley. If you were to distinguish by strength, Ji Yunhe undoubtedly would suppress Lin Haoqing. In addition to the old master's unknown attitude, Ji Yunhe had also gained support from many others to become the next Valley Master. For a long time, the valley was divided into two factions. People who preferred strength and talent pushed for Ji Yunhe to lead, and people who believed in tradition vowed to protect Lin Haoqing's position.

The two factions battled against each other both openly and underground. The personal relationship between Ji Yunhe and Lin Haoqing had also changed from brother and sister when they were young to the current incompatibility.

However, no one knew that Ji Yunhe did not want to be the labor intensive Valley Master at all. Her biggest wish in life was to earn some money and leave the valley. Maybe move to a nice water village in the south and live a carefree life of luxury.

But fate was always against her...

The Demon Valley was not a place she could just leave.

Walking back toward her own courtyard, Ji Yunhe instructed Qu Xiaoxing, "This is a hot potato, throw it to someone else."

Qu Xiaoxing was stunned. "But Master Warden, this jiaoren belongs to Princess Shunde... If you tame him well, Princess Shunde will inevitably have a promotion for you, you know the... " Qu Xiaoxing looked around then whispered into Ji Yunhe's ear, "You should know what the royal people say is of great importance here in our valley. If Princess Shunde helps you, the position of the next Valley Master..."

She simply did not want that position.

However, Ji Yunhe could not say this to Qu Xiaoxing. She looked at him with a stern face, and asked, "And if the taming doesn't go well?"

Qu Xiaoxing acted shocked. "Huh... Master Warden... can it be, you are worried that you can't tame this demon?" He blinked a few times.

She really was worried. Worried that she would really tame this jiaoren and win Princess Shunde's heart, and that Princess Shunde would really say something for her. Because from then on, she would lose what little peace and tranquility she currently enjoyed.

"If you say so," Ji Yunhe replied, closing the courtyard doors behind her. "Either way I do not want this job. If Lin Haoqing wants it, or whomever else wants it, then they can take it. I am not getting involved."

Outside the doors, Qu Xiaoxing heard her lazy voice say, "Just tell them I will be meditating for a while. Will do nothing."

Qu Xiaoxing puckered his mouth. He could not force anything onto his superiors afterall.

However in the evening, Qu Xiaoxing came to the door of Ji Yunhe's courtyard again and knocked. "Master Warden."

After a long time, Ji Yunhe's voice came from inside, "Didn't I say I'm meditating?"

"Yes, but the Valley Master is looking for you."

"..."

The courtyard door opened and Ji Yunhe came out scratching her head, looking a bit frustrated. "What does the Valley Master want with me?"

"I do not know."

Ji Yunhe felt helpless and could only make her way over.

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