Chapter 32

Snow Night Empire

In the northern stronghold of Wind City, the 110-year-old Marquis Xiumu was busy inspecting his troops at the military camp. The bloody sky over the eastern Winter Forest a week ago, along with the recent death of the Church's Apostle, had made the tense atmosphere in Wind City even heavier.

Although the forest near the border seems peaceful for now, to the people of Wind City, this calm feels like the quiet before a storm. The newly-born demon king might already see them as prey to boost its power. The constant threat of an Abyssal Demon attack hangs over the city, giving the residents a fear and heavy feeling.

Soldiers in the north have started evacuating the elderly, weak, women, and children, while those capable of fighting are arming themselves. There's no doubt; the entire city is preparing for war.

Marquis Xiumu, the commander-in-chief of Wind City, has been working non-stop for a week, his nerves stretched to the limit. Looking at the group of about 30,000 newly armed soldiers in front of him, Xiumu fell into deep thought.

At that moment, the bearded swordsman Asu by his side asked,

"My lord, have you made a decision?"

"Send them to Galrose Fortress. The terrain there is too flat; it's hard to defend without a strong military presence,"

Xiumu answered after studying the map closely.

"Understood, my lord,"

Asu responded respectfully and relayed the orders to the person in charge of the troops. Under Xiumu's watchful eye, the troops marched off powerfully toward the front line.

After watching the troops leave, Xiumu crossed his arms and looked into the distance. Though Wind City and its surrounding military bases have a total force of 300,000, the defense line near the winter forest is too long, and there are thirteen key fortresses to consider. Deciding how to allocate these forces has become a pressing issue.

In the past, 300,000 troops were enough to deal with scattered Abyssal Demon attacks. But this time is different; a new Demon King has emerged in the forest, rallying Abyssal Demons in numbers at least a hundred times greater than usual. By Xiumu's own assessment, 300,000 troops won't be enough if the Abyssal Demons launch an attack. It's not even enough to fill the gaps in their teeth.

Thinking of this, Xiumu felt extremely anxious, with a solemn look in his deep blue eyes.

The old Marquis couldn't help but look at the big bearded swordsman next to him again and ask,

"Asu, where are the nearby reinforcements?"

"The closest Western army corps has just crossed the western mountain pass and is expected to take another week to arrive."

"A week?! So slow..."

"Ah, it's winter now, and the road to Wind City is already difficult to traverse. Now it's even blocked by accumulated snow. One week is already fast."

"This is damn frustrating."

Xiumu couldn't help but curse,

"By the time they arrive, Wind City might already be gone!"

Watching the old man's irritable demeanor, Asi could only respond with a resigned smile, "However, My Lord, Asumos Church has said they will send reinforcements. And, there are already a few squads that have reached the front-line fortresses. One of them even includes the so-called 'Girl of Destiny' "

"Asumos Church?"

Xiumu frowned slightly.

He didn't have a good impression of the Church, nor of the so-called Girl of Destiny, He always felt that she was a puppet created by the Church to deceive people.

In the past, Xiumu was disdainful of cooperating with the Church, but now he had no choice

.

"Well, if their troops arrive, go and meet them. As for those few squads, just let them pass through each fortress and see what they want to do."

"Okay."

Asu nodded slightly, somewhat displeased.

Suddenly, a loud noise interrupted their conversation.

*Boom!*

Just then, a cloud of dust rose, and a lavish carriage burst into the camp. Right in front of the stunned soldiers and the Marquis himself, a middle-aged woman in a noble dress with white hair on her temples boldly kicked open the door of the carriage and jumped down with great momentum.

The moment Xiumu saw this middle-aged woman, he trembled all over and rushed down from the high platform to her side in a hurry.

"Aurora, Didn't I ask Asu to escort you to the south for refuge? Why... why haven't you left yet?!"

"Leave?! Where would I go?!"

The woman, who is the wife of Marquis Xiumu, is a tough woman named Aurora.

When she heard her husband's words, anger suddenly rose in her eyes.

"How many times do I have to say it? I won't leave my husband alone! Besides, I won't leave My City until I find my granddaughter!"

"Madam, please..." the servant stuttered.

"What 'Madam'! Shut up!" Aurora shouted.

Facing his wife's anger, Marquis Xiumu shrank in fear and lowered his head.

Seeing the Marquis's dilemma, the servant, Asu, couldn't help but walk up to Madam Aurora.

"Madam, it's very dangerous here now..."

However, before Asu could finish his sentence, he was met with Madam Aurora's fierce gaze.

"What are you afraid of?! When I was fighting demons on the frontline before you weren't even born! So Shut up!"

"Yes, Mam..."

Seeing that his wife had no intention of seeking refuge, Marquis Xiumu could only shake his head helplessly and ask,

"Why did you suddenly come here?"

"Why else would I come?" said impatiently. "It's been a week since you left the house and you haven't even sent a message. Do you want to worry me to death?!"

"I'm...I'm sorry." 

"Sigh, considering the current situation, I won't scold you. However..." 

Aurora then took a deep breath, and looked earnestly at her husband, 

"Any news of Yuan'er?" 

Facing his wife's question, Xiumu lowered his head, mixed emotions swirling within him, 

"I'm sorry, Still nothing"

His voice was tinged with deep regret and guilt, 

"Right now, we suspect that those slave traders have already taken Yuan'er out of the boundaries of Wind City, into the lawless area between the City and Winter Forest..." 

"What? How could this happen..."

Upon hearing this, Aurora's eyes filled with deep anxiety, even a touch of despair. 

Once entering that desolate area, where few tread, it would be even more challenging to trace the slave traders due to the thick fog. And if they encounter Abyssal Demons lurking on the forest's outskirts, well... 

She didn't believe those lowlife slave traders could fend off such monsters. 

At the thought of the possible fate of her granddaughter, Aurora couldn't help but tremble all over.

Years ago, she had already lost one granddaughter in the Winter Forest. 

Now, Her son and daughter-in-law had been killed,

She simply couldn't bear losing her last granddaughter! Absolutely not! She was tired of outliving her family! 

"Then hurry up and send people to search that lawless area!" 

"I'm sorry, I have already sent someone to search, but there is still no news..."

Xiumu's face was also filled with bitterness.

When it came to his granddaughter, he was no less concerned than his wife. That child was their heart and soul!

His son and daughter-in-law were gone, and their first granddaughter Xia'er was gone too, and if Yuan'er had any mishap, he didn't want to live anymore...

However, just as the couple were immersed in a sad atmosphere, a hastily arriving intelligence officer brought even worse news,

"My lord, in the south of Wind City, the... the members of the Divine Punishment Sect have been scouted!"

Hearing this intel, it felt like a heavy boulder had dropped onto Xiumu's heart, causing the old man to clench his fists tightly. 

"What?! The Divine Punishment Sect?! Those bastards who loved to sacrifice living people to Abyss demons?!"

"What the hell do those bastards want now?!"