20 Peace is back

"I have an urgent matter to take care of; you all need to leave this place as soon as possible. Don't worry about your comrades; they will return safely.

Yuzhen, I'm leaving him to you. Protect him well." Chen Zoe commanded, handing the black cub over to Yuzhen. With that, he swiftly departed to confront the mastermind behind the chaos.

The beast man, the children and Yuzhen, returned to find themselves amidst a fierce battle between a large group of beast men and humans. 

Yuzhen, unable to believe what he was witnessing, couldn't help but mutter to himself, "What the hell is going on here?"

In the chaotic scene, Xi Shen, the most senior figure present, was leading the human side in the battle. However, their forces were severely outnumbered, and the majority of their fighters were inexperienced newcomers who had recently started learning swordsmanship. The relentless strength of the beast men was pushing the human side back, making the situation dire and challenging.

"Stop it... Stop it..." As the fierce battle raged on, the beast man who had experienced everything alongside Chen Zoe and Yuzhen stepped forward in an attempt to halt the conflict.

A brief pause fell over the battlefield as the combatants' laid eyes on the children who had been held captive. The moment of stillness was interrupted by the arrival of an important figure among the beast men – the lord of their kind, a shapeshifting fox. He appeared in his human form, making no effort to conceal his striking pure-white colored nine tails and foxlike ears. Dressed in resplendent red attire adorned with golden ornaments, he exuded an air of authority and power.

"My lord, please show mercy," pleaded the kneeling beast man. "All of this is a terrible misunderstanding. Just like us, they were only trying to protect their people."

"Misunderstanding?" The lord of the beast men responded with frustration; his voice tinged with anger. "These lifeless bodies piled up here are a misunderstanding. The injuries on these children are a misunderstanding?"

Suddenly, everyone's attention shifted to the entrance as the rhythmic sound of hooves drew nearer. Chen Zeon and his troop arrived, responding to the message relayed by one of Xi Shen's disciples who had left the battlefield to inform the higher-ups about the situation.

"Are you all alright? Where is Chen Zoe?" Chen Zeon inquired anxiously, his voice filled with concern. However, when he spotted the lord of the beast men, a surprised expression flickered across his face, and a name slipped from his lips, "Zhihao..."

However, upon seeing Chen Zeon's face, lord Zhihao's temper flared. "Kill them all!" he commanded, and the beast men began to advance, ready to attack. 

But then, a sudden strike out of nowhere shook the ground, causing everyone to pause. Dust filled the air, and a few nearby buildings crumbled to the ground. As the dust gradually settled, all eyes were drawn towards the source of the disturbance. The person's figure wasn't clear but the sword he was holding, emitted brilliant blue flames.

Everyone felt like the devil of flames stand between the beast men and the humans, serving as an impenetrable barrier that neither side dared to cross. When the dust settled, the onlookers gasped in disbelief.

Chen Zoe's name circulated among the sect members as they recognized the person's face. Alongside Chen Zoe were three other individuals, battered and bruised, as if they had been severely beaten before being brought there.

"He did it again," Xi Shen remarked with a sigh.

"Sorry, sorry... Is everyone unharmed?" Chen Zoe asked in a worried tone, scanning both sides. "Where is that brat Yuzhen? You come here." He then called Yuzhen over to help translate his words to the beast men.

"Ahem… Firstly, I sincerely want to apologize for our mindless attitude towards you and your people," Chen Zoe began, his tone soft but resolute. "We were unaware of the truth, and all these misunderstandings happened because of these stupid creatures who acted their own." Giving a death stare at the three men, Zoe continued after took a brief pause, "Our actions were not driven by malice, but by our duty to protect our people. Please understand that we had no choice but to respond to the threat that we face."

Chen Zoe's gaze shifted between the human villagers and the beast men, his expression earnest. "We understand that you attacked us to protect your people, just as we did. So now that we've cleared the air, I hope we can find a way to resolve this conflict without further bloodshed.

If you still seek battle after hearing the truth, know that we won't back down. But if there's a chance for understanding and cooperation, I believe it's worth exploring."

The beast man who had witnessed everything, lent his support to Chen Zoe. The criminals among the humans admitted their crimes and begged for forgiveness. Lord Zhihao, after hearing the truth and witnessing Chen Zoe's power firsthand, began to calm down.

"Then let me ask, what kind of punishment will these criminals receive for committing such heinous acts?" Lord Zhihao inquired.

"What there to be talk about? It's direct execution to break the peace." Chen Zoe declared, leaving no room for debate. With a single swift motion, he executed the three criminals in public.

As the beast men prepared to depart, satisfaction flickered across their faces, having witnessed the justice served to those who had disrupted the peace of their land. However, their intention to leave was momentarily halted when Lord Zhihao's eyes fell upon the black nine-tailed fox cub nestled in Yuzhen's arms. 

Sensing Lord Zhihao's pause, Chen Zoe instinctively moved to cover Yuzhen and the cub from his view.

"Are you planning to take care of this injured child?" Lord Zhihao asked in a curious tone.

"Yes," Chen Zoe replied.

"You are indeed different from the others. But remember to take responsibility for your actions," Lord Zhihao addressed Chen Zoe, but his words were directed at Chen Zeon. "If he survives, take good care of this little one." With that, the beast men departed.

With as the tension eased, and the threat of battle subsided, relief washed over the crowd, and cheers of joy filled the air. However, amidst the celebrations, Chen Zeon stood with a solemn expression, a sense of loss evident in his eyes. It was as if he had lost something precious, and the weight of the situation bore heavily on him.