He Yuzhu returns in Siheyuan

Chapter 813 Wang Ran Goes to the Demon Clan

After listening to everyone's reports, Wang Ran gently tapped his fingertips on the white marble armrest of the high platform, producing a soft "tap-tap" sound. The rhythm was neither hurried nor slow, yet it seemed to strike the hearts of everyone present. The candlelight flickered in the council hall, casting his long shadow, half of his face hidden in shadow, making it impossible to discern his emotions.

After a moment's hesitation, he finally raised his voice and said, "Go back and rest first, get your energy back. Tomorrow morning, proceed as planned." He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd below, and his tone suddenly became more serious, "Remember, any news about the Dragon Clan, even the smallest detail, must be reported to me immediately. Those who delay will be punished according to clan rules, understand?"

"Understood!" The clan leaders present bowed deeply, their foreheads almost touching the ground. They knew that this Lord Wang, though seemingly gentle, was actually ruthless and not to be trifled with. The crowd quickly took their leave, their steps hurried, clearly wanting to return and redeploy their forces, secretly working harder—who didn't want to find the Dragon Clan first and seize the legendary Dragon Pearl?

Huang Shu and Ye Zhen walked at the back. As they passed through the palace gate side by side, their arms brushed against each other briefly before quickly moving away. Their eyes met briefly in the air, and they both saw greed and wariness in each other's eyes—no matter what Wang Ran's intentions were, the Huang and Ye families were determined to get those dragon balls.

After everyone had left, only the crackling of candlelight remained in the council hall. Wang Ran slowly turned around, gazing at the distant demon territory, tinged with the inky blackness of twilight. It was perpetually shrouded in miasma, a place even birds avoided. The solemnity on his face gradually faded, and a hint of amusement curved his lips: "The demons are becoming more and more interesting. Daring to show themselves at this critical juncture, do they really think we're too preoccupied with trivial matters to spare?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Feng, the bodyguard beside him, hesitated for a moment before stepping forward and whispering a reminder: "Chief, the demon territory has always been a forbidden area recognized by the Three Realms. It is protected by an ancient 'Spirit-Locking Array'. Anyone who trespasses will have their cultivation completely destroyed at best, and their soul will be annihilated at worst. Moreover, shouldn't we submit a document to the higher-ups first? In case other forces seize on this as a pretext to accuse us of transgressing the boundaries and causing trouble, it could lead to serious problems."

Wang Ran waved his hand, his eyes sharp as a hawk's, sweeping over Zhang Feng with an undeniable decisiveness: "Report? By the time it gets approved through all the levels above, let alone clues to the Dragon Ball, we probably won't even see a trace of the demon race." He walked to the palace entrance, the night wind lifting the hem of his robe. "The demon race has been silent for nearly a thousand years, yet they've suddenly made a fuss just when the dragon race might reappear. There must be something fishy going on here, maybe even clues to the Dragon Ball. Let's go investigate first, see what tricks these old foxes are up to."

He paused, patted Zhang Feng on the shoulder with a steady pat: "If anything goes wrong, I will take full responsibility and will not implicate you."

With that, Wang Ran waved his sleeve, and his black figure shot out like an arrow, instantly disappearing into the deepening night, leaving only a faint afterimage.

Zhang Feng and his other guards exchanged glances, then gritted their teeth—this Director Wang was a man of his word. Since he had given the order, they had no choice but to follow him. They exchanged another glance, then channeled their spiritual energy, transforming into streaks of light and giving chase.

As night deepened, several dark figures silently swept across the edge of the demon race's territory, shrouded in miasma. Like pebbles thrown into an inkwell, they moved without a sound, yet beneath the calm surface, they stirred up undercurrents powerful enough to overturn the three realms.

Wang Ran led a group of human cultivators into the border of the demon realm. The hem of his dark brocade robe swept across the dew-kissed grass, appearing and disappearing in the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees. Behind him, the cultivators were all clad in gleaming armor, their swords flashing coldly at their waists. The clanging of their armor plates as they walked shattered the long-standing tranquility of the forest. The morning dew stirred, clinging to the soles of their boots, but did nothing to slow their pace.

At this moment, Xiao Li's mother was carrying a basket of freshly picked wild fruits, filled with glistening purple wild grapes and ruby-red wild hawthorns, each one plump and full. She intended to share this fresh treat with her daughter, but as soon as she rounded a mountain ridge, she caught sight of a large group of people in the distance, and the sharp aura emanating from them—the aura of human cultivators, filled with killing intent and vigilance, like a blade tempered with ice. Startled, her hand trembled, and the bamboo basket clattered to the ground, scattering the fruits everywhere, some cracked, their sweet juice seeping into the soil. She didn't bother to pick them up, turning and running deeper into the tribe's territory, oblivious to her skirt getting caught on a branch. Her heart pounded as if it would burst from her chest—so many armored human cultivators were definitely not here for a stroll; they were up to no good!

On the other side, the old fox sat on a stone couch in his cave, covered with a thick fox fur coat, warm and cozy. His brow was slightly furrowed, his fingers twirling his white beard, his mind still preoccupied with Xiao Shuai. Although the boy was half-fox, half-human, his bloodline carried the impulsiveness of humans. This time, he had gone out alone to train, without anyone accompanying him; he wondered if Xiao Shuai would cause any trouble. Speaking of which, although Xiao Shuai had a fiery temper, he possessed more responsibility than the pampered younger members of the clan, daring to shoulder burdens. It seemed that the future of the fox clan would truly depend on him.

Just as he was pondering this, the animal-hide curtain at the entrance of the cave was suddenly flung open, sweeping across the bluestone ground with a "whoosh." The little fox's mother rushed in, her hair disheveled, stray strands clinging to her sweat-dampened cheeks, her breath coming in ragged gasps: "Clan...Clan Chief..."

The old fox looked up at her, his eyes calm as an ancient pool, his tone still steady: "Didn't I tell you, if you want to see Little Fox, go ahead, there's no need to come and tell me. Why are you back again?"

Little Fox's mother steadied herself against the stone wall, her voice still trembling with barely suppressed fear: "Clan leader, outside... there are so many human cultivators outside, a dark mass, all carrying swords and armor, I don't know what they want! Judging from their appearance, it seems like they're coming for us!"

The old fox paused, a flicker of seriousness crossing his eyes before returning to normal, as if he had merely heard something trivial. He waved his hand dismissively, "Oh, I see. This has nothing to do with you. You should go find Little Fox and tell her to stay in her cave and not wander off. I'll handle things here."

Although Xiao Li's mother was still full of worry, she knew that the clan leader was highly skilled and would have a way to deal with the situation, so she nodded, turned around, and hurriedly left. She staggered, with only one thought in her mind: she must find Xiao Li and make sure she is safe and sound.

The old fox slowly stood up. The candlelight in the cave flickered gently as he rose, casting his shadow on the stone wall, sometimes bright, sometimes dim. He pondered for a moment, then lightly tapped his fingertips on the stone table—there was no way to hide. Since the humans dared to blatantly intrude to the border, they must have come prepared. Rather than hiding in his cave and guessing, he should ask them directly.