Long Night's Elegy

Chapter 46: A Shepherd's Song in the Long Night

The carriage swayed, the Land Candle Dragon's long whiskers drifting past the window. Its speed gradually increased, its legs carrying its passengers through the gap between two great mountains, its throat emitting a deafening dragon roar.

The Candle Dragon passed through the no-man's-land, its roar intimidating the demons and monsters lurking within.

Someone came to check their jade slips, and Su Yun realized that the jade slips were likely the proof of boarding.

There were two rows of seats below the carriage window, each row capable of seating three adults. Opposite Su Yun sat a dashing young man with sharp sword-like eyebrows and star-like eyes, handsome and full of vitality.

The clothes he wore were also extremely ornate, with golden phoenix embroidery on both sides of the collar and golden crows pulling the sun embroidered along the lapel.

"Those white wolves are monsters from the Tianshiyuan no-man's-land, transformed into humans to work in the city."

The young man spoke as if addressing them, or perhaps to himself, saying, "In recent years, there have been more and more monsters in the city, and public order is becoming increasingly chaotic. When will these demons and monsters be eradicated?"

Su Yun asked curiously, "Brother, people have good and bad, and monsters have good and bad. Why eradicate monsters instead of bad people and bad monsters?"

The young man turned his head away from him and sneered, "You boarded the carriage from the no-man's-land and have four children with you, which shows you are also a monster disguised as a human. If you commit evil, do not fall into my hands..."

Flower Fox whispered, "Xiao Yun, this person must have just escaped from the official academy, his head is full of strange ideas about subduing demons and monsters."

The young man's face turned red, veins bulging on his forehead, repeating the same phrases over and over: "subdue demons and monsters," "eradicate demons and uphold justice."

Su Yun watched, a slight smile on his face.

Beside him, Li Xiaofan was sticking out his tongue to lick the window.

The window was made of glazed glass, cool and transparent, allowing a view of the outside scenery.

A fox from the countryside had never seen such a thing! It felt like licking candy.

The young man opposite finally couldn't stand it, "Stop licking, that's glazed glass, not candy!"

Li Xiaofan lowered his head and sat there, looking wronged. The young man, however, softened. He set aside his thoughts of subduing demons and monsters, rummaged through his bag for a moment, found a few pieces of candy, and pushed them across the table to Li Xiaofan, saying, "Eat this. This is mare's milk candy I bought for my sister from Yangcheng outside the frontier. It's a bit sticky."

Flower Fox whispered, "Aren't you going to thank brother?"

Li Xiaofan, Hu Buping, and Qingqiu Yue, the three little ones, suddenly stood up in unison, bowed in unison, and said in unison, "Thank you, brother!"

The young man's face turned red again. He was flustered and said repeatedly, "Ah, ah, don't be like this... If only my sister were as sensible as you. That girl is simply a reincarnation of a demon king tormenting people!"

Su Yun and Flower Fox quickly became familiar with the young man. The young man was named Li Muge, a scholar from Shuofang Wenchang Academy in Shuofang, and had recently become a Spirit Scholar. He was going to the frontier for training and to cultivate his Spiritual Abilities. As the year-end approached, he was returning home for the New Year.

"Those white wolves are wolf demons from the no-man's-land, going to Yangcheng outside the frontier to work."

Li Muge said, "In recent years, it has become very common for monsters to transform into humans and work in the city. This is also common in Shuofang. The government used to inquire about it, but later they turned a blind eye. Monsters work for low wages and work like their lives depend on it. The government is happy to see this and doesn't expel them."

Su Yun was relieved. He had promised Old Gou and his wife that he would protect Flower Fox and the others on human territory. He had originally worried that people in the city would discover Flower Fox and the others were monsters and would try to kill them.

Flower Fox had followed him into the city with a resolve to die.

This camaraderie deeply touched Su Yun.

The sky outside gradually darkened. Suddenly, the Candle Dragon opened its great mouth, and a Dragon Pearl flew out, hovering between its lips. The Dragon Pearl's light was like a torch, illuminating the area for dozens of miles ahead as if it were daytime.

Su Yun squeezed to the window to look at the scenery. He saw the Candle Dragon walking among the mountain ranges, having left the blizzard-prone area of Tianshiyuan. The mountains ahead loomed tall and imposing.

The Candle Dragon actually climbed all the way up and soon reached the mountaintop.

As the Candle Dragon twisted its body to turn, Su Yun could see the adjacent carriages.

Some of those carriages were like two-story wooden buildings. In the pavilion on the top floor, a Spirit Scholar stood, holding an extremely bright lamp. The light from the lamp pierced the night sky like pillars, shining outwards in all directions.

Su Yun looked by the light and couldn't help but let out a soft "Oh?" He saw something else in the darkness, flying rapidly through the air towards the carriage. But as soon as the Spirit Scholar's light shone on it, it flew away with a whoosh.

Su Yun couldn't make out what the thing in the darkness was, even after watching for a while.

He could only see some tattered clothes flying in the air, but what was beneath the clothes remained unclear.

"This is the edge of the old no-man's-land."

Li Muge said, "Those flying in the sky are Artificer Puppets. When a Spirit Scholar dies, if their spirit attaches to their deceased body and refuses to leave, they become these strange things. Those tattered clothes are the clothes they wore in life. It is said that countless Spirit Scholars have died in the old no-man's-land."

Hu Buping shivered and said tremulously, "Then what's under the clothes...?"

"Skeletons."

Li Muge added, "Flying skeletons."

The three little ones huddled together, trembling, and looked out the window in fear.

Li Muge chuckled, "Don't be afraid. When the Candle Dragon is moving, there will be Spirit Scholars accompanying the carriages. Those Spirit Scholars in the pavilions are responsible for the safety of the carriages. Their lamps are Spirit Divine Weapons, specifically designed to counter Artificer Puppets."

Hu Buping became even more terrified and pointed out the window, "Ancestor Yuan San!"

Su Yun's heart pounded violently. He hurriedly looked out the window and saw a ten-foot-tall White Ape standing naked on the roof of a small building on the Candle Dragon carriage. It held a mixed-iron rod and struck out with it. The rod spun, and three white apes flew out, smashing the nearby pavilion to pieces!

The Spirit Scholar in the pavilion, who was holding a lantern and dealing with the Artificer Puppets, was caught off guard. He was struck in the chest by the mixed-iron rod, lost his grip on the lantern, and was sent flying backward, falling off the Candle Dragon carriage.

The Spirit Scholar let out a piercing scream and was seized by the Artificer Puppets flying in the dark night, pulled into the dark sky.

The carriage immediately descended into chaos. The passengers within were in a panic. Without the Spirit Scholar to disperse the Artificer Puppets, they feared the clothed skeletons would break into the carriage, and they would all perish in the mouths of the Artificer Puppets!

It had been a hundred years since Emperor Yuan established the official academies, but the number of people who had attended was still small. Most people had learned to read and write, but few could become Spirit Scholars.

Most of the people in this carriage were ordinary folk. Facing this situation, they were at a loss for what to do.

"Ancestor Yuan San is actually chasing us again!"

Su Yun's heart sank. He stood up, about to speak, when Li Muge also stood up and said rapidly, "The guardian Spirit Scholar is dead. Someone has to guard the lamp, or all of us will be eaten by the Artificer Puppets! Junior Su Yun..."

Su Yun walked towards the exit and said solemnly, "Senior Muge, you guard the lamp. That rampaging ape is here for me. I'll deal with it myself!"

Li Muge was stunned for a moment, then hurried to catch up with him.

Su Yun walked out of the carriage. "Second Brother, Buping, you two protect the people inside the carriage!"

Flower Fox's spirits lifted. He took off his outer jacket and said solemnly, "Xiao Fan, Buping, Xiao Yue, you guard this carriage. I'll go to the carriage without a Spirit Scholar guardian! Absolutely do not let the Artificer Puppets in, understand?"

"Understood!"

The three little dolls all took off their thick outer clothes. Hu Buping and Li Xiaofan guarded the front and rear of the carriage, while Qingqiu Yue guarded the center.

Previously, these three little demon foxes, transformed into little dolls, were adorable and a bit naive, but now they appeared exceptionally calm and collected.

--Foxes are also ferocious beasts.

The three little dolls had now entered a hunting state!

Su Yun flipped onto the roof of the carriage. The cold wind blew, and the wind howled around the roof, chilling the back of his neck as it seeped into his collar.

"Yuan San! I'm here!" Su Yun shouted loudly.

Ancestor Yuan San, holding his Iron-Mixing Rod, was hunched over the carriage window, peering inside, searching for him.

Upon hearing his voice, the old ape's body trembled. He turned his head and slowly straightened up.

Li Muge jumped up and looked at Ancestor Yuan San, his heart trembling. "This demon is so strong, it'll be hard to deal with!"

Ancestor Yuan San was covered in bulging muscles, with more than double the muscle mass of an ordinary person. His bone density, heart's pumping capacity, and lung capacity far surpassed those of humans!

This meant he was naturally stronger than humans, with a naturally robust Blood Essence, longer arm span, greater attack power and explosive force, and a wider attack range!

These humanoid demons also possessed extremely high intelligence, making them even more difficult to handle!

"Junior Su Yun, be careful yourself!"

Li Muge charged towards Ancestor Yuan San, then suddenly leaped up, soaring over Ancestor Yuan San's head.

As he leaped, Ancestor Yuan San forcefully shook his Iron-Mixing Rod, and three White Apes flew out, lunging at Li Muge in mid-air.

Li Muge circulated his Blood Essence, and his Spiritual Abilities manifested. A sword floated above his head, its hilt adorned with a long tassel.

The sword only appeared after being infused with Blood Essence. Li Muge grabbed the sword and performed sword techniques in the air. With a flash of his sword, numerous long swords flew out from the tip of his sword, executing different sword moves to meet the three White Apes!

Li Muge had dedicated all his focus to the sword, so his Spiritual Abilities were sword-related. The martial arts he cultivated during the Foundation Establishment realm had all become sword-style imprints, branded onto his Spiritual Abilities.

As he performed his sword techniques, the sword martial arts from the Foundation Establishment stage would also be unleashed. Sword lights stabbed out, and numerous long swords leaped from his sword, unleashing various sword techniques with incredible sharpness!

Although Li Muge blocked the three White Apes, his arms went numb from the impact. He was shocked, "This demon's Blood Essence is too potent!"

Before he could even land, a resonant bell sound rang out from the other side. Su Yun had already activated his Spiritual Abilities, and the Yellow Bell appeared. Moving like a rampaging ape, he strode towards Ancestor Yuan San!