Long Gu Jing vs. Toga; Cleaning Up the Remnants

At the top of the cliff, corpses lay everywhere.

Long Gu Jing collapsed amid shattered boulders. Blood still seeped from the wound in his chest, where Suiko's sword tip had torn a horrifying gash through his dark golden scales.

He panted heavily, his vertical pupil filled with unwillingness and fury.

"That damned Miko..."

He struggled to rise, but he could not summon any strength.

The Four Souls Jewel had been forcibly ripped from his body. The hollowness of having his power drained was even harder to bear than the wound in his chest.

"My... my jewel..."

He muttered hoarsely, his voice scraping like rusted iron.

Just then, the sound of something slicing through the air came from afar.

Long Gu Jing's vertical pupil narrowed slightly as he looked toward the sound.

At the edge of the skyline, dozens of black figures raced toward him.

Several Eagle Demons led the group, their wingspans stretching several yards, their bodies clad in the standard light armor of the Western Country.

More than a dozen ground-bound demons followed behind them: Wolf Demons, Leopard Demons, and several massive Bear Demons. Their iron hooves crushed the scorched earth as killing intent boiled around them.

Long Gu Jing recognized them.

They were patrol troops under Toga of the Western Country.

They were specifically responsible for monitoring activity along the border.

"We found him!"

The lead Eagle Demon spotted the corpses covering the cliff and Long Gu Jing slumped among them. Shock flashed through his eyes before he shouted.

"Long Gu Jing mobilized troops without authorization, violated the laws of the Western Country, and seized the forbidden Four Souls Jewel! By Toga's order, he is to be arrested immediately!"

He paused, his gaze falling on the wound in Long Gu Jing's chest as his voice trembled slightly.

"If