Nine Dragon Soul-Suppressing Grand Array

The crowd fell silent for a moment. Zhao Tieying was the first to step forward and drop to one knee. "My lord! Since the Evil-Quelling Guard was founded, we have taken it as our duty to slay demons and vanquish devils, to protect the common people! The fiends of Cold Crow Pool are ravaging the Capital City. We are willing to fight to the death at your side, my lord, and never retreat!"

"We are willing to fight to the death at your side, and never retreat!" The other seventeen knelt in unison, their voices low yet resolute as iron.

"Good!" Lu Chen's heart surged as he reached out to help Zhao Tieying up. "Then tomorrow, let our Evil-Quelling Guard make its name resound once more!"

That night, Lu Chen sent everyone off to rest and gather their strength. Yet he himself could not sleep, and wandered into the courtyard.

Moonlight flowed like water, while the night breeze carried a faint chill.

"Brother Lu." A soft voice came from behind him. Yun Qingyue, draped in an outer robe, walked to his side.

"Still not asleep?" Lu Chen took hold of her slightly cool hand.

"I can't sleep." Yun Qingyue leaned against his shoulder and gazed at the bright moon above. "Tomorrow... you must be careful. That Nether Array Envoy is sinister and cunning, and the dragon corpse is even more unfathomable... Don't push yourself too hard."

"I know," Lu Chen said quietly. "I'll act according to my abilities. But you—Medicine King Valley..."

"The valley sent word that they have discovered the source of a rare plague, and they need me to return and aid in treating it. The situation is urgent." Yun Qingyue's voice was tinged with dejection. "I wanted to wait until you came back from the secret realm...