City God!

At these words, Wen Anguo's hand trembled, and he froze where he stood.

"Just a joke. Our general was only joking." A voice came from beside General Lang, and a rat-faced man hurriedly stepped in to smooth things over.

"Heh heh, the general is truly witty. Truly witty." Only then did Wen Anguo recover, giving two dry laughs before changing the subject. Before long, he began attending to the other guests.

"Hmph. Boring." General Lang sneered. Looking over the laughing, cheerful crowd that filled the room, he licked his lips, his icy gaze sweeping across them before finally settling on a pile of meat on the table. He grabbed it up and chewed savagely, immediately getting grease all over his hands, mouth, and half his face.

Most of those around him were civil officials. Seeing this, they showed faint disdain, yet gave no outward sign of it and merely drank among themselves.

The banquet lasted nearly two hours. By the time General Lang and his men returned to the post station, it was already deep into the night.

Before the room gate, the rat-faced man bent low and cautiously said to General Lang, "General, we are in human territory now. You should at least mind yourself a little."

General Lang merely waved a hand, cutting him off. "You should be the one worrying about such matters. Otherwise, what are subordinates like you for? Humans say there is a distinction between high and low. If I must worry over everything myself, then there is no need for you to remain alive."

"Yes, yes, yes!" At once, the man broke out in a cold sweat, nodding like a pestle pounding grain. He did not dare say another word.

General Lang nodded and pushed open the room gate, walking inside.

Humans are nothing more than food for the likes of us. Why think so much about them? Within Yuanning Prefecture, we rule supreme. Once we have amassed enough strength, we will leave the Shu Region, contend for hegemony in the Central Plains, and truly enslave humanity!

With that thought in mind, he walked around the room and opened every window, allowing the moonlight to stream in unhindered.

The faint radiance spilled over General Lang's muscular body. His entire frame shuddered, and a look of intoxication surfaced on his face as the hairs in his pores thickened and lengthened one by one.

Thud!

A strange sound suddenly came from a corner of the room.

"Hmm?" General Lang stopped moving. The fur on his body instantly shrank back, and he turned toward the corner, lifting up a cage.

Inside the cage was a hedgehog. Noticing General Lang's gaze, it immediately curled into a ball and trembled faintly.

Seeing this, General Lang twisted his lips into a grin. "No need to be afraid. So long as you obediently help me find that mortal, I will naturally let you go. Your clansmen will regain their freedom as well. Of course, you cannot drag this out for too long..."

"Sorry to have kept you waiting. Sorry to have kept you waiting."

Qiu Yan sat upright within a solemn grand hall, his eyes closed. There was nothing around him, and the place carried a deathly stillness. Only when this apologetic voice rang out was that stillness dispelled, causing Qiu Yan to open his eyes.

The newcomer was the South City Land God he had met once before. Wearing an apologetic expression, he said, "There were several more violent deaths in the city today, and most of them were fragmented souls. The Metropolitan City God had no choice but to spend extra effort guiding them away. It happened suddenly, which is why you were left waiting here for so long."

"Oh? Violent deaths suddenly occurred? What happened in the city?" Qiu Yan's heart stirred, and he spoke up.

Guided by starlight, he had arrived at this solemn hall—the City God Temple of Yuanning City—and had then been led here to wait quietly. He had originally harbored doubts, but after hearing the South City Land God's words, he began paying attention, and most of those doubts faded away.

"It was nothing much. A few demons entered the city, failed to keep their mouths in check, and swallowed several living people." The South City Land God spoke lightly, as though there were nothing improper about it.

Qiu Yan was stunned by this. Thoughts turned in his mind, but he said, "Hmm? Demons eating people is no small matter. How has the City God dealt with it?"

"What great matter is it for demons to eat people?" The South City Land God smiled at Qiu Yan. "We are Earth Deities. We govern the principles of a region and connect Yin-Yang. Whether human, livestock, or bird, all are the same. Death is merely the shedding of the flesh, leaving only the soul behind. Demons eat people; people eat livestock. What difference is there? Good and evil each have their destination, and in the next life there is the Six Paths of Reincarnation. The demons who entered the city today ate people but did not seize their souls. Still, they crossed the boundary and committed an offense, so they must be punished. The Metropolitan City God has already sent people to hold them accountable. Afterwards, the matter must be reported to the Nether Court, and a mark entered in the Book of Life and Death."

Hearing this, Qiu Yan was taken aback.

Seeing his expression, the South City Land God continued, "You are a Heaven-Born Deity, and humans must have offered you much worship. That is why your heart has formed such preconceptions. It is no matter. Whatever Divine Office you hold, whatever affairs you govern—if you wish, you may protect those humans more in the future."

At this, he slapped his forehead. "Look at me, wandering off-topic again. I came to lead you to meet the Metropolitan City God. Come with me."

With that, he took the lead, and Qiu Yan followed.

As they walked, the South City Land God suddenly turned and said, "When we met last time, we hit it off at once, yet I forgot to ask your origins. When we meet the Metropolitan City God shortly, it will be difficult to introduce you."

Qiu Yan had long prepared for this. "I was born in Mingyuan Mountain. Since ascending to Divine Rank, I have never had a divine name."

"Just as I thought." The South City Land God nodded. "Then, brother, you may use 'Min Yuan' as your name for now. Once you receive an investiture from the Heavenly Court in the future, you can change it." Then he smiled again. "I have only concerned myself with asking your name and have yet to introduce myself. My name is Huang Jue."

As they spoke, the two had reached the end of the empty hall. Passing through a corridor, they found a spotless white wall standing before them. Huang Jue, the South City Land God, stepped forward and waved a hand. Ripples like water spread across the wall, which lifted like a curtain.

Faintly, Qiu Yan sensed from the wall an aura of separation, of isolation.

"I will lead you no farther. The lord is waiting for you inside." With that, he retreated two steps and raised his hand in salute. "My task here is done, so I shall take my leave first. If you have time, brother, feel free to visit my place." As his words fell, he transformed into a streak of green light and vanished.

Watching the guide depart, Qiu Yan did not find it strange. He looked toward the raised wall, beyond which everything was hazy and indistinct.

Drawing a deep breath, he stepped forward into the mist.

The next moment, the fog parted in two, revealing the scene within.

Before him was an ordinary reception hall, tall, upright, and spacious, its structure imposing.

At the center stood a table, upon which rested an incense burner. Smoke curled around it, giving off a fragrant scent.

Beside the table sat someone.

The figure was slender and clad in armor, its plates gleaming with cold light. One hand rested upon the table, holding a book. An indescribable aura surrounded the figure; there were no words, no movements, yet that form seemed to fill the entire room.

With only one glance, Qiu Yan's attention was completely drawn to the figure. Then he noticed that the person's face was covered by a silver mask.

The mask had eyes, a nose, and a mouth, gleaming with a metallic luster.

After a brief daze, Qiu Yan clasped his hands and bowed. "Mingyuan Mountain God Min Yuan greets the City God."

Only then did the person move, raising the empty left hand slightly. "Mingyuan Mountain God? No need for such formality." The voice was smooth and mellow, like a clear spring flowing through one's heart.

Hearing it, Qiu Yan was slightly surprised.

This City God... is actually a woman!

P.S. I just got home. This is today's second chapter.