With Situ Tu's death, the turmoil in Ci Prefecture could finally be declared over.
True, a certain "Heaven-Subduing, People-Protecting Grand General" still led Demon Kings deep into the mountains and had reportedly built a stronghold in the heart of Mystic Mountain. But they could no longer occupy the prefecture's towns and counties.
Ci Prefecture had never lacked demons who claimed mountains as their kingdoms. Now things had merely returned to normal.
The imperial court reclaimed the counties occupied by the rebels one after another. General Who Conquers the East Du Ling advanced steadily, with General of the Cloud Banner Li Liang and General of the Mighty Crossbow Wu Sheng supporting him. In barely a month, the fallen counties were liberated. Even the bandits and demons preying on the countryside were swept through.
Great disorder did not necessarily give way to great order, but Ci Prefecture was indeed better off than it had been before the upheaval.
Guobei County, of course, remained forbidden ground. Emperor Putong was gone, but the place had fallen into the hands of the Buddhist School. Buddha Light surged into the sky every day, and chants could be heard in the surrounding counties.
Bold woodcutters and herb gatherers had witnessed strange sights in Mystic Mountain: demons in human form making their way devoutly toward Guobei County, bowing three times and prostrating nine, leaving bloody marks where their foreheads struck the ground.
None of this had much to do with Third Young Master Su. After settling matters in Ci Prefecture, he went to stay awhile in the Canglang Waters.
That was right. Su Che went to Lady Snow's underwater residence, and stayed for nearly half a month.
After the Yin Mountain Nether-Cavern Treasure Register absorbed the Yin Pool Situ Tu had labored to refine, Ruomu, now growing into