Who Said You Could Get So Familiar!?

The courtyard fell silent for a few moments.

Yang Xiao stood in the courtyard, without urging him.

He was also sizing up the old general.

He looked unremarkable, dressed in a short shirt and cloth shoes, just like an ordinary old farmer.

He lacked the sharp aura of an ordinary expert; his Core Illumination Realm aura was hidden beneath his skin and flesh, as steady as iron and stone, clearly indicating that he had been lingering in the Core Illumination Realm for a long time.

Li Hanguang didn't let the two remain deadlocked for long and directly stated his purpose.

"The Governor-General- General has ordered Yang Xiao to accompany you to Sanbao Commandery to investigate the dealings between the Leopard Demon and Yellow Wind Mountain."

Lu Zhengyi looked at Yang Xiao, sized him up for a moment, and then spoke.

"I have no objection."

"Let's see what you're capable of that General Pei would recommend you like this."

Yang Xiao casually cupped his hands in greeting and only uttered one sentence.

"Then I'll trouble General Lu to lead the way."

He had no intention of trying to curry favor with someone who was cold to him, nor did he have any desire to change the general's opinion of him.

After all, this was the first time the two had met, and they didn't know each other well.

Besides, since we're at the same level now, as long as we get things done, why should we care so much about your opinion?

Li Hanguang opened the file.

"The Leopard King's territory is located in the mountains within a hundred li radius southwest of Sanbao Commandery."

"All you need to do is find the other party, whether through observation or confrontation, find evidence of his contact with Yellow Wind Mountain, and warn him not to set foot in Qingzhou."

"The case file doesn't contain all the information."

When Sanbao Commandery was mentioned, Lu Zhengyi's expression turned serious.

"Its Movement Technique are extremely fast; it has traversed the entire mountainous region along the border of Sanbao Commandery, and there is no place it doesn't know well."

"But over the years, it has never left its territory, and every time I intervene, I stay far away from it."

"If it were up to the two of us to approach each other directly, it would most likely just run away, not giving us a chance to make contact."

After listening, Yang Xiao asked, "Since it's so fast, is it possible for us to catch up?"

"We can't catch up." Lu Zhengyi shook his head. "Leopard-type Demon are naturally skilled in speed, and this guy's Core Illumination Realm techniques are focused on his four legs."

Seemingly trying to justify himself, he added, "Among the Demon Suppression General, there are no more than five who can catch up with him."

Yang Xiao nodded and asked no further questions.

After handing over the case file, Li Hanguang instructed the two men to travel together and not to damage their relationship before leaving.

After leaving Qingzhou, the two headed southwest.

Lu Zhengyi initially traveled at his usual pace.

Core Illumination Realm could cover a hundred zhang in the blink of an eye, traversing mountains and valleys as if walking on flat ground. He did not deliberately take care of the young man behind him.

If he can't keep up, that's his own problem.

After walking along a mountain road for a while, he looked back.

Yang Xiao followed closely behind, his breathing steady, but his pace never slowed down; at least, this kind of composure couldn't be faked.

Lu Zhengyi's expression softened slightly, and he didn't turn back.

The two didn't talk much along the way; one had been guarding the border alone for many years and was wary of the other, while the other was naturally quiet.

A day later, the two arrived in Sanbao Commandery.

The walls of the Demon Suppression Office in Sanbao Commandery are mottled and much older than those in Qingzhou Office.

Lu Zhengyi didn't linger and went straight into the General's Residence to inquire about the situation on the border. The patrol's report was quickly delivered.

"The Leopard Demon appeared in the mountains again today and even attacked a small village where yams were grown."

"You've come at the perfect time."

Lu Zhengyi grabbed his sword and didn't stop for a moment.

"Now that it has made such a grand appearance, it must be waiting to see me. How can I refuse its request?"

"Wait," Yang Xiao interrupted.

Lu Zhengyi glanced at Yang Xiao sideways and said irritably, "What? Are you scared?"

He wondered if the kid was scared off by the prospect of going to find the Core Illumination Demon King Danzhao.

"No," Yang Xiao shook his head, "I'm asking who will make the move and who will ask the questions later?"

"Take action, or question them?"

Hearing this naive question, Lu Zhengyi chuckled, his tone full of experience, "How could Demon answer every question you ask? Many of their answers are lies."

"As for taking action, if I were the only one present, it probably wouldn't retreat immediately, but I also couldn't catch up with it."

"But if both of us appear at the same time, given its cautious nature, it will surely flee."

"Now tell me, can you take action or just ask questions?"

"Then I..." Yang Xiao's eyes flashed with suspicion, but he was interrupted by Lu Zhengyi before he could finish speaking.

"Just stay behind me and don't show yourself. I'll take care of it. I have a trace of its scent. We'll just follow it from a distance."

"Stop asking! Time is of the essence!"

The border of Sanbao Commandery.

In a wide-open wilderness, a dozen or so feet beyond the boundary marker, a rocky slope connects to a continuous mountain range.

The Gloom-Patterned Mystic Leopard, with its dark, mottled patterns and half-closed pupils, merely strolled casually in place, yet the aura emanating from it caused the surrounding grass and leaves to flatten.

It did not hide when it saw Lu Zhengyi.

Instead, it slowly moved to a position where it could talk, idly wagging its tail and looking at the other person with a bored expression.

Seventy-nine years have passed.

The smell of this old thing was so familiar, it couldn't be more so.

The smell of freshly ground iron, the smell of sweat, and that unchanging, rigid air.

From this day forward, it will let this old thing know that it is no longer the same as before.

On either side of the boundary marker, a human and a demon stood facing each other, separated by several dozen feet.

He wouldn't step into Sanbao Commandery, and he wouldn't draw his sword; neither could do anything to the other, and they remained locked in a stalemate for seventy-nine years.

Lu Zhengyi stopped and asked directly, "You've been traveling a lot lately. I heard you climbed Yellow Wind Mountain?"

"You guys are quite well-informed."

The Gloom-Patterned Mystic Leopard chuckled, but did not deny it.

"I don't care whether you're colluding or not, but remember this: if you dare to set foot in Qingzhou, I will hunt you down to the bitter end!" Lu Zhengyi tightened his grip on the blade slightly.

"Heh, what a boastful tone."

The Gloom-Patterned Mystic Leopard casually flicked its tail, shook its head, and peered into the distance. "There are many Demon Kings in Yellow Wind Mountain. If you really dare to make a move, step out of Sanbao Commandery and come with me to take a look."

"If you don't dare, there's no need to spout such nonsense for anyone's benefit."

"After all that talk, you still stay in Sanbao Commandery and never step out, what's the point of hiding like a turtle?"

The Gloom-Patterned Mystic Leopard with its dark markings was now turning around and mocking Lu Zhengyi.

He sat quietly for a moment, and seeing that Lu Zhengyi still did not react despite his direct mockery, a hint of regret flashed deep in his eyes.

That old man is too good at holding back; no matter what I said, he wouldn't take the bait, and all my preparations were wasted.

"If you're really not coming, then I'll be leaving now."

The smile in the eyes of the Gloom-Patterned Mystic Leopard faded slightly. Just as he was about to get up and leave, he was suddenly pressed down on the shoulder and made to stand still.

Buzz--!

The Demon Power exploded.

Half of its body reflexively stretched into a fully drawn bow, causing the rocks beneath its feet to crumble and the grass to scatter in all directions due to the Demon Power.

A strange look flashed across the face of the Gloom-Patterned Mystic Leopard, and it suddenly turned its head to look back.

Without realizing it, a young man was standing behind him, only a step away, yet he had his arm around his shoulder as intimately as a brother.

But the problem is, are you a human or a monster?!

Who gave you the right to get so close!?

"Get out of here!!"

Unable to ascertain the identity of the person behind him, the Gloom-Patterned Mystic Leopard chose the most direct method of breaking free.

It let out a low growl, and its Demon Power surged forth again with each step, but when it crashed into its opponent, it was as if it had struck a towering mountain, leaving no trace.

Unable to break free from the Demon Power, unable to push off with his feet, his half-turned body was firmly nailed to the spot.

"Yang Xiao!?"

Just as shocked as the Gloom-Patterned Mystic Leopard Lu Zhengyi, who was standing at a distance.

He told Yang Xiao to follow at a distance to avoid the Gloom-Patterned Mystic Leopard detecting his scent, not to follow behind the other party.

But now it seems you actually held it down!?