Late at night.
At the Monkey Gathering Zone closest to Gui Prefecture.
The flames of war had stained even the sky red.
The gathering zone, home to over a hundred thousand people, had first been scoured by the Dragon Kingdom's Air Force.
Then the forces led by Sikong Jian had crushed it with overwhelming force.
All the surrounding walls had collapsed.
Wails filled the ground.
Not a single intact house could be found in the vast gathering zone.
Inside the courtyard of the gathering zone's leader.
Sikong Jian rested a blood-dripping spear on his shoulder and toyed with the mask in his hand.
Another Dragon-Slaying Mask.
Meanwhile, the leader, Mr. Li, knelt on the ground, covered in blood.
The last time Sikong Jian had come south, he had beaten him up.
Neither had expected to meet again so soon.
"A Dragon-Slaying Mask? What, planning to slay a dragon?"
There was no anger in Sikong Jian's eyes, only speechlessness.
It was like a kindergartner trying to take on an adult.
"Th-this is just a toy..."
The rat-eyed Mr. Li offered a guilty explanation.
"Even a toy won't do. I'm not afraid of you having the strength to rebel, but I don't like your attitude."
Sikong Jian was notoriously inhumane, and murderous intent flashed through his eyes.
He tossed the mask in front of the man. "Two options. Either I hang you, or you lead us around the ambushes set by the other gathering zones."
"There's a saying in the Dragon Kingdom: better a fellow cultivator dies than me. What do you think?"
Hesitation flashed through the other man's eyes.
Who cared whether anyone else lived or died at a time like this?
Staying alive himself was what mattered.
"If I do as you ask, will you spare our gathering zone?"
"Are