Chapter 159: Southern Border
"And this force is likely to be a party that has plans for our Tushan."
Speaking of this, Tushan Rongrong's face became serious for a rare moment.
"If you say so, Rong'er, could it be that Black Fox is behind this again?"
When Cui Yuling heard this, a cold light flashed in her eyes. The black fox clan, as the old enemy of Tushan and the entire demon world, was well known for its cunning and viciousness. They were good at lurking and manipulating, always stirring up trouble in secret, and this incident seemed to be their work.
"The Black Fox is indeed a threat that cannot be ignored, but this time, it may not be them who did it." Tu Shanrong pondered for a moment and continued, "Although the Black Fox is cunning, it often acts directly against the target and will not test us through the Ximen family in such a roundabout way. Moreover, Ximen Tianyu's identity is special. If he really fell into the hands of the Black Fox, I am afraid he would have been used against us long ago."
"Then in your opinion, who is behind this?" Cui Yuling asked, her tone full of vigilance against the unknown.
"It's hard to say now, but one thing is certain, this force has dabbled in both the human and demon worlds, and may have even infiltrated Tushan." Tushan Rongrong's eyes became deeper, "We need to be more cautious, not only to guard against external threats, but also to be vigilant against internal movements."
"Then what should we do next?" Cui Yuling asked. She knew Tushan Rongrong's wisdom and strategy very well and was looking forward to the next action.
"First of all, we need to strengthen Tushan's defense to ensure that nothing goes wrong." Tushan Rongrong said, "At the same time, I want to personally investigate the truth of this matter to see who is behind this."
"It's too dangerous for you to go alone." Cui Yuling said worriedly, "How about I bring a few tribesmen to go with you?"
"No need, Sister Cui." Tu Shan Rongrong gently shook her head. "This matter should not be made public. If too many people are involved, it will easily alert the enemy. Besides, I have my own way to protect myself."
As she spoke, a gleam of confidence flashed in Tushan Rongrong's eyes.
"Do I need to tell Yaer about this?"
Cui Yuling pondered for a moment. As the master of Tushan, Tushan Yaya had the right to know anything that might threaten the safety of Tushan. So she asked.
"My sister is trying to break through the Demon King recently, so she shouldn't be too distracted at this time." Tushan Rongrong sighed softly, with a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. "If she knew about this, she would definitely investigate it at all costs, but this might fall into her trap. Let's not tell her for now, and wait until I find out the truth before making any plans."
"Okay, I see."
Cui Yuling nodded. She was well aware of Tushan Rongrong's thoughtful considerations, and she also understood that at this critical moment, it was vital to maintain stability and unity within Tushan.
"Also, Sister Cui, during the period of my investigation, you will be in charge of the defense of Tushan."
"Please pay more attention to the movements around Tushan, especially those places that border the human world." Tushan Rongrong continued, "Since this force has been able to infiltrate the Ximen family and our Tushan, it means that there must be a channel for exchanging intelligence. If we investigate, we may gain something."
"Don't worry, I will arrange personnel to strengthen patrols."
Cui Yuling agreed solemnly. She knew that this was not only a promise to Tushan Rongrong, but also a responsibility for the safety of the entire Tushan.
……
In the blink of an eye, another two years have passed.
Over the past two years, Ximen Tianyu has traveled all over the human world, but has not found any clues about the treasure. However, due to the lack of a breakthrough point, he can only suppress his impatience and continue to investigate secretly.
The situation in the human world has also undergone subtle changes in the past two years. The boundary between demons and humans seems to have become blurred. Occasionally, demons reveal their true form in the human world, but they do not cause large-scale panic or conflict. However, Ximen Tianyu's current location is an exception.
This is a small town closest to the southern border. Since historical records, it has been one of the areas where conflicts between humans and demons are most frequent.
Therefore, even though the Demon Alliance and the Taoist Alliance have been promoting the concept of peace between humans and demons in recent years, the people here still maintain a high level of hostility and vigilance.
Ximen Tianyu was sitting in the town's largest teahouse, sipping a cup of bitter green tea, his eyes occasionally sweeping across the bustling streets outside the window. The teahouse was bustling with people, but it couldn't cover up the tension and uneasiness in the air. He was wearing a simple blue shirt, with a delicate face, but his eyes revealed a calmness and depth that didn't match his age.
As for why he came here, it was actually because he heard that a big event had happened here a few days ago when he was looking for clues nearby.
"Waiter, another pot of tea."
Ximen Tianyu called softly. Although his voice was soft, it was clearly audible in this noisy environment.
"Okay, wait a minute."
The waiter came over and swiftly filled his tea, while secretly sizing up this unusually well-behaved guest.
Ximen Tianyu ignored the waiter's gaze, his mind had already flown away. The investigation over the past two years made him realize that the clues to the treasure seemed to be inextricably linked to the Southland. And this small town, as the border between the Southland and the human world, undoubtedly became the area he focused on.
Just as he was lost in thought, there was a sudden commotion in the teahouse. A few monks in Taoist robes hurried in, looking solemn, as if they were looking for something. Their arrival made the already tense atmosphere even more depressing.
"Have you heard? There has been unrest in the Southland recently. Monsters have appeared frequently, and even the Taoist Alliance has sent people to investigate."
The guests at the next table discussed in low voices.
"Yes, I heard about it too. I heard that this incident is very serious and even the Demon Alliance has been alarmed. Both sides seem to be secretly gathering forces to prepare for a possible conflict."
Another person took over the conversation, with a hint of worry in his tone.
"What's there to be afraid of? It was obviously the monster that crossed the border first. Is it wrong for us to fight back? If there weren't a few Taoist priests present at the time, I'm afraid that monster would have already wreaked havoc in the town and hurt innocent people."
Another person interrupted indignantly, obviously having great hostility towards monsters.
"Master Dao?"
Ximen Tianyu caught the key point of their conversation and his brows suddenly frowned.
It stands to reason that such a remote town is unlikely to attract Taoists with high levels of cultivation to settle here, unless they have other purposes.
Considering the large-scale conflict between humans and demons that occurred here a few days ago, Ximen Tianyu couldn't help but have an ominous premonition.
(End of this chapter)