They Were All Misconceptions

Lai Mingjie wanted to be shocked by how much authority Xu Rouguang had in the Imperial Army. If he didn't know that the one leading the entire army was basically him and not the real Grand Commanding General, he would be terrified by how he was seen in the army. Even though the words of the Grand General weighed more than Xu Rouguang's, that Grand General was like having tea with the Goddess Nuwa all the time. He was invisible, and so everyone looked at Xu Rouguang for orders.

Right now, Steel Carapace gave Lai Mingjie a gist of what was happening. Xu Rouguang sent an order via the group chat to hunt down every demon that had harmed humans while assuming a demon form. Reports were everywhere as the scouts from every battalion were activated. The third to seventh battalions moved in while the second battalion—who were directly under General Xu—was missing in action. Some squads from the first battalion also descended to lend their hands.

Even though Lai Mingjie didn't like asking the immortals to deal with their problem, he chose not to hold onto his pride as a demon king and got hundreds of humans dead.

At the entrance, Lai Mingjie slowed down as he stared at the establishment. Everywhere was barricaded, and even the main door was covered with planks. He then asked Steel Carapace to break in, but the place was shelled by a strong defensive ability—perhaps it was Empress Botangca's Impure Dome which kept out immortals and other demons alike.

Lai Mingjie reached out and felt the vibrating space that made up the dome. He growled and yelled, "Botangca! Show your face to me!"

"You fool!"

A slit opened in the barrier, and Botangca was actually standing there between him and the hordes of once demons who glared at him. The empress gritted her teeth and roared. "Emodao! How dare you make it rain down on us?! Have you lost your mind?! Why did you make the immortals round us up like a bunch of pigs to be slaughtered?!"

Lai Mingjie only stared at her and then at the eyes of all the former demons with her, hiding under the shield she could conjure. It was not even that reliable as any general from the first battalion could shatter her shield. That was why they were all desperate in protecting themselves. Then again, instead of proclaiming any announcement, Lai Mingjie only stared at them. Sooner or later, Steel Carapace ran to the side to deal with another morphed demon; Emodao still stood there without moving.

He then turned to the side, glancing at the fighting duo at a distance. He turned to Botangca who was hesitating to attack. She would be harmed if she attacked first—by either that immortal with him or that multidimensional Xu Rouguang.

"Botangca, someone's making the demons regain their forms but lose consciousness. Someone's forcing an insurrection we cannot afford to happen." Those were all the words that left his lips.

"So you asked them to kill us one by one?! You're insane!" This response made Botangca angrier, even summoning her shadows that would electrocute everything they touch. "Maybe it's time for you to just die right now! I don't care if Nuwa cursed you not to die before your time!"

"This is what they wanted. Make the demons fight back." Emodao gritted his teeth as well. Botangca was the one who was out of her mind. "Botangca, if we let this drag on, those old buffoons would be the ones calling the shots. I don't get how you don't understand that this is for the best. Before we find out what is going on to those who turn, it's best that we keep the humans out of it."

"I thought you hated playing dog for them. Why are you now letting them run around? This is our haven, remember?" The empress still wouldn't attack. She was wary with who might hit her back.

Lai Mingjie only shook his head. "Botangca, someone is using us to destroy our home. If this keeps on going out of control, the entire Crimson City would be blasted into pieces. This entire city exists on the premise that we behave." He laughed out, hiding the pain in his sternum. "Yes, we could piss at the faces of the immortals, but when those old buffoons crashed our fun, we're all goners.

"I don't want this either, but I'm not turning a blind eye to the problem. Demons who found a family in humans are eating their families without mercy." Lai Mingjie stomped at the ground, starting to growl in fury. "We might not be a race to feel emotional attachments, but these guys are killing the most important people to them. Are you still going to let them go free? Multiply?!

"Botangca, they're not even conscious! They're hunting like mindless creatures!"

"You should at least let us handle this before calling the immortals!" Botangca roared again, her shadows locking onto Lai Mingjie. "Do you think we can't stop this ourselves?"

Lai Mingjie laughed out again. He then spoke in a very serious voice. "Maybe you can fight them back. What about everyone else? Have you forgotten that we're powerless? Has your freedom as the governing body of the demonkind made you think everyone could fight like you can?" He kept himself from yelling. "Botangca, are you planning to run around all night just to keep them from dying? Or are you going to help me find out what made them berserk in the first place? Let's leave the suppression to those heavenly monkeys. We can't save those who had turned already. If we shelter them, we're only putting every other demon in danger."

The woman gritted her teeth, but she made a sharp hiss. Her voice soon came out without raising its tone. "So what now? We just obediently subject ourselves to them? Let them trample us like they own us? Emodao, we still have our pride as demons even if you lost yours."

"What? You really think I'll let them kill those who weren't even turning?" His chuckle was filled with resentment. "Botangca"—he stepped forward slowly—"Xu Rouguang controls the hearts, fears, and hands of everyone in the Imperial Army. As long as no one overrules him, I can assure the situation. For now... we need to know what's causing them to go berserk.

"I caught someone in the midst of turning. It didn't feel like he had demon essence coursing through him, and I can barely say he's a demon based on his aura." He arrived just outside the part of the dome where Botangca and the others were. It was only now that they saw the blood decorating Lai Mingjie's shoulder and his pale face. "I also saw one who attacked a bus filled with humans. She didn't even recognize me despite being a clerk here in the morning."

He then noticed the eyes Botangca was giving his wounds. "Ah, this? I got it from General Qiang who thought it was me who was leading these insurgents." He then addressed everyone in the back. "Listen, someone was turning our brothers into creatures and robbing them of their nature; we, demons, aren't irrational beasts. Whoever's doing this will be torn into pieces.

"For now, let's—you guys just stay here. I'll go around the city to see if some of us needed to be taken here." Lai Mingjie turned on his back and walked away. With a hand gesture, he called Steel Carapace like a dog.

Needless to say, Steel Carapace wasn't happy with it. However, he heard everything that the man had said. For some reason, he felt like the rumors about this infamous demon king were all misconceptions.