Chapter 71: Returning to Donglin City

Upon hearing the words of the enchanting demoness, the white deer immediately tensed, nudging Luli's arm with its deer head, as if to say, "Master, pay no attention to that demoness, let's leave quickly."

The white deer remained silent, perhaps due to the fact that the demoness possessed supernatural abilities, causing it to feel a sense of pressure.

Luli patted the deer's head, well aware of its thoughts.

"What is your cultivation level? And why are you following me?"

"Senior, Bier is at the first stage of the Divine Realm. Bier has always been bullied by other demon tribes in Tianmang Mountain. The Divine Realm-level Python Demon who lives next to me even wanted to force Bier into shameful acts. Bier knows that senior is powerful, so she wants to follow senior and learn some skills!"

Luli nodded, understanding that it was a demon beast bullied by other tribes. No wonder it blocked his way.

With his infamous reputation, the demon beasts of Tianmang Mountain assumed he was formidable.

Although after the massacre in the Fallen Demon Valley, he likely had a fearsome reputation among the demon tribes, there were still those who believed he was exceptionally powerful. Strength, in their eyes, meant some demon tribes sought to align with him.

This was not uncommon among demon tribes; it happened frequently. It was understandable that they would intercept him.

However, if she knew he was only at the Pulse Connecting Realm, how would she react? Having a Pulse Connecting Realm warrior teach her, a Divine Realm demoness, skills would surely be a source of laughter for others.

Luli looked at the demoness; at this moment, he neither directly refused nor agreed. Naturally, he hadn't promised anything.

The demoness was at the first stage of the Divine Realm, and Luli's Red Sleeve Knife could easily suppress her, making him unafraid of any tricks she might play. No matter how varied her tricks were, he only needed one swing of his blade.

"Perfect. Xiao Zhao is still missing a demonic pet. This Jade Armored Pangolin is suitable, at least it's a female demon."

Luli thought to himself, inexplicably desiring to have a female demon as Xiao Zhao's demonic pet.

Seeing Luli remain silent, the pangolin demoness continued to bow.

"Senior, please accept Bier. Bier is willing to do anything for senior! Bier is terrified of being bullied by those demon tribes. If she doesn't follow senior, that Python Demon will definitely not spare her."

"Aren't you afraid of me?"

"Bier is afraid, but Bier doesn't want to be bullied by other demon beasts anymore! She especially doesn't want to engage in despicable acts with a Python Demon. Please let senior take Bier in!"

"Fine, follow me. But remember, in my presence, you must obey everything I say! Otherwise, I will kill you with a single stroke!"

"Yes, Bier will surely remember Master's teachings!"

At this moment, the demoness had already changed her address to Luli as "Master," displaying her intelligence.

"Reveal your true form and take me to Donglin City!"

In an instant, a jade-green pangolin over two meters long, with scales resembling jade, appeared before Luli. Luli stored the white deer and rode on the pangolin.

If she transformed into human form and he rode on her, Luli couldn't help but think it would be interesting, but he quickly dismissed such thoughts.

Eager to demonstrate her value to Luli, Bier immediately used her burrowing technique to open a path. Luli saw the rocks in front split apart, forming a natural cave.

Bier swiftly entered the cave, and the tunnel extended continuously. The art of burrowing through mountains was the specialty of the pangolin tribe.

Bier's body rapidly drilled into the depths of the mountains, and in a blink of an eye, they had exited the demon-controlled area.

By the afternoon, Luli had already left Tianmang Mountain. A familiar city came into view. If he and the white deer had walked, they might not have reached the city until evening, but the burrowing technique made it swift.

After all, they went straight through the mountains without the need to climb over them.

Bier reverted to her human form, obediently standing behind Luli. Luli didn't release the white deer; it couldn't transform, and bringing it into a human city would be inconvenient.

Entering Donglin City with the flow of people, Luli noticed that the city walls and gates were recently repaired. During the last attack by the twelve demon strongholds of Tianmang, many sections of the city wall were destroyed, but the repairs were surprisingly quick.

As Luli entered the city, he sensed a suppressed atmosphere. Upon closer inspection, many faces displayed a sense of sadness as they passed by. Moreover, the flow of people in Donglin City seemed noticeably reduced.

There were some scattered funeral papers on the streets. It had been over a week since the great battle, and one could imagine how many lives were lost that night, judging by the number of funeral papers in the city.

Rushing towards the residence he had purchased, Luli saw white mourning banners hanging at the entrance. A recent funeral had taken place in the courtyard.

After a brief thought, he realized that the funeral was held for him.

That night, when he was abducted by the fox demon in Tianmang Mountain, his family probably thought he was dead. After all, facing a Great Demon of the Dharma Appearance Realm, surviving was indeed unexpected.

Even Luli himself, reflecting on his experience in Tianmang Mountain, felt he had narrowly escaped death.

"Well, let's consider this a funeral held for you. You did miss one after all!"

Luli thought to himself, looking up at the sky.

Luli approached and knocked on the door. Footsteps could be heard from inside, and the door opened.

"Ah!"

Suddenly, a girl's surprised scream rang out. Luli looked at Xiaoxiao in front of him, unkindly covering her mouth with his hand. He listened as the girl continued to make muffled sounds.

"Don't shout. I'm a human, not a ghost! See, I even cast a shadow!"

Luli used his other hand to pinch Xiaoxiao's face; it was just as easy to pinch as before. Not having done so for a few days, it was particularly satisfying now.

Xiaoxiao nodded, and Luli released the hand covering her mouth.

"Young Master, you're not dead! You really aren't dead!"

Xiaoxiao, now trembling with excitement, used her hands to touch and feel Luli all over. Luli, displeased, swatted her hands away.

"Young Master, you really aren't dead! I'll go tell Miss Xiaozhao. Miss Xiaozhao has been worried sick these past few days and has hardly eaten a thing, becoming thinner."

Hearing Xiaoxiao's words, Luli felt a pang of regret, thinking about Xiaozhao worrying for him. If only he had returned to Donglin City sooner, sparing Xiaozhao from unnecessary distress.

"You don't need to tell her. I'll go find her myself!"

Luli walked into the courtyard. At this moment, everything remained the same.

 Luli looked at one of the rooms; the door was closed. That must be Xiaozhao's room.

Luli approached and gently knocked on the door.

"Xiaoxiao, I've told you countless times, I don't want to eat!"

"If you don't eat, you'll get thin! You know I don't like you looking thin!"

"If I don't want to eat, I won't eat!"

As the voice finished speaking, it suddenly cried out in surprise. That wasn't Xiaoxiao's voice; it was so familiar, so intimate, the voice that Xiaozhao thought she would never hear again, resounding outside the door.

Followed by some hurried footsteps, the door suddenly opened!

"Young Master!"

The moment the door opened, a white-robed woman threw herself into Luli's arms. Two lines of hot tears instantly fell, and Luli watched as Xiaozhao, looking haggard, embraced him.

"Young Master, I knew Young Master would be fine. I knew you'd come back!"

"Knowing it and not eating properly! You know I don't like you getting thin!"

Luli scolded the girl without much anger, using his hand to touch her thin shoulders.

In just a few days of not seeing her, Xiaozhao had indeed lost weight.

"I can't eat. Whenever I think about Young Master being taken away by that demoness, I lose my appetite!"