My Demon Friends-Chapter 549 - 528: The Spring Breeze Never Passes Yumen Pass

Compared to Yang Pass, Yumen Pass had preserved more through the long river of time, but in terms of desolation, it was arguably even more so. Yang Pass at least had Yangguan Town, home to a fair number of people, a grape cultivation park, and a museum that was at least presentable; it was also closer to Dunhuang City. Yumen Pass, on the other hand, was situated on the latter half of Dunhuang's western tourist route, surrounded by the boundless Gobi Desert. The scenic area itself was also drab and dusty; aside from a few self-driving tourists on the western route or those on day tours making a detour, hardly anyone ever came here.

It was winter, still somewhat affected by the pandemic, and with the day growing late, there were even fewer people around.

The scenic area comprised Xiaofangpan City, Dafangpan City, and the Han Great Wall ruins. Xiaofangpan City could be reached on foot, while the latter two required taking a vehicle, and visits there were typically brief.

Modern archaeologists believe that Xiaofangpan City is the site of the original Han Dynasty Yumen Pass. However, this was still a point of contention.

Zhou Li tried asking Huai Xu about this, hoping to use this 'cheat' to definitively settle the historical dispute. Unfortunately, Huai Xu had long forgotten. Moreover, the so-called Xiaofangpan City was merely a dilapidated, square earthen ruin. Even if Yumen Pass truly had been located there, it had long since transformed into something unrecognizable to Huai Xu.

After seeing Xiaofangpan City, Zhou Li practically had the car to himself on the way to Dafangpan City and the Great Wall ruins. Blushing, he slipped the driver some money, asking him to wait a little longer.

Huai Xu lingered for quite a while at Dafangpan City before telling Zhou Li that this place had once been the granary and armory.

Zhou Li nodded, though he had already read about it online.

Then, he looked ahead and asked Huai Xu, "Guess where we're off to next?"

"To see the Great Wall?"

"Right."

"You should act more surprised."

"How did you know?"

"Where there is Yumen Pass, there must be the Great Wall."

"Smart."

「It was now past five in the afternoon.」

Here, near Qingjiang, nightfall came later than in Yi Province. Although it was the depths of winter, the sun wouldn't begin to set until almost seven o'clock. The sunlight at this hour was perfect, much gentler than it had been earlier in the afternoon. The sky was a stretch of azure, as vast and boundless as the Great Desert, its true immensity unfathomable.

A stretch of earthen wall appeared ahead. From a distance, it appeared layered, covered with horizontal striped patterns, possibly related to its construction techniques. Of course, it was also very dilapidated; two thousand years of wind, sand, rain, and snow had ravaged it. Yet, it undeniably still stood upon the earth, not yet worn down level with the ground.

It dated back two thousand years: it was the Han Great Wall, a symbol of civilization. This military system, built by people of antiquity two thousand years ago, was now, across the vast chasm of history, meeting with their descendants.

But today was different; today, an old friend had come.

Zhou Li stood at a distance, outside the fence, watching as Huai Xu walked to the edge of the Great Wall. He saw Huai Xu reach out, his fingertips gently brushing the rough surface, embedded with small pebbles and marked by the traces of wind and frost. Huai Xu walked slowly, leaning in close from time to time to peer intently, as if searching for imprints of the past—an obviously impossible task.

The Tuanzi in his arms wriggled slightly, seemingly wanting to be put down, and kept chirping in a clear, pleasant voice, "Lord Dumpling wants to go over and have a look-see too!"

Zhou Li lowered his head and whispered, "Let's not."

"Why not, meow?"

"Don't disturb him."

"MEW~"

Lord Dumpling was being very understanding today.

As it grew later, the wind and sand on the Gobi Desert intensified. The wind howled, a mournful, sobbing sound, sapping the warmth from their bodies.

Huai Xu remained by the Great Wall for a long time. He even walked around to the other side of the wall, out of Zhou Li's sight. It seemed—though perhaps it was just Zhou Li's imagination—that he stayed on that other side for even longer.

The driver, having been paid, knew there wouldn't be any other tourists at this time, so he didn't rush them.

After a good while, Huai Xu finally emerged.

Zhou Li didn't ask any questions. He just held Tuanzi and took a photo with Huai Xu, then they got into the car and left.

「Outside the scenic area.」

Zhou Li parked the car by the roadside. He and Huai Xu walked slowly along the road, with Tuanzi following behind them, alternately trotting and pausing. The entrance to the scenic area was right beside them.

Huai Xu squinted, saying somewhat wistfully, "I lived here for a time. A Demon was causing trouble back then. You know ordinary people have no defense against Demons, so for a period, many merchants and soldiers died here, causing widespread panic. I was ordered here to eliminate that Demon. But that Demon was very cunning; he lived very far away—at least, it seemed far back then. It was a place with lots of bizarre rock and earth formations. The locals were terrified of it and wouldn't dare enter at night..."

"Yadan?"

"What duck egg?"

"It's a type of wind-eroded landform, also called Devil City... Anyway, I understand what you mean."

"As long as you understand," Huai Xu nodded. "That place was excellent for hiding. He was always skulking away, and I could never find him."

"So, did you eventually... take care of him?"

"Killed him."

"Mm."

"Killed him, yes."

"I see..."

Hearing it as a story, it was just a few words, but the reality of it happening must have been far from simple.

Huai Xu then returned to his account, describing Yumen Pass as it was then: "This place used to be huge. Many merchant caravans came and went, and many soldiers were stationed here. It was very lively, with camels and horses everywhere on the roads. From dawn till dusk, you'd hear the constant jingle-jangle of bells."

"Sounds very interesting."

"Interesting, my ass! You couldn't even sleep in if you wanted to." Huai Xu twitched the corner of his mouth, then paused. "But there were many people from the Western Regions. Some of the young women were exceptionally beautiful. Want me to transform into one for you to see?"

"I can see those on TV."

"The ones on TV aren't as good-looking as me."

"That won't be necessary."

"AWW..."

"Did you go to the Great Wall often back then too?" Zhou Li had thought only common soldiers guarded the Great Wall.

"Yes, and frequently. Sometimes just for fun, other times to help deal with foreign Heavenly Masters or Demons that suddenly appeared." Huai Xu paused, glancing at Zhou Li from the corner of his eye. "The number of people who have died at my hands probably exceeds the total number of people you know. And the Demons I've killed likely outnumber all the Demons you've ever encountered. Are you afraid?"

"A little."

"Coward!!"

"..." Zhou Li turned his head, surveyed the vast Gobi, and voiced a question that had been on his mind for a while, "This place is so flat and open; can a pass built on such level ground actually stop anyone?"

"You're wondering if enemies could just go around the pass, aren't you?"

"More or less."

"What you're thinking makes sense. Small enemy units would indeed occasionally do that—secretly infiltrating the territory to burn, kill, and pillage. They were an endless nuisance. That's why we built two passes to the north and south. That's why we built a Beacon Tower on high ground every five to ten *li*. And that's why we built the Great Wall. But then again, only small units could sneak through, nothing to really worry about. It was very difficult for a main enemy force to cross these two passes by any means other than a frontal assault." Huai Xu paused. "Cavalry might be able to get around, but can their supplies and provisions? Just like the Great Wall—humans might be able to climb over it, but can horses?"

"So that's how it was."

"It's a pity not much of the Great Wall is left. And in this era, it's no longer needed," Huai Xu sighed. "How tragic."

"It would also feel gratified."

"How so?"

"Because every day, many of their descendants come to visit it. Each of them can call it by name, recount its stories, and seeing it reminds them of the glorious and great dynasty that built it. This means the civilization it protected has never been broken—just as it still stands in this world, preserving an ancient heritage." Zhou Li spoke softly, but the wind was so strong that his voice was easily swallowed by the wailing wind. "Besides, an old friend came to see it today."

"Educated people really are different, huh..." Huai Xu nodded. "I want to go see that 'duck egg' place you mentioned."

"But it's very late today..." 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"Then we'll go tomorrow."

"Let's go today!"

Zhou Li decided to be a little rebellious for once.