My Misfortune Crushed Instances-Chapter 221: Recruiting Demon Dragon Valley
Unfortunately, the Secret Realm is often stingy with rewards beyond the mission itself.
After the few of them followed the Mountain Lord Lou to his dwelling cave, there was nothing else to find, just a heap of heavenly treasures and earthly materials, gold, and silver items that couldn't be collected.
Li Rui still instructed to have the items loaded up and moved out of the cave.
Hu Chengshan had already found the general's daughter in good health. From inquiries, it was learned that Mountain Lord Lou had premeditated her kidnapping; his aim was to extort General Ning of the frontier army to obtain a batch of magical artifacts, swords, and armor for soldier cultivators.
Upon hearing this reason, everyone felt it was both laughable and surprising.
Mountain Lord Lou might be fierce, but he indeed lacked proficiency in management and strategizing.
If General Ning truly sent swords and armor to the Demon Race, not only would the Ning family's lady be beheaded, but even General Ning himself would lose his head. This demand was destined to be unmet.
It was unfortunate that the Tiger Demon lord truly intended to aid the Demon Dragon Valley, wanting to prevent it from being annexed by Dangkong Mountain, hence urgently needing this equipment.
Arguably, his resistance against Dangkong Mountain is because they refuse to accept the lower echelon of Demon Dragon Valley's demons. Overall, this former leader, despite being tricked by Pi Long, is still considered a responsible great lord.
From the storyline, even if Li Rui hadn't come, this Tiger Demon would eventually be ambushed by those traitorous elements, at which point the lower echelon of demons might face extermination.
And now, at least they still have a chance.
"You sort out the wealth and these earthly and celestial treasures, dividing them equally among the valley's demons and humans."
Li Rui instructed Yue Ni, the most trusted, "Inform them they can choose their own path, to stay or leave."
He couldn't think of a better way to settle the demons here; Dangkong Mountain is powerful, and Liangting is also formidable. The weak Demon Dragon Valley is caught in the middle, finding no easy path forward.
Yue Ni executed the command without reserve, but not long after, returned with the key figures from the group.
"Sir, we have a word, uncertain if it is appropriate to speak."
"Then you already know it's not appropriate, so don't say it."
Li Rui waved his hand, though he knew well that they likely wanted him to protect Demon Dragon Valley.
The problem was, he couldn't stay; even if he could, he had no intention of settling and dominating, thus had no ability to protect them.
To his surprise, this group of demons showed no restraint, suddenly kneeling en masse. As a modern person, Li Rui had never witnessed such a scene.
"Hey, what are you doing, no acting shameless here, it doesn't work on me."
Saying this, Li Rui was indeed left in a dilemma.
The Secret Realm is a dungeon, and according to reason it would reset, but based on the current explanation, sometimes the commotion people caused within the Secret Realm might get recorded into the Secret Realm World, altering historical progress.
This change often appears in hidden plots, especially when unexpected endings arise.
Li Rui's actions in Demon Wind Temple, Liangting's border, Silent Forest, and Peach Blossom Spring had all caused influence, so he did not want to ignore these people.
At that moment, Hu Chengshan, who had temporarily settled the general's daughter, offered a solution.
"Hero Li, now that Dangkong Mountain and Golden Scale Marsh are stirring unrest, the border situation is tense, it's the moment to utilize manpower. Hu could negotiate with General Ning, perhaps these demons could be recruited or pacified."
The Secret Realm World holds many races; aside from the Undead, most of these ethnicities have the potential for peaceful coexistence, the Demon Race can't necessarily not ally with the Human Race in demon suppression, and there are precedents across the Eastern Continent.
For them, racial differences probably parallel ethnic differences in the real world.
Li Rui hearing these words felt they made sense indeed. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞
But the Demon Race weren't pleased.
Although humans and demons can unite, they only trust Li Rui, distrusting Liangting's frontier army. Moreover, the Demon Dragon Valley tribes previously engaged in battles with the frontier army, who knows if going there might end up with their heads chopped off.
Li Rui pondered for a moment, then suddenly clapped his hands.
"I have a solution."
He found someone to bring him paper and pen, telling the demons, "I have an old acquaintance, a significant figure in Liangting; I'll write a letter to him, which will ensure your safety."
All demons, both humans and demons, curiously gathered around, watching him write in a clumsy posture with a brush, the first sentence reading: To my brother Wei Xun with respect.
Hu Chengshan's mind buzzed, after contemplating for a long time, nearly overloaded his CPU.
He is a frontier army soldier cultivator, his camp's highest leader is General Ning, and this General Ning, upon meeting Wei Xun, would address himself as a humble subordinate, not daring to be disrespectful in the slightest.
Yet this freelance individual hired with gold and silver by the General said he would write a letter, addressing Wei Xun as a brother. By that logic, even General Ning would be humble before this person.
"Then how did the General manage to invite him?"
On the side, the demon tribes were equally astonished, questioning Wei Xun's affiliation – Demon Suppression Bureau.
Judging by the name, it's evident what relationship they might have, these minor demons indeed do not merit such a figure's personal intervention, but this name certainly resounds like thunder.
Now their savior actually intends to acquaint the mice with the cat, genuinely leaving them a bit overwhelmed.
Yet after Li Rui pressed his fingerprint, adding detailed identity proof from Silent Forest, he solemnly handed the letter to Hu Chengshan, ultimately choosing to believe.
Thus, after a while, Li Rui and others left Demon Dragon Valley, parting ways with Hu Chengshan and the military personnel, the latter intending to escort the rescued humans and the general's daughter back to the border.
At this point, the mission came to an end.
As the main line mission settled, Li Rui wiped a cold sweat.
Due to too many random events triggered, a dangerous side quest got unlocked unexpectedly, with experience exceeding expectations, nearly leveling to 36.
The Tomb of the Peach Blossom Lady is a level 35 Secret Realm, if the level cap exceeds, even with the key, entry is impossible.
Li Rui thought, in future similar occurrences, truly can't exert too much force.
After several outsiders left, time flew like an arrow, the demons of Demon Dragon Valley migrated to Liangting's border, establishing a small town on the frontier, without any great lords or rulers, only a brand new statue, a young hero carrying an umbrella looking eastward.
Liangting established a new Demon Suppression Bureau branch in this location, serving as a frontier defense outpost.
...
The timing in the Secret Realm bears no relation to reality. When Li Rui awoke from his chair, it felt as if he dreamt back to the Northwest.
Returned home, but upon exiting the Secret Realm, it's still unmanaged? Where is my Sister Yan?
While puzzled, he heard a voice outside the door, it was Wu Bing speaking incessantly.
"That Zhi Er may be a Pig Demon, but clad in armor he was imposing, wielding a forty-meter blade, stepping forth from the demon horde with a mighty shout, 'Hey! Who dares trespass my mountain gate, dares face the king for three hundred rounds of battle!'"
"At this moment, from the opposing formation emerged a youth holding an umbrella, upright like a pine, eyes fierce like the Thunder God, not fearing the gatekeeper in the least."
"...."
Li Rui fell speechless.
Emerging from the Secret Realm sometimes comes with a time variation, but no more than three to five minutes at most, yet already Wu Bing managed to tell a tale.
The crux was, the version he narrated seemed quite mismatched from memory.
