Chapter 128: Gathering

In the distance, Ji Huo and Xia Ningshang charged forward, cutting down anyone in their path. Behind them, the Flying Bear Army drove deep into the city, sweeping through the living dead with the ferocity of wild beasts.

Ji Huo looked up toward the Imperial City, where a red barrier of light cloaked the sky, clearly visible even through the torrential rain.

*Has Little Hongtang returned?*

A thought stirred in Ji Huo’s mind, and he immediately bellowed, "Flying Bear Army, hear my command! Seal the four gates of the capital and sweep from the outside in. Ensure not a single one escapes!"

"Understood!"

"General Lu, you shall take command of the Flying Bear Army from here," Ji Huo added.

"At your command, sir!" Lu Deshui saluted immediately and began directing the troops toward the four gates of the capital.

"Do we not need to head to the Imperial Palace first?" Xia Ningshang asked.

Ji Huo explained, "The palace won't be breached for a while yet; let the Flying Bear Army handle the cleanup. We are going to help my eldest brother slay the great demon."

Xia Ningshang nodded. "Shall we fly there, then?"

Ji Huo grinned. "Sounds good."

As Xia Ningshang grabbed his hand and prepared to transform into a dragon to take flight, she suddenly asked with a skeptical look, "Wait, we are both at the peak of the First Grade—why do you have no technique for rapid movement?"

Ji Huo replied with an innocent expression, "I truly don't have one."

He knew quite a few light-agility techniques and possessed various speed-enhancing skills, but in terms of pure speed, he couldn't match Xia Ningshang, nor could he float in the sky without any leverage like Little Hongtang.

Only upon reaching the Grandmaster realm could one truly fly, as the Grandmaster had achieved the unity of heaven and man, receiving the recognition of the world, which bestowed upon them the ability to soar. In truth, the "light-agility" of most martial artists, which looked like flying, was merely a series of long jumps. The only difference was whether one jumped dozens or hundreds of meters; it looked like flight, but in reality, they had to land and push off the ground every so often.

However, if one struck a good pose, it could be quite evocative. For instance, by extending both arms, one could mimic the gentle, steady glide of a wild goose. In fact, since they were airborne anyway, one could even lie flat, signaling that their technique was so advanced they could fly while lounging, provided they landed on their feet.

Two years ago, a martial artist had a stroke of genius: he attached a long sword to one of his shoes. After activating his light-agility, he stood on the blade with both feet, hands clasped behind his back, his white robes fluttering and long hair flowing in the wind. The commoners on the ground had cried out, "Wow! A Sword Immortal!"

That was exactly the look they wanted. After the story spread, many martial artists followed suit. For a time, the sky was filled with cold, aloof "Sword Immortals" zipping around while stepping on their blades. It was said that a visitor from overseas saw the sky full of flying swordsmen and was so terrified that he shook violently and returned to his home country the very next day.

However, this style was rather taxing. One could easily trip over the sword upon landing, especially if the landing spot was in a tree fork, where the sword would get stuck, leaving the "Sword Immortal" to fall face-first into the dirt. If they were even less fortunate, they would end up hanging upside down from the tree, struggling for ages to get down. If a woodcutter happened to pass by, they would have to pretend they weren't stuck, but rather possessed a unique hobby of practicing while dangling upside down.

Xia Ningshang squinted at him, asking with disdain, "You don't have such a technique, do you? You're just too lazy to use one, and you want me to carry you, don't you?"

"Hahahaha! How could that be?" Ji Huo said with a dry laugh. "It’s mainly because you really do fly very fast."

*I'll have to ask my old man if there's a rapid movement technique for the Thunderous Ferocious Bear Fist later. It certainly wasn't in the manual he gave me...* Ji Huo thought to himself.

Xia Ningshang gripped his hand and muttered, "I don't know why, but I feel like you've become far too accustomed to me carrying you."

"Haha, never! I silently thank you every single time, Miss Xia," Ji Huo said with a smile, rubbing his nose. "When this is all over, I’ll cook you some delicious meals for a few days to make it up to you."

"That’s what you said! I didn't force you! And it's not like I really want your cooking!" Xia Ningshang declared with a stern face, though the corners of her mouth curled upward, impossible to suppress.

She happily grabbed Ji Huo’s arm, and the two transformed into a black dragon, rapidly flying toward the Imperial Palace. The black dragon surged through the air, and upon spotting the red light, it dove downward.

Little Hongtang was in the middle of giving orders. A group of ruthless killers from the Earth Demon Squad stood around the little girl—who only reached their waists—nodding and bowing, not daring to let out a breath. Even Kun Er, who could decapitate thousands without blinking, listened with his head bowed in earnest attention while Little Hongtang spoke.

Suddenly, Little Hongtang looked back. Seeing the black dragon whistling through the air, her eyes narrowed. Just as she was about to raise her hand, the red paper umbrella in the sky began to pulse with waves of crimson light.

"That's Miss Xia! She's an ally!" Li Zhi shouted hurriedly.

Hearing this, Little Hongtang withdrew her hand. With a thought, she opened a gap in the red barrier, and the black dragon descended, shifting back into the forms of Ji Huo and Xia Ningshang.

"Yo, everyone is here," Ji Huo said with a smile, scanning the crowd.

"Boss!" the members of the Earth Demon Squad shouted in unison.

"Greetings, Second Young Master!"

"We pay our respects to the Second Young Master!"

"I have long heard of the Second Young Master's great name; seeing you today, you are truly a dragon among men!"

Everyone cupped their hands in salute. They had already realized that it was this man who had arrived with the army. Since the Second Young Master was here, it meant the capital had fallen. After all, their intelligence reports indicated that General Flying Bear had also joined the battle—and he was the commander of the city guards...

Ji Huo returned the salute, then turned his gaze to Little Hongtang’s face, smiling, "Long time no see, Little Hongtang, you’ve grown quite sturdy."

Little Hongtang first glanced at Xia Ningshang, who was nonchalantly observing her surroundings. When Xia Ningshang noticed the gaze, she looked over, and upon seeing the cute little child, a gentle smile appeared on her face. Xia Ningshang wasn't wearing her veil at the moment. As for how lethal her smile was, Ji Huo couldn't see it, but he did notice Little Hongtang suddenly turn her head away and mutter, "That jerk of a brother goes out and immediately picks up a vixen. He comes back and tells Little Hongtang she’s fat. That’s men for you."

Ji Huo’s eyelid twitched. He walked over, reached out, and ruffled Little Hongtang’s hair until it was a mess. "What nonsense are you spouting? That’s baby fat, not fat."

He then introduced her to the group. "This is Miss Xia. I was able to breach the capital so quickly thanks to her help."

"Greetings, Miss Xia," the Earth Demon Squad members said in unison, as well-behaved as elementary school students telling their teacher hello.

Xia Ningshang walked over, crouched down to look at Little Hongtang, and poked the dimples on her chubby cheeks, saying with a smile, "What a cute little doll. Is this your sister?"

"Yes," Ji Huo nodded.

"Hmph." Little Hongtang pouted, shaking her head and brushing off Ji Huo’s hand. After a moment of thought, however, she voluntarily leaned her cheek against Xia Ningshang’s finger.

Xia Ningshang burst into a giggle and pulled Little Hongtang toward her to fix the hair Ji Huo had just ruffled.

*Wait, isn't this a bit too biased? Is beauty really justice?* Ji Huo’s eyelid twitched again, suddenly feeling a sense of crisis that his status had just dropped by one.

"Do you know that Miss Xia?" Master Wen asked Li Zhi in a low voice.