Chapter 2248 - 2243: Lifting the Alert

Chapter 2248: Chapter 2243: Lifting the Alert

Niu Hao’s expression turned grim; he did not look at the corpses but instead pulled Niu Lili over: "How about it, are you hurt?"

"I was slashed on the leg, but Tang Ming just gave me some golden sore medicine powder, I applied it, and it’s already healed."

Niu Lili’s face reddened slightly as she glanced at Tang Ming beside her.

Niu Hao took a deep breath and said, "Thank you, Sister Jiuzhe. Niu Song, go gather all the tribesmen’s corpses, and bring these few back as well. Investigate who they really are."

"Niu Hao, you don’t need to investigate; when I fought their leader, I already found out who they were."

Hu Jiuze spoke up.

"Oh, Sister Jiuzhe knows?"

Niu Hao looked at Hu Jiuze with some surprise.

Niu Hao had long known that Hu Jiuze had fallen, and with his skills, he could see that Hu Jiuze probably hadn’t possessed someone but had created a puppet instead.

After all, this rugged man with a full beard showed no expression on his face, and he didn’t have a heartbeat or breath.

"Yes, when I returned to the Fox Spirit Mountain Range, I killed someone named Meng Xiao at the foot of Fox Tail Mountain. That person was likely a subordinate of the West Desolate Old Demon. And this time, the leader who abducted your daughter practiced the same cultivation technique as Meng Xiao."

Hu Jiuze’s head spun quickly three times and then she opened her mouth, producing a sharp short blade and a dark-colored hook in her hand.

Niu Hao took the steel hook and raised his eyebrows: "Sent by the West Desolate Old Demon? It shouldn’t be. I’ve been getting along peacefully with Niu Wei all these years, and I’ve had no dealings with the West Desolate Old Demon. Why would his men suddenly attack my daughter?"

"Dad, could it be because of the Immortal Rice?"

Niu Lili stood by Niu Hao’s side and said.

Niu Hao’s pupils contracted, and he cautiously glanced at Hu Jiuze and Tang Ming, then said, "Sister Jiuzhe, you’re a guest; we shall investigate this matter thoroughly. Come, please come inside."

Hu Jiuze and Tang Ming both nodded, following behind Niu Hao, and entered Dou Niu Mountain.

Dou Niu Mountain was indeed different from the Fox Spirit Mountain Range.

Before Tang Ming arrived at the Fox Spirit Mountain Range, it had no greenery, not a hint of green.

It was only covered in those Demon Vines brought over from the Demon Realm, a type of dark red plant that looked quite peculiar.

"Clan Leader, what’s going on here?"

In the village closest to the foot of the mountain, the elder responsible for organizing the escape saw Niu Hao returning so quickly and his face turned quite grim.

Niu Hao sighed: "All the tribespeople guarding the mountain have fallen today. We’ll hold a ceremony tonight to let them return to the embrace of the Blood God."

"Oh? The mountain guards are all dead? Who did it? And who are these two?"

The elder from the Niu Family looked at Tang Ming and Hu Jiuze, his expression somewhat sullen.

The people of Right Bull Horn in the Niu Family have always been xenophobic; they believe that the people of Left Bull Horn do not follow the Blood God’s teachings and instead join alliances with other forces rather than loyally serving the Blood God, which is wrong.

Condoning the slaughter of their tribesmen is also wrong.

This is also the main reason why Left Bull Horn broke away.

"This is Sister Hu Jiuze from the Fox Spirit Mountain Range. She saved my mother’s life back in the day. Years ago, when West Continent City fell, Sister Jiuzhe fell. If I’m not mistaken, this should be the puppet body refined by the Demon Slayer Clan."

Niu Hao mentioned Hu Jiuze saving his mother, looking at Hu Jiuze with gratitude.

The elder quickly restrained his discontent and, along with the tribesmen behind him, bowed slightly to Hu Jiuze: "So the benefactor has arrived; forgive us for Niu Fang’s rudeness just now."

"Niu Fang, if my physical body hadn’t fallen, you would surely recognize me. Back then, when you were a little kid, you once said you wanted to marry me and bring me to live in Dou Niu Mountain."

Hu Jiuze rarely laughed heartily.

Meanwhile, the elder named Niu Fang twitched his mouth a few times and also joined in with an awkward smile.

"Alright, Niu Fang, go inform everyone that the alert is lifted, adjust the sentries at the foot of the mountain, and strengthen mutual defenses; starting tomorrow, at least two elders should accompany the sentries at the foot of the mountain."

Niu Hao collected himself, his smile vanished, and he spoke sternly.

Niu Fang nodded and personally went to inform the tribesmen, while Tang Ming and Niu Hao proceeded to walk into the Niu Family’s guest hall.

According to Niu Family’s rules, the more capable people should live in the village closest to the mountain foot to protect the elderly, women, and children in the clan.

As Clan Leader, Niu Hao’s family lived here, though Niu Hao’s father had fallen many years ago. Niu Hao’s mother, who had been saved by Hu Jiuze back then, was still alive.

Niu Lili had run back ahead of them to bring out the old lady.

Perhaps due to experiencing Dou Niu Mountain’s split, her husband’s death, her son’s fall, and other events.

The old lady looked very aged as she leaned on a cane and grabbed Hu Jiuze’s hand upon seeing her: "Benefactor, it’s been so many years, so many years."

"Senior, don’t cry. Aren’t we all well?"

Hu Jiuze was also somewhat emotional. This old lady named Niu Yingzi was a young married woman back then, and the two spoke candidly about everything, forming a bond that led many in the Niu Family to want to marry Hu Jiuze into Dou Niu Mountain due to Niu Yingzi’s influence.

However, back then, Hu Jiuze had someone else in her heart and did not agree to the pursuits from the Dou Niu Mountain Niu Family members.

Later, when Demon Abyss invaded West Desolation, Hu Jiuze learned Bull Horn Mountain was in trouble and begged Tang Mosheng to aid Bull Horn Mountain, preserving the Evergreen Trees and Evergreen Grass there.

It could be said that without Hu Jiuze, Dou Niu Mountain wouldn’t exist as it is today. That’s why Hu Jiuze is respected here.

"Indeed, blessed by the Blood God, everyone is well."

Niu Yingzi nodded; she was Niu Wei’s aunt, and actually, no one knew Niu Yingzi orchestrated the Enchanting Soul Array for Dou Niu Mountain’s internal chaos, illustrating Niu Wei’s alliance with the West Desolate Old Demon.

Niu Yingzi understood that Dou Niu Mountain held West Desolation’s most terrifying possession—the secret power that temporarily restores demonized soil.

This matter might be a secret to the West Desolate Old Demon but wasn’t a secret to some of the old generations.

Years ago, the Tower Master of West Desolate Tower knew about this, even asking if it could be implemented widely.

Unfortunately, because the Niu Family had to rely on the cost of life to restore the land, the matter was left unresolved.

But the Niu Family Head who was managing Dou Niu Mountain at the time discovered that Dou Niu Mountain was being watched, and that person was none other than the Tower Master behind the Dark Tower linked to the West Desolate Old Demon.