Chapter 30: War is Coming

A comfortable life is like a candied hawthorn, sweet and delicious, but there are always people who want to reach out and smash it.

On this day, Chi Li was enjoying Tang Lu's latest "Sunshine Rainbow Spirit Jelly". The little guy scooped up a spoonful of the trembling, iridescent jelly and tried to feed it to her while standing on tiptoe, his face beaming with pride that said, "Praise me for being amazing."

Just as Chi Li lowered her head, preparing to accept this excessively sweet treat...

A rapid message talisman shattered the tranquility of the palace, slamming into the barrier outside the hall with a "bang" and exploding into an ominous crimson light.

This is a top-level border emergency report!

The gentleness on Chi Li's face froze instantly, her eyes sharp as knives.

Before she could even eat the spoonful of jelly, she flashed out of the hall and caught the still-humming communication talisman between her jade fingers.

Information flooded his mind: The Xuan Tian Sect, a cultivation sect in the human realm, along with several other sects, launched a surprise attack on the northern border outpost of the demon realm under the pretext of "eliminating the demons that are harming the human world." The defending troops suffered heavy casualties and requested reinforcements!

“Xuantianmen…” Chi Li murmured the name, her crimson-gold eyes seeming to churn with magma.

It's that group of self-proclaimed righteous and sanctimonious hypocrites again!

In recent years, friction between the human and demon realms has been increasing, and the Xuantian Sect is one of the most radical instigators.

"Lili?" Tang Lu was startled by the sudden turn of events. The small spoon in her hand fell to the ground with a "clatter," and the jelly shattered into a colorful mess.

Sensing the overwhelming rage and chilling killing intent in Chi Li's heart, her face instantly turned pale. She ran over and tightly grabbed Chi Li's sleeve, "What's wrong? What happened?"

Chi Li lowered her head and looked into Tang Lu's eyes, which were filled with worry and confusion, and forcibly suppressed some of the surging anger.

She couldn't frighten the little guy.

"It's nothing," she said, trying to keep her voice steady, and patted Tanglu's head. "A few annoying flies are buzzing around the border. I'll go take care of them and be back soon."

However, at this moment, the soul resonance becomes the most honest informant.

Tang Lu clearly "heard" the cold information about "casualties," "surprise attack," and "Xuantianmen" in Chi Li's heart, as well as the anger that was forcibly suppressed but still surging.

"Did they...did they injure our demon race?" Tang Lu's voice trembled as she recalled the strange-looking but kind-hearted demons she had met at the market.

Chi Li did not deny it, but simply pulled her closer to his arms: "Be a good girl and stay in the palace until I return."

Just then, another message talisman flew in!

This time the information is more specific, and it also includes a brief but bloody battle scene recorded with a recording stone.

In the scene, the Taoist priests of Xuantian Sect wield their thunder-powered flying swords, mercilessly striking down the demon soldiers who had transformed into their original forms and were fighting back. Screams mingled with the roar of their Taoist magic...

"Hiss—" Chi Li clenched her fist tightly, her nails almost digging into her palm.

The old wound, due to the intense emotional fluctuations, felt faintly pricking with a needle-like chill.

This scene and Chi Li's intense pain were conveyed to Tang Lu without reservation through resonance.

"Ah!" Tang Lu cried out in a short, startled voice, not for herself, but for Chi Li.

She could feel her Lili in pain, and her heart ached too!

Those people in Taoist robes not only harmed the entire demon race, but also made her Lili so angry and in so much pain.

A mixture of anger, heartache, and fear exploded in her small chest.

"No!" Tang Lu suddenly hugged Chi Li's waist tightly.

She tilted her head back, tears welling in her eyes, but her voice was resolute, "Tang Lu doesn't want to go! Tang Lu wants to go with Li Li!"

"Nonsense!" Chi Li frowned. How could the battlefield be a game?

There, swords and magic fly freely; she absolutely cannot let Tang Lu be in danger!

"Tanglu, don't be afraid!" The little one stubbornly shook her head, and tears finally rolled down her cheeks.

"They bullied everyone in the demon race and even made Lili suffer!"

Tang Lu... Tang Lu can help!

The vines of the crabapple can bind bad guys!

Tanglu... Tanglu can also heal everyone who is injured!

She tried her best to demonstrate her value; although her voice still trembled with tears, her eyes shone brightly.

Chi Li looked at the little tree spirit in her arms, who usually wouldn't even step on a spirit insect, but was now shouting that she wanted to go to the battlefield. The softest part of her heart was deeply touched.

She knew that Tang Lu was worried about her and felt sorry for her.

"Listen to me," Chi Li's voice softened as she wiped away her tears. "The battlefield is dangerous. Staying in the palace is the biggest help you can give me."

However, Tang Lu's stubbornness reached its peak at this moment.

She sensed that Chi Li's journey would be fraught with danger, and the fear of possibly losing Li Li overwhelmed everything else.

She stopped speaking and simply held Chi Li with all her might. Golden vines even spread out uncontrollably, wrapping around Chi Li's body, as if this would keep her there.

"Let go, Tang Lu." Chi Li's tone was commanding.

"I won't let go!" Tang Lu cried, burying her face in her arms. "If Li Li gets hurt and doesn't come back... what will happen to Tang Lu? Tang Lu doesn't want to be alone..."

These words, like a sharp arrow, precisely struck the area in Chi Li's heart known as her "Achilles' heel."

Looking at the little tree spirit trembling in her arms, terrified of losing her but still refusing to let go, all her scolding and reasoning stuck in her throat.

In the end, Chi Li sighed helplessly.

She reached out, not to push Tang Lu away, but to pick her up and hold her in her arms.

“Alright,” Chi Li said, looking at Tang Lu’s red, tear-filled eyes, “I can take you there. But you must promise me that you will stay by my side at all times, never leave the range of my divine power protection, and never act on your own. You must obey my orders, understand?”

Tang Lu was stunned for a moment, not expecting Li Li to actually agree.

She nodded vigorously, then smiled through her tears: "Yes! Tanglu is obedient! Tanglu is the most obedient!"

As long as I can stay by Lili's side, watch over her, and protect her (although I might be the one being protected more often), I'll do anything!

Holding the little tree spirit in her arms, whose mood had instantly brightened, Chi Li turned around to face the demon guards who were already assembled and waiting for orders. The tenderness on her face was instantly replaced by an icy majesty.

"Pass down the order," her voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly throughout the entire palace, filled with a chilling killing intent, "Gather the troops and follow me—onto personally lead the expedition to the northern border!"

She wanted to see which fools dared to harm her demon realm citizens and make her little tree spirit live in fear!

Xuantianmen? Very good.

This time, let them truly understand what price they will have to pay for touching Chi Li's sore spot!