Two Rabbits Running Side by Side, Part 4

Demon Realm, Eastern Region
Qinglong City, City Lord’s Mansion

A lean, middle-aged man with a long beard sat in the main seat of the Qinglong City Lord’s hall, frowning at the Qinglong Guard’s Left Envoy kneeling below. “Have the scouts returned? What’s the situation at Tianyun Abyss?”

“Reporting to the City Lord, the battle at Tianyun Abyss has concluded.”

The Qinglong City Lord’s expression shifted. “That quickly?”

“Yes. Yesterday, the Black Tortoise Guard bypassed Tianyun Abyss, charging straight into the narrow valley west of the Changyi Mountains. The Vermilion Bird Guard’s seventh camp, originally allied to besiege Two City, suddenly defected to the White Tiger City Lord within. Together, the Vermilion Bird and White Tiger forces pursued the Black Tortoise Guard’s ten thousand elite soldiers to Tianyun Abyss.”

“The Black Tortoise Guard lost? That’s ten thousand elite troops!” the City Lord asked, incredulous.

The Left Envoy nodded. “The Black Tortoise Guard held a defensible position, historically easy to guard, and was well-trained. However, their City Lord’s trusted aide fled with treasures, scattering morale and sowing discord. The Black Tortoise Guard marched thousands of miles, exhausted, while the Vermilion Bird Guard, rested and prepared, waited in Two儀 City. With calculated strategy, they caught the Black Tortoise Guard off-guard, leading to their collapse.”

“What of the ten thousand elites?”

“Well…” The Left Envoy hesitated, then spoke frankly. “The new White Tiger City Lord declared that those who surrender would be spared. Aside from a few thousand in the City Lord’s personal guard, who resisted, all surrendered to the White Tiger.”

“And the Black Tortoise City Lord, who led the army himself? What of his elite personal guard?” The City Lord’s voice grew anxious, his beard twitching.

The Left Envoy lowered his head regretfully. “The personal guard executed over a thousand deserters to set an example, initially effective. But it couldn’t stem the tide and instead provoked the outer camps, who were already inclined to surrender. Before the Vermilion Bird or White Tiger forces acted, internal strife erupted. In the end, the Black Tortoise City Lord and his guard were annihilated before Tianyun Abyss.”

The City Lord’s face paled, about to speak when he froze, glancing toward the screen behind him.

After a few breaths, he turned back. “What of the casualties?”

“The Black Tortoise personal guard, though elite, numbered only five thousand. Against ten thousand outer camp soldiers, they were overwhelmed. Over thirty thousand Black Tortoise soldiers fell, with the rest surrendering to the White Tiger.”

“…Understood.”
The City Lord pondered wearily, waving a hand. “You may go. Ensure the Qinglong Guard’s training remains vigilant.”

“Yes, City Lord.”

After the Left Envoy left, the City Lord waited until he was out of divine sense range. Then, like his seat was on fire, he leapt up, bypassing the screen to rush into the inner hall. Passing through layers of curtains, he reached a hidden chamber.

“Your Majesty.” Without hesitation, he knelt toward the shadowy figure in an armchair.

Before his knees touched the ground, an invisible breeze lifted him back up.

In the dim lamplight, the figure lowered their hand. “The Dragon Palace was buried ten thousand years ago. I’ve told you, no need for such formalities.”

“Yes, yes. As you command… my lord.”
The City Lord wiped sweat from his brow, looking worriedly into the shadows. “The Tianyun Abyss battle unfolded exactly as *he* predicted in the second scenario. Must our Qinglong forces truly get involved?”

“Unlike treacherous humans who revel in betrayal, I keep my word. Since *he* fulfilled his part, we must honor the agreement.”

The City Lord hesitated. “But this risks heavy losses for Qinglong City, not to mention serving *his* interests.”

“Compassion doesn’t command armies. If you cling to foolish mercy like I once did, you’ll meet my same fate.”
The figure’s voice, cold with mockery or self-derision, laughed. “Besides, I only promised to act if the Tianyun Abyss battle didn’t erupt. I never guaranteed the outcome. If Qinglong City can turn the tables and reap the spoils, that’s not breaking my word.”

“…”

The City Lord mulled it over, then steeled himself. “Very well. I’ll secretly order our forces to move tonight, crossing the Changyi Mountains by dawn to reach Tianyun Abyss in Two City!”

—

**Dusk fell, mountains bathed in sunset.**
The evening glow draped the boundless wilds of the demon realm’s southern frontier, as if the entire region were submerged in a molten river of blood.

As Mu Hanyuan’s newly appointed “personal guard,” Yun Yao stayed close to the White Tiger City Lord, rarely leaving his side. After noon, she boarded his carriage, traveling southwest with the White Tiger’s personal guard.

In Yun Yao’s view, the Tianyun Abyss crisis was resolved, and the “spare all who surrender” order was issued under her watch, leaving no loose ends.

She couldn’t wait to leave that place.

It was hard to pinpoint why, but ever since glimpsing the Demon Sovereign Hall’s ruins beneath the blazing flames of Tianyun Abyss, her heart stirred with unease whenever her divine sense swept over it. It was as if something there threatened her immortal essence—a sensation she’d felt since the night she arrived in Two City and took Xiao Ling away.

As they distanced from Tianyun Abyss, entering the Vermilion Bird’s territory, that oppressive feeling faded slightly.

When the carriage stopped by a river fork for the flying beasts to drink and rest, Yun Yao glanced at Mu Hanyuan, masked in bronze, and quietly lifted the curtain to slip outside.

The escort consisted of White Tiger and Vermilion Bird personal guards, newly allied and not yet fully integrated, so an unfamiliar face like hers didn’t raise suspicion. With her youthful, harmless appearance, Yun Yao blended seamlessly among the resting guards by the river.

She initially aimed for the liveliest group, but barely sat down when a burly soldier asked eagerly, “Hey, has anyone seen the personal guard in the City Lord’s carriage?”

Yun Yao’s instincts screamed trouble, her eyelid twitching.

“Who could see him? The City Lord guards him like his own eyes. I haven’t even glimpsed a hair!”
“Isn’t he from your Vermilion Bird’s Yulin Camp? What kind of face could charm the City Lord to linger in a dangerous place like Two City for days?”
“Exactly, makes my heart itch to sneak a peek!”
“…”

Their crude banter hit like a wave, making Yun Yao stumble as she nearly fled.

Fortunately, some serious veterans were also resting nearby, tending to their beasts. Still rattled, Yun Yao intended to return to the carriage but was halted by their conversation.

“…Tianyun Abyss did end up in a fight, didn’t it?”

Yun Yao froze, glancing at the speaker.

“Heard about it. Not surprising. The Black Tortoise Guard’s always been cliquish. After their City Lord’s trusted aide fled, the internal rifts widened.”
“Exactly. Word is, once the ‘spare all who surrender’ order came down, the City Lord’s personal guard killed half a camp to set an example. Backfired, though—pushed to the brink, the outer camps’ bloodlust erupted. Without a single White Tiger or Vermilion Bird soldier, they just watched the infighting unfold.”
“That’s bloodless strategy! The City Lord’s mind is terrifying.”
“Tch, how many died? Any reports?”
“When the messenger reported to the City Lord, I overheard—about a third.”
“Wow…”

Yun Yao’s expression shifted, her figure flickering.
The next moment, she appeared inside Mu Hanyuan’s carriage.

He was as she’d left him, resting calmly on the soft bedding, undisturbed even by her sudden appearance, as if completely unguarded.

Her fingers twitched slightly.

…Could their words be true?

Had Mu Hanyuan known the Black Tortoise Guard’s discord and used the “spare all who surrender” order to sow chaos deliberately?

As she pondered, her complex gaze on him stirred his long lashes, which lifted slowly.
“…What are you looking at?”

Perhaps due to sleep, his voice carried a drowsy rasp.

Yun Yao’s eyes darkened, and after a moment, she spoke plainly. “Did you already know?”

“Know what?”

“That even with the order to spare surrenders, the Black Tortoise Guard would implode,” she said softly. “So you let me leave.”

“If by ‘let you leave,’ you mean I didn’t want you to see that scene,” Mu Hanyuan’s voice cooled like nightfall, “then what? Like others, do you assume that because I’m a demon, I’m inherently evil? That my actions are meant to wreak havoc?”

Yun Yao faltered. “I didn’t say that.”

“But you thought it,” he sneered, leaning closer, his eyes cold. “Why don’t you give me a better idea? The demon realm’s four main cities are in chaos. The Black Tortoise Guard’s tensions were a dam ready to burst. I didn’t want the White Tiger or Vermilion Bird dragged in, so I minimized losses to avoid greater disaster. Is there a better way?”

Yun Yao gripped her sword, wanting to speak but hesitating.

Mu Hanyuan spoke for her. “You want to ask if I deliberately used those thirty thousand lives to fill Tianyun Abyss and revive the Demon Sovereign Hall?”

Her eyes trembled as she met his gaze. “…Did you?”

“I can tell you, I’m the last person in Qianmen or this world who wants the Demon Sovereign Hall under Tianyun Abyss to reemerge.”
He raised his hand, fingers brushing her slender neck, lifting her chin to force their eyes to meet.

The cold mask nearly grazed her lips.
“If I said the one who caused this catastrophic chaos was Mu Hanyuan, but not *me*—”
His dark eyes were like a storm.

“Would you believe me?”