The Demon Lords

Chapter 834 184: Opening One’s Heart

The construction of Snow Sea Pass could be described as non-stop, and saying it's a hundred things waiting to be done wouldn't be an exaggeration.

But fortunately, where there's a will, there's a way. As long as there are people, there's no worry that things can't get done.

Repairing city walls, new village construction, and plowing are all being diligently carried out. Not only are wild people slaves being used like animals again, but even the Shengle army has been asked to join the "labor army," working alongside the people. The storytellers recruited from the Shengle teahouse and those who are eloquent have been uniformly assigned topics, telling the story of "military-civilian fish-water relationship" in the form of rhythmic storytelling to the people inside and outside Snow Sea Pass.

Hence, even the wastelands have their benefits. When you're ready to rebuild them, it's like creating anew on an almost blank sheet of paper, where you can express your ideas freely, and be a bit idealistic if you wish.

However,

tonight,

the demon lords who were originally assigned to their respective tasks all gathered together.

One table,

A Ming, Liang Cheng, and the blind man sat on one side, Siniang sat on the other side, and finally, Xue Three came over holding a box. The box opened, revealing the Mo Wan inside.

Out of seven demon lords, six came.

One foolish one didn't come,

because the last time such a solemn topic was discussed,

that foolish one suggested, "How about we just cut down my lord?"

So that foolish one was automatically excluded from the meeting members list.

Xue Three reminded:

"Let's try to make this meeting as efficient as possible; Mo Wan is in a hurry to go back and take care of her child."

The blind man nodded, everyone was very busy, and everyone's time was precious, so no delays were allowed.

But the issue to be discussed today at this gathering was extremely important, and it wouldn't do if we didn't sit down, have a good talk, and discuss thoroughly.

Without a doubt, the blind man once again became the host of this meeting, a role everyone had come to expect and accept, even when my lord Zheng Fan was here, it was the blind man who led the meeting.

"Siniang, why don't you start?"

Siniang wasn't reserved or shy, she got straight to the point:

"It's difficult, very difficult. My lord actually has made it clear to me, and I believe he's made it clear to all of you. He bears no grudges, nor hides anything. He is as open-hearted to us as ever.

But my strength still hasn't improved, my lord is even more anxious than I am."

The phrase "my lord is even more anxious than I am,"

is indeed thought-provoking.

It clearly shows my lord's urgency; after all, the kindness of a beautiful woman is hard to resist, which in its original and true sense is often underestimated.

Even when working together with combined efforts, Siniang still hasn't been able to advance, and it's been such a long time. This difficulty... tsk tsk.

Xue Three asked: "Siniang, you and my lord..."

Xue Three drew a circle with his left hand and poked his right index finger into it,

"...done it?"

Siniang's expression slightly darkened, and a faint cold smile appeared on her lips.

The blind man quickly said, "The issue isn't there."

"How is it not important? This is very important, okay!" Xue Three retorted.

A Ming chuckled and said, "So, if that's really what's necessary for advancement, who's in front and who's behind between you and my lord?"

"Disgusting!"

Xue Three pointed at A Ming and shouted.

A Ming was indifferent and said, "That's just following your logic."

Siniang pulled out her hairpin and began trimming her nails, saying:

"It's late at night, don't be so disgusting."

The blind man looked around and asked:

"Everyone's tried it, right?"

Liang Cheng shook his head and said, "I've been leading the troops recently and haven't gone to see my lord. But my lord specifically visited the barracks to find me a few times, patting my shoulder and telling me I've worked hard."

"And then?" Xue Three asked.

"Then my lord started to feel more wronged as he spoke, and ended up crying."

"Crying?" Xue Three said in astonishment.

"Yes, my lord forced out some tears, saying that I fight wars and command troops for him but can only stay behind the scenes, all the fame and fortune are his. He said I'm very wronged, it wasn't easy for me, then he got emotional himself and cried."

"Sigh." Xue Three sighed.

Siniang shook her head and said, "My lord is indeed anxious at heart."

"Indeed," A Ming said.

This is no longer about the demon lords looking to curry favor with my lord,

Now Zheng Fan,

after witnessing the Sword Saint's feat of slashing through a thousand riders with one sword,

on one hand is intrigued, but on the other hand instinctively feels a bit panicked.

Before, when Lord Zheng wasn't Lord Zheng, just a captain, a commander, someone as insignificant as a fingernail, naturally didn't attract attention. But as his position rose, the opponents he would face became different.

It's possible that someone is willing to dispatch experts for a decapitation tactic against you now.

Wild people, not surprising, right? You've blocked their door, and what if a wild expert wants to avenge his kin?

Chu people, not surprising, right? Who was the first to order the massacre among those forty thousand Chu troops? People don't go looking for Tian Wujing, he's too strong, they think you're the soft target. Killing you with a "peasant's rage" sounds reasonable, no?

Even in the Yan State, it's not impossible for someone at court to want to conveniently get rid of you.

Shatuo Que Shi is nice, but you can't live carrying a coffin forever, can you?

The Snow Sea Pass has the Snow Sea Iron Cavalry to protect itself, but you can't stay holed up forever, right?

Lord Zheng is still dreaming about going down to Jiangnan to see the courtesans and write poetry.

Putting aside everything, even if it's just because I've been "slacking off" while the Mo Wan under my command are working themselves to death, playing my part and giving the Mo Wan an upgrade together could be considered as their "salary," which is quite normal and proper, isn't it?

I upgrade, you all upgrade with me, so we share common interests fundamentally, and that's how we stay woven together to move forward, isn't it?

Look at this, look at this,

The situation has brought tears to my lord's eyes,

It's difficult,

Really difficult!

The atmosphere at the conference table suddenly became heavy.

The blind man spoke up: "I think it's because we haven't figured out the method. Everyone knows we advance together with my lord time and again. Rather than saying we're fawning...rather than saying we are showing loyalty, it would be better to say we are actively deepening the bond with my lord.

The word bond, those two characters, should be the key we need to focus on. How to increase this relationship, you all can discuss."

"Pfft..."

Xue Three suddenly laughed aloud and said:

"We can't just sign a contract like Warcraft with my lord, can we? How about we find someone to inquire in the West or send someone to Yanjing to ask Western sorcerers?"

Liang Cheng shook his head and said: "It shouldn't be like that. Contracts, at first, when my lord upgrades, we can follow suit in upgrading. When my lord is in a coma, we've remained ordinary for half a year.

I think, between us and my lord, there's actually a layer beyond the contract, in the words of the blind man, it's the most primitive bond."

A Ming spoke up: "Using the format of speeches and TV shows, I think it should be about opening up our hearts to each other, letting us communicate genuinely."

Siniang covered her mouth and laughed.

Xue Three shook himself and said: "That's nauseating."

The blind man suddenly stopped talking, then thoughtfully said: "Perhaps, it really is like that. We might really be able to change our perspective.

Because most things in the world are actually relative. We used to just seek my lord's feelings towards us, which is a bit like trying to squeeze into my lord's heart.

But now, at least at this stage, my lord is willing to accept us and wants to help us as much as possible. So, the problem now is likely not on my lord, but on us.

A bond must be mutual; a one-sided top-down approach isn't called a bond, but...

Xue Three quickly replied:

"Domestication."

The blind man frowned slightly but still said: "That word is a bit harsh, but that's the idea."

"But doesn't my lord understand us?" Liang Cheng asked, "After all, my lord has helped renew us."

The blind man retorted: "It's different. First, except for Mo Wan, the six of us are creations of others, my lord is not originally our creator."

At this moment, Siniang suddenly spoke:

"Yes, it's different. Firstly, when we were created, few had prequels, side stories or sequels. Many things weren't clarified, just like Xue Three and Fanli who were discontinued due to poor performance."

"..." Xue Three.

Siniang ignored Xue Three's depression and continued:

"Moreover, this is no longer the comic world. We are not strictly comic characters anymore. We have transformed from the comic into humans.

This is a… real world, and we are real people. We have become multidimensional. Each of our memories has long surpassed the comic's setting for us, has automatically completed, been perfected.

Or perhaps, our self-awareness inherently transcends the boundaries of the comic.

And, whether it's people or things, there are bound to be changes. We've been in this world for years, who hasn't changed? Who is still their original self?

Do you really think you're still that same youth from before without a bit of change?"

The blind man agreed: "Siniang has spoken rightly. Even just watching the sunset an extra time might greatly enrich one's life."

"So should we try it this way?" Xue Three asked.

"Let's make a schedule. Three days per person, if unsuccessful, then switch to the next person? This way we avoid conflicts and don't need to worry about my lord getting sick of hearing motivational talks several times a day and it backfires." A Ming suggested.

"Shall we draw lots then?" The blind man said.

"You think we're stupid, with you around we'd still draw lots?" Xue Three immediately retorted.

"Let's put the blind man last." A Ming said.

"No, no, he deliberately went last last time, let's not fall into his trap again. So, blind man, you leave the mansion first, we'll draw, and the remaining one is your sequence, alright?"

The blind man nodded, indicating his agreement.

"We'll have someone accompany you in case you cheat by coming back. Who should go with you? Let Ah Li go, where's Ah Li? Can someone find Ah Li and let Ah Li take the blind man away first, keep an eye on him, then we'll draw lots."

...

"Ah Li, why are you here?"

Just returning from visiting Sword Saint's manor, Lord Zheng arrived at the gate of his temporary residence and noticed Fanli squatting in the corner of the wall.

His hands tucked into his sleeves, he wore a silly smile, which became even brighter upon seeing Zheng Fan.

"Is there something?"

Zheng Fan asked.

Fanli nodded,

said foolishly:

"My lord, I have some things in my heart that I want to share with you. Keeping it inside makes me uncomfortable."

————

Thanks to Ding Ding for becoming the 109th alliance leader of Demon Arrival!

And then,

Goodnight, everyone.