Chapter 375: The National Funeral and the Capture of Shadow Demons
Three days later, in the Holy Kingdom’s Tianlang City.
Returning to Tianlang City, the moment you enter, it’s a sea of white mourning colors.
Li Shanyan’s status in the Holy Kingdom is beyond description.
For many citizens of the Holy Kingdom, they did not just grow up hearing stories of Li Shanyan; their fathers, grandfathers, and their grandfathers’ grandfathers… it’s been like this for generations.
Even today, many in the Holy Kingdom can’t believe that the legendary national master Li Shanyan has actually passed away.
Thus, this nationwide mourning funeral didn’t require any official mobilization; everyone spontaneously donned mourning clothes and prepared white fabrics, as if it was their own beloved family member who had departed.
Young Master Sang and others, led by Young Master Cao and Xiang Zimo, made their way to the palace to don matching mourning robes before meeting Huo Ningxue and her brother in the palace’s inner courtyard.
Even Huo Ningxue wore the mourning robe reserved for the emperor, her dignified demeanor adding to the solemnity of the occasion.
But the moment she saw Young Master Sang, her beautiful eyes couldn’t help but flicker with joy.
“National Master!”
“Cough… Your Majesty, please be respectful. I am no longer the Holy Kingdom’s national master.”
“And so what? Didn’t they say once a teacher is like a father for life?”
“… Your Majesty, that’s not quite how it works.”
Behind Young Master Sang, Si Jingzhu suspiciously examined the female emperor and quietly leaned towards Shi Qingyan, saying:
“Why do I feel like… this female emperor isn’t very smart?”
“Be cautious,” Shi Qingyan replied, glancing briefly behind Huo Ningxue. “She is the proper emperor of the Holy Kingdom. If your previous comment had been any louder, a high-ranking old eunuch might come and throw you in jail.”
Si Jingzhu instantly shrank her neck in anxiety.
“It’s fine.”
Huo Ming, looking quite relaxed, said, “My sister indeed isn’t the sharpest.”
“Since you two are esteemed guests brought by Teacher Sang, there’s no need for formality in the palace. Just let the palace maids know if you need anything.”
Seeing Huo Ming being so polite, Si Jingzhu couldn’t help but nod. “This young prince seems obedient and composed, completely unlike a little boy of five or six.”
“Hey, Shi Senior Sister, do you think these siblings are related? Are they from the same mother? Why do they seem so different?”
Shi Qingyan replied, “… I beg you. If you wish to die, don’t drag me into it; I haven’t heard anything.”
Unlike the chit-chat from Si Jingzhu, Shi Qingyan’s gaze had been wandering since entering the palace, as if searching for something.
Once Young Master Sang finished catching up with Huo Ningxue, and Li Shanyan’s national funeral was about to begin, Young Master Sang quietly approached Shi Qingyan and asked:
“… Did you notice anything?”
“Yes. Quite a few actually.”
Without revealing her thoughts, Shi Qingyan said, “At least three or four. I even spotted two when we passed by the national master’s residence.”
Looks like the Demon Clan is quite invested in confirming whether Li Shanyan is really gone.
They’ve sent so many Shadow Demons just to verify his death.
Once Li Shanyan is buried, the Demon Clan will likely make their move.
“Did they notice you?”
“No. Their cultivation isn’t very high; the strongest one is only at the initial stage of the Transformation. As long as I conceal my aura, they won’t discover my identity as a Blood Demon.”
“Good, don’t alert them.” Young Master Sang nodded silently. “Let’s discuss it after the funeral.”
——
——
The procession carrying Li Shanyan’s coffin circled around Tianlang City three times.
The citizens along the way wept openly, their tears flowing freely.
The coffin remained open, revealing the kind and calm face of the old man, his hands resting peacefully on his abdomen as if he were merely sleeping soundly.
Finally, under the escort of Tianlang Wei, the coffin was transported to the royal tomb.
Next to the burial site stood an emperor’s tombstone, inscribed with the words “Dragon Huan Holy Kingdom’s Thirteenth Emperor Huo Jian.”
This was Li Shanyan’s last wish: to be buried beside his old friend.
As the coffin was slowly interred, Young Master Sang could feel the somber sadness enveloping everyone present.
Not to mention the professors and students led by Xiang Zimo, who were wailing in grief; even Young Master Cao shed a few tears.
Huo Ningxue’s beautiful eyes were also sorrowful, tightly grasping Huo Ming’s small hand without a word.
For Young Master Sang himself, he wasn’t particularly heartbroken.
He knew that Li Shanyan had lived his final days happily.
He already had no attachments to this world; to be buried beside his old friend was happiness enough.
If he must say anything, it would only be a bit of regret.
“Old timer, if you had lived a couple more years…”
Young Master Sang murmured to himself, “I still wanted to ask you for a serious drink.”
Inside the coffin, Li Shanyan wore a serene expression, a hint of a smile lingering on his lips.
……
After the funeral concluded, the sky had darkened.
Initially, Xiang Zimo and Young Master Cao planned to host a grand banquet to welcome Young Master Sang and let the students from Class One gather together.
However, Young Master Sang merely waved them off casually and quietly followed Shi Qingyan to a deserted corner of the palace.
“… Have the locations been confirmed?”
Shi Qingyan nodded.
“Good.”
Young Master Sang’s fingertips slowly tapped on his brow, a tusked mask covering his face, and a glint of light flashed in his eyes.
“Make your move.”
In an instant, the entire palace seemed to freeze.
In the shadows behind the pillars and among the grass and trees, dark auras merged with shadows, intently monitoring every movement in the palace.
However, the next moment, a chilling sensation from their very souls caused them to screech and flee in panic.
To Shadow Demons, shadows are like the ocean, allowing them to swim through shadows at will, almost ignoring any spatial limitations.
Yet at night, there exists a species that moves faster than they do, ghostly in their speed.
As those Shadow Demons desperately fled, they looked back and felt their souls nearly escape their bodies.
Shi Qingyan’s blood-red eyes glimmered like those of a reaper, closely tailing them. In just a breath of time, she caught one of them with her elongated claws, leaving no escape.
Some Shadow Demons tried to scatter in the chaos, but in the darkness, another pair of demonic eyes were watching them intently.
“Shi Senior Sister, to the right front, two are getting away!”
Now in mask mode, Young Master Sang saw everything before him as if nothing could hide from his gaze.
The Shadow Demons were no exception.
Those darting Shadow Demons appeared to him like fish in slow motion, and he caught sight of every last one.
In their cooperation, all eight Shadow Demons in Tianlang City were captured, with none escaping.
“Good job.” Looking at Shi Qingyan, who had both hands full of writhing shadow creatures, Young Master Sang said softly.
Shi Qingyan calmly tossed the incapacitated demons to the ground but kept one in her hand.
“This one will be my reward.”
Young Master Sang hadn’t yet understood her meaning when he saw Shi Qingyan slowly raise her head, bringing the struggling Shadow Demon towards her mouth. After savoring a bite, she licked her blood-red lips with relish.
Under the moonlight, she turned to look at Young Master Sang, her smile wickedly enchanting.
“What? Haven’t you seen a girl eat before?” she said with a teasing grin.
“… Cough, cough. No, it’s fine.”
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