Chapter 455: This Is No Victory

"Fall back! Retreat!"

Shi Hou faltered for a moment before continuing his escape with his near-death lord. Despite losing his arm and his horns, he did not stop running. And his voice was even greater than before, overtaking every other voice and sound. 

Huo Shen and Ao Shuang stopped mid-air, no longer chasing at Ling Xue. 

They looked at each other before glaring at the Yao Princess. 

"This isn't over." 

They turned away and returned to their clans, retreating from the fight. She watched them go, breathing heavily as the crimson aura dissipated. The flute fell to her side as the Yao Demon descended down to her clan. 

"Princess! Are you okay?" the clan members asked. 

She nodded while her eyes continued to stay on them. 

"Yes, I'm fine. Of all the clans to have joined them, I didn't expect it to be the Huo Clan and the Ao Clan. Those two are mad", she muttered. 

"Are we giving chase?" they asked. 

Ling Xue was quiet, looking towards the other soldiers and towards Du Xiu. The commander had returned to his original form, no longer emitting the powerful heat. He walked forward casually, heading towards his halberd axe. 

What remained of Kong Zhi's army had quickly run away. But there were plenty who sought to take Du Xiu's weapon for themselves, having witnessed the power he displayed. Unfortunately, that was just wishful thinking. 

The halberd axe was still glowing white. It was still hot enough to melt the stone it was laying on. Those that tried could only scream and pulled their hands back, their flesh blackened and burnt. Those who could withstand the heat couldn't lift it from the ground. 

Even as he was walking towards them, there were several who still tried and failed, running off at the last moment. 

Du Xiu let them go and looked down at his weapon, slowly wrapping his fingers around it and lifting it up with ease. Under his grasp, the halberd axe dimmed and returned to its black luster. 

"I really am getting too old." 

He sighed before resting the halberd on his shoulders and walking back to the North Fort. His other hand was still over the wound caused by Shi Hou, Blood spilled through his fingers, dripping down as he returned. 

"Commander! Please head to the infirmary!" 

The various captains all saw the state of his body and went to escort him back. But he waved them away. 

"It's just a flesh wound, I can go by myself. Focus on recovery and repair! Any news about the South is sent straight to me, understand?" 

"Yes, commander!" 

They saluted to him before marching off, working together to clean up the mess of this battle. He watched them go before making his way to the infirmary where he was swiftly treated. A day later, he was back within his quarters, reading through documents and reports. 

Outside, the North Fort was bustling with noise as soldiers moved about. 

The farms and storage houses had been trampled on. From the crushed crops to the broken buildings, months of work and care had been destroyed. The surrounding land was the same. Although there wasn't much to see, with only flat plains and rocky terrain. But the battle had left it a complete mess. 

Numerous cracks and craters, blackened ground, and singed grass, there was little left. 

The stench of blood was still thick despite the corpses of demons and humans being given a proper burial. Squads of soldiers were scattered everywhere, working to clean and restore what they could. Those of the Yao Clan as well as other demons that took refuge helped as well. 

Among them was Ling Xue, working clearing out and cleaning the rubble. Her sleeves were rolled up and her crimson hair was tied to a bun. Looking at the rocks in front of her, she grabbed them one by one in her hands, crushing them to dust. 

After a while, she wiped her sweat and looked around before glancing over at the North Fort. Her eyes sharpened before she went back, keeping herself silent. 

There were no celebrations or anything of the sort, everyone just returned to their duties. There was nothing to celebrate after all. Many of them had blank expressions while some had a face of slight frustration. 

Within Du Xiu's office, he read through the reports with a calm expression. Once done, he put them down and leaned back on his chair, rubbing the bridge of his nose. 

A heavy sigh escaped his mouth as he looked up. 

"Hah, so we no longer have to deal with the Idol of Chaos, just a very hostile Hundun Clan", he muttered. 

The commander looked back down and glanced over at his armor and weapon, both of which were displayed by the wall. Standing up, he walked to his halberd axe and took it off the rack, spinning it around. 

"I could've ended it there", he thought, "No, even if he survives, he can no longer fight. This should be the time to push forward. The Boundless Beast Forest is open to us and we've taken control of the Cerulean Serpent's Lake. Take out the Mu Clan and we'll have control of the three main points. Then we all converge on him and finish this."

Making his decision, he put his halberd axe down and went back to his desk to write up orders. 

As it was now, this was not the time to wait patiently and slowly advance. All it took now was a single campaign towards the west, to kill Kong Zhi and help restore the Demon Continent. 

And the demon in question?

He was indeed still alive but his condition was terrible. Resting on a stone bed, the Vajra Demon was wrapped in bandages, surrounded by the sweet and earthy scent of medicine. His chest rose just a bit as he breathed weakly. 

Even with his bloodline being that of a Vajra, have incredible healing and vigor, it wasn't enough. He might have the bloodline but he was no real Vajra Demon. 

Sitting on his knees was Shi Hou, looking at his lord. Although he was dressed decently, it wasn't enough to hide the bandages around the stumps of his horns and his arm. His expression was dark, his eyes looking down as a feeling of failure fell over him. 

"Lord Kong Zhi, to think that I failed to protect you", he quietly spoke, despairing in his own mistakes.

"Why don't you just take over? You are his second in command." a voice asked. 

Standing behind him were the other kings and queens, Huo Shen, Ao Shuang, and Shiji Wu were there. The other two were elsewhere, most likely training with their respective armies. 

Shi Hou looked back at them before shaking his head. 

"No, no one can replace him. To do so while he is still alive is to disrespect him", he replied resolutely.

"But look at the state he is in, is he even conscious? There should be someone to lead and who else but you", Shiji Wu reasoned with him. 

The Roaring King was quiet, fully understanding that this was the right thing to do. But his eyes showed hesitation as his remaining hand opened and closed. It didn't seem right, to take over. 

"You should do it", said Huo Shen, "After all, who was it that convinced us to join Kong Zhi? While he was busy searching for a way to strengthen himself, you sought to expand our forces, negotiate with us."

"Right!", Ao Shuang followed.

"Why even follow him, when you've been doing most of the work?" she asked. 

Shi Hou then stood up to face them. 

"Unlike me, he has a vision, a dream, a goal. Me? I only know how to charge forward and fight. In my clan, I was an oaf even though I was the strongest. And when he came to our clan, he chose me to join his ranks. I was his first 'king' and that was the first time, I felt accepted. I follow him because of that", he answered. 

"But I know the situation we are in and I'll take over and lead. But only for a time, once Lord Kong Zhi is awake, I will give it back to him."