Chapter 441

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Chapter 441: The Mockery of the Demon Emperor

Late at night, a stillness blanketed the harbor.

For most, nighttime signifies vulnerability and rest, but within the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom, such notions held no meaning. Here, many demon clans flourished in darkness, their alertness as sharp as owls.

The harbor, though not bustling due to the ash tides, was still tightly guarded. Fifteen hundred demons occupied this stronghold, a significant force even for Xiangliu’s heartland.

Chao Lu had no choice but to leave. If she stayed, the reinforcements arriving tomorrow would leave no room for escape.

She knew where Dundun was. Once she freed him, they would leave immediately. The mercenary group? Their fate was no longer in her hands.

Chao Lu tapped lightly on the wooden door.

“What’s the matter?” a voice grunted from inside.

She squinted her eyes, using psychic magic to momentarily confuse the guard. By the time his consciousness cleared, Chao Lu was already inside.

Swiftly, she removed her own handcuffs and clasped them onto the guard. Tossing him onto the bed, she arranged a strand of her hair on the edge of the pillow to create the illusion that she was still there.

Afterward, she donned armor and cloaked herself in an illusion, altering her appearance. Calmly, she walked out of the room, blending in with the guards.

Europa’s magic proved invaluable here. In a realm teeming with supernatural forces, detecting subtle magical fluctuations was difficult.

After half an hour, when the guards shifted, Chao Lu seized her moment. Moving cautiously, she navigated the complex and finally found Dundun.

The panda lay in a cage, heavily sedated and drowsy.

Chao Lu unlocked the chains quietly, then cut her wrist, letting her blood drip. The scent stirred something primal in Dundun, who instinctively licked the elixir-like liquid. Moments later, the panda roused from its stupor.

“Shh.” Chao Lu raised a finger to her lips, motioning for silence.

But before they could escape, a high-ranking demon soldier entered the cage.

The soldier approached Dundun, drooling. Chao Lu tensed.

Does it… eat pandas?

To her shock, the demon didn’t attack but instead latched onto Dundun, suckling greedily.

Repulsed, Dundun acted. Wrapping its powerful arms around the demon’s head, it squeezed until the soldier collapsed unconscious.

Wasting no time, Chao Lu donned the soldier’s armor. Unfortunately, Dundun’s size made disguise impossible. Guards patrolled heavily outside; escape seemed impossible.

“Miss,” Dundun began, but Chao Lu interrupted.

“I’ll start a fire,” she said through gritted teeth. “Once the chaos begins…”

Before she finished, the distant crackle of flames and sudden explosions echoed.

The warehouse was ablaze. Gunfire and shouting erupted, punctuated by explosions.

The mercenaries! Chao Lu realized. They’re creating a diversion.

Her heart wavered. This was their chance to escape. The harbor was close, and with high tide, she could swim ten miles to safety. But leaving now meant abandoning the mercenaries.

Steeling her resolve, she turned to Dundun.

“Head to the seaside. Secure a boat. Now!”

“But—”

“Go!” she snapped.

The panda hesitated before roaring defiantly. Charging into a patrol, Dundun scattered the guards like bowling pins. Claws slashed and teeth bit, leaving carnage in his wake.

Chao Lu slipped into the chaos.

Gunfire rattled from the second floor. She spotted Tanis and shouted.

Tanis turned, anger flashing in her eyes. “You tricked me!”

Realizing she’d been duped, Tanis cursed and fired her weapon indiscriminately. Smoke and fire consumed the building as grenades exploded, engulfing the area in chaos.

By the harbor, the group regrouped. Dundun, bloodied but unyielding, met them.

The mercenary leader’s gaze met Chao Lu’s. Their shared struggles forged a silent bond of mutual respect.

The boat cast off, riding the tide.

Meanwhile, in the harbor’s command office, Qisui observed.

“Captain, the situation is dire…”

Qisui dismissed the officer with a wave. “I saw everything. Start firefighting efforts and minimize the damage. As for the fugitives…” His voice dropped to a cold whisper. “They won’t get far.”

His gaze turned to the flashing screen.

Two bounties had been posted on the black market.

The first offered ten million dragon coins for Chao Lu, dead.

Shortly after, a second bounty doubled the price but demanded her alive.

Qisui smirked. The Bai Ze princess had become the center of a storm. Across the kingdom, hunters stirred, drawn to the tantalizing prize.

As chaos rippled through the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom, the chase had only just begun.