Within the Endless Demon Domain, the demon clan's power is divided among various tribes, each often at odds with one another.
At this moment, however, the entire domain was filled with joyous celebrations.
News of the demon clan's overwhelming victory, nearly annihilating the dragon clan, had already spread.
Hearing this, every demon was ecstatic.
The demon and dragon clans had been bitter enemies for ages, their conflicts resulting in countless deaths.
This victory was monumental, largely due to Gongsun Yajiu's perilous mission of gathering intelligence within the dragon clan.
Her return would significantly elevate her status, making her a top contender for the future leader of the demon clan.
At this moment, Gongsun Yajiu's family and her tribe were eagerly awaiting her return.
While some looked forward to her arrival, others hoped she wouldn't come back.
Almost all the tribes had gathered to welcome the triumphant warriors returning from the battle against the dragon clan.
Among the crowd were a few young demons, heavily adorned with respect and deference, their expressions serious.
These were the prodigies of the demon clan's younger generation, honored as Holy Sons and Holy Daughters.
Holding such titles meant they were eligible to compete for the position of the next demon clan leader.
But with Gongsun Yajiu's immense contributions, she would undoubtedly garner massive support within the clan.
This threatened to disrupt the delicate balance among the Holy Sons and Holy Daughters, putting them at a disadvantage.
As the procession advanced, Gongsun Yajiu's figure came into view.
Her father, Gongsun Bo, couldn't contain his excitement and rushed forward.
"Daughter, you've brought great honor to our tribe!" Gongsun Bo's voice trembled with pride and joy.
Their tribe had always been small and often overlooked, constantly bullied and ignored by the demon clan's higher-ups.
But since Gongsun Yajiu had earned the title of Holy Maiden through her trials, their tribe had received increasing attention and resources.
Their strength had significantly grown, all thanks to Gongsun Yajiu.
She was not only his pride but also the pride of their entire tribe, and now, the pride of the entire demon clan.
As her father, Gongsun Bo felt immense pride and joy.
If his daughter became the demon clan leader one day, he would have no regrets in life.
However, when Gongsun Bo saw the human in Gongsun Yajiu's arms, his brow furrowed.
He didn't understand why she had brought back a nearly dead human.
In the demon domain, humans usually had one of two roles: food or slaves.
But not all demons liked eating humans; their tribe wasn't fond of it.
As for slaves, a crippled human like this one was just a waste of resources.
So, Gongsun Bo was puzzled about why Gongsun Yajiu would bring such a human back, especially since she seemed to care deeply for him.
"Daughter, who is this human?" Gongsun Bo asked.
"Father, I owe my success to this human's great help. He is now gravely injured, and I must bring him back to our tribe for treatment. Please, take care of him for me. Do not let him die!" Gongsun Yajiu's tone was serious, her eyes filled with concern for Xiao Fan.
Earlier, she had thought Xiao Fan had regained consciousness when he briefly opened his eyes, but she quickly realized he was in a dazed state, having lost his spirit.
It seemed his body and mind had both suffered greatly, rendering him almost like a living corpse.
With her about to enter the sacred land to receive rewards from the demon clan elders, she couldn't continue carrying Xiao Fan.
Someone had to look after him in her stead.
"I see," Gongsun Bo said, his expression grave.
Though this seemed like a simple matter, involving a human made it complicated.
As a Holy Maiden and now a celebrated hero, Gongsun Yajiu was under intense scrutiny. Any misstep involving a human could be used against her by rivals, questioning her loyalty to the demon clan.
Betrayal was the most intolerable crime among the demons. Even without concrete evidence, if her loyalty was doubted, it would severely damage her chances of becoming the demon clan leader.
Realizing this, Gongsun Bo made a decision to clear the path for Gongsun Yajiu. He couldn't let this human jeopardize her future or the tribe's progress.
"Daughter, don't worry. I will take good care of him," Gongsun Bo said confidently, reaching to take Xiao Fan from her arms.
Gongsun Yajiu, initially planning to hand Xiao Fan over, suddenly stopped, noticing a fleeting but telling look in her father's eyes.
From a young age, she had been adept at reading people, and she understood her father's intentions. If she left Xiao Fan with him, Xiao Fan would certainly not survive.
Seeing her hesitation, Gongsun Bo forced a smile. "What's wrong? Don't you trust your father?"
Sighing, Gongsun Yajiu replied, "Father, you cannot deceive me."
Caught off guard, Gongsun Bo's expression turned awkward.
"Daughter, he's just a human. Even if he helped you, who would care?" Gongsun Bo said bluntly. "In his current state, he's no different from a dead man."
"My advice is to give him a quick death to end his suffering."