Chapter 107: Fourteen Years, The Faces of Life

There was no warning. No notification. The individual had released their immense aura with such reckless abandon that their intentions could hardly be considered friendly. Under these circumstances, Bai Yunxiao felt no need to be overly courteous.

He shot out of General Cave, and upon exiting, he saw a tall, handsome figure standing in the pavilion outside. The stranger was dressed in an exquisite black robe and had long, silver-white hair, his gaze sweeping around the area. Even though the visitor had taken on a human form, Bai Yunxiao could clearly sense the overwhelming demonic aura emanating from him.

This was no human; it was a demon. Yet, even as a demon, his aura did not match any of the Demon Commanders Bai Yunxiao had ever encountered.

"May I ask who you are?" Bai Yunxiao stood outside the pavilion, looking at the figure within as he spoke in a calm voice. "And what brings you to my Langlang Mountain?"

Just then, two figures riding on black clouds and mist approached the General Cave from different directions.

"General..."
"General..."

One had the head of a ram on a human body, and the other had the head of a bear on a human body. Both were clad in black iron armor. As soon as they arrived, they dispersed their clouds and hurried toward Bai Yunxiao, weapons in hand. It was clear they had sensed the visitor's presence.

Lu Wufei turned his head to look at the three individuals before him, focusing particularly on the two standing behind Bai Yunxiao. He was familiar with the one on the left—the ram-headed, long-bearded commander. When Lu Wufei had left, this commander, who had advanced to the late stage of the Demon General realm on the battlefield, had naturally become the head of the minor leaders.

As for the bear-headed figure on the right, dressed in black armor with a fierce expression and a hulking frame, Lu Wufei recognized him even better. Was that not his greatest rival back on Langlang Mountain, the bear leader, Big Guy? It seemed that since he was standing with the ram commander, he had also attained the rank of commander.

Lu Wufei took a closer look and realized the bear leader had indeed reached the late stage of the Demon General realm. His aura was somewhat restless, suggesting he had only recently broken through, but it was undoubtedly late-stage cultivation. This surprised Lu Wufei; when he had left, the bear leader had only been nearing the mid-stage. To have advanced this far in fourteen years was by no means slow—though, of course, it could not compare to his own progress.

Lu Wufei’s gaze swept over the three, lingering on the newly promoted bear leader for a moment before turning back to General Bai with a smile. "General Bai, have you forgotten me?"

Bai Yunxiao was slightly startled. The visitor's tone lacked hostility, and his words suggested they had met before, though Bai Yunxiao could not place him. However, the voice sounded incredibly familiar. The stranger's strength, stature, and appearance made it impossible for him to immediately recall the identity.

While Bai Yunxiao pondered, the bear leader standing to his right was struck with a sense of dread. The moment the stranger’s gaze landed on him, he felt as if he had been stripped naked, his very essence laid bare. Hearing the visitor's voice, the bear leader also felt a prickle of familiarity. Who was it? The more he thought, the more profound the memory became.

Suddenly, it hit him. *Bai Lang!* It was the voice of that brat, Bai Lang!

He remembered now. The voice was identical to that of the cunning wolf cub, Bai Lang, who had vanished over a decade ago. He had heard rumors that the wolf had left Langlang Mountain to seek immortal paths and join a great sect—a preposterous notion. Years had passed, and the wolf had disappeared without a trace. He assumed the cub had been eaten by some other demon or had long since rotted away in some forgotten corner. If the brat had still been around, he would have made sure to beat him during the selection trials two years ago. At least he had managed to beat up the wolf's sworn brother, the wild boar demon; that had been some consolation. He regretted only that the wolf hadn't been there to witness his prowess during the trials held by the Third King.

As the bear leader lost himself in these thoughts, General Bai finally realized who it was. The voice was indeed that of the young white wolf demon, Bai Lang, whom he had once valued so highly. It was a pity the boy had been so headstrong and obsessed with leaving the Great Wilderness to seek some "immortal fate." Otherwise, with his talent, he would certainly have become another commander under his banner.

"Could it be..." Bai Yunxiao’s heart skipped a beat as he looked at the elegant black robe and silver hair. The idea seemed too incredible to believe. He tested the waters: "May I ask who you are? Have we met?"

"Of course we have!" Lu Wufei laughed. "But it's no surprise you don't recognize me in this state. What about this?"

With a flash, Lu Wufei shifted into his half-demon form. He stood tall, covered in silvery-white fur as smooth as the finest silk, with a lupine head and cold, amber eyes. He still wore the black robe from before.

"Now," he said as the cold wind whipped around them, causing his black robe to ripple while he stood motionless, "General Bai, do you recognize me?"

"Bai Lang!"

Even as incredulous as he felt, Bai Yunxiao recognized him instantly. It was the brat from his memory. Faces could be altered, but one's bearing and temperament were hard to disguise. If not for the overwhelming aura of a Demon Commander, he would have recognized him immediately.

"You really are Bai Lang!" Bai Yunxiao’s face lit up with surprise and delight. He started to step forward, but in a blur, Lu Wufei was suddenly standing right in front of him. Bai Yunxiao instinctively recoiled, but seeing the look on the young wolf's face, he realized it was a playful gesture. He laughed, "It seems you actually succeeded in finding a master!"

"Heh heh," Lu Wufei chuckled. "General Bai, I’ve traveled tens of thousands of miles to see you first. You aren't going to make me stand out here and talk, are you?"

It was that same brazen spirit! The boy hadn't changed at all in over a decade. Bai Yunxiao laughed heartily. "Of course not. I shall arrange for fine wine to welcome you home!"

He turned to the side, but before he could speak, the ram-headed commander, Longxu, bowed respectfully. "I will go and prepare the banquet for the two Generals immediately."

Bai Yunxiao nodded and turned back to Lu Wufei. "Come, the banquet will be ready shortly. Follow me into the cave."

"It would be my honor," Lu Wufei replied.

The two demons walked toward the General Cave, laughing and chatting like old friends, with no hint of the fourteen-year absence or the previous hierarchy between superior and subordinate. Now, they were equals.

As they moved away, the bear leader, who had been stunned into silence since Lu Wufei's transformation, finally snapped out of it. He grabbed Longxu. "Where are you going, Commander?"

"To the kitchen, of course," Longxu replied, casting a side-eyed glance at the bear. "General Bai is hosting Commander—no, General Bai."

Longxu recalled the grudge between the bear and the returned wolf. He couldn't help but feel a flicker of amusement, though he kept his face neutral. "You should come inside. The Generals will need someone to run errands."

The bear leader, feeling a sudden surge of panic, quickly said, "Let me do it. You know there were some misunderstandings between me and General Bai. I need time to calm my nerves, and I should learn these duties from you anyway."

Longxu nodded. "Very well. Tell them to use the best ingredients. Bring out everything we have." As Longxu turned to leave, he paused and looked at the bear. "You need to change your attitude as soon as possible. I suggest you ask our General to intercede for you, and the sooner, the better."

With that, Longxu hurried into the cave. The bear leader, though trembling with anxiety, had no choice but to head toward the kitchen. His mind was in turmoil. Gone was the disbelief of why the wolf had become a commander; now, he only felt the crushing weight of fear. If the wolf decided to settle their old scores, he would be helpless.

*What should I do? Should I run? No, if I run, I'm truly finished!*

On the way to the kitchen, the bear leader felt as if he were walking to his own execution. He had beaten the wolf's sworn brother, the wild boar, quite severely two years ago. If the wolf found out, there would be no salvation. He decided he had no choice but to beg his own General to speak on his behalf.

Inside the cave, Lu Wufei and Bai Yunxiao sat at a stone table. Lu Wufei personally poured the wine, dismissing the attendants.

"Tell me," Bai Yunxiao said, clinking his cup against Lu Wufei’s. "What have you been doing all these years?"

"Don't be in such a hurry," Lu Wufei smiled, filling the cups. "These fourteen years have been quite the journey."

"I believe it," Bai Yunxiao said. "Otherwise, you wouldn't have reached the Demon Commander realm so quickly. And your aura... it feels different from ours. Have you truly...?"

Lu Wufei drank his wine and replied candidly, "Your intuition is as sharp as ever, General. I have indeed cultivated the true methods of the immortal sects. That is why my aura differs from yours."

Longxu, standing to the side, was struck with awe. The legends of immortal arts and blessed lands, once mere myths, were now a reality standing before him.

For Bai Yunxiao, the revelation was both shocking and complex. He knew enough to understand that becoming an immortal was no longer a dream for Lu Wufei, but a tangible path. He looked at the wolf—who had gone from a fledgling demon to a peerless commander in the same time it had taken him to make only a modest advancement—and realized that if anyone among them had a chance to ascend to the throne of a Demon King, it was this young wolf.

"My eye for talent has always been good," Bai Yunxiao said, raising his cup. "To your dreams coming true."

"Indeed, your eye is excellent," Lu Wufei replied, clinking his cup. "I have taken the Daoist name 'Lu Wufei.' You may call me Wufei. Though, I am still Bai Lang."

Just then, the bear leader returned with the food. Lu Wufei noticed a small white mouse poke its head out from his collar, its nose twitching at the scent of the feast.

"We are at Langlang Mountain now," Lu Wufei said, gently placing the mouse down. "Go find your uncles and play."

The white mouse chirped excitedly and darted out of the cave. The other demons watched with various expressions, but Lu Wufei simply turned back to Bai Yunxiao.

"General, do you know how long it took me to reach the lands of humanity after I left?"

Bai Yunxiao, recalling their conversation from years ago, asked with interest, "How long?"

"Three years," Lu Wufei replied.

As the two continued to reminisce, the white mouse, which Lu Wufei called "Xiaobai," scurried out of the cave and burrowed into the earth. Meanwhile, on a mountain peak opposite the General Cave, a group of demons sat around a campfire in a hidden cavern, noisy and boisterous.

"Hey, I wonder if Big Brother ever got my message," the crow demon said, looking at the wild boar demon. "Brother, should we try sending it again?"

The boar looked at the butterfly demon, who shook her head. "We still need two spirit herbs."

"The tribute for this month is just enough," the boar sighed. "We'll see about next month."

Just then, a strange squeaking sound echoed from the corner of the cave.