Chapter 125: Things remain, people have changed, Lu Wufei arrives as thunder strikes!

"It's Big Bear!"

Reacting with equal swiftness and sensing the anomaly, Huang Gui followed closely behind the Third Brother as they rushed outside.

By then, they too heard the booming laughter echoing across the entire mountain ridge.

He froze in his tracks, speaking with a look of shock, only to meet the utterly gloomy expression of the Third Brother.

Before long.

The brothers were once more seated before the bonfire.

Around the campfire.

There were a total of six demons gathered in a circle around the large boiling cauldron.

Aside from the three brothers—the Crow Monster, Hongpi, and Huang Gui—there were also Wandashan, the Cat Demon Sanniang, and a snake demon with a yellow and black head.

Hongpi, ranked third among the brothers, possessed a steady temperament and a reliable way of doing things. Three years ago, his cultivation also broke through to the late stage of the Demon General realm, making him the fourth commander under Bai Yunxiao of Langlang Mountain.

Whenever the eldest brother, Lu Wufei, was absent, Hongpi always called the shots among the brothers.

And Hongpi did not辜负 (live up to) their expectations, taking good care of the brothers while never letting his own cultivation lag behind, becoming second only to the eldest brother among them all.

The Crow Monster, acting as the second brother, ought to have made the decisions in the eldest's absence, but alas, his temperament lacked steadiness, and his strength was not enough to command absolute obedience from the other demons. Thus, he could only rank under the third brother, Hongpi. At present, his cultivation was at the mid-stage of the Demon General realm.

Huang Gui, the youngest of the four brothers, had joined the latest. Because his cultivation had always lagged behind his older brothers, he had been rather insecure and sensitive before reaching the Demon General realm, existing almost like a background presence.

However, ever since the eldest brother dispelled the knot in his heart thirty years ago, his cultivation had rapidly surged, breaking through to the Demon General realm.

After breaking through to the Demon General realm, Huang Gui's intelligence and aptitude for contemplation quickly came to the fore.

Now, his words carried much more weight among the brothers. In fact, it was he who had first noticed and spoken of the matter regarding Big Bear just moments ago.

His current cultivation was at the mid-stage of the Demon General realm, having reached this stage a few years earlier than the Second Brother, the Crow Monster.

Wandashan No. 1 had once been an ordinary tiger on a demon battlefield who failed to escape in time. Her fate should have been mere death.

However, ever since she was rescued and brought back by Old Father Lu Wufei, the tiger demon's fate underwent a heaven-shaking transformation.

Because of her background, Wandashan belonged to the younger generation and was the sole female demon among them, which meant she was doted upon and cared for by the sworn uncles of her old father.

Coupled with Wandashan's sharp mind and diligence, her cultivation now stood at the early stage of the Demon General realm, making her an important figure among the pack of demons under her old father.

As for the Cat Demon Sanniang.

She had originally been just an ordinary female demon. Thanks to some initial good fortune, she was assigned under Lu Wufei's command.

This spared her from the fate of completely degenerating into a bed-warming concubine.

Because of her clever mind, she always stayed closely aligned with Lu Wufei and his faction of demons.

Now, she too had successfully advanced to the Demon General realm, possessing early-stage cultivation on par with Wandashan.

Finally, the snake demon with the yellow and black head was named Lisi. He was a newborn demon born after Langlang Mountain relocated to this territory of the former Fengyun Ridge. Originally a minor demon under Hongpi's command, he later advanced to the Demon General realm and had remained ever by Hongpi's side, counting as a close confidant.

At this moment, the three brothers—the Crow Monster, Hongpi, and Huang Gui—were discussing their grievances with Big Bear, who was very likely on the verge of being promoted to a general.

Among Wandashan, the Cat Demon Sanniang, and the snake demon Lisi, none dared to open their mouths to interrupt.

Observing the unsightly expressions of Hongpi and Huang Gui, the Crow Monster immediately piped up, "What is there to fear? Even if that Big Bear becomes a general, there's nothing to be afraid of!"

"Back then, General Bai pleaded for Big Bear's life. I refuse to believe General Bai would just let Big Bear retaliate against us!"

"Besides, Eldest Brother is not dead yet; he's only temporarily away. Eldest Brother will return sooner or later, and with his formidable reputation, I don't believe Big Bear would ever dare to lay a hand on us!"

The Crow Monster spoke these words with resounding force.

They immediately helped Hongpi and Huang Gui snap out of their anxiety regarding Big Bear's promotion to general.

In truth, their worry was not without reason.

For the relations among demons were starkly clear-cut and brutal.

If General Bai were absent now, but their Eldest Brother Lu Wufei were present...

They believed their Eldest Brother would certainly not let Big Bear off the hook.

And the reverse was equally true.

From Big Bear's perspective.

A minor demon under his former command whom he could have crushed with a single finger had nearly cost him his life, and later forced him to kneel and kowtow on the ground just to beg for survival.

Such humiliation—how could he ever swallow it willingly?

Just like the time he once used a sparring match as an excuse to beat Hongpi into a state of severe injury.

Once the Eldest Brother was gone, not a single one of these brothers could escape; they would undoubtedly suffer Big Bear's ruthless vengeance.

As for whether General Bai would intervene—with the Eldest Brother around, he certainly would. But if the Eldest Brother was no longer here, whether the other party would lend a hand was anyone's guess.

Moreover, as time slowly passed, the relationship between the two factions had not eased; instead, friction persisted—friction between the minor demons of both sides.

Because Taiping Mountain's lineage boasted quite a few Demon Generals and an even greater number of minor demons.

Previous clashes between the minor demons of both sides had always ended in victories for the Taiping Mountain lineage.

As the brother with the highest cultivation currently present and the one who called the shots, Hongpi naturally felt deeply concerned.

In truth, the main issue was that the Eldest Brother had been away for far too long.

The Eldest Brother had been gone for nearly thirty years.

No one knew how much longer it would take for him to return.

Therefore, how could Big Bear's promotion to general fail to make him anxious?

"Second Brother makes sense,"

Hongpi finally spoke up, "With Eldest Brother's reputation, Big Bear wouldn't dare touch us. Furthermore, General Bai and Eldest Brother share an extraordinary bond; we needn't worry excessively about this matter!"

With that, Hongpi raised his bowl of wine.

Instantly, all the demons present raised their wine bowls as well.

Meanwhile.

A completely different scene was unfolding on another mountain ridge.

Before a mountain cave surrounded by hordes of demons, the atmosphere was boisterous and overwhelmingly lively.

"The leader has broken through and become a general! Does that mean we're going to get our own territory as well?"

"That's right! The Great King will divide territory for our leader—no, our General! A territory that truly belongs to the General, a territory that belongs to us!"

"Now that the leader is a general, let's see if those demons from Taiping Mountain still dare to act so arrogant!"

"Precisely! This is Langlang Mountain, not Taiping Mountain."

"That General Bai of theirs has been missing for thirty years already; who knows if he's even dead or alive?"

"We don't ever have to be afraid of them again!"

The flock of minor demons and demon generals chattered all at once, discussing heatedly and buzzing with excitement.

Right at that moment.

*Thud.*

*Thud.*

A heavy set of footsteps echoed out.

The entire ground shook.

The throng of minor demons instantly fell silent, every single one of them turning their gazes toward the pitch-black cave as a tall, robust, and massive figure slowly emerged.

"Leader!"

"General..."

"General..."

The horde of demons immediately burst into fierce cheers.

"Alright..."

Hearing the cheers of his subordinates, Big Bear smiled all over his face and said, "I haven't had an audience with the Great King yet; it's still too early to call me General..."

"Third Brother..."

Big Bear looked toward a tall, fiercely auraed bull demon standing to the side and instructed, "Get things ready; we're holding a banquet tonight..."

Then, turning his gaze to a monkey demon general nearby, he added, "Monkey, go give him a hand."

The monkey demon immediately nodded respectfully, "Yes, General."

At this, the bull demon, Longwei, asked, "Eldest Brother, is it just going to be the demons from our own command? Won't that be too few? It won't be lively enough! Eldest Brother, you've become a general now—shouldn't we invite the other demons as well?"

Faced with this question from his third brother, Big Bear looked at the monkey demon beside him and said, "Monkey, you tell him."

The monkey demon bowed and immediately addressed the bull demon, "Commander Longwei, the General's status is no longer what it used to be. Those commanders and demon generals with any sense will come to offer their congratulations of their own accord; where is the need for us to issue invitations? We just need to prepare enough wine and food."

"Is that so?"

The bull demon Longwei scratched his head immediately and said, "I understand now..."

Hearing the monkey demon's words, Big Bear nodded in satisfaction, "Precisely."

"Big Bear."

Right at that moment.

A voice came floating from afar.

Big Bear turned his head and spotted two figures flying in from the distant sky. His expression immediately lit up with joy, and rolling billows of black Qi instantly churned beneath his feet, lifting him directly as he went to greet them.

"General..."

Looking at General Bai clad in silvery armor, Big Bear went forward with a smile and immediately performed a bow just as he had done in the past.

"There's no need for that."

Bai Yunxiao watched Big Bear, who was still bowing, and immediately laughed, "You are now in the Demon Spirit realm as well. You and I are of equal rank; there's no need for this in the future."

"The General has shown me great grace and cared for me so deeply; Big Bear will keep it engraved in his heart."

Big Bear replied with a smile, then glanced behind the general. There stood a tall figure clad in a pink long dress with snow-white skin and a pure, lovely appearance—a sight that at a single glance made his heart surge with an uncontrollable urge to pull her into his arms and cherish her. He couldn't help asking, "Might I ask who this lady is?"

Seeing Big Bear inquire, Bai Yunxiao smiled, "Just in time to introduce you."

Before his voice could fade.

The girl in the pink long dress interrupted, "General Bai, let me introduce myself."

Bai Yunxiao nodded.

The girl then spoke up, "I hail from Serpent Coil Mountain, surnamed Hu. General Bear may also call me Meiniang."

"Serpent Coil Mountain."

Hearing this, Big Bear froze for a moment before instinctively blurting out, "Didn't Serpent Coil Mountain dissolve long ago?"

Thirty years ago, during the great battle between Great Wilderness Mountain and Fengyun Ridge, General Lady Hua of Serpent Coil Mountain had died in that conflict.

After the war, Serpent Coil Mountain was left without a general, and the surviving demons were dispersed and assigned to reinforcement under the other generals beneath the Third Great King, Baimian.

Even Langlang Mountain had absorbed a few.

Thus, Serpent Coil Mountain had scattered.

Which prompted Big Bear's question.

Though somewhat abrupt, it was the truth.

Hu Meiniang, whose fitted pink robe accentuated her shapely figure, felt internal disdain toward the bear's remark, yet her face blossomed into a lovely smile as she replied, "General Bear is quite right."

"However, that was in the past. Now that I have returned, Serpent Coil Mountain naturally exists once more."

With that, Hu Meiniang looked toward Bai Yunxiao and smiled, "Isn't that right? I am currently troubling General Bai precisely on account of the Serpent Coil Mountain demons assigned to Langlang Mountain..."

Hearing this, Bai Yunxiao chuckled, "Langlang Mountain and Serpent Coil Mountain originally hailed from the same place, and Lady Hua and I have always shared a good relationship."

"Lady Hua has fallen in battle, and naturally, I feel a sense of regret."

"Now that General Hu has returned to revive Serpent Coil Mountain, I am, of course, delighted. General Hu is free to take the Serpent Coil Mountain minor demons whenever you wish..."

Upon hearing Bai Yunxiao's words, Hu Meiniang's face broke into a radiant smile as she said, "Then I thank General Bai! As expected, General Bai from my hometown is the best; the other generals are nowhere near as easy to talk to as General Bai."

"Oh?"

Bai Yunxiao looked surprised at this and remarked, "That is rather strange. Could there really be anyone who dares not to give face to Old Ancestor Hu?"

"That's not it. They certainly wouldn't dare not to give face to my master."

Hu Meiniang shook her head, a trace of distress crossing her features as she muttered, "It's just... ah, never mind, better not to say it."

Seeing the rabbit demon put on such an act.

Bai Yunxiao could readily guess that it wasn't a matter of them failing to give face; on the contrary, it was probably that Dilong, Longwei, and those few others had been far too enthusiastic.

This Hu Meiniang had been taken in as a disciple by Old Ancestor Hu, who stood above the three great kings of Great Wilderness Mountain. Once someone managed to latch onto this rabbit demon, not only could they walk sideways across Great Wilderness Mountain, but they would also secure a sanctuary throughout the surrounding wilderness.

Not to mention that the rabbit demon herself was inherently pure, moving, and overwhelmingly beautiful.

With such a wonderful opportunity presented to them, how could those fellows possibly restrain themselves from plotting?

Even Bai Yunxiao himself, upon seeing this pure rabbit demon for the first time, couldn't help but let his heart stir with thoughts.

However, his mind was clearer: clinging to the powerful and cozying up to the influential was far less reliable than cultivating one's own strength. That realization alone had cut off those stray thoughts.

In hindsight, it was clearly the right choice.

This rabbit demon looked pure on the surface, but her mind and schemes ran deep.

Once manipulated by her, it would spell nothing but trouble.

Bai Yunxiao actually hoped to see the likes of Duojiao and Longwei get played in the palm of this rabbit demon's hand; he was quite looking forward to it.

At this moment, Bai Yunxiao glanced sideways at Big Bear, and seeing the latter's burning, infatuated gaze fixed upon the rabbit demon, a sense of foreboding suddenly welled up inside him.

*This clumsy bear usually doesn't seem so dense, so why is he acting so utterly pathetic right now? A rabbit demon like her isn't someone a newly promoted demon like you can aspire to covet...*

*I've finally managed to foster a close helper, I can't let him get infatuated with this rabbit demon and end up wrapped around her finger.*

*If that happens, he might very well lose his life.*

With this thought in mind.

Bai Yunxiao looked toward the rabbit demon and asked, "Is General Hu in a rush?"

Hearing this, Hu Meiniang blinked her naturally shaded pink eyes and asked, "Is General Bai trying to chase me away?"

Bai Yunxiao felt a mild jolt internally, but outwardly shook his head with a smile, "General Hu jests. With a beauty like General Hu present, I'm already thrilled..."

"I merely meant to say that today happens to be the day my subordinate Big Bear gathers his Qi into an elixir and attains the rank of Demon Spirit."

"On such a joyous occasion, if General Hu is not in a rush, you are more than welcome to stay and share a cup of wine before leaving."

Hu Meiniang immediately smiled upon hearing this, "So it turns out I misunderstood."

With that, Hu Meiniang turned to Big Bear with a smile and said, "In that case, I shall intrude."

Big Bear had been listening all along to the conversation between General Bai and this shockingly gorgeous "General Hu," frustrated that he couldn't find a way to interject and leave an impression on her.

At this moment, seeing her bestow a gentle smile upon him, Big Bear felt his entire body grow several ounces lighter. He blurted out instantly, "If General Hu can stay, I'll be thrilled beyond measure. How could it ever be an intrusion?"

"Ah, right, I haven't introduced myself yet."

"My surname is Bear."

At this point, Big Bear's mind raced, realizing that the name "Big Bear" wasn't particularly refined and that a single-syllable name would be more fitting. Thus, he corrected himself, "General Hu may simply call me Xiong Da."

Hearing this, Hu Meiniang looked at the somewhat clumsy and nervous bear demon before her, smiling even more brightly as she nodded, "Very well, General Xiong."

"I will remember that."

Hearing these words and looking at Hu Meiniang's deepening gentleness.

Big Bear couldn't help letting out an excited, low roar in his heart: *Today truly is my lucky day!*

*Judging from what General Bai just revealed, this General Hu has an immense background. I'll have to ask General Bai for the details later...*

*As long as I can win over this rabbit demon, Bailang, so what if you entered an immortal sect? When the time comes, I will definitely make you pay the price!*

Watching Big Bear's simpering, infatuated expression, Bai Yunxiao sighed inwardly and could only force a smile, "It's getting late. We should head down first."

Hu Meiniang nodded.

To burst into the Demon Spirit realm and immediately encounter such a beauty—Big Bear's heart was surging with tumultuous emotions.

He resolved in his mind to leave an even deeper and better impression on General Hu during this banquet.

He already had a topic ready-made: today happened to be his breakthrough, and Hu Meiniang happened to arrive at Langlang Mountain. Wasn't that the most perfect conversation starter?

Naturally, Bai Yunxiao was oblivious to the internal musings of Big Bear, and he led the two demons flying toward his own residence.

Inside a spacious mountain cave whose entrance still bore the deeply carved characters "General's Cave."

A feast of wine and food had already been prepared.

Amidst the respectful greetings of the surrounding minor demons, and the deferential words of the sheep demon Changxu—who had ascended to the rank of commander even earlier than him—Big Bear walked into the cave, feeling increasingly exhilarated.

As time slowly trickled by.

The sky outside the cave grew thoroughly pitch black.

Big Bear sat as a companion to the side, listening to the conversation between General Bai and Hu Meiniang without ever managing to wedge a single word in. Frustration inevitably began to gnaw at his insides.

Finally, just as General Bai stood up and excused himself toward the rear, leaving him and Hu Meiniang seated alone together—

*My chance has come!*

Big Bear was just about to open his mouth.

Right at that very instant.

A figure in green robes appeared without the slightest warning in the very seat General Bai had just vacated.

(End of this chapter)