Chapter 24: Stepping Out

“What am I seeing…?”
Lu Fei’s eyes widened in disbelief at the utterly absurd scene before him.

Thinking he must be hallucinating, he shook his white-furred head vigorously and opened his eyes again.

This time, everything was clear. On the bank of a mountain stream, the mighty king of Wandering Mountain—whom he and all the little monsters of the mountain regarded as an invincible force—was kneeling in utter humiliation before a young man with a dark face.

A human… No, since crossing into this world, Lu Fei had yet to truly meet a real human. Even if this figure’s appearance resembled one in every way, he still harbored serious doubts.

Nearby stood the voluptuous serpent demoness from Serpent Coiled Mountain, her face ashen with fright, eyes wide in terror.

The two great leaders of Wandering Mountain were also there: the white wolf leader, who shared Lu Fei’s snow-white coat, and a goat demon leader. Both were kneeling on the ground as well.

As for the ugly serpent underling of the serpent demoness, it lay not far off, flattened as if struck by something, its body mashed and bloody.

He had wondered where all the major figures of Wandering Mountain and Serpent Coiled Mountain had gone. So, they were all here.

“Are you seeing clearly now?”

The dark-faced youth looked at the little white wolf who had suddenly appeared, eyes wide, shaking his head as if to clear his vision, and asked.

“Yes, I see clearly…” Lu Fei blurted out, then caught himself. He quickly released the she-rabbit demon he’d pinned down, lowered his body, and pressed himself trembling against the gravel. “Great King, Grandfather, spare my life…”

Anyone who could make both the kings of Wandering Mountain and Serpent Coiled Mountain kneel obediently was not someone he could afford to offend.

“Not bad, you’re clever enough…”

The dark-faced youth nodded at Lu Fei’s quick reaction, then turned to the wild ox demon king. “Why do you think I should spare your life?”

He yawned as he spoke, revealing a pair of sharp fangs.

Lu Fei glanced up cautiously and caught sight of the fangs. Inwardly, he thought, “Just as I thought—this youth is no human…”

Though the disguise was flawless, there was still something off about him.

“Grandfather…”

At the youth’s words, the wild ox demon king hurried to answer, “I can bring my little demons to serve you, Grandfather…”

The dark-faced youth looked annoyed. “If I kill your underlings, I can take them with me just the same.”

Seeing the youth’s impatience, the wild ox demon king’s face became even more submissive. After a moment’s struggle, he reluctantly produced a handkerchief, holding it out respectfully with both hands. “I also have this to offer you, Grandfather…”

A flash of interest lit the youth’s face as he saw the handkerchief.

He took it at once, turning it over in his hands with increasing delight. At last, he nodded with satisfaction. “Not bad. I didn’t expect you, little ox, to have such good fortune. I’ll take this treasure.”

He patted the wild ox demon king on the shoulder. “Gather all your underlings. I’ll take you to Great Wilderness Mountain.”

“To that godforsaken place…”

As he spoke, a trace of pain flickered across the youth’s face, but it was gone in an instant. He looked at the wild ox demon king again. “I’m going to eat your goat. Any objections?”

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“Eat the goat…”

The wild ox demon king was momentarily stunned, then quickly replied, “Of course not…”

He’d already been forced to hand over his greatest treasure to this old demon—what was a goat compared to that?

The dark-faced youth nodded. “Good.”

He reached out, and in an instant, the goat leader—one of the great commanders of Wandering Mountain—was seized, his true form revealed as a grey mountain goat.

Before the eyes of all the demons present, the grey goat shrank rapidly until it was the size of a thumb.

Then, the youth popped the tiny goat into his mouth and began to chew, smacking his lips.

Watching this scene, all the demons around were chilled to the bone.

Especially the white wolf leader, the other commander of Wandering Mountain. If the youth could eat the goat leader so easily, he could eat him just as quickly—thank goodness he preferred goat.

And as for the wild ox demon king himself, he realized that if not for offering up the handkerchief, he’d likely be the one being eaten right now.

To Lu Fei, the scene was simply horrifying.

The goat leader was already a high and mighty demon in his eyes, yet before the dark-faced youth, he was powerless—chewed up like a casual snack.

If the youth wanted to deal with him, it would take no more than a breath, perhaps not even a glance.

At that moment, a nameless terror rose in Lu Fei’s heart. Never before had he so desperately longed for power.

“What’s your name?”

Having finished chewing the goat leader, the dark-faced youth turned to ask the wild ox demon king.

“Reporting to Grandfather…” The wild ox demon king answered respectfully, “I am called Hei Lang.”

The youth frowned. “Black Wolf?”

The wild ox demon king quickly explained, “It’s ‘Lang’ as in ‘official’—I had a human scholar name me, heh.”

“Hei Lang, is it…” The youth nodded. “From now on, call me Great King. But in the mountains, you must call me Third King.”

“Yes, Great King,” the wild ox demon king replied.

“And you, what is your name?” the youth asked, turning to the beautiful but pale serpent demoness of Serpent Coiled Mountain.

She hurried to answer, “Reporting to Great King, I am called Hua Butterfly.”

“Hua Butterfly…” The youth nodded. “Very well. From now on, you two are my generals.”

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“Gather all your underlings,” the youth continued, glancing up at the sky. “When the sun is at its zenith, assemble. We’ll take you to Great Wilderness Mountain. Go now…”

“And a word of advice: don’t try to escape…”

With those words, the dark-faced youth vanished in an instant.

“Yes…” Hua Butterfly the serpent demoness replied respectfully.

“Yes, Great King…” Hei Lang the wild ox demon king echoed, though his large ox eyes couldn’t help but dart about nervously.

After a long silence, realizing the youth truly had left, Hei Lang slumped onto the ground with a heavy sigh. “Ah, I’ve suffered a real loss this time…”

“Where on earth did that Great King come from?” Hei Lang looked at Hua Butterfly. “He said he’s taking us to ‘Great Wilderness Mountain.’ Do you know where that is?”

“I don’t know…” Hua Butterfly exhaled deeply and shook her head. “I’ve only heard there’s a paradise in the west—a haven for our kind.”

“But from what he…” Realizing her slip, Hua Butterfly quickly corrected herself, “From what the Great King said, we’re to call him Third King in the mountains. Clearly, there are two kings above him…”

“If someone with his power is only ranked third, then Great Wilderness Mountain must truly be a gathering place for mighty demons…”

She fell silent.

Until today, she had ruled hundreds of miles around Serpent Coiled Mountain, free and unrestrained.

Now, all of that was gone…

She glanced at the dispirited wild ox demon king beside her. Once, the two of them had squabbled and vied for territory, but now those conflicts seemed trivial. They were united in misfortune.

No doubt his feelings matched her own.

“Perhaps it’s for the best. Leaving might not be so bad…”

Suddenly, Hei Lang declared, “I’ve been holed up in Wandering Mountain for too long. It’s time to move on…”

“I imagine Great Wilderness Mountain is nothing like this barren, desolate place.”

“There must be rare treasures, spiritual herbs, immortal plants…”

Saying so, the wild ox demon king patted his rump and stood up. “This old bull still wants to climb higher…”