Chapter 59: Demon General 4【Double-length Chapter, Please Keep Reading】

Endless mountain ranges.

As the first ray of autumn morning sunlight pierced the stone cave, inside, the Crow Demon, Redskin, and the weasel spirit Huang Gui were already awake.

“Ah, it’s still the most comfortable sleeping here with Big Brother…”

The Crow Demon turned over in the nest lined with soft pine needles in one corner of the cave, opened his eyes, and glanced at the others—Redskin and Huang Gui—saying, “Whenever I sleep in my own nest, I can never wake up in the morning and end up late.”

Indeed, over the past days, the Crow Demon had built himself a nest not far from Big Brother’s cave, high in a tree. When living alone, he preferred the treetop residence for the sense of security it brought.

Redskin, sprawled in another corner, replied offhandedly, “That’s just because you’re lazy and don’t want to get up.”

He too had found a place to stay—not far from Big Brother’s cave, he and Huang Gui had dug out a burrow for himself. The burrow was much smaller than Big Brother’s cave and could barely fit him alone.

Huang Gui sat up and looked at his two elder brothers, saying, “I also think it’s better to sleep here with Big Brother. It’s livelier with you all around.”

Upon hearing this, the Crow Demon was delighted, exclaiming, “Huang Gui, you really know how to talk! You get me—that’s exactly what I mean…”

Though the three demons each had their own dwellings, they spent far more nights in Big Brother’s cave than in their own places.

“It’s just that Leader Bear is so annoying…”

The Crow Demon, thinking of the gathering coming up, grumbled, “Other demons finish a task and that’s it, but we get assignments every few days.”

“It’s already much better than before…”

“You should be content…”

Redskin gulped a bellyful of water from his gourd, stood up, and said, “Time to get up, or we’ll be late. Today is the day to hand in spirit herbs.”

“Right, right…”

Huang Gui immediately stood up, went to the wooden vat, scooped a ladle of water from a halved gourd, and drank deeply.

“Ugh, gathering every day, holding meetings every day…”

The Crow Demon sat up and sighed, “When will the day come when we don’t have to gather, don’t have meetings, and can sleep as long as we want…”

“When you cultivate to be as powerful as the General, then you’ll have such days…”

At that moment, Lu Fei’s voice suddenly sounded.

Immediately, a surge of formidable demonic power swept through the cave.

Redskin, the Crow Demon, and Huang Gui all turned to see their Big Brother, who had just opened his eyes, looking at them with an oppressive gaze that made their hearts skip a beat.

“Big Brother, have you…have you broken through?”

The Crow Demon was quickest to react, bouncing to his feet and rushing to Lu Fei’s side, asking excitedly. Redskin and Huang Gui also gathered around, beaming with anticipation.

Big Brother had always been diligent in his cultivation, far more so than Redskin or Huang Gui. After consuming a spirit herb some time ago, his progress had become even more rapid.

At this point, Big Brother’s strength was already at the late Demon Soldier stage—one more step and he would become a Demon General, rising above the other lesser demons as a junior leader.

When that happened, they would no longer have to fear Bear Leader. Huang Gui could also leave his post under Stag Leader and join Big Brother, following him and his brothers.

They were all keenly aware of these things.

After Little White helped them find enough spirit herbs to hand in, the three brothers had unanimously decided that Big Brother should consume the extra herbs to accelerate his cultivation.

They eagerly anticipated his breakthrough.

“Still a bit short…”

“But I’m close; I only need a final opportunity…”

Feeling the surging power within, Lu Fei rose from his bed and looked at his three younger brothers. “Let’s go. Today is the day to submit spirit herbs.”

“We’ve made it this far. We can’t give Bear Leader any excuse to punish us.”

With that, sensing with his divine sense where everyone was gathered, he strode out of the cave.

The Crow Demon and the other two hurried after him.

They transformed into their true forms and quickly made their way to the assembly ground halfway up the main mountain—a large, leveled clearing that had been expanded greatly.

Already, a crowd of lesser demons with all kinds of animal heads had gathered there.

Many of them were native beasts of the mountains who, after gaining intelligence, had come to pledge allegiance once they sensed a new demonic power in the territory.

Because of this, Black General had given special orders: not only were intelligent beasts off-limits, but even for meals, lesser demons were forbidden to hunt within the main and surrounding mountains. There were strict limits on what kinds of ordinary beasts could be hunted each day.

Compared to two months earlier, the rules within the territory had increased substantially.

“Hey, Pale-face, did you hear? Yesterday, Old Greyhide got into a fight with a horse demon over a spirit herb…”

“And then?”

“Then Greyhide got thrashed!”

“Haha, although that horse demon just arrived last month and is a local, he’s huge.”

“He’s only mid-level Demon Soldier and still lost to a newly transformed little demon. Greyhide really lost face this time…”

“Serves him right. That old coot’s only good at tricking other demons. He deserves a beating…”

“He even wanted me to take on that white wolf before…”

Hearing the lesser demons gossip about the rat spirit Greyhide, Lu Fei drifted closer.

A tiger demon with a white-furred head happened to look over, his expression changing instantly as he forced a smile, “Wolf Bro…”

Lu Fei nodded coolly in response and led the Crow Demon and Redskin to the spot where Bear Leader held meetings each day.

“Wolf Bro…”

“Wolf Bro…”

“Crow Bro…”

As Lu Fei and his brothers approached, a few little demons nearby quickly made way and greeted them flatteringly.

Although the three brothers were singled out by Bear Leader, their strength was obviously superior to that of the other lesser demons.

Especially their eldest brother, the White Wolf—not only did many come to know him at the banquet two months ago, but his intense demonic aura had continued to impress and intimidate those under Bear Leader’s command.

Now, Lu Fei enjoyed some renown among the lower ranks of the mountain. Alongside a black dog demon called “Black Not Bad” and a dung beetle spirit named “Golden Armor,” all at the late Demon Soldier stage, he stood at the pinnacle of the lesser demons, on the verge of becoming a junior leader.

The desire to curry favor with the strong was in the blood of all demons.

Naturally, the lesser demons were eager to cozy up to such figures.

Lu Fei had long grown accustomed to such attitudes and maintained his aloof demeanor.

The Crow Demon, however, was all smiles when a little demon called him “Crow Bro”; he could barely contain his joy. Still, he knew well how to put on airs, lifting his head proudly, eyes above all others.

And the demons really bought into this. After all, everything a strong being did was justified, meaningful, and wise. Much like on Earth—when you’re successful, even your filth is fragrant; when you’re down and out, even breathing is a mistake.

Soon, figures of all shapes and sizes—tall, short, thin, fat—but without exception radiating strong auras, arrived in various iron or leather armors and stood before the assembled lesser demons.

Then, atop the hillside above the junior leaders, a tall figure draped in a black robe, with a white wolf’s head, appeared.

Finally, clad in resplendent golden armor and sporting a pair of curved, menacing bull horns, a huge and muscular form floated overhead for all to see.

“The two-month deadline is up…” Black General’s thunderous voice roared into the ears of all demons below.

“I keep my word…”

“Any leader who fails to submit spirit herbs—cut off your own arm, and the quota doubles next time.”

“Any lesser demon who fails—drag them to the cookhouse…”

In that instant, Black General’s voice was like true thunder, exploding in the ears of all lesser demons.

Previously, though Black General had warned of severe punishment for failure, none had expected it to be so harsh.

Leaders had always been high and mighty, never the ones punished—they were always the punishers. But now, punishment had come for them, and it was severe.

“Cut off your own arm, double the quota next time…”

While losing an arm wasn’t a grievous injury for a demon—it would regrow—doubling the quota was a serious problem. It was already hard enough to gather ten spirit herbs; how could they manage twenty?

If they failed again, Black General’s punishment would surely be even harsher.

As for the lesser demons, the punishment was not just serious—it was fatal.

Being sent to the cookhouse meant being killed and cooked into food.

That was what all lesser demons feared most.

For those without spirit herbs, panic immediately set in—real, desperate panic.

Since coming to this new territory, junior leaders had barely eaten their underlings as casually as before, and punishments had seemed lighter. Any clever demon had noticed. Some, thinking themselves smart, had kept spirit herbs for themselves rather than submitting them—unable to resist the lure of spirit herbs, a primal, physical need.

But now, they realized Black General was still the same mountain king, and his punishments were just as severe and terrifying as before. Death had never really left.

“Let’s begin…”

At Black General’s command, the counting of spirit herbs began.

The junior leaders all looked far more serious now. Clearly, Black General’s severe penalties left no room for negligence.

“One by one…”

Bear Leader, holding a wooden tray, pointed at the pheasant demon at the front of the line. “You first!”

“Yes, Leader…” The demon with the pheasant’s head stepped forward, pulled out a large, vividly green raspberry from his bosom, and placed it on the tray.

“Hmm…” Bear Leader sniffed the herb’s aroma, nodded, and, though not great with numbers, could at least count one herb per demon.

“Next…”

Soon another lesser demon stepped forward and handed over a thumb-thick root.

After inspection, Bear Leader called, “Next…”

One after another, the lesser demons stepped up.

Soon it was Lu Fei’s turn.

As the white wolf walked forward, Bear Leader’s expression shifted, sensing something, and he frowned.

Lu Fei said nothing, simply placing a thumb-sized, blackish object into the tray. He’d extorted this spirit herb from the snake demon who’d robbed Huang Gui while patrolling the mountains—he didn’t know exactly what it was, but a spirit herb was a spirit herb.

Bear Leader sniffed carefully for a while, then waved him past.

The Crow Demon then stepped up and handed over a piece of yellow ginger-like herb.

Next was Redskin, who also submitted a piece of yellow ginger herb.

Those who had submitted their spirit herbs stood off to the side.

Lu Fei, the Crow Demon, and Redskin stood together, watching as each demon submitted their herb, and from time to time, a demon would be dragged from the group, wailing—a sight that left them all with mixed feelings.

Because there weren’t too many lesser demons, the process was fairly quick.

Before long, everyone had finished.

Perhaps Bear Leader’s usual brutality and intimidation had worked in his favor. Aside from two new demons who hadn’t been here long enough to gather herbs, every other demon had submitted spirit herbs, totaling eleven—one more than Black General required, so Bear Leader didn’t have to make up the difference personally.

As for the other leaders, except for one fox spirit whose underlings all completed their tasks, the rest had failed to get full compliance, leaving a dozen or so lesser demons waiting to be taken to the cookhouse.

As for the junior leaders, even if their underlings failed, they all made up the difference themselves, so all their groups completed the task.

“Take them away…”

Bear Leader looked coldly at the dozen or so dejected lesser demons below.

Among the nine junior leaders, the Goat Leader, who also oversaw the cookhouse, stepped forward, and with a wave, sent a long vine snaking out to bind the trembling lesser demons tightly.

Soon, the group was led up the mountain toward the cookhouse, as docile as pigs or dogs headed to slaughter.

At this, the previously noisy crowd fell completely silent.

...

By the time they returned to the cave, it was nearly noon.

They didn’t stay to eat from the communal pot on the mountain; instead, Lu Fei, the Crow Demon, Redskin, and Huang Gui returned home.

“Big Brother, it’s still early…” As soon as they entered, Redskin said, “We want to take Little White to look for more spirit herbs.”

Little White was the long-nosed white mouse—a little fellow that, after slimming down, had been given the name “Little White” by Lu Fei.

“Wait a moment…”

Lu Fei sensed with his divine mind and signaled to the still little creature.

Soon enough, a long, pure white rat scampered out from beneath the bedding in the corner.

Shortly after, Redskin, the Crow Demon, and Huang Gui took Little White out to search for herbs again—something they’d been doing every day.

Lu Fei sat cross-legged on his bed, meditating in solitude.

Time slipped by.

As the sunset faded and the birds returned to their nests, darkness once again enveloped the land.

The Crow Demon, Redskin, and Huang Gui joked and chatted as they approached the cave.

Just then, a surge of immense, awe-inspiring demonic power suddenly burst from the cave, knocking the three flat and sweeping across the entire mountain, startling all the birds and sending the beasts fleeing in terror.