Chapter 388: Demon King

“You are the Naiman King?”

“Replying to the Count, this humble king is indeed.”

Bound tightly in chains, the Naiman King knelt on the ground and bowed before Zheng Fan.

After ordering his beloved consort burned to death, the Naiman King had sent men to inform the Yan army that the Naiman Tribe was surrendering.

The following day, Count Zheng arrived with the forces of the Keyan Tribe.

The Naiman King offered no resistance whatsoever. In truth, he no longer possessed much ability to resist. If he stubbornly insisted on fighting to the end, the nobles and elders beneath him would probably seize him first and deliver him to the Yan army themselves in exchange for mercy.

Rather than allow that to happen, he had chosen to bind himself and announce the surrender personally.

In Xue San’s words, the Naiman King at least knew how to read the situation.

He had cut out the middleman.

Zheng Fan sat inside the tent with a small hotpot simmering in front of him.

Freshly slaughtered mutton had been sliced and dropped into the boiling broth. He fished out a piece, dipped it into sauce, and put it into his mouth.

Mm.

Absolutely marvelous.

The meat carried all the freshness of lamb without much of the usual gamey smell.

Then he picked up a slice of beef and ate that too.

The texture was wonderful.

In his previous life, Count Zheng had never particularly liked those thin rolls of lamb and beef sold for hotpot. They always reminded him of the curled wood shavings left behind by carpenters.

Eating them had no substance.

But genuinely fresh, thick-cut beef and mutton were painfully expensive.

Fortunately, now that he was Chief Commander of Snow Sea Pass meat was no longer a problem.

Mm.

He had become so focused on eating that, without realizing it, he had left the Naiman King kneeling there for quite a long time.

The Naiman King licked his lips but did not dare speak first. He simply waited while Zheng Fan ate at his own pace.

At last, Count Zheng finished.

By reflex, he reached for the fermented milk wine beside him to cut through the richness of the meat. After hesitating, however, he put it down and took out his own waterskin instead, drinking several large mouthfuls.

“Ahhh...”

A deeply satisfied sigh escaped him.

Suddenly, Count Zheng felt sleepy.

His eyelids drooped as he looked at the Naiman King.

Then he waved one hand and said lightly:

“Take him away.”

Several armored soldiers immediately stepped forward and escorted the Naiman King out.

The Naiman King had clearly wanted to say something more, but in the end he did not dare.

The way events had unfolded—and Zheng Fan’s attitude toward him—did not seem entirely consistent with what he had imagined before surrendering.

Still, the Naiman King was far more mature than his reckless eldest son.

He understood that he no longer possessed the slightest capital for negotiation.

All he could do now was lower his head.

Liang Cheng was busy reorganizing the population of the Naiman Tribe.

Xue San was counting the tribe’s livestock.

So only A’Ming remained beside Zheng Fan.

“Master, you’re not going to kill him?”

Zheng Fan shook his head.

“He surrendered voluntarily. If I simply kill him anyway, that won’t look good. It’ll make dealing with the other snowfield tribes much harder in the future.

“Even when besieging a city, armies leave one side open. The whole point is to avoid trapping the enemy so completely that they decide to fight you to the death.

“In the future, we’re going to use all kinds of methods to plunder population, livestock, wealth, and produce from the snowfields. There’ll be plenty of friction and conflict.

“Would I like to crush anyone who sticks his head up and exterminate one tribe after another?

“Of course.

“But Snow Sea Pass is not the Marquis of Zhenbei Residence.

“We don’t yet possess the foundation to behave that way.

“As for this Naiman King—whatever else may be said about him, he isn’t completely stupid. By surrendering voluntarily, he’s at least serving as a kind of reverse example of ‘buying horse bones for a thousand gold.’”

“Master, what do you intend to do?”

“After all, I’m the one who publicly said I would exterminate the Naiman Tribe.

“And now that I’ve already knocked out all their teeth, the meat has been placed right in front of my mouth. There’s no reason not to eat it.

“The Naiman King, all the tribe’s nobles and elders, and their families can be released.

“But their slaves, wealth, livestock, and every other asset belonging to the Naiman Tribe will all be moved to Snow Sea Pass.

“We’re in the middle of massive construction and desperately short on labor.

“As for the herds, first, they’ll serve as a welcome gift for the Keyan Tribe and help settle them down.

“Second, they’ll reduce some of our own food pressure.”

“Master is wise.”

“Your flattery has never sounded especially sincere.”

“Heh. This time it genuinely isn’t flattery.”

With one casual sentence, Zheng Fan had decided to release the Naiman King and the entire noble stratum of the tribe.

The move was light as lifting feathers.

After all, the Naiman King might sound impressive when called a king, but the title had originally been self-declared.

Well self-declared with a little help from the fake seals Count Zheng had once used to hand out titles like radishes.

The value of that kingship was nowhere near that of Prince Fu from Qian, that old noble who had spent his days eating and waiting to die.

The title simply was not worth much.

If Zheng Fan actually dragged this Naiman King all the way to Yanjing, the Emperor of Yan might even wonder whether Zheng Fan was playing a joke on him.

So letting the man go cost almost nothing.

And doing so would directly weaken the willingness of other snowfield tribes to resist in the future.

Whatever happened, their chieftains and nobles could reassure themselves that they would not be killed.

As long as a man knew his own life could be preserved, it became much harder for him to make up his mind to fight you to the bitter end.

The Savage King’s failed uprising had already buried most of the snowfields’ true elite.

Dealing with those who remained was no longer especially difficult.

Releasing one Naiman King and a group of nobles now would make it easier to carve flesh from the snowfields later.

The transaction was extremely profitable.

“Oh, right,” Zheng Fan added. “Didn’t the Naiman Tribe previously receive envoys from several nearby tribes? Some of their reinforcements started moving, while others were still watching.

“Heh.

“Send envoys to every tribe the Naiman contacted.

“They will speak on behalf of this Count.

“On behalf of Snow Sea Pass.

“And on behalf of the Great Yan Dynasty.

“Condemn them and order them to hand over a portion of their slaves and livestock as punishment.

“If they refuse— they become our next target.”

“Master, won’t that provoke them?”

“Savages are all masochists.”

“This subordinate understands.”

“Good. Have someone heat water for me.

“I want a bath.

“Then I’m going to sleep properly.”

The war was over.

It was finally time to relax.

“Yes, Master.”

Outside, the encampment remained chaotic.

Counting the Naiman population and cataloguing the tribe’s wealth could not possibly be completed in a short time. Friction inevitably broke out here and there during the process, but everything remained within controllable limits.

Inside the tent, a wooden bathing tub had already been prepared. Armored soldiers personally carried in the hot water.

After dismissing everyone and returning alone, Zheng Fan even found a bar of soap beside the tub.

It had originally been manufactured back in Shengle City.

One had to admit the lives of rich men possessed remarkable similarities everywhere.

Whether the people beneath them could afford food or not, true nobles always found a way to surround themselves with luxury.

After reflecting briefly on the corruption of the ruling class, Count Zheng removed his armor and underclothes and lowered himself into the tub.

“Huu...”

Comfortable.

He placed the stone containing the Demon Child into the bathwater.

Then Zheng Fan rested both arms along the rim of the tub and slowly closed his eyes.

The stone floated on the surface.

Every so often a few bubbles rose beside it.

*Glug... glug... glug...*

...

*Glug...*

The Pixiu had been lying lazily in the sun.

The moment it saw A’Ming walking toward it, however, it swallowed hard by instinct.

From the beast’s own perspective, it knew Zheng Fan was its master.

That concept of “master” was really the result of prior training.

The Yan imperial family had a long tradition of raising Pixiu and Pi Beasts. Even a true Pixiu could only be owned by someone of extraordinary rank and status.

Naturally, the beasts had to be trained properly beforehand.

Otherwise, if the imperial family bestowed a Pi Beast upon some noble only for the thing to remain so wild that it swallowed or mauled its new owner what would have been the point of the gift?

So in the Pixiu’s mind, Zheng Fan truly was its master.

But “master” was little more than a symbolic category.

It meant Zheng Fan was permitted to ride it.

And the Pixiu was expected to cooperate with him.

On another, more emotional level the Pixiu believed Zheng Fan was actually just like itself.

Both of them were prisoners beneath a group of Demon Kings.

Fellow sufferers at the ends of the earth ought to help one another and share warmth.

So whenever Zheng Fan wanted to perform some difficult maneuver for dramatic effect, the Pixiu usually tried its hardest to cooperate.

It was offering a little comfort and encouragement from one miserable brother to another.

That way, both of them could continue bravely and stubbornly surviving beneath the shadow of the Demon Kings!

Now, as A’Ming approached again, the Pixiu became nervous.

Then, it silently rolled onto its side.

Slowly turned over.

And presented A’Ming with its belly.

A’Ming reached down and slapped the beast’s abdomen once.

All four of the Pixiu’s legs twitched.

This time, however, A’Ming had no interest in its blood.

He had already confirmed that the experiment was useless.

So he simply sat down beside the beast, took out his waterskin, drank a mouthful of blood, and showed an expression of deep pleasure.

The Pixiu immediately rolled back over.

Then it slowly pushed its head closer to A’Ming.

“You want some too?”

A’Ming shook his head.

“No.

“I can’t give you any.”

Disappointment appeared plainly across the Pixiu’s face.

Then, its nose suddenly twitched.

It immediately rose onto all four feet.

Its head began turning sharply in every direction.

“What is it?” A’Ming asked.

The Pixiu’s forehooves began pawing restlessly at the ground.

Its breathing grew heavier.

Its eyes slowly reddened.

“You’re in heat?”

A’Ming looked around.

“See some little mare you like?

“Point her out. I’ll bring her over.”

The Pixiu’s gaze suddenly locked toward one direction.

It stared so intensely that it seemed one step away from leaping straight out of the stable and going wild.

“Sit.”

A’Ming’s voice sank.

“Ying...”

The Pixiu sat down instantly.

Like an eggplant struck by frost.

A’Ming put away his waterskin, stood, and walked to the beast.

He took hold of the reins at its neck.

“What exactly did you sense?

“Take me there.”

The Pixiu immediately became excited again.

It panted constantly.

Drool even started dripping from its mouth.

A’Ming gave it a disgusted glance.

Then led it from the stable.

But very quickly the excitement vanished from the Pixiu’s face again.

It lowered its head to the ground and began sniffing, apparently falling into profound confusion.

A’Ming did not rush it.

He simply stood beside the beast.

“You can’t sense it anymore?

“What the hell is it?”

...

“What the hell is going on?

“Why does Count Pingye have a Pixiu beside him?”

Inside an underground tunnel, the black cat kept its voice low as it roared.

A fox stood in front of it.

Both animals had obvious patches of charred fur, as though they had only recently been badly burned.

“Hey, Huaji! Are you even listening to me?

“That’s a **Pixiu**!

“Not a Pi Beast!

“If I hadn’t sensed it early and used my ability to conceal the spirit aura around us, we would already have been found!

“Fortunately, that Pixiu seems underage and its abilities haven’t matured. Otherwise, there would be no fooling it!

“But I can’t hide us for much longer!”

The white fox immediately twisted its head around and spoke in the human tongue.

“Stop making noise. I know.

“We’re almost there.

“Count Pingye should be just ahead.”

“You still refuse to give up?”

“Give up and do what?

“How can we possibly give up now?

“We’re directly beneath his military camp!

“If we turn around, how much longer can your power hold?

“Long enough for us to dig all the way back out?

“We only have one choice left.

“We gamble everything on this.

“As long as I can seduce Count Pingye, even the Pixiu won’t matter anymore!”

“But you’re already dead!

“That Naiman King who supposedly loved you beyond reason burned you to death before surrendering!”

“Don’t mention that bastard.

“Every time I think about it, I get angry!”

“I’m guessing the Naiman King heard the rumors too.

“Apparently Count Pingye has a particular fondness for married women.”

“Shut up.

“I’m almost through.”

“But how are you planning to approach him now?

“Your identity is already dead.

“You’re not a married woman anymore!”

“There are two things men find hardest to resist.”

“What?”

“One is another man’s wife.

“The other— is a fox spirit.”

“Are... are you sure?”

“I believe in myself!”

“What kind of tastes would that Yan Count Pingye need to possess for him to know you’re literally a fox spirit and still...”

“A man like that can no longer be judged by ordinary worldly standards.

“What others do not dare imagine— he dares!

“What others do not want to do— he dares!

“What others would never dare touch— he dares!”

“Huaji, you’re gambling far too much.

“What if—”

“Noble aura.

“Noble aura.

“Noble aura!

“Think about it.

“The Yan imperial family personally bestowed a Pixiu upon him!

“A true Pixiu!

“Not some hybrid Pi Beast!

“A man like that possesses a status so exalted it’s beyond description.

“If I succeed and remain beside his pillow, then absorbing even a tiny bit of his noble aura every night would be worth who knows how many years of lonely cultivation in the wilderness!

“I am not leaving.

“And I am not afraid.

“This time— either I succeed or I die trying.”

“You’re insane.

“You’re insane!

“You’ve completely lost your mind!

“You’re going to get me killed with you!”

The black cat never stopped complaining.

Yet its tail continued lashing from side to side, exerting every ounce of strength it possessed to conceal the aura leaking from both spirit creatures.

At last, the fox stopped digging.

She looked upward.

Then pointed with one paw.

“We’re here.

“He should be directly above us.

“Count Pingye seems to be alone.”

“If you’ve already made up your mind, then go.”

The black cat had finally resigned itself completely.

“I’ll keep hiding your aura for as long as I can.

“I just hope Count Pingye is quick.

“Otherwise I won’t be able to hold out.”

The fox nodded.

Determination filled her eyes.

Truthfully, things never should have become this troublesome.

But the Naiman King—whom both spirit creatures had always regarded as a gullible fool easy to control—had suddenly gone mad before surrendering and set fire to their entire plan.

That was why they had now been forced into a desperate gamble.

“I’m going up.”

...

Count Zheng was still soaking in the bath.

He had even started snoring faintly.

No matter how smoothly a campaign went, marching outside for days still produced mental strain and accumulated exhaustion.

Suddenly, a cloud of pink smoke rose from the ground diagonally in front of the bathing tub.

Count Zheng remained asleep.

But the stone that had been constantly producing *glug-glug* bubbles on the water’s surface suddenly went completely still.

Most of the time, the Demon Child was extraordinarily lazy.

His laziness had reached almost philosophical heights.

Back when they first arrived in this world and Zheng Fan had not yet awakened, the Demon Child had simply sealed himself away and gone directly into deep slumber.

Usually, only two things could stir the Demon Child into genuine initiative.

The first was taking care of children.

Perhaps Tian Wujing’s son truly was unusual.

Or perhaps the child’s experiences resonated with the Demon Child.

Whatever the reason, the Demon Child genuinely enjoyed acting as the boy’s elder brother or elder sister.

The second thing that could motivate him was another woman trying to become his mother.

When an elderly man decided late in life to marry again, or perhaps pursue one final springtime romance, opposition from his children often became a major obstacle.

And Count Zheng’s obstacle was clearly much, much larger than normal.

So far, only Siniang, relying upon her status as one of the Demon Kings, had managed to cross the Demon Child’s warnings and obstruction and successfully lie beside Count Zheng in bed.

As for other women forget trying to fight the Demon Child.

Most would probably faint if a ghost suddenly appeared in front of them.

The pink mist slowly expanded.

As it rose a voluptuous woman in a black dress appeared where the smoke had gathered, reclining sensuously upon the floor.

Her posture.

Her seductive eyes.

The precise amount of thigh exposed.

The vivid red of her lips.

Every detail represented the ideal image of a fox spirit taking human form.

Soft, decadent music began echoing through the tent.

Seducing men was compulsory coursework for every fox spirit.

Huaji knew her advantages perfectly.

She also possessed enormous confidence in her own abilities.

In her view, other than perhaps a eunuch, there should not be a man in this world capable of resisting her.

Heroes had struggled to pass the beauty test since ancient times.

At that moment, Count Zheng slowly opened his eyes.

He had been “called” awake.

Huaji continued shifting languidly across the floor.

Every tiny movement overflowed with desire.

Within the illusion she created, she believed that even Count Pingye of Yan—no matter how strong-willed a man he might be—would soften around her finger.

Unfortunately the first thing the newly awakened Count Zheng sensed was not Huaji’s seduction.

It was a request from his “son.”

The Demon Child wanted to enter his body.

Count Zheng possessed one excellent habit.

He knew his own limits.

Especially when he had not yet figured out what was happening, trusting the judgment of the Demon Kings was almost always the right choice.

The Demon Kings might occasionally scheme around him.

But they were never going to simply cut his head off with one saber.

Half-awake, Zheng Fan sensed the Demon Child trying to pour power into him.

His first reaction was:

*Enemy attack?*

*An assassin?*

Whatever the answer—

Zheng Fan immediately lowered his internal barriers and allowed the Demon Child’s power inside.

In the earliest days when Zheng Fan borrowed the Demon Child’s strength, the Demon Child completely controlled his body.

Later, Zheng Fan discovered that this arrangement was unacceptable.

Every time the Demon Child used Zheng Fan’s body, he behaved with absurd excess and no restraint.

In particular, the Demon Child loved splitting Zheng Fan’s mouth into a huge grin.

The result was that every time Zheng Fan regained control, the corners of his mouth were torn and bleeding.

Over time their method changed.

The Demon Child supplied the power.

Zheng Fan controlled the body.

This time was no different.

Count Zheng opened his eyes.

His left eye began swirling in black and white.

That eye had temporarily inherited the Demon Child’s perception.

Because the Demon Child was a ghost rather than a human being, the world looked entirely different through his senses.

Zheng Fan turned his gaze toward Huaji.

She was still there, displaying her allure with everything she possessed. Pink mist drifted through the tent. Enchanting sounds filled the air, all of them designed to invade Zheng Fan’s mood and mind.

Against an ordinary person this method was extremely effective.

Even a highly accomplished monk might not necessarily withstand an assault like this.

The problem was Count Zheng had switched into the Demon Child’s perspective.

And so what Zheng Fan actually saw was a foul-smelling fox with large patches of fur burned black.

The creature lay on the ground.

It kept sticking its tongue out at him.

At the same time, it rubbed one furry thigh.

Every so often, it raised its tail and deliberately showed him its fox backside.

Worse its expression was terrifyingly human.

You could tell with absolute clarity that this fox was trying to seduce you.

The entire image was catastrophic to behold.

The pink mist filling the tent looked like clouds of black smoke to Zheng Fan, like ash rising from burned funeral paper.

The seductive music became hoarse, suppressed fox cries.

Many people had heard cats yowling in heat.

The sound Zheng Fan heard now was a hundred times more unpleasant.

Under circumstances like these if Count Zheng could still have any reaction toward Huaji whatsoever then even he would have admired himself.

The Demon Kings with the heaviest tastes in their entire group would have had to admit defeat before such astonishing depravity.

So Zheng Fan simply stared.

At the fox.

And stared.

And kept staring.

Because Zheng Fan was trying to understand something.

This was obviously territory of the Naiman Tribe.

This was obviously a military camp.

He himself was obviously taking a bath.

So why had something this miraculous suddenly appeared in front of him?

But from Huaji’s perspective—

Zheng Fan’s motionless stare was proof she had already succeeded.

*Look at him.*

*Great Yan’s Count Pingye can barely keep his eyes from growing directly onto my body.*

*He can’t even look away.*

*Oh-ho-ho-ho...*

Considering the black cat below probably could not hold on much longer, Huaji decided to strike while the iron was hot and settle the matter immediately.

She slowly rose.

Then walked toward Zheng Fan with an exquisitely graceful gait, pouring every ounce of charm she possessed into each step.

Through Zheng Fan’s eyes the fox had risen onto two hind legs.

It was now walking toward him on tiptoe.

And as the fox moved closer a hideous mixture of musk, fox stink, and scorched fur began rolling toward Count Zheng.

He had just eaten hotpot before bathing.

His chest immediately convulsed.

He almost vomited.

*Oh-ho-ho-ho...*

*He can’t bear it anymore.*

*He can’t control himself.*

*He’s already losing all restraint.*

*He’s about to throw himself at me!*

Zheng Fan genuinely could not endure it any longer.

And he had no interest in trying.

His hand clamped onto the edge of the tub.

His entire body vaulted out.

The two-legged fox showed an expression of excitement and eager submission and moved willingly toward him.

*Smack!*

Zheng Fan’s hand closed around the fox’s throat.

He was already a Sixth Grade Martial Artist.

And at that moment, the Demon Child’s power still filled his body.

Zheng Fan seized Huaji completely.

Then, without hesitation he smashed her into the bathing tub.

*BOOM!*

The impact blasted the tub apart.

Water exploded in every direction.

Huaji was slammed so hard the world spun around her.

When Zheng Fan released her, she collapsed onto the ground with stars in her eyes.

At the same moment the black cat underground immediately realized the situation had gone wrong.

Companionship meant nothing now.

It turned around and prepared to flee along the tunnel.

Unfortunately, Zheng Fan’s violent takedown of Huaji caused her spirit aura to leak outward.

The Pixiu outside, which had been desperately searching for the scent, suddenly locked onto the direction.

Once it had a precise location tracking became much easier.

In an instant, the Pixiu charged forward on all four legs.

It leaped.

Then slammed both forehooves down.

*BOOM!*

The earth caved inward.

A black cat appeared trapped between its front and rear legs.

The cat was trembling uncontrollably.

The Pixiu was delighted.

It immediately opened its jaws and prepared to bite down.

But at that moment a hand appeared in front of its mouth and lifted the black cat away.

The Pixiu instinctively turned its head and released a low growl.

A’Ming simply exposed his fangs and growled right back.

“Ying...”

The Pixiu’s ferocity vanished instantly.

It backed away several steps.

After intimidating the Pixiu into retreat, A’Ming held the black cat upside down by its tail.

He examined it from above.

Then below.

He even flicked the cat’s belly several times.

“Doesn’t look especially unusual.”

At that moment, the black cat’s eyes snapped open.

Green light burst from its pupils.

Its mouth opened.

Then it bit directly into A’Ming’s wrist.

A’Ming did not gasp.

Did not shout.

Did not shake his arm.

He simply watched the black cat hang from his wrist.

The black cat kept biting.

And stared into A’Ming’s eyes.

Slowly under that terrifyingly calm gaze the cat loosened its jaws.

Then it looked at A’Ming.

And very gradually formed an awkward, bashful little smile.

Afterward, its eyes happened to drift back toward the place it had just bitten.

The wound was already healing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The black cat’s expression froze completely.

“Heh.

“Is this supposed to be a demon beast?”

...

“HALT, EVIL CREATURE!

“What monster dares harm my master?

“Witness my Great Mighty Heavenly Dragon Prajna Divine Art for subduing demons and exterminating evil!”

Xue San stormed into the tent and immediately struck a dramatic pose.

The moment he heard two unusual spirit creatures had been captured, Xue San—who had been busy counting sheep—dumped the work onto Jin Shuke and rushed over without delay.

Every Demon King possessed the heart of a researcher.

Ordinarily, they borrowed blood from one another to conduct experiments.

They studied the Pixiu together.

But the number of available samples had always been limited.

Now they had suddenly captured two unusual spirit creatures.

To the Demon Kings, it was like mad scientists receiving the experimental specimens of their dreams.

How could they not be excited?

But when Xue San entered the tent and saw one fox.

And one black cat.

He frowned slightly.

First he looked toward Zheng Fan sitting in the seat of honor.

Then he turned toward A’Ming.

“What the hell are these?”

“Spirits,” A’Ming answered.

“What’s the difference between these two ugly things and the demon beasts we used to catch and sell from the Tianduan Mountains?

“Look at them.

“They wouldn’t fetch any money at all.”

Zheng Fan had experienced another possession by the Demon Child.

He had barely moved, but the strain still left him tired.

Rubbing his forehead, he said:

“This fox can turn into a human.”

Xue San’s eyes lit up instantly.

He shot toward the fox.

Squatted down in front of her.

And immediately formed a perfect three-point stance.

“Oh?

“A fox that can turn human?

“Then aren’t you a fox spirit?

“Hehehe.

“Come on.

“Transform for Third Master.

“Quickly.

“Show me.

“If you transform, Third Master will give you a lollipop.”

Huaji looked at Xue San’s feet.

Then looked at Xue San.

Terror flooded her face.

She shook her head repeatedly.

Utterly unwilling.

Completely horrified.

“Hey.

“You’re refusing to give Third Master face?”

Xue San became angry.

He extended one finger toward Huaji.

“Are you transforming or not?”

The fox shook her head.

“Heh.

“So you refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit?

“Watch what Third Master—”

Perhaps it was Xue San’s finger.

Perhaps his feet.

Whatever the reason—

Huaji instinctively curled into herself in fear.

She knew perfectly well how terrifying the people around her were.

Yet she suddenly spun and bolted toward the tent entrance anyway.

The black cat, by contrast, remained strangely calm.

Because the cat already understood these people were not merely human Martial Artists.

At that exact moment, Liang Cheng arrived after hearing the news.

He lifted the tent flap just as Huaji rushed out.

Huaji’s face immediately twisted.

Spirit aura erupted from her.

She intended to shock the man’s mind for one instant, bypass him, and escape.

Instead green light rose inside Liang Cheng’s eyes.

His face shriveled.

His true zombie features emerged.

A terrifying evil aura exploded outward.

“ROAR!”

“!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Huaji’s body shot backward.

She landed flat on the ground.

Then immediately prostrated herself there, trembling.

Ordinarily, whenever normal people saw the true forms of creatures like them, it was the humans who became so frightened they nearly pissed themselves.

Who could have imagined that this time the two spirits would be the ones who looked like ordinary helpless people?

“I heard we caught monsters?”

Liang Cheng asked while unfastening the saber from his waist.

“Let’s just question them directly.”

Zheng Fan yawned.

He had no interest in dragging this out any longer.

Looking toward the fox trembling on the ground, he said:

“Turn human and answer properly.

“If you refuse—

I’ll throw both of you outside to feed the Pixiu right now.”

Huaji nodded quickly.

Her body began changing.

From a fox she gradually transformed into a completely naked woman.

For a moment everyone present except Zheng Fan turned his gaze away.

Even Xue San.

This was the rule.

Whenever there was something good to eat, Master ate first.

Women followed the same principle.

Only after Master decided he did not want one could she be bestowed on someone below.

Of course, A’Ming and Liang Cheng—whom the other Demon Kings jokingly called the “Cold Brothers”—might genuinely possess little interest in women.

But even Xue San did not dare misbehave at a time like this.

Third Master had already made one mistake recently.

There was no need to add another piece of black history to his record.

So the only man who could openly enjoy the view was Count Zheng.

And well.

Once Huaji transformed back into a woman, Zheng Fan stopped feeling sleepy almost instantly.

He even felt faintly grateful that the Demon Child had entered his body earlier.

If a woman built according to this exact template had tried seducing him normally then whether she was human or spirit he probably would not have held out.

Naturally, she could not compare with Siniang.

Even when Siniang ran a brothel, she possessed a kind of worldly allure untouched by vulgar dust.

Deep down she remained extraordinarily proud and aloof.

This fox spirit was different.

Seduction had been carved directly into her bones.

A snow lotus was beautiful.

But that did not mean a man could not appreciate wildflowers by the road too.

Zheng Fan rubbed his chin.

Only after quite a while did he notice the behavior of the three Demon Kings around him.

He smiled.

Then picked up one of his own garments and tossed it toward Huaji.

“Put that on.”

Huaji dressed herself and stood.

Only then did the Demon Kings turn back.

Zheng Fan tapped one finger lightly against the arm of his chair.

“Speak.

“Tell us everything yourself.”

“Yes, Count.”

Huaji began explaining.

She had originally been a spirit cultivating inside the Tianduan Mountains.

The black cat was the same.

The black cat had cultivated for even longer than Huaji and had traveled through far more places.

Huaji, by comparison, had mostly wandered around the two sides of the Tianduan Mountains—

Jin territory and the snowfields.

Because Huaji was a fox spirit, combined with several fortunate encounters, she had gained the ability to transform into human form.

The black cat, however, had nearly been eaten by a Pixiu many years earlier.

It suffered terrible damage while escaping.

Its foundation had never fully recovered.

That was why it still could not transform into a human body.

After hearing their story, Zheng Fan could not help laughing.

“So if I understand correctly— you two have shed blood for Great Yan.

And rendered meritorious service for Great Yan?”

Huaji had incited the Eldest Prince into rebellion.

Father and son had turned against one another and fought a bloody internal battle.

That genuinely had provided substantial assistance to Zheng Fan’s campaign.

The black cat immediately lowered its head humbly.

“Count, we merely did what little lay within our ability.

“In truth, once the Count’s heavenly army arrived, the Naiman Tribe collapsed instantly.

“Whether we acted or not would have made no difference to the final result.

“We truly would not dare claim merit.”

This cat spoke extremely well.

Zheng Fan nodded.

His gaze swept across the Demon Kings around him.

“What do you think?”

Xue San immediately rubbed his hands together.

“Master, let’s keep them as pets.”

There were plenty of demon beasts in this world.

But these two were clearly not ordinary specimens.

The difference was like that between a Pixiu and a Pi Beast.

Yes, theoretically they might trace back to the same kind of ancestor.

But were they really the damned same thing?

Keep them.

Study them slowly.

What wonderful specimens.

“Fine.

“Then that’s settled.

“You people figure out how to keep them under guard.

“Don’t let them escape.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Yes, Master.”

At that moment, the black cat suddenly prostrated itself again.

Its voice became exceptionally sincere.

“We are willing to serve beside the Count with absolute loyalty.

“We would never dare harbor the slightest disloyal thought.”

Huaji immediately followed.

“This servant is willing as well.”

“Stay beside me?

“Oh, right.

“You mentioned noble aura earlier?”

Zheng Fan remembered that during Huaji’s explanation, she had said absorbing noble aura could accelerate their cultivation.

“Yes, Count.

“If we remain beside you, we can...

“This will not harm the Count in any way.

“We only need to absorb a tiny bit.

“A very tiny bit,” Huaji explained.

The black cat added:

“Count, it is much like essence overflowing when the vessel is full.

“Sometimes too much noble aura is not necessarily good either.

“When the moon is full, it begins to wane.

“So we can help the Count relieve that excess.”

“In that case— come up here and smell me.

“See whether I actually possess this noble aura of yours.”

Zheng Fan beckoned to the black cat.

The cat hesitated.

Then cautiously approached.

It prostrated itself at Zheng Fan’s feet and placed its head on top of his boot.

First it sniffed experimentally.

Then it said:

“Count, please relax your mind.”

Hearing this, Zheng Fan nodded.

Much as he had when letting the Demon Child enter his body, he lowered his mental defenses.

With the Demon Child guarding him, Zheng Fan genuinely had no fear that this black cat could do much of anything.

The black cat opened its eyes.

Then inhaled deeply.

In that instant within the cat’s vision a ghost domain appeared.

Inside it stood an enormous infant, black from head to toe.

The giant child slowly raised its face and smiled at the cat.

Then, the black cat saw a sea of blood.

A colossal bat lay within that ocean.

And upon the bat’s back sat the silhouette of a man.

In the next moment another underworld appeared.

A vast throne of white bone rose and fell inside it.

Seated upon the throne was a man whose entire body was covered in totems.

Then, the cat saw a frozen river.

A beautiful woman walked across the ice.

Wherever her bare feet passed everything froze.

Beneath the ice lay body after body of men sealed forever inside.

Next the black cat saw a palace built entirely from bones.

A giant sat atop that palace.

The giant was grinning foolishly.

The vision changed again.

A boiling pool appeared.

Inside it soaked a tiny dwarf.

Endless poisons rolled and bubbled through the water, releasing an aura so deadly it made the soul tremble.

Countless bizarre creatures shared the pool with him great demons even flood dragons.

Then, the black cat saw a pitch-black road stretching into unfathomable darkness.

Brilliant clusters of red spider lilies bloomed on both sides.

A young blind man walked along that road.

Behind him stretched an endless procession of malicious ghosts and dead souls.

None dared approach him.

They merely followed his footsteps in numb silence.

Finally the black cat raised its head in terror.

By now, it could barely distinguish the visions inside its mind from reality.

And when it looked upward it saw an endless black curtain covering the heavens.

Behind that curtain someone seemed to be sitting.

That figure stood above every other vision.

Looking down upon them all.

Looking down upon every living being with contempt.

*BOOM!*

*CRACK!*

“Well?

“Did you smell anything?”

Seeing the black cat stop moving, Zheng Fan nudged it with his foot.

The cat immediately rolled down from his boot.

It landed on its back.

All four paws pointed upward.

Its tail continued twitching.

Both eyes had gone completely vacant.

White foam bubbled from the corner of its mouth.

Obviously, the creature had fainted from sheer terror.

“Hahahahahaha!”

Xue San clutched his stomach and laughed.

Pointing at the cat, he said:

“This performance is way too exaggerated.

“Listen, if you want to flatter someone, you still have to obey the basic laws of flattery, all right?

“You could say you saw a phoenix.

“Say you saw a golden dragon.

“That would already be enough.

“But this?

“You really had to go this far?

“Try too hard and it stops being interesting, understand?

“Your licking technique is terrible.

“Enough.

“Stop pretending.

“Get up.

“Come on, get up.”

Xue San walked over and kicked the black cat several times.

The cat really did regain a little consciousness.

Then, the instant it spoke—

Xue San, A’Ming, and Liang Cheng all fell silent.

Even Zheng Fan, seated above them, narrowed his eyes.

The black cat trembled violently.

Its voice shook.

“D-Demon...

“Demon...

“Demon King...

“The Demon King... has descended...”

[End of Chapter 388]