Black Wind Mountain had Black Wind Cave, which, in Mo Fan’s eyes, wasn’t anything special. His only complaint was the demons’ terrible naming sense.
The so-called Black Wind Cave wasn’t at the mountain’s peak but was higher than the halfway point, shrouded in mist.
It was a massive, man-made cave, guarded outside by several burly lesser demons wielding fine iron spears.
These lesser demons, like Qingmian and the others, had mostly transformed into human form, with human upper bodies but beastly lower halves still covered in fur or scales.
Even so, these demons were a bit more presentable than Mo Fan, a newly turned demon, at least wearing tattered hemp clothes to cover themselves.
Looking at these odd-looking demons, Mo Fan couldn’t help but inwardly scoff, “Seems like the demons here are dirt poor. Some were starving earlier, and now even the demon soldiers are dressed in rags. In human territory, they’d be a proper bunch of refugees!”
“We’re here to see the Great King Grandpa. Is he in the cave?” One-Eye asked the demon guards at the entrance.
“So it’s One-Eye Ding Mu under the Fourth General!”
“Replying to Ding Mu, the Great King Grandpa is in the cave drinking with the three generals!”
A lesser demon, whose species was unclear, answered.
“The Fourth General’s here too? Perfect, we’ll head in!”
One-Eye’s eyes lit up, then he turned to Qingmian and the others, saying, “Escort these guys into the cave and let the Great King Grandpa decide their fate!”
“Yes, my lord!”
Qingmian and the others nodded, shoving Mo Fan and the rabbit demon while dragging Erha towards the cave.
A black-robed demon Ding nearby also followed with his three lesser demons.
“Hahaha… Poison Fang did well this time. I’ve long wanted to snatch a human woman to try something new, but those Bi Xiao Sect wenches keep too close a watch.
This woman you’ve brought isn’t bad. Not as pretty as those wenches, but not ugly either, good enough to change things up.”
“Great King, you have plenty of beauties, but they’re all demons like us. Gets boring after a while. So I nabbed this human woman to ease your desires.”
Mo Fan had just been pushed into the cave when he heard this conversation.
He instinctively looked up and saw the cave was filled with demons, with a towering black-clad brute sitting in the main seat.
The brute had his chest bared, a big belly, and a swarthy face covered in a bushy beard, even his chest thick with hair, like some Black Whirlwind from Water Margin.
In his arms was a petite woman.
Her skin was fair, dressed in a green skirt, her slender waist barely a handful for the brute’s rough hand. She was crying hard, her eyes red and swollen, her body trembling.
Compared to the brute, she was like a beauty beside a beast, their looks and sizes starkly contrasting.
Though the black-clad brute sat on a stone chair, his massive frame didn’t fool Mo Fan.
“What a Black Whirlwind. Sitting down, he’s still taller than me. Standing, he’s got to be over ten feet, right?” Mo Fan muttered to himself, then shifted his gaze to the other demons in the cave.
Flanking the brute’s stone chair were two pig-headed demons, each holding a long-handled great axe, tall and fierce, likely wild boar demons.
Below were various demons, mostly humanoid like One-Eye and the black-robed demon Ding, but what caught Mo Fan’s eye were three demons seated behind special stone desks.
These three were different from the humanoid demons. They barely seemed like demons at all, looking entirely human!
Unlike the other humanoid demons, One-Eye, or the black-robed Ding, who still had some demonic traits despite their human forms, these three had none, looking every bit like humans.
Compared to the brute’s visually striking ugliness, these three seemed more human-like.
One wore a red robe, with skin white as jade and delicate features, narrow eyes giving a slightly effeminate air. Swap the robe for a scholar’s gown, and he’d pass as a bookish type.
Another wore a white robe, his skin even darker than the brute’s, creating a stark black-and-white contrast. With a middle-aged face, over two metres tall, he looked powerful, brimming with endless strength.
The last wore a yellow robe, with ordinary looks and skin, a plain and honest face, not one for smiles or chatter.
Mo Fan didn’t think they were actual humans.
Anyone drinking in this demon cave was no human.
While Mo Fan sized up the demons, they were sizing up the newcomers.
“One-Eye, can’t you see I’m drinking with the other generals and the Great King?” the red-robed demon spoke first, his tone displeased, as if scolding One-Eye.
“General, please don’t be angry. I’ve come with important matters for the Great King Grandpa to judge!” One-Eye quickly explained.
The red-robed demon’s expression softened, then he turned to the black-robed demon Ding, asking, “You old scorpion, here for the Great King too?”
So he’s a scorpion demon!
Mo Fan understood instantly. No wonder he had four hands—scorpions have six legs, don’t they? Four hands plus two legs added up.
“Replying to the Fourth General, I’m here for a taste of wine. Got any fine wine to spare?” the black-robed demon Ding smiled.
“This wine’s brewed from yellow essence, a spiritual liquor. You think a mere Ding like you can taste it?” the red-robed demon sneered, sipping his wine and ignoring the scorpion demon.
The scorpion demon didn’t mind, turning with One-Eye to look at the black-clad brute in the main seat.
That was the Demon King of Black Wind Mountain!
“One-Eye, what’s the matter? Speak, let me hear it,” the Demon King said, glancing down at One-Eye.
“Great King Grandpa, it’s like this…”
One-Eye recounted Mo Fan’s group’s story, letting Qingmian and the bird demon elaborate.
“Oh, such a thing?”
The Demon King nodded, then looked at Mo Fan with clear disdain, saying, “What an ugly thing!”
With that, he shifted his gaze to the trembling rabbit demon, saying, “Rabbit demon, lift your head, let me see!”
The rabbit demon shuddered but instinctively looked up.
“What a beauty!”
Seeing her face, the Demon King’s eyes lit up, though he frowned slightly, adding, “Pretty enough, but her cultivation’s too low!”
With that, he spat out an object, flicked it, and it floated to the rabbit demon.
Mo Fan looked and saw it was half a ginseng whisker, like a legendary mountain ginseng, with a rich medicinal fragrance wafting from it.
“This is half a great yellow essence, a low-grade yellow spiritual herb. It’ll help you further transform. Eat it!”
“Huh?”
The rabbit demon froze, looking up at the Demon King in disbelief, saying, “This is really for me?”
“Why so much nonsense? I said it’s for you, so it’s for you!”
“You’re a bit lucky, little demon. Since you’re new to Black Wind Mountain, you’ll join us.
From now on, stay by my side and serve me well!”
The Demon King waved a hand, sealing the rabbit demon’s fate.
“Thank you, Great King Grandpa!”
The rabbit demon, though naive, wasn’t foolish. She knew this was her chance and swallowed the half yellow essence, chewing it up.
“Roar!”
At that moment, Erha, sprawled on the ground, suddenly growled at the Demon King, standing up, tail wagging like a dog pleasing its master.
“You tiger beast haven’t turned demon yet, but you’ve got some spirit. I’m in a good mood today, so I’ll help you transform!”
The Demon King laughed, spitting out a purple herb that floated to Erha.
“This purple essence grass isn’t top-tier, but it’s still a spiritual herb. It’ll help you refine your throat bone and become a demon!”
Erha, drooling, gobbled up the purple essence grass without hesitation.
Seeing his two companions gain such boons, Mo Fan grew excited, a bit envious, and looked at the Demon King with eager eyes.
He was awaiting his own fortune!
