The sun sets in the west, the bright moon hangs high.
By rights, this should be the time when the monsters each return to their caves and fall into a deep slumber.
Yet at this moment, Black Wind Mountain was rather lively.
On the square at the peak of Black Wind Mountain, numerous bonfires had been piled up, and those female demons were now circling the fires, posing seductively, which made quite a few monsters itch with desire, wishing they could rush over and pin one down on the spot for a go.
But such thoughts could only remain thoughts; nowadays, discipline on Black Wind Mountain might not be ironclad, but such shameful antics were still off-limits, or one would likely end up as a dish on the feast table.
Around the outer edges of those bonfires stood large iron cauldrons, with a dozen or so monsters gathered in a circle around each; the aroma of meat from the pots had long since wafted over ten miles away.
Though it was a feast, there were no tables or benches to speak of; everyone simply sat on the ground.
As monsters, they lacked the humans’ fussiness, boasting thick hides and tough flesh; they paid no mind to how well-done the meat in the pot was, simply reaching straight into the boiling broth to grab handfuls, each one grimacing yet eating with mouths slick with grease.
What is more, various wines were carried out from the kitchen camp by some lesser demons, to be drunk freely.
This bustling, lively scene had the captives from the two mountains swallowing hard, desperate for a taste themselves, no matter if it came from their own kin or not.
But alas, as this was Black Wind Mountain’s victory banquet, these captives naturally had no share in the fresh fare.
Of course, the captives dared not even dream of fleeing, for not far off, that terrifying demon-eater stood at the cliff edge, holding a wine flask.
“What are you thinking about?”
Bai Yaoyao walked over, a vivid streak of blood at the corner of her mouth.
“Did you eat a demon?”
Mo Fan turned to look at her, a hint of surprise in his eyes.
“No, I do not have your iron stomach; I cannot learn the trick of swallowing demons whole.”
Bai Yaoyao smiled and wiped the bloodstain from her mouth with her hand before saying, “Just now, I found a pretty fox demon among the captives, so I drained her blood dry.”
“Do not say, it has been a long time since I last drank blood, and suddenly it feels a bit hard to get used to; it is rather gamey.” Bai Yaoyao furrowed her delicate brows slightly.
Bai Yaoyao’s words left Mo Fan torn between laughter and exasperation; he rolled his eyes and said, “Are you jealous because she is prettier than you?”
“That is not it.”
Bai Yaoyao shook her head, then fixed Mo Fan with a serious stare and said, “It is because she said she wanted to see the Toad Great King.”
“Just for that? So you had to drain her blood dry?”
Mo Fan widened his eyes, finding it somewhat hard to comprehend.
“Is that not reason enough?”
“She is a fox demon, after all, and you are now the undisputed queen of Black Wind Mountain; how could you let a little vixen bewitch you?
From ancient times, red eyes have brought calamity; if not her, then who?”
Bai Yaoyao blinked at Mo Fan, who was instantly speechless; after a moment’s thought, he said, “No wonder the ancients said fair maidens meet untimely ends.”
“That is because they were not strong enough.”
“…”
Bai Yaoyao’s twisted logic left Mo Fan with no way to argue.
“You, as the Great King of Black Wind Mountain, are not going to join the brothers in their revelry; are you here pondering the demon’s life instead?”
Bai Yaoyao asked, then snatched the wine flask from Mo Fan’s hand, shook it, and took a hearty swig.
“I am afraid that if I chat with them, I might chat them right out of existence…”
Mo Fan gave Bai Yaoyao a meaningful look, then turned back around to gaze at the sea of clouds beyond the cliff, saying gravely, “Calm often hides a storm; I am a bit worried, truth be told.”
Hearing this, Bai Yaoyao fell silent for a moment, then smiled and said, “Rest easy; no matter how great the storm, I will face it with you, and at the very least, I can collect your corpse.”
“You really know how to comfort a demon.”
Mo Fan smiled wryly, then shook his head and said, “I am just a mangy toad with a cheap life; no need for anyone to collect my corpse. Heaven and earth are vast; wherever I fall, there I shall be buried.”
“So go, leave.”
“Take the children of Black Wind Mountain and go together.”
Bai Yaoyao’s expression shifted slightly as she frowned and said, “Do you not have a trump card?”
“What of it? In worldly affairs, who can guarantee everything goes as one wishes?”
Mo Fan sighed, then turned to Bai Yaoyao and said gravely, “I am serious; only if all these mountain’s lesser demons leave can I fight without any worries holding me back.”
“Perhaps you are overthinking it.”
“Lei Yu Zidian might not act personally; most likely, it will be a few demon kings from the Lei Yu family coming first, and as long as we defeat them, we can use them as hostages; even then, that Lei Yu Zidian will have to hold back for fear of harming his own.” Bai Yaoyao spoke gravely, voicing her thoughts.
“Your idea is sound, but there are always exceptions in everything, and I do not want to gamble.”
“Moreover, even if it is just a few demon kings, once battle breaks out, whether Black Wind Mountain still stands is another matter, but these full mountain’s lesser demons will surely suffer heavy losses; that is not the outcome I want.”
Mo Fan drew a deep breath; he knew full well what lay ahead.
Black Wind Mountain’s monsters were numerous now, yet in a king-level battle, they would serve no purpose and would only become a burden if they stayed.
Likewise, this attack by the two mountains was such a major event that the Lei Yu family would surely investigate it, and they would definitely come to Black Wind Mountain; so whether Mo Fan left or stayed, the mountain would run red with blood.
Only by utterly exterminating every demon on Black Wind Mountain could the Lei Yu family’s fury truly be assuaged.
Thus, Mo Fan could not leave, nor could he flee; he had to stay and guard Black Wind Mountain, facing all that came.
But the demons of Black Wind Mountain had to go.
“Just now, I already had Little Yellow have the demon web brothers notify the demons of the other two mountains, telling them not to return for a short while, but to find some hidden spot to lie low, and only come back to Black Wind Mountain once this calamity passes.” Mo Fan spoke again.
He had already arranged everything, ready to meet the Lei Yu family in battle.
“You…”
Bai Yaoyao, upon hearing this, hesitated as if to speak, and only after a long moment did she say gravely, “Have Fire Spirit lead them away then; I will stay to help you.”
“No, you all have to go.”
As Mo Fan spoke, as if struck by a thought, he reached into his bosom and pulled out the “little mud eel” hidden in his clothes.
“Burp… Daddy, what are you doing?”
“I… there are so many stars on your head…”
At this moment, the Ying Ying Monster’s face was flushed red; after a wine burp, it began babbling nonsense.
“Take him with you; if I happen to die, look after him for me in the future, and do not let anyone catch him to serve as a drinking snack.”
Mo Fan smiled, stroked the now-slumbering Ying Ying Monster, and felt a twinge of reluctance in his heart.
Though at first he had wanted to eat the little one, after all this time together, he had grown fond of the tiny thing; after all, who could resist a cute pet calling “Daddy” at every turn.
This time, Bai Yaoyao did not refuse; she reached out to take the Ying Ying Monster, then said gravely to Mo Fan, “No matter what, you must live.”
Mo Fan made no reply, but turned and walked towards the crowd of demons.
“Children, did you all drink your fill today?”
Mo Fan laughed heartily, reached out a hand, and a bowl of wine flew over from nearby; he raised it to the crowd and laughed loudly, “Come, this king toasts you all a cup.”
Mo Fan’s words instantly set the crowd of demons abuzz; they all raised their bowls and stood to toast him from afar.
“Great King is mighty; may the Great King cultivate immortality without hindrance, and enjoy eternal immortal fortune.”
Red Eyes laughed heartily and raised his cup in congratulations.
“May the Great King enjoy eternal immortal fortune.”
The crowd of demons followed suit, each one drinking until their faces were red.
“Ha ha ha ha… Bring on the demon king feast.”
Mo Fan laughed, raised his arm high, and at once some lesser demons carried over a pot several zhang wide from afar, with Wolf Ferocious following close behind, lest any impatient lesser demon snatch at it.
The demon king feast began, and the crowd of demons boiled over, each one thrilled beyond measure.
The Great King had kept his word indeed.
There really was a demon king feast to eat.
