Southern Border.
This was Mo Fan’s fifth time entering the Southern Border.
The first time, he was just a lowly demon, saving Bao’er from a black fox demon and, at the request of human cultivator Yan Mo, escorting her to Yunling Village in the Southern Border.
The second time was to learn writing, entering a human town as a hunter for the first time in any meaningful way.
The third time was to pursue Qin Changsheng, marking Mo Fan’s first deep venture into the Southern Border.
The fourth time was to protect Bai Yao Yao, heading to an empty city in the depths of the Southern Border for her tribulation.
Now, here he was again, gazing at the empty village beneath the clouds, his heart heavy with complex emotions.
Pingyao Town was his first stop. To learn writing, he had lived here for over a month, becoming familiar with nearly every detail of the town.
Returning now, Mo Fan stood before the two round stone pillars, only to find one broken in half, the other stained with dried blood trailing down.
Clearly, a battle had taken place here. The two old men guarding the town might have become food for demon cultivators.
The blackened blood suggested it had been some time.
Mo Fan sighed inwardly and continued into the town, where a dilapidated tavern came into view. The broken sign faintly showed the words “Good Again.”
This was the Good Again Tavern, the largest in town and one Mo Fan liked because it was the only place that didn’t water down its wine, though it was pricey.
Past the tavern, he saw a red building.
As the name suggested, the entire structure was painted bright red, the only proper brothel in Pingyao Town.
Mo Fan had visited a few times, not for women but to enjoy the performances of the singing and dancing courtesans.
Unlike the prostitutes in smaller establishments who only knew how to pose and undress, the courtesans here had real skill. A single zither tune or dance could cost several taels of silver, making them pricier but far more profitable than common prostitutes.
Now, the red building was in ruins, and in a corner, Mo Fan saw several gnawed corpses, their pink, translucent gauze clothing revealing their former roles in the building.
“It really fits the saying, ‘pink skeletons,'” Bai Yi shook his head.
“There’s likely not a single living person left in this town. Why did you come here, Great King?” Hei Yi asked, puzzled.
“I suddenly remembered a friend here whose father is a Great Scholar, so I wanted to try my luck.”
Mo Fan shrugged, then gave a bitter smile, “But it seems my luck isn’t great.”
He led the siblings through the entire street, stopping outside a courtyard.
Looking at the gate, he saw it was gone, the courtyard’s interior fully visible.
Mo Fan stood there for a long moment, ultimately not entering. With a sigh, he took the siblings and soared into the sky, heading deeper into the Southern Border.
Over the next few days, Mo Fan’s mood was low, and he grew silent, causing the siblings to quiet down as well.
Since witnessing Moon Gazing Valley’s army invade the Southern Border, Mo Fan had foreseen many things, but as a mere Demon General, he was powerless to change anything, clinging to a sliver of hope.
He didn’t want those he’d once crossed paths with to die.
But reality was often cruel.
How could mortals survive the vengeful flood of demons?
In those days, Mo Fan’s group passed through many places, gradually seeing signs of life, but almost all were demon cultivators!
They occasionally saw human survivors, but they were usually followed by hordes of ferocious lesser demons.
Mo Fan didn’t intervene. He wasn’t a saint who could save everyone.
Nor was he a bleeding heart who’d save someone unrelated to him.
Until one day, as they passed over a large city, they saw two children climbing out of a tavern window, pursued by a fat-headed, big-eared spider demon, who smashed through the tavern wall with a sinister grin.
“Look at that!”
“What do I see?”
“Two tender morsels!”
“Just looking makes my mouth water, so don’t run, come to Uncle’s mouth, heh heh heh!” the spider demon cackled, chasing them, its steps making the stone ground tremble.
The two children ahead were pale with fear, clutching a half-blackened steamed bun, desperately running forward.
“Thud!”
Suddenly, one little girl tripped over a stone, falling with a cry.
“Xiao Yuan, get up!” the boy, a few meters ahead, shouted anxiously, rushing back to pull her up.
“Brother, I can’t walk, my foot hurts… run, don’t worry about me!” the girl cried out in despair.
“I’m not leaving! I’ll take you with me!”
“Come, climb on my back!” the boy gritted his teeth, crouching down for Xiao Yuan to climb on.
“Brother, please, go!”
“Teacher Gu is waiting for us. If you don’t bring the bun back, he’ll starve!” Xiao Yuan sobbed, begging her brother to leave her.
She was young, but after this calamity, she had matured, understanding sacrifice.
“No! I won’t abandon you!”
“Dad’s gone, Mom’s gone, you’re my only family left!”
“How could I leave you?!” the boy shouted, tears streaming down his face.
He stood up, no longer trying to pull her up, but picked up a stone from the ground, standing protectively in front of Xiao Yuan, facing the approaching spider demon alone.
“Heh heh heh… neither of you will escape!”
“You’re both tender morsels, destined to be my meal!” the spider demon laughed, reaching the boy. Its ugly human head opened its mouth, the corners splitting toward the back, turning into a gaping maw.
“Come, into Uncle’s belly!”
“Monster, I won’t let you hurt my sister!” the boy roared, trembling but forgetting danger, hurling the stone at the spider demon!
“Bang!”
With a loud crash, the spider demon’s head was pierced through!
“Urgh… gurgle…” the spider demon’s eyes widened, strange sounds coming from its throat, as if wondering how it could die at the hands of a human child.
“Thud!”
Its massive body collapsed.
“This…” the boy was stunned, staring in disbelief at the scene.
“Wow! You’re so brave, you even killed a demon!” a soft voice suddenly sounded behind the boy, startling him.
