Watching Yan Mo soar away on his sword, Mo Fan felt both envy and exasperation.
He envied the ability to roam the heavens.
The exasperation, naturally, came from how easily that fellow believed him, even entrusting him to escort Bao’er, a human child, back home.
Wasn’t that a bit too trusting?
I’m a bloody demon, for heaven’s sake!
With this thought, Mo Fan sighed helplessly. Bao’er’s curious voice reached his ears, “Big Brother, that bad guy could fly. Is he a demon?”
“He’s not a demon. He’s a demon hunter!” Mo Fan replied.
“What? That bad guy’s a demon hunter? That’s not what Grandpa Village Chief said. He told us demon hunters are skilled good people, dedicated to catching demons, and highly respected!”
Bao’er scratched his head, too young to puzzle it out.
“Maybe he’s not a proper demon hunter.”
Mo Fan grinned, still quite impressed by Yan Mo, a human cultivator who seemed different from the ones he’d heard about, somehow out of place, with a touch of freedom and defiance.
Mo Fan didn’t dwell on it.
Though Yan Mo was unique, they were from different worlds, destined never to walk the same path.
Next, Mo Fan hoisted Bao’er onto his back and trekked over mountains.
He didn’t actually know where Yunling Village was and had meant to ask Bao’er but gave up, heading east.
In Mo Fan’s view, Bao’er was just a six-year-old kid, how would he know the way home?
Yet, after travelling dozens of miles east, Bao’er excitedly pointed in a direction, saying, “Big Brother, over there, that’s our village!”
“How do you know?” Mo Fan asked, surprised.
“Because our village has lots of huge white apricot trees with white leaves. From far away, they look like a special cloud.”
“Big Brother, see that peculiar cloud over there?” Bao’er explained.
Mo Fan looked and, sure enough, spotted a distinctive cloud in the distance.
It was peculiar because it hung low, almost touching the ground, swaying but not drifting away.
“Yunling Village… I see!”
Mo Fan murmured, understanding dawning, his steps quickening.
Though he could see Yunling Village, it took another ten miles to reach it. The village was indeed built on a ridge.
This was Mo Fan’s first glimpse of a human village in this world. Seeing the smoke rising above, his emotions grew complex.
“Big Brother, come on, let’s go into the village! My mum will be so happy to know you saved me!”
Bao’er, thrilled, tugged Mo Fan’s hand towards the village.
But at the village gate, Bao’er found he couldn’t pull Big Brother along and looked ahead curiously.
A figure had appeared at the gate.
“Grandpa Village Chief!!”
Bao’er let go of Mo Fan’s hand and rushed excitedly to the figure.
Mo Fan stayed silent, standing outside the gate, watching.
The man was elderly, not tall, slightly stooped, with white hair and tattered robes. Yet, his exposed skin showed defined muscles, brimming with vigour.
Mo Fan saw both age and strength in the old man, a contradictory blend.
He knew this was no ordinary elder but a cultivator, or rather, a village guardian!
The old man patted Bao’er’s head, his gaze wary on Mo Fan. Seeing no further movement, he said to Bao’er, “Your mum’s looking everywhere for you. Go see her!”
“Okay, Grandpa Village Chief!”
Bao’er nodded obediently, about to run into the village, but then turned back to Mo Fan, saying to the chief, “Grandpa, this Big Brother saved me and brought me back from the scary mountains!”
“I know. Go on, I need to talk to your Big Brother.” The old man gave a kind smile.
“Okay!”
Bao’er nodded, waving to Mo Fan, “Big Brother, I’m going home. I’ll come find you after seeing Mum. You have to eat at our house!”
“Sure, go home!”
Mo Fan smiled at the little guy.
“Grandpa Village Chief, bye… no, see you later!”
Bao’er, now chattier in the village, bounced off happily.
Once Bao’er was gone, the village chief sighed, eyeing Mo Fan with a frown, “I’m grateful you brought Bao’er back and didn’t eat him, but you’re a demon. Our human village doesn’t welcome demons, so forgive me for not inviting you in.”
“I understand,” Mo Fan nodded, then asked, “You’re Yunling Village’s guardian?”
“Indeed!”
The chief nodded, a surge of power rippling from him, his hair fluttering slightly.
“As a guardian, it’s my duty to protect the village. If you try to force your way in, you’ll have to step over my body first!”
He glared at Mo Fan, issuing a warning, his aura spiking sharply.
Mo Fan shrugged, unfazed, even a bit exasperated, “You’re just a village guardian, not some great cultivator like those monks.”
“Honestly, compared to Yan Mo, you’re miles behind!”
With that, Mo Fan turned towards the Demon Spirit Mountains, tossing back, “Oh, old man, I don’t care to step over your corpse. I did a good deed for once, so don’t make me feel sick!”
Watching Mo Fan vanish down the ridge, the elderly chief exhaled heavily. His aura collapsed, and he slumped to the ground, sweat beading on his forehead.
Just moments ago, he’d felt an unprecedented pressure from that demon!
He’d only ever sensed such pressure from true cultivators.
It was terrifying!
After sitting for a while to calm his fear, the chief pulled a yellow talisman from his robes, muttering, “A demon from the mountains has come out. The world’s getting restless… I must report this to the higher-ups.”
Mo Fan walked the mountain path, glancing back at the village, now a cloud again, forming a rough estimate.
He now had a clear sense of the distance and route from Black Wind Mountain to human territory.
He also understood the so-called “village guardians” among humans.
These guardians were merely innate warriors, not even proper cultivators. They might seem impressive to ordinary folk, but to cultivators, they were no different from mortals.
The Yunling Village chief seemed unafraid, but Mo Fan had sensed his strength clearly—roughly equivalent to a third-stage demon transformation.
Enough to handle minor demons, but nothing to him.
With this, Mo Fan’s steps grew lighter. This trip wasn’t wasted; he’d gauged the guardians’ strength. In the future, when the time was right, he’d come back to nab some literate scholars.
No one should be able to stop him then!
