Though Fang Ru was not the ideal great scholar Mo Fan had in mind, he had no better options at the time.
The entire southern frontier was a scene of devastation, and any so-called great scholars had likely already perished in pools of blood or ended up in the bellies of demon cultivators.
However, Fang Ru had qualities that Mo Fan admired.
In terms of character, Fang Ru was undoubtedly kind, her heart filled with great compassion.
Mo Fan was also clear that Fang Ru’s agreement to help him was largely to protect the lives of the hundred or so children.
On this point alone, Fang Ru surpassed the Zhang Taifu, who had only thought of fleeing, by far.
Next, Mo Fan introduced Black Robe and White Robe to Fang Ru. As for Langlang, he had been injured in the recent battle with the golden-furred monkey king in the capital and had returned to the ghost space to recover.
Fang Ru wasn’t surprised by Black Robe’s demon identity, as she had suspected it from the start.
But White Robe being a ghost startled her, paling her face as she instinctively moved closer to Mo Fan, keeping her distance from White Robe.
This amused Mo Fan greatly.
Despite Fang Ru’s maturity from her many experiences, she was still a woman, naturally afraid of ghosts and the like.
“Mo Fan, where is this Black Wind Mountain you mentioned?”
To ease her tension, Fang Ru turned to Mo Fan.
“It’s in the Demon Spirit Mountain Range, west of the southern frontier.”
Mo Fan smiled, his demonic power surging, enveloping everyone as he rose into the clouds, heading back the way they came.
Fang Ru let out an involuntary exclamation, feeling both fear and a hint of novelty.
It was her first time soaring into the sky, looking down at the southern frontier.
“No wonder we humans are no match for you demons. You can fly and wield varied magic. How can mere mortal flesh defeat you?” Fang Ru said with a bitter smile.
“You’re wrong. It’s not that the demon race wants to invade your lands, but that we’re forced to fight back.
We’re merely reclaiming what was lost, bit by bit,” Mo Fan shook his head.
Though the southern frontier was littered with corpses, Mo Fan didn’t believe all the fault lay with the demons.
What the demon race was doing was simply taking back what had been lost, nothing more.
“Our perspectives differ, so we naturally see things differently.
To me, this is a war between two races, with no right or wrong, as both have reasons to hold fast,” Mo Fan said.
“No, this isn’t war, it’s slaughter!”
“And is your demon race’s reason to cause more killing?” Fang Ru gritted her teeth.
“You’re too extreme. Things aren’t always as they seem.
You keep saying demons have killed countless humans, but do you know how many demons have been hunted by humans over the centuries?”
Mo Fan paused, then said gravely, “Let me tell you, it’s far more than the corpses now littering the southern frontier!!
Your human race has a special profession formed by cultivators, called demon hunters.
These demon hunters exist solely to hunt and capture demons.”
This time, Fang Ru fell silent, offering no rebuttal.
As Pingyao Town’s most learned scholar, she knew about demon hunters and had some understanding of the southern frontier’s human history.
Blinded by hatred and anger before, she hadn’t considered this perspective.
Soon after, the group passed over a village where a sudden fire erupted. Several calf-sized grey wolves, baring their teeth, chased two fleeing children.
Mo Fan noticed a faint black mist enveloping the wolves.
It was demonic energy!
These grey wolves were demon cultivators!
“Can… can I ask you for a favour?”
Fang Ru hesitated, looking at Mo Fan.
“I can save them, but it’ll expose us, and we’ll face endless pursuit on the journey ahead.”
Mo Fan looked at Fang Ru, smiling, “What’s your choice?”
“Can you save them?” Fang Ru frowned.
“Of course, no problem.”
Mo Fan nodded earnestly.
“Then I choose to save them!” Fang Ru pursed her lips, her face resolute.
“As you wish!”
Mo Fan nodded, turning to White Robe, “Go save those two children!”
“Yes!”
White Robe turned into a cloud of ghost mist and descended.
His speed was astonishing, engulfing all the wolf demons in the mist in an instant.
When the mist cleared, the wolf demons were gone, replaced by a pile of white bones!
The ghost mist soon returned, bringing back two children, about eight or nine years old.
The mist reformed into White Robe, holding a child in each hand, both unconscious.
“What happened to them?” Fang Ru asked, visibly nervous.
White Robe glanced at her, then said to Mo Fan, “Master, they fainted from fear.”
“They’re fine.”
Mo Fan nodded, then opened his mouth, drawing the two children into a pouch.
“You ate them?!” Fang Ru’s eyes widened.
“Of course not. If I wanted to eat them, why save them?
We demons can create a pouch in our mouths. I’ve just stored them there.
By the way, you’ve been in there too!” Mo Fan grinned.
“Didn’t you say saving them would attract other demons to chase us?
Why did you save them for me?” Fang Ru suddenly looked at Mo Fan.
“Because you wanted to save them!”
Mo Fan smiled, then said seriously, “I said I want you to help me educate the myriad demons, and I naturally want you to see a different demon race!
I never thought of bringing humans to Black Wind Mountain before, but now I might consider it.”
“Mo Fan, thank you!”
Fang Ru was silent for a long while before thanking him.
She wasn’t foolish. She knew Mo Fan was likely doing this for her, or rather, for the Fang Ru who taught him to read.
“Saying thanks is too formal, but you might have to endure the pouch for a bit.”
Mo Fan shrugged, sensing a powerful aura rapidly approaching.
“Why…”
Before Fang Ru could finish, Mo Fan drew her entirely into the pouch.
After this, he turned to face the approaching demon.
“Kill!”
At Mo Fan’s command, Black Robe and White Robe rushed toward the enemy.
