The clay pot was not small, as large as a millstone, crafted by Mo Fan long ago for boiling beast meat.
If swapped for a wine gourd, this pot could hold six or seven gourds’ worth of wine.
Thus, when he presented this pot of spirit wine, not only were Old Eight and the three close attendants stunned, but even the Scorpion Demon Blackie was taken aback.
Seeing their reaction, Mo Fan’s lips curled slightly upward. This was exactly the effect he wanted!
To avoid conflict with the Scorpion Demon for now, he had gone all out.
This single pot of spirit wine accounted for nearly half of his gains from this trip!
“Master, this wine is called Monkey Wine, stolen from a monkey demon’s lair when I went down the mountain. I offer it to you!” Mo Fan said with a forced smile.
“Monkey Wine?”
The Scorpion Demon’s expression shifted slightly, and he immediately opened his mouth to suck.
In an instant, a stream of golden wine flew from the pot into his mouth.
“Master, how’s the wine?” Mo Fan asked, feigning flattery.
“Fragrant, sweet aftertaste, strong but not harsh. Truly fine wine!”
The Scorpion Demon nodded in satisfaction, then turned to Mo Fan and asked, “This spirit wine has potent medicinal properties, beyond ordinary quality. If you drank it, you might transform into a demon several times. Are you really willing to offer it to me?”
“Master, how can you say that? If not for you saving me back then, I’d have been dead long ago. Now that I’ve got this opportunity, of course I must repay you!
As for my transformation, there’s no rush. Black Wind Mountain is safe enough. Drinking such spirit wine would be a waste on me. Better to offer it to you, Master, as a token of my loyalty!” Mo Fan chuckled.
His words drew disdain from the three attendants and Red Eye.
All that talk just showed he was afraid of death, didn’t it?
This Laibao was even more spineless than Laifu. They’d need to watch him closely in the future.
“Hahaha! Well said! Worthy of a demon I’ve taken a liking to!”
The Scorpion Demon, flattered by Mo Fan’s words, burst into hearty laughter, but his tone suddenly shifted as he asked, “If that’s the case, tell me, how much Monkey Wine did you steal this time?”
Mo Fan’s heart jolted, silently cursing, “Damn Scorpion Skinflint, so greedy! Isn’t this much spirit wine enough?!”
But he said aloud, “Master, this is all I managed to steal. If you don’t believe me, you can search me.”
“Alright.”
Mo Fan had meant it as a polite gesture, but the Scorpion Demon took it seriously, raising a hand toward Mo Fan’s head.
Mo Fan’s hair stood on end, his instinct urging him to bolt, but he suppressed the impulse.
The large hand descended, a wisp of demonic qi emanating from it, heading straight for Mo Fan’s mouth pouch.
The so-called mouth pouch was a minor technique for demons, creating small spaces in the cheeks to store items, hence the name.
Having spent some time on Black Wind Mountain, Mo Fan knew this, but since he had an internal space, he hadn’t bothered creating a pouch.
At this moment, he was tense, sweating bullets.
Not because he feared the Scorpion Demon finding anything, but because he dreaded his true cultivation being exposed, which would surely provoke questions and attacks.
From their encounters, Mo Fan had figured out the Scorpion Demon’s nature: sinister, ruthless, and suspicious.
This time, returning to the mountain, he had concealed his cultivation, showing only a head as his spirit form, appearing like a first-stage demon.
But if the Scorpion Demon’s qi entered his body, it would instantly detect his true cultivation.
Fortunately, the Scorpion Demon wasn’t interested in probing his body. After a cursory scan of the pouch area, finding no other spiritual items, he stopped.
As the demonic qi left his mouth, Mo Fan exhaled in relief, forcing a calm smile, “Master, see? I didn’t lie, did I?”
“Well done!”
“If they all had your sense, I wouldn’t have to worry so much!” The Scorpion Demon nodded approvingly.
“Then, Master, if there’s nothing else, may we leave?” Mo Fan chuckled.
“Nothing else?”
The Scorpion Demon’s smile vanished, his brow furrowing as he glared at Mo Fan and Red Eye, snorting, “Leaving your post during patrol is a capital offence! If the Great King Grandpa found out, even I couldn’t escape blame!
But since Red Eye was lured by that one-eyed snake under Rattle’s command, I’ll let it slide lightly!”
At these words, Mo Fan and Red Eye both sighed in relief.
“Good thing that pot of spirit wine wasn’t offered in vain!”
Mo Fan thought, his understanding of human finesse from his past life ensuring the wine wasn’t given for nothing.
“But while the death penalty can be spared, punishment cannot. Red Eye, as the main offender, must be disciplined, or the other demons won’t respect the rules!”
The Scorpion Demon snorted coldly, declaring, “Rabbit Demon Red Eye, for leaving his post and descending the mountain, shall face the punishment of skinning!”
Skinning?
Mo Fan’s scalp tingled.
Red Eye trembled in fear, shouting, “Master, have mercy! I’ll never do it again! Please, spare me…!”
“Drag him away, skin him, and hang him upside down on the great banyan tree for three days!
If any demon dares free him, they’ll face the same punishment!”
Ignoring Red Eye’s pleas, the Scorpion Demon ordered the three attendants to take him away.
“As for you, Laibao, your wine offering earns you merit. You’re spared the skinning. Go back, reflect, and stay confined for a month. If you disobey, it’s skinning and tendon-stripping for you!”
Hearing the Scorpion Demon’s verdict, Mo Fan felt oddly relieved, at least spared the skinning. “Thank you, Master, for your punishment!”
Leaving the Scorpion Cave, Mo Fan finally relaxed, a cold glint flashing in his eyes as he hurried toward his own cave.
Passing under the great banyan tree, he heard screams and curses.
“Ah… Laifu, damn your ancestors! Curse your eighteen generations!”
“Ah… lighter, brothers, lighter… Laibao, you bastard, no good! I saved you, and you didn’t mention my contribution when offering the wine, damn… ouch… lighter… lighter…”
Mo Fan was speechless. Looking up, he saw Red Eye hanging upside down under the pine tree, most of his skin peeled off, revealing bloody flesh.
Just one glance made Mo Fan’s scalp crawl. How painful must that be?
Besides the three attendants skinning him, Dali, Zhazha, and Laifu were all there, watching Red Eye’s punishment.
“Brother Red Eye, don’t blame me. If I hadn’t offered the spirit wine to please Master, you might already be on the dinner table. Maybe I’d even get to taste pure rabbit demon meat!”
Mo Fan joined in, tossing out a line that left Red Eye choking with rage, cursing loudly.
Mo Fan shook his head and left, thinking his good intentions were clearly lost on this damned rabbit.
Unable to stomach the bloody scene, he used an excuse to leave.
Back at his cave, he took a deep breath, muttering, “Finally, some peace and quiet!”
