The next day.
Mo Fan didn’t join Dali and the other lesser demons, instead remaining immersed in the spring pool.
After days of nurturing, he noticed the dragon loach in the bamboo basket was almost completely transparent.
This meant it was close to evolving into its third stage, perhaps at any moment.
Because of this, Mo Fan didn’t want to miss the chance to witness the dragon loach’s evolution, nor did he want it to break free from the basket upon reaching the third stage, rendering his efforts futile.
Thus, he decided against paying respects to the Scorpion Demon.
His greatest confidence came from having broken through to the Demon Ding Realm, so he no longer needed to fear the Scorpion Demon. In his view, it was time to lay his cards on the table.
Mo Fan’s actions naturally irked the dog demon Laifu, who had been waiting outside his cave since early morning, eager to see the “ugly thing” make a fool of himself. After waiting half an incense stick’s time without seeing Mo Fan, Laifu was furious and went to Mo Fan’s cave to confront him.
Before even entering, he started cursing, “Damn toad, what time is it, still sleeping?!”
“Have you forgotten what I told you yesterday?”
“If you mess up something as important as paying respects to Master, they’ll peel that bumpy hide of yours!”
Laifu’s voice was loud, reaching Mo Fan even ten metres below in the spring pool, a glint of killing intent flashing in his eyes.
Glancing at the dragon loach trembling in the basket due to the noise, Mo Fan couldn’t sit still. He swam upward.
This was a critical moment for the loach’s transformation, and disturbances could not be tolerated. If the evolution failed, he’d suffer a huge loss.
“Damn Laibao, I know you’re in that spring pool!
Think you can hide and pretend you don’t know anything?
What a joke!
I’m telling you, I’ve delivered Master’s orders. If you dare not go, you’re defying him.
You’ll end up worse than that dead rabbit!” Laifu stood by the pool, cursing downward.
Just then, Mo Fan’s head broke the surface, and a scarlet tongue shot out, wrapping around the unprepared Laifu and dragging him into the pool. Demonic qi surged, suppressing Laifu, preventing him from resurfacing.
“Gurgle… mmm… gurgle…”
In the water, Laifu struggled frantically, trying to reach the surface, but Mo Fan’s tongue held him tightly. Choking on water, bubbles streamed from his mouth and nose, causing him immense discomfort.
Mo Fan ignored him, his gaze cold, seemingly intent on drowning him, which terrified Laifu.
After some time, as Laifu’s struggles weakened, Mo Fan dragged him to the surface, grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, and threw him into the cave.
Splash…
Mo Fan leapt out of the water, stood before the white-eyed Laifu, and stomped on his stomach, causing a jet of water to spray from his mouth.
“Ah—!”
Laifu screamed, finally gasping for air.
“Laibao, you dare… ah…!”
Before Laifu could finish, Mo Fan kicked him again, sending him crashing into the cave wall.
“For helping me carve out this cave, I’ll spare you this time.
But if you keep looking for trouble, don’t blame me!
Go back and tell the Scorpion Demon that from today, I won’t be paying respects anymore!
If he wants my venom, he can come himself, or there’s nothing to discuss!”
Mo Fan tossed out these words and ignored Laifu.
“You… you… you…!”
“You’re betraying Master?!
A mere demon like you dares speak such nonsense. You’re courting death!”
Laifu was furious and shocked.
To him, Mo Fan’s words were treasonous, worthy of skinning!
“Get lost!”
Mo Fan’s low roar startled Laifu, who scrambled out of the cave in a panic.
“Dead toad, just you wait, you’re done! I’ll report this to Master!”
Laifu’s curses echoed outside.
Mo Fan paid him no mind, his eyes flickering as he waved a hand, producing an orange-yellow gourd.
This empty gourd, previously used for yellow-grade spirit wine, was now filled with low-grade spirit wine.
Then, chanting a separation technique, a milky-white venom bead flew from his back into the gourd.
After setting the gourd by the pool’s entrance, Mo Fan jumped back into the water, satisfied.
Meanwhile, Laifu, shaken by Mo Fan, returned to the banyan tree with a grim face, only to find Dali and the others had long gone.
“Damn it! Bunch of cursed demons!”
Laifu cursed inwardly, then raced up the mountain.
At the Scorpion Cave, everyone was already gathered.
“Laifu, where’s Laibao?” Attendant Old Eight asked.
As the Scorpion Demon’s close aide, he knew the demon wanted to see the toad today to collect venom.
“Brother Eight, I came to report this to Master!” Laifu said politely.
Old Eight said no more. At sunrise, he called into the cave to pay respects.
“Has Laifu come?”
From the cave came the Scorpion Demon’s steady voice.
“Master, that Laibao refused to come. Not only did he attack me, but he also said you should go to him yourself…”
…
Mo Fan was unaware of this, too excited to care, as the last trace of gold on the dragon loach had vanished!
A refreshing fragrance emanated from the loach in the basket, invigorating even in the water.
“Third-stage dragon loach, finally…”
Boom!!
Before Mo Fan could finish, a massive explosion, like thunder, erupted overhead.
Startled, he felt the water tremble, sensing something was amiss outside.
Glancing at the still-sleeping loach, he covered the basket and swam up.
Emerging from the pool, he saw a figure at the back entrance—the Scorpion Demon!
He’d come, as expected!
Mo Fan thought, his eyes locked on the demon.
“Laibao, I valued you so much, even considered you for my inner circle.
But you’re getting bolder, disappointing me!”
The Scorpion Demon spoke slowly, gazing calmly at Mo Fan, shaking the orange-yellow gourd in his hand, “Didn’t you say you gave me all the spirit wine?
What’s this gourd of spirit wine then?
Ugly thing, you dare hide some?!”
His tone grew icy at the end.
