Despite the grim expressions and deep reluctance of Old Eight and the other two demon retainers, they ultimately chose to swallow the highly toxic pills.
As demons, they might be somewhat simple, but that didn’t mean they were foolish. They clearly understood the choice between temporary poisoning and being devoured soon.
“Very good!”
“From now on, you are my underlings!”
Mo Fan smiled, looking at the three demons with sour faces. “Rest assured, once I truly become the leader of Black Wind Mountain, I’ll naturally give you the antidote.
But until then, I advise you not to act rashly.
You should know what my true form is. When it comes to understanding poisons, apart from the late Scorpion Demon, no one can compare to me.
So you’d better keep your little tricks to yourselves!”
“Of course, you could try reporting to the generals or even the Great King, but I can responsibly tell you the outcome won’t change.
Black Wind Mountain has plenty of lesser demons, but not many demon soldiers. Do I need to spell out what choice the lords up on the mountain will make?”
Mo Fan’s words made the three retainers’ expressions turn uneasy.
They had indeed considered slipping away to report to the Great King, as insubordination was a capital offence in Black Wind Mountain’s rules.
As for the toxic pills Mo Fan gave them, they didn’t think they’d stump the Great King.
But after Mo Fan’s words, they hesitated–
Indeed, Lai Bao’s true form was a poisonous creature, one of the five poisons no less. Even someone as formidable as the Scorpion Demon had been killed by him. Would his poison be so simple?
Could the Great King really neutralize it?
And compared to the lives of three minor demons like them, a demon soldier was surely more valuable, wasn’t it?
At this thought, the three demons fell silent.
Mo Fan’s lips curled slightly. This was exactly the effect he wanted!
As for the so-called deadly poison, it was just ordinary Demon Drunk Pills, a spoil from devouring the Scorpion Demon.
He didn’t know if the Scorpion Demon had ever clashed with human cultivators, but among its possessions were quite a few human items.
“Ah…!”
At that moment, the spider demon Old Eight suddenly let out a scream.
“What’s wrong with you?”
The other demons turned to look at him.
“I… my body feels so weak, like I’ve lost all strength. It must be the poison taking effect!”
Old Eight’s face was filled with panic, and he collapsed to the ground like a puddle of mud.
“What?!”
The faces of Old Six and Old Three also changed, and they soon slumped to the ground as well.
“Damn it!”
“You said you wouldn’t kill us!”
The beetle demon Old Six glared at Mo Fan with resentment.
Old Three also stared at Mo Fan coldly, clenching his teeth.
“Oh… is the poison kicking in?”
Mo Fan glanced at the three demons casually, then said slowly, “Don’t worry, I won’t kill you. This is just a lesson to make you understand I’m not deceiving you.
I said it’s deadly poison, so it’s deadly poison!”
“You…!!”
The three demons were furious at his words.
This is bloody deadly poison! Did you need to prove it to us?!
“This time, I won’t take your lives, but I can’t say the same for next time. So you’d better not scheme behind my back. Serve me loyally, and I’ll naturally cure you!”
Mo Fan grinned, then turned to the sparrow demon Chirp and the rabbit demon Red Eyes. “Please, you two, take them out!”
“Dali, stay. I have something to discuss with you.”
“Yes!”
Chirp and Red Eyes responded in unison, then dragged the three demons out of the cave.
Once the others left, only Mo Fan and Dali remained in the cave.
“Lord, what do you wish to ask me?” Dali looked at Mo Fan, his voice deep and rumbling.
“Brother Dali, you’re too formal. Earlier, in front of the others, I called you by name to maintain authority. In private, we don’t need such formalities. Just call me Lai Bao as before!”
Mo Fan smiled. From Dali’s earlier words, it was clear this ox demon wasn’t dim-witted; in fact, he was quite sharp, knowing Mo Fan had something to ask.
Dali was taken aback, then relaxed and grinned. “Lord, you jest. You’ve broken through to the demon soldier realm. Even without taking the Scorpion Demon’s place, I’d have to call you Lord Leader.
That’s the rule of our demon clan, and it can’t be changed lightly.”
“Fine, have it your way!”
Mo Fan gave a wry smile. He had a fondness for Dali, who had looked out for him in the past, even teaching him cultivation and transformation techniques.
Now, with their statuses different, there was a hint of distance.
“Here’s the thing. I heard the Third General isn’t on the mountain right now, so to gain recognition, I need the approval of the demon soldiers under his command. Is that true?” Mo Fan asked.
“Indeed, that’s a rule set by the Great King,” Dali nodded, pondering for a moment. “A new demon soldier needs the generals’ approval to become a leader. If a general isn’t present, their retainers’ approval suffices.
It’s more of a formality, as demon soldiers are still scarce for the generals.
But your case is an exception, which makes it trickier.”
Mo Fan nodded, understanding Dali’s meaning. If he hadn’t clashed with the Scorpion Demon, promotion to leader would’ve been straightforward.
But since he killed the Scorpion Demon, it indirectly violated the Great King’s rules, making it harder to gain the approval of the general’s retainers.
Who knew what relationship the Scorpion Demon had with those three retainers?
At this, Mo Fan said, “Brother, do you know what kind of demons those three retainers are? Can you tell me about them?”
“I know a bit.”
Dali nodded and said, “The Third General’s three retainers are a crane demon, a wolf demon, and a deer demon.
The crane demon is female, named Crane Flyfly. She loves eating fish and often hunts in the Black Water River.
The wolf demon is the most ferocious, named Wolf Fiercefierce. He loves eating human hearts and livers but is currently away with the Third General.
The deer demon, named Deer Greedygreedy, lives up to his name. He’s extremely greedy and has reportedly extorted plenty from other demon soldiers.”
Hearing this, Mo Fan couldn’t help but want to laugh.
What kind of ridiculous names were these?
Crane Flyfly?
Wolf Fiercefierce?
Deer Greedygreedy?
It seemed the Scorpion Demon’s poor naming sense was influenced by the Third General.
“So, I just need Crane Flyfly and Deer Greedygreedy to acknowledge me?” Mo Fan’s eyes gleamed as he asked.
“Exactly!” Dali nodded.
“Got it. Tell me where their caves are, and I’ll visit them later!”
Mo Fan nodded, then, as if recalling something, asked, “Do you have any wine flasks?”
“Er… no, but I have water flasks.” Dali scratched his head.
“Water flasks will do. Give me two!”
At Mo Fan’s request, Dali spat out two water flasks without hesitation.
They were called water flasks but were really just thick bamboo tubes.
Mo Fan looked at the tubes, which could hold as much as a wine flask, and smiled slightly. With a wave, a surge of demon energy enveloped them.
Moments later, the energy dissipated, revealing the tubes filled with golden liquid.
“What’s this?”
Dali looked at Mo Fan, puzzled.
“This is monkey wine, a low-grade spirit liquor I brought back from outside. These two flasks are for you and Chirp, a token of thanks for your support.”
“This… it’s too valuable!”
“Take it, or we’re no longer friends.”
Mo Fan winked at the embarrassed Dali, who gave a wry smile and tucked the flasks away.
