After seeing Da Li off, Mo Fan didn’t immediately head to the caves of the other two trusted Demon Soldiers. Instead, after some thought, he dove back into the spring pool.
This time, he took out all his spirit stones, spending nearly half a day luring over two hundred dragon loaches.
However, these dragon loaches were all in their first stage.
Mo Fan wasn’t discouraged. He placed all two hundred dragon loaches into a bamboo basket for cultivation and evolution, then selected ten to bring ashore.
These ten were his gift, intended for that Crane Fei Fei.
Since she liked eating fish, dragon loaches were the perfect choice.
Ten dragon loaches weren’t much, not even enough to fill Mo Fan’s teeth, but he understood their value. These weren’t ordinary fish, they were true river treasures!
If Crane Fei Fei, as rumoured, often hunted at the Black Water River, she likely wasn’t unfamiliar with dragon loaches.
So, Mo Fan decided to visit Crane Fei Fei first.
Her cave was far from his, located on another mountain peak.
Black Wind Mountain was vast, with over a dozen peaks.
Apart from the Black Wind King, who resided on the main peak, other powerful demons had carved out caves on the other peaks.
Lesser demons like Mo Fan, however, could only dig caves at the mountainside or below.
This was the demons’ hierarchy.
From his first day at Black Wind Mountain, Mo Fan had understood this truth: demons and humans weren’t so different, oppression was everywhere!
By the time Mo Fan reached the outside of Crane Fei Fei’s cave, it was already afternoon.
“Stop!”
“Where’d you come from, little demon? Don’t you know this is Lord Crane Dingmu’s cave? You can’t just barge in!”
As Mo Fan approached, two lesser demons blocked his path.
“Didn’t they say trusted Demon Soldiers don’t have lesser demons under them?”
Mo Fan muttered to himself, then looked at the two demons, noting they had human heads but beastly bodies, making it easy to guess their true forms.
One was a chicken demon, the other a duck demon!
“What the hell, ingredients from my past life can become demons in this one!”
Mo Fan cursed inwardly before snapping, “Are your chicken eyes blind? Can’t you see this lord has fully manifested his spirit body?!”
At his words, the two demons gaped, then circled Mo Fan.
“Old Duck, this is bad, this guy really seems like a Demon Soldier!”
“Yeah, what do we do? We’ve offended a Demon Soldier Lord, we’re done for!”
“We’re finished…”
The two demons wailed, regretting their mistake.
But Mo Fan had no time to bicker with them. He waved a hand, “Alright, I’m not holding it against you, what are you scared of?!”
“I’m here to visit Lord Crane Dingmu. Is she in her cave?”
“So, Lord Dingmu is here to visit our lord!”
The two demons exchanged a glance, visibly relieved. The chicken demon quickly smiled apologetically, “Lord Dingmu, please forgive us, we were blind just now. By chance, our lord returned to the cave not long ago. Shall I go announce you?”
Sisters?
Mo Fan glanced at the two demons. If the chicken demon hadn’t said it, he wouldn’t have guessed they were female demons, they looked a bit rough.
But he quickly understood why.
With Black Wind King’s notorious lust, and likely the other demon generals being no better, any good-looking female demons would’ve been taken as consorts long ago, not left to idle like this.
“Then I’ll trouble you both!”
Mo Fan cupped his hands politely.
Since he was here to visit, proper etiquette was necessary.
“Please wait a moment, Lord Dingmu!”
The chicken demon nodded and hurried into the cave.
Soon, she returned, saying to Mo Fan, “Our lord invites you in!”
“Follow me!”
Mo Fan followed her inside.
Crane Demon’s cave was large, far bigger than Mo Fan’s.
As he walked through, he noticed the cave extended upward. Higher up, the passages were wooden, and he realised something.
This cave was likely built inside a giant tree!
Sure enough, as he followed the passage upward, he saw a glimmer of light. Stepping out, he found himself in a massive bird’s nest.
In the nest lay a white crane, far larger than Mo Fan had expected, like a monster, staring at him intently.
“You’re the one who wants to see me?”
The crane opened its beak, speaking in a clear, pleasant voice, confirming she was indeed a female demon!
“Indeed!”
Mo Fan nodded, cupping his fists, “Lai Bao, formerly of Scorpion Demon Blackie’s camp, greets Lord Crane Dingmu!”
“So, you’re that poisonous scorpion’s underling?”
“Wait… no, you’re already a Demon Soldier. How come I’ve never heard of you?”
“And what did you mean by ‘formerly Scorpion Demon’?”
As Crane Demon spoke, demonic aura surged from her, her gaze turning much colder.
“Lai Bao came here today precisely for this matter, but it’s a serious issue, best discussed with Lord Crane Dingmu alone.”
Mo Fan smiled, seemingly unfazed by the dangerous aura from Crane Demon.
Hearing this, Crane Demon was taken aback. Her massive form suddenly transformed into a human shape, revealing her full spirit body. She waved dismissively at the chicken demon, “Leave us!”
“Yes, Lord!”
The chicken demon respectfully withdrew.
Only then did Mo Fan take a good look at Crane Demon, his eyes lighting up.
Her spirit body was that of a beautiful demon!
She had cascading hair like a waterfall, wore an exquisite feather robe, with bright eyes, white teeth, and fair, delicate skin. Though not as stunning as the rabbit demon Bai Xue, she wasn’t far off.
“Had enough staring?”
Crane Demon’s brows furrowed, her gaze still cold.
“To see a demon as beautiful as Lord Crane Dingmu is a first for me, so I was a bit rude. I hope you’ll forgive me!”
Mo Fan smiled, then waved his hand, sending the bamboo basket with dragon loaches toward Crane Demon.
Crane Demon raised an eyebrow, catching the basket and frowning, “What’s this?”
“Lord Crane Dingmu will know once you look!”
Mo Fan smiled and continued, “Scorpion Demon Blackie is dead, so I’ve come to gain your approval. I hope to use what’s in this basket to earn your recognition, to acknowledge me as Scorpion Demon’s replacement!”
Mo Fan’s words were shocking, causing Crane Demon’s pupils to shrink!
“What did you say!”
“That poisonous scorpion is dead?!”
Crane Demon was genuinely stunned by Mo Fan’s words.
Then she instinctively looked into the basket, her body trembling, her eyes suddenly brightening!
Mo Fan’s lips curved, knowing he’d likely succeeded, and said, “Yes, Scorpion Demon is dead. How he died isn’t important, don’t you agree, Lord Crane Dingmu?”
“You actually got dragon loaches?”
“You’ve got some skills, but ten dragon loaches to cover up a Demon Soldier’s death? That’s a bit lacking.”
Crane Demon’s eyes narrowed, reassessing Mo Fan.
“If ten aren’t enough, how about a hundred!”
Mo Fan’s words stunned Crane Demon, who asked, “Are you serious?”
“Of course!”
Mo Fan met her gaze without flinching.
“Even a hundred dragon loaches are still short compared to a Demon Soldier’s life,” Crane Demon shook her head, “Five hundred. Five hundred dragon loaches, and I’ll acknowledge you!”
“Lord Crane Dingmu has quite an appetite!”
Mo Fan’s eyes narrowed, then he laughed heartily, “Deal!”
But he spread his hands, “However, I can’t produce five hundred dragon loaches right now. I’ll have to deliver them in instalments.”
