The one-eyed demon’s questioning was merely a small interlude for the gathered demons. With the arrival of the three demon generals and the demon king, the atmosphere on Flat-Top Peak surged to a fever pitch.
At this moment, Mo Fan noticed the one-eyed demon rise and approach the Fourth General, Poison Fang, whispering something in his ear.
Seeing this, Mo Fan’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Though he couldn’t hear exactly what was said, he could guess it was likely related to the scorpion demon.
“Could it be that it’s not the one-eyed demon looking for the scorpion demon, but the Fourth General, Poison Fang?”
Mo Fan’s heart stirred with surprise. The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed, but what puzzled him was what secret the scorpion demon could possibly hold that was worth the Fourth General sending someone to find him?
And this probably wasn’t the first time.
Mo Fan still remembered that half a month ago, when he returned to Black Wind Mountain with Red Eye, he had seen the one-eyed demon outside the scorpion demon’s cave.
That time, the one-eyed demon’s expression was grim, likely having returned empty-handed.
“Could it have something to do with the contents of that human skin?”
A sudden realisation hit Mo Fan.
After the scorpion demon’s death, everything in his storage pouch had fallen into Mo Fan’s hands. If there was anything noteworthy, it seemed only that piece of human skin could be it!
In the distance, Poison Fang’s face darkened slightly after hearing the one-eyed demon’s report, and he turned to look toward Mo Fan and the other demons.
“Gone… where do you think that old venomous scorpion could have gone?” Poison Fang asked, his gaze cold as he looked at the one-eyed demon.
“I… I don’t know. I think that venomous scorpion probably fled Black Wind Mountain,” the one-eyed demon replied, sweat beading on his forehead.
“Fled Black Wind Mountain, huh…” Poison Fang sneered, then said coolly, “Why would he flee now, of all times, and not before or after?”
“I don’t know, sir…”
“That old venomous scorpion wasn’t weak. He even defied me before, relying on Black Wind Mountain’s rules and that pheasant demon’s reputation. Do you think a demon like that would suddenly fear me and flee?” Poison Fang scoffed, his expression hardening. “Go investigate. Since that old scorpion has been gone for half a month, find out who his underlings were reassigned to in that time.”
“General, are you suspecting…?” The one-eyed demon’s heart stirred.
…
The Sun-Searing Contest proceeded as scheduled. According to the rules set by the Black Wind Demon King, all patrol demon soldiers had to send their underlings to participate.
Mo Fan was no exception. He stuck to the scorpion demon’s old method, using a lottery to select participants.
However, to motivate his underlings and build his reputation among them, Mo Fan offered spirit wine as a reward.
“Anyone who draws a lot, win or lose, will get a jug of low-grade monkey spirit wine!”
“And if you win, the rewards promised by the Great King and the three generals will be split evenly with me!”
Mo Fan’s words caused an uproar among the small demons, even catching the attention of Lu Tan Tan and He Feifei.
“Brother Lai Bao, you’re playing a big game!” Lu Tan Tan licked his lips, looking at Mo Fan in surprise. He hadn’t expected this guy to have spirit wine, which was beyond his expectations.
“When I went out last time, I got some spirit wine. I don’t drink much myself, so I figured I’d use it as a reward to encourage my underlings to compete eagerly. It’ll also please the three generals and the Great King!” Mo Fan said with a smile, then turned to Dali and the other small demons. “What, a jug of spirit wine isn’t enough to motivate you to draw lots?”
“Well…” The demons exchanged glances, but Red Eye, the rabbit demon, suddenly asked, “Boss, are you really willing to give out spirit wine?”
He knew exactly what this spirit wine was—he’d helped Mo Fan steal it.
“Of course. What, you think I’d go back on my word?” Mo Fan smiled, glancing at Red Eye. “If I wasn’t a demon of my word, I wouldn’t have shared that jug with you last time.”
“Heh heh… I trust you, Boss!” Red Eye grinned sheepishly, stepping up first to draw a lot.
With Red Eye starting, the other small demons eagerly followed, excitedly drawing lots.
In the past, they dreaded the lottery, but now they hoped to draw the winning lot, as it meant a jug of spirit wine—something that could save them countless hours of cultivation.
For these lazy demons, the embarrassment of the Sun-Searing Contest was nothing compared to the value of spirit wine. It was worth the gamble.
However, after a round of drawing, it was Red Eye who won the lot, and he gleefully took to the arena.
As soon as he stepped up, he practically threw himself at the feet of the demon king’s harem of demon maidens.
This time, he literally collapsed… his body twitching slightly on the ground, startling the demon maidens into paling with fright.
“Useless thing, drag him back!” Mo Fan’s face darkened. He’d known Red Eye was quick to act, but this was too quick!
Not only quick, but utterly embarrassing—he’d scared the demon maidens. If the Black Wind Demon King got angry, Mo Fan could be implicated.
Fortunately, the scene didn’t anger the demon king; it amused him greatly. He laughed and declared, “This little rabbit demon is quite entertaining. He must participate in every warm-up match from now on!”
The demon king’s words sealed Red Eye’s tragic fate.
The winner of the warm-up match was a small demon Mo Fan hadn’t seen before, but he didn’t pay it much mind.
Black Wind Mountain had at least a hundred demons, and he had no interest in getting to know them all.
After the warm-up match came the official Sun-Searing Contest, the most thrilling event of the month, with even more demons participating, including some demon soldiers!
Though the demon king and the three generals offered generous rewards, Mo Fan knew his underlings’ calibre and had no high hopes. Still, he promised low-grade spirit wine as before, encouraging his demons to participate actively.
“You’re already a Dingmu boss. You don’t need to bribe your underlings with rewards to get them to compete. One word from you, and which of them would dare refuse? Why waste precious spirit wine?” Lu Tan Tan licked his lips, winking at Mo Fan with a sly grin. “How about this: give me the spirit wine, and I’ll have my underlings compete for you!”
Lu Tan Tan’s words made Mo Fan’s underlings and the two deer demons behind him look uneasy.
But as a trusted demon soldier, he didn’t care. As he’d said, his word was law to his underlings—an order they couldn’t defy!
Mo Fan glanced at him, surprised that this deer demon’s greed was so blatant he’d sell out his own underlings for a jug of low-grade spirit wine. What a beast!
“No thanks, Brother Lu. I get what you’re saying, but we’re different. No need to say more,” Mo Fan said with a smile, easing the tension among his underlings, who then began drawing lots.
“That toad demon—does he have a screw loose? He could’ve saved the spirit wine, but he’s using it as a reward. Is he so rich it’s burning a hole in his pocket?” Lu Tan Tan grumbled, turning to He Feifei for solace.
“No, his head’s perfectly fine. In fact, he’s extremely clever!”
“He’s using these two jugs of spirit wine to solidify his standing among his underlings!” He Feifei said after a moment’s thought.
“No way… is that necessary?” Lu Tan Tan still didn’t get it.
“That’s why you’re just a greedy, dim-witted deer!”
