Bai Yaoyao’s words filled Mo Fan with delight; he hadn’t expected this snake demon to know so many techniques.
Even more surprising was her willingness to teach him these techniques.
He had heard from Bing Qi that such cultivation techniques were considered foundational even among human cultivation sects, rarely shared, showing their importance.
“You… you’re really willing to teach me these two techniques?” Mo Fan asked uncertainly, his voice trembling slightly.
He desperately wanted to learn these techniques.
Both the Sound Transmission Technique and the Aura Concealment Technique were highly practical, exactly what Mo Fan needed now.
If he could learn them, it would be fantastic.
“Yes, though I’m not entirely sure of that senior’s intentions, our fates are now tied together. If you grow stronger, it ensures my safety too.”
Bai Yaoyao looked at Mo Fan, thought for a moment, and continued, “Besides, I also want to rid myself of the poison in my body soon.”
“Don’t worry, as long as I’m sure you pose no threat to me, I’ll naturally remove the poison.”
Mo Fan nodded. He was using the poison bead demon weapon to restrain Bai Yaoyao as a precaution, since they had only just met.
Unlike Mr. Pig, Bai Yaoyao was a true great demon, with a history of killing over twenty thousand people.
Beneath her soft, delicate exterior lay the heart of a true demon!
Though Bai Yaoyao had shared some of her past, Mo Fan didn’t fully trust her. Only when he felt safe enough would he truly consider her one of his own.
Next, Bai Yaoyao didn’t waste words and taught Mo Fan the Sound Transmission and Aura Concealment Techniques without holding back.
Mo Fan also shared information about the dragon loach in the spring pool with her.
Though surprised, Bai Yaoyao didn’t pry further. Dragon loaches were rare, but as a former Demon King, she had seen far more treasures than Mo Fan and wouldn’t entertain other thoughts over it.
For the next period, Mo Fan stayed in his cave dwelling, practising the techniques, while Bai Yaoyao lived in the spring pool, tending to the dragon loaches in the bamboo basket for him.
In return, Mo Fan paid her a hundred low-grade spirit stones monthly for her cultivation.
Though they were master and servant, it felt more like an employer-employee relationship.
Mo Fan didn’t dare object, as Bai Yaoyao held too many secrets worth exploring.
To Mo Fan, Bai Yaoyao was like a walking cultivation treasure, ripe for discovery, so he couldn’t afford to offend her too much, making her status different from the other lesser demons.
What reassured Mo Fan was that Mr. Pig indeed kept quiet, so for days, none of the lesser demons under him knew about the beautiful snake demon in his cave.
As he grew closer to Bai Yaoyao, Mo Fan increasingly felt his trip to the ruined temple market was a wise move; otherwise, how could he have gained such a capable ally?
As for Mr. Pig, after Bai Yaoyao’s arrival, he tactfully kept his distance, digging a new cave near Bull Demon Dali’s dwelling. He often flaunted the crescent moon shovel Mo Fan had given him to make Dali and Red Eyes jealous…
Mo Fan paid little attention to this. Though he knew Mr. Pig likely misunderstood something, he had no intention of explaining, as there was nothing to explain.
Days passed in a flash.
One evening, as darkness fell, Mo Fan summoned Mr. Pig and his three trusted lesser demons, saying calmly, “I’ll be leaving Black Wind Mountain for a while. During this time, you’ll oversee the other lesser demons. Make sure they don’t cause trouble.”
“Rest assured, lord, we’ll keep them in line and ensure no trouble!” Rabbit Demon Red Eyes grinned.
“Rest assured, my foot!”
“You’re the one I trust the least!”
Mo Fan scolded Red Eyes, then turned to Bull Demon Dali, “Dali, you’re the steadiest among them. While I’m gone, keep a close eye on this stingy rabbit. Don’t let him go gambling again and fall into another demon’s trap.”
Mo Fan still vividly remembered Red Eyes’ last gambling escapade and didn’t want him causing trouble again.
“Don’t worry, lord, I’ll keep an eye on him!” Dali grinned honestly.
“Alright, don’t keep hanging around my cave for no reason. If something comes up, go find Deer Greedy; he can help.”
Mo Fan waved the three demons off to do their own thing, then went alone to the spring pool, calling out, “Bai Yaoyao, I’m heading out for a bit. You better keep a good watch on those dragon loaches!”
“Don’t worry, if you die out there, I’ll make sure to savour the dragon loaches’ deliciousness for you.”
No demon surfaced from the pool, but Bai Yaoyao’s clear voice rang in Mo Fan’s ears, making him purse his lips.
“Don’t worry, your lord’s life is tough as nails!”
Mo Fan snorted, turning to leave the cave.
Unbeknownst to Mo Fan, shortly after he left, a figure staggered from a distant mountain peak toward his cave…
Life in Black Wind Mountain was quite dull, so even trusted demon lieutenants like Deer Greedy often had to find ways to entertain themselves, or the mountain’s monotony would drive them mad.
After some recovery, his injuries had fully healed, and his cultivation had even improved.
Deer Greedy felt he was just a step away from the peak of the Demon Ding Realm, which thrilled him. So, he drank a bit and planned to visit Lai Bao, the toad demon, to share the news and see if he could get some good food and wine to push for a breakthrough.
As he neared the spring pool cave, he noticed a figure entering it first.
Thinking it was Lai Bao, Deer Greedy was about to call out but stopped, retreating behind a large rock to hide.
“No, that’s not Brother Lai Bao. His build isn’t that tall!”
Deer Greedy muttered to himself, his brows furrowing.
If it wasn’t Lai Bao, then who was it?
…
Mo Fan, of course, was unaware of the situation at his cave.
He had already left Black Wind Mountain, heading toward the Demon Spirit Mountain Range’s outskirts.
This time, he wasn’t going to the ruined temple market but to the human territory!
In the past few days, he had mastered the two techniques Bai Yaoyao taught him, including the Aura Concealment Technique to hide his demonic aura, so he was eager to visit human lands to learn their writing.
He had memorised the direction to human territory from a map and had been there once before, so he wasn’t worried about getting lost.
Heading east, he reached the outskirts of the Demon Spirit Mountain Range in just two days. From a high mountain, he spotted a village in the distance.
It was Yunling Village!
But Mo Fan had no intention of going there, as the village guards had seen him before, and meeting them would likely expose him.
So he bypassed Yunling Village, heading toward the broader human territory.
After traveling dozens of miles, the barren wilderness gave way to more villages. Mo Fan, on a whim, spat out a large bow, a quiver full of arrows, and a leopard’s corpse.
Slinging the bow and quiver over his shoulder, he hoisted the leopard’s corpse and headed toward the nearest village.
Along the way, he met farmers working in the fields, who cast curious glances at him.
“Hunter, how much for that leopard?” a burly man asked curiously.
Mo Fan stopped, looked at the man, and grinned, “I don’t know the price, but I’m short on Bone-Forging Wine lately and craving some. I’d like to trade for a jug of it, or some gold if that’s not possible.”
“Bone-Forging Wine is rare, only for innate martial artists. Even our village chief doesn’t have it, so you’ve come to the wrong place. As for gold, I doubt many in our village even have silver ingots,” the man shook his head.
“What then?”
“I worked hard to hunt this leopard. If I can’t sell it, it’ll spoil in this heat,” Mo Fan said anxiously.
“Your accent doesn’t sound local?” the man asked, frowning.
“Right, I’m a wandering hunter with no family, so I hunt wherever I go, settling wherever I end up.”
Mo Fan nodded, then said urgently, “Brother, how about I sell it to you cheap? Two silver ingots, or it’ll go bad.”
“We don’t have silver ingots either. You seem pitiful, so try Pingyao Town ahead. There are plenty of rich folks there; you might get a good price!”
