Chapter 60 Borrowing Grain

Chapter 60: Borrowing Grain (First Part)

"You object?" The Cunning Monkey looked at Xuan Qing in astonishment.

Ah Fei and Zhou Yu were also quite surprised. In their eyes, Xuan Qing was the person least likely to show any fear toward the Demon Emperor Bai Gu Ku. Even if others were terrified, he had no reason to be. So why was he objecting?

Only Fox Ji seemed unfazed. She slowly picked up a cup of wine and took a sip.

"Why are you all looking at me like that?" Xuan Qing asked.

"Why do you object?" Ah Fei asked cautiously. Although he was now on quite familiar terms with this fellow, the gap in their strength was still vast—a difference akin to heaven and earth. If this guy were to suddenly lose his temper, he could easily end his life. Serving him was truly like sleeping beside a tiger.

"Because..." Xuan Qing quietly pinched a piece of meat, placed it in his mouth to savor, and closed his eyes. After starting the sentence, he stopped speaking altogether.

This left Zhou Yu and the Cunning Monkey so anxious that sweat beaded on their foreheads. Such a formidable combat force was right in front of them; if they could win him over, it would be like adding wings to a tiger—or rather, upgrading from a bird rifle to a cannon.

Yet right at this crucial juncture, Xuan Qing had to stall.

The Cunning Monkey’s eyes rolled around rapidly, and he said, "Second Brother, the three of us are sworn brothers. We should share weal and woe, blessings and hardships! Exactly why do you disagree?"

Originally, Xuan Qing, the Cunning Monkey, and Zhou Yu had sworn brotherhood. Because of the Great Black Heavenly Demon King residing within Zhou Yu, Xuan Qing insisted that Zhou Yu be the eldest brother. Although the Cunning Monkey was daring, he wouldn't dare compete with one of the Four Sacred Beasts for the second position. Thus, Xuan Qing became the second brother, and the Cunning Monkey was the third.

Xuan Qing shot a sideways glare at the Cunning Monkey, thinking to himself that this monkey was certainly clever, actually using their oath of brotherhood to pressure him.

"Because I intend to take Bai Gu Ku into my inner harem!" Xuan Qing declared.

As soon as these words left his mouth, Zhou Yu let out a sudden "pfft," spraying the wine he had just swallowed and hadn't yet had time to digest directly onto Xuan Qing's face.

"Hah?" Xuan Qing let out an angry grunt, but upon realizing it was Zhou Yu, his expression softened and he wiped his face with his own hand.

"I've heard that Bai Gu Ku is also a rare beauty, and she has already reached the realm of a Demon Emperor. She would make the perfect addition to my harem. There is no one more suitable than her."

The Cunning Monkey couldn't help but give Xuan Qing a thumbs-up.

"Second Brother, brilliant! Truly brilliant! I've met that woman Bai Gu Ku, and she certainly has quite the flavor! But she is ruthless and vicious. Second Brother, if you want to conquer her, you must be careful," the Cunning Monkey said with a serious expression.

Xuan Qing had only heard of Bai Gu Ku's reputation and had never seen her in person. Hearing the Cunning Monkey speak like this, his interest was instantly piqued. He grabbed the Cunning Monkey by the hand and said, "Third Brother! Have you really met Bai Gu Ku?"

The Cunning Monkey nodded and said, "Not only have I met her, but I've even had close contact with her."

"What?" Xuan Qing's face turned pale, filled with utter disappointment. If not for the many people present, he probably would have broken down in tears right then and there. He had finally met Xiao Qing, only to be pushed aside by Zhou Yu, and now the Bai Gu Ku he had yearned for had actually been—

The Cunning Monkey unconsciously tightened his grip on Xuan Qing's hand.

"Aiyah! Why are you gripping so hard?" The Cunning Monkey yanked his hand out of Xuan Qing's grasp, shook it, and said, "I didn't have anything going on with her! It's just that she hit me with a palm strike and failed to kill me, that's all."

Hearing this, Xuan Qing was overjoyed and asked, "Really?"

"Why would I lie to you? Bai Gu Ku and I share a hatred as deep as the sea! My adoptive father, the previous Demon Emperor Black Mountain Old Demon, died at her hands!" the Cunning Monkey said, gritting his teeth.

"So that's how it is, Third Brother! Since there is such a deep enmity, your Second Brother is naturally duty-bound! I'll help you with this favor!" Xuan Qing picked up a cup of wine from the table and drained it in one gulp, drinking like a whale swallowing a river.

Zhou Yu watched from the side, completely dumbfounded. What was going on here?

"Really?" the Cunning Monkey asked.

After finishing the wine, Xuan Qing still didn't feel satisfied. He grabbed the wine flagon and poured it directly into his mouth, the liquor flowing into his belly like a small stream.

Ah Fei watched with his heart in his throat, thinking to himself that fortunately, when he went to exchange for demon pills earlier, he had casually brought back three carts of wine; otherwise, how could it possibly sustain this kind of drinking?

With a heavy "thud," Xuan Qing slammed the wine flagon back onto the table and said, "Naturally it's true! I will personally step in and help you subdue that Bai Gu Ku! Then your Second Brother will teach her a thorough lesson, making her wish she were dead—oh wait, making her wish she were dead yet unable to die!"

The Cunning Monkey was calculating in his mind. As long as Xuan Qing was willing to make a move, how to deal with Bai Gu Ku could be decided after defeating her.

Zhou Yu caught the underlying meaning in Xuan Qing's words and couldn't help but secretly admire this brother of his. Was Xuan Qing's head entirely filled with carnal desires? Thinking of this, Zhou Yu pulled Xiao Qing a little closer to his side.

"Since Great Sage Xuan Qing has expressed his stance so clearly, I must also say a few words." Fox Ji, who had remained silent all this time, finally spoke up.

*Humph! Old fox, I knew that if Xuan Qing joined in, you'd definitely join in too,* the Cunning Monkey thought to himself.

"This time, thanks to the Monkey King's kindness in taking in our fox clan and bestowing such a great favor upon us, I, Fox Ji, am naturally willing to lend a helping hand. However, this matter is of great importance, and within our fox clan, aside from myself, there is virtually no combat strength. I wonder if the Monkey King would even look upon this meager force?" Fox Ji said, her eyes rippling with alluring charm.

"Lady Fox Ji, you are too modest. Your strength ranks in the top ten across the entire demon race; how could I possibly look down on it?" the Cunning Monkey replied.

"In that case, I, Fox Ji, am willing to contribute my strength."

The atmosphere fell quiet for a moment. The matter was thus settled.

However, a complete and detailed plan of action had yet to be devised.

"Come! Let's have a toast!" Zhou Yu raised his wine cup. "For our common goal!"

"Cheers!"

Each of them drained their cups.

"Sigh, actually, Bai Gu Ku has lost the hearts of the people for a long time. It's just that everyone used to fear her, and the forces under her command are indeed powerful. Many insurgent armies have been slaughtered by her!" Fox Ji said.

Ah Fei quickly chimed in, "More than that! For her own selfish desires, Bai Gu Ku arbitrarily started a war against humans, plunging millions of our demon subjects into fire and water. Now, although they have broken through the Misty Mountains, they have stalled at a river near the human territory, locked in a stalemate with the human forces."

Hearing Ah Fei begin to discuss the situation of the war, even Xuan Qing perked up his ears to listen.

"On both sides of that river, humans have stationed countless soldiers and cultivators. That river is already a natural barrier, and once Bai Gu Ku advanced there, she couldn't move an inch further. As for the territories she did conquer, she refused to restrain her subordinates, letting them run wild. Now, those places are barren, devoid of even a blade of grass and lacking the smallest scrap of food. They've been reduced to eating each other!"

Ah Fei spoke with flying spittle, portraying Bai Gu Ku as a bellicose, tyrannical, and monstrously evil woman.

Xuan Qing listened until he broke out in a cold sweat.

"That Bai Gu Ku... she's six feet tall, and her waistline is also six feet..."

Xuan Qing's hands began to tremble slightly.

"Her eyes are as big as bronze bells, and her ears are like those of an elephant!"

The corner of Xuan Qing's mouth twitched.

"And that's not all! Every single meal, she demands thirty buckets of fresh brain matter! What happens if there isn't any? If there's none, she eats feces instead!"

"Why does she eat feces?" Xuan Qing couldn't help but ask.

"Because the taste of feces is quite similar to brain matter! Speaking of which, there was once a time when Bai Gu Ku took a fancy to a human male. You know the type—gentle and scholarly, the kind of guy a mere gust of wind could blow into the sky."

"A delicate trap?" Zhou Yu asked.

Ignoring him, Ah Fei continued on his own, "Bai Gu Ku liked him very much, so she snatched this human male back to warm her bed."

Xuan Qing's face had turned completely pale.

"Who would have thought that the very same night, the moment that human male laid eyes on Bai Gu Ku's majestic appearance, he was scared to death and kicked the bucket right then and there!"

After finishing, Ah Fei picked up a large bowl of wine and downed it in one go. Still unsatisfied, he continued, "That's not even the most outrageous part..."

"Enough! Stop talking!" Xuan Qing suddenly slammed the table and stood up. Pointing at Ah Fei, he shouted, "I don't believe a word you're saying!"

Ah Fei grievance-strickenly retorted, "I only heard it from others, but as the saying goes, there's no smoke without fire."

"Humph! Could it be that there isn't a single woman in this world worthy of matching me?" Xuan Qing sighed toward the night sky.

Zhou Yu coughed, raised his cup, and said, "Second Brother, why get angry? Ah Fei was merely repeating rumors he heard. Since that Bai Gu Ku has reached the level of a Demon Emperor, how could her transformation technique be poor? No matter how ugly she originally was, she will look gorgeous once she transforms into human form."

When it came to transformation techniques, the deeper one's cultivation, the more handsome or beautiful the transformed human appearance would be. The fox clan was an exception, possessing exceptionally strong innate talents in transformation and charm, usually mastering them completely right after awakening.

"Mm, what you say makes sense!" Xuan Qing sat back down on his stool and resumed drinking.

The Cunning Monkey tossed a peanut into his mouth, looked at Fox Ji, and asked, "Speaking of transformation techniques, Lady Fox Ji, might you teach me?"

Knowing he harbored ulterior motives, Fox Ji asked, "Monkey King, why do you wish to study this transformation technique?"

The Cunning Monkey chuckled slyly and said, "Naturally, for... hehe."

Fox Ji smiled and replied, "Such matters still depend on fate, Monkey King. They cannot be forced. I think you are better off following your own path rather than trying to study the ways of others."

"I stand corrected. I'll penalize myself with a cup!" The Cunning Monkey threw his head back and drained it.

Not far away, a wave of laughter drifted over. It turned out that the young maidens of the fox clan had begun dancing around the bonfire.

Xiao Qing glanced at Zhou Yu, and Zhou Yu said, "You go too."

Xiao Qing pecked Zhou Yu on the cheek, then got up to dance alongside her sisters.

"Sisters, I'm coming!" Xiao Qing called out.

"Ah, it's Xiao Qing!"

"Come quickly, Xiao Qing!"

The beautiful young maidens of the fox clan danced gracefully by the bonfire in the snow. The silvery moonlight washed over Flower Fruit Mountain, creating an ethereal, dreamlike scene.

The fox clan, the monkey clan, and the wild boar clan had all gathered here to celebrate together. A continuous stream of food and wine was brought forth. The demon race was generally impoverished, and many elderly demons had never enjoyed such a hearty feast in their entire lives.

After this night, ordinary demon soldiers would undoubtedly feel an even deeper loyalty toward the Cunning Monkey.

Despite the grand universal celebration, Ah Fei had not forgotten to maintain a lookout.

A mute wild boar soldier led a squad of wild boar soldiers to guard the mountain path leading up Flower Fruit Mountain.

Holding flasks of wine and a few roasted pine chickens, they drank wine and ate meat by the roadside.

However, they did not light a fire, fearing it would attract a sneak attack.

At the foot of Flower Fruit Mountain, two dark figures halted amidst the snow.

"The wild boar clan has occupied Flower Fruit Mountain. It seems it really is true!" one of the dark figures said.

"Weren't they killed by the deity on the mountain?" the other dark figure asked, looking at the firelight halfway up the slope and the laughter drifting on the wind.

"Humph, it looks like that powerful entity has already left Flower Fruit Mountain. The wild boars have scored a massive bargain. The fruit trees on this mountain bear fruit year-round, and the fruits inside are endless and inexhaustible. It's all gone to benefit this group of fat pigs!"

"Not bad, not bad. Haha, who would have thought you and I would find a way out of a desperate situation! This year's heavy snow came especially early, and the clan's winter provisions might not be enough. The Great King sent us out to levy grain from the wild boar and monkey clans, yet who would have thought they've all gathered here on Flower Fruit Mountain? This is truly Heaven helping our leopard clan!"

"Indeed, we must claim this blessed land! The wild boar king and that decrepit old monkey won't dare do a thing. Hahaha."

"Let's go! We're starving down here while they're feasting warmly up the mountain. Let's head up right now and have that wild boar king properly host us!"

"Alright, let's move!"

The two dark figures lowered their bodies, transformed into two giant leopards beneath the moonlight, emitted low growls, and charged up the mountain path along the trail.

Like two streaks of yellow light, these two members of the leopard clan possessed formidable strength; they had been dispatched specifically to "borrow grain" for the winter.

This "borrowing of grain" was merely a polite term; in reality, it was a forced requisition. If you refused to hand it over, your clan would be exterminated on the spot!

The demon race was a world governed by the law of the jungle—brutally realistic.

Unaware of the recent events involving the wild boar and monkey clans, these two leopards still assumed that the useless, bullying-the-weak wild boar king was currently in charge.

Their figures flashed rapidly along the rugged mountain path.

The mute wild boar soldier bit off half a pine chicken in a single bite, smacking his lips, his mouth greasy with fat.

Suddenly, his gaze turned sharp, and his ears twitched.

With a loud *boom*—

The mute wild boar soldier's sturdy frame appeared in the middle of the mountain path, stretching out both hands to intercept the two swiftly charging leopards.

"Who goes there?" The two leopards had been rushing up the mountain at high speed. They never expected an iron-tower-like figure to suddenly leap out from the roadside, and unable to check their momentum, they crashed directly into him.

The loud crash startled the rest of the wild boar soldiers, who all grabbed their weapons and rushed out, surrounding the two leopards.

"It's from the leopard clan..." a wild boar soldier muttered softly.

"Hahaha, consider yourself somewhat knowledgeable knowing we're from the leopard clan. Why haven't you stopped yet? Quickly go report to your king and let us pass!" One of the leopards transformed into a humanoid leopard-headed soldier, placing his hands behind his back and pretending to look formidable.