Chapter 109: Secrets of the Demon Commander, A Great Harvest, and Tense Confrontation!

"My dear brother, you are still the same."

Upon hearing Lu Wufei's response, Bai Yunxiao understood immediately and laughed, "This sort of behavior doesn't really befit a demon..."

As he spoke, he picked up the wine flagon and filled Lu Wufei’s cup.

"To repay kindness and never forget a favor," Lu Wufei shook his head, "that shouldn't be divided into whether one is a demon, a human, or any other kind of being."

He was right to thank Bai Yunxiao for those words.

Back when he had first formed a grudge with Big Bear, it was shortly after he had transmigrated. It was during the periodic battles between the former Black General of Langlang Mountain and Lady Hua from Snake Coil Mountain, where they would harvest small demons like crops. Lu Wufei, pursued by a snake demon commander from Snake Coil Mountain, had no choice but to lead the snake demon toward the spot where Big Bear was fighting.

As it turned out, the snake demon, seeing the situation, immediately abandoned Lu Wufei—a mere minor demon—and instead joined forces with another commander to attack Big Bear. Although Lu Wufei had been forced into it, it effectively amounted to "leading the disaster to someone else's doorstep." He had originally assumed Big Bear would surely die, but the fellow had actually survived, albeit at the cost of an arm.

Thus, Lu Wufei had incurred a deep grudge with Big Bear—a severe one, especially since he was a low-ranking demon under that very commander. The consequences of such enmity were obvious. In a desperate bid for survival during a banquet, Lu Wufei had approached the Black General and Bai Yunxiao, who was a commander at the time. It was Bai Yunxiao who had shielded him. Therefore, he was right to be grateful; Bai Yunxiao had saved his life. Otherwise, his situation today would be entirely different.

"You are right, brother," Bai Yunxiao agreed wholeheartedly, for he was that type of demon himself. The Black General had treated him well, which is why, on the battlefield over a decade ago, he—then still a commander—had refused to surrender to the General of Wind-Cloud Ridge who had killed the Black General. Because of this, he had grown to value and appreciate Lu Wufei even more; they were the same kind of beings.

"Come." Bai Yunxiao raised his cup again, and both demons drained theirs in one go.

Bai Yunxiao then asked, "Now that you have joined an immortal sect, have you returned to visit old friends, or do you have other plans?"

Hearing this, Lu Wufei popped a few pieces of food into his mouth, chewed quickly, swallowed, and replied, "Joining an immortal sect doesn't conflict with my other plans. I should ask you, brother: how is it under the command of the Third Great King?"

Hearing Bailang's reply, Bai Yunxiao looked surprised. "It seems you truly have a plan. Why? Is practicing in an immortal sect not good enough? Why come to the Great Desolate Mountain to be under the control of another demon? When you left before, you were just a minor commander, and I could decide your fate with a word. But now, with your cultivation, if you ever want to leave, you would need the Great King's permission."

Having said this, Bai Yunxiao suddenly thought of something and asked, "By the way, when you returned, did you alert the three Great Kings?"

Lu Wufei knew he had come to the right person. "Brother, there is no need to worry." Seeing the concern about his movements, Lu Wufei smiled. He had gained significant experience in concealing his tracks. After all, his safe return to Langlang Mountain had been a arduous journey, involving near-misses and hiding for nearly a year in the northern Lion-Camel Kingdom under the joint search of several human-immortal-level demon kings and numerous demon marshals. His stealth skills were hard-earned. Combined with the routes he remembered from over a decade ago, he was confident he hadn't drawn attention. If he hadn't revealed himself, Bai Yunxiao might not have even known he was back.

"I learned some skills in my sect. I don't think I alerted the Great Kings," Lu Wufei said.

Bai Yunxiao nodded. "That's good. That leaves room to maneuver, and the Great King won't come knocking."

Lu Wufei laughed, reassuring him, "Brother, you needn't worry about that either. Even if the Great King knew, with my immortal sect backing me, he couldn't easily touch me. I have ways to leave if I wish."

Hearing this, Bai Yunxiao finally realized and laughed, "I was overthinking it. You are now a member of an immortal sect. Unlike me, who is trapped by the Great King’s authority, you have a sect behind you. In that case, you have nothing to worry about."

Lu Wufei nodded. "That is exactly what I think. Cultivating in an immortal sect is fine, but long-term quiet meditation is somewhat dull, which is why I have this plan."

He spoke from the heart. He had been seeking the Way at Wuzhuang Temple for five years. The environment was impeccable, and the daily chores and studies were easy for him. He could handle a few years of the same routine, but he couldn't stomach ten, twenty, or thirty years of it. Especially since his body was of the demon race, he wasn't truly a recluse who could endure loneliness. He had too much "worldly blood" in him. The one time he invited his senior brothers, Qingfeng and Mingyue, for a drink, they were caught by their teacher, leading to the embarrassing incident of a drunken night tour of the lotus pond. After that, he never drank with them again. So, his return was partly to see his brothers like Crow Monster, and partly to plan for his future. Wuzhuang Temple was his home now, but it couldn't be his only home—not to mention he would eventually have to graduate. He would never forget his roots as a demon.

To occupy a mountain, lead a group of demons, reign as a king, and do as he pleased—balancing cultivation with pleasure—wouldn't that be wonderful? Of course, with his current cultivation, true freedom was impossible. So, his plan was to occupy a mountain, enjoy himself for a few years, then return to Wuzhuang Temple to meditate for a decade or so. This back-and-forth would allow for both relaxation and progress in his cultivation.

Bai Yunxiao added, "In that case, you will return to the Third Great King's command?"

Lu Wufei nodded. "Of course. I was originally under your command, brother, so returning to the Third Great King's fold is only natural."

Bai Yunxiao nodded and said, "The Third Great King will certainly be happy, but in the dozen years you were seeking the Way, the other two generals under him—the Earth Dragon General and the Long-Tail General—have each promoted a demon marshal. Now, there are six generals under the Third Great King, and with you, that makes seven. So, your assigned territory will definitely not be as large as mine. You should be prepared for that."

"Oh?" Lu Wufei was surprised. That battle over a decade ago had been fierce; combined with Bai Yunxiao, it had essentially spawned three demon marshals—not to mention himself. It was no wonder demons fought so often; it was effective for growth. However, he had no immediate requirements for territory. He had just returned, after all. "That’s fine. I’ll take it slow."

Seeing Bailang didn't mind, Bai Yunxiao laughed, "Then it’s simple. The Great King will be pleased. When do you plan to see him? If you aren't in a hurry, how about in seven days?"

Lu Wufei asked, "Is there a reason for that?"

Bai Yunxiao smiled, "Seven days from now is my bi-monthly reporting day. The other generals will be there, including General Hua from next door. It will be a good time for you to meet them."

General Hua of Snake Coil Mountain. Hearing the name, Lu Wufei couldn't help but think of the mature, curvaceous snake demon with the bossy, fierce figure. He nodded. "Seven days it is."

"Good." Bai Yunxiao raised his cup. "I will accompany you. The other generals of the Great Desolate Mountain have been making comments about me and Lady Hua occupying too much territory. Your return will bolster our standing."

Lu Wufei was curious. "Are you being sidelined under the Third Great King?"

Bai Yunxiao shook his head, raising his cup. "Not sidelined, exactly, but the two who were promoted later are jealous of how much territory Lady Hua and I occupy. Hmph, we earned our land with blood; the Black General even died in that battle. If they want us to give up our land, they'll have to ask the Great King. But with your return, the Great King will surely have to distribute new land, so there will be debate. Don't worry about it."

Indeed. Lu Wufei understood immediately. Once external threats vanished, internal strife began due to uneven distribution. Lu Wufei wasn't afraid of conflict; he was actually looking for a chance to establish his authority. As a new general, how could he get other demons to follow him without prestige?

"With you there, brother, I have no worries," Lu Wufei laughed. "But if there is a dispute, it will be a good chance to show those local generals that we 'outsiders' aren't so easily bullied."

"Haha, I like your personality, brother!" Bai Yunxiao roared with laughter. "Come, cheers!"

Lu Wufei drained his cup, watching Bai Yunxiao, who seemed in high spirits. He guessed that the reason Bai Yunxiao was acting differently today was that he had been bottling too much up with no one to talk to. His subordinates weren't on his level, and they couldn't relate. Now that Lu Wufei had returned, they already had a good bond, so of course he would want to chat. Lu Wufei also had things to ask, and since he would soon see the Third Great King and likely receive territory, he would need demons to run errands. He decided to take Crow Monster, Redskin, and the others with him.

"Come," "Cheers."

Lu Wufei clinked his cup, drained it, and said, "Brother, let me tell you something. My brothers..."

Before he could finish, he was interrupted. Bai Yunxiao seemed to know what he wanted to say. "I know what you're thinking. You can take your brothers and their subordinates with you. I’ll even gift you an additional hundred minor demons."

Lu Wufei was startled and immediately declined. "That won't do. Taking my brothers and their subordinates is already enough. How could I take your men?"

Bai Yunxiao waved his hand dismissively. "I know what you're thinking, but you’ll soon have your own territory—you can't manage it without demons. Your brothers' groups are too small, and waiting for new demons to grow is too slow. Do you know how many demons I have now?"

When Lu Wufei had left, Langlang Mountain hadn't had many demons left. He was curious. "How many?"

Bai Yunxiao replied, "A full thousand."

"A thousand!" Lu Wufei was genuinely surprised. But thinking about it, he had been gone for over fourteen years. The original territory of Langlang Mountain had doubled, and without the attrition of war, it was easy for the demon population to grow.

Seeing the surprise in Bailang's eyes, Bai Yunxiao smiled. "So, giving you a few won't affect Langlang Mountain. I can give you a hundred small demons, but only two commanders to go with them. Don't complain that it's too few."

Lu Wufei stopped declining. He was a generous man, and he smiled. "Then I won't stand on ceremony."

Bai Yunxiao nodded. "That’s how it should be. Between brothers, don't be so distant. If you need anything in the future, just come to me. If you need more demons, I'll give you more."

Lu Wufei shook his head. He had heard from Crow Monster that a commander usually had thirty to sixty demons under them. Crow Monster and Redskin together already had seventy or eighty. With the hundred from his sworn brother, that was nearly two hundred—more than Langlang Mountain had when he left. Taking a fifth of his brother's force was already plenty; he didn't want to push his luck.

"That's enough, that's enough," Lu Wufei said. "Brother, you’ve been so kind, I have no way to repay you. Let me give you some wine from the outside world. I don't have much left, though."

With a wave of his hand, exquisite wine jars filled the empty space in front of them. Bai Yunxiao was overjoyed. He picked up a jar, broke the seal, and sniffed it, his eyes lighting up. "Brother, I'll give you another two hundred demons and the accompanying commanders if you give me the same amount of this fine wine. How about it?"

Lu Wufei: "..."

Early morning. As the first light touched the eastern sky, Lu Wufei staggered out of the General's Cave.

"Take care, General Bai," the Goat Commander, with his long beard, followed carefully behind, saying quickly.

Lu Wufei just waved his hand, his mind stirred, and the smell of alcohol evaporated from his body in an instant. His feet sprouted white clouds, lifting him up and carrying him directly toward the opposite peak.

Inside the General's Cave behind him, Bai Yunxiao's snoring was thunderous. Not far away, empty wine jars filled the entire stone chamber.

*Whoosh.* The cold wind whistled by his ears. As Lu Wufei flew into the air, he noticed snow falling. It was late autumn. The arrival of the first snow reminded him of the day he left the mountain fourteen years ago—it had been snowing then, too.

*Snow paved the road when I left, snow covers my head upon my return.*

Thinking of this, Lu Wufei’s mood inexplicably improved. He patted little White, who was poking its head out from his chest, and accelerated toward the opposite mountain.

On the opposite peak, in a stone cave near the summit, a bonfire blazed. Four demons sat around it, their moods varied. Huang Gui tirelessly added firewood, while Wanda Shan stirred a fragrant meat soup in a pot.

Crow Monster yawned. "I wonder when the Big Brother will finish drinking."

Redskin, who had been meditating, opened his eyes. "Big Brother is a General now; the things he discusses are important. Why the rush?"

Crow Monster yawned again. "I'm not rushing, I'm just tired." He pointed to his head.

Redskin was annoyed. "You've been drinking for days! You're a commander now, don't you need to practice? If you're this lazy, I'll tell Big Brother when he gets back!"

Crow Monster was terrified. In the past, he hadn't feared Redskin's threats because Big Brother was away. Now that Big Brother was drinking on the opposite mountain, he was nervous. "Third Brother, Third Brother, I won't do it again. Please, be kind and don't tell him!"

"Hmph, scared now?" Redskin snorted, ignoring him. Before becoming a demon commander, Crow Monster had been fine. Now that he was a commander and the second-ranked, he had become incredibly lazy, often drinking all night with subordinates and other commanders. To think a dignified commander could be so sluggish—he must have abandoned his cultivation long ago. With Big Brother gone, no one could keep him in check. Huang Gui didn't dare say anything, and Wanda Shan ignored him. Only Redskin could give him a hard time. Now that Big Brother was back, Redskin wasn't going to let him slack off.

"Of course I'm scared!" Crow Monster pleaded. "Who isn't afraid of Big Brother? I won't do it again. There's no more wine, so I'll definitely practice properly. Please don't tell him."

"What can't you tell me?"

A voice suddenly came from outside.

"Father!" The usually cool and obedient Wanda Shan jumped up and ran toward the cave entrance. Redskin, Huang Gui, and Crow Monster also stood up, though Crow Monster looked nervous.

"Father!" Wanda Shan reached the entrance and saw his father stepping down from a white cloud.

"Big Brother!" "Big Brother." The others followed, calling out.

"Hmm." Lu Wufei patted the little tiger demon’s head and looked at his brothers. "Have you been waiting long?"

"No, no," they replied quickly.

"There's a lot to do, I just chatted a bit more with General Bai," Lu Wufei said, walking into the cave. He noticed it had been widened and cleaned, with a new bed and other preparations. He sat in the main seat by the fire. The minor demons had already been dismissed; only his three brothers and Wanda Shan remained. Given his status, ordinary demons weren't qualified to sit before him.

As Lu Wufei sat, Wanda Shan stood by his side to await orders. Crow Monster and Redskin sat down, and after some hesitation, Huang Gui sat too.

Lu Wufei waved his hand, and several jars of fine wine appeared. "Drink this."

Crow Monster's eyes lit up. Lu Wufei looked at him. "Blackie, what were you saying you couldn't tell me?"

Crow Monster’s face turned awkward instantly. Lu Wufei saw it and turned to Redskin. "Redskin, tell me."

Redskin didn't spare him, recounting Crow Monster's laziness. Lu Wufei listened calmly. "I am now at the Demon Marshal realm and will soon become a General, with our own territory. General Bai has agreed to let you and your subordinates join me. There are also a hundred extra demons and their commanders. So, whoever doesn't work hard and falls behind will not have me to blame if I give their commander position to someone else."

That was all he said. Lu Wufei raised his cup. The others quickly followed suit, even Wanda Shan. Little White squeaked happily in Lu Wufei's arms.

"To the last dozen years."

"Cheers!"

Outside, large snowflakes drifted down. The four brothers ate and drank heartily. By the time they finished, it was dark. Crow Monster left, swaying, supported by his subordinates. Redskin and Huang Gui left with their arms around each other. Wanda Shan finished cleaning and stood before his father, who was watching the snow.

"Father, it's all clean. I'm leaving," Wanda Shan said happily.

Lu Wufei smiled. "There's no need to go to such trouble."

Wanda Shan replied firmly, "It's necessary. Those little demons are clumsy; they don't clean well."

Lu Wufei didn't know if he understood, but he asked, "Do you live nearby?"

Wanda Shan nodded. "Yes, just at the hillside, not far."

"Go on then."

"Hmm."

As Wanda Shan left, Lu Wufei sighed. It was his first time being a father in two lifetimes. Especially since he was still a virgin in this life. But he was a demon now. He didn't have any particular "furry" tendencies, so he just had to deal with it. However, he was a Demon Marshal now. Finding a female demon commander who could shapeshift would be acceptable. *Hmm, I can keep an eye out.*

After letting his thoughts wander for a while, Lu Wufei returned to the cave and sat on the bed. He didn't meditate immediately. With a thought, virtual ink-wash characters appeared before his eyes.

[Host: Lu Fei]
[Realm: Early Golden Core (11862/100000)]
[Experience Points: 99/10000]
[Soul Power: None]
[Technique: Hun-Dong True Essence Heavenly Scripture (Minor Achievement) (922/1000); Demon Tribe Breathing Method (Perfect)]
[Ability: Seventy-Two Transformations (Minor Achievement) (328/1000); Staff Technique (Perfect)]
[Divine Ability: Universe in the Sleeve (Proficient) (420/500); Earth-Vein Golden Light (Minor Achievement) (113/1000); Earth Escape (Perfect)]

Looking at the data, Lu Wufei was calm. The realm was still far from the middle stage, so he didn't check it daily anymore. The soul power experience had come from the dozen demons he’d killed while fleeing Lion-Camel Ridge a year ago—the biggest contributor being a black monkey demon at the same Demon Marshal level as him.

The "Seventy-Two Transformations" had advanced from Proficient to Minor Achievement in just over a year. It was the hardest ability he had ever learned. It wasn't through practice, but by spending the soul power points he had earned from killing the demons at Lion-Camel Ridge. This had allowed him to hide and escape from several human-immortal-level demon kings and countless demon soldiers who had turned the entire kingdom upside down.

Finally, the "Universe in the Sleeve" had gained experience and was nearing Minor Achievement. "Earth-Vein Golden Light" had become Minor Achievement through constant use. The "Earth Escape" had been brushed to perfection through frequent life-and-death escapes.

Lu Wufei cleared the panel and let his consciousness sink into his storage space. A green ginseng fruit leaf greeted his consciousness. He looked at two staffs lying side by side. One was the black iron staff he had inherited from Bai Yunxiao. The other, a high-grade magical artifact, emitted a faint cyan glow and had intricate dragon-like patterns—the "Dragon-Pattern Staff," taken from the black monkey demon.

Next to it was a palm-sized turtle shell emitting black smoke—the "Black Turtle Shell," another high-grade artifact from the same monkey. And a ring-headed saber from a leopard demon.

Looking at his treasures, Lu Wufei sighed. When he left Wuzhuang Temple, his teacher and senior brothers had given him four treasures: the Green Leaf, the Cyan Wind Blade, a black robe, and the golden needles. In just one battle, he had gained three more, including two high-grade artifacts.

*Murder and arson lead to golden belts,* he thought. *The ancients never lied.*

He withdrew from the storage space. He could feel the minor demons Redskin had arranged standing guard outside. He didn't care; he focused his energy and entered meditation.

In the following days, the news of his return and promotion to Demon Marshal spread throughout Langlang Mountain. Because of his status, only a few old acquaintances like the Deer demon Big Horn, the Tiger demon Big Hammer, the Fox demon Hu Cong, and his former subordinate, the Ant demon Black Tooth (now a commander himself), had the privilege of visiting.

Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.

Early in the morning, Bai Yunxiao, clad in silver armor, appeared in the sky above Lu Wufei's cave. Lu Wufei, wearing a black robe, stepped onto his white cloud to meet him. Bai Yunxiao looked at the clouds beneath Lu Wufei’s feet and flew off. Lu Wufei followed.

Two hours later, Lu Wufei saw the "Broken Peak Platform," a massive square formed by a severed mountain peak. But this time, they didn't stop there; Bai Yunxiao led him toward the towering peak behind the platform. Soon, they landed before a complex of pavilions.

"This is where the Third Great King resides," Bai Yunxiao said, pointing to a large, exquisitely carved pavilion with flying eaves.

Lu Wufei was surprised. Demon Marshals still lived in caves, but the Demon King had much better taste. It seemed the gap between mortal and immortal wasn't just a realm, but a chasm.

"Look, Lady Hua is here," Bai Yunxiao signaled. Lu Wufei turned and saw a flower-like figure flying on a black cloud.

"General Bai, you're early," Lady Hua said from afar.

"Lady Hua is not slow either," Bai Yunxiao laughed as she landed.

"And who might this be?" Lady Hua asked, looking at the handsome, silver-haired man in the exquisite black robe standing beside Bai Yunxiao.

Bai Yunxiao introduced him with a smile. "I was just about to introduce you. This is my sworn brother, Bailang, who has just returned from outside the mountains." He then turned to Lu Wufei. "And this is Lady Hua, whom I told you about."

Lu Wufei had long admired Lady Hua. With her delicate face, glowing skin, and perfect figure, she was a true enchantress. He had only dared to look from afar before, but now he stood right before her.

"I have long admired you, Lady Hua. My brother often speaks of you," Lu Wufei stepped forward, bowing gracefully.

Lady Hua was puzzled by the "sworn brother" introduction, but based on his appearance, he seemed extraordinary. Before she could speak, however, an unfriendly voice boomed from afar.

"And which backwater place is this one from?"

Lu Wufei turned to see four figures riding black clouds toward the pavilion square.