Chapter 58: Demon Commander (3)

“Big brother, may I serve under your leader?”
When Crow Demon’s previous words echoed once again from Huang Gui’s lips, Lu Fei felt deeply that he had yet another reason to break through and become a demon general as soon as possible.

Faced with Huang Gui’s request, Lu Fei could only shake his head; he was still powerless to help.
“Just wait a little longer...”
Meeting Huang Gui’s earnest, longing gaze, Lu Fei shook his head again and added, “It shouldn’t be too long...”

Ever since that evening when Lu Fei saved Huang Gui and strode away, his tall and dashing figure etched in memory, Huang Gui had come to admire Lu Fei. He longed for the companionship among Lu Fei, Crow Demon, and Redskin, and so, despite his injuries, he had chased after them. The outcome was just as he’d hoped—big brother agreed to take him in.

No one could truly fathom the excitement and gratitude in the heart of a little demon who had never had any friends, who was often bullied and ostracized, who rarely had enough to eat, and who lived a lonely, miserable life—when he was finally accepted by his big brother.

Therefore, he held the utmost respect for his big brother;
Though he didn’t much like second brother’s loud, brash nature, he tried his best to adapt;
He also respected the third brother, who was even younger than himself.

He did everything he could to fit into this small group.

He trusted his big brother deeply, and whatever Lu Fei said, he believed absolutely.

As for Crow Demon and Redskin, they had always given Lu Fei their unreserved trust.

So, when Lu Fei spoke, they believed him without a shadow of doubt.

It was these words from Lu Fei that quickly dispelled the gloomy atmosphere that had lingered after Huang Gui’s mistreatment and injuries.

Add to that Crow Demon’s ceaseless gossip, and the cave soon rang with lively chatter.

As the wild vegetable and fish soup bubbled in the battered pot, and the scent of roasting venison wafted from the grill, a plump, pure white figure squirmed out from a corner of the cave—from Lu Fei’s bed of pine needles and furs.

“Squeak, squeak, squeak...”

Catching the scent in the air, the little fellow chirped in delight and darted toward the fire.

Lu Fei reached out and scooped the little creature into his arms as it scampered past the entrance.

He stroked the soft, long-nosed white mouse, weighing it in his hands, noticing how it had grown at least a third heavier than when he first picked it up.

The more Lu Fei petted it, the more annoyed he became. Finally, he looked at the three demons and said sternly, “From now on, without my permission, none of you are to feed it— not a single bite.”

“I’m not joking with you.”

Seeing the serious look on his face and hearing the gravity in his voice, Crow Demon, Redskin, and Huang Gui all nodded immediately.

Seemingly understanding what Lu Fei meant, the little one, who had been enjoying the petting, suddenly began squeaking at Lu Fei in protest.

Since the little one needed to lose weight, Lu Fei would indulge it no longer. He said solemnly, “You’re so fat now, you’re of absolutely no use.”

“If you keep misbehaving, you’ll have to go...”

At these words, the little creature, who had been wriggling in Lu Fei’s arms, immediately went limp. Its once-bright, beady eyes lost their sparkle, and its whole demeanor wilted.

Crow Demon, Redskin, and Huang Gui, watching from the side, couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for it.

They all knew this little fellow was smart—it could understand every word they said.

Clearly, big brother’s words had wounded it.

But none of them dared contradict Lu Fei or even interject. All they could do was watch helplessly.

What surprised them, however, was that the little creature soon realized its owner was unmoved by its act. It perked up, looked up at Lu Fei, let out a feeble squeak, and began nuzzling into his arms, rubbing against him and squeaking softly.

Witnessing this comical change of expression, Lu Fei and the three demons burst out laughing.

Crow Demon cawed with laughter, which made the little one turn around in Lu Fei’s arms and squeak at him fiercely, putting on a show of adorable ferocity.

The next morning, when Lu Fei, accompanied by Crow Demon, Redskin, and Huang Gui, who had stayed the night in the cave, arrived at the gathering spot halfway up the mountain, they found a crowd of little demons already assembled.

“Have the two stag demons who bullied you arrived?”
Standing at the edge of the gathering, Lu Fei asked Huang Gui as they watched the noisy throng.

“They’re here...”
Huang Gui immediately pointed out two deer-headed demons, one tall and one short, not far off. “Those two, right there...”

“Let’s go...”
Lu Fei nodded, and as he spoke, his half-demon form grew taller and broader in an instant, now looming larger and more imposing than even many of the bull and bear demons present.

He then led Crow Demon, Redskin, and Huang Gui straight toward the two deer demons.

Though he dared not brazenly beat the two deer demons, a bit of intimidation was necessary—to make them realize Huang Gui had three brothers standing behind him.

“So you two are Lu Yitong and Lu Ertong, the deer brothers?”

Striding up to the pair, Lu Fei slapped his hands onto their shoulders and spoke in a low, even tone.

“W-wolf brother, we didn’t know—”

Feeling the force of Lu Fei’s grip, the two deer demons shuddered, turned, and looked up at the towering white wolf looming two heads above them. Their initial anger quickly vanished, replaced by cautious words.

“Huang Gui...”
But when they spotted the scrawny Huang Gui standing to the side, their expressions darkened.

After an exchange that was, for the most part, cordial, Redskin suddenly tugged at the corner of the bear pelt Lu Fei wore.

Lu Fei turned, and seeing a figure approaching with a magnificent set of sharp antlers, gently patted the two deer demons on the cheek and said, “That’s enough for today. It was a pleasure meeting you both...”

With that, he led Crow Demon and Redskin away.

Back among their own group of demons, replaying the looks he’d seen on the faces of the two deer demons, as well as the others around, Lu Fei knew that Huang Gui’s situation was bound to improve from now on.

But while Huang Gui’s days were looking up, Lu Fei’s own circumstances remained unchanged—still dogged by the malice of Bear Leader.

Half an hour later, in the back mountains, Lu Fei and his three companions, each wielding a hoe, were hard at work turning over earth in a broad patch of land.

They were starting a garden, breaking ground for a vegetable plot.

Yes, you read that right—demons, too, plant vegetables.

On the third day after completing their mountain patrol, Bear Leader assigned Lu Fei and his brothers the task of foraging wild greens and mushrooms for Black General and the Chief’s table.

On the fourth day, the three brothers once again could not escape Bear Leader’s assignments—they were sent hunting and fishing...

On the fifth day, just as Lu Fei resolved to appeal to the Chief if given another task, Bear Leader finally let them off.

On the eighth day, after only three days’ rest, the brothers were assigned work yet again.

On the ninth day, Bear Leader relented.

On the fifteenth and sixteenth days, the three brothers were assigned tasks for two days running.

On the twenty-third day...

The twenty-eighth...

The thirty-fourth...

The thirty-ninth...

The forty-fifth...

Thus, Lu Fei and his brothers spent the longest two months of their lives, mired in Bear Leader’s endless, spiteful tasks.