Chapter 69: A Startling Turn of Events!

Morning.

As a swirling gust of cold wind swept into the stone cave, the crow monster curled up in the corner facing the entrance suddenly shivered, then opened its eyes from slumber. Lifting its head, it saw a hazy expanse of white beyond the mouth of the cave and immediately cried out in surprise, "It's snowing..."

"It's snowing, Redhide..."

"It's snowing, Huang Gui..."

Though the crow monster tried to keep its voice down, it was still clear enough to rouse the sleeping pig demon, Redhide, and the weasel demon, Huang Gui.

Seeing his two brothers awake, the crow monster immediately stood up, quickly walked to the cave entrance, and looked at the snow that had piled a foot deep on the ground. He stretched out his furry black talon to make a mark in the pristine snow, then quickly drew his foot back, grabbed a handful of snow, and hurried back inside.

"Look what I've brought..." the crow monster displayed the freshly gathered snowball to his brothers in his pine-needle nest.

"What's so good about snow..." Huang Gui yawned as he sat up, his eyes bleary with sleep. "When I was an ordinary beast, every autumn I had to work hard preparing food, so when winter came I wouldn't starve. I hate the scarcity of food in winter, and I hate snowy days even more."

Redhide turned over on his genuine leather mat in the corner, glancing at his brothers. "When I was an ordinary beast, I loved autumn best. But now, I care more about our competition. Didn't the general say it? The trial will be held on the day of the first snowfall."

"Whether that's today or tomorrow, who knows..."

"But I think it's probably tomorrow..." Redhide found a more comfortable position to lie in. It was still early before the morning assembly, so he could rest a little longer.

Hearing their third brother mention the trial, Huang Gui immediately grew a bit dejected. "It's a pity I lost to that cat demon yesterday. Am I really that useless?"

Redhide comforted him, "You did very well. Who could have guessed the cat demon would suddenly get so fast? I suspect that's her supernatural ability."

"Have you ever heard what her supernatural ability is?" Huang Gui shook his head. "No."

Listening to his third and fourth brothers' conversation, the crow monster lost interest in playing with the snow and chimed in, "I made inquiries for you before, Huang Gui, but all I found out is that the toad demon, Jin Hua, has a supernatural ability related to sound."

"But as for that cat demon, San Niang, I couldn't find out anything. Even the toad demon doesn't know."

Redhide said, "Then that's probably it. Otherwise, why would she be so quick?"

Huang Gui mused, "But cats are always fast. Every cat I've ever met as an ordinary beast was like that..."

"You're hopeless..." At Huang Gui's words, the crow monster grew annoyed. "You're really comparing yourself to ordinary beasts? Are you scared of the cat demon now?"

Huang Gui immediately flushed red, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, and retorted, "How could I be?"

"Second Brother, didn't you see I almost won? It was just that the cat demon moved too fast at the end. Like Third Brother said, it must be her supernatural ability!"

The crow monster snorted, "It's best if you're not scared... Otherwise, if word got out that you were frightened by a cat demon, it would be an embarrassment to all demons. If Big Brother doesn't teach you a lesson, I will."

The three brothers continued chatting, soon circling back to the subject of the trial.

Redhide said, "I still think the trial will definitely start tomorrow..."

The crow monster shook his head. "I think it's today. After all, it's just up to the general's word. It's very possible they'll start as soon as we gather..."

"But I still think Big Brother would know best. He surely knows."

At this, the crow monster turned to look at the corner, where their eldest brother sat cross-legged on a wide, soft leather bed, his entire form shrouded in swirling black mist.

The three brothers exchanged glances, none daring to speak.

"I'm not sure, either..." At that moment, Lu Fei's voice suddenly rang out, startling the trio.

Lu Fei opened his eyes, sensing the little ones sleeping beneath the stone cave, then rose and said, "It all depends on the general's mood. Whenever he says it starts, that's when it starts."

"But I also think it will likely be today. The general doesn't like to delay things..."

"Come on, there's no harm in going early today..."

Pieces of iron armor flew onto his body and fastened themselves automatically as Lu Fei spoke, then he strode toward the cave entrance.

Seeing Big Brother head out so early, the crow monster, Redhide, and Huang Gui all leapt from their beds and hurried after him.

When Lu Fei led his three brothers to the mountainside, he found a gathering of many demon figures, including two of the chief demons: the ram leader, who also managed the kitchens, and the tallest of the lot, the elephant leader.

These two were directing their underlings to clear snow and carry tables and chairs in a nearby open area.

Clearly, these were preparations for the upcoming trial.

The trial for the young demons was indeed today—the Black General was true to his word.

Seeing the other leaders' underlings busy, Lu Fei waved his hand, and Redhide and the crow monster immediately joined in to help.

Time passed slowly.

But the snow and wind in the sky only grew fiercer.

As the young demons and other leaders arrived one after another, the Black General and the Wolf Commander also appeared above the mountainside.

"As I said before, the moment the first snow falls is the moment the young demons' trial begins..."

The Black General was in high spirits today, his voice hearty and infectious.

"Now..."

He looked down at the assembled leaders and said, "Bring your young ones over. The trial may begin at once..."

No demon dared object to the Black General's words.

Lu Fei and the other nine leaders brought their young demons to the widest part of the mountainside.

Ten long, low tables had been set up on either side of the grounds, clearly for the ten leaders.

Five tables faced each other on either side.

At the head of the tables, there were two larger tables set for the Black General and the Wolf Commander.

The leaders took their seats in turn.

Lu Fei sat at his own low table, while his ten underlings—the crow monster, Redhide, and the others—stood behind him.

The same went for the other leaders and their young demons.

As the leaders sat down, a group of kitchen demons carried out whole roasted cattle, pigs, and sheep, along with jars of wine, and began to serve the feast.

The young demons standing behind their respective leaders could not help but swallow hungrily.

But this time, the feast and wine were for the leaders alone; the young demons had no share.

Though the falling snow dampened the mood a little, from another perspective, eating roast meat and drinking fine wine while watching the young demons fight to the death in a brutal trial was itself a vivid and unique spectacle.

"Now..."

As the kitchen demons withdrew, the Black General called out, "Let the young demons each of you leaders have chosen come forward!"

One by one, the young demons stepped before their leaders' tables.

Seeing this, Lu Fei raised his hand, and the crow monster, Redhide, and the cat demon San Niang stepped forward in turn.

At this sight, the Black General grew even more delighted, and shouted, "Now, your opponents are the three young ones standing opposite you..."

Before he finished speaking, a piercing eagle cry echoed across the mountain.

In the next moment, a majestic black eagle swooped down through the snow, landing squarely on the Black General's table.

"Black General, you don't mind if I help myself to a few bites, do you?" The black eagle eyed the steaming meat on the table and, without waiting for a reply, grabbed a large leg and began to feast.

"Of course..." The Black General was not annoyed by the eagle's manners, but smiled and asked, "May I ask, Steward, has the King sent you with a message?"

The black eagle devoured an entire roast sheep in a single breath, swallowed the last bone with the meat, burped, then became solemn and said, "Indeed, the King has commanded that you, Black General, immediately lead all your young demons to the main mountain without delay."

At these words, the Black General's expression changed at once, and he started to ask a question.

But the black eagle cut him off, saying plainly, "Black General, there has been a change at the main mountain; you must depart at once!"

"I still have to notify the other generals. I won't stay."

With that, the black eagle spread its wings and soared into the sky, quickly vanishing into the wind and snow.

Staring after the eagle's disappearing figure, the Black General's face grew uncertain and stormy.

After a long moment, he suddenly slammed his fist down, shattering the table, and bellowed at all the demons before him, "Everyone, assemble at once!"