Chapter 99: Chaotic Battle

All the rat demon soldiers in the upper cavern had been taken away by Shu Da, leaving the place cold and desolate.

Only a few half-dead rats had managed to escape, stumbling and struggling along the ground.

Shu Er’s face was filled with excitement, his mind replaying those filthy scenes, a surging, restless heat flooding his body.

He dashed ahead, not even feeling the pain from his wounds.

He trotted all the way to the entrance of Lin Xue’s cave chamber and barged straight in.

Inside the room, Lin Xue still maintained her meditative posture, eyes tightly shut, motionless.

Hong Yanzhi stood guard by her side, her heart burning with anxiety and her face filled with worry.

When she saw Shu Er break in, Hong Yanzhi’s expression instantly changed.

Although Shu Er was covered in wounds, the fact that he was still alive meant he had succeeded in advancing and become a great demon.

Seeing the lustful fire in his eyes, Hong Yanzhi instantly knew what he had come for.

But Lin Xue still had not awakened.

Hong Yanzhi grew even more anxious.

Shu Er’s beady rat eyes were fixed intently on Lin Xue.

Lin Xue sat quietly on the bed, completely oblivious to the outside world, like a flawless white jade statue.

Her beautiful eyes were shut, long lashes resting on delicate cheeks, her refined nose and gently pursed lips outlining the perfect profile. Her bearing was as cold and ethereal as a moon palace fairy.

Her jet-black hair cascaded like silk to her waist, a few strands fluttered gently by a breeze sneaking in through the window, making her skin look even more fair and translucent, as if top-grade porcelain glimmering with a gentle luster.

A greedy light flashed in Shu Er’s eyes.

He strode forward, reaching out his filthy hand, intent on pushing Lin Xue down onto the bed to vent his desires.

Hong Yanzhi hurriedly stepped in front of Lin Xue, spreading her arms to block him.

She too had been a demon for many years and knew well that Lin Xue’s current state must mean she was in some crucial phase and must not be disturbed.

If Shu Er forced her onto the bed and sullied her, it might inflict grave harm on her body.

Now that her own life was bound to Lin Xue, there was no way she could let such a thing happen.

In her panic, she could only grit her teeth and block Shu Er head-on.

Shu Er’s face was full of impatience, eager to release his lust. Blocked by her, his ** gaze shifted to Hong Yanzhi and he bared his teeth, saying, “What? You little vixen want to serve your Second Lord first?”

Hong Yanzhi thought to herself that her cultivation had already fallen to the late Body Tempering stage and she had no way to contend with the now-advanced Shu Er.

To buy Lin Xue time, it seemed she would have to sacrifice her own body.

She clenched her teeth, forced a smile despite her revulsion, and said, “Please, Second Lord, have mercy.”

She shed her clothes, revealing her voluptuous, delicate figure before Shu Er.

Her figure was tall and slender, but before the nearly three-meter-tall Shu Er, she seemed like a tiny rag doll.

How could Shu Er restrain himself at this point?

He immediately tore off his own clothes, grabbed Hong Yanzhi, flung her onto the bed, and threw himself atop her without hesitation.

Very soon, hurried slapping sounds and Hong Yanzhi’s pained, muffled moans echoed through the room.

……

On the clearing outside Luoyun Cave, two crowds of demons faced off in a black mass.

Shu Da led over a hundred rat demons, glaring coldly across at their opponents.

On the other side were several hundred demon soldiers, each clad in leather armor and wielding broadswords and spears.

A tall young demon held up a banner inscribed with “Yellow Wind Mountain”.

At the head of the formation, Lang Buping gripped a fan, following behind a middle-aged man with similar features, eyes fixed on Luoyun Cave, face full of anticipation.

That middle-aged man wore the garb of a wealthy landowner, hands behind his back, the air of a prosperous elder about him, face calm and unhurried.

He was none other than Lang Buping’s father, master of Yellow Wind Mountain—Lang Qianxing.

Shu Da’s gaze landed on Lang Qianxing, his pupils suddenly contracting.

Only now did he realize that demonic energy swirled thickly around Lang Qianxing—he had actually reached the mid Core Condensation stage!

Shu Da was shocked and felt a sense of unease.

No wonder Lang Qianxing dared bring his son and the mountain’s demon soldiers to cause trouble at Xixia Mountain; he had broken through and now was no weaker than Shu Da himself.

Originally, Shu Da thought he could easily suppress Lang Qianxing and his son by virtue of his own cultivation, but now Lang Qianxing was also at mid Core Condensation—Shu Da instead found himself at a disadvantage.

They were both at mid Core Condensation, but Shu Da still had hidden backlash in his body that hadn’t been resolved.

Even in a one-on-one fight, he might not win against Lang Qianxing.

Let alone with Lang Buping at Lang Qianxing’s side.

If it came to a fight, he really stood little chance.

Shu Da thought to himself: Should I abandon this cave?

But if he left Luoyun Cave, where would he find another several hundred Body Tempering stage rat demons?

In the future, if he wished to advance to Yao Wang, he could not do without these rat demons.

Back then, the yellow-furred demon who passed on Wan Shu Chao Yuan to him had also chosen Luoyun Cave because of its eight hundred rat demons, which was why he remained nearby.

There were some rat demons in other mountains, but their numbers were sparse and could not compare with Luoyun Cave.

Was his dream of becoming a Yao Wang to be shattered today?

While Shu Da pondered his options, he shouted angrily, “Cave Master Lang, what is the meaning of you leading your subordinates to invade my Luoyun Cave? Hei Pi Yao Wang’s rules have long been set—no mountain may provoke another without cause. Are you ignoring the Yao Wang’s decree?”

Lang Qianxing snorted and sneered, “Shu Da, you shameless cur, do you even have the right to speak of the Yao Wang’s rules? You were once but a minor demon of this Luoyun Cave. My in-law Hong Lao San treated you generously, trusted and promoted you, yet you used such despicable means as poisoning to seize my in-law’s cave! Such conduct is beneath contempt! Are you fit to speak of rules?”

Shu Da gave a cold snort. “Though I used drugs, it was only to ensure I wouldn’t be ambushed by ill-intentioned people when advancing to a great demon—it was purely self-preservation! That day in the cave, your son and the representatives of each mountain all saw for themselves. I, Shu Da, removed the poison from Hong Lao San’s body, and then, with my own fists, defeated him honorably in a fair duel to take this mountain.”

“We demons value strength above all—whoever is stronger becomes the boss. Since I, Shu Da, was stronger than Hong Lao San, naturally I took over Luoyun Cave as its master. In what way did I violate the Yao Wang’s rules? It’s you, Lang Qianxing, who has brazenly led your demon soldiers to invade my cave—you are the one breaking the rules!”

Lang Qianxing gave a low laugh. “Shu Da, have you forgotten? Though Hong Lao San was defeated by you, his daughter Hong Yanzhi is still in the mountain. With Hong Lao San dead, by the rules, it is Hong Yanzhi who should take his place. My son and the other mountain representatives saw you defeat Hong Lao San, but not Hong Yanzhi.”

“If you have not defeated Hong Yanzhi face-to-face, then by the rules, she remains the rightful cave master of this mountain.”

“While Hong Lao San lived, he had already betrothed Hong Yanzhi to my son, Lang Buping. She is the daughter-in-law of my Lang Qianxing!”

“Now, with my daughter-in-law fallen into your hands and her cave master position taken by your vile means, I, Lang Qianxing, have both the responsibility and duty to recover this mountain on her behalf!”

Lang Buping echoed, “Father is right! All I saw was you removing Uncle Hong’s poison, then killing Uncle Hong. As for Sister Yanzhi, you never removed her poison! Sister Yanzhi was poisoned and couldn’t resist you, that’s the only reason you became master of the mountain. Your claim to the position is completely illegitimate!”

He pointed at Shu Da, shouting furiously, “You lawless scoundrel, hurry up and release my Sister Yanzhi!”

Shu Da sneered, “Lang Buping, that day in the cave, Hong Lao San clearly declared before all the mountain representatives that he would duel me, and if I won, he would give me the position of cave master.”

“As for his daughter Hong Yanzhi, Hong Lao San did express his intent to betroth her to you, but nothing was finalized—it was just a verbal agreement, nothing definite. She is still unwed; you best not spout nonsense. Have you forgotten?”

“Since Hong Yanzhi remains unwed, she is not yet your Lang Family’s daughter-in-law, nor your wife, Lang Buping. The two of you coming to my Luoyun Cave is nothing but provocation!”

“If you know what’s good for you, apologize now and leave at once, and that’ll be the end of it. We can still be neighbors.”

“If not, I, Shu Da, will go to Hei Pi Yao Wang to lodge a complaint—accusing your Lang Family of Yellow Wind Mountain of breaking the rules! We’ll see how the Yao Wang punishes you!”

Lang Qianxing laughed, “You truly do not understand the rules. Among demons, if both father and son are great demons in a cave, then upon the father’s death, the son inherits his position. That too is one of our tribe’s rules.”

“Hong Lao San gave you his word that you could have the cave master’s position if you won, and he also gave his word that his daughter would be wed to my son.”

“Both were verbal promises. Why is yours valid but mine isn’t?”

“That day, both Hong Lao San and Hong Yanzhi were great demons. Now that Hong Lao San is dead, my daughter-in-law is the cave master. Today, my Lang Family will restore justice for my daughter-in-law and take back this cave!”

“Even if you complain to Hei Pi Yao Wang, my Lang Family stands perfectly justified.”

“All right, enough talk, **, prepare to die!”

With that, Lang Qianxing shouted and charged straight at Shu Da.

Lang Buping followed closely, brandishing his fan and launching an attack at Shu Da.

Behind them, the several hundred demon soldiers all shouted as one and surged toward the over one hundred rat demon guards behind Shu Da.

The two demon factions instantly clashed in a chaotic, clattering melee.