Upon hearing the monster’s shout, Hong Yanzhi’s face instantly turned pale.
Why has Zong Biao Yao Jiang arrived ahead of schedule?
Wasn’t he supposed to come next month?
Zong Biao Yao Jiang’s demand for Xixia Mountain’s Luoyun Cave was to hand over ten late-stage Body Tempering female demons.
Right now, Luoyun Cave had only prepared six.
Hong Yanzhi had already come up with countermeasures.
Her plan was to marry Lang Buping as soon as possible.
This way, not only would she become the heir to Luoyun Cave’s master, but as a married woman, she wouldn’t be forcefully taken away by the demon general to serve as his concubine.
Additionally, she intended to ask Lang Buping to select four late-stage Body Tempering female demons from Yellow Wind Mountain, to be sent over as maids on the day of their wedding.
With that, Luoyun Cave would have the required ten late-stage Body Tempering female demons, and when Zong Biao Yao Jiang arrived next month, they could fulfill the quota.
Who would have thought this wild boar demon general would show up early, ruining all her plans.
Even worse, Lin Xue hadn’t had time to leave yet and was caught red-handed by this demon general—she’d have a hard time getting away now.
Hong Yanzhi glanced at Lin Xue, who still sat with closed eyes, practicing the Beast Refinement Codex, her heart filled with anxiety.
Zong Biao Yao Jiang, floating on a cloud overhead, had already spotted Hong Yanzhi and Lin Xue. His eyes lit up, and he immediately guided the cloud in their direction.
Hong Yanzhi’s heart pounded like a drum. She couldn’t hide, but standing her ground wasn’t an option either—she was truly caught between a rock and a hard place.
The cloud descended.
Zong Biao Yao Jiang landed with four attendants.
This demon general was tall and immensely fat, standing over ten feet. He had an enormous boar’s head, ears as big as palm-leaf fans, a long pig snout, and two tusks jutting from his mouth.
His body was absurdly obese. He wore an open-front jacket, his large belly bulging out, exposing his chest, looking just like a Maitreya Buddha.
Around his neck hung a gold chain with a black jade pendant.
His chest was covered in a thick patch of hair, his legs clothed in black silk pants, and his feet in satin shoes.
Among his four attendants, three were smaller wild boar demons, and the last was a tall, thin man with a stern face.
Now, Hong Yanzhi was only at the late Body Tempering stage and hadn’t awakened her spiritual vision, so she couldn’t discern their cultivations—nor could she tell if that tall, thin man was human or demon.
She forced herself to calm down, stepped forward, and bowed to Zong Biao Yao Jiang, saying, “This humble girl, Hong Yanzhi, greets the honored Demon General.”
Zong Biao Yao Jiang glanced at Hong Yanzhi’s proud figure, then at Lin Xue—still sitting with closed eyes, her beauty radiant and captivating—and his eyes brimmed with greed.
His fat pig face squeezed into a smile, and he bared his pig mouth, asking Hong Yanzhi, “Are you two female demons from Luoyun Cave?”
Hong Yanzhi had no choice but to reply, “To answer the honored Demon General, this humble girl is the daughter of Luoyun Cave’s master, Hong Lao San.”
Zong Biao Yao Jiang was surprised to hear she was Hong Lao San’s daughter.
He grunted, “Oh? Where is your father?”
Hong Yanzhi lowered her head, speaking in a subdued voice, “My father passed away more than half a month ago.”
Zong Biao Yao Jiang froze in shock. “What? Your father’s dead?”
He glared with his bulging pig eyes and demanded, “The master of a mountain cave has died, and it’s been over half a month. Why haven’t you sent anyone to Erlong Mountain to report to the Mountain Lord?”
Hong Yanzhi put on a tearful expression and said, “My father was murdered by traitors in the cave. Those mice killed my father and imprisoned me. Only today, with the help of Lang Cave Master of Yellow Wind Mountain, did I reclaim the mountain. That’s why I haven’t yet sent a messenger to inform the Mountain Lord.”
She gave a rough account of Shu Da and Shu Er’s rebellion.
Zong Biao Yao Jiang listened for a few sentences before impatiently waving his hand. “Enough, you needn’t go on. Just send someone to report these matters to the Mountain Lord. Who’s in charge of Luoyun Cave now?”
Hong Yanzhi replied, “Before my father died, he betrothed me to the son of Lang Cave Master—Lang Buping. For now, my husband Lang Buping is managing the mountain.”
Zong Biao Yao Jiang frowned. “Then where is he? Why hasn’t he come out to greet me?”
As he spoke, Lang Buping hurried out with a group of attendants, cupping his hands and bowing from afar.
“Honored Demon General, this humble one is Lang Buping, currently overseeing Luoyun Cave. I did not know the honored Demon General was arriving today, and my welcome is late. Please forgive me.”
Zong Biao Yao Jiang gave Lang Buping a sidelong glance and asked, “Since you’re in charge here, let me ask: have you prepared ten late-stage Body Tempering, shape-shifting female demons of Xixia Mountain as ordered?”
Lang Buping looked utterly confused. “Huh? What female demons?”
Since Hong Yanzhi hadn’t had time to mention this to him, Lang Buping had no idea about the selection of concubines.
Zong Biao Yao Jiang’s pig eyes bulged in anger, the flesh on his face trembling. “Fool! I already gave notice—your Luoyun Cave of Xixia Mountain was to prepare ten late-stage Body Tempering female demons in advance for me to inspect. You, as the manager, know nothing? Are you treating my words as empty air?”
Lang Buping was dumbfounded, mouth agape, staring at Hong Yanzhi with a look that screamed, “There’s such a thing?”
Hong Yanzhi had no choice but to steel herself and say, “Honored Demon General, please quell your anger. I only took over the mountain’s affairs this morning, so I was unaware. I do know about this matter—my father had started making preparations. Before next month, we’ll definitely have ten late-stage Body Tempering female demons ready for you.”
Zong Biao Yao Jiang stared, saying, “Next month? I’m already here today—of course, I want to take them now! Who can wait until next month? If your father has already prepared them, then bring them out for me to see—let me inspect and verify them!”
“If they pass, then all is well. If not, and I’ve made this trip for nothing, hmph! I’ll make sure you pay dearly!”
Hearing the threat in Zong Biao Yao Jiang’s words, Hong Yanzhi’s face grew even paler.
She shot Lang Buping a glance.
Lang Buping hurried forward, his face plastered with a smile. “Honored Demon General, why the rush? You’ve traveled so far—please, enter the cave and let us, as husband and wife, offer you a proper welcome. After you’ve eaten and rested, it won’t be too late to inspect the candidates.”
Zong Biao Yao Jiang waved his hand. “No need for such formalities. I still have other matters to attend to at Erlong Mountain and can’t linger here long. Just bring over the late-stage Body Tempering female demons you’ve prepared and let me interview them personally. Once that’s done, I’ll take them straight back to the mountain.”
Seeing Zong Biao Yao Jiang so resolute, Hong Yanzhi gritted her teeth and could only admit, “Honored Demon General, there simply aren’t many female demons at Xixia Mountain to begin with. My father struggled to gather even six. Please grant us a few more days. By next month, I guarantee we’ll have ten female demons for you!”
At this, Zong Biao Yao Jiang’s expression grew cold, his pig face covered in frost.
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