Upper Level of Luoyun Cave.
Inside the Master of the Cave’s dormitory, Lang Buping was lying on the bed, staring at the Night-Luminescent Pearl on the ceiling.
His eyes were lifeless, and his face was full of dejection, wearing a look of having nothing left to live for.
A series of footsteps sounded outside the dormitory, followed by a report from a Lesser Beast outside the door: “Report for the Master of the Cave, Patrol Leader Huan Dazui has come to report a matter to you.”
Lang Buping acted as if he hadn’t heard, remaining lying there, motionless.
The Lesser Beast outside the door waited for a long time without receiving any instructions, so he had no choice but to report again: “Report for the Master of the Cave, Patrol Leader Huan Dazui has come to report a matter to you.”
Lang Buping’s eyeballs moved slightly. After a long while, he said weakly, “I’m tired. Tell him to withdraw for now, and come back to report whatever it is in the afternoon.”
The Lesser Beast outside replied, “Understood!”
The footsteps faded away, and the area outside the cave returned to silence.
Lang Buping lay there, playing dead for a while longer, before letting out a sorrowful sigh and covering his face with his hands.
It had already been six days since Hong Yanzhi had been forcibly taken away.
During these six days, he had no appetite for tea or food and had already lost a significant amount of weight.
Initially, when he heard that Demon General Kunbiao said he would take Hong Yanzhi to Erlong Mountain to be a Yao-Fei and serve Hei Pi Yao Wang for a year, although he was extremely reluctant, he was powerless to oppose a Yao Wang and a Demon General. He could only yield and compromise.
But he still held onto hope in his heart.
One year—it wasn’t short, but it wasn’t that long either.
He would endure it; it was only three hundred or so days.
If he waited it out patiently, Hong Yanzhi would be able to return and marry him.
He never expected that after reporting this matter to his father, Lang Qianxing, he would learn what this so-called Yao-Fei actually entailed.
Calling her a Yao-Fei was, in truth, nothing more than being a tool for the near-death Hei Pi Yao Wang to perform Yin-Yang Harvesting for Life-Extension.
Other Shouling had also selected female Yaojing to be sent to Erlong Mountain as Yao-Fei before, but after they were sent, there was never any further news of them, their life or death unknown.
Lang Buping felt as if he had been struck by lightning. He hurried to beg his father to go and plead with Hei Pi Yao Wang, to beg him to save Hong Yanzhi and bring her back, but he was rejected by Lang Qianxing.
Hei Pi Yao Wang was already nearing his end and was currently gasping for breath, using every possible means for Life-Extension. Lang Qianxing did not dare to provoke him at such a time.
Lang Buping returned in disappointment. Back at Xixia Mountain, he spent his days sighing and lamenting, thinking that he would never see his Miss Yan Zhi again.
Originally, when he and Xiong Ba were both pursuing Hong Yanzhi, Hong Yanzhi didn’t think much of him and had always been lukewarm toward him.
Later, although she agreed to his father’s marriage proposal, she still found every way to avoid him and never showed him a single smile.
Then, a change occurred at Xixia Mountain. He and his father went together to rescue Hong Yanzhi.
Lang Buping finally saw Hong Yanzhi treat him with a slightly better attitude. That day, she had even proactively called him husband, which made him so happy he almost took flight.
He thought he could finally fulfill his wish and spend the rest of his life with the love of his heart.
He never expected that the Demon General Kunbiao would suddenly interfere, forcibly snatching away his Miss Yan Zhi and destroying his happy life.
Lang Buping picked up his pillow, pressed it against his face, and let out a tragic howl.
He was just about to have a good cry when he suddenly heard the Lesser Beast outside report again: “Report for the Master of the Cave, Jailer Laifu requests an audience, saying he has an urgent matter to report.”
Lang Buping kept the pillow over his face and said in a muffled voice, “I won’t see him. Tell him to come back in the afternoon.”
A moment later, that Lesser Beast reported again: “Master of the Cave, Leader Laifu says it is an extremely critical matter.”
Lang Buping suddenly became enraged.
He roared impatiently, “Didn’t I just say it? This Master of the Cave is tired! No matter who comes, no matter what it is, tell them all to withdraw! Whatever it is, come back and report it all in the afternoon!”
Outside the cave, the guard Lesser Beast shrunk his head and replied, “Understood!”
The Lesser Beast turned his head and spread his hands to Laifu, who was waiting outside the door, saying with a helpless expression, “The Master of the Cave won’t see you. Leader Laifu should probably head back.”
Hearing Lang Buping’s wailing inside, Laifu knew this guy was having another fit of madness.
He didn’t leave. Instead, he sank his breath into his Essence Core and shouted loudly, “Lang Cave Master, Shao De indeed has something to report, and it concerns the Red Demon Princess. I ask the Master of the Cave for an audience.”
As soon as his voice fell, a gust of yellow wind flew out from the room, pouncing straight toward him.
Laifu was startled.
Lang Buping suddenly appeared before his eyes, staring fixedly at Laifu with two bloodshot eyes, and asked, “What did you say? What happened to Miss Yan Zhi?”
Laifu couldn’t help but take a step back and answered, “Master of the Cave, someone says he has a way to save the Red Demon Princess, the girl Lin Xue, and several other sisters from the mountain, but he needs your help, Master of the Cave.”
Hearing this, Lang Buping was overjoyed. He immediately grabbed Laifu’s shoulders and asked, “Is this true?”
He was too excited and unconsciously used some strength in his hands, causing Laifu to grimace in pain.
Laifu tried to struggle a bit but couldn’t break free. He answered with a miserable face, “Shao De would not dare to deceive the Master of the Cave.”
Lang Buping’s face was full of pleasant surprise as he said repeatedly, “With such a critical matter, why didn’t you come to report earlier? Where is he? Go and bring him here quickly!”
He released Laifu’s shoulders.
Laifu scratched his dog head and answered with some embarrassment, “This person’s identity is a bit special. He is currently in the Dungeon within the cave. Shao De will go and bring him to see you right away.”
After saying that, he gave a bow, backed up a few steps, and turned to walk toward the Lower Level.
……
After about half a cup of tea’s time, Zhang Zongnian followed Laifu to the Upper Level of the cave, entered the Master of the Cave’s dormitory, and stood opposite Lang Buping.
Lang Buping sat on the couch, sizing Zhang Zongnian up from head to toe.
Seeing that Zhang Zongnian only had a Cultivation of the Body Tempering Middle Stage, his face was filled with disappointment.
He stared at Laifu, his eyes containing uncontrollable anger, and asked, “This is the person you said has a way to help me rescue Miss Yan Zhi? A Lesser Beast at the Body Tempering Middle Stage?”
Laifu looked at Zhang Zongnian.
Zhang Zongnian took a step forward and said calmly and firmly, “That’s right, Lang Cave Master. I indeed have a way to rescue the Red Hong Yanzhi Demon Princess, as well as the other sisters from the mountain who were forcibly taken away.”
Lang Buping laughed out of extreme anger and said, “Just with you? A Lesser Beast? Even I could crush you to death with one finger. What ability do you have to snatch people from the hands of a dignified Yao Wang? What kind of joke is this? Do you take me, Lang Buping, for a fool?”
Zhang Zongnian said indifferently, “Lang Cave Master, don’t be in a hurry. First, listen to Leader Laifu explain my identity.”
Laifu stepped forward and, after some explanation, clarified Zhang Zongnian’s identity to Lang Buping.
Hearing that this Lesser Beast with a complete Transformation was actually the Human Cultivator who had previously become sworn siblings with Lin Xue, Lang Buping couldn’t help but widen his eyes and size up Zhang Zongnian carefully once again.
As a Grand Demon, he was more knowledgeable than an ordinary Lesser Beast and had indeed heard of Soul Possession before.
However, he also found it quite hard to believe that in just a few days, Zhang Zongnian had risen from an ordinary Mouse to a Lesser Beast at the Body Tempering Middle Stage.
He asked curiously, “Are you truly that Human Cultivator who was brought to this mountain along with the girl Lin Xue?”
Zhang Zongnian nodded and said, “It is indeed me.”
Lang Buping looked at him, his eyes still full of suspicion, and asked, “Then tell me, what plan do you have to rescue Miss Yan Zhi?”
Zhang Zongnian took a deep breath and answered, “It’s very simple. I have a way to temporarily rise to the Yao Wang Cultivation Realm, then go to Erlong Mountain and defeat that Hei Pi Yao Wang in a direct confrontation.”
“As long as I defeat him, there should be no one left in Erlong Mountain who can stop me.”
“When that time comes, I can bring my sister Lin Xue, the Red Hong Yanzhi Demon Princess, and those other sisters from the cave back together.”