Hong Yanzhi kicked Shu Er flying, but she still felt unsatisfied, so she strode over and stomped hard on his leg, cursing: “What the hell are you, you damned rat? Do you think this throne is something someone like you deserves to sit on?”
Shu Er, although with Shu Da’s help had reached Body Tempering Peak and was only one step away from becoming a Demon Core Condensation Grand Demon, was ultimately still one stage below Hong Yanzhi, who was already a Demon Core Condensation Grand Demon.
He simply could not resist Hong Yanzhi’s trampling.
As Hong Yanzhi started to press harder, his leg already showed signs of breaking.
He screamed in pain and protested loudly, “Please spare me, Demon Princess! I was only cleaning the tiger pelt and accidentally fell onto the throne, it was never my intention to sit there!”
Hong Yanzhi sneered, “Never your intention? I saw you sitting there just now, looking pretty pleased with yourself, even propping your leg up! And you say it wasn’t intentional?”
As she spoke, she pressed down even harder with her foot.
Shu Er’s leg was about to be snapped by Hong Yanzhi’s trampling. Fear and dread filled his heart, and he shot a pleading look at Shu Da, begging for help.
Only then did Shu Da realize what his idiot younger brother had done.
He was both furious and anxious. Shu Er was his own flesh and blood, a sibling who became a spirit alongside him, and the only one he truly trusted.
His original plan had been for both brothers to ascend to Grand Demon status together tonight, and then take out Hong Lao San, seizing the mountain for themselves.
Condensing a demon core and advancing to Grand Demon status, like how humans break through Lianqi Dayuanman to establish their Foundation, all required the body to be whole and in its most perfect state.
If Shu Er’s leg was broken by Hong Yanzhi, his body would be damaged, and he’d be unable to advance to Grand Demon in the near future.
If only he, Shu Da, ascended tonight, facing Hong Lao San, Hong Yanzhi, and all the visiting Grand Demons from other mountains, even with his backup plans, he’d lack enough presence and might not be able to suppress the situation.
He was desperate to save his brother’s leg.
Kneeling, Shu Da kowtowed and pleaded, “Please, Demon Princess, calm your anger. My brother doesn’t understand the rules. I beg you, please forgive a minor’s mistake just this once, considering his diligence in serving the Cave all these years.”
Hearing Shu Da beg for Shu Er, Hong Yanzhi only pressed down even harder.
With a crisp “crack!”, Shu Er let out a blood-curdling scream as his leg snapped.
He clutched his twisted leg, rolling on the ground, wanting to cry out from the pain, but in front of Hong Yanzhi, he dared not make a sound.
All he could do was grit his teeth and endure.
Shu Da’s face instantly froze.
Having broken Shu Er’s leg, Hong Yanzhi strode over to Shu Da, slapped him hard across the face, and sent him tumbling to the ground.
Shu Da’s face swelled up immediately.
Hong Yanzhi placed her foot on Shu Da’s face, bent down, stared into his eyes, and sneered, “Forgive him? I was just thinking of dealing with you next, and here you are pleading on his behalf?”
“What kind of Head Steward are you? You can’t even keep your own brother in check and let him commit such outrageous offenses? With this kind of incompetence, what use are you to me? Might as well let someone else take over as Head Steward!”
Still pressing down on Shu Da’s face, she raised her chin and pointed at the nearest kneeling rat demon, asking, “You, what’s your name?”
The rat demon trembled with fright at being singled out and stammered, “My name is Tu Gedar.”
Hong Yanzhi said coldly, “Good. Tu Gedar, from now on you’ll be the head of chores in the Cave. You’d better work diligently and not let down my promotion.”
Tu Gedar’s face was full of joy. Rising from an ordinary little demon to Head Steward meant he’d get more Spiritual Herb and Lingguo each year.
With these, his cultivation would progress much faster than the other little demons.
Look at Shu Da—he’d been Head Steward for decades and his cultivation had already reached the late stage of Body Tempering just recently.
He didn’t know that Shu Da had actually long reached Body Tempering Peak, just keeping his true cultivation hidden all along.
Tu Gedar kowtowed repeatedly, “Understood!”
Shu Da lay on the ground, his face burning with pain.
In front of all the rat demons, his head was trampled by Hong Yanzhi, and his brother’s leg was broken by her as well.
He clenched his fists, a flash of anger in his eyes.
But he soon relaxed his fists, his expression calming as he sneered inwardly: Fine, I’ll ascend alone tonight. Let’s see how arrogant you can be, little wildcat.
Tonight, Grandpa Shu will make sure you don’t get the last laugh.
The other rat demons, seeing Shu Da being trampled underfoot by Hong Yanzhi, felt a bit of sympathy.
Shu Da had been Head Steward for years, always fair and just, and worked alongside them, never putting on airs or abusing his underlings.
Unlike some other stewards, who acted high and mighty as mid-level leaders of the Cave, often scolding and whipping the little demons.
That’s why Shu Da was much loved by the others.
Now, seeing Shu Da dragged down by his brother, humiliated and dismissed from his post, the little demons all felt indignant.
After venting, Hong Yanzhi felt a little of her pent-up anger dissipate. She lifted her foot, didn’t even look at Shu Da and Shu Er, and strode straight out of the hall.
Lang Buping followed, fanning himself and flattering, “Well done, my dear! These fools need strict discipline every day, or else they’ll forget who they are and what their place is. They must be taught a lesson!”
Shu Da lay on the ground and only raised his head when Hong Yanzhi’s party had gone far.
Tu Gedar and the other rat demons rushed forward and helped the Shu brothers to their feet.
“Shu Da-ge, are you alright?”
“Shu Da-ge, the Demon Princess has always had this temper. Please bear with it.”
“Shu Er-ge, how’s your leg?”
Shu Da got up, his face calm, as if the one who’d just been beaten, scolded, and dismissed wasn’t him at all.
He wiped the footprint off his face, dusted himself off, and walked to the still-supported Shu Er.
Shu Er looked utterly dejected and remorseful, head hung low, not daring to meet his brother’s eyes.
Shu Da reached out his hand. Shu Er shrank back, thinking his brother was about to slap him.
But Shu Da merely wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and said, “Go to the hospital and find Elder Huai for some medicine to heal your leg. Get it healed as soon as possible.”
Shu Er answered with a subdued “Mm,” hanging his head in shame, and with the help of two little demons, hobbled off toward the Lower Cavern.
Tu Gedar edged over to Shu Da, rubbing his hands, and asked carefully, “Shu Da-ge, about the Head Steward position…”
Shu Da turned to look at him, face calm, and said, “Just follow the Demon Princess’s arrangement. This position is yours from now on. Come with me—I’ll hand over everything you need.”
Tu Gedar was overjoyed and trotted after Shu Da.