Since Feng Zikang was set on heading south, the matters concerning the East Sea would have to be temporarily postponed. It was only a matter of a few days; once Mo Li was subdued, he would immediately return.
Seeing Mo Fenghuang’s face was still deathly pale, he knew she hadn't recovered from expending her vital essence to power the Spiritual Mechanism Beast to its limit, so he let her rest inside the cloud chariot as well.
To know that her fiancé was in mortal danger in the Southern Wilds, yet still risk her own life for a complete stranger—the Mohist principle of Universal Love was truly selfless... Feng Zikang could only offer a wry smile.
The little fox seemed to dislike this Mohist woman, this grand miss who championed impartial love for all. Usually, the creature adored being stroked, but now it huddled in Feng Zikang's arms, watching the stranger with intense vigilance. When Mo Fenghuang tried to reach out, the fox let out sharp chirps, the fur on its neck standing on end.
The people of Mo were not well-liked; even beasts were reluctant to draw near their aura.
This was something Mo Li had once mentioned to him. Wherever he went, aiding and assisting people, what he received in return was always more fear than respect. People were grateful for everything he did, but they could never truly grow close to anyone from the Mo clan.
Unlike Feng Zikang, even though he always treated people coldly, everyone naturally gravitated towards him. Whether it was the soldiers under Wu Ji or the tribesmen of the Southern Wilds—especially the barbarians of the Cold River Grotto—they treated him as if he were their own father; even the children weren't afraid of him.
Clearly, the Mohists were inherently good people, while he was a secretive Demon Lord, yet the reception they received was the exact inverse.
Good people were unwanted, while the Demon Lord was welcomed—how truly bizarre.
The cloud chariot traveled a thousand li daily, and Mo Fenghuang was burning with anxiety, so they made no stops along the road, heading straight for Mangcang Mountain.
In just three days, the two of them reached the vicinity of the first peak of the Thirty-Six Interlocking Peaks. Feng Zikang looked up; the connected green peaks were shrouded in a ghastly, sinister demonic energy—it was clearly no place for the righteous.
“Little brother, leave these few jumping clowns ahead to your sister to deal with!”
Mo Fenghuang, remembering his favor in rushing a thousand li to her aid, certainly wouldn't let him exert himself further to eliminate enemies! Although she was severely depleted of vital energy and her face remained pale, she insisted on rushing forward.
“It’s no trouble, a mere (flick of the wrist).”
Feng Zikang cared little for fighting; as long as they weren't courting death, combat was the best way for someone from the martial lineage to enhance their cultivation. The fighting style of these demons was quite different from that of the Central Plains cultivators. His last confrontation with Wu Lingzi had greatly broadened his horizons; learning a few tricks from these foes now would be beneficial.
As they spoke, a demon appeared.
Suddenly, a foul wind whipped up fiercely. From the Treasure Peak, the first of the Thirty-Six Interlocking Peaks, a noxious, yellow miasma rose. A tiger-headed demon, brandishing a steel trident, sprang out with a vicious snarl.
“Who dares trespass upon Mangcang Mountain? Are you truly unafraid of death?”
The Tiger-Headed Demon had been miserable lately. For several days straight, people kept storming the mountain for no good reason, and, being the weakest, he was always forced to the front, always beaten senseless. His magnificent, patterned tiger skin was now covered in wounds, causing him immense heartache.
Seeing yet another group of intruders, rage surged within him. He grasped his steel trident and leaped into the clouds, intending to kill the pair to vent his frustration and secure some fresh blood-food.
But when he reached the high altitude, he froze, momentarily stunned.
He recognized the woman in the chariot—she was the one who had kicked him hard in the waist a few days prior, causing the dull ache in his renal gate that persisted to this day, the very culprit behind his inability to perform! He was no match for this woman even from a distance, but that was irrelevant now. He saw the cloud chariot surrounded by countless strands of auspicious energy and shimmering rays of light, and the young man driving it, though youthful, possessed an aura of serene dignity, clearly no ordinary person!
“Ah... It’s you, great auntie…”
The Tiger-Headed Demon bowed and scraped, understanding the wisdom of not provoking an immediate loss. He had heard that this woman had been driven away by the White Bone Old Divine Monarch a few days ago, yet she managed to escape unscathed under the terrifying Great Law of the Divine Monarch. Now she had brought someone back for backup and dared to return—this young man must not be someone to trifle with!
The Tiger-Headed Demon furtively glanced over. Feng Zikang appeared completely at ease, holding the reins, with a streak of cyan energy rising straight from his head into the sky.
“Good heavens, this is incredible!”
Though the Tiger-Headed Demon was an ancient tiger spirit born in the mountains, he possessed some learning, having traveled the mortal realm once. Despite frequently being chased and beaten, he had eavesdropped on a few books and plays at village private schools.
Senior masters weren't always white-bearded old men; many who achieved mastery returned to their original, primordial state, reverting to childhood—that was true skill. Judging by the momentum radiating from this youth, he must be some concealed senior master in disguise!
The Tiger-Headed Demon settled his strategy: absolutely do not provoke these two grim reapers, and adopt an even more respectful demeanor.
“Tiger-Headed Demon! Since you know I’ve arrived, why don’t you step aside quickly!”
“Yes, yes! Great auntie, please proceed, honored senior, please…”
Feng Zikang saw that the Tiger-Headed Demon was quick-witted and smiled slightly, unconcerned, urging his mount forward. The little fox found the fierce tiger’s obsequious posture hilarious. It sprang from Feng Zikang’s arms onto his head and couldn't resist relieving itself.
The Tiger-Headed Demon felt the foul liquid soaking his head; the stench was unbearable, but he dared not show resentment, merely bowing low to carefully return the little fox to Feng Zikang.
Feng Zikang glanced at him sideways, and the demon broke out in another cold sweat, now completely drenched from head to toe.
Only after the two had driven the chariot far away did the Tiger-Headed Demon finally let out a breath, dropped his steel trident, and retreated down the cloud, back into the mountain range.
The lesser demons below, still shapeless, surrounded him as he descended, chattering and demanding, “Great King, who were those on top? Why did you let them pass so easily? We have no rice in the mountain today; we were waiting for you to capture some blood-food to bring back!”
“Nonsense!” The Tiger-Headed Demon roared in fury, swatting the closest few little demons away.
“What blood-food? Behave yourselves! Do you know who just passed by?”
“Who were they?” the little demons pressed curiously.
The Tiger-Headed Demon had only asked rhetorically; how would he know who passed above? However, having just lost face, if he claimed the enemies were weak, these little demons might doubt his abilities, and his position as the Great King of Treasure Peak might become unstable.
His tiger eyes darted around, and he started fabricating wildly, “You don’t know? What passed today was the Greatly Compassionate and Greatly Powerful Divine Demon Manifested True Lord. He just happened to be passing through our Mangcang Mountain today. I went up to pay my respects, and I was even gifted a sip of sweet dew!”
The little demons, noticing his head was drenched, became extremely envious and crowded around to lick it, but the Tiger-Headed Demon impatiently shoved them away.
“Is this Greatly Compassionate and Greatly Powerful Divine Demon Manifested True Lord very strong?” another little demon inquired.
“Does that even need saying!”
“Is he stronger than our White Bone Old Divine Monarch?”
“This…”
The Tiger-Headed Demon lowered his head to ponder. This woman had returned after leaving, and she brought help; she must be coming to cause trouble for the White Bone Old Divine Monarch. A fight between immortals often brought disaster upon mortals; perhaps things would turn upside down again in a few days. Should he hide?
“Stop asking so many pointless questions! Come here, my brave lads! The True Lord just commanded that the south is currently unstable, and we must confine ourselves to reflect on our past deeds. I think with the weather being so hot lately, sealing ourselves in the cave for a month is actually a good idea…”
“Great King, but we have nothing to eat!”
“Idiots!” The Tiger-Headed Demon delivered a sharp blow to the tactless little demon, knocking him flat. “We’ll just sleep in the cave for a few days. What’s there to eat? All you know is eating!”
And so, the Treasure Mountain of the First Peak of the Thirty-Six Interlocking Peaks sealed its gates, entering a month of retreat.
When they emerged later, every single one was thin and sallow from hunger, yet they were overwhelmed with gratitude for their Great King’s wise decision. Even the Tiger-Headed Demon himself felt a lingering sense of dread.
“Damn it, I really was brilliant…”
He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the profound relief of having escaped disaster.