sinovels Chapter 54 Black Tortoise Swings its Tail
Chapter 54 Black Tortoise Swings its Tail
Actually, the Soft Bone King wanted to take over this wild path first in order to please the Ape Demon King.
Recently, the Ape Demon King has taken a fancy to a fox spirit from who-knows-where, and he visits her less and less. Even when she takes the initiative to ask him to play cards, the Ape Demon King shows little interest.
Even if she agreed to let the Ape Demon King play Dou Dizhu or Guandan, he would only coax her for a few days after the game, and then return to his cold attitude. This back-and-forth feeling made her both hate and love him.
Long-eared, unaware of his king's thoughts, could only remain silent once he saw that the king had made up his mind.
King Soft Bone stood up from the stone chair, clapped his hands, and instructed the maids around him: "Go, prepare the gift boxes from the storeroom. Select five five-hundred-year-old spirit fruits, prepare a pot of monkey wine, and also take two bolts of mermaid silk, the two bolts that the Ape Demon King bestowed upon you last time. Don't take the wrong ones."
She clearly took this visit very seriously, even paying attention to etiquette.
After instructing the maids, he turned and shouted towards the outside of the hall, "Someone! Go and summon the left and right protectors, and also select four demon generals at the Nascent Soul stage. They will accompany me on this trip tomorrow."
Lu Changgeng's heart stirred. The left and right protectors, the four demon generals, and herself made up seven combatants at or above the Nascent Soul stage. He had sensed the left and right protectors when he entered the cave; they were all at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage.
He wasn't afraid of this situation, but if a major battle broke out, he would be unable to concentrate. If one or two of them ran away and went to inform the Ape Demon King, then the yellow-haired guy's disguise would be ruined.
He also pointed out that the identity of "Yellow Hair" should play a greater role.
He immediately stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Your Majesty, please wait."
The Soft Bone King turned his head and raised an eyebrow at him.
"Your Majesty's idea of personally paying a visit is brilliant," Lu Changgeng praised first, then changed the subject, "However, Your Majesty, think about it. If you were to go with your left and right protectors and four demon generals, the sheer scale of the procession would hardly resemble a visit; it would look more like an attack. That Wild Path was just chased by Bibo Pool, and they're on edge. If they see Your Majesty approaching with so many people, they'll probably run away without even showing their faces."
Upon hearing this, the Soft Bone King's eyebrows twitched slightly, but he did not immediately respond.
Lu Changgeng continued, "Your Majesty's purpose in going there is to probe his background, not to cause conflict. Since it is a visit, it should be conducted in a respectful manner. Traveling light and keeping to a minimum, while maintaining proper etiquette, will demonstrate that Your Majesty has no ill intentions."
The left and right protectors are experts at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage; their demonic aura can be sensed by cultivators of the same level from a great distance. If Your Majesty were to bring them along, that wild Taoist priest would likely attack or flee before Your Majesty even has a chance to speak. While Your Majesty may not be afraid of him, the purpose of this visit would be ruined.
After a moment of contemplation, King Soft Bones slowly sat back down on the stone chair.
Huang Mao is right; bringing along two bodyguards would indeed be too conspicuous.
She thought for a moment and said, "Then, in your opinion, how many should we bring?"
"One or two demon generals will suffice at most." Lu Changgeng held up two fingers, then pointed to Chang'er beside him and himself. "Plus, Chang'er and I will serve from the side, making four people just right. No more, no less, maintaining the dignity of a king without scaring the enemy away."
When Long Ears heard his name called, his ears perked up immediately. He stared wide-eyed at Yellow Hair, his face clearly saying, "Why did you drag me into this?"
Lu Changgeng remained expressionless, pretending not to see anything.
After pondering for a moment, King Soft Bone felt that the arrangement was indeed appropriate.
One or two demon generals are enough to ensure safety, and Huang Mao and Chang Er are her old subordinates whom she is used to, so they are quite reliable in their work.
She nodded: "Then it's settled. Select two demon generals, and take the two of you with you. Prepare gifts, and we'll depart in two days." She added, "Don't go out for the next two days. Stay in the cave and rest well to recover your strength. Yellow Hair, you've done a great job this time. Once I figure out the details of that wild path, you'll be rewarded handsomely."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Lu Changgeng bowed.
Long Ears also bowed, but his eyes remained fixed on Yellow Hair.
The blond-haired man seemed somewhat unfamiliar to him today.
Lu Changgeng naturally knew that this was somewhat inconsistent with Huang Mao's usual behavior, but he probably didn't expect that Huang Mao had been switched.
King Soft Bone waved for the two demons to retreat and rest, without questioning why Long Ears hadn't seen it; competition among subordinates was a good thing.
Lu Changgeng and Chang'er left the main hall and followed the winding cave passage back to the side cave where the two demons usually lived.
The cave was small, with rough, unpolished walls. Two niches were carved into the stone walls to store miscellaneous items, and two dry grass mats were laid on the ground, which served as the two demons' beds.
The cave was filled with a faint earthy smell mixed with the grassy scent unique to the long-eared creatures; it wasn't too unpleasant.
Lu Changgeng plopped down on the straw mat, intending to close his eyes and rest.
The long-eared man next to him wouldn't stay still. He paced back and forth in front of him several times, then suddenly plopped down next to him, flicked his two long ears back, and looked very unhappy.
"Yellow Hair, explain yourself clearly." The long-eared rabbit slapped his shoulder with considerable force. "How come I knew nothing about you running into that Red Hair Wild Man in Cuiyun Town? We patrol the mountains together every day, when did you see him?"
Lu Changgeng didn't even lift his eyelids, and casually said, "When you're squatting on the toilet."
"Squat toilet?" Long Ears was taken aback.
"That day, after you finished squatting, it was my turn. I was halfway through when I looked up and saw a red-haired figure dart past on the mountain path in the distance. You left because you thought my poop smelled bad, so you didn't see it, right?"
Lu Changgeng spoke with great detail and conviction.
Long-eared man looked at him suspiciously, feeling that something was amiss.
He pressed on, "Then why didn't you tell me when you came back? We're brothers, why didn't you tell me such important information sooner? Do you think I would steal your credit? If I get a share, you get a share too."
"This...this...that..." the blond-haired man muttered, pouting.
"What is this?"
"Um..." The blond-haired man's face looked like he had his throat choked; his mouth opened and closed repeatedly, but he couldn't utter a single word.
Long Ears leaned forward, his long ears standing straight up, and squinted, demanding, "What's going on with you? You were acting strangely in the hall today, and now you're stammering. Yellow Hair, do you have other brothers behind my back? Are you planning to replace me with someone else for the patrol duty?"
Lu Changgeng suddenly raised his head, his gaze passing over Chang'er's shoulder, glancing vaguely towards the cave entrance, and lowered his voice to ask, "Chang'er, what's that behind you?"
Long-eared Lu Changgeng instinctively turned his head away. The instant he turned, Lu Changgeng silently shouted, "Black Tortoise Tail Swing!"
With a whoosh, a water whip struck the back of Chang'er's neck with pinpoint accuracy.
Long-eared creature collapsed onto the straw mat without uttering a sound.