The Four Scheming Demons were now thrilled, holding a much stronger unity tactic than the one they used before. But then Scrooge Demon suddenly said, “Uh, Steward Zhuo, if it’s of no trouble, could you perhaps, maybe pay us back for the bone staff?”
“Ha-ha-ha, no worries!”
Zhuo Fan nodded, [Scrooge Demon is a miser after all. He just got a better unity tactic for free yet still wants compensation for the 5th-grade spiritual weapon.]
But since they were his men now, Zhuo Fan would naturally listen to their requests.
Zhuo Fan sent Li Jingtian after the pieces of the black staff. He then added some Diamond Sand and in the azure flame, the staff was instantly restored, even improved upon.
The Four Scheming Demons were jumping in joy for having their spiritual weapon back.
Perhaps the excitement got to his head or he was just plain petty, but Scrooge Demon pointed at Li Jingtian without an ounce of shame, “Steward Zhuo, could you also give me that old guy’s ring and clothes?”
“What for?” Zhuo Fan asked.
Chuckling, Scrooge Demon spoke as a matter of factly, “We just lost them because we went unconscious. How else could that old guy take them from me?”
“Blast it, they were mine to begin with, you hear?” Li Jingtian flew into a rage, “You little shit, what kind of logic is that? They are yours once they exchange hands?”
Zhuo Fan’s face sank, “Your twisted characters won’t change, but you are never to use them on my men. Or else…”
“I know, Steward Zhuo, I will think better of him from now on!” Noticing Zhuo Fan’s displeasure, and in fear of having the bug in his stomach go topsy-turvy, Violent Demon shouted in plea for mercy, “He-he-he, please excuse him. If he doesn’t get to steal what he fancies, he’ll sulk for a few days!”
Zhuo Fan’s cheek twitched, [That just means he’s really stingy!]
“From now on do not touch what isn’t yours!”
Violent Demon saw Scrooge Demon’s eyes still fixed on Li Jingtian, shouting and turning his head forcefully. But that stubborn face had the duo not know how to respond to it.
[Among these four weirdos, Scrooge Demon is the worst. I’ll have to enforce extra security to stop this damn kleptomaniac…]
Clap~
Zhuo Fan got their attention, but Scrooge Demon was still very depressed. Zhuo Fan ignored him, “Listen well. We are now going to Thunder Swarm Mountain so you will be leading us since you know the way!”
“Uh, but…” The four shook their heads hesitantly, “We can’t!”
Zhuo Fan frowned, “Why?”
“Steward Zhuo, did you forget? We promised a child to get him an ingredient. The Four Scheming Demons are demonic heroes of indomitable spirit, how can we disappoint him?”
Zhuo Fan eyes them deeply and nodded.
If it were others, he’d be forcing them along. But these four weirdos were hardly honorable. If he left the four the impression he was about to force them out of their promise, without setting a precedent wouldn’t teaching them later be impossible?
Pausing, Zhuo Fan said, “Fine, we will first find the kid, give him the ingredient then go to Thunder Swarm Mountain!”
“Steward Zhuo, you really have it?” The four eyes’ shined.
Zhuo Fan nodded, “Of course!”
The four started whispering among each other and let out a strange laughter. Violent Demon even raised his head smug, “You see? I told you flying people had the ingredient on them and I was right in attacking them!”
“Eldest bro is brilliant! Hi-hi-hi…” The other three gave thumbs up.
Zhuo Fan felt unwell for some reason. Their behavior raised many flags. But then again, this was their usual manner so he let it slide.
And so, Zhuo Fan and Li Jingtian followed the four demons westward, reaching a tall mountain half a day later.
In the sunset’s glow, an eight-year-old kid sat on a meter tall rock. He put something in his mouth from time to time and chewed.
As if noticing the newcomers, the kid’s ears moved, and turned his head, revealing his sparkling eyes.
But Zhuo Fan’s heart shuddered at the sight. As if a savage beast had set its gaze on him. His feeling that something was off only grew stronger.
[What’s going on here? Why is a child not even a decade old making me feel such danger?]
Li Jingtian’s eyes widened and said, “Steward Zhuo, the child is in the 2nd layer of Radiant Stage!”
“What?!” Crying out, Zhuo Fan was incredulous.
How was a kid such an expert? [Another pygmy?] But taking a closer look, he had quite the delicate features. If an old freak would’ve used his cultivation to keep his youth, it was still impossible to take the same appearance as this child!
That left him with only one possibility, the child reached the Radiant Stage from a young age!
Zhuo Fan and Li Jingtian exchanged a glance of shock. Then also turned a vigilant eye to the four demons. [These little shits only said they lost a bet with a kid, but not once mentioned he was a Radiant Stage expert!]
[Was it on purpose? Why?]
Zhuo Fan squinted and his fists tightened…
The kid didn’t get up, still sitting on the rock as he spoke, “You four are finally back. If you’d have been any later, I’d assume you ran away and make me go after you!”
The four shook like a leaf, quite afraid of him. Not only Wimp Demon, but even Sly Demon and Scrooge Demon. They all ducked behind Violent Demon who’s legs were quivering, “We would never do that. We ran twice already and don’t dare do it again!”
Zhuo Fan and Li Jingtian were in shock. How were the great four demons holding a kid in such fear? Was this 2nd layer of Radiant Stage expert stronger than them who were a layer higher and using unity tactic?
“The three days are almost up. Did you bring the ingredient?” The kid turned a blind eye to Zhuo Fan and Elder Li and spoke coldly to the demons, like the judge about to hand over his sentence.
The four shivered a nod and pointed at Zhuo Fan, “They have it. Just search them…”
Zhuo Fan’s face sank. He knew he just got sold out and was now looking into the kid’s cold eyes.
“Take it out!” The youth extended his hand.
Zhuo Fan sensed no ill will from him and approached him. He noticed that the kid was holding a 4th grade ingredient, Purple Root!
The kid bit out of the Purple Root from time to time as he approached, chewing it like a snack.
Zhuo Fan’s heart was in shock.
[He’s eating an alchemy ingredient before it’s even refined!] Even a Radiant Stage expert would have his meridians explode doing such a ridiculous thing. Yet the kid was just peachy, as if he could refine the ingredient naturally.
[Monster!]
It was Zhuo Fan’s first time using this word on others, having gotten used to others usually using it on him.
The kid then spoke before Zhuo Fan even took out the ingredient, “Do you have any 5th-grade or higher ingredients? The taste of these 4th-grade ones is so flat. I’m tired of having this thing.”
Zhuo Fan’s mouth twitched, [Picky brat!]
His hand flashed and revealed a snow white mountain ginseng, “This is a 5th-grade ingredient, a ten thousand years old Snow Ginseng. It should fit your tastes!”
The kid’s eyes lit up and snatched it pleased, “It’s been so long since I’ve tasted such a good ingredient. Curse those damn bastards in yellow. They only feed me slops. I almost died of hunger!”
“Yellow?” Raising an eyebrow, Zhuo Fan sank in thought, [Who is he talking about? The only one’s among the seven houses are Regent Estate who wear yellow.]
But his thought didn’t get far as the kid took a bite of the ginseng then showed an exasperatingly pleased expression, “You four earned three more days of living. Go and search again. If you can’t find anything, your heads will fall!”
The four demons were ecstatic and prostrated!
“Hold on!”
Zhuo Fan waved them off, “Why do I feel you enslaved them? Wasn’t it a bet and losing it made them search for an ingredient?”
Frowning, the kid was growing angry, “Bet? I loathe gambling! The one time I ever betted, I lost. It forced me to eat wretched ingredients every day. From then on I vowed never to bet again! “
“Then…” Zhuo Fan wondered, [Why were the four demons helping him with ingredients?]
The kid spoke matter of factly, “I caught these four pillaging their fourth city and was about to get rid of them. But they were willing to go around searching for ingredients in my stead, so I let them go for now! Besides, I am missing a few hands and can understand the saying ‘many hands make light work’.
“I’d feel ashamed taking their lives after eating their ingredients. But since their crimes are too serious, they are to give me an ingredient every three days. They will keep doing this for as long as my trip outside lasts. This is also a means for them to atone!”
Zhuo Fan was startled, [Why does it feel this kid is no less the weirdo the other four are?]
[What does giving you ingredients have to do with their pillaging crimes?]
When he heard the kid spoke of stopping the four demons’ pillaging he thought he was a typical righteous cultivator, helping the poor and all that. When in fact, the kid was the same as these four from the start, enslaving others to do his bidding. Just that he used it under the guise of punishing evil.
[Shit, four vile people and a hypocrite. None of them are any good!]
[Then again, it doesn’t seem I’m made of better cloth either!]
Zhuo Fan scratched his nose, “He-he-he, how about we make a deal? The four are now under me, so I will give you ten 5th-grade ingredients to let them leave with me. What do you say?”
“Ten?” The kid’s eyes lit up and drooled. But then he paused, revealing a sly grin, “Since you have so many ingredients, you’re not going anywhere. You’ll stay right here and search for ingredients just as well!”
Eyes twitching, Zhuo Fan’s face sank, [Why you greedy little piece of…]