Chapter 12: Set Out, Longqi Escort Agency

Although Old Hou led the way, several great demons still felt it better to keep their own money on their persons.

Thus, apart from two demons closely allied with Old Monkey, who under pressure reluctantly produced a few dozen Spirit Sand, the rest of the demons contributed not a single grain.

Seeing the less than two hundred grains of Spirit Sand on the table, Jin Qianbao secretly chuckled, yet his face still wore an expression of admiration and emotion.

He bowed deeply to Old Hou and the others, sighing: "All of you great demons have contributed strength or heart—this is commendable. These two hundred or so grains of Spirit Sand may suffice for two or three months' food in the Daughter Kingdom, but sitting on one's wealth until it's gone is no solution, especially when it's your personal savings."

I suggest this: let these Spirit Sand be borrowed by the Mountain Cave from you all. We shall journey together to the Daughter Kingdom to deliver goods for Ruyi Zhenxian; when we earn money, we shall repay you in full."

Hearing their money could be returned, the two old demons' eyes lit up; before Old Hou could speak, they immediately agreed.

Old Hou had wished to persist, but seeing the matter was already decided, he sighed and reluctantly acquiesced. Yet soon, a new problem arose again in his mind.

"Master Jin, don't think I, Old Monkey, talk too much—I ask you: how much Spirit Sand will you earn by delivering goods for Ruyi Zhenxian?"

Jin Qianbao didn't understand his meaning, so he picked up the Demon Realm Express News and confirmed again, then replied: "Five hundred grains of Spirit Sand—enough for half a year's food expenses for our Mountain Cave."

"Five hundred?" Old Hou sneered: "From here to Jisai Kingdom, round trip takes at least a month. What then of the remaining four months, when we've spent all the Spirit Sand?"

Hearing this contradictory question, Jin Qianbao grew slightly annoyed—he thought, this old bastard is truly troublesome. Didn't you yourself say that once we had surplus grain, we'd descend to intercept merchants? Why bring this up now? Could this old monkey really be senile?

Yet at this moment, Jin Qianbao knew he lacked the strength to quarrel with him, so he replied politely: "Naturally, we'll increase raids on merchants below the mountain after returning—wasn't that your own suggestion?"

Jin Qianbao's words left Old Hou momentarily stunned.

He realized this was indeed his own idea, so his face flushed slightly; he quickly amended: "It's true this was my idea, but I worry—if our group rushes to the Daughter Kingdom's Pore Cave and fails to secure this job, we'll lose both money and opportunity—what then?"

Jin Qianbao had considered this possibility, but he reasoned that Jing Xiang Shan was closest to the Daughter Kingdom, and five hundred grains of Spirit Sand were unlikely to attract interest from other Mountain Caves.

Moreover, even if a few demons wished to snatch this job, Ruyi Zhenxian, upon seeing our Long Qi Dong demons, would never entrust the business to scattered, unorganized riffraff.

Thus, Jin Qianbao felt confident. After explaining his reasoning to the group with calm assurance, the demons immediately ceased hesitation and cheered enthusiastically.

With broad support from the demon brothers, Jin Qianbao was delighted, and immediately divided the thirty-five demons—excluding himself and Old Hou—into five squads.

He deliberately selected three young demons of some cultivation as squad leaders, and appointed Old Horse Demon and another old Bear Demon as captains of the other two squads—thus honoring the elders while quietly building his own strength.

Seeing all preparations complete, Jin Qianbao intended to give the demons a stick of incense to gather their belongings before setting out, but the restless Old Monkey had another idea.

Perhaps because he deemed himself senior and powerful in Demon Magic,

after being appointed "Deputy Delivery Commander," the old monkey immediately slipped into second-in-command mode; his already flushed face now radiated boundless energy.

He strode forward, bowed to Jin Qianbao with a fist salute, and said smoothly: "A name unrighteous leads to words unconvincing. Since Long Qi Dong is going to deliver goods, why not emulate Chenshi and call ourselves an Escort Agency? Otherwise, a renowned cave like ours becoming a mere delivery runner sounds shameful—and if this tarnishes Jiao Da Wang's reputation, we'll suffer consequences later!"

Hearing Old Monkey's words, Jin Qianbao realized the old bastard wasn't merely a hindrance—after all, his delivery scheme skirted the edge of the Demon Administration's rules; but if they truly adopted the name "Escort Agency," everything would appear legitimate.

Thus, Jin Qianbao warmly grasped Old Hou's hand and laughed from the depths of his heart.

"Then, in your opinion, what should we name this Escort Agency?"

"If I may suggest—our mountain is Jing Xiang Shan, our cave is Long Qi Dong—why not call it Longqi Escort Agency?"

"Good. Longqi Escort Agency," Jin Qianbao declared with a wave of his hand: "Listen well, all of you! We thirty-seven demons are Jiao Da Wang's trusted underlings in Jing Xiang Shan's Long Qi Dong—specialized demons of the Escort Agency, here to secure food for our cave. From now on, if any of you forget your Escort Agency identity and persist in calling yourselves mere cave demons, don't blame me or Elder Monkey for turning on you without mercy."

The Little Demons had clearly heard the two leaders' exchange and understood Jin Dangjia's intent: to preserve the cave's dignity. They all cheered loudly, visibly thrilled.

Seeing no opposition, Jin Qianbao knew his authority had strengthened further; he pressed on: "Now that we've opened an Escort Agency, discipline is essential. I'll state three rules: if anyone fails to follow them, they're not just defying me—they're defying all these brothers here, and will no longer be demons of this cave."

"Master Jin, just give your orders—we'll obey without question."

"True! Master Jin sacrificed his own reputation to secure food for us—such generosity means we'll follow you!"

"Yes! Support Master Jin! We'll do as you say!"

Hearing the demons' shouts, Jin Qianbao—who had always been at the cave's bottom—felt a swell of pride, truly seeing himself as their leader. Yet Old Monkey's half-smile, tinged with faint displeasure, pulled him back from his rapid inflation.

Jin Qianbao sighed inwardly, silently warning himself: "Being a demon—especially a demon without strength—calls for caution and care!"