Chapter 2

"He's been staring at maps all day long—could this brat be planning to run away?"

The matter of some demons wanting to flee is still a secret within the Mountain Cave.

The root of this issue lies with Second King, the Wild Boar Demon; ever since that guy ran off, a few older demons in the cave have occasionally also wanted to slip away.

Fortunately, there aren't many such cases, and with all the Little Demons preoccupied by gossip, no full-scale uprising has broken out in the cave.

But even so, two demons whose fur had long since worn bald were quietly eaten by Big Brother.

So when Third Brother learned that Jin Qianbao had been studying maps, he felt deeply uneasy.

"Bring him!"

"Bring that little demon, Jin Qianbao, to me!"

Upon receiving Third King's order, two bat demons with long fur and pointed snouts immediately arrived at Jin Qianbao's dwelling.

These two demons, long accustomed to bullying under Third Brother's wing, didn't care whether Jin Qianbao wanted to go or not—they grabbed his collar and dragged him off.

Jin Qianbao was startled, thinking his midnight snack of cured chicken had been discovered by the Kings, and he panicked, flailing his arms and legs, his voice trembling.

"T-Two sirs, let's talk this over—I only stole one cured chicken, no need to… hey… easy… brother… easy!"

"Cured chicken? Good, you've confessed yourself! Spill it—what else did you steal?"

"Damn it!"

"It's not about the cured chicken?"

Before Jin Qianbao could regret his words, the bat demons had tossed him aside and began searching the room.

"You little leopard, I ask you—where did you hide the food you stole?"

One of the fatter bat demons searched the room for a long time, found nothing, then turned to Jin Qianbao with a menacing glare.

"Oh dear, honored sirs, I dare not lie before you—I was so hungry last night I sneaked into the kitchen and took only one cured chicken, nothing else!"

"Really nothing else? If we find more, don't blame us for not speaking up for you to the King!"

Jin Qianbao turned pale and forced a smile: "Truly nothing else—I wouldn't dare hide anything from you, Your Majesty's envoys!"

The two bat demons searched the room again, confirmed no food remained, saw Jin Qianbao's fearful expression was genuine, then lifted him by each arm and strode out the door.

Jin Qianbao felt a surge of relief inside: "You two dead bats—you've been transformed a hundred years longer than me, yet you dare bully your Leopard Grandpa? Wait till I become a Great Demon—I'll beat you both senseless!"

The bat demons had no idea what Jin Qianbao was thinking; they said nothing and soon brought him to Third King's cave.

Third King was sipping a bowl of millet porridge; upon hearing Jin Qianbao had stolen the cured chicken, he grew angry—but first he licked every grain of rice from his earthen bowl before turning to study Jin Qianbao.

Jin Qianbao stood eight feet tall, fair and clean-faced, with slender, bright eyes holding two glossy black orbs that sparkled with vitality.

He truly was handsome—a universal passport, whether in Chenshi or among demons.

Seeing Jin Qianbao's noble appearance, Third King's anger halved; he set down the bowl and asked softly: "You are Jin Qianbao?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, I am."

"I'll settle the matter of your stolen chicken later. Today I summoned you to ask you something."

"Yes yes yes, Your Majesty, ask anything—I swear I'll tell the truth!"

Jin Qianbao answered while mentally calculating—he must charm this King into good spirits no matter what he asked.

He must make him happy.

"I heard… ever since Big Brother ordered strict guard of the mountain gate, you've been staring at maps all day. Tell me—are you planning to betray Long Qi Dong and flee elsewhere?"

Hearing this, Jin Qianbao exhaled deeply inside—he was relieved it wasn't about his secret letters to Big Brother's daughter.

He straightened his clothes and smiled apologetically: "Your Majesty, I was born on Taiyuan Mountain and raised in Long Qi Dong—I could never betray it. Please investigate thoroughly."

"Is that so?"

Third Brother fixed his red eyes on Jin Qianbao's face for a long moment, then tapped the table: "Then tell me—why do you study maps every day?"

"It's a hobby—it's purely my hobby!"

"A hobby?"

Third Brother clearly wasn't satisfied; his fingers on the table unconsciously grew sharp claws.

Jin Qianbao hurriedly added: "Your Majesty, don't misunderstand—I'm telling the truth! Studying maps is truly my hobby!"

"You dare lie again!"

Third Brother slammed his hand down—the solid stone table instantly bore four finger-shaped dents.

"No no no!"

Jin Qianbao raised both hands and prostrated himself on the ground, still smiling: "Your Majesty, your finger strength is incredible—please don't use it on me!"

The two bat demons lifted Jin Qianbao and pinned him to the stone table; their fangs suddenly extended half a foot, ready to tear off his back flesh at the first command.

Jin Qianbao cried out urgently: "I study maps for the sake of the cave—for the hundred-odd brothers here! Please, Your Majesty, calm down!"

Third Brother had summoned Jin Qianbao merely because he was in a bad mood and wanted to scold this little leopard—to vent his frustration.

Now hearing Jin Qianbao frame it as a matter of great consequence, he suppressed his anger and waved his subordinates away.

Freed from restraint, Jin Qianbao immediately turned serious: "Your Majesty, ever since I heard Tang Sanzang and Sun Wukong are coming, I haven't slept a single night!"

I feared that unruly demon saint would smash our Long Qi Dong without cause and slaughter all our brothers—so I've studied maps day and night to track their route and timing!"

"I—I truly have no disloyal intentions!"

No sooner had he finished than a voice from outside the door thundered: "Bold little demon! How dare you gossip about matters of state? Are you trying to sow discord in our cave?"