Chapter 8

Although the demons weren't fond of thinking, they weren't fools, so Tu Lao San's words struck right at the heart of the matter, laying bare the thoughts of all the little demons led by Jin Qianbao.

Seeing the demons' faces filled with confusion, Qiu Teshi awkwardly rubbed his nose and sighed deeply: "Ah, I've long heard that Tu Da Wang is brilliant with strategy, yet you can't even grasp such a simple truth?"

Tu Lao San was left stunned by the remark, bowed deeply to Qiu Teshi, and asked: "Please, Teshi, instruct me."

Qiu Teshi slowly paced two steps toward the cave entrance, then spoke with bitter indignation: "If all the demons attack without regard for territory, we'll likely tear each other apart before we even kill Tang Sanzang—wouldn't that play right into the Buddhist Sect's schemes?"

At these words, a murmur rose through the mountain cave, and gradually, some little demons began whispering praise for the Demon Administration.

"Only leadership thinks this thoroughly."

"Exactly! That's why they're the big demons in charge—if it were me, I'd have given up entirely."

"No wonder the Demon Administration loves its demons like children."

As the demons praised him, Qiu Teshi's previously shabby image seemed to grow taller in their eyes; one flower demon even stepped forward and poured fresh hot water into the teapot.

Only Jiao Da Wang silently groaned inwardly, thinking: This party struggle is brutal—they're using the banner of protecting demons to eliminate little guys like me.

Before he could react, Qiu Teshi pulled out a Silk Scroll from his robe, slowly unrolled it, and said: "Both Great Kings, you've accepted the Demon Edict—please sign your names on this Promise Scroll."

"Promise Scroll? What the hell is that?"

Jiao and Tu were both baffled, staring blankly at Qiu Teshi without moving.

"Don't worry," Qiu Teshi said. "You heard the contents of the Demon Edict. This Promise Scroll merely requires each mountain's Great King to pledge 'no wandering, no fleeing'—to form a Pact of Ten Thousand Demons, so the Buddhist Sect's bald monks know our unity and resolve."

"Resolve? Unity? I'll give you resolve in your dead skull! This damn thing's just trying to make me die faster?"

After hearing the Demon Edict, Jiao Da Wang had already considered fleeing—but he never imagined the other side had anticipated this and prepared this damned Promise Scroll.

Seeing Jiao Da Wang hesitate, Qiu Teshi smirked slyly and whispered: "Of course, the elders told me: any Great King who signs this Promise Scroll is a hero of our demon realm. Future benefits will be prioritized for you."

For Jiao Da Wang, a veteran demon, the Demon Administration's promises meant nothing—but facing the hopeful eyes of his little demons, he could only reluctantly take the Silk Scroll and read its contents.

"I pledge: for the prosperity and stability of the demon realm, for the glory and dreams of all demons, from this day forward, my Mountain Cave shall prepare fully to intercept Tang Sanzang's party—no wandering, no fleeing, always standing firmly with the Demon Administration, steadfastly committed to slaying Tang Sanzang. Should I break this vow, all demons of the realm may hunt me, may slay me without mercy!"

Reading this, Jiao Lao Da froze—this wasn't a Promise Scroll; it was a death contract!

Realizing this, Jiao Lao Da understood the sly smile on Qiu Teshi's face—and his fear of the Demon Administration's ruthless purge deepened by threefold.

Seeing his brother stunned, Tu Lao San stepped forward and read the Promise Scroll aloud.

The moment he finished reading, every pore on his body opened—he was too shocked to speak.

The little demons, unaware of the truth, assumed the Silk Scroll was too long and the two Great Kings hadn't finished reading, so they remained silent—except Jin Qianbao, who, having failed to withdraw earlier, was now crafting a new escape plan.

In this brief silence, Jiao Da Wang's mind churned—he had no intention of signing this thing that said: "For the sake of all demons, you stay here and die."

But with so many little demons watching, if he refused to sign, not only might his own cave demons mutiny, but this venomous Qiu, his long-standing enemy, would surely return and paint him as the shame of the entire demon realm—even accuse him of siding with the Buddhist Sect and betraying demonkind.

That way, he wouldn't just anger the Demon Administration—he'd have nowhere to hide. After all, the first bird shot is always the one that flies highest.

At that moment, Jin Qianbao, who had been desperately pondering a solution, finally devised a brand-new escape plan.

Seeing the two Great Kings still absorbed in the Promise Scroll, he thought: This is the chance—seize it! He quickly stepped forward, bowed, and announced loudly:

"Great Kings, heavy rains fell two days ago—Jin Yuan Shan Pen Hua Tan must now be flooded. Our demon realm has a long-standing tradition: no flying over another's mountain. To ensure Teshi's smooth descent, I humbly request permission to go ahead and clear the path, so as not to delay Teshi's journey."

Jin Qianbao was proud of this plan: the demon realm had an unwritten rule—demons must walk up and down mountains during friendly visits; flying over another's territory was forbidden, euphemistically called "Good demons don't soar."

He didn't know when or why this unwritten rule began.

He only knew that as his current role as advisor, with the two Great Kings focused on the Promise Scroll, and his stated purpose being to honor the Teshi—he was certain, morally and practically, publicly and privately, the two fools would agree.

So Jin Qianbao was delighted—he mentally gave himself ten thousand praises and shamelessly compared himself to the new Zhuge Kongming.

But as Jin Qianbao basked in his own brilliance, no response came from the Great Kings. Slowly, he raised his head—and found Jiao Da Wang staring at him with a wide, forced smile.