Chapter 9

Seeing his own Big Brother smile at him, Jin Qianbao grew even more triumphant, silently thinking his plan had succeeded, and he returned Jiao Lao Da's polite smile—his smile genuine, sweet, like the gentle spring breeze of the third lunar month blowing in.

Yet Jiao Da Wang suddenly spoke: "Qiu Teshi, as for this pledge document, Long Qi Dong will certainly sign it—but as you know, my second brother is currently missing, alive or dead unknown, so before you arrived, my third brother and I had already decided to temporarily entrust the leadership of this Jin Yuan Shan Long Qi Dong to our chief strategist, until we find our second brother again."

Changing tone, Jiao Da Wang waved to Jin Qianbao: "Jin Qianbao, from now on, Long Qi Dong is yours to lead. Come, come, sign this Pledge Document!"

"I sign? I'm the leader?"

The sudden turn of events left Jin Qianbao utterly bewildered—he had only just become chief strategist! How could he now be the leader, less than an incense stick's time later?

Jin Qianbao, confused, stared blankly at Jiao Da Wang, unable to speak for a long while.

Tu Lao San silently cheered—brilliant! —he strode over to the young leopard, pulled him to the front, and grinned joyfully: "Yes, yes! Jin Qianbao, from now on, you're fully in charge of Long Qi Dong. Quickly, sign this Pledge Document, so you can get started on cleaning up Pen Hua Tan—after all, our Teshi is eager to descend the mountain."

The two Big Brothers' manner and demeanor were unmistakably warm; even a clever demon like Jin Qianbao couldn't fathom what had just happened.

Only when the parchment bearing the signature line was firmly placed into Jin Qianbao's hands did he snap back to reality—he opened his mouth to ask, but Tu Lao San already held out a brush.

"Qianbao, look at this brush. From now on, this brush, which controls all expenditures of the Mountain Cave, belongs to you!"

Jin Qianbao instinctively took the brush in hand, and the Pledge Document immediately came into view…

"This!"

"What 'this'?!" Jiao Lao Da seized Jin Qianbao's right hand and forcefully wrote "Jin Qianbao" in large characters on the paper, speaking as he wrote: "Heroes emerge from the young! As the standout among our Second Generation Yao, you deserve more trials!"

"I—"

"What 'I'?!" Tu Lao San cut him off, smiling: "From now on, you are the Mountain Cave, and the Mountain Cave is you—there is no longer any 'you' or 'me'."

"But—"

"What 'but'?!"

Jiao Lao Da and Tu Lao San both interrupted Jin Qianbao's further protest—and when he looked again, the name was already written.

Qiu Teshi glared hatefully at Jiao Lao Da, tucked the Pledge Document into his robe, and gave Jin Qianbao a cold, forced smile: "Then this Teshi congratulates Lord Jin. Lord Jin is truly fortunate to have Big Brothers so deeply devoted to you… hah… truly blessed."

Having spoken, the Poison Qiu shot another hateful glance at Jiao Lao Da, whipped his sleeve, and turned to leave. The flower demon who had just poured him tea stepped forward, bowed gracefully, and said: "Pen Hua Tan is overflowing—please allow this little demon to clear your path."

Qiu Teshi glanced at her, chuckled, nodded, and said: "Lead the way!"

Jiao Lao Da bowed to the Poison Qiu's retreating back and called out loudly: "Brother, take your time—I'll see you off."

Whether Tu Lao San had thought of something, he saw his Big Brother heading to escort the Teshi, his eyes flickered, and he followed along, leaving only the dazed Jin Qianbao and the group of Little Demons behind in the hall.

That night, Jin Qianbao—who had fancied himself supremely clever, comparing himself to Zhuge Kongming—sat motionless on the throne of the Long Qi Dong's Big Brother, like a soulless corpse.

He had sat there the entire afternoon.

He had not spoken a word, appearing calm and composed, even with a faint air of authority.

Earlier, under the guidance of several elder demons, the cave's demons had come to congratulate him. Though he gave no response, they assumed this promising young demon was deliberately maintaining dignity, so they bore no resentment, bowed, and dispersed.

Now only a few Little Demons, who were supposed to serve in the hall, remained, unwilling to leave—but every demon's eyes, as they looked at Jin Qianbao, brimmed with envy.

This was the new acting Cave Lord…

This was the young prodigy who had achieved such a position after only a century of transformation…

Hmm… truly, heroes emerge from the young!

Among the Little Demons, admiration for Jin Qianbao ran deep; several female demons with even modest beauty had reapplied their makeup and began drifting aimlessly into the hall.

But…

Not a single demon knew that, inside Jin Qianbao's heart, there was unbearable grief.

"How dare I compare myself to the great demon Zhuge?"

"How could I have thought Jiao Lao Da and Tu Lao San were fools?"

"Even that flower demon, transformed for barely a decade, who looked utterly dim-witted, used the chance to pour tea for the Teshi to escape under the pretense of cleaning Pen Hua Tan—and she hasn't returned since…"

"All this time… I'm the fool!"

Jin Qianbao wept—silent tears, like two slender, nimble spirits, glided lightly across his face, as if ready to merge into a giant, foolish character.

After some time, Jin Qianbao's emotions steadied slightly. Since the deed was done, sinking further would change nothing. Better to think of a new plan than wait helplessly.

Jin Qianbao waved over a Little Demon; upon learning the two Big Brothers had not returned, his mood darkened further.

But the Little Demon was sharp—he sensed Jin Qianbao's displeasure and ventured cautiously: "The two Big Brothers must have gone straight to find Second King. They won't return anytime soon. Now, in this cave, you are the one in charge."

Hearing the Little Demon's words, Jin Qianbao's gloom lifted like a crack of sunlight—he thought: "Those two Big Brothers made me their scapegoat, under the excuse of searching for Second King—they've surely hidden themselves away. Now, the cave is mine to command. If so, then leaving would face no resistance at all."

As he imagined this, Jin Qianbao nearly laughed—then suddenly realized: he had signed the Pledge Document. If he fled now, he would become the target of all demons in the realm.

Thus, the faint hope Jin Qianbao had just found vanished again into silence.