Chapter 209: Alright, then it

The once-free Wind Goddess, a crow soaring freely across the heavens, now hung helplessly, completely restrained by the sudden intruder, appearing pitifully weak and defenseless.

But Jia Qi would never lower his guard; just now, the creature had used every trick—coaxing, pouting, even begging shamelessly—and fortunately his resistance was high enough to resist her.

She Mingyuan Wen, bound tightly from head to toe with coarse hemp ropes, dangled helplessly in midair, while the other end of the ropes was held firmly in Jia Qi's hand, like carrying a lunchbox.

This sturdy rope-binding had utterly crushed any thought of escape.

"Are you sure this is the right path?"

"Mmm…"

The dejected Crow Tengu, under Jia Qi's uniquely kind gaze, nodded pitifully.

The still somewhat childish little Crow Tengu twitched her pointed ears—she had become a "guide," a "demon traitor," but she couldn't be blamed.

After all, if she had seen the identical cold smirks on the faces of the Demon Sage and the man holding her just now, even the Guide Monkey Tianyanming (one of the Tengu's prototypes) might have closed his eyes in shame.

A pack of snakes and rats, allies in treachery, far from virtuous… any vile term would do to describe them; a deep, instinctive chill struck young, careless Wen, and she vowed that henceforth she'd be far more cautious when stepping outside.

Surely she wouldn't keep falling into the same pit… three times… right?

"Beyond the mountain path ahead lies the Tengu Village…"

"Then why haven't any White Wolf Tengu blocked our way?"

Jia Qi's gaze suddenly sharpened; he poked Wen's soft, squishy face with his finger—pleasant to the touch—and then stroked her sleek, folded wings.

Of course, this world likely had no peculiar custom that a Crow Tengu must either marry or kill whoever touches her wings; otherwise, when Jia Qi had grabbed and swung the Oni's horns at Daishan, he'd never have escaped.

Everything had been too smooth.

As flight experts, every Tengu—unless born disabled—possessed the strongest mobility among demons, yet not all Tengu flew constantly; they still had to land sometimes.

With Jia Qi's current strength, he could crush them all; except for the Heavenly Demon, no other Tengu could escape if he pursued.

Yet… along this entire journey, no one had blocked them, and besides the initial Kappa and Wen, they'd encountered not a single other demon—as if the enemy had deliberately avoided them.

Though his senses detected faint, distant surveillance and whispered murmurs, they vanished with startling speed, never falling into the same trap as the Crow Tengu.

As for why Jia Qi didn't let Ba Yunzi open a gap directly to the summit of Hachinoe Mountain but instead captured a hostage and walked up slowly, that brings us to the Heavenly Demon—according to Ba Yunzi's intelligence network, her greatest trait is—

—Ignore her, because I'm too lazy!

She appears and disappears at will, elusive as a dragon's first glimpse.

Finding her atop the mountain is far less likely than finding the Oni King; she's one of those who never stick around, leaving everything to her subordinates.

But the Tengu village is right here; even if the Heavenly Demon were the most patient, she couldn't possibly allow her people and home to be trampled.

This was precisely the plan Jia Qi and Ba Yunzi had devised from the start—though it now seemed flawed.

Whatever. It doesn't matter.

No matter how many ambushes awaited Jia Qi and the Demon Sage after Wen's capture, they'd be utterly powerless.

Pushing aside the dense vines and foliage, a breathtaking scene emerged from the forest's deepest heart—the view suddenly brightened.

A crystal-clear lake, encircled by trees, resembled a secluded paradise untouched by time.

Above, autumn sunlight poured down, glinting across the rippling water in countless shimmering spots.

In the distance, a small waterfall cascaded with a rushing sound, droplets endlessly striking the gray-black rocks below, forming a rhythmic natural melody.

In this place, nestled between hill and lake, Jia Qi's party entered without a single obstacle.

And at its center, a demon stood motionless upon the lake's surface, waiting for them.

"I am the Great Tengu, Hangangwan Long, leader of the Crow Tengu and overseer of Tengu society… Outsider, what do you seek?"

The girl, clad in a black cloak, with two golden threads crossed at her waist and golden shoulder armor inlaid with blue gems, turned around, flicking her folding fan with fierce authority as she demanded first.

As she spoke, her long dark-blue hair danced in the wind, her bearing noble and commanding, radiating the aura of a matriarch.

As a Great Tengu, she could sense that these intruders were no ordinary foes—after all, even Wen, the fastest flyer among their kind, had been captured; if pure speed alone could achieve that, it was terrifying.

Of course, the Demon Sage had already vanished into a gap, observing secretly; otherwise, Hangangwan Long wouldn't merely be startled—she'd be terrified.

True masters need not speak much; a few brief questions or remarks suffice to converse with an opponent… phrases like "Not bad," "Only one-tenth power," etc.

The more calm you sound, the more powerful you appear.

But Jia Qi, a man of such low character, especially loved spouting trash talk before fighting—like this:

"Hangang? Wan Long… who? You?"

Jia Qi blinked, suddenly feeling something was off, utterly confused.

Wasn't she a sister? Is there a Great Tengu named Hangangwan Long on Hachinoe Mountain?

His intelligence network was inadequate.

"It's Hangangwan, Long! Not Hangang, Wan Long!!"

The girl's expression froze for an instant, then she snapped back, teeth gritted, retorting—her strange gaze as if seeing something utterly superfluous, filling her with intense irritation.

I thought you'd be either Lingjiu Yilin or the Heavenly Demon—what exactly are you, some bottom-tier nobody?

The Oni King, advancing toward Hachinoe, sneezed: You didn't even ask if there were other Great Tengu!

"Big Sister Long, save me!"

The Crow Tengu, moments ago lifeless and despairing, instantly perked up the moment she saw her superior and shouted for help.

The blue-haired Great Tengu sighed deeply. "How may we convince you to release Wen?"

Jia Qi sized her up, then spoke:

"Fine. I'll take you."

(End of Chapter)