Chapter 173: then translation of title

Following the Bull Demon King's finger, Zhou Shuo, together with the Heroine and the Flying Swallow Maiden, used flight talismans and reached the site in just half a day; however, what they saw was a city suffused with demonic energy soaring to the heavens, draped in red banners.

Seeing the city in sight, the Heroine said nothing and dropped her flight talisman, but unexpectedly two gusts of demonic wind suddenly attacked from behind, giving no intention to yield.

"Damn it." Zhou Shuo, seeing the two black demonic winds attacking from behind, couldn't help wanting to stomp his feet and curse, why won't they let him fly steadily.

"Since you won't let me fly steadily, I won't be polite either." Zhou Shuo looked at the demonic wind coming straight at him and the Flying Swallow Maiden beside him, instantly took out the azurite jade cup, held a breath of true qi and sprayed it onto the cup; with a whoosh, a purplish-blue spark wind blew forth.

"Oh no." The two demonic winds, facing the incoming purplish-blue sparks, shouted in alarm, tried to dodge, but still got sprayed in the face, letting out two miserable screams; the demonic winds scattered, and two monsters fell from the sky.

"Quickly land, we're not suited for aerial combat." Zhou Shuo shouted to the distant Flying Swallow Maiden; the two girls finally proved clever, immediately pressing their flight talismans down outside the demon city, for they dared not land inside the city, as the demonic aura was too terrifying.

Having just landed outside the demon city, Zhou Shuo and his two companions had barely steadied themselves when the two monsters from before came after them: one had yellow warty skin, a huge mouth split to the ears; the other had a colorful beak and head adorned with flowery green feathers, likely a peacock spirit, but both now bore scorched faces.

"May I ask your exalted names?" Zhou Shuo restrained the two girls, smiling as he approached the two scorched monsters whose bodies emitted waves of meaty fragrance.

"I am the Heavenly Mountain Snow Toad King, and this is my cousin the Peacock King." The burly man covered in yellow warts fixed his gaze on Zhou Shuo, who wore a smile.

"Oh, I've long heard of your names, but why did you two offend us just now?" Zhou Shuo looked at the toad and peacock relatives, raised an eyebrow, remarking that nowadays any monster can claim kinship.

"We offended you, yet I want to ask you why you set fire to us—look, our handsome faces are burned… feathers falling off, meat cooked." The Peacock King touched his scorched face and spoke with a hint of a sob.

"It's not our fault! You came rushing at us all at once—I thought you wanted to eat us!" Zhou Shuo shook the jade cup in his hand, looked at the Peacock King speaking with a sob, and laughed while defending himself.

"We… we just wanted to joke with you." The Snow Toad King watched Zhou Shuo shake the jade cup, making the azurite flame flicker, and stepped back somewhat startled.

"Then how about I joke with you two instead? I see the snow toad as a precious medicinal ingredient, and the peacock feathers as brightly colored ornaments—why not let me use them as decoration?" Zhou Shuo, seeing the Snow Toad King retreat a step, couldn't help saying with a grin.

"Kid, let me tell you, don't think you're impressive just because you have a broken lamp; I tell you, I, the Heavenly Mountain Snow Toad King, am also a handsome man beloved by all—this score we'll settle." The Snow Toad King, seeing Zhou Shuo's smile, puffed out his mouth.

"Then there's no need to keep score; let's settle this now so there's no confusion later. If you're afraid I'll use this lamp, Swallow, take it and give me the sword." Zhou Shuo looked at the toad with its puffed mouth, tossed the jade cup to the Flying Swallow Maiden, and snatched from her hand the azure‑leather‑sheathed treasure sword, drawing it with a ring.

"The azure treasure sword—are you the beloved of the Purple Rosy Immortal?" The Snow Toad King looked at Zhou Shuo drawing the sword and was startled.

"You know who I am, yet you dare call yourself a handsome man beloved by all in front of me, you damned toad?" Zhou Shuo glanced at the Snow Toad King, narrowing his eyes.

"Hold on, hold on, I know I was wrong; had I known earlier that big brother you are the beloved of the Purple Rosy Immortal, it would have been my fault, my fault." The Snow Toad King, seeing Zhou Shuo narrow his eyes, hurriedly apologized with obsequious gestures, making the Peacock King beside him look dazed; after regaining his senses and seeing Zhou Shuo's sword, he also instinctively clasped his hands in salute.

"Since you know you were wrong, what do you suggest we do?" Zhou Shuo looked at the two fawning monsters and gave a glance to the Flying Swallow Maiden and the Heroine.

"Like this, like this; little brother I have eyes but fail to recognize Mount Tai—I have here a piece of toad skin I shed, and peacock—" The Snow Toad King, seeing Zhou Shuo greet the two women, hastily pulled out a translucent piece of toad skin from his body and then nudged his cousin with his hand.

"Oh oh oh, I also have a few molted feathers; I hope big brother you are magnanimous, please don't quarrel with us two—we truly meant no harm earlier, be generous." The Peacock King, grimacing in pain, produced a bundle of colored feathers.

"Next time keep your eyes open; this is my sister Azure Rosy. If you dare bump into us like this again, I'll make you regret it." Zhou Shuo, looking at the two monsters, bluntly took the toad skin and peacock feathers, pointed at the Heroine and spoke loudly; the Heroine didn't understand his intention but stayed silent, letting him proceed.

"Ah, it's the Azure Rosy Immortal; I've long heard of your name, but Azure Rosy Immortal, what brings you to the Bull's domain this time?" The Snow Toad King looked at the Heroine, who bore a heroic air though not outstanding, and his attitude grew ever more respectful.

"Hmph, the Bull Demon King wants to marry his sister to Sun Wukong; we've come to drink a cup of wedding wine—need I tell you?" The Heroine declared without yielding.

"So that's how it is; little one, I apologize, please go first, Azure Rosy Immortal." The Snow Toad King, seeing the Heroine's vigorous spirit, shuddered with fear, while his companion the Peacock King looked even worse, his brilliant head feathers drooping.

"Are you also invited by the Bull?" Zhou Shuo looked at the two timid monsters, gave the Heroine an approving glance, and asked.

"Yes yes! The Bull is marrying off his sister, and Sun Wukong has also sent out invitations, asking us to eat Tang Monk's meat; they say eating a piece of that flesh grants immortality—how could we not come?" The Snow Toad King, hearing Zhou Shuo speak, hurriedly replied with obsequious earnestness.

"Hey, there's still such a good thing; shame I'm human and lack the fortune, but I'd like to take a look." Zhou Shuo, seeing the Snow Toad King speak, raised an eyebrow.

"Hey, it's just people eating people—what's the big deal? I've even swallowed my own brother…" The Peacock King, hearing Zhou Shuo's words, spoke angrily but before he could finish, the Snow Toad King elbowed him; his face turned pale as he swallowed his words back, suddenly recalling that the Purple Rosy Immortal is the wick of the sun‑moon divine lamp before the Buddha, not a demon like them.

"Heaven and earth are not benevolent, treating all things as straw dogs; all things are equal, so humans eating humans is nothing special—humans eat beasts, beasts eat humans, beasts eat beasts, humans eat humans—none of it matters—but do we really need to eat Tang Monk's flesh?" Zhou Shuo spoke proudly.

"Yes yes yes, big brother you're right." Although the Snow Toad King is ugly, his mind is much quicker; the immortal clan is nothing like demons—they fundamentally don't need to eat Tang Monk's meat.

"Big brother, you're truly formidable." The Peacock King felt admiration.

"Forget it, talking with you is pointless; we're leaving—you guys think it over." Zhou Shuo looked at the two monsters bowing and scraping, turned, and pulled the two women whose expressions had slightly changed away with him.

"Big brother, take your time; when you have free time let's have tea together." The Peacock King, watching Zhou Shuo depart, bowed and scraped.

"You idiot, still hoping to have tea with him? Your brain's sick—he took our things." The Snow Toad King looked at his bowing cousin, fuming, and felt a pang of pain, for his toad skin is an incomparable medicinal treasure, yet he just gave it away.

"Taken is taken; anyway you're immune to all poisons, my feathers are still plentiful, and I feel that big brother is impressive—not only is he the beloved of the Purple Rosy Immortal, but he also spoke of humans eating humans so righteously; cultured people are just different." The Peacock King shook his head indifferently.

"Hmph, you say that and it's indeed true—the Purple Rosy Immortal searches the world for a lover and ends up picking him; this scholar really does seem different—look at him, he seems to have some special connection with the Azure Rosy Immortal and that woman over there—tsk tsk, impressive, impressive." The Snow Toad King, hearing his cousin's words, felt a sudden realization and showed an envious expression.

"Cousin, I've decided—I'll go back and study hard, and become a formidable monster in the future." The Peacock King looked at his envious cousin; deep down his admiration for Zhou Shuo surged into a yearning to become like him.

"Hmm, good, not bad—I have that idea too; let's just head back! Speaking of which, eating Tang Monk's meat is useless for us monsters; we don't need to move, as long as we stay out of trouble we can live thousands of years like immortals—no problem at all." The Snow Toad King, hearing his cousin's words, felt strong approval.

The two monsters exchanged a few words, then simply left the demon city for Heavenly Mountain; their later experiences need not be mentioned. Zhou Shuo, together with the Heroine and the Flying Swallow Maiden, walked away from the distant demon city and stopped, not entering immediately but standing in the countryside to talk.