At the break of dawn, they reached the foot of the mountain, its jagged peaks cutting into the sky like a blade. The air was thick with mist, a haunting silence broken only by the occasional cry of distant birds. Li Zhameng and Xue Tuzi exchanged a final glance before splitting up. Xue Tuzi went south, his footsteps fading into the fog, while Li Zhameng trudged north, muttering under his breath. His heart pounded with each step, and his fingers nervously toyed with the talisman he carried.
"How hard can it be? Just place the talisman in the demon's body and let Shizun know. Easy," he reassured himself. But the oppressive aura of the surrounding forest, with its gnarled trees and lurking shadows, made him shiver. Demons could be anywhere—behind every rock, lurking in every cave. As if on cue, a loud rustle echoed from a nearby cavern. Li Zhameng froze, his pulse quickening. Without thinking, he ducked behind a cluster of boulders, crouching low as he cloaked his aura, careful not to give himself away.
Peering cautiously around the rocks, he saw a woman sitting at the mouth of the cave, her back to him. Her long hair was woven into a neat braid that cascaded down her back, though her robe, while clean, showed signs of wear. She sat cross-legged, bare feet tucked under her, stirring a small pot of stew over a fire. The savory scent wafted through the air, momentarily distracting Li Zhameng. She dipped a spoon into the pot, tasting it slowly, savoring the flavors.
Before he could even begin to process what he was seeing, a shadow moved behind her. A tall, muscular figure emerged from the darkness of the cave. His bare, sinewy arm reached out, wrapping possessively around her waist. With a gentle pull, he drew her against his chest. The woman didn't resist; instead, her hands moved to rest on his chest, fingers splayed over his skin as if she'd done this a thousand times before.
Li Zhameng's breath hitched. His eyes widened as the man tilted the woman's face up towards him, his eyes dark and hungry. Then, with an unsettling smoothness, he leaned down, opening his mouth. His tongue—long, thick, and inhuman—slid out, snaking into her mouth with an intimacy that made Li Zhameng's stomach churn. The woman's eyes fluttered closed, her cheeks flushing deep crimson as the embrace deepened. There was something predatory about the way the man held her, something dangerous, yet she seemed utterly captivated by him.
Li Zhameng blinked, rubbing his eyes in disbelief. Once, twice, just to make sure he wasn't seeing things. But there was no mistaking it. Standing before him was the body of a tall, muscular man—broad shoulders, rippling arms—yet atop that powerful frame was the unmistakable head of a horse. A grotesque fusion of human and beast, the creature's nostrils flared, steam rising from them with each breath, while its dark, glassy eyes flickered with an eerie intelligence.
That horse demon has probably captured that poor girl and forced her to be his slave, Li Zhameng thought, his stomach twisting with revulsion. The image of her pressed against the demon's chest replayed in his mind, making his skin crawl. "How sickening."
A plan quickly formed in his mind. If he could defeat the demon, free the girl, and return victorious, surely Shizun would notice his bravery. Maybe, just maybe, he'd even receive praise. His lips curled into a self-satisfied smile at the thought. He crouched lower behind the rocks, mentally preparing his strategy. First, he'd have to draw the demon away from the girl, find its weakness, and strike before it could retaliate. Yes, he'd make quick work of the beast and be hailed a hero. Shizun would see how capable he was.
In the southern part of the mountain, a young, handsome man leisurely tossed a small, ornate vase into the air, catching it with ease. His movements were casual but precise, his long finger nails dancing over the smooth surface of the vase, a glint of mischief in his eyes as the afternoon sun dappled the ground around him. The vase, adorned with intricate carvings, seemed delicate in contrast to his sharp, predatory demeanor.
"Master, will you be releasing the Gu soon?" Xiao Zongzi asked, her bulging abdomen and long stringy legs, clamped comfortably around his shoulder. Her voice was a soft hiss, her dark eyes glinting with curiosity as she shifted her gaze between the vase and her master.
"Not yet," the young man replied, his lips curling into a grin that exposed his sharp, gleaming canine teeth. The smile was full of dangerous amusement. "I've only cultivated it for three hundred years. I intend to let it simmer for at least two hundred more." His voice was smooth, but there was a chilling undercurrent of control in his words.
Xiao Zongzi flicked her legs lazily. "Besides, what's the rush?" he added nonchalantly, tying the vase securely to his hip. The weight of it barely registered as they strolled along the riverbank, the sound of rushing water filling the quiet air.
His sharp eyes caught a flicker of movement—a frog, sitting unsuspectingly near the water's edge. With a swift, fluid motion, his hand shot out, and his sharp claws pierced the amphibian's body. The frog twitched once, and then hung limp from his grip. He retrieved two more with the same lethal precision, skewering them before settling by a small fire to grill the fresh meat. The scent of cooking frog filled the air, but the young man paid little attention, his mind seemingly elsewhere.
Not far off, hidden among the thick trees, Xue Tuzi watched, his jaw clenched in disgust. He narrowed his eyes at the young demon who was now indulging himself on the charred legs of the frogs, gnawing at the meat with apparent indifference. "Disgusting, volatile demon," Xue Tuzi thought to himself, his fingers twitching at the needle threads of his hair. He had been following this demon for some time now, his patience wearing thin with each passing moment. Yet, he remained silent, crouched behind the tree, his breath steady but his pulse quickening.
The young demon, oblivious—or so it seemed—continued his leisurely stroll by the river, a thin straw now laid between his lips. He chewed on it absentmindedly, gazing out at the water with a casual air. "We're being tailed," he said suddenly, his tone almost playful. "I just don't know from where." His sharp, ruby red eye flicked toward the trees, though he didn't stop walking. "Their concealment is rather good," he added with a faint smile, gnawing on the straw like it was a game.
Xiao Zongzi immediately tensed, scanning the surroundings with her beady eyes, her body grasping tighter around his shoulder. "I don't sense anything," she murmured, her tongue flicking out to test the air. "But if they follow, they die."
The young demon raised his hand, cracking his knuckles slowly, the sound echoing through the stillness of the forest. "Let them follow," he said, his voice darkening. With that, he lay down on the soft grass by the riverbank, completely at ease, as though the notion of an impending attack was merely an inconvenience. His eyes drifted lazily toward the sky as he rested, but his body remained tense, ready to strike at a moment's notice.
Xue Tuzi held his breath, barely daring to move as he crouched behind a tree, his eyes locked on the demon. The air was thick with tension, every muscle in his body coiled like a spring. He couldn't afford to be careless, not now. He followed them closely, but with the utmost caution, his steps soundless, his aura hidden.
Suddenly, the demon stood up in a flash, his movements a blur as he spun on his heel, his hand shooting out like lightning. "There!" he roared, his voice cutting through the silence. His fingers wrapped around the throat of a figure emerging from the water—a seductive freshwater siren, her long hair dripping as she gasped for breath in his grip.
The demon's eyes widened, his grip loosening immediately. He let go, and the siren fell to the ground, coughing and clutching her throat. Another siren, her sister, rushed to her side, patting her back soothingly. The demon's grin returned, though this time there was an edge of amusement as he watched them. "Seems I caught the wrong prey," he said, the straw dangling lazily from his lips as he leaned back with a smug chuckle.
"My Lord is too harsh," the unscathed siren hissed, her voice sharp with anger as she watched her sister struggle to breathe. Her red eyes flared with indignation, but there was no defiance in her tone, only frustration.
The young demon merely chuckled, completely unfazed by her reproach. "My apologies," he said with a smirk, his eyes glinting with amusement. "But you know better than to sneak up on me." He seated himself casually on a large rock by the riverbank, reclining as though the entire incident had been nothing more than a trivial bother. His smirk remained, the sharpness of his teeth catching the light.
The first siren bowed her head slightly. "It is this lowly one's fault," she said in a seductive tone, her eyes passionately burning. "I heard the Great Lord Shudu was at the foot of the mountain and wanted to steal a glance at the one they say is both handsome and strong, brimming with virile energy." Her words were laced with flattery as she moved forward, her gaze fixed on him.
Her cerulean blue scales shimmered like jewels, catching the sunlight in an almost hypnotic display. Her skin, a soft silver, stood in stark contrast to her bright scales. Unlike her sister, whose hair shielded her modesty, this siren wore her nakedness boldly, her breasts exposed, and her eyes gleaming red as she locked her gaze on Shudu. She moved closer, her movements slow and deliberate, like a predator approaching prey.
Shudu's lips curved into a lazy smile as he raised his hand to gently stroke her cheek, his fingers lingering on the smooth, silvery skin. "Oh…" he murmured, his voice dropping into a low purr. "I suppose I can work with the upper half of your body." His eyes drifted downward, tracing the curves of her form with an appraising gaze, his smile widening.
From his hiding place, Xue Tuzi fought the urge to roll his eyes. He could feel his disgust rising like bile in his throat as he watched the grotesque display of flirtation between the two demons. The sickening sweetness of their words made his skin crawl, and he had to swallow down the urge to vomit.
Lovey-dovey demons… How revolting, Xue Tuzi thought to himself, barely suppressing the shudder of revulsion. His patience was wearing thin, and the scene before him only fueled his disdain for these creatures. He silently pulled a single silver needle from his hair, the tip gleaming dangerously. With practiced precision, he opened a tiny flask filled with a potent poison, carefully dipping the needle into the liquid until it was fully coated.
His heart raced, but his movements were steady as he crouched lower behind the cover of the trees. His eyes never left Shudu's back, the demon still blissfully unaware of the danger lurking just out of sight. Xue Tuzi's grip tightened around the needle, his fingers steady as he aimed for the perfect spot—right in Shudu's neck, where the poison would work its way into his bloodstream almost instantly.
Now's my chance, Xue Tuzi thought, his lips curling into a grim, determined line as he prepared to strike. The moment stretched, tense and silent, as he carefully aligned the needle, ensuring his aim was true. Shudu felt the sharp sting of the needle piercing his neck, and with a snarl of fury, he shoved the siren violently to the side. His hand shot up, yanking the tiny silver weapon from his skin. "Show yourself, coward! Fight me like a man!" he roared, his voice echoing through the trees. His rage boiled over as he began to unleash his fury, swinging his arms wildly and smashing everything in sight. Trees were splintered, rocks shattered, and the ground trembled beneath the force of his attacks.
The sirens, their eyes wide with panic, wasted no time fleeing the scene. Their elegant forms vanished beneath the river's surface with a frantic splash, their tails flicking in retreat. They knew better than to stay when Shudu was in such a state. His voice, loud and full of wrath, filled the air as he tore through the forest, desperate to find his attacker. "Coward! Come out!" he bellowed, obliterating anything in his path.
"Xiao Zongzi!" he barked, his voice full of frustration. "Get up those trees and find him! The bastard's lurking somewhere, hiding like a rat. Won't come out and face me, but he's got the nerve to take a shot? Tch!" His expression twisted with contempt as he kicked a boulder into the river, sending water spraying in every direction.
Xue Tuzi's heart pounded in his chest, his pulse so loud it nearly drowned out the sound of Shudu's destruction. He crouched low, hidden behind the thick trunks of fallen trees and broken branches, his brown hair blending almost perfectly with the autumn leaves scattered around him. He swallowed hard, his mind racing. Impossible, he thought, beads of sweat forming on his brow. That needle was laced with enough poison to bring down an elephant. How does he still have the strength to tear through half the forest like this?
His breathing slowed as he tried to calm himself, staying utterly still. Above him, Xiao Zongzi swinged through the trees, her small form moving swiftly from branch to branch, her fat eyes scanning the forest floor for any sign of movement. Xue Tuzi could hear the rustle of leaves as she neared his hiding place, her but she couldn't see him. His camouflage—unintentional but effective—kept him concealed amidst the debris. The fallen leaves crunched softly under her weight as she swung closer, but with each pass, she found nothing.
Shudu's rage continued to tear through the woods, his screams reverberating through the clearing. Xue Tuzi dared not move, his muscles aching from the tension, but he remained frozen, watching as the chaos unfolded. All he needed was for the demon's rampage to burn out, and for the poison to finally take effect.
"Master, I'm unable to find him," Xiao Zongzi said hesitantly, bracing herself for what was coming. A moment later, a thunderous roar shook the forest. Shudu's scream was so powerful that the ground seemed to tremble beneath it, the leaves shivering in response to his rage.
"Bastard! Wherever you are, I'll slit your throat!" Shudu bellowed, his voice carrying far into the distance, reverberating through the forest like a primal force. His rage, wild and untamed, felt like a storm brewing in the air.
Despite the terrifying display, Xue Tuzi remained resolute. His heart pounded, but he wasn't about to turn back now. Even with Shudu's threats echoing in his ears, Xue Tuzi knew he had to follow. His grip tightened around his sleeves as he silently resumed his pursuit, stepping carefully to avoid detection.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the mountain, Li Zhameng had been trailing the horse demon for what felt like hours. The creature was much larger up close than he had anticipated, its body muscular and imposing, yet there was an odd grace to the way it moved. For the past few minutes, it had been gathering medicinal herbs by the riverbank, its hands methodical as it collected the leaves and roots with surprising care.
Li Zhameng's eyes narrowed-this was his chance. He had been waiting for the perfect moment, and now that the demon was distracted, it was time to act. With a burst of courage, he leaped out from the bushes, his sword flashing as he unsheathed it in one fluid motion. He rushed toward the horse demon with a battle cry, his heart pounding in his chest.
But before he could reach his target, a figure darted in front of him. The woman threw herself between him and the demon, her arms outstretched in desperation. "Stop it!" she screamed, her voice cracking with fear as she shielded the horse demon with her body. Li Zhameng skidded to a halt, his sword just inches from her, his mind racing to process the sudden turn of events.
"A-Fengmi, it's fine," the horse demon said in a calm, gentle voice. There was nothing monstrous in its tone-if anything, it sounded serene, almost too human. His voice had a measured elegance, the voice of a gentleman who had no need for violence. He placed a large, but careful hand on the woman's shoulder, attempting to move her aside, but she stood firm, her entire frame trembling with emotion.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she pleaded, "Don't hurt my husband!" Her voice broke as she spoke, her words filled with raw emotion. Li Zhameng froze, his mind reeling. Husband? Did I hear that right? He stared at the young woman in disbelief, then slowly turned his gaze to the horse demon. His eyes drifted down, settling on a particular area before quickly averting them, feeling a sudden awkwardness settle over him.
"Um..." He scratched the back of his head, embarrassment creeping into his expression. "I... I'm sorry for the misunderstanding. I thought—"
Before he could finish his fumbling explanation, the horse demon spoke again, cutting him off with a kind smile. "No need to apologize. This happens to us often," he said in a soft, reassuring tone, as though this sort of confusion was something he dealt with regularly.
The situation felt surreal to Li Zhameng. He stood there, sword still in hand, utterly at a loss for what to do. His plan to defeat a demon had quickly spiraled into a bizarre and unexpected scenario.
"Ma-lang," the woman sighed softly, her voice tinged with worry as she held onto the horse demon's arm, her fingers gripping him softly. The affection in her touch was evident, her gaze lingering on him with concern. The horse demon placed his hand over hers, giving a reassuring squeeze before turning to Li Zhameng with a gentle smile.
"Please, join us for breakfast. My wife makes an exquisite stew," the horse demon offered, his voice as polite as ever. There was no malice in his tone, only kindness, which made Li Zhameng feel even more embarrassed about his earlier assumptions. He hesitated for a moment, but then nodded, following them as they led him to the entrance of the cave.
As they walked, Li Zhameng sheathed his sword, his eyes downcast. He felt a wave of guilt wash over him as he reflected on how wrong he had been. The demon, who he had thought to be a threat, had turned out to be nothing but kind, well-spoken, and—to his surprise—deeply in love with his human wife.
The cave entrance was modest but cozy. Inside, the aroma of the stew filled the air, and the warmth from the fire crackled invitingly. The woman, still keeping close to Ma-lang, busied herself with ladling out bowls of the rich stew. She handed one to Li Zhameng, but her eyes lingered on him, a faint shadow of anger still flickering there.
"Gongzi," Ma-lang began, breaking the silence as he graciously accepted a spoonful of stew from his wife. "Do tell, what brings you to this part of the mountain?" His tone remained friendly, despite everything that had happened, and he seemed genuinely interested.
Li Zhameng, feeling a lump of guilt rising in his throat, looked down at his own bowl, unable to meet the demon's gaze. "Well..." He hesitated, gathering his thoughts, his voice a little shaky. "My Shizun sent me and another disciple down the mountain for a training assignment. We were supposed to place a magic talisman on a target we stalked, but..." His voice trailed off as he glanced up briefly, the weight of his mistake settling in.
"But I mistook you for a demon who had enslaved a human girl," he confessed, the shame evident in his expression. "So I thought—" Before he could finish his explanation, Ma-lang chuckled softly.
"It's fine," the horse demon interrupted, waving his hand dismissively.
"Misunderstandings happen. You were only doing your duty. Besides," he added with a warm smile, "you excelled in your task. Why not complete it now? Place the talisman on my body."
Li Zhameng blinked, caught off guard by the suggestion. The demon was offering to help him fulfill his mission, even after the misunderstanding. His eyes flicked toward the demon's wife, who, though silent, wore a pained expression. Her eyes narrowed with barely concealed anger as she glanced at Li Zhameng, clearly distraught by her husband's suggestion.
"Ma-lang, no…" she whispered, her voice tight with emotion. But the horse demon merely smiled at her, brushing a lock of her hair behind her ear with tenderness.
"I see no harm in it," Ma-lang continued, his gaze returning to Li Zhameng. "You went undetected, after all. If it weren't for my wife stepping in, my life may very well have ended today." His tone remained calm, even in the face of what could have been his death. There was a deep wisdom in his eyes as he nodded to Li Zhameng, as if encouraging him.
After receiving the horse demon's praise and with his reassurances that no harm would come, Li Zhameng finally agreed. Slowly, he pulled out the talisman, feeling a sense of unease as the demon's wife watched him with barely concealed grief. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides, but she said nothing, trusting in her husband's calm demeanor.
Li Zhameng placed the talisman on Ma-lang's chest. The moment it made contact with the demon's skin, it glowed brightly—a deep red light that pulsed for a moment before vanishing into thin air, leaving behind no trace of its presence.
"There," Ma-lang said with a satisfied smile. "All done."