Chapter Thirty-One: Ascending the Mountain

The two days at the villa were unremarkable, with nothing worth mentioning. Shen Changan spent his time following his routine of cultivation and reading, while contemplating the nature of the Taisui.

Having encountered the Taisui at the villa previously, Shen Changan had given some thought to the matter. It was likely a sentient fungus, as evidenced by its corrosive capabilities and terrifying regenerative powers. If not for the Withered Wood Sword’s ability to absorb its life force, Shen Changan would have found it quite troublesome. However, the problem was that this was merely a Taisui spirit; what he sought was not this creature, but the Taisui Demonic Thought.

What exactly was the Taisui Demonic Thought? Shen Changan could not be sure. The information provided by the ancient animal-skin book was always bizarre. Aside from the first encounter with the Yaksha ghost and the second with the wandering soul, the subsequent clues had been ambiguous. He could not decipher them, nor did he have any clear ideas. After pondering for a long time without reaching an answer, the time for General Heifeng’s banquet arrived.

"Daoist Shen, the time has come."

Shen Changan nodded slightly. Today was the day of General Heifeng’s wedding; only by arriving at Mount Heifeng today would they avoid drawing undue attention. In truth, Shen Changan had considered launching an assault before the General gathered his forces, but that would mean forcing their way through the massive formation of the General’s demon subordinates. While this might seem like facing fewer enemies, the actual difficulty would be multiplied several times over. By infiltrating the banquet, they only needed to intoxicate the high-ranking demons, allowing Shen Changan and Yu Qingxian to join forces and lead the captives to safety.

To this end, Yu Qingxian had specifically prepared a jar of fine wine called "Drunken Dragon Fragrance." Its origin was unknown, but it was incredibly potent—anyone who drank this strong liquor would surely be incapacitated. At the very least, the demons of Mount Heifeng would certainly fall. By offering this wine as a gift, they could surely intoxicate the majority of the monsters. Once they were unconscious, rescuing the captives would be effortless. The plan was simple, and often, simple methods were the most effective. As long as the Drunken Dragon Fragrance did its job, there would be no major issues. If something were to go wrong... they would simply have to fight their way out.

Both Shen Changan and Yu Qingxian were prepared for such a contingency. Plans rarely go perfectly, and they had accepted this risk. As they headed toward the summit of Mount Heifeng, they saw monsters arriving one after another. Shen Changan did not even need to use the Zhonglong Talisman to identify them; the foul, fishy stench radiating from these creatures was nearly suffocating.

"So foul..."

With a sigh, Shen Changan and Yu Qingxian merged into the flow of monsters heading up the path. Mount Heifeng was not particularly large, and the demons moved with great speed; the two followed suit. Within a few leaps, they reached the General’s encampment. The site had once been a villa, but since General Heifeng had seized it, it had been converted into a stronghold. The number of demons present was significant; a rough estimate suggested over a hundred already outside, with even more on their way.

"How many demons are there on Mount Heifeng?" he whispered to Yu Qingxian.

After a moment of thought, she replied, "About three or four hundred."

Shen Changan’s heart sank. With three or four hundred demons, it was no wonder the General had captured hundreds of people for the banquet; without enough guests, there wouldn't be enough food for them all.

They reached the entrance of the stronghold, where a queue had formed for invitation checks. Since their goal was to save lives, they did not act rashly, simply standing in line. However, no sooner had they settled into place than someone behind them shouted, "Hey, what do you think you’re doing? I was standing here first!"

Shen Changan turned to see a creature with the head of a wolf and a human body approaching.

"Let it go," Yu Qingxian said.

Shen Changan nodded. A single spot in line was not worth the trouble, and a conflict now would inevitably draw attention. He remained calm and prepared to step aside, but the wolf-man, sensing their hesitation, sneered with disdain. "Kneel and apologize to me properly, or this won't end well..."

*Whoosh!*

A sudden gust of wind whistled, followed by a dull thud.

Before the wolf-man could finish his sentence, Shen Changan had already struck him in the head with a single punch. Most of the creature's skull shattered instantly; it died without even twitching. Shen Changan shook the blood and flesh from his hand, and the surrounding demons, who had been closing in, backed away, suddenly afraid to approach him.

The guard at the front glanced back and roared, "No trouble in the back! Don't make me make you regret it!"

He then returned his attention to the invitations, confirming their validity before letting the next person through. From start to finish, no one paid the dead wolf-man any mind. In the world of demons, there was no talk of logic or rules—only the strength of one’s fists. If you were too weak and offended someone you couldn't handle, your death was meaningless. Shen Changan knew this, which was why he had dared to kill the wolf-demon outright.

However, his actions drew the eyes of many. The wolf-demon’s strength was mediocre, but not so pathetic as to be killed with a single blow. Regardless of how they analyzed it, Shen Changan was clearly no ordinary character. Many began to pay him close attention, while others kept their distance. Shen Changan remained silent, walking calmly back to his original position. The demons who had been standing in front of him, unable to bear the oppressive atmosphere, soon fled or moved to the back of the line. Because of this, Shen Changan and Yu Qingxian did not have to wait long before they reached the gate of the stronghold.