Chapter Thirty-One: Green Brows

Corpsewalker Yi pondered in silence, and Tu Zhu naturally picked up where Jian Keng had left off, still showing not the slightest trace of urgency. With a cheerful grin, he said, "Who can say what the future holds? Let's just deal with the present—why drag in so much else? As I see it, we should just lash those soldiers at the pass three times, dock a month's pay as a warning to others, and be more vigilant in the future. If we make a big fuss, aren't you afraid the other nine groups will laugh at us for making a spectacle of ourselves?"

"Well..." At the mention of the Valley Master, Jian Keng hesitated, his face grave. "If we don't rid ourselves of these traitors, how can we answer to the Valley Master?"

"Just because we're not seeking them out now doesn't mean we can't find them later," Tu Zhu replied with an enigmatic smile. "I wish to let this matter rest for now because I have my own plan..."

Corpsewalker Yi was a physician, not skilled in intrigue, and Jian Keng was a blunt and straightforward man. Neither could match Tu Zhu's cunning. They both knew that, although Tu Zhu often acted erratically, no one in the valley surpassed his prowess in scheming. So, they listened carefully as he explained his plan, and the more they heard, the more reasonable it seemed, making them each nod in silent agreement.

The three of them quickly reached a decision. Tu Zhu would report to the Valley Master, while the other two would proceed with their respective tasks.

That day, after his lessons, Six Chou returned quietly to his room. Once night fell and all the other demons were sound asleep, he took out the refined spirit pills to inspect them.

From twelve demon cores, he had extracted two third-grade primordial pills and four third-grade spirit medicines: two Foundation Pills, one Vitality Pill, and one Focus Pill.

Six Chou dared not take too many at once. He swallowed a Foundation Pill first to nourish his body.

As soon as the pill entered his stomach, he felt a wave of heat surging through him. He barely managed to suppress it, lying quietly on his bed to let the energy flow. It took about half an hour before the sensation subsided. When he checked himself, he found his physique had improved again, reaching the level of a third-tier lesser demon. Yet, he could vaguely sense a bottleneck ahead—the fourth tier was not so easily attained.

It seemed that consuming spirit pills or primordial pills couldn't push his demon power more than three tiers beyond its current state. He would have to remember this in the future.

It appeared the valley's training was divided by the month. Corpsewalker Yi had advanced from reading and writing to dissecting corpses. Jian Keng had brought a batch of weapons and ceased teaching martial arts and body techniques. Instead, the young demons were told to choose weapons they felt familiar with, divided into groups by type, to begin weapon combat training.

Every kind of weapon was chosen by someone, but Six Chou found himself in difficulty. In his previous life, he had learned only unarmed combat, never weaponry. On rare occasions, he had used short knives or daggers, which clearly didn't fit Jian Keng's intention. After some thought, he remembered his use of the crossbow bolt and decided to select a spear. But once it was in his hands, he realized it was far too long for him to wield effectively.

He had no choice but to settle for a short staff, which was barely manageable.

Once all the young demons had chosen, Jian Keng announced, "These are the only weapons for now. After three months, in the competition, the top fifty will be allowed into the armory to choose a weapon for their exclusive use, which you may also take with you when you leave the valley. The top ten may choose a second weapon or study a new martial skill. Where there are rewards, there are punishments: the bottom fifty will each receive ten lashes, and the last ten, double that—regardless of injury or death."

Six Chou's eyes lit up. If that was the case, he could learn spear-throwing techniques. Ever since he had ambushed and killed two foreign monks, he had been obsessed with the idea. He had not seen such weapons here, but if given the chance, it would be wonderful.

But then, remembering the matter of the demon cores, Six Chou's heart suddenly sank.

After Jian Keng finished, the young demons were divided into several teams based on their chosen weapons. Soldiers demonstrated the most basic moves, then ordered them to practice, followed by assessments.

That night, Six Chou endured a full ten lashes. Not only was he denied the hot spring, but even his evening meal was withheld.

Watching the other young demons wolf down their food, Six Chou felt his own throat tighten with envy. Although he had pills to sustain him, today he intended to take a primordial pill, which required food as a base. Since that wasn't possible, he settled for a spirit medicine, postponing the primordial pill for another day.

After the others had eaten and bathed, they returned to the dormitory. Six Chou lay on his side, eyes closed, pretending to sleep, intending to take the spirit pill later in the night. Just then, he caught a whiff of a delicious aroma.

His eyes snapped open. There stood the fox demon Greenbrow, holding a large chunk of cooked meat. Startled to see him awake, Greenbrow quickly thrust the meat toward him and said, "Here, take it."

Six Chou was surprised, but accepted it after a moment's thought and extended his hand. "My name is Six Chou."

"I know," Greenbrow replied, taking his hand without hesitation, unbothered by the human gesture, and smiled. "I'm Greenbrow."

Six Chou sat up on his bed and began tearing into the meat while Greenbrow naturally sat beside him. Neither spoke further, but from that day on, until Six Chou no longer faced punishment in staff training, Greenbrow brought him food every time, never missing a day.

Not only Six Chou, but Bai Yejiao had also benefited from Greenbrow’s kindness, though Bai Yejiao’s lashes came not from weapon training but from Corpsewalker Yi during lessons on reading, writing, and especially the dissection of demon corpses, where he was punished every time.

On the other hand, Bai Yejiao excelled under Tu Zhu, often earning extra rewards.

Greenbrow too was punished at times, but rarely, and after a single failure would learn quickly and avoid further consequences. Six Chou had once tried to observe how Greenbrow managed to bring back food, but after several attempts found no clue, concluding it must be Greenbrow’s innate technique—something far beyond his own reach.

Because of Greenbrow, Six Chou and Bai Yejiao gradually became acquainted, while the Wolfish brothers remained aloof, never mingling with the three of them. In time, the dormitory fell into separate factions.

After consuming six spirit medicines and primordial pills, Six Chou’s body had reached the mid-third tier, his strength at the early third tier, though the use of the Clarity Pill remained a mystery.

His demon power had also reached the third tier.

His progress in the Myriad Demons Technique was slower, but through persistent effort, he managed to reach the introductory stage, like the others.

He felt that the relationship between the Myriad Demons Technique and demon power was like that of training to physical growth in humans. Demon power was the body itself, while the technique was the exercise. But unlike a human body, which grew naturally, a demon’s body required the absorption of spiritual energy from the world; the process was similar but the effects were vastly different.

Most important of all were the demon arts gained through the Myriad Demons Technique.

As another month passed, Tu Zhu began special training, focusing on speed, precision, ferocity, and endurance—confirming Six Chou’s guess about his identity.

There was no doubt; Tu Zhu was an assassin.

Only an assassin would avoid unnecessary ornamentation, never fight head-on, and rely on stillness like a virgin, movement like a startled hare, a single lethal strike, and swift retreat. All other supporting skills were left to Jian Keng and Corpsewalker Yi.

Among Tu Zhu’s subordinates were a few demon soldiers, all extremely powerful—no young demon could match their strength now.

At the end of the second month, room assignments changed again. Five new young demons moved in with Six Chou and his companions. By then, the number of young demons remaining in the Yanfen Battalion had dropped below two hundred and forty. From a thousand in the first month to three hundred, and now only sixty dead in the second month—a significant improvement.

Still, that meant an average of two deaths per day, whether by execution or simply failing to survive their injuries, eventually ending up on the wooden racks.

Small demon gangs began to form, mostly along the lines of their original living quarters, with occasional gatherings by species.

Six Chou no longer stole demon cores. Though all seemed normal in the valley, and Corpsewalker Yi had not acted on the missing core, Six Chou sensed something was off and decided to focus on earnestly cultivating the Myriad Demons Technique. Through daily practice, he discovered that the technique could also increase his demon power, albeit much more slowly than consuming primordial pills.

Time passed quickly, and soon three months were over. The time had come for the competition Jian Keng had mentioned: winners could enter the armory to choose better weapons, while losers would be flogged.

A wide circle was marked out in the training grounds with wooden stakes and ropes. The competitions would be held inside, while the original lecture platform had been transformed with draped curtains, couches, and tables with tea and fruit.

Six Chou’s pupils contracted slightly. Could it be that the master of the valley himself would appear today?

The young demons lined up and waited. Soon, Jian Keng, Tu Zhu, Corpsewalker Yi, and Fei Fei ascended the platform behind an old man with white hair and beard. The old man sat cross-legged in the center, the four others standing to either side. Only Tu Zhu looked unconcerned; the others maintained a strict and solemn air.

The old man wore a plain azure brocade robe, a blue tiger-patterned belt at his waist. His hair was white as snow, his eyebrows reaching his shoulders, and his clear eyes seemed bottomless—bright and penetrating. With his hands behind his back, his gaze swept over the crowd like a gentle breeze. Though his presence didn't feel as forceful as Jian Keng’s, it was unending and profound.

This man was certainly no ordinary cultivator; his strength was unfathomable.

So this was the true foundation of the valley!

Six Chou glanced up briefly, then lowered his gaze. He had no idea why the old man had come and didn’t care to guess. All he needed to do was win, to claim his desired weapon and the right to learn a new skill.

At Jian Keng’s command, the young demons began to fight in pairs while Fei Fei recorded the results.

In their dormitory group, Greenbrow was first to take the stage, facing a Yao Beast. This demon was of middling strength, but within a few exchanges, Greenbrow struck him in the eyes, sending him to the ground, howling in pain.

Greenbrow glanced at Jian Keng, and seeing no announcement of victory, stepped forward to finish the job. At that moment, the Yao Beast suddenly lashed out, tossing a bundle of hair, which instantly turned into a storm of steel needles aimed at Greenbrow’s face. Bloodied, Greenbrow was stabbed directly, and the Yao Beast lunged, plunging a blade into Greenbrow’s chest.

With a puff, Greenbrow exploded into a cloud of smoke and vanished, drifting gently down. As the Yao Beast stared in shock, a hand emerged from his own shadow—a sword thrust upward into his belly!

The Yao Beast was cunning, but he had met his match in a fox demon even more adept at deception—what chance did he stand?

Greenbrow won, retrieved his skin from the stage, and stepped down.

The white-haired elder nodded slightly. The fight was not especially exciting, but Greenbrow had integrated his innate demon art seamlessly into combat. It might not be brilliant, but it set him apart from ordinary young demons—a clear gulf in ability.

Painted Skin—Greenbrow's innate demon technique.

The ensuing matches were equally thrilling. Demons had reflexes and instincts far beyond those of humans, and after months of weapon training, their combat skills were formidable.

Six Chou watched the fights carefully, weighing his own chances. In most cases, he had no certainty of victory. He wanted the reward of a new weapon and to learn spear-throwing, but in the end, he chose to hold back.

Sure enough, after a day of fighting, Six Chou got his wish—he ranked ninety-sixth among the young demons. Though he escaped a flogging, he was not qualified to choose a weapon or learn a new combat skill.

"Next time—there will be another chance..." Six Chou told himself.

In contrast, Greenbrow ranked forty-ninth, just enough to enter the armory, while Bai Yejiao placed one hundred and fifty-ninth. The Wolfish brothers both made the top fifty, with Zan Wulang ranking third, drawing much attention.

First place went to a demon beast Six Chou did not know—a double-bladed bug demon skilled in poisonous stinger attacks, named Yuan Qin.

(Due to contract issues, this book disappeared for a few days, but now it returns—my joy is beyond words. As reader Jiu Zhong Hou once said, 'Let the withered weep.' The book's primary posting site is now QQ Reading, also under Chuangshi Chinese Network. Qidian is now a reprint. If you have leisure, please vote in support—Liu Yun thanks you, and so does 'My Fate'! Also: apologies for any missed or delayed updates—mistakes will be amended!)