Immortality by Merit and Sin Coins

Chapter 175: Chapter 107: No Demons Came to Congratulate

”Really?”

The Laborers’ faces lit up. The Demon Mountain was nice, but resources were scarce.

They really were starting to miss the braised pork knuckles from Shopkeeper Lin’s place.

As the crowd departed in an orderly fashion, Qingming Demon General’s arm suddenly froze, her heavy iron hammer hanging in mid-air.

”Hm?”

She reached up to wipe the sweat from her brow, her gaze sweeping around in confusion.

Then, a look of astonishment slowly filled her limpid eyes.

She had actually caught the scent of a Magical Treasure!

As a Late-stage Core Formation Demon General, she wouldn’t lose her composure over a mere Low Grade Magical Treasure.

While such items were precious, she had once been gifted one by a Demon Monarch for self-defense.

What truly shocked the Qingming Demon General was that this aura had just been born!

Someone was attempting to refine a Magical Treasure!

She stared nervously at the sky, holding her breath as if she were the one performing the Artifact Refining.

But as time passed, the aura gradually dissipated. No true treasure light burst forth to illuminate the mountains.

’Did it fail?’

The beautiful woman was slightly disappointed.

But soon, she licked her lips, her curiosity still piqued.

’Such a faint aura... it must be very far away.’

’It’s a shame I have important matters to attend to today. Otherwise, I would have personally followed the Qi signature and paid a visit to ask that unknown Demon General for guidance.’

’Oh, well. He’s probably not in a great mood right now. I’ll ask around in a few days.’

The Qingming Demon General summoned a few Little Demons. ”Go to the Left Peak and invite the Moon-Devouring Demon General. I have already sent word throughout the Demon Mountain, inviting all the Demon Generals to offer their congratulations.”

When a new demon raised their banner, it was necessary to inform the other Demon Generals.

Only by working together could the demons hope to carve out a small place for themselves in this wicked world.

”As you command!”

The Little Demons turned, their expressions complicated.

They had thought that with the Moon-Devouring Demon General raising his banner, and with his arrogant style, he might draw the attention of the Demon-slaying Bureau, easing some of the pressure on Lord Qingming.

But they never expected that group of demons to move into their own mountain.

Of course, they couldn’t blame them; after all, it was Lord Qingming who had personally invited them.

But regardless, after what happened last night, Qingming Mountain had now become a thorn in the side of the Demon-slaying Bureau—perhaps even the first target they would seek to eliminate.

How could they not be worried?

They could only hope that the Moon-Devouring Demon General would rest for a while and not go provoking that gang of fiends from the Demon-slaying Bureau again.

...

「High noon.」

The dozens of surrounding villages were bustling with activity, with long tables for a feast spread across every open space.

While there were no exquisite dishes, there was at least a full supply of meat and wine.

Meanwhile, inside a quiet cave abode on the main peak’s mountainside,

several wide tables had been set up.

They were laden with simple, rustic dishes and fragrant jars of wine.

It looked less like a grand banquet and more like a small get-together among friends.

However, the atmosphere inside the cave abode was somewhat awkward at the moment.

Xie Yutang sat with her group of Little Demons. No one moved their chopsticks; they all sat silently in their seats.

Monkey sullenly picked up his wine cup, thought for a moment, then lowered his head and put it back down.

At the main table, only two people were seated.

Qingming Demon General placed some food onto the young man’s plate. ”Perhaps things are too tense lately, so they don’t dare to make any rash moves. Let’s not wait for them.”

This was obviously an attempt to save face for Lin Shu.

Even Lu Yun, who had just arrived at the Demon Mountain, knew the truth.

Even with the Demon-slaying Bureau watching, if this group of notoriously fierce Demon Generals didn’t even have the courage to attend a banquet, they might as well disband sooner rather than later and stop bothering to defend the Demon Mountain.

...

Lin Shu was focused on picking out pieces of braised meat.

He and his master shared a similar habit.

When it was time to eat, you just ate. You didn’t mix in too many other things.

Besides, his Ink Flood Dragon Sword Bracelet had successfully been upgraded into a Magical Treasure, its power soaring. He was in an excellent mood and couldn’t be bothered to argue with a group of people he had never even met.

In the Border Region,

face was something you earned through fighting, not by clinking wine cups.

”Hah, I’m late!”

Just then, a tall, burly, bald figure, built like a bear, squeezed into the quiet cave abode.

He sat down next to the main table, taking up nearly half of it by himself.

”The name’s Golden Bear! First, a toast to the Moon-Devouring Demon General!”

With that, the burly man actually picked up a wine jar and began to chug it down. GULP, GULP, GULP.

”Another toast!”

Golden Bear let out a drunken hiccup, reached for another jar of wine, and chugged it down as well.

”Another—”

He reached for another jar, but Qingming Demon General flicked her sleeve in exasperation, knocking his hand away. ”Seeing you arrive empty-handed, it doesn’t look like you’re here to offer congratulations. It’s more like you came specifically to ruin my Spirit Wine.”

”Hehe.”

Golden Bear laughed shamelessly and glanced around.

His gaze fell on the young man’s face, and his expression grew a little more serious. He said slowly, ”Don’t hold it against them. You are different from us, after all. They are each responsible for many lives. This world is too dangerous; we dare not let our guard down.”

Taking advantage of the free wine was part of it, true.

But Golden Bear had also indeed come to deliver a message on behalf of the other Demon Generals.

No demons had come to offer congratulations today, not because they wanted to put Moon-Devouring in his place, but because they didn’t trust him.

...

Xie Yutang slowly raised her head, finally understanding the reason for all this.

’Even though Lord Lin has raised his banner, he is still fundamentally a Cultivator. He has no Demon Qi in his body, and thus no natural reason to fight the Immortal Descendants.’

’Furthermore, with the Demon-slaying Bureau having led a team here, who could guarantee that those constables didn’t deliberately sacrifice a Core Formation Captain just to plant a spy and wipe out the entire group of demons in these mountains?’

’The logic made sense.’

’But...’

’Lord Lin has already acted against the Immortal Descendants and the Demon-slaying Bureau. If he fails to win favor on either side, won’t he be in a more desperate situation than any demon!’

The Little Demons all rose to their feet, wanting to speak in his defense.

Just then,

Lin Shu finally put down his chopsticks, casually grabbed a jar of Spirit Wine, and raised an eyebrow. ”Still toasting?”

Hearing this, the Golden Bear Demon General froze for a moment.

He couldn’t see any trace of frustration or anger on the young man’s face.

The young man didn’t seem indignant, nor was he in a hurry to prove himself.

This young man didn’t seem to care whether the Demon Crowd trusted him or not; he just nonchalantly broke the clay seal on the jar.

It didn’t matter if they didn’t come. If they did, he would drink with them.

Such magnanimity truly put him to shame.

”Of course we’re toasting!”

The bald, burly man suddenly burst into hearty laughter. ”Brother, you’re a straightforward man! I don’t care what anyone else thinks. I, Golden Bear, acknowledge you as a Demon General. If you have time in the future, come visit me at Ten Thousand Bears Mountain.”

...

The Qingming Demon General sat quietly to the side, glancing at the handsome young man with a hint of surprise.

Lin Shu was so young and had only just set foot on the Demon Mountain, yet he could act with such calm confidence, completely unaffected by external matters.

He was far too seasoned for his age.

Her earlier worries now seemed rather unnecessary.

*Hooo.*

Lin Shu set down the wine jar and wiped the corner of his mouth.

Yu Sheng’s curious voice sounded in his mind: ’Lin Shu, that Blackhead you had me keep an eye on... it looks like he got a promotion. How prestigious!’

He let out a long breath and slowly stood up.

”Let’s go. Time to get things done.”

The young man straightened his clothes and ambled toward the cave entrance.

Hearing this, the Little Demons, despite not having taken a single bite of food, quickly got up and followed him.

Only the two Demon Generals, Qingming and Golden Bear, were left behind, their expressions slightly stunned as they watched the group of demons depart.

’Get things done?’

’He just killed so many Captains last night.’

’At a tense time like this...’

’...what else could he possibly need to do?’