My Demon Friends-Chapter 568 - 544 The Old Monster’s Moment of Glory_2

"Since we're here, let's make the best of it." Zhou Li noticed Huai Xu's guilt and, as a result, appeared even more composed. "Lord Dumpling wants to go catch Bright Bugs to play with."

"Why bother with her?" Huai Xu sat down next to Zhou Li, looking around. "This place isn't bad. If we hide a little deeper, we could completely avoid detection until the end of the game. When the time comes, you can just stay here and hide. I'll stay with you for now. We'll lie low here. We'll wait until their fighting dies down before we decide whether to go out. Otherwise, I fear we'll be surrounded."

"You're very experienced."

"Of course! I win at chicken dinner every time!"

"Actually, the best strategy would be to skirt the edges and make full use of your individual combat strength and surprise attacks—a quick, decisive battle style. First, eliminate the demons you're confident you can handle, especially those who could pose a threat if they ganged up on you. That way, you'll face much less pressure in the end," Zhou Li whispered.

"We'll see."

Huai Xu was unwilling to leave Zhou Li's side easily. "If it comes down to it, then never mind."

"That would be such a waste."

"Gaining it is my fortune; losing it is my fate."

"That doesn't sound like something you would say."

"Shh!"

Suddenly, the hollow of the tree grew quiet again.

This quiet lasted for a few minutes. Zhou Li held his breath and focused, controlling Tuanzi to stay silent. After a few minutes, sounds of fighting suddenly came from outside.

There was a booming noise.

There were also the CRACKING sounds of trees being destroyed.

The predominant sound was the rustling of leaves in the wind.

The sounds gradually grew closer.

Finally, a muffled explosion occurred just tens of meters away. In the quiet forest, this wasn't a long distance. Zhou Li heard the sound with extreme clarity. It was as if a heavy body had crashed onto the soft forest floor. The image formed vividly in his mind: a body falling, with layers of decomposing, damp, or dry fallen leaves absorbing most of the impact.

"Lord Mingzhu is indeed formidable," someone said.

"I told you, you wouldn't win."

"It's been a long time since I've exercised. Too much sleep has made me rusty; I wanted some action." The loser paused, then continued, "I hope Lord Mingzhu achieves his wish of seeing the Bamboo Book."

"It's too difficult; many powerful individuals are here this time. I'm afraid I won't be able to get it. I'm just here to join in the fun," Lord Mingzhu sighed. "It's a pity. I have always admired Master Shui Zhen. I used to think about when I could visit. Who would have thought that upon waking up, Master Shui Zhen would no longer be here? It truly is a sorrow for our Yu Country."

"I see." The loser offered gentle consolation. "Don't worry. Even if the winner gets the Bamboo Book, they'll have to hand it over after they're done reading it. Wait a few more years or a few decades, and you'll eventually get to see it. That amount of time isn't long for you."

"And what are you here for?"

"Curiosity."

"Most must be here out of curiosity," Lord Mingzhu said. "And also, having slept for too long, I wanted to join in the excitement."

"I suppose so."

Although the two demons had just fought and a victor had been decided, their conversation bore no resentment. In fact, there was not the slightest hint of irritation. Zhou Li only detected ease and calmness between them, as if they were merely two old men who had played a game of chess in the park, with a winner and a loser, nothing more.

Yet as they talked, their voices disappeared.

At this moment, Huai Xu, next to Zhou Li, showed an expression of helplessness and said, "They've discovered us."

"I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault. Let's go out."

"Alright."

So Zhou Li followed Huai Xu out of the hole beneath the tree roots.

The two demons they had just heard fighting and talking looked very different from what Zhou Li had imagined. One was a ferocious, giant tiger with deer antlers, and the other was a beast-headed humanoid figure wearing classical robes. Because their tones were gentle and their speech polite, Zhou Li, before emerging from the burrow, had pictured them as quite good-looking—or at least not fierce or ugly.

Looking at the three of them, both demons squinted, displaying puzzled expressions as they examined them carefully.

Immediately, one of the demons began to back away, saying as it retreated, "I've already been eliminated."

The antlered giant tiger, apparently Mingzhu, remained.

SWISH!

Two short blades appeared in Huai Xu's hands; he no longer concealed them.

The two demons immediately felt a chill. The starry light emanating from him and his aura as a Great Demon gave them their first impression: This person before us is a devil who slaughters his own kind, utterly wicked. This thought ignited an instinctual aversion and extreme caution in their hearts. But soon after, the giant tiger demon seemed to relax a bit.

"Huai Xu?"

"You know me?"

"Lord Huai Xu, your great reputation is well-known. Everyone has heard of you," Lord Mingzhu paused. "I didn't expect you to be here."

"You might as well just give up and leave the game. You're nowhere near strong enough to fight me," Huai Xu fiddled with the blades in his hand. "There's no need to create unnecessary trouble."

"You won't know until you try."

"I could slay you with a single strike."

"Backing down before a fight isn't our style," Lord Mingzhu said, continually shaking his head. He raised a paw, slowly licking it as he fixed his gaze on Huai Xu. "It's not easy to encounter Lord Huai Xu. For us demons who cherish battle as much as life itself, this opportunity is incredibly precious."

"Then come."

"Wait, the one by your side is..."

Lord Mingzhu lowered his head, sniffing something gently, his eyes flickering with uncertainty.

On the surface, Huai Xu remained calm. He spoke placidly, "A human friend of mine who got accidentally caught up due to your premature start. And the cat from the Elm King's entourage."

"Your Highness?"

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing..." Lord Mingzhu shook his head again, then looked towards Zhou Li. "Some Great Demons would kill him."

"Who dares? This is clearly your fault."

"There's no use talking more. Let's begin."

BANG!

The enormous tiger coiled its body and leaped forward with lightning speed, targeting Huai Xu. It moved so fast that only an afterimage was visible.

But what it pounced on was only air.

Huai Xu had already appeared behind his neck, one hand grasping the nape of the tiger's neck, the other holding a dagger aloft, swiftly stabbing down towards his head.

Almost at the same time—

BOOM!

A pillar of light shot up to the sky, piercing the clouds.

However, the pillar of light seemed purely for show. It displayed no destructive power and quickly faded. It revealed the massive tiger lying motionless on the ground, with Huai Xu single-handedly pinning him down, the sharp dagger in his hand held near the tiger's chest.

The battle ended very quickly.

Huai Xu stood up.

Lord Mingzhu also got to his feet, shook his head, and bowed respectfully. "Lord Huai Xu is truly formidable. In that case, we'll just be spectators."

"Hmm."

"Farewell."

Having said that, the two demons prepared to leave.

But Tuanzi called out to them in a clear voice, "Excuse me, do you happen to have a bottle with you?"

"A bottle?"

The two demons turned back, looking at her in confusion.

Tuanzi nodded earnestly. "Lord Dumpling would like to borrow a bottle from you."

"What do you want a bottle for?"

"To hold Bright Bugs!"

"I see."

"I have one."

The beast-headed demon, who had been defeated earlier, stretched out his hand. Spreading his fingers, he revealed a slender glass bottle. He extended his arm, which grew very long, and presented it to Tuanzi. "Will this do?"

"It will work."

"Take it then."

"Thank you so much!"

Tuanzi maintained her politeness. Taking half a step forward with Zhou Li, she quickly clasped the bottle with her two front paws, her eyes intently staring at the demon. "Lord Dumpling will return it to you!"

"I am called Lurang."

"Got it."

The two demons disappeared into the forest together.

At last, Tuanzi managed to catch two Bright Bugs. She transformed into a Little Cat Girl and didn't ask Zhou Li to carry her. Clutching the bottle, she hopped and skipped through the forest. Sometimes she would catch another bug to put into the bottle. Other times, she would lift the bottle to peer closely at it, squinting with one eye, or run back to show Zhou Li.

Lord Dumpling was, after all, just an innocent little kitten who knew nothing. Even fierce demons had to dote on her.