Twisted Dreams-Chapter 165 - 137: The Crow’s Troubles
This is a picturesque valley.
Stepping into the valley, a winding stream comes into view. The water is as clear as a mirror, with the stones on the riverbed clearly visible.
The air is fresh, carrying the fragrance of earth and grass.
The trees are lush and green, rustling softly when the wind blows.
On both sides of the valley walls, there are caves of varying sizes. Led by the White Fox, Ye Fan enters the largest cave.
A skylight-like opening is above the cave, through which sunlight pours in, illuminating the cave brightly.
Ye Fan gazes in awe at the scene inside the cave.
The cave is disproportionately large, with rows of beasts quietly seated inside.
Wolves, bears, tigers, leopards, snakes, rabbits, mice, and sheep.
This scene is quite bizarre.
It is hard to imagine that these beasts can coexist peacefully under the same roof.
These must all be the yokai that the teacher mentioned, those that have really made a name for themselves.
Inside the cave, there is a crude stone chair, upon which a young man with long black hair lies slanted.
Ye Fan shouts joyfully:
"Big brother!"
The young man in black with long hair is none other than Crow.
Crow looks exhausted and, seeing Ye Fan’s arrival, musters a slight smile:
"Come, have a seat."
The beasts all raise their heads, curiously watching Ye Fan.
Is this the prince His Majesty referred to?
Crow widens his eyes in annoyance, commanding sharply:
"Close your eyes, all of you! What are you looking at?"
The beasts quickly close their eyes and sat quietly, like obedient children in kindergarten.
Ye Fan walks down the pathway by the stone wall to Crow’s side, looking at the beasts with suspicion, he asks:
"Big brother, this is...."
Crow’s expression is complicated, and he sighs:
"In a word, it’s hard to explain."
The master instructed him to lead the yokai and to choose a successor for the position of the Demon Emperor before he could return to the master.
But..... the yokai, they’re too stupid!!!
Establishing order among the yokai is as difficult as ascending to the heavens!
The turmoil in this short period has left him physically and mentally exhausted.
Crow wants to say something to Ye Fan, but hesitates.
A look of being unable to speak emerges on his face.
The original reason for calling Ye Fan here was to ask this human for help to come up with some ideas.
After all, when it comes to building order, no one understands it better than humans.
But he can’t bring himself to say it.
He is a proud Emperor, and how can an Emperor ask for help?
If he could voice it, he would have already asked Su Yutang for help.
Initially, he assumed that Ye Fan was a prince, and discussing national affairs with a prince was reasonable.
But looking at the weak Ye Fan, Crow ultimately couldn’t put down his pride and only asked an inconsequential question:
"Since we parted at the relic, have you been well? Were you injured?"
Ye Fan shakes his head, smiling warmly at Crow:
"Your safety is what matters most. I was worried sick back then!"
Crow’s eyes reveal a touch of emotion.
Ye Fan dared to stand up to the master’s pressure and act against the master for his sake.
This little brother is truly worth knowing.
Ye Fan looks around, unable to spot Heartless Little Monkey after a long search, and asks:
"Big brother, where is the second brother?"
Crow rubs his temples:
"He’s in Monkey Forest. He’s... quite busy. You should go see him."
Initially, Crow thought leading the yokai would be simple; who knew the yokai could be this foolish?!
Even more stupid than the big black dog at home, he couldn’t manage it by himself!
Heartless Little Monkey gave a suggestion.
He said there is a Monkey Forest to the south, and the monkeys there have all become Extraordinary.
Monkeys are generally clever, and using them to help manage the yokai should be effective.
As such, Heartless Little Monkey went to the Monkey Forest, planning to first become the Monkey King, and after subduing the group of monkeys, bring them back to help.
Ye Fan feels that the big brother seems a bit tired, and considers that it might be a good idea to see the second brother first, letting the big brother have some rest.
Bidding farewell to the big brother, and led by the Little White Fox, they walk towards the cave exit.
Just as he walks out of the cave, he hears Crow’s angry roar.
"Did I not tell you all, you are all my subjects!
You are all yokai, and all one family!
That bear! Take your family out of your mouth!
Yes, I’m talking to you! I can see it! That rabbit is almost suffocating!"
Ye Fan always thought that the big brother was a quiet and silent yokai; it was the first time to hear him speak so many words in one breath!
Ye Fan stops in his tracks, turning back and asks the Little White Fox:
"What’s going on?"
The Little White Fox covers its mouth, laughing:
"His Majesty says we are all yokai, all of the same tribe, and we shouldn’t fight amongst ourselves.
But how is that possible?
I’m a fox, inside there are rabbits, tigers, we’re fundamentally not the same kind, there’s bound to be fights.
Anyway, the moment His Majesty turns his back, they start fighting again.
Come on, I’ll take you to see the Demon King."
The Demon King refers to Heartless Little Monkey.
Crow is the Demon Emperor, Heartless Little Monkey is the Demon King.
Ye Fan wonders in his mind:
"Teacher, why does the Demon Race feel different from what I imagined?"
Mo Yulin was silent for a moment and sighed:
"Your elder brother is working on a monumental task!"
...
Monkey Forest.
Heartless Little Monkey was standing at the edge of the Monkey Forest, holding a stick much taller than himself, while his old horse lay on the grass, grazing.
Inside the forest, the chatter of monkeys could be heard.
If you ask why he’s holding a stick, it’s mainly because Little White Fox said that monkeys should carry sticks.
Before Little White Fox became an Extraordinary Beast, she was an abandoned pet of humans.
Little White Fox said her owner in human society was called Xiaosan and only cared about eating, drinking, and having fun every day.
After the Spiritual Energy Revival, she suddenly awakened her intelligence and recalled everything from human society.
Among the Demon Race, Little White Fox is the most knowledgeable.
Well, according to her, there was a monkey named Sun Wukong, who was mighty with a stick.
Heartless Little Monkey took a few deep breaths, looking very nervous.
His plan was to find the Monkey King of the Monkey Forest, challenge him, and then rightfully become the new Monkey King.
The little monkey wasn’t afraid of fighting, just a bit socially anxious.
"I am Li Xinyuan, I am the Heart Demon of a god, I cannot be nervous!
I want to help my brother fulfill his dream of ruling the Demon Race and becoming the leader!
Don’t be nervous, don’t be nervous!"
After a while, he built up his courage, held his head high, and confidently entered the Monkey Forest.
At the moment Heartless Little Monkey stepped into the Monkey Forest, or rather when the monkeys saw him, the chatter in the entire forest came to an abrupt halt.
One by one, dark silhouettes perched on the trees, staring straight at this golden little figure.
Heartless Little Monkey shouted in a childish voice:
"Where’s the Monkey King!"
For some unknown reason, this sentence excited the monkeys!
"Where’s the Monkey King!"
"Someone’s looking for the Monkey King!"
"Quick, let the Monkey King out!"
A brawny brown monkey jumped down with a serious expression, staring at Heartless Little Monkey: 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢
"So you’re looking for the Monkey King?"
Heartless Little Monkey replied solemnly:
"Yes!"
The brown monkey scratched his head:
"But we don’t have a Monkey King here."
Heartless Little Monkey’s eyes widened.
No Monkey King?
No Monkey King, then what are you talking about?!
Are you playing me?
Another monkey swung down from the branches and landed in front of Heartless Little Monkey:
"What does the Monkey King do?"
This question successfully quieted the monkey group again.
They were too curious because "Monkey King" sounded quite fun.
Heartless Little Monkey suppressed his anger and thought for a moment:
"The Monkey King is the leader of the monkeys! All monkeys must listen to the Monkey King!"
A monkey swung back and forth in front of Heartless Little Monkey, asking:
"So does the Monkey King not need to pick fruit, just have fruit to eat?"
Heartless Little Monkey nodded: "Yes!"
A monkey asked:
"So does he not need to groom for lice?"
Heartless Little Monkey nodded:
"Yes!"
An old monkey quickly jumped down from the tree, eyes wide open, and asked:
"So can he be with female monkeys whenever he wants?"
Heartless Little Monkey blushed:
"Yes!"
The monkeys excitedly hopped around, babbling incoherently, going wild.
"Then I’m the Monkey King!"
"Me too, I’m the Monkey King!"
"We’re all Monkey Kings!"
A monkey raised a question:
"If we’re all Monkey Kings, who picks the fruit?"
The monkeys thought about this problem for a while, then simultaneously pointed their fingers at Heartless Little Monkey:
"Him!"
The old monkey sized up Heartless Little Monkey for a moment and asked:
"Are you a female?"
Heartless Little Monkey, infuriated, threw the stick to the ground directly.
This bunch of monkeys isn’t much better than those demons!
This job is impossible!
...
Outside the forest, Ye Fan watched the scene in shock.
Are all Demon Races like this?
Can these things invade human society?
Have I over-thought it?
Little White Fox stood beside him, covering her mouth and laughing sneakily.
