Zhang Chen looked at the young man's retreating back, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "The Demon Race has child labor too?"
"My lord, you jest. The Demon Race does not keep idle mouths either! The Demon Teacher decreed that children under fourteen were not to be eaten, but we could hardly feed them for nothing, could we? So we simply had them do whatever work they were capable of to support themselves. That tempered their sinews and bones too, so when they were eaten later, their muscles would be firm and springy, crunchy with a satisfying chew." Upon hearing Zhang Chen mutter, a steward with a lion's head hurried over, his face brimming with humble flattery as he explained.
Zhang Chen looked at the lion demon, who had lowered his head and was grinning ingratiatingly. He was somewhat surprised. He had not expected these beasts to have such elaborate schemes. Facing the lion demon's fawning smile, Zhang Chen covered his nose in disgust and snapped, "You reek. Stay farther away from me."
The lion demon was not angered by this. Instead, he backed away with a placating smile, repeatedly bowing to Zhang Chen, his expression filled with flattery and humility.
Zhang Chen could not be bothered with him. He was merely a beast, after all, not worth taking to heart. Zhang Chen was in the stronger position now, so naturally, he had every right to ignore him.
The Demon Race was divided into ranks as well, much like the courtly order of the human race. In fact, because of the nature of beasts, that order was even crueler and its hierarchy even more distinct.
Zhang Chen gazed at the distant slaves, his thoughts churning as he waited for the unloading of supplies to end. Then, a heart-rending cry suddenly rang