Lampwick Monk entered the wilderness, climbed an ancient tree, shaded his eyes with a hand, and glanced around. He then decided to head southwest.
There was no other reason. If it were to settle down and become a demon, it would surely set up camp in the southwest.
Even the shimmering night could not conceal the heaven-and-earth vital energy, which spread like ten thousand wisps of rosy haze, gathering in the southwestern valley.
Such a treasure land of auspicious geomancy was certain to harbor demons.
It had guessed right. Not only were there demons in that direction, there was also a great demon.
"Great King, that's it!"
Lampwick Monk had barely emerged from the dense forest when he ran headlong into a wolf.
This wolf had an exceptionally vicious and irascible appearance.
Its entire body was covered in grayish-brown fur, save for its white neck, which looked remarkably like a male lion's mane.
Most strikingly, a patch of fur was missing from its left cheek, seemingly a wound left from slaughter on the battlefield. It made the beast appear even more savage and valiant!
At the wolf's feet, the rat demon he had encountered before stood upright, pointing at Lampwick Monk with its beady, thieving eyes.
The sight frightened Lampwick Monk out of his wits. How could he have imagined that this rat demon had backing?
Without a second thought, he spun around and ran.
The forest was deep as woven cloth, thick with shrubs—perfect for the nine-inch-tall Lampwick Monk to hide and flee through.
Yet with the rat demon guiding it, the wolf simply could not be shaken off.
It was swift as lightning. Even with the aid of Ascending Transcription, Lampwick Monk was as fast as a galloping horse, but he was simply too small. Ten of his