Mountain Fair

By the time Lin Jun finished the bear paw, the bright moon was already high in the sky. It was midnight.

At that moment, Lin Jun was staring blankly at the wooden plaque.

This was the very plaque he had taken from the Bear Demon. Unlike how quiet it had been during the day, it now kept flickering with a faint glow.

Lin Jun released the plaque and watched it slowly float into the air. It spun once in midair, and a tiny speck of light with butterfly wings drifted out from it.

The speck circled Lin Jun once, then slowly flew toward the city outskirts.

It was not fast, pausing every so often as though it wanted Lin Jun to follow.

Now this was interesting.

The little speck radiated a peaceful aura. Though it had been found on a demon, it carried not the slightest trace of malevolence.

Green Forest County enforced a curfew. Not a soul could be seen at night, and Lin Jun followed the speck unhindered all the way to the city gate.

"Stop! No one is allowed out at night—"

Before the city guard could finish, another guard covered his mouth.

"Hehe, Lord Lin, he's new and doesn't know the rules. Please don't take offense."

That was the ruthless man who had wiped out the Bear Demon's entire family! Where had this brat found the nerve to stop him?

Lin Jun left the city without incident. Outside, there stood a tall White Deer, even larger than an ordinary horse.

Upon seeing the speck of light, the White Deer approached Lin Jun of its own accord and gestured for him to climb onto its back.

The White Deer filled anyone who looked upon it with peace. Calling it an auspicious beast would not have been an exaggeration.

Seeing this, Lin Jun mounted the White Deer.

Then the deer carried Lin Jun north at a gallop.

Lin Jun was astonished to discover that this deer was three parts faster than an ordinary horse, yet its back did not jostle him in the slightest.

An hour later, Lin Jun arrived at Phoenix Forest Mountain, north of Green Forest County.

A great many deer had already gathered there, each a different color and breed.

What astonished Lin Jun was that every one of these deer carried something on its back.

Old turtles, rabbits, sheep, even birds.

They were all demons!

Lin Jun instantly felt as though he had stumbled into a demon nest.

It was not just demons. Lin Jun even saw a great many humans.

Old men and children, young men and women—at a glance, there were no fewer than a hundred people.

These humans and demons actually walked together, without the slightest fear on their faces.

Lin Jun jumped down from the deer and observed carefully. Only then did he realize that these demons carried no malice whatsoever, only peaceful auras.

The demons dismounted from the deer one after another and headed toward Phoenix Forest Mountain.

Every demon carried something, whether precious medicinal herbs or tools.

The humans followed close behind, some carrying shoulder poles and others baskets, trailing after the demons up Phoenix Forest Mountain.

"Is this your first time attending the Mountain Fair, little brother?"

Lin Jun turned around and saw a water buffalo speaking to him.

"The Mountain Fair?"

Lin Jun was puzzled.

"Haha, it really is your first time, brother. Let's walk and talk."

The so-called Mountain Fair was a gathering organized by demons. Everyone brought things they did not need to exchange for things that were useful, bartering goods and sharing what each lacked.

Just as humans had wicked people and good people, there were naturally demons that did not feed on humans. They were simply pitifully few in number.

These demons that did not feed on humans were already weak, and they knew full well how important it was to huddle together for warmth. The Mountain Fair was also a place for them to get acquainted with one another.

Since these demons did not harm people, humans naturally did not fear them. They had even formed a certain kind of cooperation.

Demons found precious medicinal herbs in the mountains and forests that humans could not obtain, while humans provided all manner of tools from human society.

Mutual benefit, each taking what they needed.

Only then did Lin Jun remember that there had indeed been cases of humans cooperating with demons. Such cases were simply too rare; demons and humans had always been like fire and water.

"This Old Ox plans to sell this pair of horns. What are you selling, little brother?"

The Ox Demon shook its massive horns. They would indeed make fine weapons.

"Do you sell cultivation techniques here?"

Old Ox looked at Lin Jun in confusion and sighed.

"You're an ambitious one, little brother. Unlike me—I only want to bask in the sun every day."

A rabbit suddenly leaped onto Old Ox's back and looked at Lin Jun.

"If you're looking for cultivation techniques, Lord Lu might have some. Go and try your luck."

Lord Lu was the initiator and manager of the Mountain Fair.

Before long, the many demons reached the summit of Phoenix Forest Mountain. A noble young man was already standing there with his eyes closed.

The noble young man had twin horns growing from his head and wore green robes. His eyes were shut, and a herd of deer surrounded him.

This was Lord Lu.

The demons consciously entered one after another, filling the mountaintop.

Lin Jun sat beside the water buffalo, looking over the demons covering the ground, his hands itching unbearably.

How much experience was that?

But Lin Jun was not some bloodthirsty man. These demons had never harmed humans, and he had not gone so mad as to slaughter them anyway.

Before the noble young man stood a towering bronze furnace guarded by two White Deer, with roaring flames burning beneath it.

"Then the Mountain Fair officially begins! Please come forward in order."

With a wave of the noble young man's hand, all the demons and humans formed a neat single-file line.

Old Ox pulled Lin Jun into the line as well.

What was this for?

Lin Jun was baffled.

He saw every demon and human take out a precious medicinal herb. Some of the herbs were valuable, while others were ordinary.

Then they tossed the medicinal herbs into the bronze furnace one by one.

As more and more precious herbs were added, an indescribable fragrance slowly drifted across Phoenix Forest Mountain.

That Deer Demon was refining medicine!

Even within the Demon Exorcism Bureau, those who truly understood alchemy were few and far between.

The line moved quickly, and Lin Jun's turn was about to arrive.

Lin Jun awkwardly realized that he had not brought anything at all.

Just as Lin Jun was feeling embarrassed, he suddenly sensed something in his hand.

He raised it and saw that the Rabbit Demon had handed him an old mountain ginseng.

"Remember to pay me back next time. I'm very poor."

The Rabbit Demon stood on Lin Jun's shoulder as it spoke.

"Thank you. I will."

The demons here were surprisingly friendly.

When Lin Jun's turn came, he tossed the old mountain ginseng into the bronze furnace.

By then, the medicinal fragrance had become incredibly rich. Lin Jun's mouth watered, and he swallowed hard twice.

At that moment, the noble young man suddenly opened his eyes. His golden pupils fixed directly on Lin Jun.

"An exorcist from the Demon Exorcism Bureau?"

The moment those words were spoken, every demon on the mountain looked over.

Quite a few timid demons were so frightened that they fell flat on their backsides.

Even the Rabbit Demon that had just given Lin Jun the ginseng was so frightened that it fell straight off his shoulder.

These weak demons had survived only because they were well-informed and had mastered the art of seeking advantage and avoiding danger.

Wasn't the Demon Exorcism Bureau exorcist from Green Forest County the very man who had exterminated the Snake Demon and Bear Demon's entire families?

Quite a few weak demons had gone to see those two caves. The bloody scenes there had been terrifying beyond measure.

Not a single member of either family had been spared. Even the earthworms inside had been chopped into minced meat, and the spiders had been stripped of their silk.

Such a terrifying man was actually among them.

The noble young man slowly rose to his feet, and Lin Jun instinctively drew his blade.

"My name is Lu Ling. Before you make your move, sir, please allow me to show you something."

Lu Ling slowly took out a booklet from his robes. It bore the official seal of the Demon Exorcism Bureau.

"Sir, our Mountain Fair activities are registered with the Demon Exorcism Bureau."