Mountain Fair

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

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

This was the very plaque he had taken from the Bear Demon. Unlike during the day, it was no longer quiet, but began flashing with a faint light.

Lin Jun loosened his grip on the plaque and watched it slowly float into the air. After spinning once in midair, a tiny point of light with butterfly wings drifted out of it.

The point of light circled Lin Jun once, then slowly flew toward the city outskirts.

It was not fast, occasionally pausing as though it wanted Lin Jun to follow.

Now this was interesting.

The point of light was suffused with a peaceful aura. Though it had been found on a demon, it contained not a trace of malice.

Green Forest County enforced a curfew. Not a soul could be seen at night, and Lin Jun followed the light unimpeded 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, Master Lin, he's new and doesn't know the rules. Please don't hold it against him."

That was the ruthless man who had wiped out the Bear Demon's entire household. Where did this kid get the nerve to stop him?

Thus, Lin Jun left the city without a hitch. Outside stood a towering White Deer, even larger than an ordinary horse.

Upon seeing the point of light, the White Deer came over to Lin Jun of its own accord, signaling for him to climb onto its back.

The White Deer inspired peace at first sight. Calling it an auspicious beast would not have been an exaggeration.

Seeing this, Lin Jun mounted the White Deer.

The deer then carried Lin Jun galloping north.

Lin Jun was surprised to discover that this deer was three parts faster than an ordinary horse, and its back did not jolt in the slightest.

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

A great number of deer had already gathered there, all different in color and breed.

What astonished Lin Jun was that every deer had something on its back.

Old turtles, rabbits, sheep, even birds.

They were all demons!

In an instant, Lin Jun felt as though he had stumbled into a demon nest.

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

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

These humans and demons actually walked together, with not the slightest fear on their faces.

Lin Jun jumped down from the deer and observed carefully. Only then did he realize that these demons bore not half a trace of malice; all were filled with peaceful auras.

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

Each demon carried something, whether precious herbs or tools.

The humans followed closely behind, some carrying shoulder poles and some bearing baskets on their backs, trailing after the demons up Phoenix Forest Mountain.

"Little brother, is this your first time attending the Mountain Fair?"

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

"Mountain Fair?"

Lin Jun was puzzled.

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

The so-called Mountain Fair was a gathering organized by demons. Here, everyone brought things they did not need and exchanged them for useful ones, bartering goods and trading what each lacked.

Just as humans had both good people and evil people, demons naturally included those that did not feed on humans. They were simply as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns.

These demons that did not eat humans were weak to begin with and understood the importance of huddling 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 were not afraid of them, and had even formed a certain kind of partnership.

The demons searched the forests for precious herbs 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 recall that there had indeed been cases of humans working with demons, but such cases were far too rare. The relationship between demons and humans had always been like fire and water.

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

The ox demon shook its great horns. They would indeed make fine weapons.

"Do you sell cultivation techniques here?"

Old Ox looked at Lin Jun in confusion, then sighed.

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

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

"If you're talking about cultivation techniques, Lord Lu might have some. Go try your luck."

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

Soon, the many demons reached the summit of Phoenix Forest Mountain. A noble young man already stood there with his eyes closed.

The noble young man had a pair of horns on 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 at the demons covering the ground, his hands itching unbearably.

How much experience would this be?

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

Before the noble young man stood a towering bronze furnace, guarded by two White Deer, with roaring flames blazing 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 obediently formed a single long line.

Old Ox also pulled Lin Jun into the queue.

What was this for?

Lin Jun was baffled.

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

Then they took turns tossing the herbs into the bronze furnace.

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

That deer demon was refining medicine!

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

The line advanced quickly, and it was nearly Lin Jun's turn.

Lin Jun awkwardly realized that he had brought nothing at all.

Just as Lin Jun was feeling embarrassed, he suddenly noticed that something had appeared in his hand.

Raising his hand to look, he saw that the rabbit demon had given 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.

The medicinal fragrance was already exceptionally 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 staring directly at Lin Jun.

"Demon Exorcist?"

The moment those words were spoken, all the demons across 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 mountain ginseng was so terrified that it fell straight off Lin Jun's shoulder.

These weak demons had survived only by keeping themselves well-informed, their ability to seek advantage and avoid harm honed to the fullest.

Wasn't the Demon Exorcist from Green Forest County the very man who had exterminated the Snake Demon's and Bear Demon's entire households?

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

Not one was spared, from top to bottom. Even the earthworms inside had been chopped into minced meat, and the spiders had their silk pulled out.

Such a horrifying person was actually among them.

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

"I am Lu Ling. Before you make a move, my lord, please allow me to show you something."

Lu Ling slowly took out a booklet, bearing the unmistakable seal of the Demon Exorcism Bureau.

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