We Should Count Ourselves Lucky He Doesn't Beat These Old Bones of Ours

Feng Moyuan had eaten his fill.

But seeing Su Ying gulp down the black liquid in her hand with apparent delight piqued his curiosity.

Was it that good?

But it looked like poison...

He watched Su Ying narrow her eyes slightly, then heard her say, "Fat nerd happy water and hot pot-the perfect pairing!"

Feng Moyuan raised an eyebrow.

Bai Mang approached and saw his Demon Venerable crouching on the young woman's roof again, watching what was happening inside. He was speechless.

How had the Demon Venerable picked up a taste for peeping after sleeping for a thousand years?

Seeing Bai Mang, Feng Moyuan replaced the roof tile and flew down. "What is it?"

"Demon Venerable, the elders have matters to report. They're waiting for you in the Court Hall," Bai Mang said.

Feng Moyuan frowned and vanished toward the Court Hall.

Bai Mang immediately followed.

Inside the Court Hall, several elders stood sighing with worry written all over their faces. The sight of Feng Moyuan entering instantly lifted their spirits.

"Greetings, Your Highness, Demon Venerable." The elders bowed to Feng Moyuan.

Feng Moyuan reclined on his throne, his languid expression tinged with menace. Being summoned by this bunch of old men had left him rather impatient. "What is it?"

The elders exchanged glances before finally pushing Elder Yama forward.

"Demon Venerable."

Elder Yama bowed again and said tremulously, "A group of spirit beasts suddenly awakened in the Demon Realm's Flame Mountain Range. They have harmed dozens of our citizens, and their numbers are steadily growing. While you were cultivating in seclusion, we sent soldiers to suppress them several times, but without success. Their numbers show signs of increasing further. We ask that you personally lead troops to subdue them."

Feng Moyuan's violet eyes darkened. These old bastards!

"Why must I go?" He took out the Phoenix Feather and toyed with it. "As elders, you failed to lead troops yourselves and settle this while I was cultivating in seclusion. Instead, you waited until I emerged. Tell me, what exactly are you playing at?"

Elder Yama trembled and immediately dropped to his knees.

The elders behind him all swiftly knelt as well.

Elder Yama forced out a few tears. "Your Highness, Demon Venerable, it's not that we refused to deal with it. These old bones of ours simply aren't up to the task!"

"Is that so?" Feng Moyuan looked at the old men kneeling before him. After so many peaceful years, their cultivation had surely gone to rust.

It seemed the Demon Realm had not been entirely peaceful during his seclusion.

These old bastards were lucky the cultivation sects had not seized the opportunity to invade.

Otherwise, by the time he awoke, the Demon Realm might already have been razed.

Elder Yama prostrated himself, tearfully lamenting their age and helplessness. "Your Highness, Demon Venerable, our arms and legs are old now. We couldn't endure leading soldiers to the Flame Mountain Range. General Zhen has been stationed at the border all this time and cannot spare the time to come, so only you can resolve this by going in person. The Flame Mountain Range is rich in resources, but because these awakened spirit beasts have been wreaking havoc among the people, no one dares harvest anything there anymore. Those beasts with spiritual awareness have nearly taken over the entire area!"

"I'm not going." Feng Moyuan remained languid.

Elder Yama was horrified. "Demon Venerable, think of your subjects..."

"I still have all these memorials to deal with." Feng Moyuan stuck the Phoenix Feather into the thick pile of memorials before him.

Elder Yama shuddered. "Well..."

"You useless lot submit memorials even over missing cats and dogs, yet won't help resolve anything. You've wasted no small amount of my time. It'll take me at least six months to a year to finish these." Feng Moyuan's expression hardened. As Su Ying had complained while helping review the memorials, he had gained a rough idea of their contents.

They were all trivial matters.

One glance was enough to tell that these old bastards were deliberately messing with him.

Many years ago, when he was still a child, these old bastards had delighted in tormenting him.

Now he was no longer that child. Unable to beat him in a fight, they had dreamed up other ways to torment him.

Elder Yama glanced back and exchanged looks with the other elders.

They had never expected that the "entertainment" they had deliberately provided for Feng Moyuan would one day become his excuse to shirk his duties.

Elder Yama gritted his teeth and made up his mind. "Demon Venerable, leave these memorials to us!"

Feng Moyuan raised an eyebrow.

"Please rest assured and go deal with the spirit beast menace, Your Highness, Demon Venerable!" Elder Yama prostrated himself again in entreaty.

"Please rest assured and go deal with the spirit beast menace, Your Highness, Demon Venerable!" Seeing this, the other elders had no choice but to echo him.

Fun was fun, and games were games, but they could not make light of the people's lives and safety.

Feng Moyuan sneered, inwardly cursing the old bastards before casually opening a memorial. "In that case, you will handle these memorials. They all concern the livelihoods of the Demon Realm's people, so don't do a slapdash job. I will inspect them upon my return."

"Yes!" Elder Yama had never imagined that their attempt to dig a pit for Feng Moyuan would leave them falling into it themselves.

"Black Shadow, Bai Mang." At Feng Moyuan's command, two figures flashed into view before Elder Yama.

"Come with me to meet these vermin." A vicious gleam flashed through Feng Moyuan's eyes. For daring to run amok in his Demon Realm, he would make those spirit beasts regret choosing the wrong place.

"Yes!" Black Shadow and Bai Mang answered together.

Elder Yama asked in surprise, "Your Highness, Demon Venerable, aren't you taking soldiers?"

"Do I need soldiers to deal with mere spirit beasts?" Feng Moyuan flew out.

Elder Yama rubbed his eyes, then widened them in disbelief. "Heavens, has the Demon Venerable advanced again?"

"Has he?"

"He has!"

"Wasn't his advancement ruined by a disciple of the Cultivation Sect? What's going on now? When did he advance?"

"How should I know?" The questions left Elder Yama speechless. Then he said dejectedly, "We're done for. We couldn't beat that brat before, and now we'll have even less chance."

"You still want to fight him?" another elder scoffed. "We should count ourselves lucky he doesn't beat these old bones of ours."

"Arrogant brat. Ah..."

The other elders sighed along with him.

After eating and drinking her fill, Su Ying contentedly tidied everything away and prepared to enjoy a lovely, long sleep.

After all, sleeping on straw in the dungeon had been utterly miserable.

But she had only just lain down when someone shoved the door open with a bang.

"Holy crap!" Startled, Su Ying immediately sat up. Seeing that it was Black Shadow, she snapped, "Don't you know to knock before entering a young woman's room? Don't you understand that men and women should keep their distance?"

"Come on. You're coming with us." Black Shadow could not care less about propriety between men and women.

"Where are you taking me?" Remembering how terrifying the dungeon was, Su Ying immediately clutched the bedsheet. "I'm not going! I'm not going anywhere! Don't even think about taking me out of this room today!"

"You're so noisy!" Exasperated, Black Shadow sent a gust of palm force chopping straight at Su Ying's neck.