Chapter 102: A Jest
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“Hahaha, how interesting. How interesting.” The monarch’s expression changed with remarkable speed. He had appeared furious a moment before, yet now he suddenly burst into laughter and slowly sat down.
“I knew I had not misjudged you. You are truly impressive.”
Ye Sansi asked in confusion, “Your Majesty, what do you mean?”
“Ye Sansi, I knew of you long ago. You helped the Roc brothers survive their tribulation and eradicated the demonic plague in Spirit Province. Such chivalrous spirit has earned my admiration. The moment you entered the village, I sensed your presence and made a wager with Elder Roc. We wagered whether you would fear me or not—whether you would kneel when I ordered you to.”
Ye Sansi clasped his hands and smiled. “If my words just now were offensive, I hope Your Majesty will forgive me.”
“No harm done, no harm done. You are straightforward by nature, and I like that.”
Upon seeing who it was, Ye Sansi hurriedly bowed. “Senior Roc Immortal, Sansi is doing very well. I have come today to visit the Other Demon Realm and to bring Your Majesty some important news.”
Hearing that Ye Sansi had important news, the monarch grew serious as well. He rose and, together with Roc Immortal, approached Ye Sansi before asking softly, “Young Hero Ye, what important matter is it?”
“I have come at another person’s request to inform Your Majesty that the Demon Realm is preparing to gather its armies and launch a full-scale invasion of the human world. Their target is this very place. I hope Your Majesty will quickly devise a way to respond and prevent countless innocent demonfolk from dying needlessly.”
Seeing that the monarch was not angry, Ye Sansi’s expression relaxed into a smile. He asked, “Then may I ask, Your Majesty, who won the wager between you and Senior Roc Immortal?”
The monarch threw back his head and laughed. “We both won, we both won! We had both bet that you would neither fear me nor kneel. Hahaha, you truly were exactly as we expected.”
As the two spoke, Roc Immortal emerged from the rear hall and called out to Ye Sansi, “Young Hero Ye, it has been a long time. How have you been lately?”
Ye Sansi bowed again. “Your Majesty, Senior Roc Immortal, Ye Sansi is willing to lend the Other Demon Realm a hand.”
The monarch waved both hands repeatedly and refused. “No, absolutely not! This is a matter for the Other Demon Realm. How could we allow an outsider like you to risk your life? No, no, absolutely not!”
Ye Sansi paid no heed to whether the undertaking was dangerous. He knew only that the Other Demon Realm had shown kindness to him and to the common people. Now that its demonfolk were in peril, he could not stand idly by. Even if he did not act out of gratitude, he would do so for these benevolent creatures. Ye Sansi simply could not watch them die without offering help.
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After Ye Sansi finished speaking, the monarch furrowed his brows, his face heavy with worry. Ye Sansi knew that he must have learned of this news long ago; otherwise, he would never have evacuated the village’s inhabitants and sent mighty demons to hide among them.
The monarch slowly said, “Thank you, Young Hero Ye. We already know of this matter, but there is little we can do. The Demon Realm wishes to exterminate us merely because we are different. We can only let them come and then resist them. If we can hold them off, that will be for the best. If we cannot, then we…”
Seeing such a lofty monarch filled with sorrow and helplessness, Ye Sansi could not bear it. The Other Demon Realm contained a great many demonfolk, all living peaceful and prosperous lives. Yet the Demon Realm was utterly unreasonable. It had rejected these kind demons and driven them away, while the Other Demon Realm had welcomed them. Now that the Other Demon Realm had grown powerful, the Demon Realm sought to destroy it completely. It was truly vile.
Ye Sansi nodded and followed Roc Immortal into the rear hall.
Seeing Ye Sansi, Roc Immortal smiled and greeted him warmly. “Young Hero Ye, it has only been a few days, yet you have already entered the Immortal Sect. Excellent, excellent. Your future will surely be limitless. Your cultivation will one day far surpass mine. Hahaha.”
“Senior Roc Immortal, how can you say such a thing? I think you are merely teasing me. You are an immortal and possess the body of a divine beast. Even if I cultivated for many years, I doubt I could reach one-tenth of your cultivation.”
“Your Majesty, I, Ye Sansi, do not fear danger or hardship. When Spirit Province was afflicted by the demonic plague, Senior Roc Immortal helped me eradicate it for the sake of Spirit Province’s people. Your Majesty also taught me the Essence-Seizing Art, granting me the kindness of instruction. In reason and in feeling, now that the Other Demon Realm is in trouble, how could I simply leave?”
As he spoke, Ye Sansi grew increasingly agitated, hoping to persuade the monarch to let him stay. Though he understood that his cultivation was far inferior to that of the mighty demons of the Other Demon Realm, he now knew that the realm was in danger. If he did not contribute what little strength he possessed and returned safely to Fangcun Immortal Isle, he would surely feel burdened by guilt and be unable to sleep soundly.
Seeing how anxious Ye Sansi was, the monarch had no choice but to relent. He smiled and said, “Then have Elder Roc arrange a room for you. Eat a proper meal, take a look around the Other Demon Realm, and then we will await the Demon Realm’s army while resting and conserving our strength.”
“Then where will Your Majesty stay?”
Roc Immortal frowned and let out a sigh before slowly replying, “The king? Ever since I began following him, I have seen him rest only in the royal hall. He sits upon the throne, clenches one fist beneath his head, closes his eyes, and makes do that way.”
“Why does he not rest in a room? If I can be given one, surely the monarch should not be left without one.”
Roc Immortal laughed heartily. “Young Hero Ye, you are far too modest. I can already sense that the power within you has reached one-tenth of mine. Who can say what heights you will attain after ten years, or a hundred?”
“Senior, please stop praising me. If I hear too many pleasant words, I may begin to look down on cultivation. Hahaha. By the way, Senior, where are we going?”
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“To your lodging. Behind this royal hall are the residences of the elders and generals, so that whenever His Majesty has matters to discuss, they can reach the hall without wasting much time.”
There was even a stone bed inside. Ye Sansi scratched his head and smiled. “Senior Roc Immortal, surely you are not asking me to sleep on this?”
“Young Hero Ye, you may rest assured. This is no ordinary stone bed. It is carved from heatstone. In winter, anyone lying upon it will find that it naturally gives off warmth.”
Ye Sansi lay down on the stone bed and indeed felt a gentle heat beneath him. Its hard surface reminded him rather strongly of the bed on Nameless Peak.
He smiled. “If I had not come down from the mountain, I would never have known that such a strange and fascinating thing existed.”
Roc Immortal smiled. “Our king is constantly thinking of the demonfolk. He says that sleeping in a bed leaves him uneasy, whereas sitting upon the throne allows him to sense what is happening in the villages beyond the Other Demon Realm. He pays attention to every detail. Though there have been many years of peace, he has grown accustomed to living this way over the centuries and millennia, and so he has continued.”
As Ye Sansi and Roc Immortal chatted, they arrived at the lodging arranged for him. The dwelling had been built within the mountain itself. Its stone door concealed a mechanism.
Once inside, Ye Sansi realized that the room had been carved out of the mountain, forming a natural cavern. He had to admit that it was remarkably cool and comfortable inside. Ordinary human craftsmen could never have managed such work.
“Then, Young Hero Ye, you may stay for as long as you like. You can leave after you have explored every part of our Other Demon Realm.”
Ye Sansi rose and smiled. “I think, Senior Roc Immortal, that you are trying to drive me away. I am not leaving. I already said that when the Demon Realm attacks, I will lend you my strength. If the Demon Realm does not withdraw, then neither will I!”
“Very well, very well. Young Hero Ye, we shall do as you wish. Stay for as long as you like. Why don’t we have something to eat first, then take you around to see the beautiful sights of the Other Demon Realm? After that, I can explain our defensive arrangements to you. How does that sound?”
“Very well. Come to think of it, I have not eaten in quite some time. I am truly a little hungry.”
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