The sound echoed through the forest nonstop, traveling a great distance and disturbing many of the Little Demons that lived there; even the Bright Bugs stopped in mid-air and turned to look into the distance.
"They really started early. These stupid Demons from the Western Regions just don't understand the rules." Huai Xu's face grew more serious. "This is bad."
"So many Bright Bugs! Zhou Ni, let's catch Bright Bugs!"
"We can catch them with Lord Dumpling later," Zhou Li replied patiently, then asked, "What do we do now?"
"Let think."
"Okay."
"Don't be afraid! Lord Dumpling is very powerful! This is Lord Dumpling's territory!"
"Ordinary Demons have a limited ability to recognize Heavenly Masters. I'll first find a way to conceal your human scent. That way, in the eyes of most Demons, you'll just appear as a humanoid, unidentified object. With by your side, they'll most likely mistake you for a Demon skilled in transformation and concealing its aura. As long as we don't run into any sharp-eyed Great Demons, we should avoid detection," Huai Xu said, his eyes flickering. "Then, we'll see if we can find an exit to get you out of here first. Since they were able to bring so many Demons in at once, there must be an entrance or exit nearby."
"Okay."
"Don't be scared. I'll protect you. If it really cos down to it, we can forget about that book." Huai Xu paused, his expression still very grave. "But if an accident happens and I can't look after you, I'll teach you three incantations that can keep you safe. Repeat after ."
"Lord Dumpling will protect you too!"
"No problem."
"The first incantation: I know Master Ming."
"?"
"Quick, repeat it."
"Umm..."
"The second incantation: I know Lin Zhong."
"I think I can guess the third incantation too," Zhou Li said thoughtfully. "Will they really work?"
"I think they will," Huai Xu said with a shrug. "Anyway, you need to make it clear that you stumbled in here by accident and have absolutely no interest in their ga. You're the victim."
"That feels a bit awkward to say."
"What's awkward about it?" Huai Xu shook his head. "A thod is just a ans to an end. You judge a thod not by how it looks, but by how simple and efficient it is. If you insist on choosing a more complicated thod just because it looks better, you're rely concerned with the opinions of common folk."
"That doesn't sound like you."
"Hmm..."
"Zhou Li, Zhou Li! Lord Dumpling will teach you an incantation too!"
Seeing so many Bright Bugs here, Lord Dumpling was especially excited and eager to speak.
Zhou Li couldn't keep ignoring her, so he looked down and said, "I've already guessed Lord Dumpling's incantation. Thank you, Lord Dumpling."
"But... Lord Dumpling hasn't told you yet."
"But I've already guessed it."
"OH! It's very effective!"
"I know."
Just then, the voice from before rang out overhead, this ti announcing the ga's rules.
Following the voice's direction, Zhou Li tilted his head far back. Through gaps in the dense foliage, which blocked most of the light and rain, he vaguely saw a mountain rising abruptly from the earth. He had to shift his position a few tis to get a clear view of its true form: it resembled an exceptionally tall and slender volcano, yet it was covered in towering, deep green trees, with no signs of eruption.
「The ga had begun.」
The rules were very simple: whoever was standing on the mountaintop at dawn would be the winner.
Thus, the path to the mountaintop was now a massive arena. Losers automatically forfeited their right to participate and had to declare their failure upon eting other participants. There was no other chanism to remove losers from the field; it all relied on the Demons' own integrity.
Additionally, Demons were forbidden from revealing the victor's identity.
The rules were so simple they seed almost primitive.
When the voice stopped, the Old Monster had already helped Zhou Li conceal his human scent. He cautioned, "You'll expose yourself if you use Spiritual Power. Humans don't know how to use it, and even the most exquisite Taoist magic looks crude to Demons. So, if you encounter any Demons, it's best not to act. Leave everything to ."
Then he turned to survey the distant mountain—
"Looks like a shaomai."
"..."
"Sit here for a mont. I'll go find so local Little Demons and ask if there's an exit," Huai Xu said, stretching his limbs. "I'll co back to check on you every five seconds."
"That's not necessary."
"It is."
POOF.
Huai Xu vanished in a flash.
Zhou Li hugged Tuanzi tightly, glanced around, and found a root hollow under an ancient tree to his left that could shelter them. He went inside and sat on a thick root, waiting patiently.
He was a little nervous, but not panicked.
Tuanzi squird in his arms, looked up at him, and asked in a small voice, "When are we going to catch Bright Bugs?"
"Let's wait a little while."
"How long is a little while?"
"It's very dangerous here right now. Let's hide for a while, like we're playing hide-and-seek. We need to make sure no one finds us, okay?"
"It's not dangerous! Lord Dumpling is very powerful and will protect you from bad Demons!" Tuanzi declared solemnly. "Catching Bright Bugs is much more fun than hide-and-seek!"
"But I want to play hide-and-seek."
"OH~~"
Lord Dumpling decided to indulge Zhou Li.
So she stayed quietly in Zhou Li's arms, not making a sound or fidgeting. She just stared with her eyes, which held the Xing He, at the Bright Bugs dancing outside, her swaying tail betraying her true desires.
「After about fifteen minutes.」
Huai Xu reappeared before them, shaking his head. "There is an entrance nearby, but it's an old one. It hasn't been maintained and is practically derelict—very hard to open. A group of Great Demons prepared for a long ti just to force it open a crack. I went to check, and it's true. I can't open it by myself. It looks like we'll have to hide until the ga ends."
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