Jiang Liu’er had just left, pulling Hu Yuyu, when Mu Zha hurriedly followed behind.
Without Guanyin Bodhisattva, Mu Zha, the sole disciple of a Bodhisattva, was exhausted from traveling alone from Ling Mountain to the Tang Dynasty.
He soon discovered that Jiang Liu’er had vanished within two days.
Mu Zha summoned the local land god within ten miles.
“You little brat, I heard you were going to… oh!” The land god’s words were cut short as he was startled by Mu Zha, immediately bowing his head in submission: “Your humble servant was disrespectful, defying the celestial immortals. Please forgive me!”
Mu Zha said, “I am not an immortal, but a Buddha—a disciple of Guanyin of the Southern Sea, my dharma name is Hui’an.”
The land god became even more humble: “Your humble servant bows to the Western Heavens’ Bodhisattva.”
Mu Zha didn’t waste words with the land god. He got straight to the point: “Where have the human and fox gone in the cave?”
The land god truthfully replied: “They said they were going to kill Bear Chief.”
Mu Zha froze: “Who is Bear Chief?!”
The land god explained: “He’s a demon of the Wolf Gorge Cave, second in cultivation only to Demon King Lang Wujin, the second-in-command of the cave.”
Mu Zha’s eyes widened.
Jinchan’s reincarnation had gone to kill the second-in-command of a demon cave?
How bold he was!
Two days prior, when Mu Zha followed Guanyin to meet Jiang Liu’er, he had seen Wolf Gorge Cave from the heavens and knew its location.
He immediately soared into the sky.
……
“Great King, Jiang Liu’er has vanished without a trace. We’ve searched two days and nights without finding a single clue.”
Ma Chief frowned, reporting to Lang Wujin: “And our forces are dwindling. Many lesser demons fled, terrified by Jiang Liu’er’s reputation. They fear being killed by bamboo spears like thieves!”
Bear Chief added: “Even my own subordinates have fled. Only seven remain.”
Ma Chief added softly: “I have even fewer—only four left.”
Lang Wujin fell silent.
Gazing at the empty Wolf Gorge Cave, he felt a pang of desolation.
Once upon a time…
Wolf Gorge Cave had been invincible, with over two hundred demons. Who didn’t know Demon King Lang Wujin, the tyrant of the region?
But since Jiang Liu’er’s appearance, the cave had crumbled.
Over a hundred lesser demons dead, dozens fled.
Now, only eleven lesser demons, two chiefs, and the king remained.
A pitiable state!
“Keep searching!” Lang Wujin’s face darkened. “If he isn’t found, we’ll capture dozens of mortals to lure him out! For each day he hides, I’ll kill ten. If two days pass, twenty—until the heads roll!”
“Great King, this is unwise!” Ma Chief protested. “Such cruelty will offend the heavenly deities!”
Bear Chief urged: “Let us search two more days before taking other measures.”
Lang Wujin calmed down.
He’d only spoken impulsively. He dared not risk divine retribution.
“Continue searching,” he dismissed them with a wave.
Bear Chief and Ma Chief exited the cave.
Ma Chief grumbled: “Searching for Jiang Liu’er is like finding a needle in the sea. Do you have any clever plans, Bear Chief?”
“None,” Bear Chief growled. “If I had, I’d have captured that thief and skinned him for the king long ago.”
Sighing, he said: “We’ll just keep searching.”
He summoned his remaining seven lesser demons to search the southern region.
Soon after leaving Wolf Gorge Cave, Bear Chief sensed something amiss. Sniffing the air, he barked at his subordinates: “Who ate human flesh today? I smell it!”
The lesser demons looked at each other.
A crane demon timidly replied: “Since that thief appeared, we’ve all been terrified. Who has time to hunt humans? The vegetarian demons eat fruit, and the carnivores survive on pheasants and rabbits.”
Bear Chief’s expression tightened.
“Be cautious!” he warned. “Jiang Liu’er must be nearby!”
A sudden thud—one lesser demon stiffened, a bamboo spear piercing his heart.
The stench of blood and fallen comrade sent the demons into chaos.
“The Jiang little devil is here!”
The demons scrambled to arm themselves.
Swoosh swoosh swoosh—dozens of bamboo spears rained down.
The lesser demons froze in despair.
Bear Chief’s golden hammers could only block spears aimed at him. The others fell.
Moments later, all lesser demons lay dead, leaving only Bear Chief seething with rage.
Sniffing the air, he detected Jiang Liu’er’s scent and charged: “I’ve found you!”
Hu Yuyu, hidden nearby, gasped: “He tracked us even here! That bear is formidable.”
Jiang Liu’er smiled: “Stay back. I’ll kill him. If I falter, assist me!”
With new powers, he strode forward to confront Bear Chief.
“What a massive bear,” Jiang Liu’er remarked.
Bear Chief stood ten feet tall, broad as a barrel, his fur bristling. Waves of demonic energy radiated.
Facing him felt like facing death.
Bear Chief roared, the earth trembling beneath his charge.
“Thief! Your soul is mine!” His hammers struck down.
Jiang Liu’er dodged, releasing his sword with the Hundred Curses Piercing Heart Technique. The blade soared, aiming for Bear Chief’s heart.
……
……
