Chapter Eighteen: Acquiring the Fiery Cloud Cavern

“Second Lord, something terrible has happened! The King is bringing that monkey here—looks like they're coming to demand justice!” A bull demon burst into the residence of the Immortal of Wishful Thinking, shouting anxiously.

“What? Is my elder brother truly here to hold me accountable?” The Immortal of Wishful Thinking slumped in his chair, defeated.

With a loud crash, the doors were kicked open.

“Immortal of Wishful Thinking, let me ask you: why did you insult my old friend?” The Bull Demon King strode in, kicking open the doors. Normally, he would never enter his sworn brother's home in such a manner, but now there was no room for courtesy.

Had he not known, it might have been forgivable, but now that the truth was out, an explanation for Yuan Wuyi was necessary.

“Brother, I didn't know he was your old friend—I thought he was trespassing in the Fiery Cloud Cave.” The Immortal of Wishful Thinking immediately knelt before the Bull Demon King.

“I explained outside the cave that I was visiting as an old friend, yet you still attacked and insulted me,” Yuan Wuyi said. Such trivial matters were never of much concern to him, but now that someone had stood up for him, he was curious to see how the Bull Demon King would resolve the matter.

Had the Bull Demon King learned of this incident privately, he would have merely punished the Immortal of Wishful Thinking lightly, offering Yuan Wuyi some satisfaction. But since Yuan Wuyi was present when the Bull Demon King discovered it, it was not so easily dismissed.

“Second Lord, what’s wrong with you now? Did you anger the King again?” The Fox Advisor, hearing that the Bull Demon King was coming to demand justice, hurried in, hoping to witness the Immortal of Wishful Thinking’s humiliation. Yet the Immortal of Wishful Thinking had no time for indignation; his mind was entirely occupied by the Bull Demon King.

“Fox Advisor, you were surely present at the time—why didn’t you stop the Second Lord’s foolish actions?” The Bull Demon King, seeing the Fox Advisor, assigned him blame indiscriminately, hoping to share the responsibility between the Immortal of Wishful Thinking and the Fox Advisor, making it easier to explain to Yuan Wuyi.

The Fox Advisor had not expected that, simply by coming to watch the spectacle, he would be saddled with guilt. He realized he had overestimated his standing with the Bull Demon King.

“This matter was solely the doing of the Immortal of Wishful Thinking; the Fox Advisor was not present. During my time in the Fiery Cloud Cave, the Fox Advisor attended to my needs with great care,” Yuan Wuyi said, clarifying the Fox Advisor’s innocence. He was curious to see how the Bull Demon King would handle his sworn brother, so he deliberately absolved the Fox Advisor, earning the latter’s profound gratitude.

The Bull Demon King believed Yuan Wuyi would show him some consideration and that a light punishment for the Immortal of Wishful Thinking and the Fox Advisor would suffice to cover the matter. But from Yuan Wuyi’s attitude, it seemed he had no intention of letting it go.

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“Immortal of Wishful Thinking, since you’ve offended Brother Wuyi, what punishment do you think is appropriate?” The Bull Demon King, uncertain of Yuan Wuyi’s limits, tossed the question back to the Immortal of Wishful Thinking, hoping to resolve the issue and satisfy Yuan Wuyi.

“This… this…” The Immortal of Wishful Thinking had not expected the Bull Demon King to leave the decision to him. He had no treasures to offer, and now he was at a loss as to what to do.

He stammered for a long time, unable to answer, leaving the Bull Demon King to decide.

“Brother Wuyi, what compensation would satisfy you and allow you to let go of your grudge against my brother?” The Bull Demon King had placed the Immortal of Wishful Thinking in the Fiery Cloud Cave precisely because he was more trouble than he was worth, and had even assigned the Fox Advisor to assist him. Yet, they had engaged in petty scheming, and now he had to clean up the mess.

“Oh?” Yuan Wuyi had not expected the matter to end with compensation; he thought it would involve punishing the Immortal of Wishful Thinking. Clearly, the Immortal of Wishful Thinking held some value in the Bull Demon King’s eyes, or he would not offer such a settlement.

“In that case, how about you entrust the Fiery Cloud Cave to me, Brother Bull Demon King?” Yuan Wuyi considered for a moment and offered a moderate request.

“If my brother wishes for the Fiery Cloud Cave, then I gladly give it to him,” the Bull Demon King replied. He had expected Yuan Wuyi to make a more extravagant demand, but was relieved that it was just the cave.

The journey to the west was about to begin, and the Patriarch Hongjun had decreed that saints must not emerge, nor could those at the Great Luo level interfere in the journey. Therefore, in the mortal realm, those of the Taiyi stage could rule as kings. If Yuan Wuyi wanted a mountain, he could have it—the Bull Demon King could simply seize another.

“Brother, you can’t…” The Immortal of Wishful Thinking coveted the Fiery Cloud Cave and did not want to give it to Yuan Wuyi, but the Bull Demon King cut him off before he could finish.

“Silence!” The Bull Demon King had not expected his brother to be so short-sighted—if a single mountain could appease Yuan Wuyi, he should be glad to give it.

“Perhaps it’s best to reassign him to Emerald Cloud Mountain as a minor commander, so he won’t cause trouble for me here,” the Bull Demon King thought to himself.

“From today forward, the Fiery Cloud Cave belongs to my brother Yuan Wuyi. Whoever wishes to stay may do so; those who do not may return to Emerald Cloud Mountain.” The Bull Demon King issued his order immediately, fearing Yuan Wuyi might change his mind.

“Pack your things and return to Emerald Cloud Mountain,” the Bull Demon King said privately to the Immortal of Wishful Thinking.

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“We are willing to remain in the Fiery Cloud Cave and follow the new lord,” the Fox Advisor declared at once. Compared to the Immortal of Wishful Thinking, the Fox Advisor had far less standing with the Bull Demon King. Life at Emerald Cloud Mountain would mean constant oppression, so following Yuan Wuyi promised freedom and ease.

Indeed, when the Fox Advisor pledged loyalty to Yuan Wuyi, the Bull Demon King did not even blink. In his eyes, such a low-level and aged demon held no value; he cared not whom the Fox Advisor served.

But for Yuan Wuyi, the Fox Advisor was exactly what he needed—a steward. He was glad to have him.

“Now that you have the Fox Advisor at your side, let me take you to meet King Yurong. Would you agree? It will also serve as an explanation for the earlier misunderstanding,” the Bull Demon King said, playing the mediator. After all, the matter had arisen because of him, and without explanations, it would be difficult to justify.

“Very well. Fox Advisor, stay and put the cave in order. I’ll accompany my brother out,” Yuan Wuyi said, then followed the Bull Demon King out of the Immortal of Wishful Thinking’s residence.

“Yes, my lord. I will not fail you.”

...

“Brother Yurong King, I’ve come to see you. Are your injuries improving?” The Bull Demon King had already learned from the minor demons where Yurong King was recovering, and hurried over.

“I’m… much better now,” Yurong King replied, catching sight of Yuan Wuyi behind the Bull Demon King and feeling a bit of fear toward him.

“As the saying goes, ‘no fight, no friendship.’ You two have already battled—why not turn hostility into harmony?” The Bull Demon King, seeing the fear in Yurong King’s eyes, stated his purpose.