Chapter Seven: The Path of the Demon

Tu Shen, originally named Tu Zhu, of indeterminate gender, with unknown master, traveled the world in youth and later became an instructor at Ghost Valley. After Ghost Valley Master secluded himself, Tu Shen joined the Tianshan Hidden Mirage Pavilion, attaining the rank of Commander.

Skilled in concealment, assassination, ambush, and traps; possesses no spiritual artifacts, wielding only ordinary twin daggers. Yet, with infused energy, slaying humans and monsters alike becomes effortless.

— Register of “Tianshan Hidden Mirage Pavilion”

The chaos within Zheng City had already spread from the inner walled district to the entire city.

The battle was not fierce; once breaking out of the gate, Liu Chou and the other monsters became like fish released into the sea, traversing the city unhindered. Ordinary guards and soldiers were no match for them, and none could arrive in time to obstruct their path.

The only force capable of harming them, the Nine-Strike Guards, were still in disarray at the gate, unable to re-form their ranks, let alone pursue and encircle the monsters.

Now, the monsters worried only about the reinforcements that could arrive at any moment: the elite Nine-Strike Guards mixed with cultivators. Should they arrive, a fierce battle would surely ensue. The monsters’ stamina and power were nearly exhausted, leaving them powerless to resist, possibly even falling in battle—something Liu Chou absolutely wished to avoid.

Therefore, after scaling the wall, his sole action was to flee, moving at astonishing speed, not daring to linger.

Among the monsters, behaviors began to diverge. Some lesser fiends, initially fleeing, soon spotted pedestrians in the market, plump and tender, and pounced to bite, devouring blood and flesh amid the screams. Others slipped silently into large residences they passed, causing no disturbance, vanishing without a trace, never to be seen again. Still others followed behind Liu Chou, Mo Yun, and Hu Si, leaving the city to speed off toward another place.

Only those three monsters stayed together, not daring to look back or act rashly, only running with all their might, gradually plunging into the surrounding mountains, deeper and deeper, finally escaping the city’s reach.

They ran wildly for an unknown length of time until Hu Si’s monster power gave out first and he collapsed to the ground. Liu Chou and Mo Yun, ahead of him, finally emerged from their endless flight, stopped, and gasped for breath.

They were now a hundred miles from Zheng City, deep in the mountains, with no risk of pursuit.

After a long while, the three monsters managed to recover some strength, sat down together, and watched the sky grow quiet. Glancing at each other, they suddenly burst into wild laughter, faces flushed with exhilaration.

They had reached this point—they could finally be certain they had succeeded in their escape.

Just then, a wild boar emerged from the forest, saw the monsters, and began to squeal in fear, retreating instinctively. Hu Si flicked his wrist, sending a white thread to ensnare and drag the boar back. A thick claw pierced its neck, blood spraying forth.

The three monsters drank the hot blood in great gulps, instantly stirring their bodies to action. Their stomachs rapidly transformed the blood into energy, the hunger forgotten in exhaustion and tension now returning. Without need for words, the boar was divided into three bloody portions and handed out.

Liu Chou and Mo Yun tore into the warm flesh, while Hu Si sucked and slurped. In less than fifteen minutes, the nearly hundred-pound boar was devoured. Their strength and power quickly recovered, and each leaned against a tree to rest, quietly waiting.

Mo Yun broke the temporary silence, speaking first: “What do you intend to do next?”

Page (1/3)

“What are your suggestions?” Hu Si opened his eyes and looked over. “Or have you already picked a destination?”

“I have an idea, so I wanted to see what you two planned,” Mo Yun grinned, baring sharp white teeth, sinews still clinging between them. “I intend to head west to Xizhou. They say the monster kingdom there is recruiting for war against the Great Zhou. With my skills, becoming an officer should be easy enough—so I'll try my luck.”

Hu Si pondered a moment and nodded. “In the end, the monster kingdom is the proper home for us monsters. That is the right path. But joining their army and fighting the human race—I'm not so keen. I, too, will head west, but only to find a place to settle, not to enlist.” His voice was soft and airy, drifting as his power swiftly recovered—faster than Liu Chou and Mo Yun.

“That’s excellent; after this battle together, we can travel as companions…” Mo Yun was delighted, laughing and urging Hu Si to join him, but Hu Si only smiled, neither refusing nor agreeing outright, seemingly unwilling.

Monsters differ from humans: even when cultivating together, they often act alone, not just by nature but also out of caution toward their kind. To monsters, each other is a potent resource; true trust cannot be forged merely by sharing imprisonment.

Mo Yun was straightforward but not foolish, so he said no more, turning his gaze to Liu Chou.

As the two conversed, Liu Chou had already considered his next move. If this was a test, he would soon see notices in nearby cities calling for him. Whether to join Tianshan Hidden or head to Xiniu Hezhou was still undecided.

So, faced with Mo Yun’s inquiry, Liu Chou only smiled and shook his head. “I won’t go—you two can do as you wish.”

“Why not?”

It was no exaggeration: Liu Chou’s performance in the escape was extraordinary. His combat prowess aside, his strategic planning—timing, leverage, careful plotting—far surpassed the era’s understanding, leaving other monsters in awe.

Mo Yun’s instinct was to travel with such a monster for safety; hearing Liu Chou refuse, he immediately asked.

“I have someone to kill, so I won’t go for now,” Liu Chou casually invented an excuse. “You two go ahead. When I’m finished, I’ll find you—a place to settle will be waiting.”

“Ha! If you’ve unfinished business, let’s help you kill them first, then we’ll go—why split up?” Hearing Liu Chou’s intent, Mo Yun’s monster nature flared up; he slapped his thigh and shook his head in excitement. “Brother Liu, tell us about it?”

Hu Si’s eyes flashed strange lights as he looked at Liu Chou, gaze shifting.

Liu Chou shook his head firmly. “I appreciate your kindness, but this is a blood feud—cannot be handed to others. It involves the aristocratic clans of Great Zhou, extremely difficult. It may take years to gain any advantage over the Four Armies; the outcome is uncertain. I accept your friendship, but as for help, best let it be.”

He spoke lightly of clans and feuds—terms that, to monsters, meant high-level secrets. Few understood them, so they naturally withdrew.

Indeed, hearing this, the two monsters nodded and dropped the topic.

After several hours, the three monsters regained most of their strength and parted ways, each heading out alone. The two began their trek toward the monster kingdom's ideal sanctuary, while Liu Chou lingered half a day in the woods to master the monster arts he’d acquired, then returned to Zheng City.

Now, Liu Chou possessed the strength of a sixth-tier lesser monster, with the third chapter of the Ten Thousand Monsters Art giving him self-preservation against many cultivators. Sadly, this was still an era dominated by magical treasures and spiritual artifacts; relying on power and monster arts alone, his road ahead was long.

After receiving the sealed power, advancing to the sixth tier was easy for Liu Chou, but further progress in the Ten Thousand Monsters Art would be arduous. Besides continual cultivation, his monster rank was the greatest obstacle. Simply put, to master chapters four onward, he would need to break through the lesser monster realm, at least reach its peak for completion.

Page (2/3)

In other words, tier eleven or twelve—just before the tribulation.

Liu Chou spent half a day adjusting himself, and when he felt ready, he returned to Zheng City from the dense woods. This time, he released the Golden Eye from its vessel, replenished its monster core, and used it as a mount, making his journey much easier than when he’d fled with the other monsters.

The Golden Eye, rarely let outside, was naturally excited. Liu Chou promised it would soon have the chance to stay in the world permanently and never return to the vessel, so it worked energetically, bounding forward so swiftly that the hundred miles of mountains were crossed in less than an hour.

Seeing Zheng City—a vast, oppressive place—Liu Chou changed his appearance, stowed the Golden Eye, and walked toward the city.

And then, Liu Chou saw Tu Zhu.

Tu Zhu was one of the few people Liu Chou knew in this world, with neither clear favor nor dislike, barely qualifying as an acquaintance.

The present Tu Zhu, though dressed much as in Ghost Valley, had changed inwardly in ways that were worlds apart; approaching, Liu Chou felt a sting—perhaps from Tu Zhu’s aura, perhaps from something carried, though he couldn’t tell. The only certainty: Tu Zhu’s presence here was absolutely connected to him.

Beside the road stood a tent, with its flap wide open. The ground was carpeted with lambskin, upon which a small table and four cushions sat. The tent was filled with fresh flowers, and even the ritual vessels before Tu Zhu were piled high with peach blossom petals, forming a small mountain.

Not far outside, a fire crackled, with several people feasting on lamb and wine, ignoring everything around them—even Liu Chou’s approach drew no reaction.

Liu Chou saw Tu Zhu sitting in the tent before the table, drinking and eating among the peach blossoms, accompanied by fine wine.

He revealed his true form and approached, bowing from afar:

“Greetings, Instructor.”

Tu Zhu looked up, eyes smiling, showing a charming expression, beckoning him over, and pushed a bronze goblet forward. “I’ve waited long for you. Come, have a drink first.”

Liu Chou smiled, walked up boldly, knelt opposite Tu Zhu, and drained the wine.

“Please speak.”

Page (3/3)