Chapter 895: 朱厌

To Ji Yuan, Mount Dukui, a few hundred li away, was not far at all. His flying speed far surpassed that of common mountain dogs. In less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Ji Yuan already saw Mount Dukui.

From a distance, Mount Dukui was still brightly lit, even at night. Despite the remaining distance, Ji Yuan could already sense a lively atmosphere.

As expected, upon nearing Mount Dukui, Ji Yuan's ears were filled with a cacophony of sounds, like being on the edge of a bustling market. Looking around, figures both human-like and monstrous thronged the market path. Laughter, shouts, bargaining, and even some delicate gasps filled the air.

While various immortal ports could also be lively, their atmosphere was generally quiet and orderly. Mount Dukui, however, was its complete opposite. Upon arriving, Ji Yuan understood that this was not just a place for bartering; it was also a place to satisfy all sorts of desires, teeming with various gray and dark areas.

Although immortal realms were good, sometimes many still longed for places like Mount Dukui. Thus, Ji Yuan sensed a diverse range of auras in this market, not only from demons and monsters but also from immortal cultivators and even mortals.

However, Ji Yuan was not here to sightsee Mount Dukui today. The small paper crane led the way, and Ji Yuan headed directly for King Du's cave mansion. This wild boar demon's abode was not in the bustling part of the market but rather on a mountain path leading to a more outlying area.

Outside the cave mansion, two minor demons stood guard. They were upright monsters, clad in clothes and wielding weapons—one with a leopard's head on the left, the other a wild boar's head on the right. Ji Yuan glanced at them from a distance. The plaque above the cave entrance was clearly enchanted, its glowing characters exceptionally clear.

"Du Wangfu... This wild boar demon certainly has a flair for names."

Ji Yuan murmured to himself. As he approached, the minor demon guarding the entrance immediately shouted.

"Who are you? What brings you here? This is the King's cave mansion. The market is over there. If you've lost your way, hurry up and get out!"

"No, I haven't lost my way. Please inform your King that Ji Yuan is here to visit. He knows me."

The wild boar-headed demon mumbled.

"Ji Yuan? Wait here, I'll go inform him."

With that, the wild boar-headed demon entered the cave mansion, leaving the leopard-headed demon to stare intently at Ji Yuan. This person looked like a mortal, yet he was too calm. He must be an expert, and vigilance was necessary.

Inside the cave mansion, the wild boar demon was still eating and drinking when a minor demon suddenly rushed in.

"My King, someone named Ji Yuan is outside, asking to visit. He says you know him."

"What crackpot is visiting..."

King Du had a mouthful of meat and was about to mumble a curse, but he suddenly froze mid-sentence. He slowly looked up at the reporting demon.

"Who did you say is here?"

"Uh, he seems to be an immortal cultivator. I can't discern his origins, but he's certainly not a mortal, is he?"

"No, what did you say his name was?"

"He said his name is Ji Yuan, or Ji Yuan, something like that..."

The piece of meat in King Du's hand dropped to the ground. He slowly stood up, wiping his greasy hands repeatedly on his clothes. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but no words came out.

"My King, if you don't wish to see him, shall I send him away?"

King Du flinched.

"Quickly bring him in! No, I'll go see him myself!"

Ji Yuan didn't wait long outside the cave before a corpulent man rushed to the entrance. Ji Yuan observed him, and the man also looked at Ji Yuan, but after a quick glance, he immediately bowed deeply.

"Du Gangzong pays his respects to Mr. Ji!"

Although he didn't know Ji Yuan and couldn't confirm if the person before him was real or an impostor, Du Gangzong dared not take the chance. He simply bowed upon seeing him.

Ji Yuan offered a slight cupped-hand salute in return.

"King Du, please rise. I have some matters to discuss with you. Let's talk inside."

"Yes, Mr. Ji, please come in!"

King Du invited Ji Yuan into the cave mansion. Before he could ask anything, Ji Yuan flicked his sleeve, releasing the mountain dog. Instantly, Du Gangzong understood that the magical coin the old earth deity in Kuinan Prefecture City had received earlier was given by Ji Yuan.

If it was Ji Yuan, then it made perfect sense that such a treasure could be given away so casually.

Many thoughts flashed through Du Gangzong's mind. His first instinct was to lie, but he quickly dismissed it as improper. After some deliberation, he decided it was best to be honest this time.

"I presume King Du already knows what I wish to ask?"

"Yes, yes, I understand. I sent the mountain dog to Kuinan Prefecture City. I originally intended for it to apologize to the Earth God, but then I suddenly realized that Young Master Li might be quite extraordinary, so I sent the mountain dog to the Southern Wilderness Mountains..."

"Why did you think someone there would be interested in Li Feng?"

Ji Yuan walked past the stone bed in the cave chamber, observing the food on the table and then the bed covered with beast hide.

Du Gangzong cautiously replied.

"Mr. Ji, my King would definitely be interested. In fact, over the past two years, he has taken a great interest in affairs of the human world, and even more so in the various cultivation realms. I sent him the Liu Mei Ruyi Coin before."

Ji Yuan smiled.

"So, your King Du isn't the biggest boss? There's another King above you?"

Du Gangzong gave an awkward laugh.

"Uh, I merely claim the title of King here at Mount Dukui Market. It's just people being kind and giving me face by calling me that. With my cultivation, how could I possibly qualify as a true Demon King? Uh, hehe, I'm just a small demon, that's all. Mr. Ji, please don't take me seriously..."

Du Gangzong had occasionally heard gossip from well-informed demons that Mr. Ji tended to be more lenient towards minor demons. So, he vehemently downplayed his own status.

"Who is your King?"

Du Gangzong hesitated, then, looking into Ji Yuan's aged eyes, he gritted his teeth and replied.

"Replying to Mr. Ji, I'm not sure what my King's true form is, but his surname is Zhu and his given name is Yan. He has many powerful demons under him, and although his reputation isn't prominent in the Southern Wilderness Mountains, he secretly befriends quite a few other Demon Kings."

Ji Yuan was slightly taken aback.

"Is it Zhuyan?"

"Uh, Mr. Ji, do you know my King?"

Ji Yuan's brows were already furrowed. He did a quick mental calculation but found the result very vague, yet he could faintly sense an illusion of fierce, rampant light in his spiritual consciousness.

A roar—

A monstrous roar within the fierce light made Ji Yuan's heart tremble. This was likely no mere coincidence of names.

"Ji Yuan, apart from you and me, this Demon King's cultivation might exceed most people's expectations..."

Xiezhi's husky voice sounded, startling Du Gangzong, who stood to the side. He dared not ask anything, as Ji Yuan's gaze had already turned towards him.

"Mr. Ji, I've told you everything. I bear no ill will towards you, nor do I have any ulterior motives concerning Young Master Li of the Li household. My only thought about the Qiankun Ruyi Coin was a desire for it, but I never intended to seize it by force... Oh, and by the way, mortals occasionally visit this market, and and I always ensure their safety. If anything were to happen, it would definitely be after they leave this place..."

"Hm, I understand, and I recognize King Du as a clever person. However, for today's matter, I still need to be a bit cautious."

The mountain dog, who had been feigning unconsciousness, shivered upon hearing Ji Yuan's words. Was it about to be killed?

A moment later, Ji Yuan emerged from Du Gangzong's cave mansion and walked towards the market. Inside the cave, Du Gangzong and the mountain dog appeared unharmed.

"My King... what was that monster in the painting just now?"

Du Gangzong felt a lingering fear. For a moment, he had felt as if the monster had devoured a part of him, leaving him with a persistent feeling that something was missing.

"Anyway, it's something you shouldn't dwell on... As for the Li family matter, let's not mention it again..."

"I didn't want to mention it in the first place..."

The mountain dog looked very innocent. Du Gangzong didn't scold him and nodded.

"Bring the two guards from outside in."

"Yes!"

After the mountain dog left, Du Gangzong patted his chest to calm himself, then revealed a slight smile. He opened his hand to show a small stack of magical coins.

'At least this counts as having another fallback plan...'