Chapter 90: Only Perseverance Prevails

Chapter 90: Chapter 90: Only Perseverance Prevails

The Little Demons who were talking included a Pig Demon, an Ox Demon, and a Wolf Demon.

The little hamster they were discussing was a Hamster Demon, slightly larger than a squirrel.

Just then, the Hamster Demon was walking toward Xu Chang’an with his head lowered.

He seemed to be heading back to his dwelling to cultivate.

"Watch out, don’t bump into me."

The demon in front of him was walking forward with his head down, paying no attention to his surroundings.

He was just about to run into him, so Xu Chang’an spoke up to warn him.

"Ah!?"

The Hamster Demon was a little dazed. He looked up and finally realized what was happening.

"I’m sorry, I’m so sorry."

The Hamster Demon looked at the Gray Rat Demon in front of him, who wasn’t much bigger than himself, and apologized profusely.

He had been puffing his cheeks, his mind completely occupied by the surrounding gossip, and hadn’t noticed the demon ahead.

"Are you also a Little Demon who just joined the mountain!?"

Seeing that the Gray Rat Demon before him was also a Mouse Demon of a similar size,

the Hamster Demon felt a natural sense of kinship and couldn’t help but ask.

As far as he could remember, he had never seen this particular Gray Rat Demon before.

"No."

Xu Chang’an shook his head.

"Oh, I see."

’So he’s not a new Little Demon!’

The Hamster Demon was a bit disappointed; otherwise, he might have found a companion.

He recalled his old mother’s words from before he joined the mountain.

"Little Rat, now that you’re going to Langlang Mountain, you must follow the others and cultivate diligently.

If you can become a Great Demon at the Mid-stage Qi Refining realm, your mother will wake up laughing from her dreams."

’Yes, I must cultivate diligently.’

The Hamster Demon secretly steeled his resolve and prepared to leave.

"Success depends on preparation; without it, failure is certain! Prepare early. Even with a poor Bloodline and aptitude, you’ll still have a chance!

Don’t give up."

The Hamster Demon had only taken a few steps when he heard these words from behind him.

He turned back in astonishment, only to see that it was the Gray Rat Demon who had spoken.

"Okay."

He nodded emphatically.

Xu Chang’an said no more and continued on his way.

"Even with a poor Bloodline and aptitude, you’ll still have a chance!

That little Hamster Demon really felt comforted by that. HAHAHA..."

"How interesting! How interesting!"

The surrounding Little Demons made snide comments.

Xu Chang’an glanced at them casually without a word.

But that one casual glance made the Little Demons freeze, as if they were being stared down by some terrifying beast.

They didn’t dare speak again for a long time.

It wasn’t until after Xu Chang’an had left that one Little Demon, his face pale and his voice trembling, managed to stammer out half a sentence.

"That... that Mouse Demon..."

He couldn’t get the rest of the words out.

The Demon Path is fraught with hardship and obstacles; only perseverance prevails!

If one gives up just because of a poor bloodline, what’s the point of even starting down this Demon Path!

...

Xu Chang’an passed by Pinglang Valley without stopping, continuing his journey down the mountain.

"The Great King sent me to patrol the mountain, hey~

Hey-ho, hey-ho~

On a forested mountain path, two Demons marched majestically, one behind the other. They carried Command Flags on their backs and held Steel Forks in their hands.

One was a Jackal Wolf Demon, the other a Wild Wolf Demon.

Patrol the South Mountain, then patrol the North Mountain.

Hey-ho, hey-ho~"

"Little Wild Wolf, you’ve been with me for almost three months now.

In another two days, you’ll officially graduate and start patrolling the mountain on your own."

"As your master, I’ll take you on one more round today, just to review.

Alright, now I’ll ask the questions, and you answer."

"So, this job of ours, being a Mountain Patrol Demon, is actually quite simple. Tell me, what are the three key knacks!?"

The Jackal Wolf Demon spoke with great enthusiasm to the Wild Wolf Demon behind him.

"Um, that... it relies on sharp eyes, strong legs, and a quick mouth."

The Wild Wolf Demon behind him replied.

"Good, not bad. And what do ’sharp eyes’ mean?"

"Knowing which Demons you can afford to offend and which you can’t. Knowing which incidents to report and which ones you can take the credit for yourself."

"Alright, and what about ’strong legs’?"

"When you encounter danger, you need to report back promptly. Your legs have to keep up; you need to be able to run fast when it matters.

And when there’s nothing going on, you have to march with a commanding presence to represent the might of our Langlang Mountain."

"Mm, and what about the most crucial part, the ’quick mouth’!?"

"It’s not about calling black white, but at the very least, you have to frame self-preservation as a way to better serve Langlang Mountain.

You call running away a ’strategic retreat’ to deliver a message to the mountain!"

"Mmm, not bad, not bad at all. Very good. Alright, last question.

What is the core principle of a ’quick mouth’?"

"It’s about expressing the sincere intentions of us Mountain Patrol Demons."

"Excellent, a perfect score! Little Wolf Demon, you’ve got talent! You’re promising material."

The Jackal Wolf Demon was in high spirits.

"Hehe, I guess I’m alright. So, Master, am I the best apprentice you’ve ever trained?"

"The best? You’re dreaming!

I, Old Chai, have been a Mountain Patrol Demon for nearly fifty years. I’ve trained all sorts of apprentices!

When it comes to comprehension, you’re not bad, but compared to the best? You’re not even close!"

"Not even close?! Master, then tell me, who was the best apprentice you ever trained?"

the Wild Wolf Demon said, looking unconvinced.

"Hmph, I knew you wouldn’t be convinced. Brace yourself. Don’t be shocked when I tell you.

He... was a Gray Rat Demon, and now..."

"Instructor Chai!"

The Jackal Wolf Demon was interrupted mid-sentence by a sudden voice, which gave him a fright.

But his reaction was swift. He thrust his Steel Fork forward in the direction of the voice.

With his other hand, he reached back and grabbed the Command Flag on his back, ready to sound the alarm at a moment’s notice.

"What demon goes there!?"

"It’s me, Instructor Chai."

Xu Chang’an emerged from behind the bushes with a smile.

"Little Grey... Elder Grey Rat."

The Jackal Wolf Demon was startled.

He had just been about to talk about this very Gray Rat Demon, and now here he was.

"Instructor Chai, you can just call me Grey Rat.

Your patrol senses have gotten rusty! Back in the day, you would have spotted me long ago."

Xu Chang’an teased.

The Jackal Wolf Demon was overjoyed that Grey Rat, despite his current high status, still acknowledged him as his master.

"I’m getting old, getting old."

He said with a chuckle, his broad smile crinkling the wrinkles on his face.

Having lived for over sixty years and patrolled the mountain for nearly fifty, he was considered an Old Demon, well advanced in years for a Jackal Wolf Demon.

Xu Chang’an and the Jackal Wolf Demon chatted for a bit.

As they were about to part ways, he handed the Jackal Wolf Demon a Jade Bottle.

"What’s this?"

The Jackal Wolf Demon asked, puzzled.

"Instructor Chai, it’s just a small token of my appreciation. Please accept it."

Xu Chang’an said with a smile, holding out the Jade Bottle.

The Jackal Wolf Demon tried to refuse, but Xu Chang’an eventually persuaded him to take it.

The Jackal Wolf Demon still had his patrol duties to attend to, so Xu Chang’an didn’t want to disturb him any further and let him go about his business.

"Master, was that... Elder Grey Rat just now!?"

"Whoa, you Little Wolf Demon, you’ve only been on the mountain a short time. How did you know!?"

"Hehe, during my first three days of familiarizing myself with the mountain, I memorized all the Elders. You called him Elder, and he fits the description, so it could only be Elder Grey Rat."

"You’re a clever one! You’ve got a bit of Grey Rat’s style from back in the day."

"Master, when you talked about your best apprentice... you don’t mean it was Elder Grey Rat, do you!?"

"Of course!"

"Hiss~"