Chapter 69: Finalized

It was but a fleeting moment of distraction. When Hongyun recovered his senses, the decorations before him had already changed entirely.

Now, standing before him was a residence reminiscent of a prosperous human household. In the distant corner of the parlor, a monkey demon was leisurely brewing tea.

Suddenly recalling something, Hongyun glanced around, spotting Chai Xiaoyue and the two crow demons, Crow One and Crow Two, in the distance. His heart relaxed slightly.

His own state of mind and the cards up his sleeve allowed him to face this formidable great demon without panic, despite being unable to see through the other's cultivation.

Yet without a word from his host, Hongyun had already deduced the demon’s identity.

If he was not mistaken, this was the only son of the Demon Emperor of the Demon Realm, the mighty general of the Half-Demon Kingdom—King of the Mountain-Moving Apes, Yue Lei!

“It seems you know who I am,” the monkey demon said, glancing up at Hongyun. Seeing his composed expression, the demon poured a cup of tea, tapped the table lightly, and sent the cup drifting toward Hongyun.

Hongyun regarded the tea for a moment, then drank it in one gulp. Feeling his body and demonic energy gradually recovering, he maintained his composure and offered a slight bow. “Thank you, King of the Mountain-Moving Apes.”

“No need to thank me,” Yue Lei replied. “In fact, I should be thanking you for showing restraint and not sending my son crawling home in disgrace.”

With a sidelong glance, he looked at the young monkey demon, who was attempting to pour himself another cup of tea. That single glance made the youth freeze, an awkward smile spreading across his face.

He can tell I still have hidden techniques? Hongyun’s mind sharpened at this. In this world, the other party couldn't possibly see his status panel, so his conclusion must be based on Hongyun’s actions.

He looked at the monkey demon, who, unsatisfied with one cup, had picked up the teapot and was now gulping the tea straight from the spout. From this, Hongyun could gauge the father’s attitude toward his only son.

“I do have some means at my disposal, but they come with a heavy price. If I were to use them, it would be against true enemies.”

Against true enemies?

Yue Lei’s eyes brightened at those words. Studying Hongyun more closely, he felt a growing fondness. “Well said. Not like my useless son, who knows neither depth nor measure... Sansi, you rascal, aren’t you going to apologize?”

The young ape, caught mid-swig, choked, coughed twice, and, under his father’s ‘affectionate’ gaze, shuffled over to Hongyun and mumbled, barely louder than a mosquito’s wing, “I was wrong.”

“That’s enough. Go reflect on your actions elsewhere and stop being an eyesore,” Yue Lei said. Watching his son scamper off as if released from death’s grip, Yue Lei sighed and turned a wry smile to Hongyun. “My son... I’m afraid you must find this all quite laughable.”

Hongyun hadn’t expected such a scene and responded with a gentle smile and a shake of his head. “It’s nothing. In the end, he’s just a man of feeling.”

But to Hongyun’s surprise, Yue Lei shook his head with a rueful smile. “A man of feeling... In my youth, those very words nearly led me to disaster. That’s why I named him Sansi—‘Think Thrice’—hoping he’d be cautious in all he does. Alas, he’s stubborn as an ox, and no punishment seems to help.”

He didn’t linger on the point, instead shifting the conversation. “But your abilities, little friend, I cannot discern to which human master you owe them. The Rising Moon Sect cast you out, so you couldn’t have learned their true arts. Yet ordinary cultivators of the Metamorphosis stage couldn’t have produced someone like you. Quite the puzzle.”

“Each has their own fate,” Hongyun replied, his gaze steady on Yue Lei. He gestured toward Chai Xiaoyue behind him. “I have here a half-demon youth. Her clan has long since perished, but her talent is extraordinary. With careful guidance, she could reach the Nirvana stage and rival me. Given time, she might even surpass the Metamorphosis stage—perhaps even touch upon realms beyond.”

At first, Yue Lei’s expression did not change, but as Hongyun spoke, a faint golden light flickered in the great demon’s eyes. He scrutinized Chai Xiaoyue several times before closing his eyes in thought.

After a period of silence, he realized Hongyun had not pressed further. Growing restless, Yue Lei sighed. “If you have something to say, there’s no need to conceal it. Speak freely.”

“Demon King, you are forthright indeed,” Hongyun said, sensing the fish had taken the bait. “Xiaoyue still lacks a master. I ask that you look after her and entrust her to a worthy teacher, at least until I reach the realm beyond Metamorphosis.”

Beyond Metamorphosis!

Yue Lei stroked the two tufts of golden fur on his head, chuckling softly. “I’ve seen many who dream of realms beyond Metamorphosis before reaching that stage, but you’re the first I believe might succeed.”

He walked over to Chai Xiaoyue, ruffling her hair, marveling all the while. “Since you trust me so, I’ll let my son accompany you on your journeys for a few years. A bird raised in a cage will never grow strong—it’s time he saw the world beyond the Half-Demon Kingdom.”

Letting that monkey demon travel with me? Hongyun’s first instinct was to refuse, remembering all the secrets he carried. But then he considered the combat strength and backing such an ally would provide, and nodded in agreement. “If Yue Sansi wishes to travel with me beyond the Half-Demon Kingdom, I have no objection. But I believe you know my situation well, Demon King. My childhood mentor died under mysterious circumstances. If I return to the human lands to investigate...”

“That’s nothing to worry about,” Yue Lei interrupted with a dismissive wave. “If you find yourself truly outmatched, just invoke my name. I won’t claim to be invincible among the Metamorphosis stage, but I am not to be trifled with, either. Unless you’re facing a blood feud, don’t hesitate to use my name. And if it comes to blows...”

He left the sentence unfinished, turning his gaze to Hongyun. “But I imagine a human cultivator of your caliber would seldom rely on another’s name. Stay in the Half-Demon Kingdom for a time. If you need anything, just tell Sansi. In a hundred days, I’ll celebrate my three-hundredth birthday. At the banquet, I’ll make the girl my disciple—so you can set your mind at ease.”

These words were exactly what Hongyun had hoped for. With such a promise, the karmic burden he had imposed upon himself began to ease.