Chapter Thirty-One: To Eat or Be Eaten

[Experience +58]

Fang Xiao planted his foot on the tree trunk and forcefully pulled out the Blacksteel Spear. Though this weapon had only recently come into his possession, it felt perfectly suited to his hand, greatly enhancing his combat strength. After this real battle, Fang Xiao’s confidence in fighting monsters had grown considerably.

As the old saying goes, when two foes meet on a narrow path, the brave will win. In the face of terrifying monsters, one cannot afford to shrink back in fear. Only by fighting with courage can victory be won!

If he’d hesitated for even a moment just now, he would never have been able to strike the first heavy blow against the old tree demon and turn the tide in his favor. Hesitation brings defeat!

No sooner had Fang Xiao put away his weapon than he noticed the peach tree beneath his feet withering at a speed visible to the naked eye. The thick trunk crackled as it split and burst, huge strips of bark peeling away and crumbling into ash in the blink of an eye. The branches and leaves followed suit, decaying rapidly beyond any hope of recovery. Even the green and red peaches still clinging to the branches shriveled up and turned black!

What surprised Fang Xiao most was that faint blue-green streaks of light began to shimmer across the trunk and branches, gathering in an instant into a single peach at the very top of the tree.

This peach was distinctly different from the others: not only was it much larger, but its shape was beautiful, blushing red above and white below, making one want to pluck it down and take a hearty bite. As more and more of the blue-green light poured into it, it swelled even further, its color growing more vivid and bright, and it began to emit a faint, enticing fragrance.

At that moment, Daoist Pang appeared at Fang Xiao’s side. With a flick of his horsetail whisk, countless silken threads shot out, completely enveloping the crimson peach on the ground. In the next instant, the large peach landed in the Daoist’s hand!

Curiously, the peach twitched in his palm, emitting a soft, plaintive whimper, like a newborn infant crying.

“Ah, the boundless compassion of all parents,” sighed Daoist Pang, gazing at the peach in his hand with a look of benevolence and sorrow. “Fang Xiao, do you know? This is still just a child!”

According to Daoist Pang, the old peach demon Fang Xiao had slain was responsible for the string of disappearances in Zhao Village, all for the sake of nurturing its offspring. Lacking sufficient vital energy, it needed to replenish itself with living humans.

The old peach demon’s ability to hide and disguise itself was exceptional; ordinary means could never have exposed it. But under the effect of Daoist Pang’s specially crafted Monster-Seeking Talisman, its true form was revealed in an instant, sealing its fate.

Before it died, the old peach demon poured all its essence into its progeny—the very peach now in Daoist Pang’s hand. This fruit had already developed life and intelligence, deserving to be called a “demon child.”

“What should we do, then?” Fang Xiao scratched his head. “Should we raise it ourselves?”

“Raise a demon child?” Daoist Pang’s eyes widened in shock. “Fang Xiao, how could you have such a mistaken idea? With such an adorable little fellow, of course we must…”

He smiled as he examined the glistening peach in his hand, then suddenly opened his mouth wide and took a huge bite of the juicy flesh with a crisp snap. “Eat it, of course!”

Fang Xiao was speechless.

Daoist Pang laughed heartily and, in a few swift bites, devoured the peach completely, not even sparing the pit, which he tossed into his mouth and chewed noisily before swallowing it down whole.

“Delicious!” he declared, patting his ample belly with satisfaction. “This is truly nourishing.”

Seeing Fang Xiao still dazed, Daoist Pang smiled gently and patted the boy’s shoulder, speaking earnestly: “Fang Xiao, I know you’re a kind-hearted young man, but… in this world, it’s perfectly normal for monsters to eat humans, and for humans to eat monsters. We strive to become strong so that we won’t be devoured by monsters—or by other people! Do you understand?”

Fang Xiao nodded silently.

This speech from Daoist Pang had a profound impact on him, helping him recognize the harshness of this world. Unconsciously, Fang Xiao raised his hand and pressed it to his chest. The Scarlet Sun Codex, pressed close to his heart, silently emitted a wave of fiery warmth, instantly dispelling his inner doubts and unease.

Fang Xiao’s gaze grew firm once more.

“Let’s go,” said Daoist Pang. “Let’s not keep our host waiting.”

The two of them returned together to the peach orchard. They found the village master Zhao and several guards still trembling nervously at the entrance.

Daoist Pang waved his whisk calmly. “Master Zhao, the monster has been reduced to ashes. You may rest easy in your home.”

Master Zhao was overjoyed and hurried forward to bow deeply. “Thank you, venerable master!”

He seemed to remember something and turned to bow to Fang Xiao as well. “Thank you, little master!”

He had witnessed clearly how Fang Xiao drove his spear through the old tree demon. One really cannot judge a book by its cover!

Straightening up with a broad smile, the local squire said, “Master, I’ve already ordered a banquet to be prepared. Would you do us the honor of staying for a vegetarian meal?”

“No need for that trouble,” Daoist Pang replied with a careless wave of his hand. “Better to settle up in cash.”

Master Zhao was momentarily stunned, then quickly forced a smile. “Very well, I’ll fetch it right away.”

“I was only joking,” Daoist Pang said. “Actually, I’m just in need of a mount lately. I hear you’re quite adept at raising donkeys and horses…”

Master Zhao’s eyes lit up with understanding. “No problem at all, master! Please come with me!”

He’d been prepared for a heftier price, but Daoist Pang only asked for a mount, making him feel he’d gotten off cheaply.

So, led personally by the village squire, Daoist Pang and Fang Xiao made their way to the livestock pens of Zhao Village.

The estate was vast, with a special area set aside for raising cattle, sheep, donkeys, and horses. Cows lowed, sheep bleated, donkeys brayed, and horses neighed—a lively scene indeed!

Daoist Pang told Fang Xiao to wait outside while he strolled through the pens. Soon, he led out a large blue donkey.

Fang Xiao found this a little odd but said nothing.

Bidding farewell to Master Zhao, the two of them left Zhao Village and made their way back to the Little Jing Mountain Daoist Temple.

On the way back, Fang Xiao could not help but ask, “Master Daoist, why did you choose a donkey?”

There had clearly been several fine horses in the pen. Wouldn’t a horse make a better mount?

“Since when do cultivators ride horses?” Daoist Pang chuckled. “We’re not foreign knights. Our lot rides donkeys or oxen!”

“Besides…” He stroked the blue donkey’s head with pride. “See here? This blue donkey has a demon’s bone in its skull and has developed a bit of spirit. If we don’t take it away, Zhao Village will have trouble again in the future!”

Hee-ahh!

Ever since it had been led out, the blue donkey had behaved with docile obedience. But as soon as Daoist Pang touched the prominent bone at the back of its head, it jerked its head and snapped its jaws at him, furious.

Smack!

Before it could bite, a plump, pale palm landed heavily on the donkey’s face.

Mmm—

Its head twisted sharply to the other side, tears welling in its eyes from the pain.

It dared not act up again.