On the first floor of the Demon Slaying Hall, there were many long tables, where dozens of people drank, chatted, gambled, and argued. More than half of them were marked red—better said, it was surprising that half of them weren’t. They were banging on tables and making noise, but instead of fighting, they were haggling.
"Xiong Da, you three brothers are too much. Three people want to claim five wolves? We’ve got ten brothers here!"
"If you don’t like it, then you go and withstand the first wave of wolf attacks! Without anyone holding the front line, what good are you ten hunters who can’t even outfit yourselves with the basic defensive items? Do you really think you can pierce the Shadow Wolf’s head with a single arrow?"
"Damn it, is there no one willing to deal with the Wind Wolf King? We’ll handle the rest if there’s just one fast enough to lure away the Wind Wolf King’s breath! We’ll give away thirty percent of the profits. Just lead away the Wind Wolf King’s breath, and you get thirty percent!"
"Even the Blood Steward wouldn’t dare to claim they can do that, who’s stupid enough to beco cannon fodder? Red-haired Ghost, draw lots for life and death yourselves."
"Heh, the Blood Phase is confident; you’d better ask him?"
"If I were to invite the Great Guardian, why not just have Boss Beiyou lead the team, damn it, a bunch of wimps!
"Red-haired Ghost, watch your damn mouth!"
"I! Damn! You!"
Before long, the argunt escalated into a wild cup throwing battle, the clatter creating quite a scene. Yet, they kept a modicum of restraint, limiting themselves to throwing cups without actually fighting.
On the wall of the first floor hung a giant blackboard, crookedly illustrating a map of the Secret Realm. Apart from the terrain, it also showed the specific distribution of demons. Below each demon were many nas, like next to the Shadow Wolf closest to the Secret Realm Gate, were more than ten nas: "First wave: Xiong Three Brothers, Ten Hunters," "Second wave: Black Wolf Association, Chai Family Father and Son," "Third wave: Poisonous Scholar, Fire Vanguard, Naless, Long Ao..."
At this mont, the Red-haired Ghost seed to have agreed on cooperation with another team. They went over to write both teams’ nas under the wine pool wolves at the center of the Secret Realm.
"This is about claiming demon-slaying tasks."
Pharmacist’s Wish, who had previously done so research, explained: "They claim the demon-slaying tasks each day by voluntary self-selection, allowing any number of people to enter. The three Great Guardians won’t interfere with their internal distribution, but they have to pay Shu Dao Mountain a toll for every demon slain. Of course, the treasure chests in the Secret Realm are also taxed."
"Why would they agree to such losses?" asked the Rabbit Heroine, puzzled.
"Because the demons themselves are the resources they need," said Pharmacist’s Wish. "They can process the hides themselves or sell them to Shu Dao Mountain in exchange for Spiritual Jade. Didn’t we just pass by a lot of drying fields? That’s where the Secret Realm wolf at is prepared."
Leading the way, the servant added, "The ssengers usually sell the demons to Shu Dao Mountain and then buy jerky from them. While they can eat fresh at freely in the mountain retreat, the processed jerky, which can be preserved long-term, is very expensive, costing ten pieces of Spiritual Jade for a strip. Many ssengers go up the mountain just to buy jerky."
"Huh?" The Rabbit Heroine was confused, puzzled by too many things to even know where to begin.
Pharmacist’s Wish seed to find it ordinary: "It’s very typical; any ssenger leaving the Military Town has to find a way to purchase supplies there. Regular food simply isn’t filling enough. A Second-Turn ssenger needs to eat at least four als a day if relying solely on ordinary food or beef and pork. It’s manageable if they stay in one place long enough, but these Demonic ssengers roam and loiter frequently. If they don’t prepare food in advance, just scrounging for sothing to eat could consu most of their day."
Pharmacist’s Wish had relied on Blood Replenishing Pills to barely maintain her condition during those initial days on the run from the Military Town. Without filling her stomach, she would’ve had no strength to fight.
"Wolf at from the Third-Turn Secret Realm, made into jerky and paired with so grains provides a strong sense of satiety; one stick can last for days. Although the Third-Turn Secret Realm is very challenging, dealing solely with the Shadow Wolves at the entrance isn’t too difficult. Shu Dao Mountain can beco a Demon Path Evil Land not without reasons; as long as you have the strength, Demonic ssengers can readily acquire supplies here."
Yan Qing had been pondering why Demonic ssengers congregate in one place. After all, they’re not refugees with nowhere to turn; they could easily hide in so remote area and claim dominion over it.
Turns out they are indeed refugees, or rather most ssengers are. Once they leave the Secret Realm, rely securing food becos a challenge for them. Unlike Yan Qing, who has plenty of ti to eat and doesn’t have to cook—today eating from the special rations the Qi Kingdom prepared for Jiang Shi, tomorrow from the vegetarian al the Liang Kingdom Military Town prepared for the Mouse Monk.
Demonic ssengers are robbers and killers; they can’t just stop midway in the wilderness to build a campfire and cook, can they?
This issue doesn’t affect the righteous ssengers. Even when out on missions, they have complete logistical support, and the Military Town isn’t short on supplies. Thus, Demonic ssengers, despite their autonomy, have to handle everything solo; while the righteous ssengers, with their connections and backing, have organizations to support them, ensuring they won’t fare too poorly.
As for claiming the demon-slaying tasks, it’s where the Demon Dao differs most from the righteous path. Generally, if the righteous decide to attack a Secret Realm, they will fight through until it’s fully cleared since the Clear Treasure Chests are the most valuable. The Demon Dao is different: if no one wishes to challenge the Demon King, they simply don’t; after defeating the earlier demons, they reset the Secret Realm.
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