NOVPUB799: Chapter 799: One hundred thousand members of the Demon Clan disappeared overnight.
799: Chapter 799: One hundred thousand members of the Demon Clan disappeared overnight.
Inside a dirty and stinking shack within Lion Camel City.
As the eastern sky began to lighten with the first hint of dawn, a middle-aged man opened his eyes out of habit, rose to his feet, and with a heart filled with trepidation, stepped out of the shack.
Although by the clock it was not particularly late to rise, the Demon Clan who lorded over them treated the Human Clan like slaves.
They could always find an excuse to beat or scold them, should they choose to do so.
If they were in a bad mood, it was also possible they might decide to eat them.
With trembling caution, the man left the shack, only to stop in slight shock.
For the usual places where the Demon Clan lingered were empty of their presence.
“Could it be?
Have they gone to relieve themselves?” Failing to spot the customary Demon Clan who guarded them, the middle-aged man paused for a moment, somewhat perplexed.
However, he didn’t say much, quietly waiting instead.
But after the time it takes to drink a cup of tea had passed, there was still no sign of that Demon Clan.
Instead, he noticed two men in tattered clothes approaching him.
“What are you doing here?” he asked the two oncoming men, surprised.
“The Demon guarding you guys has disappeared too?
The one watching us seems to have vanished as well!
We haven’t seen a single Demon on our way here!” one of the men said.
“Ah!?
You didn’t see a single Demon on your way over?” Hearing this, the middle-aged man was taken aback, finding it strange and even more incomprehensible.
Lion Camel Kingdom had completely fallen to the Demon Clan, where the Human Clan existed as nothing more than slaves.
Yet now there was not a single Demon in sight?
What was going on?
Gathering his courage, the middle-aged man joined the others and walked through the city.
Indeed, compared to usual, the entire Royal City was eerily quiet, devoid of any Demons.
And on the streets of the Royal City, more and more Humans could be seen, faces tinged with varying degrees of confusion as they slowly took to the main streets.
The Demon Clan!
They seemed to have vanished overnight!?
This news quickly swept through the entirety of Lion Camel City, prompting countless humans to boldly wander freely.
At the same time, they began searching for the whereabouts of the vanished Demons.
“I know, I saw many Demons leaving last night.
It looked like they were off to join a great battle!”
Just as all the Humans in Lion Camel City were filled with doubt and joy, suddenly, someone spoke out loud.
Last night, all Demons had gathered and flown in the direction of Peacock Valley, naturally witnessed by many people.
“I also noticed indeed many Demons departing, presumably to battle, but most of the Demons were still here.
Why, then, have all these Demons vanished overnight?” Following that statement, another voice rose, asking with confusion.
This question was precisely the doubt in everyone’s heart.
It was true, the massive assembly of countless Demons last night had been seen by many.
But even so, for Lion Camel Kingdom, those who left were just a minority; most had stayed behind.
Why?
Why had these Demons all disappeared overnight?
“Regardless of why those Demons left, the fact is, they’re gone, and we’re all free now!” declared one person, exceedingly optimistic.
Without delving into the reasons behind the Demons’ departure, they shouted loudly.
However, few agreed with this optimistic sentiment.
The disappearance of all the Demons from Lion Camel Kingdom overnight was indeed a joyous event.
Yet the reason for their departure remained unknown, leaving people unable to truly relax.
Without understanding the reason, everyone still felt as if a sword dangled over their heads, ready to fall at any moment.
After all, not knowing why the Demons had left also meant that no one could be sure when those Demons might suddenly reappear in their midst.
“Actually, I heard some news last night…”
As all of Lion Camel City’s populace grew curious about the sudden disappearance of the Demons, at that moment, a young, tender voice suddenly rang out.
“What news did you hear?” Everyone looked towards the source of the voice, and there stood a little girl, appearing to be only seven or eight years old.
Feeling the gaze of many on her, the little girl seemed to shrink back in timidity.
“It’s okay, little sister, don’t be afraid.
Just tell us what you’ve heard, and that’ll be enough.
We won’t hurt you!” Seeing how scared the little girl looked, an auntie nearby smiled warmly and spoke to her gently.
Under the auntie’s soft words, the look of fear on the little girl’s face slowly faded away.
She then began to speak, recounting what she had heard the previous night.
“Last night, when I couldn’t sleep, I suddenly heard two demons talking.
They said that the army that went to confront the Journey to the West Pilgrimage Team had been defeated, and all three Great Kings had fled, their whereabouts unknown!”
“In Peacock Valley, some one thousand three hundred miles away, there are countless corpses of the Demon Clan.
They’re afraid of the Scripture Seeking Holy Monk coming to exterminate all the demons, so it seems they all fled overnight!”
The little girl didn’t speak quickly, but it was precisely because of this that everyone could hear her clearly, word for word.
So the demons had gathered last night with the purpose of confronting a Scripture Seeking Team from the Journey to the West?
And they all left last night because they were afraid that the team from the Journey to the West for Scriptures would kill every one of them?
“Hahaha, that’s great!
Indeed, the Immortals and Buddhas in heaven still care about us…” After remaining silent for a while, suddenly, peals of laughter rang out.
“Yes, it’s wonderful!
All the demons have been driven away!
We’re truly free now!” As laughter echoed, a wave of joyous voices followed, one after another.
With all the demons disappearing overnight, it was as if the chains that had weighed upon everyone’s heads were unlocked all at once.
Such a feeling of freedom was enough to make anyone ecstatic.
For a moment, cheers and laughter shook the heavens and the earth.
Even many people spontaneously began to sing and dance, venting their joy.
“I think you’re all celebrating too early!”
Just when everyone felt free, suddenly, a loud shout rang out.
The speaker was an old man who called out loudly and then seemed to be gasping for breath, coughing loudly several times.
“Celebrating too early?
Old man, why do you say that?” Following the old man’s shout, a few men asked, puzzled.
“Can’t you understand the situation?” Hearing the men’s questions, the old man caught his breath before responding, “The demons have fled because they fear the Holy Monk from the Journey to the West, but…”
He paused slightly, noticing that many people were drawn in by his words, and continued, “But the Scripture Seeking Holy Monk from the Journey to the West can’t stay here forever.
He will eventually continue his journey and leave, won’t he?”
“What if, after he leaves, the demons all come back?
What will we do?”
“Yes!
What if the demons come back after the Holy Monk from the Scripture Seeking Team leaves?
What will we do then?”
It has to be said that the old man’s words were quite farsighted.
His speech cooled the hearts of many, and the happy mood dissipated.
What to do if the demons return after the Holy Monk from the Scripture Seeking Team leaves?
This news spread like a hurricane throughout the area.
The once celebratory atmosphere slowly calmed down, and then the mood became much more somber.
Many looked at one another, unsure of what to say.
“Maybe?
Should we take this opportunity to flee?
The further, the better!” After a long silence, suddenly another voice rose, suggesting a plan of action.
“Right!
We should escape as far away as possible before those demons come back!” This idea made a lot of people nod quietly in agreement, and the crowd began to grow restless again.
Some seemed impatient to flee.
“No, we can’t just run away…” But the old man, having just spoken, heard this and immediately called out again, raising his voice.
“Not run away?
Why not?” Naturally, his words prompted those nearby to ask curiously.
“Think about it, there are tens of thousands of demons in the Lion Camel Kingdom.
Although they’ve fled the country for fear of the Holy Monk, with so many demons scattered around the Kingdom, if we flee now, wouldn’t that be like lambs to the slaughter?” After scanning the faces of those around him, the old man continued with his analysis.
“This…”
Indeed, the old man’s analysis made sense, leaving everyone without a rebuttal.
With tens of thousands of demons gone, they would certainly be scattered around the Lion Camel Kingdom.
The Kingdom itself might be safe now, but fleeing would be suicidal, wouldn’t it?
“Old man, then tell us, if staying put isn’t an option, and neither is running away, what should we do?”
