Chapter 744: Chapter 33: The 18 Great Demons Chapter 744: Chapter 33: The 18 Great Demons “I misspoke before, it seems the rumors are true, Tianbao is likely doomed!”

Cai Qian’s expression was difficult to decipher.

In the past, the way Tianbao of the Red Flag emerged from obscurity was legendary, claiming “Wealth presses down on Cai Qian, martial prowess surpasses Zhang He, even the Treasure Ship Yishi is not worth mentioning.” Tianbao, the Dragon Head of the Red Flag, was widely celebrated among the pirates of the South Seas. Not only in the provinces of Guangdong, Fujian, and Zhejiang, but even on the continent of Europa across the ocean, there were poor poets who sang of the old tales of the five great pirates of the South Seas.

Alas, all past glories, are as though dead yesternight.

Yishi Zhufen transformed into a general of the officials, familiar with the critical water passages fortified by the pirates of the South Seas and the jargon of the martial fraternity. He advised the allied forces on multiple occasions and even personally led troops to exterminate his brothers-in-arms from the past. The word “righteousness” in Yishi’s name had since been tarnished. Two months ago, during the battle at Lantau Island, Zhufen fell victim to a maritime disaster, his remains lost to the sea.

The Demon Thief Zhang He had long vanished without a trace. It was rumored that in the Ascending Dragon City of An Nan, there was a fisherman who bore a striking resemblance to Zhang He; he fished every morning and ran a food stall by midday, selling fish soup and stir-fried river noodles. Locals said they had seen him make paper figures walk and spit fire from his mouth. Even the ruffians dare not provoke him.

A former follower of the Demon Thief searched for this fisherman upon hearing of his name, and from a distance, saw a little girl wearing a tiger skin hat on his neck, watching the fireworks. He immediately turned to his companion and said, “This is just a street performer who happens to look like Zhang He, not the Demon Thief himself.” After saying this, he rushed forward to berate and intimidate the man and his daughter before leaving, and later boasted to anyone he met, “I have already taught that impersonator in Ascending Dragon City a lesson, I think he won’t dare to swagger around under the name of the Demon Thief anymore.”

The health of the Treasure Ship King was declining by the day; he rarely took to the sea, instead, spending most of his time in Borneo.

In the battle at Lantau Island, Tianbao, the leading figure among the South Seas pirates and the Dragon Head of the Red Flag Gang, fought against government forces and went missing amidst a violent storm at sea.

The era when the pirate warlords of the South Seas rose together seemed to have ended. It appeared that only the great ringleader Cai Qian, who had a good relationship with both the officials and the East India Company and engaged in maritime trade, could preserve himself.

However, to the old pirates who had personally experienced the Tianbo Division assembly, no one would underestimate “Wealth presses down on Cai Qian.” Some even said, had Cai Qian not conceded for no apparent reason in the final contest, he might well have been the Great Alliance Leader.

“Boss, you just said last time that Tianbao wouldn’t die so easily at Lantau Island, so why are you changing your tune now?”

Yan Ajiu asked, frowning.

“If he were unscathed, he would have taken the lead on the trip to Borneo. Besides, he and Cha Daozi were always inseparable, but this time, only someone with the surname Cha appeared. I previously concluded that he faked his death to escape. This time, it doesn’t quite seem so…”

Having heard this, Yan Ajiu said:
“I heard that after Tianbao became renowned in the South Seas for driving away the Red Hairs following the battle of Guangzhou, he gradually indulged in divination and luxury, and grew estranged from Zheng Xiu, perhaps he no longer possessed the bravery of his earlier days?”

Cai Qian shook his head, clearly disagreeing.

He hadn’t interacted much with Tianbao, and before Mrs. Yan’s death, he hadn’t taken much notice of a pretty youth, only crossing paths with the rising Tianbao a few times during the Tianbo Division assembly. However, he was quite certain about his assessment of Tianbao’s character.

Tianbao, there must have been some misfortune.

Yan Ajiu thought for a moment, then said, “Shall I go and find out whether Tianbao is dead or alive?”

Cai Qian laughed heartily, “Why should you need to go yourself to snoop around? Command your people to hang white cloths and lanterns on the tower ship, have the maids and servants cry and pray day and night. If people from the Red Flag Gang come asking, just say it’s a spontaneous mourning for the heroic death of Tianbao of the South Seas. Watching their expressions will reveal much.”

Yan Ajiu nodded and left.

Without thinking, Cai Qian picked up the teacup on the table, found it bland and tasteless to the sip. He frowned and poured out the tea, then after a moment of contemplation, took out half a jar of wine from the gilded red box on the shelf. It was the Taiqing Hongyun he had left over from the last Tianbo Division assembly when he drank with Tianbao,
Cai Qian broke the seal without bothering to use the fine partridge spotted cup nearby and directly gripped the mouth of the jar to drink deeply.

If Tianbao was indeed dead, he might be rid of a lingering concern. Yet observing the ship practices of the Red Flag Gang today, they showed no signs of weakened spirit from the battle at Lantau Island; Cha Daozi’s moves were particularly extraordinary, casting a shadow over this trip to Borneo. Considering how much Tianbao used to trust him, far more than any other leader, it was impossible not to speculate…

“Tianbao, are you dead or alive?”

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“Ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters, that’s it for today’s performance, thank you, thank you all.”

Saint Watson extended his arms, acknowledging the bizarre assortment of monsters and demons around him.

These creatures were fantastical in appearance, forming a circle as they watched the old man. There was an inherent tension and a terrifying beauty in their gaze, which could leave even the horror masters like Trevor Henderson and the creator of Alien, H.R. Giger, in awe. That Saint Watson was able to perform stand-up comedy with such composure under their watch was indeed a testament to his singular experience and nonchalance.

Despite the eerie and grotesque scene, the atmosphere was evidently lively, with several large creatures letting out joyful screeches and ceaselessly slapping their bodies with tentacles and limbs.

“Hilarious!”

“I love Watson, hahahaha~”
Some of the demons whispered, “If Li Jiang hears about this, I think we’ll all be dead.”

The enchanting clam demoness beside him slapped him and said, “Then just don’t let her know~”
Saint Watson advised repeatedly, and only then did the demons reluctantly leave. However, about ten of them remained steadfast as rocks on the spot, not moving an inch. From time to time, other demons cast peculiar glances at them, some envious, some disdainful.

Tunjin Demon Toad Anqi Sheng, Dream Sea Dragon Turtle Zhao Jiushen, Omniscient Thousand-Foot Bodhisattva Liulizhi, Water Bear Lord Chen Han…

Every demon here had the standards of the Peak of the Seven Palaces. Li Yan still had confidence in defeating them one-on-one, and he might manage to hold his own if two or three of them joined forces. But if they all swarmed him, he feared he’d have no choice but to trigger Driving the Nine States and flee.

“Old Watson, where did that Li fellow go?”

Water Bear Lord asked.

Saint Watson spread his hands, “There’s one more who hasn’t arrived; he said he’d go invite him personally.”

“Water Bear, from now on, this Lord Li will be our liege. There’s a hierarchy to observe, so you’d better watch your tone,” warned Tunjin Demon Toad in a muffled voice.

Although Li Yan had asked Mr. Holding-Sun for as many as forty spots, in the end, only these seventeen were confirmed. The reasons for the vacancies varied–some were too weak and inappropriate, but more demons simply refused to submit to Li Yan, finding the conditions too harsh and failing to reach an agreement.

Li Yan wasn’t disheartened; he had an agreement with Yan Gong and would sooner or later return to the Heavenly Mother Ashram where accounts would be settled.

Even these seventeen demons presented various conditions, which Li Yan considered carefully before agreeing to each one. For example, Tunjin Demon Toad demanded a decree from the Dragon Palace for at least a second-rank water lordship that was to be under the control of Li Yan alone, free from the restrictions of any other subjects.

Zhao Jiushen requested a vacation every leap year, allowing for two months of free movement. And so on…

The annual salaries for these demons, their sustenance of flesh and blood, the establishment of dominions and residences, and their daily expenses could not be self-sustained by Li Yan’s current scale of the Water Palace. These would require additional expenditure of Yan Fu points.

Among them, the expenses of Omniscient Thousand-Foot Bodhisattva were the most extravagant–not to mention gold and treasures, but also various Buddhist delicacies, nourishing holy items, and some rare objects unheard of by ordinary people.

In the past, when the demons were confined to the Heavenly Mother Ashram, all their expenses drew from the Heavenly Mother’s storeroom. Today, as the demons pledged allegiance to Li Yan, such costs naturally fell upon him.

In short, Li Yan was committed to making big promises and negotiating high salaries, even at the cost of bleeding his resources dry and resorting to bluffing. He finally assembled this team, and after Earth Endurance did the math for him, merely to support the Omniscient Thousand-Foot Bodhisattva required twenty thousand Yan Fu points each year. The rest of the demons were not as greedy, but their total expenses reached nearly one hundred thousand Yan Fu points annually!

In return, these seventeen great demons from now on pledged their fealty to him as subordinates of the Li Clan, with their lives, honors, and disgraces all tied to Li Yan.

After hearing the demon toad’s warning, Water Bear Lord snorted coldly, “He doesn’t even have half a decree water charm, what right does he have to demand my homage? If he serves me well, I’ll let him command me for a few years. If that Li dares to slight me, he may find that I’ll turn on him, and if worse comes to worst, I’ll just go back to the Heavenly Mother Ashram.”

A cold smile appeared on the many human faces on the belly of Omniscient Thousand-Foot Bodhisattva, but it couldn’t be bothered to argue with this fool.

“If you’re so reluctant to go, then give me your place!”

Suddenly, a palm-sized black jellyfish appeared out of nowhere and stung Water Bear Lord’s neck. Caught off guard by the attack, Water Bear Lord burst into numerous dust particle-sized creatures, creating a storm as they whirled and tore at each other.

Amidst the demons, without anyone noticing when, a child wearing a nine-color robe appeared. Delicate of feature, androgynous, with a face like a clear jade carving, broad sleeves couldn’t hide their blue, supple tentacles, as they smirked ominously at the crowd.

From the sea came piercing screams as millions of water bear creatures roared together: “Nine-Colored Marshal Cui Tuoyu? You dare to provoke me? You’re seeking death!”

In the midst of speaking, the fog-like swarm of water bear creatures charged toward the child, but suddenly countless black specks burst forth from the ground beneath the demons, rushing into the storm of water bears, slicing through them as hot knives through butter, or coals on snow, decimating their numbers almost instantly!

Realizing the danger, Water Bear Lord quickly scattered, but the black specks were relentless. Amidst the shrill chattering, bloated black specks fell, revealed to be shrimps covered in scales.

Nine-Colored Marshal Cui Tuoyu’s power was only considered mid to low among the many demons of the Heavenly Mother Ashram. Born a millennium-old treasure blue slug, it was inferior even to the Pig Dragon with dragon blood like Yang Zichu. No wonder Water Bear Lord initially disregarded it.

The situation firmly decided, Water Bear Lord reformed to its original size, reduced to the size of a thumb, and was captured in the palm of Cui Tuoyu, who chewed it thoroughly before swallowing.

“That water official was blind to wisdom, only valuing strength and the might of magic but ignorant of the natural law of survival of the fittest and interdependence. He didn’t come to me for a coalition, but I’d offer myself instead. With Water Bear Lord killed, his spot naturally opens up.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than a long whinny echoed across the sky, and a colossal whale with a luminous horn atop its head crashed down. Stretching three to four miles, its massive size dwarfed the surrounding palaces and pavilions, which looked like mere toys in comparison. Now, like a collapsing mountain of gold and jade, it plunged into the seabed, causing a violent upheaval of dust and dirt.

As the sediment settled, Li Yan stood upon the whale’s head. It turned out that this single-horned behemoth was the final one of the eighteen great demons, the Fuyue Flying Whale.

It had bet with Li Yan; if Li Yan lost, he would have to unconditionally take it out of the Heavenly Mother Ashram, but if he won, the Fuyue Flying Whale would not only serve Li Yan but also bestow upon him the millennia-old Fuyue Coral atop its head for him to do with as he pleased.

This was one of the seven Buddhist treasures that Jin Ye sought from Li Yan.