The Grey Rat's Demon Path

As Xu Chang’an descended the mountain, he saw a Wild Wolf Demon with a yellow Command Flag on his back and a standard-issue Steel Fork in hand, walking majestically up ahead. He was talking to the Little Jackal Demon who followed at his side.

"Little Jackal Demon, let me tell you something about this mountain patrol job. It’s actually pretty easy. It all comes down to your eyes, your legs, and your mouth."

"If you want to live well, you have to have sharp eyes!

You need to know which demons you can afford to offend and which you can’t. Which ones you need to report, and which ones you can take the credit for yourself."

"When you run into danger, report it immediately, but make sure your legs can keep up. You have to be fast on your feet when it matters.

When things are quiet, you have to walk with an imposing stride to show off the grand style of our Langlang Mountain."

"The most important thing is your mouth. I’m not saying you have to call black white, but at the very least, you have to frame ’saving your own skin’ as ’being better able to serve Langlang Mountain.’

You call ’running away’ a ’strategic retreat to report back to the mountain!’"

"Basically, you just have to speak from the heart."

This familiar scene...

Xu Chang’an was momentarily lost in thought.

Over sixty years ago, he, too, had heard these same teachings from a Jackal Wolf Demon.

Over fifty years ago, a Wild Boar Demon had heard these same teachings from a Jackal Wolf Demon.

Over forty years ago, a Wild Wolf Demon had heard these same teachings from a Jackal Wolf Demon.

And now, a Little Jackal Demon was hearing these same teachings from a Wild Wolf Demon.

The Jackal Wolf Demon was dead, but the Mountain Patrol Little Demons of Langlang Mountain continued on, generation after generation.

Passed down through the ages, an unbroken line.

"Eld... Elder Grey Rat!"

The Wild Wolf Demon seemed not to have expected to run into Xu Chang’an here and was somewhat flustered.

Xu Chang’an smiled at the Wild Wolf Demon, patted his shoulder, and then left.

"Instructor Lang, who is he?"

The Little Jackal Demon at his side asked with a curious expression.

"Elder Grey Rat! He’s the pride of Langlang Mountain!"

The Wild Wolf Demon’s eyes took on a distant look, as if he had returned to an afternoon many years ago.

Back then, just like the Little Jackal Demon now, he had only just joined the Mountain Patrol Hall.

"You’re a clever one! You’ve got a little of Grey Rat’s style from back in the day."

"Master, when you talked about the best student you ever had... you didn’t mean Elder Grey Rat, did you?"

"Of course!"

...

From Elder Peak to Hundred Arts Peak, from Hundred Arts Peak to the Mountain Patrol Hall, from the Mountain Patrol Hall to Wave Valley, then from Wave Valley to Pinglang Valley, and from Pinglang Valley to the Spirit Plant Garden...

On this day, Xu Chang’an walked all over Langlang Mountain.

The trees were lush and verdant, the grass grew in thick clumps, vibrant and full of life.

Streams meandered, their water clear.

The scenery of Langlang Mountain was the same as ever, and Xu Chang’an walked slowly through it.

As the mood struck him, he began to sing out loud.

"The Great King sent me to patrol the mountains, hey~

Hey hey ho, hey hey ho~

Patrol the South Mountain then the North Mountain.

Hey hey ho, hey hey ho~"

The scene and the feeling were just as they had been all those years ago!

He had cultivated for over sixty years, stepped into the Mid-stage of Core Formation, and become a Veteran Demon King.

His circumstances were worlds apart from what they were back then.

But his original heart remained unchanged, just as it was back then!

After leaving the territory of Langlang Mountain, Xu Chang’an activated his Magical Artifact, transformed into a streak of light, and vanished over the horizon.

Never betray your original heart—this truth holds for heaven and earth alike!

...

After attending Jin Ling’Er’s Foundation Establishment celebration, Xu Chang’an returned to his usual routine.

Several more months passed like this, and then a happy event occurred on Shuyun Peak.

The Scorpion Spirit Yu Lulu and the Earth Bear Demon of Peacock Mountain became Dao Companions!

The two demons didn’t hold a grand ceremony for their union, only inviting a small circle of close friends and old acquaintances.

Xu Chang’an was well-acquainted with both demons, and since they all lived on Shuyun Peak, he naturally attended their small celebration.

During the banquet, cups were raised in toast.

Yu Lulu and Huang Stone were a perfect match—a talented groom and a beautiful bride! They were so affectionate and deeply in love, their passion was palpable!

Watching the two demons, Xu Chang’an couldn’t help but think of his own Dao Companion of convenience.

Everyone in the Red Cloud Mountain Range knew that the Purple Thunder Demon King and the Peacock King had become Dao Companions, but no one had ever heard of them holding a celebration!

’Poor Little Peacock, she’s been wronged!’

However, Xu Chang’an was merely moved by the scene, sighing to himself once.

A moment later, he paid it no mind and put it out of his thoughts.

There was no affection between him and Peacock King Chu Xianyi, only a transactional relationship based on mutual benefit.