Catching Monsters

Chapter 395 Yan Jiu
After Wei Li left, Jiang Yun took out a rough map of the Demon Kingdom from his luggage and began to look at it.

Although the Demon Kingdom was referred to as an island by the Zhou Kingdom, it was actually a landmass of considerable size.

Surrounded by the ocean on all sides, in the eyes of the Zhou people, who possessed vast land and abundant resources, it was just a larger island.

The core residence of the dragon race, Dragon Crystal City, was built at the foot of a mountain range in the center of this giant island.

“If we walk there after we get ashore, it will probably take about half a month,” Jiang Yun said after observing the distance.

The map marked many large cities of the demon kingdom.

Just then, a commotion suddenly came from the deck below. Jiang Yun and Linglong exchanged a glance, went to the window, and looked out at the deck ahead.

It was early morning, and in the distance, there was a large cloud formation in the sky, above which was a magnificent seven-colored rainbow.

Through the gaps in the clouds, one could vaguely make out an island floating in mid-air...

"What is this?" Jiang Yun frowned. "A mirage?"

"Go down and have a look."

Inside the room, it was difficult to see clearly, so Jiang Yun and Linglong quickly went downstairs and onto the deck.

Many demon merchants were already on the deck, coming to see the magical sight in the distant sky.

Many demon merchants knelt on the deck, paying homage to the distant Sky Immortal Island.

Jiang Yun frowned slightly, perhaps because of the distance, he couldn't see the details of the fairy island in the clouds.

Mirage?

still is……

At this moment, Jiang Yun also recalled the words of the Chu alchemist in the palace.

Above the ocean, there is a sacred mountain.

Could this be the immortal mountain that the Chu alchemist spoke of?
Just then, Wei Li also came to the deck upon hearing the news. Seeing the distant land, he walked up to Jiang Yun with his hands behind his back and said with a smile, "Brother Jiang is lucky. He is fortunate enough to see the immortal mountain on his first voyage."

"Immortal Mountain".

Jiang Yun's heart stirred slightly, and he asked curiously, "I've heard people mention before that immortals live on the sacred mountain?"

"Your sailing ships should frequently travel between the Demon Kingdom and the Zhou Kingdom, sailing on the high seas. Haven't you sent anyone to visit this immortal mountain?"

Wei Li shook his head and said calmly, "Don't even mention Brother Jiang, these immortal mountains are not common. Sometimes you might not encounter one for decades."

"Throughout the millennia, some of our demon race have also sailed to chase after the immortal mountains."

"But we can't catch up with the immortal mountain at all."

"Although we can see it from afar, by the time we reach the location of the immortal mountain, it has already disappeared without a trace."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yun nodded, noting that it did indeed resemble the characteristics of a mirage.

They will disappear without a trace once you get close.

However, Wei Li lowered his voice and whispered in Jiang Yun's ear, "More than ten years ago, our Tiger Clan had a top expert at the second-grade Earth Demon Realm. In order to seek a breakthrough, he wanted to go to the Immortal Mountain to find an opportunity to break through."

"The result was that they never returned, and whether they are alive or dead is still unknown."

Hearing Wei Li's words, Jiang Yun was slightly startled. A second-grade expert went to this immortal mountain and disappeared without a trace?
Jiang Yun had initially been quite interested in this sacred mountain, but now he shook his head, deciding it was best not to let his imagination run wild.

The monster merchants on the sailboat all looked at the distant immortal mountain with a hint of longing in their eyes.

In their demon kingdom, there are many legends about this immortal mountain.

It is said that only those with a special destiny can find this sacred mountain.

"Let's go, Brother Jiang, let's go back upstairs and rest." Wei Li said with a smile. Just then, a burly monster with an angry expression walked out from the lower deck.

This monster clearly cannot completely transform into a human form yet; its skin still retains many snake scales, and its eyes are snake pupils.

In his hand, he was carrying a young boy who looked to be only thirteen or fourteen years old.

"Let me go, let me go."

The little boy, dressed in rags, struggled and shouted, "I'm not going to any demon kingdom! I woke up in this shabby ship, and I want to get off!"

The snake demon carrying him had a grim expression and scolded him, "Once you're on the ship bound for the demon kingdom, there's no one who can be sent back. If you really want to get off the ship, you'll be fed to the fish in the sea."

The little boy's face turned red, and he shouted, "Let me go, you monster!"

The snake demon clearly didn't have much patience; it grabbed the little boy and went up to the deck, intending to throw him into the sea to feed the fish.

The monster merchants on the ship were used to this.

Some of these slaves who were sold to the demon kingdom did so voluntarily, leaving behind a sum of money so that their families could live a better life.

Some were tricked and lured onto the ship.

If these people start causing trouble after boarding the ship, only one of them will end up being thrown into the sea. Seeing the snake demon about to throw the little boy into the sea, Jiang Yun's brows furrowed.

"What's the situation with this little boy?" Jiang Yun asked, frowning.

Wei Li smiled faintly and said, "It's nothing more than that his family was poor, and his family drugged him with a potion and sold him to the ship."

Seeing this, Wei Li reminded Jiang Yun in a deep voice: "This kid has already been sold to that snake demon. According to the rules, he owns the person and can do whatever he wants with him."

"Brother Jiang, please don't interfere or do anything reckless."

Jiang Yun shook his head and said, "I'll buy that child. Ask him how much it costs."

Jiang Yun didn't want to cause trouble, but seeing the young child being thrown into the sea, he couldn't help but feel a little sorry for him.

"Stop." Wei Li spoke up after hearing Jiang Yun's words.

The snake demon turned around, saw Wei Li, and respectfully greeted him, "Lord Wei."

“I’ll take this little boy. The money will be deducted from your ticket this time. Is that alright?” Wei Li waved his hand.

"No problem at all."

Soon, the little boy was brought in front of Jiang Yun.

"What kind of monster are you?" the little boy asked Jiang Yun cautiously.

"Do I look like a monster?" Jiang Yun asked. "What's your name?"

"Yan Jiu".

"Come back with me first." Jiang Yun glanced at the many monsters on the deck, then together with Linglong, led the child towards the upper cabin.

On the way, Linglong asked in a low voice, "There are quite a few children in the cabin down here. You've saved Yan Jiu now, but even if we get to the Demon Kingdom, he won't survive."

“I know what I'm doing.” Jiang Yun nodded, indicating that he understood. “If we hadn’t seen him, it would have been fine. After all, he was just a child. It would have been a pity to throw him into the sea and let him die.”

After bringing Yan Jiu back to the luxurious room, Yan Jiu looked at the room in surprise, and then at the various fresh fruits on the table.

"Can I eat it?" Yan Jiu asked directly.

"Eat." Jiang Yun nodded.

Yan Jiu didn't stand on ceremony and wolfed down the fruit. Jiang Yun sat beside him, put her hand on his shoulder, and checked his meridians.

But then he shook his head, saying that the child had mediocre talent and was not suitable for cultivating Taoist arts.

If one has enough talent and is fortunate enough to save him, taking him as a disciple would not be a bad idea.

Pity.

"How did you get on the ship?" Linglong asked curiously.

Yan Jiu wolfed down the fruit and said, "It must have been my father's stepmother, that bitch, who gave me a bewitching potion and sent me onto this demon kingdom's ship."

At this point, Yan Jiu said with resentment in his eyes, "If I can get back alive, I will definitely kill that bitch."

"Thank you both. I'm a person who clearly distinguishes between gratitude and resentment, and I will definitely repay you both in the future."

Hearing the child's words, Jiang Yun couldn't help but laugh. This kid is young, but he has quite the big mouth.

"Stay on the ship and wait until we reach the Demon Kingdom. I will ask Wei Li to help us send you back to the Zhou Kingdom."

Yan Jiu hurriedly said, "I won't go back. If I go back, I'm afraid I'll be harmed by other methods again."

"So what are your plans?" Jiang Yun asked, puzzled.

Yan Jiu shook his head, indicating that he hadn't decided yet.

"Alright, I'll ask Wei Li to help arrange a room for you. Get some rest and don't cause any trouble..."

Jiang Yun needed to discuss some things with Linglong, and it was impossible for him to let the child live with him.

Wei Li complied with all of Jiang Yun's requests.

On the contrary, it gave Jiang Yun a bit of a headache, because he really didn't know much about poetry and songs.

Time on the ship was leisurely, and they were getting closer and closer to the Demon Kingdom.

These past few days, Yan Jiu has been behaving himself. The monster merchants on the ship all know that Yan Jiu is someone protected by Wei Li.

Wei Li also paid for Yan Jiu's purchase.

In a sense, Yan Jiu was Wei Li's slave.

No one would bother him; he'd only be asking for trouble.

But on the day they were about to reach the demon kingdom, the ship sank.

(End of this chapter)