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Chapter 186 Mighty Bull Demon King

An eerily tense atmosphere hung in the air in front of the Fire Cloud Cave.

Princess Iron Fan, who had been so aggressive just moments before, seemed to have her anger instantly extinguished upon hearing the words "Taishang Laojun".

The color drained from her stunningly beautiful face as she stared intently at Chen Guangrui. Her slender, pale fingers unconsciously tightened around the edge of her moon-white silk dress, until even her fingertips turned slightly white. Her fierce and domineering demeanor had vanished, leaving only incredulous shock and a barely perceptible hint of panic.

Red Boy was still young and had no idea what the sudden change in his mother's expression meant. He only saw that this so-called "vice commander" had invoked Laozi and subdued his shrewish mother. A surge of resentment at being slighted and suppressed, along with youthful pride, rushed to his head.

"Bah! What kind of Supreme Lord Lao is this? He's just bullying people with his power!"

"I've seen your so-called Heavenly Court before, don't try to scare people here!"

Red Boy's face flushed crimson, and with a roar, he spewed a mouthful of scorching flames at Chen Guangrui. The flames were blood-red, carrying the explosive aura of sulfur—his innate divine power, Samadhi True Fire!

Flames, like dragons, instantly rushed towards Chen Guangrui, the heat wave scorching him.

Chen Guangrui's pupils contracted slightly. He was all too familiar with that fiery aura!

This was no ordinary demonic fire; the fire that Red Boy was using was actually controlled by the fire-tending Taoist priest of the Tushita Palace.

He's always had that permission!
In a flash, Chen Guangrui pointed his right index finger in front of him and silently chanted the incantation. An invisible force of control instantly spread out.

The raging Samadhi Fire, only a foot away from Chen Guangrui's face, seemed to be suddenly seized by an invisible hand. The frenzied fire dragon abruptly choked, then, like a puppet with its strings cut, the flames flickered wildly a few times, and with a "poof," it instantly dissipated, turning into a few scattered sparks that didn't even touch the hem of Chen Guangrui's clothes.

"Huh?!" Red Boy's eyes widened, his mouth slightly agape, completely dumbfounded. His Samadhi True Fire had always been invincible, so why was it acting like a dud today?
Princess Iron Fan saw it all clearly, and her heart trembled even more. Not only did the other party mention Laozi's name, but they were also able to suppress her child's Samadhi True Fire so easily.

This person is definitely from the Tushita Palace; it seems what he said was true.

"Stop, my child!" Princess Iron Fan shouted sharply, her voice filled with unprecedented tension.

She pulled the still somewhat unconvinced Red Boy back behind her, took a deep breath, forcibly suppressed her turbulent emotions, and when she looked at Chen Guangrui again, she forced a few polite words on her face, even with a hint of ingratiation.

"Vice Commander Chen, please calm down." Princess Iron Fan's voice softened considerably, a stark contrast to her previous shrewishness.

“My son is young and ignorant, and has a quick temper. He offended the deputy commander. I apologize to you on his behalf.”

She paused, and when she turned her gaze to the Yellow Wind Monster, there was no longer any hostility in her eyes, but rather a sense of unease as if she were eager to distance herself from him.

"As for what the deputy commander just said," Princess Iron Fan spoke quickly, as if eager to express her opinion.
“What you said makes perfect sense. The title ‘Holy Infant King’ was indeed given to my son when he was young and ignorant. It’s inappropriate, very inappropriate! From now on, we’ll just call him Red Boy and never mention that name again, so as not to make him a laughingstock.”

She hurriedly added, "And those mountain gods and local deities, Vice Commander, you are right. It was indeed the children who were naughty, and their little demons were also ignorant, which is why we asked them to help us with some small tasks. Since the Vice Commander has already pointed this out, I will send them all back now, and they will never dare to offend the righteous gods of Heaven again."

Yellow Wind Monster's eyes nearly popped out of his head, his mouth agape enough to fit a fist. Was this really the same Princess Iron Fan, the Rakshasa who had stood at the cave entrance, hands on hips, berating him for three days and three nights without repeating herself?

That attitude, that tone—so polite, so well-mannered!

Just because Lao Tzu was mentioned?

Yellow Wind Monster felt his head buzzing and couldn't process what was happening.

Chen Guangrui's face remained calm, but his heart was in turmoil. Princess Iron Fan's reaction was far greater than he had expected.

This is by no means merely out of reverence for him as the deputy commander; its roots must lie deep within the Daoist patriarch of the Tushita Palace.

He nodded impassively, following Princess Iron Fan's conciliatory tone, his gaze sharp as lightning, directly targeting the core issue.
"In that case, we thank you for your understanding, Madam. As for the other matter..."

Chen Guangrui deliberately slowed his speech and emphasized his tone, "That eight-hundred-mile-long Flaming Mountain..."

"Shh!"

Before Chen Guangrui could finish speaking, the politeness and ingratiation on Princess Iron Fan's face vanished instantly, as if they had never existed. In its place was a layer of icy frost and unwavering resolve, so swiftly that the Yellow Wind Monster gasped again.

"Vice Commander!" Princess Iron Fan's voice suddenly turned cold.

"As for the Flaming Mountains, you needn't trouble yourself! As for the Banana Leaf Fan..."

She raised her chin slightly.
"That's mine. You want to take it? Fine!"

Princess Iron Fan spoke slowly and deliberately, "Either you have Laozi come to my Banana Cave on Mount Cuiyun in person and ask me for it, or..."

A complex mix of hatred and mockery flashed in her eyes.
"Let that heartless Bull Demon King come himself. Let him tell me in person, and I'll hand over the fan." After saying this, Princess Iron Fan seemed to have exhausted all her strength, or perhaps she didn't want to look at him anymore. She suddenly turned around and grabbed Red Boy, who was still in a daze.

"Child, let's go."

The heavy iron cave door slammed shut with a loud crash in front of Chen Guangrui and Huang Fengguai, leaving only the two outside the cave.

The Yellow Wind Monster froze on the spot, completely bewildered. He looked at the tightly closed cave door, then at the silent Chen Guangrui beside him, scratched his messy hair, and mumbled a sentence.
"This woman's temper changes faster than turning the pages of a book. She was perfectly fine just a moment ago, but the moment she picked up her fan, she was like a cat with its fur standing on end. I don't understand at all!"

Chen Guangrui did not answer immediately. He stared at the cold iron door, his deep gaze seemingly trying to pierce through it.

Why, why did she react so strongly when the banana leaf fan was mentioned? Why were there only two ways to ask for the fan?
The authority to control fire in the Tushita Palace has appeared in Red Boy's possession...

Princess Iron Fan had an almost instinctive awe and obedience to the name of the Tushita Palace...

The Banana Leaf Fan has a strange and unique connection with Laozi and the Bull Demon King...

Chen Guangrui frowned deeply, and a bold and bizarre conjecture quietly took shape in his mind.

Princess Iron Fan, the Bull Demon King's family... there must be some connection between them and the Tushita Palace.

However, he couldn't very well ask about this relationship at the Tushita Palace, so he could only approach the Bull Demon King from there.

……

Outside the Moyun Cave on Jilei Mountain, the atmosphere is completely different from the rugged and austere atmosphere of Hao Mountain.

Ancient cypress and pine trees shade the entrance to the cave, while exotic flowers and rare herbs adorn the area, and the jade-paved road is as smooth as a mirror.

At this moment, a tall figure rode up on horseback in the distance.

He wore a polished, silver-black iron helmet and a suit of intricately patterned, gold-embroidered armor. Sunlight shone through the armor plates, reflecting a calm yet dazzling golden light. He wore soft, pink-soled suede boots with rolled-up toes. A lion-head belt, adorned with three strands of silk and lion-head motifs, was tied around his waist.

It's none other than the Mighty Bull Demon King!
Upon reaching the cave entrance, he straightened his clothes and even checked his appearance in the stream.

Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a small demon's head timidly peeking out from behind a jagged rock.

The little demon had a pointed mouth and monkey-like cheeks, wore the simple leather armor unique to the Huoyun Cave of Haoshan Mountain, and had ash on his face, looking terrified and flustered.

The Bull Demon King frowned, his voice low and cold, carrying a hint of displeasure at being disturbed.
"Hmm? Where did this little demon come from, sneaking around here? What are you doing?"

His large, copper-bell-like eyes swept over the little demon's attire, finding it somewhat familiar. "It does look familiar, like the style of the Fire Cloud Cave. What's it doing here at Jilei Mountain?"

When the little demon saw that the Bull Demon King had stopped asking questions, he seemed to have grasped at a straw and scrambled to get close, his voice trembling with tears.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I am a patrolman of Huoyun Cave. It's terrible! There's an official who claims to be the deputy commander of the Heavenly Court's demon-slaying army, and he's blocking the entrance to Huoyun Cave with his helpers. They look fierce and menacing, and they're threatening to kidnap the princess and the young king! I risked my life to sneak out and report this, Your Majesty, please go and save the lady and the young king!"

The Bull Demon King's copper bell-like eyes suddenly widened, and a fierce and violent aura suddenly rose from his burly body.
"The deputy commander of Heaven? How dare he touch my wife and children?"

The little demon was overjoyed, thinking the time was right, and nodded vigorously, urging them on impatiently.
"Yes, Your Majesty, you are very fierce! If you are late, I'm afraid... I'm afraid it will be too late. I'll lead the way for you, shall we go now?"

The Bull Demon King's expression of shock and anger vanished instantly, replaced by a cold, mocking smile.

He looked down at the terrified little demon at his feet.

"Save people?" The Bull Demon King's voice softened somewhat.
"What's the rush? People from Heaven? Hmph, I, Old Ox, don't even consider them a threat."

Before he finished speaking, his movements were as fast as lightning! A huge hand, covered with fine, stiff hair and as big as a fan, whistled through the air. Its five fingers, like hooks forged from refined steel, carried an irresistible force and grabbed the little demon by the back of his neck. He lifted him off the ground as easily as if he were a weightless chick.

The little demon was terrified, its limbs flailing futilely in the air, emitting a horrified hoarse sound from its throat.

"Your Majesty! What are you doing? I've come to deliver a message, and everything I've said is true!"

The Bull Demon King, carrying him, completely ignored the little demon's fear and struggle, and turned his gaze back to the lavishly decorated entrance to the Cloud-Piercing Cave, his tone carrying an undeniable enthusiasm.

"Since you have traveled a long way to Jilei Mountain to deliver this message, and you are a subordinate of my child's cave, how could I not allow you to come into the cave and say hello, given your unwavering loyalty?"

(End of this chapter)