Journey to the West: Starting by becoming an apprentice of Emperor Donghua

The fox's eyes darted around quickly, looking left and right, before finally fixing its gaze on the leftover food and wine from the two men's meal.

The earthenware jar was still bubbling and steaming, with wine and meat spilled on the ground. It couldn't help but drool, unable to swallow quickly enough.

Sneaking stealthily towards the two, the little fox picked up a small stone and threw it at the mountain god.

Seeing that neither of them reacted, he grew bolder.

In a flash, it arrived in front of the two, picked up the half-eaten dog leg from the ground, and was about to dart into the forest.

But just then, a sudden tightness gripped the back of my neck as a large hand grabbed me.

"You greedy fox! Where do you think you're going this time?"

Ji Sheng looked at the little fox with a terrified face and its eyes darting around, and couldn't help but laugh.

The mountain god also climbed up from the side, excitedly spitting as he spoke:

"How many times have I warned you not to steal? Not only did you not listen, but you also went further and further. I'm like a donkey!"

I ran myself ragged trying to catch up with you! I almost lost my life! Tell me, why are you so disobedient?

The mountain god grew angrier and angrier, and even his beard stood on end.

Ji Shengdao:

"Where did you hide that donkey? Tell me!"

The little fox still held the dog leg in its mouth and refused to let go, only shaking its head repeatedly.

Ji Sheng removed the dog leg from its mouth, and the fox cried out:

"You weren't asleep at all! You're lying!"

Ji Sheng smiled and said:

"Still trying to change the subject? We're just missing a snack to go with our drinks. You look so plump, perfect for skinning, bleeding, and cooking up a delicious meal!"

As he spoke, Ji Sheng made a move to attack.

The little fox burst into tears and struggled desperately:

"Don't eat me! Don't eat me! My flesh is sour and smelly, it's not palatable at all!"

The mountain god, feeling a pang of pity, quickly stopped him:

"Master Ji, don't scare it anymore. Ask it properly; it's just being stubborn for now."

Ji Sheng, however, said:

"This fox stole offerings a few days ago, and today it's stealing a donkey. In a few days, it will dare to go to heaven and steal the Queen Mother of the West's foot binding cloth."

"By then, we'll all be in trouble. Let's solve this big problem once and for all today!"

The little fox argued with tears in its eyes:

"I will never steal foot binding cloths again, I... I will never steal them again..."

Ji Shengdao:

"Then hurry up and tell me, where exactly is the donkey?"

The little fox wiped away its tears, its face full of grievance:

"I...I can't tell you, but without the donkey, I won't be able to save my brother..."

Ji Sheng and the Mountain God exchanged a glance. How did this matter get involved with its brother again?

The mountain god said:

"Little fox, speak properly. What does my donkey have to do with your brother?"

The little fox could only tell the truth:

"A powerful demon wanted to capture my brother and me, saying that we were full of spiritual energy and would be a great tonic..."

Halfway through its sentence, it suddenly realized something was amiss and quickly added:

"Only my brother has spiritual energy... no, none of us have spiritual energy..."

It was afraid that Ji Sheng would eat it too, so it secretly stared at Ji Sheng with its eyes full of worry and unease.

The two understood the reason for the incident: a monster had its eye on them and wanted to take them back to cook.

Such things are not uncommon. It's rare to find a demon like Ji Sheng who practices asceticism.

The mountain god was somewhat indignant upon hearing this:

"What kind of monster dares to be so bold! Tell Grandpa, and Grandpa will go and get your brother back for you!"

Ji Sheng found it somewhat amusing. No wonder this little fox dared to take advantage of him; the mountain god of Pig Ear Mountain had indeed spoiled her a bit too much.

The little fox shook its head repeatedly and said seriously:

"Grandpa Mountain God, don't go, he'll beat you to death."

The mountain god was so angry that his eyes widened in disbelief.

"What nonsense! I've been the mountain god for hundreds of years, and no one has ever dared to lay a hand on me. Tell me, who is it?!"

The little fox finally said:

"It's...it's the Black Serpent King of Eagle's Sorrow Gorge in Snake Coil Mountain..."

"It's just the Black Serpent King, I..."

Halfway through his sentence, the mountain god suddenly choked up and cautiously asked:

"Who are you talking about? The Black Snake King?"

The little fox nodded:

"That's right, it's him. Grandpa Mountain God, don't be afraid, I won't implicate you."

The mountain god's old face turned bright red. Other monsters would be one thing, but this Black Serpent King had roamed this place for hundreds of years and was much older than him.

Therefore, they didn't give him any face at all.

If we use force, that won't work either. Even if both of them were combined, they might not be a match for the Black Serpent King.

Ji Sheng knew what the mountain god was thinking, and laughed:

"Mountain God, how about I go with you? If the Black Snake King sees the two of us together, he might get scared and release the fox."

The mountain god hesitated for a long time, looking somewhat embarrassed:

"Lord Ji, you have no idea how powerful the Black Serpent King is. Even if the two of us go together, I'm afraid he won't give us a chance."

It's not that the mountain god looks down on Ji Sheng; Ji Sheng has only been cultivating for a few years.

Forty years have passed, and he's still not a fraction of what he's achieved. Although Ji Sheng has good aptitude, and I've heard he's already advanced to the Demon General level.

But compared to an old demon like the Black Serpent King, it is still far inferior.

"How will you know if you don't try? Why don't you wait here for a bit, and I'll go give it a try first?"

Zhu Shanshen hurriedly grabbed Ji Sheng's clothes, shaking his head repeatedly:

"Absolutely not! That Black Serpent King is ruthless and vicious. You might not come back. We need to think this through carefully."

I'll go find some friends; there's strength in numbers, and if we go together, we won't be afraid he won't release them!

Although this Zhushan God is old, he is still quite kind and righteous.

The little fox was nothing more than a wild demon, yet it had provoked the Black Snake King.

Zhu Shanshen not only didn't give up, but actually tried to find a way to help.

However, Ji Sheng wasn't afraid of the Black Snake King. Even without today's incident, Ji Sheng would have gone to settle accounts with him anyway.

"Little fox, go and fetch the mountain god's donkey first, then I'll take you to rescue your brother!"

The little fox didn't understand why Ji Sheng, who had just been so fierce and wanted to stew it, would suddenly help it save people.

But it knew that Ji Sheng was definitely more capable than it.

With his help, the chances of saving his brother are definitely higher.

It nodded quickly. Ji Sheng released the fox and followed it to a mountain hollow.

The short-legged donkey was tied to a rock in the ravine.

Knowing he couldn't stop Ji Sheng, the mountain god sighed and made a hand gesture. The donkey turned into a piece of paper and flew back into his hand.

After ascertaining the location of the Black Snake King, Ji Sheng said to the little fox:

"You go back with the mountain god first. I'll come find you after I save your brother."

As he spoke, a whoosh of wind blew beneath his feet, and he soared into the sky.

But just as he took off, he felt a sudden weight on his clothes.

Looking down, I saw that the little fox was biting the corner of my clothes, its teary eyes filled with stubbornness.