Great Demon 08

Mo Ran had a vague sense that something was off. Why was there another Great Demon here?

This... this can't be right?

Still, he remained confident. Glancing back at his reliable teammates, he saw understanding in their eyes—they nodded slowly, faces filled with determination.

"Snake Demon, you’ve ruined me," Mo Ran growled, glaring at Fang Zhiyi.

Fang Zhiyi glanced at him but didn’t respond, instead pulling out his phone to snap a picture of the weakened old fox.

"What are you doing?"

"Something to mock you with later."

"Piss off!"

Mo Ran felt utterly ignored, and his anger flared. "Don’t underestimate the bonds between us! That fox demon dies today, and so do you!"

As he spoke, the chubby teammate hurled his long-range magical artifact—only for Fang Zhiyi to catch it effortlessly between two fingers.

Fang Zhiyi tilted his head slightly. "You keep going on about friendship and bonds. What, do you think we don’t have friends?"

"What do you mean—"

Suddenly, Mo Ran froze. Every hair on his body stood on end—his innate danger sense was screaming at him. He whipped his head around.

A hulking demon crouched atop a telephone pole.

A slender figure loitered beneath a streetlamp.

Another sat cross-legged in the middle of the road they’d come from.

Two more perched on the walls flanking them.

"Captain... Captain!" The girl in their team panicked, staring at the crude demon-energy detector in her hand.

"What is it?"

"It’s... it’s maxed out! The demonic energy readings—they’re off the charts!"

Mo Ran took a deep breath.

"I know one Great Demon might not be enough to finish you. Two might still be iffy. So... how about seven?" Fang Zhiyi asked, then glanced at the old fox sprawled on the ground. "Correction—six."

"You—you’re cheating!" The chubby teammate finally cracked, fear creeping into his voice.

Fang Zhiyi actually laughed. "What law says we can’t? You ambush one of us, but when we outnumber you, suddenly it’s unfair? Where’s the logic in that?"

"Did you really expect us to line up and take turns fighting you? Dream on."

The air thickened with oppressive tension. For the first time, Mo Ran felt something foreign—fear. His instincts screamed that if these six Great Demons attacked, they’d all die.

"You... you—"

Fang Zhiyi waved him off. "Enough with the stammering. You think you’re the only ones with friends? Don’t underestimate our bonds, you bastard."

"Snakey, stop stealing their lines. I’m cringing so hard I could dig a three-bedroom apartment with my toes," rumbled the massive bear demon as it leaped down from the pole.

"Oh-ho-ho, look at this old fox! Hahaha—I can’t hold it in," a lithe woman sauntered up to Hu Lai, grinning mockingly.

"Lost your tail too? Pathetic."

"You damn bastards—shut up!" Hu Lai, already miserable, writhed under their taunts.

"Nope, I’ll laugh if I want. It’s been centuries since I’ve seen you this wrecked. You’re so lame."

"Ultra lame."

Mo Ran snapped. "Enough! Today, I, Mo Ran, would rather die than surrender!" Disgusted by his own fear, he channeled it into rage, turning to his team for support.

But his teammates avoided his gaze.

"Believe in me," Mo Ran urged. He had a feeling—he wouldn’t die here. He didn’t know why, but he was destined for greatness!

Just then, thunder rumbled overhead.

Fang Zhiyi glanced skyward, his expression one of resigned understanding. Little Hei’s form suddenly expanded, coiling upward like a living storm.

Mockery aside, vengeance was due. The Great Demons struck. Mo Ran’s squad barely resisted—though the demons seemed to hold back, targeting only the most painful spots.

Fang Zhiyi dodged Mo Ran’s frenzied slashes with ease, occasionally slapping him mid-dodge. Little Hei’s voice carried over the thunder: "Hurry up! It’s getting intense!"

Fang Zhiyi understood. While one hand kept slapping Mo Ran, the other pulled out his phone.

"Hello, I’d like to report a crime."

By the time Mo Ran had endured dozens of slaps, vehicles marked "Demon Management Bureau" screeched to a halt nearby.

Mo Ran brightened. "Over here! Demons! There are demons here!"

His teammates, however, looked utterly defeated.

The armed humans who stepped out first nodded at Fang Zhiyi, who pointed at Hu Lai and said something. Their brows furrowed as they turned to Mo Ran’s group and marched over. The other demons ceased their assault.

"They’re the demons!" Mo Ran bellowed, his mind fraying. "Arrest them! Kill them!"

"Cuff them!" the squad leader ordered. Mo Ran’s entire team was restrained.

Mo Ran gaped. "You—I get it now! You’re traitors! Human traitors!"

The leader sighed. "Save your breath. You’ll have plenty of time to talk later."

"Hey, should we send Old Hu to a hospital or a vet?"

"Vet, probably."

"A pet clinic might work too."

"Jiu Fang, put that tail down!"

"No way! I’m making a scarf out of it!"

"Guys... you’re stepping on my hand..." Hu Lai whimpered in despair.

Mo Ran’s squad was hauled off to a real prison this time. There, he caught the morning news:

"Under the mediation of Fang Zhiyi, acting chairman of the Demon Association, the Demon Emperor is scheduled to visit human society on the 20th of this month. Discussions will focus on mutual development between demons and humans."

"Top executives of a renowned corporation revealed to have humble origins—once worked manual labor for humans."

"The Demon Association’s subsidiary, Demon Power Resources Ltd., has publicly released registration details for all resident demons. The move sparked protests from some humans, who argue demons also have privacy rights."

"The newly amended Demon Management Act is now in effect. However, reports confirm that last night, an illegal human vigilante group attacked Hu XX, a manager at Demon Power Resources Ltd., leaving him severely injured. This case will set the first precedent under the new act. Sources indicate the group splintered from another civilian organization. Authorities have issued a statement."

Mo Ran stared at the screen, slack-jawed.

His teammates mirrored his shock.

Fang Zhiyi’s face flashed in Mo Ran’s mind. His instincts screamed that this was all the snake demon’s scheme.

"Lies! All lies!" He thrashed, desperate to smash the TV, but staff quickly restrained him.

As the first high-profile case of humans attacking demons, all sides were watching closely. With tensions already delicate, a misstep could spell irreversible consequences.

However, after Fang Zhiyi came forward to clarify that other humans would not be implicated, and Hu Lai, still hospitalized, urged the monsters to remain rational, the human side finally felt at ease.

Due to Hu Lai’s status, Mo Ran’s team was dealt the harshest punishment—compensation and imprisonment without exception. But because Mo Ran’s mental state had deteriorated, he repeatedly insisted they had done nothing wrong, even "representing" the entire team in court by defying the judge and hurling insults at everyone present.

This only worsened the team’s sentencing.

During his imprisonment, Mo Ran obsessively watched the news until one day, a face buried deep in his memories appeared on the screen.

"The supernatural and human worlds have jointly launched an investigation into unresolved cases. Multiple cold cases have been solved, including one involving the murder of adoptive parents. Thanks to a tip from a concerned citizen, Qing Ning (a monster) confessed to killing her human adoptive parents. In accordance with the latest Supernatural Creatures Management Act, she has been sentenced to death!"

The footage showed the solemn-faced monster presiding over the trial.

Mo Ran shook his head frantically. No, this couldn’t be! Qing Ning couldn’t die! She must have had a reason!

That same day, an escape attempt took place at the prison. In the past, Mo Ran might have succeeded, but this time, before he could even scale the wall, two wolf monsters caught his scent and subdued him. During the struggle, he injured one of them, prompting a human sniper to shoot him in the knee, forcing him to surrender.

From then on, Mo Ran was left with a limp and a broken spirit, often sitting in a daze, laughing and crying intermittently.

By the time he was released, the world had changed. The Demon Slayer Alliance had long disbanded, replaced by the officially established Supernatural Creatures Management Bureau, staffed by monsters, Taoists, former demon slayers, and ordinary humans alike.

Mo Ran tried to contact his former teammates, but none responded.

Only the girl who once admired him sent him a message:

"Mo Ran, we always talked about bonds and friendship... but the so-called bonds and friendship you championed brought us nothing but pain. What’s done is done. Goodbye, and good luck."

Mo Ran slumped to the ground, staring blankly at the sky.

A drunkard passing by kicked him for blocking the way, cursing under his breath. Rage flared in Mo Ran’s eyes—until he recognized the drunkard’s face. His teeth clenched.

This man was also to blame for his downfall.

Deputy Base Chief Zhang never expected to be brought down for embezzlement, let alone that the ruined young man would come back for revenge.

When news reached Fang Zhiyi that Mo Ran had assaulted Deputy Base Chief Zhang and was imprisoned again, he could only shake his head.

What else could be done? He couldn’t be killed, nor could he be set free. Locking him up was the only option.

"Boss!" Xiao Hu hurried in.

"Yeah?"

"The mermaid sisters’ swimming pool opens today. They’re waiting for you to cut the ribbon." Xiao Hu looked at Fang Zhiyi with admiration. He’d definitely chosen the right person to follow!

"Let’s go, then."

"Boss, I listened to you and bought shares in veterinary medicine—they skyrocketed! You’re amazing!"

"Sigh... I never expected your brain to get any smarter."