69novels Chapter 817 Negotiation
Chapter 817 Negotiation
Wang Ran circled the entire territory of the demon race, from the misty forest in the east, shrouded in white fog year-round, to the jagged black cliffs in the west. The pebbles under his feet crunched underfoot, making the soles of his boots hot, and his calves felt heavy. Beads of sweat trickled down his forehead, down his cheeks, and onto his clothes, leaving a small dark stain—even with his considerable cultivation, walking like this was truly exhausting.
As the sun gradually slanted westward, the orange-red glow of the sunset filled the sky, stretching the shadows of him and the old fox beside him into long, thin lines, like two ribbons trailing on the ground, swaying gently with their footsteps.
The old fox stopped, its bushy tail gently sweeping the fallen leaves behind it, creating a swirling mist. It turned to look at Wang Ran, its amber eyes filled with a hint of mockery, and a slight smile playing on its lips: "My lord, how was it? Did you find anything unusual after this round? Our demon territory is always very peaceful, not as shady as you might think."
Wang Ran wiped the sweat from his brow, his fingertips damp with a thin layer of salt, a satisfied look appearing on his face. He knew perfectly well that while the ostensible purpose of this trip was to monitor the movements of the demon race, the real objective was to investigate the dragon race's whereabouts. Having traveled this far without encountering the distinctive salty, briny scent of the dragons or being stopped and questioned by any powerful demons, he felt a weight lifted from his shoulders. He nodded, his tone lighter than before: "Indeed, nothing unusual. In that case, let's go back, sit down in your cave, brew some tea, and have a good chat about the recent relations between our two races, shall we?"
The old fox grinned, revealing its sharp canines, but it didn't look fierce at all. "A chat is certainly possible, but..." It gestured with its chin toward the edge of the demon realm, its furry ears twitching, "those cultivators following you outside are all tense, like bowstrings drawn taut, their eyes full of vigilance. If they barge in without warning and disturb the newly transformed creatures in the cave, it won't be good—those little brats are timid, and if they're frightened, they'll probably cry for three days and three nights."
Wang Ran smiled upon hearing this, and pulled out a palm-sized black cube from his pocket. It looked like a piece of polished obsidian, with thin silver metal rims around the edges, and didn't seem like a magical artifact. He gently pressed his thumb on it, and a small green light immediately lit up on the side of the cube, accompanied by a soft "beep." "Alright," he said, putting the item back in his pocket and patting his clothes. "This is our communication device. I've already sent the order; without my command, they won't cross the border even a step. Don't worry."
The old fox stared at the object for a moment, its furry face full of doubt—this glittering little thing had neither spiritual energy fluctuations nor flowing runes, yet it could control those spirited cultivators? It had lived for hundreds of years and seen many magical treasures, but it had never seen anything like this. Although it didn't understand what this "technology" was, seeing Wang Ran's confident expression, it didn't ask any further questions. It simply wagged its tail and stepped aside to lead the way: "Then please come in. The fruit wine that was just brewed in the cave has been buried under the pine tree for three years, waiting for our distinguished guest."
The old fox led Wang Ran deeper into the cave. Along the way, the lesser demons bowed their heads in respect upon seeing their chieftain, their fluffy tails neatly tucked to their sides, even their breathing becoming softer. A gleaming black bearskin curtain hung at the cave entrance, its edges adorned with strings of animal teeth. The old fox gently lifted it, releasing a warm, grassy scent—the cave was much warmer inside than outside. Several pigeon-egg-sized luminous pearls were embedded in the stone walls, emitting a soft white light that illuminated the small space, making even the moss in the cracks of the rocks clearly visible.
The old fox turned around and picked up a rough pottery pot from the stone table. The pot was engraved with crooked animal patterns. He poured some light golden liquid into two rough porcelain teacups and handed one to Wang Ran: "This is a spiritual tea brewed with wild honey from the mountains. It has been brewed with morning dew for three years. Try it."
Wang Ran took the teacup, his fingertips touching the cool porcelain surface, but his gaze subtly swept around the cave. Three small demons stood in a corner: one with snow-white rabbit ears, head bowed, fiddling with the hem of its robe; another with a trailing green-scaled snake tail, the tip of which gently swept the ground; and a tiger-headed human, its claws neatly trimmed yet still sharp. Though all were human, they possessed distinct demonic features, especially their vertical pupils, which, when turned, held an undisguised scrutiny, making Wang Ran's heart tighten slightly.
He took a sip of tea, the honey aroma mingling with the subtle bitterness of herbs spreading on his tongue. When he put down the cup, his tone had returned to its usual calm: "Let them go out first."
The old fox naturally understood his meaning; he simply didn't want outsiders to overhear. He waved his furry paws, his voice carrying a touch of lazy authority: "You all go out and wait, guarding the cave entrance. No one is allowed to come in and eavesdrop without my permission."
The little demons responded in unison with "Yes," and tiptoed out silently. The animal skin curtain fell with a "whoosh," separating the inside and outside of the cave into two worlds.
The old fox then looked at Wang Ran again, the smile in his eyes fading slightly, his fingers tightening slightly as he held the teacup, and his tone becoming more serious: "Lord Wang, can you speak now? What secret do you have that you insist on dismissing everyone before speaking? My cave may be small, but the soundproofing is still acceptable."
Wang Ran leaned back on the stone chair, the cool stone surface sending a chill through his clothes. He tapped his fingers lightly on his knee, making a soft "tap-tap" sound, and got straight to the point: "Old Fox Clan Chief, let's not beat around the bush. As you know, the demon race is no longer the same as it used to be, able to rival the human race—its territory has shrunk again and again, from the vast forests of yesteryear to this tiny mountainous area now; and the younger generation hasn't produced any top-notch experts. Those who can handle things are the old bones like you who have been through it all."
Wang Ran paused, his tapping ceasing, his tone carrying an undeniable certainty: "On the other hand, our human race has flourished in recent years, producing numerous cultivators and making advanced magical artifacts. We can even easily break the formations that trapped your ancestors back then. Therefore, the best way out for your demon race right now is to cooperate with us. Otherwise, if things really escalate to the point of no return, I don't need to elaborate on the consequences, do I?"