Chapter 125: The Third Chieftain of Gathering Thunder Mountain?

"What? Has Fox Three forgotten me?"

"Great King... how... how are you here?" When Fox Three saw clearly that the one leading the group was none other than Yuan Wuji, his already profound fear intensified, causing him to tremble so violently that he could barely speak.

Yuan Wuji, in truth, could not fathom why the Bull Demon King would continue to harbor Fox Three. With cultivation levels like his, the Bull Demon King could find such minions by the handful. Could it be that Fox Three had used some magical treasure to win the Bull Demon King's favor?

Fox Three retreated incessantly. If it had been any other demon or cultivator, even if the Bull Demon King's reputation failed to drive the enemy away, one might still have a chance to survive. But the man before him was Yuan Wuji, and Fox Three did not believe for a second that Yuan Wuji would let him live.

Having witnessed Yuan Wuji’s methods, Fox Three knew that falling into his hands would be a fate worse than death. Better to join forces with the Ruyi Immortal and fight Yuan Wuji; perhaps there might be a slim chance of escape.

"Ruyi Immortal, I don't think we have any chance of fleeing. Why don't we fight him to the death? What do you say?" Fox Three declared with an air of righteous indignation, as if he were carving out a path of survival for the Ruyi Immortal.

Behind him, the Ruyi Immortal’s expression flickered indecisively. The Bull Demon King had once spoken to him about Yuan Wuji, warning him never to provoke the Great Ape King. However, the Ruyi Immortal remembered the brutal beating he had once received at Yuan Wuji's hands and had always harbored a desire to reclaim his lost face. Furthermore, he was currently acting under the Bull Demon King's express command to guard the Fire Cloud Cave.

The Ruyi Immortal convinced himself that even if he offended Yuan Wuji, he was simply fulfilling his master's orders. Bolstered by a magical treasure bestowed upon him by the Bull Demon King, he felt his confidence surge upon seeing Yuan Wuji. He had expected Fox Three to surrender immediately, but seeing their history of bad blood, he realized that with Fox Three’s help, he stood a better chance.

"I act under the orders of my elder brother; there is no reason for me to retreat while guarding the Fire Cloud Cave," the Ruyi Immortal replied, which somewhat steadied Fox Three’s frayed nerves.

"Great Ape King, the Fire Cloud Cave of Hao Mountain is the territory of my elder brother, the Bull Demon King. Do not harbor any delusions," the Ruyi Immortal shouted, clutching something tightly in his hand that seemed to grant him great courage.

"Oh? I recall that the Bull Demon King gifted the Fire Cloud Cave to me. Is the Bull Demon King so untrustworthy?" Yuan Wuji countered.

"Great Ape King, do you truly not know, or are you feigning ignorance? Your Fire Cloud Cave was long ago raided by the Taoists of Wudang Mountain. It belongs to us now. If you are sensible, get out immediately, or don't force us to act!" As the Ruyi Immortal spoke, he clapped Fox Three on the shoulder, nearly causing the shivering fox to collapse. Fox Three hadn't expected such bravado, but he saw no other path forward.

"I only know that you have occupied my Fire Cloud Cave. As for who raided it before, I care not. I have come only to reclaim what is mine," Yuan Wuji said, his face devoid of emotion.

"Don't be so arrogant!"

"Arrogant? Not at all. It is you who are insolent, daring to occupy my cave."

"Take them!"

At Yuan Wuji's command, his eight puppets shot forward. Before Fox Three or the Ruyi Immortal could react, they were bound tight.

"Down!"

One of the puppets kicked them both to the ground. The Ruyi Immortal tried to speak, but the puppet’s foot pressed firmly against his face, stifling any sound. By the time Fox Three realized what had happened, he was already a prisoner. Knowing the depth of Yuan Wuji's ruthlessness, he was gripped by absolute terror.

"Is this all the skill you have, yet you dared to occupy my cave?"

"If you have the guts, let me go, and I will show you my true power!"

"Do you think this talisman makes me fear you?"

Yuan Wuji plucked a talisman hidden at the Ruyi Immortal’s wrist. He had noticed it early on; it was clearly the source of the Immortal's misplaced confidence.

"If you have any ability, give the talisman back and let us settle this!" the Ruyi Immortal continued to shout.

"You foolish ox. If not for the sake of the Bull Demon King, do you think I would let you continue to yelp?" Yuan Wuji said impatiently. A hint of killing intent seeped into his voice, causing the previously arrogant Ruyi Immortal to shudder and fall silent, terrified to utter another word.

With the Ruyi Immortal silenced, Yuan Wuji turned his gaze to Fox Three.

"Fox Three, quite impressive. You know my nature, yet you still dared to defect to the Bull Demon King?"

"Great King, at this point, I have little to say, but I did not betray you. I truly went home to visit kin, but when I returned to the Fire Cloud Cave, it was already engulfed in flames and littered with corpses. I tried to enter to investigate, but I ran into the Wudang Mountain Taoists. They hunted me for three days and nights until I hid in a mortal marketplace to escape."

"But every marketplace I entered, I was discovered and hunted again, until I ran into the Bull Demon King and finally found safety," Fox Three sobbed, painting himself in a pathetic light, though it had no effect on Yuan Wuji.

"The Bull Demon King would help you so easily? That is Wudang Mountain we are talking about."

"Of course not," Fox Three gave a bitter laugh and continued, "In truth, Great King, I am the Third Master of Thunder Accumulation Mountain. My cultivation talent is inferior to my two elder brothers, so I did not stay on the mountain long, preferring to live in smaller places. The reason the Bull Demon King saved me was that I told him my elder brother was seeking a son-in-law for my niece. If he helped me, I promised to introduce him to my brother. Only then did he agree."

"Oh? So you are the third in line at Thunder Accumulation Mountain?" Yuan Wuji asked with interest.

He recalled that there was a Ten-Thousand-Year Fox King on the mountain with a daughter named Princess Jade Face. He hadn't realized Fox Three was the third master. This implied there was also a second master, though his strength remained a mystery. Furthermore, if the Fox King was seeking a son-in-law, it meant his time was running short, and the Bull Demon King would soon abandon Princess Iron Fan for the wealth of the Fox King.

Yuan Wuji had always been curious about the Ten-Thousand-Year Fox King. To claim such a title, his strength must be formidable; he could not simply have died of old age. With the mysterious second master in the mix, the Bull Demon King would not find it easy to seize the mountain. It seemed the legends of the Westward Journey were not entirely accurate. The waters of this prehistoric world were deeper than they appeared, and he would have to be more cautious in the future.

"I am ashamed," Fox Three muttered. "My cultivation is nowhere near that of my brothers. Calling me the Third Master of Thunder Accumulation Mountain is nothing but a joke."