Chapter Thirty-Five Resolution

Yang Nanchu had settled the Demon Valley, delegating all affairs to his disciples and Chiyang. Each day, he sat within the Jade Purity Hall, opening the Divine Mansion of Heavenly Origin to cultivate the True Interpretation of the Luo Sha Yin Soldiers. Outside, the four commanders had gathered news; when they learned that their young master had indeed accepted the maidens, their hearts soared in delight. As long as their lord was willing to accept the offerings of his subordinates, they believed their positions were as unshakeable as stone. This young master of the Kunlun Sect was formidable; if he did not trust them, how could he entrust such vital duties?

Within the Spirit Beast Mountain, birds and beasts stirred in chaos for a time, but under the diligent management of the four commanders, the factions were established. Each commander had three to four thousand strong demon soldiers under their command, plus the women, children, and elders in the rear. With the seventy-two Demon Valleys and the Jade Purity Hall, the number of monsters reached twenty thousand.

Houjiu was aided by the Boar Chief and the Little Wolf; Sushu had the Crow Chief and the White Eagle as assistants; Flower Begonia had Peony, Lily, Crow Chief, and White Eagle; Goldfish was supported by Ironbone Fish, Turtle Shell, Golden Beetle, and Locust Chief.

Especially Flower Begonia, who, commanding two clans, had received from Yang Nan the Eagle Demon Token, enabling her to summon the Cloud-Snow Winged Eagle, once the demon king, to aid her. When the birds saw their former demon king reduced to such a pitiable servant, their hearts trembled, rendering them all the more submissive to Flower Begonia, not daring to defy her in the slightest.

The other three commanders, seeing the delicate Flower Begonia so favored, were all the more convinced: the gifts they presented were far inferior to the unrivaled beauty of a single pear blossom pressing the begonia. Otherwise, why would the young master bestow such a formidable magic tool only upon Begonia Fairy?

Even Begonia Fairy herself thought so...

It was said that, aside from the pear blossom pressing the begonia, there were also such peerless beauties as Fish in Water, Red Warhorse in Bridal Dress, Green Leaves and Red Flowers, and Plum Pairings, each with its own extraordinary origins and stories. If one could find such rare beauties and present them to the master, would they not gain wind and rain at their command?

Henceforth, the four commanders racked their brains to train their little demons, scouring the five clans for beauties, hoping one day to cultivate an unparalleled demon prodigy, so that when the master saw her, he would be so enraptured as to bestow supreme treasures and peerless skills.

Yang Nan, of course, knew nothing of these schemes. How could he know that by acting thus, he was already regarded by his demon subordinates as a lord who favored beauty? Nor did he know that these four idle commanders would one day actually find an unrivaled demon beauty, thus inciting a bloodshed caused by her...

Yang Nan gave another Pegasus Token to Chiyang. Though Chiyang's strength grew daily, another steed was always beneficial. This Pegasus was formidable, equipped with wings and swift flight; in battle, it could serve as a helper. With Pegasus, even if a grandmaster arrived, Chiyang could mount and escape in time.

Chiyang naturally accepted, for every increase in his strength benefited Yang Nan. He had served the Duke's household, and would follow Yang Nan for life, whether he became immortal or sage—how could there be distinction between you and me?

Yet, seeing Yang Nan give two powerful demon beasts to others and keeping none for himself, Chiyang advised him. But when Yang Nan cheerfully produced the Great Roc King, immobilized by a restriction within the Rivers and Mountains Ring, Chiyang was reassured. This Roc King was immensely powerful; if Yang Nan could tame it as a mount, he could rest easy.

Fish Maiden, being of weak cultivation, and White Robe, apart from her lotus form, had no magic tools. Yang Nan gave them the Earthquake Stone and Earth Pearl taken from the Tiger Demon, both formidable defensive treasures. Unless ordinary cultivators broke through these treasures, it would be hard to harm them.

Butterfly Robe already had her Five-color Feather Fan, so nothing more was needed.

Yang Nan had originally appointed Hun Yuan and Qian Ren as the chief disciples, but these two brought him a great trouble!

The Tiger Demon King had abducted countless people, not least many mortal women. The strong men had mostly been eaten by the monsters, leaving only hundreds of mortal women and the old and weak. These women came from many regions, and the elders' origins were even more diverse and strange.

Yang Nan sat in the hall, gazing at the gathered women and elders, feeling a headache. If he sent each of them home, where would he find so many people? Yet if he did not send them, what purpose would they serve on Jade Purity Peak?

He was not the only one troubled. Even the resourceful Fish Maiden looked at the crowd in distress. Spirit Beast Mountain was too far from their homes, and Yang Nan had only a dozen or so immortal disciples. If each woman was escorted home one at a time, who knew how many years it would take? If they were not sent home, it would mean tearing them from their families forever.

If he sent the spirits to escort them to the mortal world, the spirits would likely eat them en route, or be destroyed by cultivators in the mortal realm!

This matter was harder to resolve than subduing the seven demon kings...

After much contemplation, Yang Nan asked, "Do you have any way to return home on your own? If you can, I can order someone to escort you to Wangxian City by the East Sea." Wangxian City was a port connecting Spirit Beast Mountain and the East Sea, bustling with commerce and people, only a few hundred miles away—Yang Nan's limit, for any further would pose danger from spirits.

The women wept quietly; most had been humiliated by demon soldiers. If they returned, they would have no face to meet their families. The elders were even more miserable, most having lost their loved ones to monsters, now rescued but with nowhere to go.

Yang Nan was vexed by their tears, and turned his gaze to the troublemaking disciples Hun Yuan and Qian Ren, his eyes blazing. The two, seeing their little uncle’s fury, helplessly shrugged and smiled bitterly. Heaven values life; how could they let these women be abused by demons in the valley?

"Stop crying! Those who wish to leave, step forward; those who wish to stay, remain. I will assign duties to you, and here, no one will dare to bully you!" Yang Nan slammed the table, startling the women into silence. Though they knew they had been saved by a Kunlun immortal, immortals rarely cared for mortals like themselves. Seeing Yang Nan’s anger, they were deeply afraid.

The tactic worked. Gradually, a few women stepped forward. One, her face blackened, approached and said, "I greet the immortal. I have a request—may the immortal help me?"

Though her figure was graceful, her face was swollen and covered in stench. Yang Nan frowned and said coldly, "Speak your request; I will tell you if it can be done." Cultivators value their time; how could he waste it on trivial matters?

The woman calmly brushed aside his coldness, replying gently, "I wish to go to the Kunlun Sect. If you would escort me, immortal, I will honor you for life, offering incense day and night, never forgetting your kindness."

'To Kunlun Mountain? Does she wish to cultivate?' Yang Nan frowned, scrutinizing her. Though she was filthy and stinking, her figure was elegant, her manner courteous and poised, her speech neither humble nor haughty, her eyes clear and spirited—clearly of noble birth. More importantly, a faint spiritual aura emanated from her, though weak, as if she possessed a natural anomaly.

Yang Nan nodded. Since she had this anomaly, she might be fit for cultivation, but ascending Kunlun was no easy feat. Even the Seven Paths and Seven Fiends of the Seeking Immortal Road were not for common women. Most female disciples on Kunlun Mountain were chosen by steward disciples, not required to pass the Seeking Immortal Road!

He explained, "It’s not hard to go to Kunlun, but ascending the mountain means facing the Seven Paths and Seven Fiends. Otherwise, you can only stand at the foot and sigh." He then described the hardships of the Seeking Immortal Road, hoping she would abandon the idea and simply go home.

But the woman smiled slightly and bowed her head. "If I can reach Kunlun, that is enough. Thank you for telling me about the Seeking Immortal Road. I am sure I will reach Kunlun Mountain."

Yang Nan saw her stubborn resolve and sighed. "Very well, seek your own fortune. Even if you ascend the mountain, you may not become an immortal. Take care."

The woman nodded gently, then stepped aside and said, "Immortal, you need not worry about these sisters. I’ve heard that the mountain demons love gathering herbs. If these sisters remain, they can do the same. Those who wish to leave can be sent to the Seeking Immortal Mansion; the rest can stay. If they gain this immortal fate, even if they do not ascend the immortal path, they can find shelter here.

You control the demons, but they understand no manners. If these elders are left without support, they can live long lives in this immortal mountain and teach the demons some human etiquette. I’ve heard the sages say: ‘Education knows no class.’ If you can use this to civilize the demons, wouldn’t it be a wonderful thing?"

Yang Nan was shaken, realizing the woman was exceedingly clever, able to deduce his difficulties and propose a solution, truly remarkable!

'This woman is no ordinary person; her filth is clearly to conceal her appearance and avoid trouble.' Yang Nan guessed her intent and regarded her even more highly, immediately following her advice.

Only a dozen women wished to leave, most unviolated and able to return home to prove their innocence. Yang Nan ordered Qian Ren and Hun Yuan to escort them to the Wangxian City magistrate, providing generous gold and silver so they had no worries. Of the elders, only three or four wished to leave; having lost family and grown frail, most could not travel and chose to stay. Many were literate, making it easy to teach the rough demons.

Following the woman's suggestion, Yang Nan appointed these elders to instruct the demon soldiers in human etiquette and basic literacy. The elders, seeing the immortal realm with its spirit beasts and exotic flowers, realized this was truly the land of the immortals. Living here for a hundred years more would be ordinary; why would they not wish to stay?

So, all parties were pleased. Yang Nan finally breathed a sigh of relief, turning to the stinking, mud-covered woman with a smile. "I must thank you for your suggestion; now I can go to Kunlun with a clear mind."

What seemed a troublesome affair was, thanks to her advice, resolved with ease. Yang Nan felt his heart lighten.

The woman smiled slightly. "Immortal, you flatter me; I dare not accept such praise."

Yang Nan nodded, then beckoned Hun Yuan to escort the departing women and elders. With only a dozen women and a few elders, it was easy for the outer disciples—two trips would suffice.

The remaining women were led by Fish Maiden to settle in the rear hall. The Jade Purity Hall was vast, capable of housing thousands or tens of thousands without crowding. They were placed wherever convenient, and upon being accepted by an immortal cultivator, they all gave thanks and departed.