Chapter Forty-Three: The Demon Ape’s Lair

In the deepest reaches of the Demonic Forest’s inner ring, the presence of magical beasts diminished by more than half. Here was the domain of the most powerful among them—a gathering place for formidable beasts or the nests of various beast clans. This area was divided into countless territories, each ruled by the mightiest of their kind.

The lords of these territories were without exception Origin Beasts who had set foot into the Origin Realm. These beasts possessed intelligence comparable to that of humans, and some could even speak. In the world of magical beasts, strength was revered even more than in the human realm. Only those who had reached the Origin Realm could carve out a territory for themselves through bloody combat.

Lesser beasts, those who had not yet attained the Origin Realm, could only linger at the edges of these domains, moving cautiously within a limited range. They dared not stray too far, lest they inadvertently trespass into the territory of an Origin Beast, which would be seen as a challenge and invite the wrath of the territory’s master.

Among the many territories, few were as formidable as the one held by the Demonic Ape Clan in the northeastern reaches. This clan held considerable weight, and few other magical beasts dared provoke them. This was due to the presence of the Silver-haired Demonic Ape, an Origin Beast, among their ranks. The intelligence of the Demonic Apes far surpassed that of ordinary magical beasts, which allowed them to claim a corner of the inner forest and remain largely unchallenged.

At this moment, within the Demonic Ape’s territory, a dense forest clung to the mountainside, where thick branches crisscrossed, completely blocking out the harsh sunlight. Beneath the canopy, many Demonic Apes lounged lazily among the trees. These apes were covered in gray fur and stood even taller than adult humans.

Among them was one ape whose silver fur made it stand out. This creature was massive—twice the size of an ordinary Demonic Ape—and was clearly the king of the clan: the Silver-haired Demonic Ape.

Now, this Silver-haired Demonic Ape lay contentedly against a stone wall, while several female apes groomed its silver pelt. If one looked closely, they would notice a stone door to the right side of the wall, overgrown with weeds—a sign of its age.

Suddenly, the sound of wind slicing through the air echoed from afar. The Silver-haired Demonic Ape abruptly pushed aside the attendant females and rose to its feet. A heavy, ferocious breath burst from its large nostrils as it glared in the direction of the sound, then threw back its head and let out a furious, earth-shaking roar.

With the ape’s bellow, pebbles tumbled from the cliff, and the other apes were jolted awake from their slumber beneath the trees. After a brief moment of daze, they pounded their chests with both fists, adding their own angry howls to the commotion.

While the Demonic Ape clan was in turmoil, several figures landed on a small hill not far from the territory. Soon, all had gathered there. At the head of the group stood the gray-robed Elder Wu, who had assembled the mercenaries. Beside him was a slender, beautiful young woman whose exquisite face was tinged with a faint, cool aloofness—Nangong Xue. At that moment, her delicate brows were slightly furrowed.

From where they stood, the furious roars of the Demonic Apes within their territory were clearly audible.

“Have we been discovered?” Elder Wu’s dry, withered face showed a touch of gravity. Clearly, he had not expected the apes to be so vigilant; they had not even entered the territory proper before being detected.

After a moment’s thought, Elder Wu leaned toward Nangong Xue and whispered a few words, then turned to the assembled mercenary leaders and said, “Within the Demonic Ape’s domain lies a cave. Entering that cave is the true purpose of this mission. But since the cave is in the heart of the apes’ lair, the only way to reach it is to draw their attention and hold them off.”

At these words, the mercenaries exchanged uncertain glances. It seemed the analysis of Captain Wang was not entirely correct; the true objective was not the Silver-haired Demonic Ape, but a certain cave within their domain. As for what was inside, that was now the chief concern of the mercenaries.

After a brief discussion among themselves, the burly, thick-browed Captain Wang spoke up, “May I ask what is inside the cave, sir?”

Elder Wu’s expression darkened, and a wave of Origin Realm pressure bore down on Captain Wang as he coldly replied, “That is not your concern. Sometimes, knowing too much only invites trouble. All you need to do is complete the task you’ve been hired for.”

Under the oppressive aura, Captain Wang found his breath coming short and hurriedly forced a smile. “Forgive my impudence. Since you are our employer, we will, of course, do our utmost to fulfill the mission. What would you have us do?”

“All you need to do is hold back the ordinary Demonic Apes. According to your abilities, any you kill will count as a bonus for this mission. As for the Silver-haired Demonic Ape, I will handle it myself,” Elder Wu said coolly.

The mercenaries nodded in satisfaction. They had followed Wu into the inner forest not just because he was a powerful Origin Realm expert, but also for the promise of extra rewards.

Elder Wu then turned to the four martial guards by Nangong Xue’s side and instructed, “You are not to participate. Just protect the young lady. You know the consequences if anything happens to her.”

The four guards shuddered slightly, then replied in unison, “Yes, we will protect the young lady with our lives.”

After scanning the surroundings, Elder Wu waved his hand, and all the mercenaries surged forward, heading straight for the Demonic Apes’ stronghold. Though there was a Silver-haired Demonic Ape among their foes, with Elder Wu—a consummate master of the Origin Realm—leading them, the mercenaries had little reason to fear.

As the mass of figures swept toward them, the Demonic Apes were thrown into a frenzy. Hundreds of adult apes beat their chests furiously, their cries echoing through the forest as they charged to meet the oncoming humans.

At this moment, Elder Wu did not immediately act. He watched the Silver-haired Demonic Ape intently. The beast’s fierce eyes widened, filled with murderous intent, and it fixed its gaze on Elder Wu, aware that this human was the greatest threat among the intruders.

As the mercenaries and the Demonic Apes collided, a pitched battle between man and beast erupted in the depths of the forest.