Chapter 72: The Death of Yuan Dasheng
< Chapter 72: The Death of Yuan Dasheng >
"Father, I heard you're planning to find a demon cultivation technique for Uncle Monkey? Please don't do this!" Yuan Er burst into the study, shouting.
Yuan Yi's face turned ashen, and he roared, "Shut up! Who's been spreading nonsense to you?"
"Father, Uncle Monkey's power is already uncontrollable. Those monkeys and their offspring, calling them spirit pets is inaccurate; they are the true masters. The cultivators are merely their caretakers, no more than slaves."
"The situation is already dire. If Uncle Monkey's power increases further, it will only get worse!"
"By then, who will control the Monkey Head Gang?" Yuan Er pleaded earnestly.
Yuan Yi's lips quivered slightly, and he fell into a deathly silence.
The Monkey Head Gang was an enterprise he had built through a lifetime of hard work.
It was easy to conquer a territory, but maintaining it was a different story.
He was old now, and even in his younger years, he had only managed to barely maintain balance within the gang.
Yuan Dasheng was a Fire Fusion Demon Ape, undeniably powerful.
When fighting side by side, this was an absolute advantage. But now that the Monkey Head Gang was well-established and no other faction posed a threat, this advantage had become an internal concern.
Yuan Er was his only blood relative, and the Monkey Head Gang was to be passed down to him. But could he truly take command?
Yuan Yi had confidence in himself and had no doubt about his relationship with Yuan Dasheng. But when it came to Yuan Er and Yuan Dasheng's relationship, he had severe doubts.
Yuan Yi pondered for an entire day and night. Finally, with a pale face, he called Yuan Er and instructed him, "You must remember! Always treat your Uncle Monkey with the utmost respect. You must hold him in higher regard than you hold me. Understand?"
"Understood!" Yuan Er immediately promised, feeling a surge of joy in his heart.
Guilt-ridden, Yuan Er indeed showed even more respect than before.
All the members of the gang also held Yuan Dasheng in higher regard.
When Yuan Er became the leader, his situation was awkward. He had to rely on Yuan Dasheng to command respect. However, because he repeatedly relied on Yuan Dasheng, he couldn't truly command respect on his own.
Yuan Er knelt by the bed, looking at Yuan Dasheng.
"Uncle Monkey, your kindness to me is as deep as the mountains. I know it, and I remember it in my heart."
"But the emissary was right. Letting you linger on the sickbed is the greatest insult to you!"
"I, I don't want to do this, because I respect you! I admire you!"
"I think, if my father knew, he would definitely agree with what I’m doing."
"I know he would understand me... The enemy is too strong, even the entire Monkey Head Gang cannot contend."
"In that case, I'll join them!"
"My father often said that a true man can bend and stretch."
"What I’m doing, enduring such humiliation, is all to preserve our foundation."
Fate had used the Lava Immortal Palace as a stage, placing Ning Zhuo and Yuan Dasheng on a narrow path of death. It was either you die, or I perish!
There was no second choice.
"If there was a choice, Yuan Dasheng, I would actually prefer to have you as an ally!"
"What a pity..."
With regret, Ning Zhuo stepped forward to handle Yuan Dasheng's corpse.
Yuan Er, shocked, instinctively reached out to stop him.
However, Ning Zhuo kicked him aside, finally revealing the disdain and anger he felt deep inside, and hissed, "Get out of the way!"
Even though Yuan Er had reached the Foundation Establishment stage, what good was it with such a temperament?
When Ning Zhuo saw Yuan Dasheng in the bedroom, he confirmed that the Fire Fusion Demon Ape had not taken the Late Autumn Life Preservation Pill.
Zhu Xuanji had clearly handed the Late Autumn Life Preservation Pill to Yuan Er, but the latter had never given it to Yuan Dasheng.
Was it because he didn't have time?
He had plenty of time!
From this alone, Ning Zhuo deduced Yuan Er's true intentions and thus pretended to let him seek Yuan Dasheng's opinion. As expected, Yuan Er had knelt down from the start, only calling out in his heart, never truly speaking.
"Chief Yuan Er, please accept my condolences." Ning Zhuo placed the monkey corpse into his storage bag and was about to leave.
Yuan Er knelt on the ground, grabbing Ning Zhuo's leg, and looked up at him. "When will I see my Uncle Monkey again?"
"As soon as the production schedule is finalized, I'll notify you. Don't worry, it will be very soon," Ning Zhuo reassured him, forcefully pulling his leg free and leaving without looking back.
Yuan Er remained alone in the empty bedroom, dazed like a stone.
Ning Zhuo maintained his composure. As he was about to leave the Monkey Head Gang's base, he overheard the returning gang members discussing among themselves.
"All the Huoshi Forest fruits have been picked, yet that shadow demon cultivator didn't appear!"
"Wasn't he supposed to be hiding in the Huoshi Forest, sealed by the formation?"
"How could he just disappear?"
"Yeah, I was looking forward to a hunt."
"You didn't see it, but Lord Fei Si's face was extremely grim!"
"Now, all the Golden Core cultivators from each family have appeared and are searching throughout the Huoshi Forest."
Hearing this, Ning Zhuo's heart tightened. "Damn it!"
With his sharp mind, he immediately realized he was once again in danger.
After leaving the Monkey Head Gang, he hastened his pace, racing against time, and headed directly to the Flying Disk Workshop.