Chapter 4: They made their way northward

There were spells soaring through the skies, the cries of battle not too far away. The Palace of Sins had been the demon king's summer resort and conveniently not too far from the front lines of the war.

Zhang Wang wondered if Sikong Ren already made it to the heart of the city, cleaving his way through demon troops with his protagonist-like power.

It had nothing to do with him now. "We really need to get out of this place." Zhang Wang said as he looked toward the south where the echoes of battle were coming from.

"Yes." Yu Yanlin put out the fire and tied up his long locks of hair. Zhang Wang was lucky enough to have a cheap illusion talisman on him and gave it to Yu Yanlin to help disguise his appearance.

Gone were the ears and tail and shiny silver hair. His coloring was normal now and he looked about as human as anyone else, minus the flawless milky skin and ethereal charisma that refused to fade.

Still, it was passable, at least to trick ordinary people. But the talisman was not of high grade and could be easily discerned through even by low leveled juniors of his. Zhang Wang sighed. It was better than nothing.

"Here, take this," Yu Yanlin unexpectedly held out a black whip, curled up neatly in a ball. Zhang Wang almost went pale at the sight of it.

"Uh…" He said stupidly and blinked at the weapon. This was the demon king's sacred weapon, why was he being given this? "I don't really want this ugly thing…"

Yu Yanlin tilted his head, "I cannot hide it. It's not like I can make much use of it right now anyway."

"Oh." Yu Yanlin then nodded. Right, this pathetic demon king didn't even have the ability to use an interspatial ring right now! Ah, he was truly pathetic. Zhang Wang took the evil whip in his hand, feeling dark tendrils of demonic energy simmer on its surface.

Ugh, creepy.

But his own interspatial ring was currently full so he'd have to expel mass equal to the whip in order to accommodate it. Zhang Wang frowned and felt through his ring. He had a lot of things in there! His bow was conveniently stuffed in the pocket dimension because he really didn't like carrying the thing. Magical tools, his precious spices, and useful things like nail clippers and hair combs as well as earrings he would change out his one piercing with…

…in the end he decided to discard an outer robe that was taking way more space than it was worth.

"Are you leaving this behind?" Yu Yanlin frowned at the outer robe. It was red with flying cranes embroidered at the sleeves. It was a gift Zhang Wang got from a cute girl that liked him enough to see him at nightfall but not enough to leave her plain merchant husband for.

Zhang Wang scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, "Yeah well, I don't look good in it." It was a little big for him and swallowed his figure, making him look way too feminine for his liking. Zhang Wang had a serious issue when it came to his appearance! And the damned moniker 'Immortal of a Thousand Blossoms' really didn't help. He still had yet to find out who was the idiot who spread such an awful name for him.

The demon king raised a brow, disbelieving. "The material is fine. And it is enchanted with skill. It's a waste to just leave such an item behind. If you have no use for such a thing then I will take it off your hands."

When Yu Yanlin slipped the coat over his shoulders, it had a completely different feel to it. Zhang Wang scowled in distaste and then looked away, "Yeah, you do whatever with it, I don't care."

Zhang Wang drew his sword and was about to hop on until he realized that Yu Yanlin had no ability to fly.

"..."

"...I can walk, it is no problem."

"...That's…" Zhang Wang sighed, exasperated. If only Yu Yanlin was a cute girl he wouldn't mind princess carrying the demon king across the skies, but a big guy like this? Yeah, no way that was happening. His sword was once again sheathed. "We'll just walk."

They climbed down the cliffside and stumbled into the forest below. The ground was still soft from the earlier storm and the scent of wet wood and grass surrounded them. But aside from the thundering rumble of far off explosions, the forest was quiet. The animals had fled, fearful of a war that wasn't even close enough to affect them.

Zhang Wang couldn't blame the beasts.

The war waged against demons had been going on for decades on end. When he was first born into this world, peace was already a thing of the past. And though there were times more tranquil than others, none ever lasted long. Blood soaked into the ground and the heavens scarred with arrows, spells, and storms.

He also once thought that he could become the hero that could bring peace to this awful wretched land, become the main protagonist of one of those shitty xianxia novels he used to read late at night when he really should have been sleeping.

Alas, reality was not the same as expectations. Not even after he came so close to killing the demon king.

Zhang Wang sighed, probably for the twentieth time that day, and tried to pull himself out of his useless self-pitying thoughts. The forest was ignorant of his problems and his surroundings were deceptively calm.

There was only King Yanlin who walked steadily next to him that reminded him of his current predicament. Zhang Wang already couldn't wait to stop by the nearest village and restock on alcohol. He was in sore need of a good drink and maybe a good fuck as well! Ahhh…everything was a mess.

They made their way northward, always from the frontlines in the south.

Zhang Wang had a good idea about where he wanted to go, there was a person that might be able to help them with their situation or shed light on it at the very least. But she was not the biggest fan of demons like most people weren't so Zhang Wang would have to approach this entire thing very delicately.

His mind wandered around in circles, from lamenting his mistakes, self-pity, and then future plans ranging from sorting out his problem with the demon king to getting laid and making a glorious return to his sect. Maybe that pretty Shijie of his would miss him after he'd been gone for so long? Ah, if only Zhang Wang was the type to drown in wishful thinking.

Alas, reality was cruel.

Nightfall had come before they made it to the nearest village.

"Is it truly wise to come inside a human establishment?" Yu Yanlin voiced his concerns.

Zhang Wang shrugged, "There are some things I need to restock. As long as we don't run into a cultivator, which we shouldn't, this far out, it'll be fine. Leave all the talking to me, okay?"

"Alright, then I will follow your lead."

Ah seriously, how was this guy so simple and agreeable? Did Zhang Wang really manage to pick up such an obedient pet? The more time he spent with this Yu Yanlin, the harder it was to imagine him as the terrifying demon king that rained destruction among troops.

The village was quiet as expected this late into night, with the only establishment lit surrounded by buxom ladies beckoning at them from outside.

It would be a lie if Zhang Wang said he wasn't charmed by them.

"Gege would you like to have some fun with xiao meimei? Please come in and we can have a drink!"

"Xiao gege, please allow this humble one to show off her skills, this humble one promises you that she will show you a good time!"