Rise of The Demon General

Chapter 281: Chapter 281. Locked in a Cage

After arriving in Qishurg City, Tuang Yin returned to the academy to report on the mission. Amon left her and went the other way. This was because he went to visit Demon Gang’s secret workshop.

He called Shi Hei and Diao Xin. He instructed Shi Hei to make a steel cage. As for Diao Xin, he told her to engrave words of power to strengthen the cage once it was completed.

”Do you want to capture a spirit beast?” Shi Hei asked.

”Yes. Make the cage strong enough to contain a mid-superior beast,” Amon instructed.

Shi Hei and Diao Xin nodded. Like most other Royal Academy students, they had visited Sewer Snakes’ underground arena. They had seen the cages used to hold those spirit beasts. With their current expertise and the helpers Amon provided, they should have no problem making a copy of those cages.

Xin Wuming happened to be there. He came to Amon and asked, ”Big brother, can I talk to you privately?”

”In a moment,” Amon told him. He called Hu Hua.

When she arrived, Amon asked, ”How is your experiment on the exploding talisman?”

”I’m sorry, sir. That talisman is very difficult to produce,” Hu Hua answered. ”Its failure rate is high. I have only produced five pieces after trying a lot of times. I wasted a great deal of materials in the process. Maybe I should refrain from trying again until my skill improves to the Skilled level?”

”Don’t worry about wasting the materials,” Amon said. ”But for now, stop experimenting on the exploding talisman. Study these talismans and try to replicate them.”

Amon placed three talismans on the table. They were Xian Yang’s talismans. Amon plundered them from Xian Yang’s space ring. These talismans were the Augmenting Talisman, the Lightning Arrow Talisman, and the Barrier Talisman.

”These are all engraved-level talismans,” Hu Hua said.

”Studying these should help you reach the Skilled level faster,” Amon said.

”Very well, sir. I will try my best.”

”Whatever materials you need, just say the word,” Amon said. He had seen how talismans aided Xian Yang in combat. If he had various talismans for his arsenals, his options during battle would improve significantly.

”Thank you, sir,” Hu Hua said gratefully.

”Hand me those five exploding talismans you have produced,” Amon commanded.

Hu Hua complied with the request. Amon looked at the five talismans in his hand. These explosive talismans were already the improved versions like the one he modified. He stored them in his space ring.

He then gestured for Xin Wuming to follow him into an office. ”What do you need to discuss?” He asked.

”I have received reports that the Sewer Snakes members were acting suspiciously,” Xin Wuming answered.

”How suspicious?”

”We have an open border policy with them. But lately, their members who roamed our territory are more than usual. When I asked the ones I encountered, they said it was just a friendly visit. However, after observing them for a while, I feel like they are looking for something.”

”Hm... Is that it?”

”I have our people run reconnaissance on them as well. We found there seems to be some traffic between them and the Alley Advocates. Those two used to be enemies. I’m afraid this doesn’t bode well.”

”Such is politics. You can be enemies yesterday but allies today. The same is true the other way around.”

”Do you think they will clash with us?” Xin Wuming asked with concern.

”It is just a matter of time. For now, order our important members to stay away from our old hideouts. But before Sewer Snakes shows their fangs, keep the new hideouts secret from our regular members.”

”I see. I was wondering why brother requested me to build new hideouts, but I see now that big brother had already planned for a possible confrontation. I am awed by brother’s insight. Do I need to tell our members to be alert?”

”Only to our important and trusted members, but ask them to be quiet about this,” Amon said. ”We don’t want the Sewer Snakes to get any idea about us. We don’t want to spark a war in case this is all just a misunderstanding. Keep observing the situation for now. Don’t make any hasty moves.”

”I understand,” Xin Wuming nodded.

*

Amon returned to the Royal Academy afterward. He went directly to his residence and entered the basement. Unlike during the freshman years, he didn’t share his residence with any of his members. Even when he sparred with Xin Wuming and Yang Li, he did it at their residences. He was mostly alone in this house except for Tuang Yin’s occasional visit.

Inside the basement, he reached into his black space ring and extracted the leather bag containing Wu Qiu. He opened the bag and dropped Wu Qiu on the floor.

”Mmm...!”

After so long, Wu Qiu was finally out of the bag. He tried to yell for help but couldn’t because of a piece of cloth stuffed in his mouth. Bound and gagged, all he could do was look around to find out where he was. His attention quickly shifted to the only person before him. He knew this person. It was Lin Mo, their target!

Amon removed the cloth from Wu Qiu’s mouth.

”Wh–What do you plan to do to me?!” He asked. He soon started shouting, ”Help! Help...!!”

Amon just stared at Wu Qiu as he shouted non-stop. After a while, Wu Qiu finally quieted down. He was tired. He hadn’t eaten or drunk for more than a day.

”You can shout all you want,” Amon told Wu Qiu. ”This is the basement of the top ten residences in Royal Academy. It was built to provide its users with a secluded place to train or cultivate. It is completely soundproof. No one will hear you, and nobody will search for you in this place.”

A realization brought by Amon’s words dawned on him. His faction knew he and the others went to Grimwich Village to assassinate Amon. His friends went missing in Grimwich Village while he was kidnapped in Bleakford City. If anyone wanted to search for them, it would be at those two places. No one would come to this place to look for him, even if his faction learned that their target had returned to the Royal Academy.

Amon saw the despair in Wu Qiu’s eyes.

”What... What do you plan to do to me...?” Wu Qiu asked again. His voice was weak. He felt defeated both physically and mentally.

Amon took out a water pouch. When he brought the water pouch to Wu Qiu’s mouth, Wu Qiu panicked and tried to move away. He was worried the water was poisoned.

Amon’s hand shot out and grabbed Wu Qiu’s chin. He pressed the pressure points that forced Wu Qiu to open his mouth. He then poured the water into the opened mouth.

Wu Qiu tried not to drink at first. But once the water entered his thirsty throat, he lost the will to resist. The water tasted too good. Amon released his hand. Wu Qiu continued to drink the water greedily. He didn’t care anymore, even if the water was poisoned. He finally coughed from choking because he drank too fast.

After he was done coughing, Amon stuffed a pill into his mouth and forced him to drink again.

”What... What was that pill you forced me to eat?” Wu Qiu asked with a worried tone.

”It is a nourishment pill,” Amon answered. ”I have no desire to spoon-feed you, and I don’t trust you enough to release your binding so you can eat by yourself. That nourishment pill will keep you full for today.”

”Why... Why are you keeping me alive?” Wu Qiu asked.

Amon didn’t answer him. He moved to the center of the room and sat. He took out the black aetherium stone and started cultivating. A black aura appeared around his body.

”In–Infernal energy...?! You are a demon!!” Wu Qiu started shouting again, ”Help! Help...! There is a demon here! Help...!!!”

Amon ignored Wu Qiu. He continued cultivating. He used Wu Qiu’s anxiety and fear for his cultivation art. The abundance of aether inside this basement rushed like a flood into his black energy core. The core was throbbing with excitement as it devoured all this aether and grew.

Wu Qiu quieted down after shouting for a long time without any result. All he could do was stare in disbelief at the demon before him. All this time, they were targeting a demon. If only he could let the outside world know, but all that seemed impossible now. His life was now at this demon’s mercy. He dreaded what this demon had in store for him.

Amon spent the next few days without going out, not even attending the theory class. He continued to practice infernal cultivation. Wu Qiu’s negative emotions might not be as intense as the first day he learned Amon was a demon, but still strong enough for Amon’s cultivation art.

When Amon sensed Wu Qiu’s negative emotions weakening too much, he threw a flying knife that stabbed Wu Qiu’s non-vital part. The pain reignited Wu Qiu’s negative emotions. This kept his captive fearful enough for him to continue cultivating.

Amon did this until he was notified of a guest. It was Shi Hei. He came to deliver the engraved cage.

Amon placed Wu Qiu inside this cage. Only after Wu Qiu was inside the cage did Amon release the restraining rope. He put food and water inside the cage to keep Wu Qiu alive. With Wu Qiu locked inside the cage, he could now leave the house.