A Show of Bravado
Normally, he would greet guests while coiled or with his head only slightly raised. It was his own small way of showing consideration, an effort to avoid exerting unnecessary pressure on others.
"This is Senior Jo-gang," Jang Yeong introduced. "He is an Elder of the Yangseo Demon Court."
Jekyeong slithered toward Jo-gang, scanning him with blatant disregard. Uncoiling completely, his long, massive body drew a wide circle, half-trapping Jang Yeong and Jo-gang within. Jang Yeong's expression twisted in discomfort, while Jo-gang visibly flinched.
As a demon, Jang Yeong was on the smaller side among Great Demons, and while Jo-gang was slightly larger, he was still only average in size. They were quite small compared to Great Demon Beasts, and they couldn't begin to compare to Jekyeong, who boasted an overwhelming size even among his giant peers.
"What kind of trick is this?" Jo-gang demanded.
He appeared to be a merman or something similar. His lower half was a fish, and his upper half resembled a human, but his facial features were distinctly different from the Human Race. His skin was covered in scales, he had four eyes, and quite stylish horns grew from his temples.
"I am observing you," Jekyeong replied casually, deflecting Jo-gang's sharp question while continuing his blatant inspection. "Just as you observed me."
Sssss. A torso thicker than the pillars of the Black Cult Palace glided right past them, yet the only sound was an extremely faint friction. Judging by the sound alone, one would think a thin piece of silk was rustling beside them, not the massive body of a Black Flood Dragon.
Jang Yeong tried his best to maintain a calm expression, but his heart had been pounding anxiously for some time. He believed Jekyeong wouldn't dare touch them unless he had lost his mind, but the sight before him was slowly paralyzing his reason.
"Interesting," Jekyeong mused. "What bloodline do you inherit? A merman?"
"Is a Flood Dragon's knowledge so narrow?" Jo-gang shot back, refusing to back down in the face of the blatant threat. "Can you not even distinguish between a Yaksha and a merman?"
On the surface, it looked like two Great Demons locked in a fierce battle of nerves, but Jang Yeong could no longer sense the same composure Jo-gang had shown earlier.
"Yaksha?" Jekyeong thrust his head toward Jo-gang. His massive, vertically slit pupils scanned him up and down. Jo-gang flared up at the blatant provocation, but at that moment, a sudden gust of hot wind snuffed out his anger. It was merely a snort. However, Jo-gang could feel the incredibly dense Monster Power and strange fire energy dissolved within it.
"You..." The Yaksha blood flowing through his body warned him to be cautious.
"A Yaksha," Jekyeong murmured. "I've heard the rumors. But seeing you in person... indeed, rumors are not to be trusted."
Jo-gang did not raise his voice any further. His boiling anger had long since cooled, as if doused in ice water. He met the gaze of the Black Flood Dragon, who continued to provoke him, with cold eyes.
"Are you disappointed? Naturally," Jo-gang sneered. "At best, I am only half-blooded."
"Hmm?"
"Compared to my elder brother, I cannot even be called a Yaksha. I do not know what rumors you heard, but if you meet my brother, you will not be disappointed."
"Hehe." Jekyeong withdrew his head, which had been right in front of Jo-gang's nose. He also pulled back his body, which had practically trapped Jang Yeong and Jo-gang, and coiled up.
"I am curious... but I shall decline," Jekyeong said.
"Why? Does the renowned Lord Black Flood Dragon lack the courage to meet my brother?"
As Jo-gang ran his mouth again, Jang Yeong frantically signaled him with his eyes. He truly wanted to leave this gloomy place right this instant.
Something is wrong. This guy's atmosphere is too different from before. It was extremely arrogant and sinister. Although Jekyeong had occasionally shown arrogant and fierce sides before, they were nothing compared to his current demeanor. Was this his true form, the true nature of a Flood Dragon? Had he been hiding his true self all this time?
"Well, I detest bothersome things," Jekyeong drawled. "If you truly wish to satisfy my curiosity, tell your brother to come here."
A low chuckle echoed through the Black Cult Palace.
"Fellow Daoist Jang Yeong. I know why you have come to find me. But there is no need to worry so much. You have participated in that gathering yourself, so you must know it well, do you not?"
"But—"
"There are no 'buts'. As I have said repeatedly, I detest bothersome things. So do not create troublesome matters."
The massive, vertically slit pupils reflected Jang Yeong's trembling eyes.
"You are clever, Fellow Daoist, so you must understand what I mean."
Jekyeong's pressure on Jang Yeong and Jo-gang was an act that would have been considered a near-declaration of war in the Human Territory. However, this was the wild territory of the Beast Race, and they had their own unique sentiments. The law of the jungle was deeply engraved in the instincts of the Beast Race, and they had followed the path of blood food since time immemorial. In the wild territory, it was natural for the powerful to flaunt their strength, and it was only expected for the weak to suffer before the strong. Jekyeong, as a member of the Beast Race, also deeply understood these laws and sentiments. He did not think the Demon Court would fly into a rage just because he had pressured the two envoys.
They won't react too excessively. I didn't openly rebel against the Demon Court; I merely showed an indifferent attitude. Even the former Gyeongwang Palace had never thought of controlling all the Great Demons. Perhaps the Jansu Whale King had no interest in doing so, but realistically, controlling Great Demons with such strong individualities was incredibly difficult. Furthermore, the Demon Court was different from the former Gyeongwang Palace. Even with a powerful ally like the Heumwon Clan, their prestige was somewhat lacking compared to the former Gyeongwang Palace. Their current aggressive stance had to be seen as a desperate measure forced upon them by the threatening competitor that was Gyeongwang Palace.
They will probably give up to some extent. If not, they would have to send someone strong enough to suppress him next time... but that possibility was slim. There were likely very few Great Yao in the late stage of the Great Yao realm even in the Demon Court, and even if they sent one of those rare forces, they couldn't be certain of suppressing him.
Late stage of the Great Yao realm. This time, Jekyeong had used his polished acting skills, his massive size, and the reputation of a Flood Dragon to put on a massive show of bravado, pushing them hard. It was to make the Demon Court overestimate his strength so they wouldn't dare act rashly. If Jang Yeong and Jo-gang babbled about what they saw and felt, the Demon Court would surely evaluate him as a powerful Great Yao comparable to the late stage of the Great Yao realm. If that happened, they would accept his minor coercive attitude as the natural pride of a strong being and gloss over it.
"Jekyeong! Jekyeong! They're almost all here!" Cheongo chirped.
"I see." Lost in thought, Jekyeong raised his body at Cheongo's words. "Does 'almost' mean there is someone who hasn't arrived yet?"
"That, that smoke guy! He hasn't arrived yet!"
"Ah... that guy."
Today was a special day. It was the day the exchange meeting was held for the first time since he had given his answer to Ha Son-seo, and all those attending today's meeting were those who had decided to come under his shadow. The gathering place was an underwater cave on the outskirts of the Heukgyo Water Territory. Jekyeong had prepared this place specifically for the gathering, and since he had installed a simple concealment array, even a Great Demon would find it difficult to notice.
"Lord Dragon," Hyeongu greeted him, having waited in advance near the meeting place. "The guests have all arrived."
"Is that so? Everyone is here?"
"Yes. Lord U-jam was the last to arrive just a moment ago."
"Hmm. Understood."
Passing through the illusion cliff, a spacious cavern revealed itself. Seven Great Demons had taken their places there, keeping a reasonable distance from one another.
"Fellow Daoist Jekyeong."
"Fellow Daoist Jekyeong."
Ha Son-seo, Seon-gu, and others greeted him first. Jekyeong made eye contact and exchanged greetings with each of them, before finally locking eyes with the Great Demon in the form of black smoke.
"Fellow Daoist Jekyeong."
"Fellow Daoist U-jam."
This was the 'smoke guy' Cheongo had mentioned. The Ghost Demon U-jam. According to rumors, he was an entity born from hundreds of years of accumulated resentment in a certain water territory forming a spirit. Perhaps because of this, he was notorious for his eccentric and volatile temper. For someone to be rumored to have personality issues among the Beast Race, not even the Human Race, one could easily guess what his temper was like without even experiencing it.
"You are quite late, aren't you?" U-jam sneered, his smoky form billowing. "It suddenly makes me wonder. Is it normal for a host to keep guests waiting?"
Ah, starting already? Jekyeong slightly curled the corners of his mouth.
"I admit that I am the host, but are you all guests?"
Jekyeong ignored the billowing black smoke and glided into the center of the empty cavern. Then, scanning the Great Demons looking at him one by one, he continued.
"Fellow Daoist U-jam. Even if you don't have a mouth, you should speak straight. Did I invite you all? No, not at all. You all requested me. Did you not seek to borrow my shadow first? To escape the coercion of Gyeongwang Palace and the Demon Court."
The way to deal with ill-tempered bastards was simple. Just act even worse. He did not shy away from childish power struggles. The strong were allowed to do so. And here, Jekyeong was the strong one.
"I do not wish to speak harsh words from the beginning, but let us make this clear on this occasion. You borrow my shadow, and I can make reasonable demands of you. That is the condition of our cooperation. Is that correct?"
"That is correct," Ha Son-seo and those who had known Jekyeong for a relatively long time actively chimed in.
On the other hand, those who had not known Jekyeong for long kept quiet, observing the situation. U-jam would have normally belonged to the latter group, but after running his mouth according to his temper early on and being rebuked by Jekyeong, he was unable to swallow his anger. The black smoke, which had grown dense enough to almost take physical form, writhed continuously, but Jekyeong no longer spared a glance in that direction.
"Yes. Then let us keep our promises and get along well. Do not act tiresomely for no reason."
Having finished speaking, Jekyeong finally turned his head toward U-jam. However, Jekyeong was no longer smiling as he had been at first. As the heavy, fierce aura emanating from his massive body began to seep in and swallow the entire cavern, the black smoke, which looked ready to pounce at any moment, hesitated and shrank.
"Fellow Daoist U-jam. Do you have anything more to say? If not, I would like to begin."
"...If the host wants to start, he starts. Is there any need to ask me?" His attitude was still gruff, but U-jam's momentum was clearly broken.
"Good. Then let us begin."
Although a slight significance was added due to the special circumstances, this gathering was originally an exchange meeting. This time was no different.
"Lord Dragon."
Receiving Jekyeong's signal, Hyeongu rushed over as quickly as his turtle legs could carry him, carefully taking out the items inside the storage bag one by one. The Great Demons had not yet adapted to the suddenly changed atmosphere, but they were soon captivated by the items Hyeongu laid out. At every exchange meeting, Jekyeong would obtain items that suited the tastes of the Great Demons to draw their interest, and this time, he had paid even more attention. It was to let the Great Demons present know that this gathering was an exchange meeting and would continue to be maintained as such in the future.
I can't give up such a lucrative business. The exchange meeting was incredibly important to Jekyeong. Now that trade with the Yeongbu Merchant Group was cut off, it was one of only two major sources of funds left for him. Of course, in terms of the size of the profit, it couldn't compare to the spirit stones earned from Haeyeon Island, but that was only because the profits from Haeyeon Island were so massive; the profits gained from the exchange meeting were still too large to ignore.
The items Jekyeong prepared caught the interest of the Great Demons today without fail. Each of them pushed forward the items they had prepared, asking if they could exchange them for the items they had set their eyes on, and some of them moved Jekyeong's heart.
"I do not know if you would be interested in this item, Fellow Daoist?"
Although his heart stirred the moment he saw the item the other party presented, Jekyeong examined it with an indifferent look. It was a jade slip. Although the surface was slightly damaged, the contents seemed intact without any missing parts. Since the jade slip was sealed, he could only examine the beginning, but that alone was enough to figure out what this jade slip was.