Ch 113: Settling The Score

Bal followed Phia into the dilapidated tent. Phia had cleaned it, but the inside was still unbearable.

“Did you have such a hard childhood?”

“Not at all, it’s just been empty for so long. It’s a miracle this tent is still here; I left over a hundred years ago.”

Bal helped Phia put away her luggage and clothing, then he followed her to a nearby tent.

“Where are you taking me?”

“To see a relative.”

Phia walked to a tent and knocked on the iron bell hanging in front of it. After a while, an old Cat Demon Tribe Old Man came out.

“Uncle Kia, you’re still alive!”

“Who are you?”

The old man, called uncle by Phia, recognized her name and was momentarily confused.

“It’s Phia, don’t you remember?”

“Phia… you’re still alive?!”

“It’s a long story, can we go inside first?”

“Come in.”

Kia lifted the tent flap to let Phia in. Phia held Bal’s hand and they entered Kia’s tent together.

“Uncle, let me introduce him. His name is Bal, he’s my husband.”

“Nice to meet you, Uncle.”

Bal greeted Kia respectfully, his face full of smiles.

“Phia, all this time has passed, why haven’t you aged?”

“Well… I was saved by a god. They granted me eternal youth.”

“I see… it’s good you’re alive, it’s good you’re alive…”

Kia touched Phia’s face; tears welled up in his eyes.

“I failed to save your father back then, causing your family to lose its pillar of support. In the end, I couldn’t protect you either. I’m ashamed.”

“Uncle Kia, don’t say that. I’ve let go of the resentment from back then, and you don’t need to feel guilty. Besides, you already did so much for my family; it was more than enough.”

Phia helped the weeping Kia sit down in a chair. She comforted the old man, her eyes full of gentleness.

Kia cried for a long time; Bal and Phia stayed by his side, occasionally offering him a handkerchief to wipe his tears. After he calmed down, he looked at Bal and Phia.

“You got married, huh? You married a good young man.”

“Yes! Bal is the best to me!”

Phia linked arms with Bal in front of Kia, and Bal gently stroked her head.

“Where have you been all these years?”

“Many, many places. I met all sorts of people. Some kind, some cruel, some selfless, some selfish. In short, I’ve been to many places.”

“And how long do you plan to stay here?”

“We’ll see. If nothing comes up, we’ll probably leave soon.”

“Is that so? That’s good. It’s too hard here; if you’re doing well, don’t come back.”

At this point, Kia sighed. Bal remained silent, listening quietly as the old man recounted the past.

“Since your father died, the whole tribe has changed. The Demon Wolf Tribe and the Red Bear Tribe fought each other for the chieftain’s position. They also threatened us not to vote for each other, otherwise they would raise taxes. When you and your mother were exiled, it was during the height of the conflict between the Demon Wolf Tribe and the Red Bear Tribe. They fought a battle, and the Demon Wolf Tribe won. The Red Bear Tribe was driven out, and other races became vassals of the Demon Wolf Tribe. Only the Cat Demon Tribe, because of our weakness, were pushed aside, barely surviving on this barren land.”

“So that’s how it was… I’m sorry, I never knew.”

Seeing Phia’s guilt, Kia patted her head.

“Don’t say that. If it weren’t for the Former Demon King’s amnesty, we probably wouldn’t have survived.”

“Really?”

“Yes, the Former Demon King was a kind ruler. He cared equally for every member of the Demon Race. I really wanted to thank him in person. It’s a pity that he was killed by humans.”

“I think he must have heard your thanks.”

Bal, who had been silent for a long time, stepped forward, looking firmly at Kia.

“Let’s hope so. By the way, where will you be staying these days? In your old tent?”

“Yes. If you need anything, you can find us there. My husband is very strong, and he’s also very gentle, he won’t discriminate against us.”

“Hehehe, is that so? You really did marry a good husband, Phia.”

“Then we’ll go back now. If you need help, just come find us.”

“Go, it seems these old bones aren’t ready for the grave yet.”

Phia and Bal left Kia’s tent. Bal held Phia’s hand, and they walked hand in hand down the road.

“So why did you shape-shift me into a Demon Wolf?”

“Demon Wolves are common among the Demon Race. Even if you walk beside me, no one will say anything, they’ll just think I’m your servant or slave.”

“Then why don’t you use your magic to create armor? Wouldn’t the Demon King look better?”

“Too tiring. Creating armor requires a lot of magic, not to mention maintaining it. Even using all my magic to create armor, I can only sustain it for a day. I don’t want to use it unless I absolutely have to.”

“Okay, my little cat~”

Hand in hand, they walked to the Cat Demon Tribe marketplace. Although it was called a marketplace, there wasn’t much there.

“It’s still the same as before…”

“What?”

“I remember coming here once as a child with my mother. The things sold here were the same then as they are now.”

At that moment, a male Demon Wolf, accompanied by a group of Demons, arrived at the Cat Demon Tribe marketplace. The Demon Wolf male seemed arrogant.

“Hmph, nothing but pig feed.”

Bal heard this and became impatient. A human hero accompanying his Demon King wife back to her mother’s home, and I still have to put up with this nonsense?

Phia stopped Bal, who was about to react, signaling him not to act rashly. Bal reluctantly refrained, but his fists were already clenched.

“I heard a white-haired Cat Demon came here. Where are they?”

The arrogant Demon Wolf male walked around the marketplace haphazardly, asking at each stall and overturning those that didn’t satisfy him before moving to the next. The Cat Demons whose stalls were overturned merely numbly cleaned up.

Bal finally couldn’t take it anymore and walked up to the Demon Wolf male.

“What do you want with my wife?”

Bal deliberately emphasized the word “wife,” hoping to dissuade the arrogant Demon Wolf from targeting Phia.

“Who the hell are you, daring to block my way? Scram, and hand over your wife.”

The Demon Wolf male pushed Bal, but failed to move him.

“Didn’t you hear me? Scram!”

“What if I say no?”

“Kill him!”

At the Demon Wolf male’s command, his followers moved toward Bal, cracking their knuckles, ready for a fight. The surrounding Cat Demons sighed and moved away.

“Want to fight? Bring it on! Whoever runs away is a coward!”

Bal rolled up his sleeves. Phia tugged at him from behind, signaling him not to use excessive force.

“Attack!”

Someone shouted. The Demon Wolf male’s underlings threw punches at Bal. Bal, an expert in exterminating demons, wasn’t afraid. He dodged a punch, grabbed an attacker’s arm, and with a crack, broke it. He then launched a counterattack, kicking one in the knee, sending him to the ground clutching his knee. He followed up with a side kick, sending another flying.

The remaining Demons hesitated, drawing daggers, short swords, and clubs, before attacking again. Bal grabbed a hand reaching for him, dislocating the wrist. He then used the dagger to slash the inner elbows and back knees of the others, rendering them all incapacitated. He tossed the dagger at the feet of the Demon Wolf male, inviting him to attack.

“Come on, you arrogant fool, can’t you even use a knife?”

“Die!”

The Demon Wolf male lunged at Bal with the dagger, but Bal didn’t knock him away immediately. He wanted to humiliate him thoroughly before torturing him. Bal used controlled strikes to target the Demon Wolf’s elbows and wrists, causing him to drop the dagger in pain.

“Your reverse grip is weak!”

As the Demon Wolf male picked up the dagger to attack again, Bal used a joint lock to break his arm.

“Your forward grip is clumsy!”

He didn’t stop there. Bal used a whip kick to strike the Demon Wolf’s knee.

“Your stance is unstable!”

Finally, Bal punched the Demon Wolf male in the face.

“You need more practice!”

After the combo, Bal stood over the Demon Wolf male, looking down at his writhing underlings.

“Next time you dare act so arrogant, I’ll beat you up every time I see you. Scram!”

Bal kicked the Demon Wolf male away. His underlings, once they could stand, immediately fled with their injured companions.

“Whew, that was satisfying!”

“Who beat the chieftain’s son? Was it you? You’re in big trouble!”