Intruders Among the Beast Merchants

That night, three black-robed figures stood in the long line outside the gates of Dà Tián Shòuyì School. The queue stretched endlessly under the flickering light of lanterns, casting their shadows onto the ancient stone walls. The air was tense, filled with the shuffling of feet and the occasional bark of the guards.

One of the black-robed men shifted uncomfortably, scratching his head beneath the fabric. "Are you sure he's here? We've searched everywhere," he whispered.

"Stop talking," the woman beside him hissed, her voice sharp but quiet. "Tonight is our only chance. If we fail again, you know what will happen."

The mention of their master silenced the men. Failure meant death, and neither of them dared argue further.

The woman's eyes darted to the guards ahead. "No weapons, no tokens, no storage rings, right?" she asked in a hushed tone. "They'll scan for anything suspicious."

"We left everything behind," the men replied in unison.

"Good," she said. "Stay calm. Act normal."

Ahead, a merchant fumbled nervously as he handed over his papers. Guards inspected his cart with meticulous care, pulling out crates and checking every item. The process was excruciatingly slow, the line inching forward at a crawl.

Farther back in the line, near the merchant carts, Shen Zhēngkāi was losing patience. He adjusted his straw hat and muttered under his breath, his voice dripping with disdain. "Why does someone like me, the great Monkey King, have to stoop to this? Disguising myself as a lowly human to sneak into their precious school? I could crush this place with a flick of my staff."

Beside him, Tún Tǔyún snorted loudly, his pig-like features momentarily betraying his disguise. "Ngook… Brother Shen, do you think I want to be here?"

Shen Zhēngkāi took a deep breath, his tone heavy with suppressed anger and disdain. "Hhh... When His Majesty Hēi Lóng Tiāndì was defeated 15 years ago, Huang Shiyang wasted no time seizing the opportunity. Instead of aiding our fallen king, weakened and vulnerable, he turned traitor. Hēi Lóng Tiāndì, stripped of his strength, was captured and imprisoned in an ancient dungeon—its location shrouded in secrecy, even from the most loyal of us." 

He paused, his gaze sharp and restless. "With the true king out of the way, Huang Shiyang crowned himself as the new Demon King. He rallied the demons with promises of vengeance—swearing that we would reclaim our honor, subjugate the humans, and rule the world once and for all. He envisioned humans as nothing more than obedient pets, bowing to our will." 

Shen Zhēngkāi's fingers twitched, a faint but habitual gesture that betrayed his emotions. "Fifteen years of his rule, and yet he has achieved nothing but chaos among our kind. Some of us remain loyal to Hēi Lóng Tiāndì, seeking to find and free him, while others, drunk on Huang Shiyang's delusions of grandeur, blindly follow his lead." 

Tún Tǔyún let out a low grunt of agreement, his deep, resonant voice carrying a hint of determination. "That's why we're here, risking everything in this cursed human city. We made the decision after overhearing a conversation among the original beast merchants who run this trade. They spoke of a bazaar and their upcoming schedules—one of which included an ancient dungeon exploration. If there's even the faintest chance of uncovering knowledge about our true king, we must seize it before Huang Shiyang's spies do."

Shen Zhēngkāi nodded. "Exactly. Disguising as merchants is risky, but it's our best chance to infiltrate the academy unnoticed. The humans' arrogance works in our favor—they rarely suspect merchants, especially ones peddling beasts. We just have to endure this charade long enough to gather what we need and leave without drawing attention." 

Tún Tǔyún chuckled, a guttural sound that echoed like distant thunder. "Still, it's ironic, isn't it? Pretending to be one of these humans, talking their language, bowing to their guards… it's almost laughable." 

Shen Zhēngkāi's lips curved into a wry grin. "Laughable? Perhaps. But remember, the stakes are too high for laughter. If we fail, we will be eliminated, Hēi Lóng Tiāndì remains imprisoned, and Huang Shiyang's tyranny tightens its grip. We cannot afford a single misstep."

"Move along!" a guard barked, splitting the line into smaller groups. More guards joined, their sharp eyes scanning the crowd for anything out of place.

Tún Tǔyún straightened his back and whispered, "Brother, stop talking. We're getting close."

The inspection process was grueling. Documents were scrutinized, carts unloaded, and beasts examined one by one. A guard halted at a merchant carrying insect beasts, his brow furrowed in confusion. "This is all you're selling?" he asked, poking at the small cages.

"Yes, sir," the merchant stammered. "Insect beasts are in high demand—hornets, mantises, butterflies. Small, but deadly or beautiful."

"Okay...Next !"

The guard grunted and waved him through, but the tension in the air remained palpable. Every step toward the gate felt like walking on a blade's edge, the watchful eyes of the guards ready to pounce at the slightest misstep.

The wooden cart creaked to a halt at the checkpoint. Shen Zhēngkāi, disguised as a wiry merchant draped in fur-lined robes, adjusted his hood before hopping down with an exaggerated flourish. His movements were fluid yet erratic, like someone unused to standing still for long. Beside him, Tún Tǔyún climbed down with a heavy thud, his imposing frame nearly tipping the cart.

"Papers," the lead guard barked, stepping closer.

Shen Zhēngkāi handed them over with a wide grin. "Of course, sir. All in order," he said smoothly, but as he spoke, he reached up to scratch his head, ruffling his hair. He shifted his weight from foot to foot, his eyes darting around as though the silence of the moment unnerved him.

The guard's eyes narrowed. Something about the merchant's behavior wasn't right. Most experienced merchants carried themselves with calm confidence, their words honeyed and their manners impeccable. This one couldn't seem to stand still, and his grin was just a bit too wide, his blinking too frequent.

Tún Tǔyún loomed behind him, his bulk emphasized by his round belly. His face was sweaty, his hood slightly askew, and when he spoke, it came out as a deep grunt punctuated by an odd "ngorrrk" sound.

"Ngorrrk—road's been rough," Tún Tǔyún muttered. His breath carried a sour tang that made the guard take a step back.

The guard wrinkled his nose. "You've been traveling long?"

"Long enough," Shen Zhēngkāi said impatiently, waving a hand. "We're here to deliver premium beasts—rare birds and fowl, perfect for tamers. Big market for them lately."

The guard's gaze flicked to the cart. It was covered with a thick tarp, and while it looked ordinary enough, he couldn't shake the sense that something was off.

"Open it," he ordered.

"Of course, of course," Shen Zhēngkāi said, stepping forward. But as he pulled back the tarp, his fingers twitched with just a little too much eagerness. Beneath the cover were several wooden cages containing birds—hawks, pheasants, and even a few colorful exotic fowl. The birds chirped and rustled, the scene perfectly mundane, yet the guard's suspicion deepened.

"Ngorrrk—careful, they're expensive," Tún Tǔyún said, his strange voice drawing another wary glance from the guard.

"Your birds smell fine," the guard said, his tone sharp. "But you two..." He let the words hang in the air, his gaze narrowing as he studied them. Shen Zhēngkāi's fidgeting, his impatient tone, the faint but sharp tang of body odor that clung to both of them—it didn't add up.

The guard motioned to another officer nearby. "Get the supervisor."

Shen Zhēngkāi's grin faltered for the briefest moment. His hand twitched toward his robes, where a concealed weapon lay ready. Beside him, Tún Tǔyún shifted his weight, a low grunt escaping his lips.

After a tense few moments, the supervisor arrived, his presence commanding immediate silence. He inspected the papers, glanced at the cart, and then turned his critical gaze on the two merchants.

"What's the holdup?" the supervisor asked.

"They're... odd," the guard said cautiously. "Their behavior, their smell. It's not normal."

The supervisor frowned but eventually shook his head. "They're merchants, not nobles. Maybe they've had a rough journey."

Shen Zhēngkāi's grin returned, this time sharper and more confident. "Exactly! That's what I've been saying."

The supervisor waved them through, and Shen Zhēngkāi climbed back onto the cart with a spring in his step. Tún Tǔyún followed, his grunt of relief loud enough to echo.

As the cart rattled past the gate, Shen Zhēngkāi cast a sly glance over his shoulder, his grin widening. 

"Ngorrrk—close one," Tún Tǔyún muttered, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow. 

"Told you it'd work," Shen Zhēngkāi said, his voice laced with mischief. His hands absentmindedly stretched his hair as he leaned back, finally allowing himself a moment of relief. 

The bustling school grounds sprawled before them, alive with human activity. Students in pristine uniforms hurried about, their laughter and chatter filling the air. Guards patrolled the perimeter, their sharp eyes scanning the crowd, but none paid further attention to the inconspicuous beast merchants' cart. 

"We're inside," Shen Zhēngkāi whispered, his tone dropping to a more serious note. His monkey-like impatience gave way to a calculated focus. "Now, we stick to the plan. No mistakes." 

Tún Tǔyún gave a slow nod, his large hand clutching the edge of the cart. "Ngorrrk—we find the dungeon lead first. Then... we deal with anyone who gets in the way." 

With that, the two demons steered the cart deeper into the school grounds, blending seamlessly into the flow of merchants and visitors. Despite their calm facade, both carried a silent resolve. The clock was ticking, and every step brought them closer to their dangerous mission. 

Hidden behind the walls of the prestigious academy, they had successfully breached the first barrier. Now, the true challenge awaited them in the labyrinth of secrets within.

------------------------------- End of Chapter 13 ----------------------------------