"I humbly wish to follow Your Majesty, to offer counsel for your grand ambitions, and to serve with all my heart and soul until death!"
Upon hearing this, the Monkey King couldn't help but clutch his belly and laugh, rocking back and forth so hard that Louis Squirrel was left utterly bewildered.
"Your Majesty, is what I said really that funny?"
"How did I become 'Your Majesty'?" the Monkey King retorted.
"Your Majesty is approachable, but Louis Squirrel only considers 'Monkey King' as your nickname. Since it's a nickname, I, as your subordinate, dare not use it. Since you refuse to take a new name, and I see in you the bearing of an emperor, why not call you 'Monkey King' for now? As your subordinate, it is only proper to address you as 'Your Majesty.'" His expression was exceedingly serious, as if he truly believed it.
This must be the most earnest demon the Monkey King had ever met.
"I see. So what you mean is, you've come to join me?"
"Y-yes. Please accept me, Your Majesty." Louis Squirrel hurriedly kowtowed.
"Can you fight?"
Louis Squirrel lowered his head and wiped the sweat from his brow.
"I'm asking if you can fight. How many can you take on at once?"
Louis Squirrel was drenched in sweat and trembled slightly. "N-no, I can't. My cultivation is shallow, but I am well-versed and knowledgeable. I can surely help Your Majesty achieve great things!"
The Monkey King lazily yawned and asked, "How long have you been here?"
"About a year."
"Oh? Who did you follow before?"
"Before..."
"Speak!"
Startled by the Monkey King's shout, Louis Squirrel immediately dropped to the ground and stammered, "I used to follow Crocodile Jack..."
"Oh? So you were his strategist?"
"Y-yes... Oh, no... Yes..." Louis Squirrel was completely flustered.
"So are you or aren't you?"
The Monkey King shouted again, hefted his Cloud Staff and struck the ground heavily. Louis Squirrel was so terrified he nearly lost his soul, and could only whisper from the ground, "Y-yes... yes..."
The Monkey King's lips curled in amusement as he looked at the trembling Louis Squirrel sprawled on the ground. He laughed, "So with your assistance, Crocodile Jack really did achieve something great, huh?"
Hearing this, Louis Squirrel felt like dying.
Ah, whatever. May as well just let things fall apart.
With a do-or-die attitude, Louis Squirrel gathered his courage, lunged forward, and clung to the Monkey King's leg, crying, "Your Majesty, Crocodile Jack was stubborn and reckless, attacking without knowing the enemy! You can't blame me, Your Majesty! Please let me stay and give it a try. Louis Squirrel only asks for shelter, nothing more. Besides, I know all the ins and outs of Crocodile Jack's faction, and I can help Your Majesty bring his remnants under control! Your Majesty! Please give Louis Squirrel a chance!"
His snot and tears made the Monkey King feel utterly disgusted.
"Get lost—!"
"Your Majesty! Please give Louis Squirrel a chance!" He clung even tighter.
"Get lost! Do you understand? Go cool off somewhere else!"
"Louis Squirrel will serve with all his heart and soul until death, Your Majesty!"
The Monkey King finally had enough and lifted his foot for a swift kick.
A miserable scream echoed.
Louis Squirrel was kicked a full yard away, crashing to the ground and lying there motionless for quite some time.
The entire camp's attention was drawn over; all the demons stopped what they were doing, staring blankly at the Monkey King and at Louis Squirrel, who lay unmoving on the ground.
The Monkey King thought to himself, "Did I really kick him to death? He's at least in the Spirit Summoning Realm—how could he be so fragile?"
He stood up, feeling a bit uneasy, and looked over.
He hadn't really done much, so if Louis Squirrel died just like that, he'd honestly feel a bit guilty.
Then, to everyone's astonishment, Louis Squirrel suddenly roared, sprang to his feet, wiped the blood from his mouth, and—recklessly—tried to lunge at the Monkey King again!
"Are you trying to get yourself killed?" The Monkey King quickly grabbed his Cloud Staff, ready to strike. Only then did Louis Squirrel swallow nervously, blink, and take a step back, not daring to approach again.
"Get lost!" the Monkey King snarled at him again, making his neck shrink back slightly. Louis Squirrel just blinked his tear-stained eyes, pitifully staring at the Monkey King.
After a long pause, he finally squeezed out another sentence: "Then... then, Your Majesty, may Lu Qing stay at the camp entrance? As soon as Your Majesty calls..."
"Live wherever you want! Just don't live inside my camp!"
After a long pause, he finally squeezed out another sentence: "Then... then, Your Majesty, may Louis Squirrel stay at the camp entrance? As soon as Your Majesty calls..."
The Monkey King's lips twitched; he was speechless at such an oddball. He could only roll his eyes and turn away.
"Louis Squirrel understands!" He hurriedly knelt, wiping his tears and bowing. "Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you! Louis Squirrel is content! Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!"
By sunset, the four demons finally returned, each one utterly exhausted.
During dinner, Old White Ape sat with a bowl of wild vegetables, staring off into space as if he'd lost his soul, deep in thought. Old Ox kept his head down, stuffing food into his mouth, sweating profusely, and not saying a word. Short Mouth kept his hands and mouth busy, but his eyes were fixed on the campfire.
The unusual behavior of these three demons drew the attention of the lesser demons, and the entire camp's atmosphere instantly became a bit oppressive.
In the end, only Big Horn, who was carefree and simple-minded, enjoyed his meal the most.
As for the newcomer, Louis Squirrel, he squatted pitifully at the camp gate, swallowing his saliva.
After dinner, the four demons pulled the Monkey King over to the fence to discuss the day's gains.
As for the newcomer, Louis Squirrel, he squatted pitifully at the camp gate, swallowing his saliva.
Short Mouth's voice suddenly stopped as he straightened up and glanced behind him.
Behind the fence lay today's Louis Squirrel.
"Who is that?" he turned to ask the Monkey King.
"Why ask me?"
"Your senses are way sharper than mine. If you haven't spoken up, doesn't that mean you know him?"
The Monkey King snorted with a laugh. "He came today to apply for the strategist position."
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"You're hiring a strategist now?"
"He volunteered, he volunteered. I didn't agree to it."
"Look here," Short Mouth said, using a twig to draw on the ground. "To our north is Victor Vulture's territory, south is Scorpion King's, northeast is Leopard Shade, southeast is Serpent Lord. To the west is open land, and further on is Dragon's Pool. In the water, it's Carpwise's territory, but we don't meddle with each other, so we can ignore him. Today I..."
Louis Squirrel shrank his head slightly. "I just wanted to offer some advice to Your Majesty."
Seeing that Louis Squirrel wouldn't budge, Short Mouth stood up, about to lose his temper, but the Monkey King pulled him back.
"It's fine. Go on."
With a cold snort and another glare at Louis Squirrel, Short Mouth sat down and continued, "We've checked—the weakest here is the Serpent Demon. The most dangerous is Victor Vulture. Tonight, we could take out Serpent Demon in one go and leave the others for now."
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"Then let's take out Scorpion King first. Scorpion King's cultivation isn't much."
"If you want to take down Scorpion King, do you have an antidote for scorpion venom?"
"Can you stop interrupting!" Short Mouth turned angrily, pointing a twig at Louis Squirrel and cursing, "Do you believe I'll gut you right here!"
Yet Louis Squirrel showed no fear; his round eyes were fixed only on the Monkey King.
The Monkey King rolled his eyes and beckoned, "Come in!"
With a cold snort and another glare at Louis Squirrel, Short Mouth sat down and continued, "We've checked—the weakest here is the Serpent Lord. The most dangerous is Victor Vulture. Tonight, we could take out Serpent Lord in one go and leave the others for now."
Short Mouth turned and pointed at Louis Squirrel. "Where'd you come from? Why do you talk so pretentiously?"
Instantly, all the demons burst into laughter.
Louis Squirrel's face flushed red as he proclaimed, "This isn't pretentious! It's scholarly! Scholarly, understand? You illiterate oaf!"