My Demon Friends

It was only then that Zhou Li noticed Lin Zhong's face was actually quite kind, and his clothes were damp with dew. However, the ink-dark shadow stood respectfully and motionless behind him, while Huai Xu looked as if he were facing a formidable enemy.

Zhou Li couldn't help feeling tense.

He heard Huai Xu say in a heavy tone, "Hong Ran considers him a younger brother; they're extremely close. If anything happened to him, Hong Ran wouldn't let you go, even if all the other Demons opposed her. That's not what you want, is it?"

"What's done is done." Lin Zhong wore a helpless expression. Combined with his kindly face, he looked like an elder placating a child.

"If you don't make things difficult for him, I guarantee I absolutely won't tell Hong Ran. It's all just practice for him anyway." Huai Xu paused, then added, "Besides, telling Hong Ran would be a bit... much."

"She will find out anyway."

"We didn't inform the Local Government! There won't be any leaks!"

"HEH, HEH, HEH..."

Lin Zhong chuckled but didn't say more to Huai Xu. Instead, he walked straight toward Zhou Li.

"I'm not a Demon who delights in slaughter. However, you humans have waged too many wars against us, time and time again. Many of my kin have died before my eyes. Others have been imprisoned, toyed with, even turned into some so-called elixir believed to grant longevity. Our repeated concessions haven't yielded any good results...

"What did we do wrong?

"We're just a group of drowning people..."

Watching Lin Zhong approach and listening to his words, Huai Xu's heart gradually sank. His Spiritual Power is immense, comparable to Master Ming! he thought.

Lin Zhong stopped speaking abruptly.

"Really?"

"He might be the first Heavenly Master of this century. Master Ming was also the first of his," Huai Xu said. "If you kill him, this world will create another. He is friendly towards Demons, just like Master Ming. Can you guarantee the next one will be the same?"

Lin Zhong remained silent.

Huai Xu pressed his advantage, "The human realms are not yet fully awakened. Of course, you can find him and kill him now. But when the next Heavenly Master with Spiritual Power as strong as his matures, will you still be able to kill him then?"

Lin Zhong still did not speak.

Huai Xu didn't stop moving. His figure flickered, and suddenly he was holding a small, curled-up ball of fluff.

A tiny paw stretched out from the fluff ball, sleepily rubbing her eyes. Then a head emerged, and as she opened her eyes, she mumbled, "Why did you wake Lord Dumpling when it's not even light out... Lin Zhong?"

Tuanzi stared blankly at Lin Zhong, then struggled out of Huai Xu's arms and jumped to the ground.

The ground was damp, and the dewy weeds wet Tuanzi's small paws, making them feel cold. She couldn't help but look down before awkwardly padding towards Lin Zhong, like a child reluctant to dirty new shoes.

Lin Zhong bent down. "Ah, it's Lord Dumpling."

"Lin Zhong!"

"Lord Dumpling, it's been a long time."

"MEOW."

Tuanzi walked up to him. "Pick Lord Dumpling up."

"As you wish."

Lin Zhong picked Tuanzi up. Her muddy paws left brown smudges on his clothes.

Tuanzi squirmed into a position where she could see Lin Zhong's face. "Are you here to bully Zhou Li? Zhou Li is Lord Dumpling's friend."

"Is that so?"

"Mhm! Lord Dumpling likes him!"

"Then what should we do?" Lin Zhong widened his eyes.

"Then do Lord Dumpling a favor and don't come bully Zhou Li anymore," Tuanzi said earnestly. "Her Highness even said you shouldn't be mischievous all day like Lord Dumpling."

The sky was getting brighter.

The fields were quiet. Neither Zhou Li nor Huai Xu made a sound. Even the shadow remained still and well-behaved behind Lin Zhong.

Not even the wind could be heard.

Lin Zhong and Tuanzi's voices were the only sounds in the vast expanse.

"I wouldn't dare compare myself to Lord Dumpling," Lin Zhong said, an exaggerated expression on his aged face. "I haven't seen Lord Dumpling in so long. Would Lord Dumpling like to come to my place and play for a few days?"

"Lord Dumpling is serious!"

"Of course, Lord Dumpling's request must be honored..."

"It's a deal!"

"How could I dare to deceive Lord Dumpling?"

While coaxing Lord Dumpling, Lin Zhong's gaze swept over Huai Xu and Zhou Li. "He's far too weak compared to Master Ming," he said.

"Who says?" Huai Xu disagreed.

"You're lying to Lord Dumpling!" Tuanzi got angry.

"No, no," Lin Zhong soothed, letting Tuanzi squirm in his arms. "Shall I take Lord Dumpling away now? Is there anything Lord Dumpling has wanted to eat or buy recently?"

"You'll just sneak back and bully Lord Dumpling because I can't run as fast as you." Lord Dumpling is smart; she won't be fooled so easily!

"I promise I won't."

"Liar turns into a puppy?"

"Liar turns into a puppy."

Having said this to Tuanzi, Lin Zhong turned and walked away.

Lord Dumpling's head popped up from Lin Zhong's shoulder. She shouted to Huai Xu and Zhou Li, "Lord Dumpling is going to play for a few days! Don't lock the door! Lord Dumpling will come back after having enough fun, meow..."

Her head then retracted.

Just then, Lin Zhong waved his hand behind him. A pale golden light shot out from his sleeve, heading straight for Zhou Li.

Huai Xu reacted instantly, leaping in front of Zhou Li and slashing with his blade. Zhou Li also started to turn. But the golden light passed straight through Huai Xu's blade and his body, striking Zhou Li on the back.

"Are you alright?" Huai Xu asked quickly.

"I'm fine."

"Take off your clothes!"

"Okay."

Zhou Li obediently and quickly took off his clothes.

A new mark had appeared on his back, resembling a string of beads, like a Bodhi seed bracelet.

Huai Xu stared intently at the mark.

Zhou Li craned his neck, trying to see, but he could only make out Huai Xu's expression. "Is there something there?" he couldn't help but ask.

"There's a string of beads."

"What is this?"

"I don't know either... That old codger is crazier than I thought. When Hong Ran gets back, he'll be in for it!" Huai Xu frowned deeply, searching his fragmented memories, but he came up with nothing.

"He said he was testing something. Testing what?" Zhou Li focused on the key point.

"To test if you're really weak, obviously," Huai Xu said.

"But I am really weak."

"Don't mind him; he's nuts. Being strong isn't just about being able to fight, and a strong person's life isn't necessarily the best model. Just live the life you want," Huai Xu said, tilting his head thoughtfully before adding, "I'll handle the fighting."

"I see."

By now, it was fully light outside.

Zhou Li checked his watch: it was already past six.

This strange mark clearly can't be ignored. But I can't see it, and Huai Xu can't even get a photo of it with his phone. This is when a network of contacts becomes really important.

Zhou Li took out his phone and first opened QQ.

He found Yin Le and typed out a long message, carefully describing the mark's characteristics and how it appeared, asking if he knew anything about it.

He long-pressed to copy the message and then pasted it into a text for Zheng Zhilan.

Then he sent it through WeChat to Hong Ran.

Yin Le didn't reply, which was normal. Hong Ran replied, which was also normal. Zheng Zhilan was always an early riser.

Hong Ran: How did it come about?

Zhou Li: I went out today to earn some pocket money and ran into two assassination attempts by Demons. Luckily, I had Huai Xu's protection. But after that, the Great Demon named Lin Zhong showed up...

Zhou Li gave a detailed account. When it was time to complain, he did not hold back.

Hong Ran: I will rush back immediately!

Hong Ran: Where are you? I'll send people to find you!

Zhou Li: In Xinping County.

Hong Ran: Stay put and wait for my people to find you. I'll deal with Lin Zhong too, but I'm very far away. Even at top speed, I won't be back until tomorrow at the earliest.

Zhou Li: Okay

Zhou Li: Lin Zhong has already left. If you're busy, don't rush back just for me.

Zhou Li: What is this mark?

Hong Ran: It's probably some technique of human Heavenly Masters. I don't know exactly what it does, but be careful regardless.

Zhou Li: Got it.

Little Zheng: From your description, it sounds a bit like a technique used by ancient Heavenly Masters.

Little Zheng: Ancient Heavenly Masters had an ability to place spell-imbued artifacts on their bodies, and their manifestations are similar to what you've described. But you don't know this technique, nor do you possess such an ability, so how did this appear on you?

Zhou Li: Someone else put it on me.

Little Zheng: A friend?

Zhou Li: Not really.

Little Zheng: You've run into trouble!

Zhou Li: It's nothing.

Little Zheng: Your phrasing sounded a bit urgent.

Zhou Li: I have Huai Xu with me.

Little Zheng: Are you still in Chunming?

Zhou Li: No, I'm in a small county nearby.

Little Zheng: What's it called?

Zhou Li: Xinping.

Zhou Li: Why do you ask?

Little Zheng: I'll come help you.

Zhou Li: Don't.

Zhou Li: There's no need. I'm fine.

Zhou Li: And it's so far.

Zhou Li: ...

He sent several messages in a row, but it seemed Zheng Zhilan had gone offline on her end, as she sent no more replies.

Zhou Li sat by the window. Sunlight streamed through the broken panes. The horizon was a fiery red, as surreal as his recent experiences, and he couldn't help but recall the conversation between Huai Xu and Lin Zhong.