My Demon Friends

"What strange thing happened?"

Zhou Li caught a glimpse of Huai Xu's ears perking up.

Both the man and the demon were excited about the prospect of new business; they hadn't had any customers for a long time. Although their line of work was incredibly lucrative, and the money earned from their last job was sufficient to last them for several years, Zhou Li always felt uneasy without a steady source of business.

Huai Xu felt even more uneasy.

According to Huai Xu's predictions, as more Heavenly Masters appeared in the future, competition would increase on one hand. On the other, the industry would lose its mystique, and common demon-related services would struggle to command such high prices, certainly not as high as they currently did.

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone before Mr. Jiang said, "Around November of last year, my house started to be infested with insects. Almost every local insect species could be found in my home, some in swarms, like ants. At first, I didn't pay much attention. I just started hiring professionals to exterminate them and investigate the cause. But then the strange thing happened: no matter how many batches I killed, they seemed endless, constantly invading my house."

"Have you ruled out other possibilities?"

"I tried almost everything. It was as if they were being controlled by someone..." Mr. Jiang's voice was urgent, yet tinged with a strange calmness. "They follow me wherever I go. If I change houses, they follow me there, and the original house almost immediately clears up."

"In that case, it's basically confirmed," Zhou Li nodded. "Please don't take offense. It's just that many of our clients face issues that ultimately have nothing to do with ghosts or demons."

"Understood."

Mr. Jiang nodded. "They haven't hurt me much, but they've scared my family badly. Now, I have no choice but to live in one house while they stay in another... Will you take this case? Money is no object!"

Zhou Li glanced at Huai Xu again.

Huai Xu returned his gaze, looking puzzled. "Take it? Why not? With me here, what are you afraid of?"

"We'll take it!"

Zhou Li was decisive and immediately added, "Let me clarify upfront: initially, you only need to cover our food and lodging. Our process is that we first solve the problem for you. Once we've resolved it, and you've confirmed everything is fine after a week, then you pay us. If we can't solve it, we won't charge you a penny."

Nevertheless, experience told him that most people held them in high esteem. Even if they couldn't solve the problem, or even if they were just a group of Jianghu swindlers, as long as they weren't exposed, they'd still receive a red envelope.

It just might not be a particularly large one.

Still, it was considered a windfall.

Either way, it was a win. Why not go for it?

Mr. Jiang, on the other end of the line, was somewhat surprised by Zhou Li's business principles—quite unorthodox for the industry. This, however, only served to boost his confidence. "No wonder Manager Liu speaks so highly of Master Zhou. In that case, when would it be convenient for Master Zhou to come over?"

"Now."

"Now?"

"During the pandemic, there isn't much business."

"I see."

"Give me your address."

"Are you coming by yourself? Do you need me to fetch you in my car?"

"No need. It would be a waste of time."

"Alright. Apologies for the inconvenience; I'll send the address to your phone."

"Mm."

Zhou Li put down the phone.

Huai Xu immediately leaned in closer. "How much did he offer?"

Zhou Li shot him a sidelong glance. "He didn't say."

The phone chimed. Mr. Jiang's address wasn't in Yan City but in a county-level city that used to belong to Yan City but had been reassigned to Jin Palace two years ago. Zhou Li checked; it would be about an hour's drive. Brother Nan had taken his father's car back to his hometown but had left his own car for Zhou Li.

So he turned to look at the bed.

It was morning. Tuanzi, having run amok all night, was due for her rest. She was sound asleep, paws curled around her head.

Zhou Li shook her awake without hesitation. When she opened her eyes with a soft hum, looking at him groggily, he felt a thrill of payback. "We're going out for a bit. Is Lord Dumpling coming? See? I *am* asking for your opinion."

"Where to?"

"To earn money."

"Will you buy 'hot water and cabbage' for Lord Dumpling with the money?"

"There's no 'hot water and cabbage' available recently."

"Lord Dumpling is so sleepy... Mmm~~"

"Alright."

「An hour later.」

Zhou Li parked the car outside a riverside villa with a ground-level parking space. A middle-aged man was waiting for him at the entrance.

Huai Xu sniffed. "There's definitely the scent of a demon. My preliminary judgment is that it's a formidable demon. Of course, judgments based purely on experience are for reference only."

"Mm."

Zhou Li got out of the car and looked at the middle-aged man. "Mr. Jiang?"

"Hello, Master Zhou."

The two shook hands.

Zhou Li cut to the chase, repeating Huai Xu's words, "There is indeed the scent of a demon here. My initial assessment is that this might be a bit tricky. You should know from Mr. Liu that I'm not one to fearmonger."

"Please, just do your best. Money is not an issue. However, if it's dangerous... your safety must come first."

"I'm merely stating the possibilities upfront. Let's go inside and take a look first."

"Sure."

As Zhou Li approached the door, he saw lines of ants on the ground—and not all of the same species. He judged there were at least three distinct species among them.

One common type, one very small type, and another, larger type with a shiny black carapace.

Additionally, the nearby trees were draped with numerous spiderwebs, and he spotted several insects he couldn't identify.

Mr. Jiang pushed open the door, gesturing for Zhou Li to enter.

The floor was indeed teeming with various insects, as were the walls. The entire house had practically become a haven for insects. Even Zhou Li, who had no fear of insects, felt his scalp tingle.

To maintain an air of professionalism, he kept his composure.

"My neighbors have all been scared away," Mr. Jiang said.

"But as soon as I leave, they follow me. Wherever I go, these insects appear again."

"Have you done anything unusual recently?" Zhou Li asked Mr. Jiang, as Huai Xu began to inspect the room. "Like visiting remote places, touching uncommon objects, or encountering anything strange?"

"Nothing," Mr. Jiang said, pausing for a moment. "The previous people I consulted asked similar questions, but honestly, my life was quite routine: just work and home."

Zhou Li nodded slowly. He noticed that after he entered the room, the insects didn't swarm him but rather seemed to avoid him. The same was true for Mr. Jiang.

Zhou Li pursed his lips. "It seems they genuinely mean you no harm. In that case, this should be easier to handle. At least it proves the entity controlling these insects isn't an entirely uncommunicative demon."

He paused. "So, what does it want?"

"I'm not sure," Mr. Jiang said. "They can't talk, nor do they arrange themselves into words or anything."

"I see," Zhou Li acknowledged.

"The insects are starting to stir," Huai Xu said. "It seems he's noticed us."

"The insects have begun to stir," Zhou Li calmly surveyed his surroundings. "The entity on the other side should have noticed my arrival. I'll try to communicate with it."

"Really?" Mr. Jiang looked around as well. Although to him, the insects looked no different than before—just crawling about chaotically—Zhou Li's calm and gentle tone lent his words considerable credibility.

Suddenly, a spider descended from mid-air, stopping right between Zhou Li and Mr. Jiang.

Both men were startled.

While Mr. Jiang jumped in fright, Zhou Li maintained his composure, locking eyes with the spider and mentally repeating the word 'professional' to himself.

"Human Heavenly Master?" The spider spoke, its voice that of an old woman with a peculiar accent, yet understandable.

Zhou Li then turned to Mr. Jiang. "Please step outside for a moment."

"Sure!"

Mr. Jiang quickly walked out and thoughtfully closed the door. However, his house had a floor-to-ceiling window for viewing the river. Without any intention of peeping, he inadvertently glanced back and saw the curtains swish closed—

At that moment, Master Zhou was standing in the center of the room!

Mr. Jiang silently walked to the riverbank and lit a cigarette.

"Indeed, a human Heavenly Master," the spider spoke again. "I have been waiting for you for a long time. Has the Local Government been re-established yet?"

"It was re-established not long ago," Zhou Li replied after a moment's thought, understanding dawning on him. "Most regions in Yu Country should have a Local Government by now. It seems you require some assistance. Why didn't you approach the Local Government directly?"

"I couldn't find them."

"I can help you make contact."

"I also need your help, Honorable Heavenly Master," the spider said, hanging motionless in mid-air. "My name is Xing Hui. I mean no harm. I have a considerable reputation among demons, and there should be records of me with the Local Government; you can check. I am not an ill-tempered demon; otherwise, this man would have been silently dispatched by me long ago."

"Lord Xing Hui," Zhou Li nodded. "My name is Zhou Li. What kind of help do you need? I will do my best to assist you."

"Xing Hui, I think I've heard that name..." Huai Xu moved closer, examining the spider. "Is this what you really look like? Probably not, right? Hey, that colorful belly of yours is quite striking. Can you spin silk?"

"This is not my true form. I've merely attached my consciousness to it; it's just an ordinary spider," Xing Hui explained.

"But can you spin silk?"

"Evidently," Xing Hui swayed a little; she was, indeed, suspended from a strand of silk.

"Then have you heard of me? I'm Huai Xu, a Great Devil King. My reputation among demons is also immense," Huai Xu asked again.

"..."

"Guess you're not that well-known after all..."

Huai Xu had the confidence to say this. After all, he was Master Ming's student. The Demon King knew him, Tuanzi knew him, and now Hong Ran and Lin Zhong, two prominent figures in the Demon Kingdom, also knew him. Yet, this old monster didn't recognize him? What did that make her?

"Let's get back to the matter at hand," Zhou Li interjected, cutting their idle chatter short. "Your true form, where is it?"

"It's been sealed."

"Oh?"

"This human's ancestors were a hereditary family of Heavenly Masters. Towards the end of the last era, we had a conflict. They seized the opportunity when my powers were waning to seal me, intending to erase my consciousness so I would serve their descendants. They hoped my existence would allow their descendants to rise quickly in the new era, but they did not succeed."

"I see. How despicable," Zhou Li said, acknowledging her feelings. "Do you know where your true form is located?"

"In their ancestral tomb," Xing Hui replied, then paused before adding, "Their ancestral tomb is vast underneath and riddled with mechanisms. However, these traps primarily affect demons—that's typical of contraptions set by human Heavenly Masters."

"No wonder."

"Yes. I dare not risk sending other demons in, just in case," Xing Hui said. "I hope you can help me break free. I don't have much to offer as repayment for now, but I know many demons. I will owe you a significant favor. If you ever need my help in the future, I will definitely assist you. Trust me."

"There's no need to be so..."

Zhou Li was about to say that Mr. Jiang would cover the payment for this matter, but then something occurred to him, and he swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue—

"Do you know a... certain Lord or Lady capable of swapping people's senses? My description is poor."

"More than one demon possesses such an ability," Xing Hui said. "I know one such demon who is very powerful. Her name is Ji Bai; she is a good friend of mine."

"Then, may I earnestly request that once you are freed, you help me find Lord Ji Bai and arrange an introduction?"

"You require her assistance for something?"

"Yes."

"She will agree to help you."

"Thank you!"

"It is I who should be thanking you, Your Excellency..." Xing Hui said before politely departing.

Zhou Li sat down on the sofa and first contacted the Local Government of the area—regardless of what Xing Hui had said, he had to verify.

Contacting the Local Government wasn't done by phone, of course. There was a special notification method, jointly developed by humans and demons, involving a relatively simple application of Spiritual Power. The Local Government would sense it and dispatch someone.

While waiting for the Local Government to arrive, he turned his head to look around.

Although he hadn't officially started working yet, the insects in the room were already beginning to retreat in an orderly fashion.