Chapter 25: Sudden Wealth

Chapter 25: Overnight Fortune

Perceptive demons could see the murderous intent in Feng Luo's expression, while the less perceptive could sense his terrifying low-pressure magical aura. Most demons quickly fled, and those who remained stood at a safe distance.

Wen Ying was already the closest to Feng Luo, and with Scarlet gripping his ankle, he found himself right at the heart of the storm. After Feng Luo pulled Muershi back, he turned to look at Wen Ying.

Wen Ying cursed Scarlet inwardly several times. Maintaining a polite demeanor, he said, "Teacher Feng."

Feng Luo's face remained calm as he asked, "What were you doing?" As he spoke, he looked down at Scarlet, who was stubbornly holding onto Wen Ying's ankle.

Wen Ying recalled that back in the corridor, Feng Luo had been against the "bet" that Muershi had mentioned. So, he tried to kick Scarlet away... but failed due to the latter's firm grip.

After a few seconds of silence, Wen Ying squatted down and pretended to pat Scarlet's head, discreetly covering the demon's mouth with his other hand. He then raised his head and said, "Scarlet wanted me to do something for him, but I refused. So, he suggested a competition. If I lose, I'll have to agree to his request. If he loses, he'll be my slave for three years."

Feng Luo didn't say anything, simply observing Wen Ying. The latter forced a smile, afraid that Feng Luo would ask what Scarlet had requested. Noticing Muershi struggling beside them, Wen Ying decided to prioritize self-preservation and declared solemnly, "Teacher Feng, I'm reporting that Student Muershi plans to play a prank on you during your class tomorrow afternoon."

Muershi's struggles ceased, and he stared wide-eyed at Wen Ying.

Wen Ying pretended not to notice, figuring that Feng Luo must have heard everything just now. It wouldn't make a difference whether he mentioned it or not.

Scarlet pulled Wen Ying's hand away from his mouth and echoed, "Yes, he said he finds you very displeasing!"

Muershi: "..."

The moment Muershi noticed Feng Luo's gaze, he immediately retorted, "He's lying!"

Scarlet's tail slapped the ground frantically, his emotions stirred up. "I'm telling the truth!"

Feng Luo didn't say anything. He merely dragged Muershi back to the academy with his wings. Along the way, Muershi wailed like a ghost, and his cries could be heard from afar.

Both Wen Ying and Scarlet heaved a sigh of relief at the same time. They were safe now.

Essence strolled over and gave Wen Ying a flirtatious glance. "You actually managed to provoke an Evil Bird twice in a row. Impressive."

"Tangled up in the head or not, you're still this cunning. You must have been even more brilliant before your brain got messed up," Huo Po commented.

"My brain..." Wen Ying was about to refute, but then he thought better of it and kept quiet. Looking at Huo Po, he guessed that it was this guy who had spread the news about his damaged brain to everyone.

Essence pointed at Scarlet. "Shouldn't you give him the antidote now?"

Wen Ying addressed Scarlet, who was still lying on the ground, "The potion's effects have worn off. And why did you grab my foot just now? Your wings aren't paralyzed, so why not fly?"

Scarlet hesitated but refused to admit his foolish act. He said sternly, "My wings were numb too." With that, he attempted to stand up, finding his feet regained their strength.

Wen Ying pointed at a stack of books on the ground, "Now you can help me with this. Carry these books back to my place."

Scarlet scoffed and was about to retort when he suddenly remembered the bet, causing his expression to darken instantly.

As a member of the Wyvern Clan, a demonic race that ranked only below the three major powers in the Demon Realm – the Demon Mirror – and was even weaker than intermediate demons, Scarlet was a Wyvern demon and the heir to the next clan leader.

But with all those demons watching just now...

Scarlet gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, I'll carry them!"

His few underling demons nearby wore looks of astonishment. Was he really going to act as a slave?

Scarlet glared at Tai Lei, "Hurry up and help."

Tai Lei, called out, fell silent and reluctantly went over to pick up Wen Ying's books.

Wen Ying chuckled. "I'll lead the way back to my place."

What was supposed to be a solo journey home for Wen Ying now had several demons trailing behind him.

As they flew over the capital and approached the Eternal Forest, the demons began to show signs of fear. Looking at the calm and collected Mirror Demon in front, who seemed genuinely at ease as if he were returning home, they couldn't help but whisper amongst themselves.

"This Mirror Demon doesn't seem to have any blood ties with Aruda. Why isn't he afraid? He really looks like he's just going back home."

"Haven't they said that he's an experimental subject of Aruda's? And that she messed up his mind?"

Scarlet was also somewhat uncertain and puzzled. Aruda was notorious in the demon world as a devil, a title that mainly came from their group of underage demons.

Years ago, when they were still young, Aruda would often extract research materials from them, such as drawing blood, and although these wounds were harmless to demons, the environment was terrifying.

Disobedient demon children would even be fed all sorts of outrageous magic potions by Aruda.

Potions that paralyzed the body, caused unbearable pain, produced strange blisters on the skin, turned arms a horrifying bluish-purple, and more – if you could imagine it, Aruda could make it. They had seen the demons in the castle who were used as test subjects for these potions, and that image and sound would haunt them for the rest of their lives.

She was probably scarier than any witch in human books. That giant pot that boiled and bubbled with colorful hues, emitting a bizarre smell, was the stuff of their childhood nightmares and a lifelong shadow.

If one were to say that the childhood traumas of these children were Aruda's wicked whims, then Aruda, who was allowed to do so by their parents, remained a source of fear for them even as they grew up.

The First Prince had even been fed magic potions by Aruda! The fact that the Devil King himself didn't comment on it indicated how terrifyingly powerful Aruda was.

This elderly demon lived alone in the Eternal Forest, and no one dared to approach her castle casually, for it was saturated with poison – even the air could potentially contain lethal toxins.

"Sir, do you think that Mirror Demon was made stupid by Aruda, so he isn't afraid? After all, fools have no worries," a demon whispered to Scarlet.

Scarlet narrowed his eyes slightly, gazing at Wen Ying ahead. His voice was low and somber. "Does he look like an idiot to you? A demon who can pull pranks on the Wicked Bird twice doesn't strike me as someone with a faulty mind."

As the distant castle came into view, the demons instinctively slowed down their flight.

Upon seeing the castle in front, a sense of ease from returning home spread through Wen Ying's body, but at the same time, anxiety crept in. Memories of Wen Dingjue's behavior and words after discovering his transformation into a demon flashed through his mind, causing his swift flight to gradually slow.

No way, no way, surely his great-grandfather wouldn't leave him with nothing, right?! There couldn't be such an irresponsible elder in this world!

The more agitated Wen Ying became inwardly, the heavier the ominous premonition that loomed over him.

Nervous, Wen Ying quickened his pace upon landing. This eagerness left the group of demons behind him in awe.

Scarlet gritted his teeth and puffed out his chest, addressing the demon beside him, "Cowards! More timid than even a Mirror Demon!" With that, he strode briskly to catch up with Wen Ying.

The castle's garden was as lush and fragrant as ever, a delightful scene to behold. But Scarlet and his companions walked with trepidation. When Wen Ying turned back, he saw the demons walking in a straight line, and... they seemed to be retracing his steps.

"W-Why are you walking like that?" Wen Ying wondered. "This pebble road is quite wide."

It was indeed wide, but it was scattered with small flowers and grasses.

Maintaining his unique air of arrogance and composure, Scarlet strode forward. If he weren't following the exact path Wen Ying had taken, he would genuinely appear genuine in his confidence.

Seeing Scarlet approaching, Wen Ying's lips twitched. He turned and headed for the entrance.

His human mindset was still fundamentally different from that of a native demon.

Pushing open the castle door, Wen Ying stepped inside to find Aruda sitting in a wooden rocking chair in the living room with her eyes closed, seemingly asleep. He whispered, "Grandma, I'm back."

The elderly lady in the rocking chair opened her eyes, revealing a kind, gentle, and majestic face. Her golden monocle frame seemed to be made of gold, shimmering with luster.

Scarlet and his companions saw their childhood nightmare approaching them. Scarlet held back his demon brother who wanted to run, forcing himself to stand his ground, fear hidden in his voice as he called out, "Lord Aruda."

The demons trailing behind followed suit, albeit with quavering voices compared to Scarlet's.

Aruda chuckled. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had so many young ones in my castle.”

The term 'young ones' only served to heighten the fear on the demons' faces. From a coffin not far away, there came the sound of something tapping against the lid. Upon hearing this, the nearby carnivorous flowers opened their mouths, emitting shrill cries akin to a child's wail. The entire room reverberated with noise, causing Scarlet and the others' complexions to turn several shades paler.

”Great-grandma, these are my friends from school,” said Wen Ying as he approached Aruda, his smile both innocent and at ease. “I think the Lucifer School isn’t too bad.” Parents usually liked to hear such remarks, thought Wen Ying, noticing Tai Lei’s pile of books. He sighed inwardly at the daunting workload.

Aruda patted Wen Ying’s hand with a smile, extending an invitation to the young demons who were ready to bolt. “Since they’re Little Yin’s friends, why don’t you all stay for lunch?”

"No…"

”Hmm?” Aruda looked at them nonchalantly.

Scarlet swallowed back the word 'no' and forced out a different response. "That would be too much trouble for you."

”Not at all,” replied Aruda, her spirits high and her face beaming with the same warmth that any ordinary parent would have when welcoming children to their home.

"Little Yin, why don't you take them to play while I prepare lunch?"

After Aruda vanished from the living room, the subtle oppressive atmosphere dissipated like melting glaciers in spring, giving way to warmth and vitality.

Wen Ying tilted his head, a hint of confusion flickering in his eyes. He said to Tai Lei, "My bedroom is on the second floor. Could you help me carry it up?"

Tai Lei instinctively looked at the stairs, where each step held an eerie plant. The enormous Venus flytrap's mouth was chewing on something, with red blood dripping down the side. Tai Lei broke out in a cold sweat and stammered, "I-I don't think that's a good idea, right?"

Scarlet had been to the second floor of the castle before. Almost every room there was off-limits. Back then, the unoccupied rooms on the second floor were either laboratories or storage areas. Some stored inanimate objects, while others contained living creatures. Some rooms were even sealed.

"You live on the second floor?"

Wen Ying nodded and pulled Tai Lei upstairs. Tai Lei climbed the steps with trepidation, but Wen Ying reassured him, "They might seem scary at first, but they're actually harmless. Just don't provoke them on purpose."

Curiosity got the better of Scarlet, and he followed them up. Tai Lei was deeply touched that the young chief would come with him.

Unlike before, all the doors on this second-floor corridor were shut, except for a few that emitted faint sounds. Scarlet felt slightly relieved; things seemed different from when he last visited. Soon, they arrived at Wen Ying's room, located at the end of the corridor.

Wen Ying opened the door, and after Tai Lei and Scarlet saw a perfectly normal bedroom, their hearts finally settled. Scarlet grumbled unhappily, “Just a measly demon mirror…” If not for Aruda, he would have punched Wen Ying by now!

Wen Ying asked Tai Lei to put the book down. Noticing Scarlet's sharp glares, he thought of something and smiled, "Would you like me to give you a tour of the castle?"

"No need!"

Wen Ying shrugged his shoulders and a sly glint flashed in his eyes as he turned around. They were afraid of Aruda and this castle. He didn't know much about the castle himself, only ever moving around on the second floor in his room, but he could deceive them.

Putting the textbook away in the bookshelf, he tidied up for a while. Soon, Aruda's voice calling them down for dinner echoed from downstairs.

So soon? Wen Ying was surprised. How long had it been?

"Let's go down."

Scarlet's demonic underlings were trembling with fear downstairs. When they saw Scarlet descend, it was like seeing a savior. For the sake of his pride, Scarlet held on and nodded to Aruda, "Thank you for letting us have dinner here."

Aruda's eyes curved, "When you're old, you just love children."

Wen Ying observed carefully and noticed that Scarlet and his group had a strong reaction to the word "children." After thinking for a long time and failing to figure out the reason, he went to sit at the dining table.

When the demons saw the dishes on the table, they froze again.

Wen Ying first pulled out a chair for Aruda, who praised him for being well-behaved. She then looked at Scarlet and his group, “Don’t be too reserved. I made extra food today, so feel free to eat to your heart’s content.”

Who could possibly have an appetite for this? The demons on the scene struggled to maintain their composure.

The table was laden with dishes. A green soup bubbled in a clay pot, with bits of meat floating on its surface. A fish, though clearly cooked, still wriggled and opened its mouth continuously. A skull of some beast emitted blue flames from its eye sockets, steam rising from its head as a piece of roasted meat sizzled on it. A man-eating flower, its head severed and revealing rows of fangs, exuded black gas from its mouth. Lastly, there was a poisonous mushroom recognizable to all demons – Aruda was slicing it up and roasting it atop the skull.

Wouldn't eating this actually kill them?

Scarlet and the others turned to look at Wen Ying, who had already seated himself and started eating. His first move was to pick up the man-eating flower that was still emitting black gas with his chopsticks. He plucked out something dark from inside and popped it into his mouth, asking in confusion, "Aren't you guys eating? This man-eating flower is particularly tender today."

Aruda said, "Eat more if you like it. There's coffee in the kitchen, too. Drink some after your meal to aid digestion."

Tai Lei mustered the courage to sneak a peek into the kitchen. He saw a row of cups emitting purple vapor, which only made his face paler. Leaning toward Scarlet, he whispered, "Young Chief, are we... really eating this?"

Scarlet observed Wen Ying eat several bites without any issues and maintaining a relaxed demeanor. With a determined effort, he picked up his chopsticks and grabbed a piece of fish, putting it in his mouth. Ignoring the presentation, the taste was indeed pleasant.

Since they were going to eat, Tai Lei and the other demons reluctantly began to dig in, only to find that the food was surprisingly delicious.

Though the flavors were enjoyable, the visuals were truly horrifying.

The meal left their stomachs aching, but they finally managed to finish. Scarlet and his demonic companions quickly found an excuse to slip away. At the castle gate, Wen Ying waved and called out, "Come play again sometime."

Gazing at the dispirited demonic minions and then at the unperturbed Wen Ying, Scarlet felt that this Magic Mirror Demon was ruthless.

None of the demons responded to the suggestion of coming again. They fled as if their lives depended on it.

Didn't demonic realm food usually taste like that? Why did they appear so tormented after eating it for years? Wen Ying couldn't understand. Initially, he had also shown a pained expression when he saw the bizarre-looking dishes, but eventually, he became desensitized to it.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. He needed to get used to the demonic realm's cuisine.

After sending them off, Wen Ying's smile faded, replaced by unease.

Aruda stepped out and stood at the castle entrance, asking, “Little Yin, why are you standing there?”

Wen Ying walked back through the iron gate and, after some consideration, decided to ask straightforwardly, “Grandma Aruda, did my great-grandfather leave any demonic realm currency for me?”

Aruda replied, “Not a single coin.”

Wen Ying’s mouth twitched. As expected, his great-grandfather was utterly unreliable. He gritted his teeth and said, “Then, Grandma Aruda, can I borrow some money from you? When I return to the human realm next time, I’ll ask my great-grandfather for it.” There were tuition fees, meal expenses, textbook costs, and various other miscellaneous expenditures. All of them were urgent matters that required money.

”Relax,” Aruda reassured him.

Wen Ying's expression relaxed, but Aruda's following words left him stunned.

"That old fellow didn't have much money when he left the Demon Realm. After a hundred years, he probably has even less, if any at all, and those would be human world currencies."

Wen Dingjue sneezed.

”Don’t worry, Grandma has money.” As Aruda spoke, she walked over to the coffin.

Wen Ying wanted to say it wasn't necessary, but as he watched Aruda tip the vertical coffin over, he held his breath.

As the coffin was opened, Wen Ying caught sight of its contents and froze for a moment before taking a few steps closer to inspect. There were no terrifying ghosts or monsters inside, just a coffin filled to the brim with purple coins and shimmering paper money pearls.

"Grandma, are these the common currency in the Demon Realm?" Curiosity getting the better of him, Wen Ying leaned in for a closer look. Suddenly, a bony hand reached out from the pile of treasure, and if not for Aruda intercepting it halfway, Wen Ying's face would have been clawed by the skeleton hand.

His body stiffened, and after a moment, he retreated several paces back, still shaken.

Holy shit, what the hell was that?

He should have known there was something inside, otherwise there wouldn't have been knocks coming from within the coffin. Wen Ying's heart raced as he clutched his chest, fearfully asking, "Grandma, what was that?"

Aruda deftly stuffed the skeleton hand back into its treasure trove. “Just an old miser guarding his wealth. Don’t be afraid. Come here, I’ll give you some pocket money.”

Wen Ying approached cautiously, fearful that another bony hand might reach out from among the riches.

Aruda handed Wen Ying a purple coin. As Wen Ying took it, he felt its substantial weight, with the numeral ’10’ inscribed on one side and a dragon depicted on the other.

”That’s a hundred thousand,” Aruda informed him.

Wen Ying was stunned. "Hundred... thousand?" Was inflation in the demon realm really that severe?

Aruda produced another banknote, also purple in color and with a metallic texture on its surface. It was adorned with a dragon and bore the numeral one in Arabic script.

"This is the smallest denomination of currency in the Demon Realm, worth one unit," Aruda continued, passing Wen Ying various notes of different values.

"These paper bills come in denominations of five, ten, and a hundred, much like in the Human Realm. The main difference lies in these demon coins, which are minted from magic stones. The smallest coin is worth ten thousand units, the one I gave you earlier is fifty thousand, and the first one was a hundred thousand."

"And these are enchanted pearls, each worth one million units."

Wen Ying gazed in awe at the shimmering pearls, their colors diverse. As Aruda explained, the different hues corresponded to distinct values. The purple one, for instance, was worth a million, while even the smallest pearl had a value of a hundred thousand.

These items filled the coffin to the brim, with purple pearls worth a million casually piled up like they were worthless on the magic coins, numbering in the hundreds at the very least.

Aruda muttered to herself, “I wonder how much those fellows gave their grandsons…”

As Aruda spoke, she hesitated for a moment before asking Wen Ying, “Will what you have there be enough as your monthly allowance?”

In Wen Ying's hands were various denominations of money, each denomination a single coin, adding up to almost two million.

”One… month?” Wen Ying was nearly moved to tears. Compared to his unreliable great-grandfather, Aruda was overly generous when it came to money.

Assuming it wasn’t enough, Aruda picked up a few more magic coins and stuffed them into Wen Ying’s hand.

"It's... enough, too much," Wen Ying quickly said. "This is more than enough for me to live in the Magic Realm. If I need more in the future, I'll earn it myself."

Aruda became displeased. “It’s not easy for me to give a child pocket money, so how can I only do it once? Don’t feel embarrassed. I don’t have much else besides magic potions and money. I have several magic stone mines and pearl farms.”

Wen Ying was stunned by Aruda’s wealth. His family was the richest in Mu City, but compared to this grandma who truly had mines, it seemed to be on a different level. At most, his parents gave him an allowance of no more than half a million per month, and the biggest red envelope he received during Chinese New Year was a million.

Aruda felt that giving him almost two million a month was still insufficient.

"The young dragonborn from earlier, I recall his grandmother mentioning that five million was too little," Aruda mused aloud, ignoring Wen Ying's words. "Let's make it ten million."

Wen Ying shook his head. "No, it really isn't necessary."

Aruda observed Wen Ying's reaction and recalled something. "Magic coins aren't just used as currency. They're crafted with magic stones, imbued with abundant magic energy. They can be employed in enchanted items, for replenishing magic in the wild, or even in daily cultivation. Both magic coins and magic pearls are indispensable."

So they had such functions?

"Take it. Your great-grandfather saved my life," Aruda patted Wen Ying's head, casting a glance at the coffin. "Too bad this fellow is dead. I turned him into a Skeleton Mage, but his mind isn't quite there."

Wen Ying experienced firsthand the gentle tone used to deliver such eerie witchcraft. Despite the generous sum, he couldn't resist accepting it but added, "Great-Grandma, this is enough. I'll earn more money myself..."

An idea suddenly sparked in Wen Ying's mind. If he could replenish his magic, wouldn't he be able to produce cards in large quantities without being constrained by his magic limit? He wouldn't have to ration his magic when using them.

Overjoyed, Wen Ying hugged Aruda, exclaiming eagerly, "Thank you so much, Great-Grandma!"

Aruda patted Wen Ying affectionately, smiling without a word.

Though excited, Wen Ying didn't forget his mission to earn money. His first thought was to become a proxy shopper, planning to visit the capital city to see how human goods fared in the Magic Realm.

Once Wen Ying’s excitement subsided, Aruda walked over to the rocking chair and sat down, asking nonchalantly, “You’re in Class One, right?”

"Yes, Class One."

Aruda gently rocked the chair. “Almost all the children of high-ranking demons in the Realm of Devils are in this class. The three major powerhouses – the Hellhound, the Extreme Evil Bird, and the Nine-Tailed Fox. Your great-grandfather meant that even if you can’t become a Devil King, you should at least pull one of them down to become one of the three major powerhouses.”

They had offended the first two, and Muershi didn't seem to possess the bloodline of any of the three major powerhouses. Recalling Muershi's screams when he was dragged away by Feng Luo, Wen Ying had deep doubts.

”Those old fogeys were even trying to use your failures in the first two tests as an excuse to keep you out of Class One,” Aruda snorted. “The Devil King clearly said that only the results of the third test mattered. I argued with them right then and there.”

Wen Ying was worried. "Did you get hurt?" In the Human Realm, they fought with words, but in the Realm of Devils, they used their fists.

Aruda was taken aback for a moment, then her eyes curved in a meaningful way, indicating she was in a good mood. “I’m fine.” She had just poisoned a few old guys into the hospital.

It was nice to have a grandchild. The feeling of being cared for was truly pleasant. Aruda’s smile lingered on her lips.

After waking up from a nap, Aruda said she wanted to take Wen Ying to the capital city to buy things needed for school.

Wen Ying was very curious about the capital of the Realm of Devils and what the shops sold, so he immediately packed his things and set off.

The capital of the Demon Realm was bustling with activity, filled with demons on the streets and an abundance of goods in the shops lining both sides of the road. The establishments were decorated in various styles, ranging from retro to contemporary. One restaurant resembled a luxurious human hotel, while another exuded a hunting ambiance characteristic of the Demon Realm.

As for the food, Wen Ying had expected something peculiar from the Demon Realm. To his surprise, the dishes he saw along the way appeared quite ordinary. He even spotted a demon selling milk from a beast resembling a cow.

Luxury items were abundant here as well. Passing by a clothing store, Wen Ying glanced at a white fur coat in the window display and was curious about its price, which turned out to be three million.

Realizing that this street resembled a high-end shopping district in the human world, he checked a cake shop next. Indeed, not a single cake in the glass refrigerator was priced below ten thousand.

Aruda headed straight for their destination, leading Wen Ying into a jewelry store. However, it was odd that there were very few accessories on display.

”Lord Aruda, what a rare sight! What kind of accessory are you looking for today?”

Aruda replied, “I need a silver-white spatial stone. I’ve heard that luck-bringing beads are popular in the human realm now, so let’s make one in that style.”

Upon hearing "spatial stone," Wen Ying's heart raced. Could it be the type of spatial tool he was familiar with?

"One cubic meter, please."

"The young demon is quite unique. Coincidentally, I just received a new shipment of stones in a color that would perfectly suit him!"

The owner warmly recommended items.

After ordering the spatial bracelet, Aruda took Wen Ying to shop for clothes.

At first, everything was novel to Wen Ying, but once Aruda started her spree of trying on outfits, Wen Ying felt like a lifeless doll.

After visiting and purchasing from three clothing stores, Wen Ying couldn't help but say to the enthusiastic grandmother in front of him, "Grandma, I think these clothes are enough."

Aruda replied, "Let's buy some more. These are just a few sets. Those guys, like the upper class in the human world, also pay attention to their attire."

Looking up at the sky, Wen Ying felt like he had lost control over his own body. Lowering his head, he saw a demon approaching them, and his eyes lit up.

Isn't that Beros?

Beros had seen them too. He came over, nodded at Aruda as a greeting, but when he noticed Wen Ying, he seemed to have something to say but held back.

He was still bothered by the doll incident.

Wen Ying, however, rushed forward and hugged Beros' arm. Beros' pupils constricted. If not for Aruda's presence, he might have reflexively thrown Wen Ying away.

Beros’s gaze was fierce. He felt uncomfortable being touched by an unfamiliar demon so closely, causing him discomfort all over. Beros pried Wen Ying’s hand away and warned in a low voice, “Don’t come near me.”

Boros was too strong, and Wen Ying, who had his hand pried open, feared that the substitute would leave. He immediately said to Aruda, "Grandma, it seems like he's here to buy clothes as well. Why don't we go together? You can help pick out something for him."

Beros looked at Wen Ying in disbelief, and soon his face tensed up. His glare at Wen Ying was fierce, and his naturally hanging hand slightly curled, with his black, sharp nails pointing subtly at Wen Ying.

With Aruda around, Wen Ying wasn’t afraid of him. Defying the intimidating pressure of the hellhound, he said, “Grandma, I think Beros has a great body frame and will definitely look good in anything.”

Wen Ying smiled at Beros, believing in the principle of ‘better you than me.’ Beros gritted his back teeth; he had never seen a demon so eager to court death.

”I’m not here to buy clothes,” Beros said. “There’s no need to trouble you.”

Aruda grabbed Beros’s hand and led him into a clothing store next door, saying cheerfully, “It’s alright, it’s alright. I’ll buy you a few outfits.”

Wen Ying breathed a sigh of relief, holding the dozen shopping bags in his hands. He shot a sympathetic yet helpless glance at Beros. With his hand held by Aruda, Beros turned his head to convey a deadly threat to Wen Ying.

Since fighting was forbidden in school, and Aruda was around outside, Wen Ying shrank his neck. He felt that Beros wouldn’t really try to kill him. Although he had a bad temper and low emotional intelligence, his actual personality was at least better than Scarlet’s.

Scarlet, who had undergone a full medical checkup in the hospital after eating some strange, dark cuisine for lunch, sneezed.

Beros left with a darkened face, carrying over a dozen shopping bags. Aruda had mentioned only a few outfits, but they ended up spending the entire afternoon browsing. Wen Ying was relieved that he had Beros to foot the bill.

After purchasing some miscellaneous items, they returned home.

In the evening, after dinner, Aruda prepared a pot of eerie, black-smoke-rising medicinal soup for Wen Ying to drink. Wen Ying had already learned not to judge food by its appearance and, after hesitating for three seconds, drank it resolutely.

Upon finishing it, he felt a warmth spread throughout his body, and his magic power also seemed to be boiling within him.

”This is a nourishing soup I made for you. It will help strengthen your magic power,” Aruda said.

Wen Ying's teeth chattered. "G-Great-Grandma, this thing h-hurts." Pain wracked his entire body.

”Pain is a sign that it’s working,” Alruda chirped before leaving.

Unable to sleep the whole night, Wen Ying went to school with dark circles under his eyes the next day.

The soup that Aruda had prepared for him last night had caused him excruciating pain throughout the night. Although his magic power had indeed become more condensed, and his control over it had improved, every limb of his ached. Even now, at school, he felt as if he had been beaten up. Any slight movement caused him pain.

While he merely felt beaten up, his new deskmate, Muershi, genuinely looked like he had been beaten. When Feng Luo assigned their seats in the morning, and Muershi sat down beside Wen Ying, Wen Ying was startled to see his swollen and bruised face.

"Is our homeroom teacher really that violent?"

Muershi leaned his chin on the table, his voice barely audible, "Don't mention it, it's all your fault."

"I warned you, you might get hit," Wen Ying said. At that time, he had sensed something odd about the wind around them, so he instinctively issued this warning to the Archbird.

Beros sat one seat to Wen Ying’s right, separated by an aisle. He kept attempting to intimidate Wen Ying with his gaze, baring his sharp teeth now and then, and showing off his long, black nails extended from his left hand.

Behind sat Essence, while in front was the demonic figure with black goat horns; his neighbor was Amethyst, and Essence's companion was Scarlet.

Wen Ying felt that the seating arrangement was a manifestation of Feng Luo's mischievous sense of humor!

The first class was Demon Realm Ancient History, which started off engaging, like listening to an intriguing tale. However, as it progressed, Wen Ying found himself dozing off; the teacher's lecturing style was incredibly soporific.

He discreetly glanced at the Second Prince, who, like him, appeared lost and drowsy. Satisfied, Wen Ying concluded that the issue wasn't with him.

After enduring four morning classes, Wen Ying felt utterly exhausted. He slumped on his desk, dreading the prospect of facing Feng Luo's class in the afternoon.