Chapter 29: The Note
byChapter 29: A Note
Muershi had witnessed Scarlet kneeling before Wen Ying, and at the same time, he was caught and beaten up by Feng Luo. Seeing Wen Ying's confident appearance, Muershi chuckled. "Enchanted items are forbidden in ranking matches. Besides that, other items are not allowed, such as the potion in your bag."
After eating Aruda's food the day before yesterday, Scarlet rushed to the hospital. The food turned out to be harmless, but instead, it was nutritious. However, an inspection of his leg revealed traces of a poisonous potion. The residue from magical toxins and potion toxins were different. Upon further inquiry, Scarlet realized why he had knelt.
There had been many onlooking demons at the time. To prevent rumors from spreading wildly, he quickly mobilized his subordinates and himself to propagate the reason for his kneeling – it was due to Aruda's poisonous potion!
Many posts had also appeared online, voicing their opinions.
As a result, most of the demons present knew what was in Wen Ying's bag. They burst into laughter, guessing that the Mirror Demon was planning to use the same trick again.
One of the rules of the ranking matches was that if a contestant was forced to leave the arena, they would lose. Thus, the Mirror Demon could push Evil Bird off the arena with a brief paralysis potion.
"Hahaha, that guy must be dumbfounded."
"I didn't laugh as happily yesterday when Muershi walked around the academy with no idea that his wings were balding hahaha."
"Muershi isn't even trying to hide the bald spot now. His skin is really thick, just like him."
”It’s easy to settle a grudge. If Muershi doesn’t retaliate, he wouldn’t be the Evil Bird,” Muershi said with a smile. Standing on the arena, his hands hanging naturally by his sides, he appeared relaxed but was secretly on high alert, as if sensing some kind of radar. He had a feeling that Wen Ying was plotting something devious.
Without hesitation, Wen Ying took off his backpack and placed it on a table nearby.
"Why did he put it down so easily?"
"Probably just acting."
"I feel like he still has some hidden tricks up his sleeve."
Muershi couldn't think of what other tactics Wen Ying might have. As Feng Luo called for the start of the match, he observed from his spot without immediately making a move.
—This, in turn, gave Wen Ying an opportunity.
The four Mirror Demons reflected their surroundings like ordinary mirrors. The "Muershi" within the mirrors approached him undetected. When the entity within the mirror crossed the boundary and "walked" out, the demons watching were taken aback.
"The Mirror Demon can do such a thing?"
"What are those four duplicates of Lord Muershi?"
"They seem lifelike."
Staring at his identical replicas in all directions, Muershi was taken aback. He then pondered over the magic at work, something he had never seen before. It appeared to be a unique spell of the Mirror Demon... He had never heard of a Mirror Demon duplicating other demons.
"It seems this is your ace in the hole," Muershi commented, ceasing his observation. Instantly, he took action, unfolding his indigo-violet wings. Trailing purple arcs, he traversed a dozen meters in a single breath. With lightning coiling around his fist, he didn't hesitate to ruthlessly strike his own face.
Surprisingly, the reflection was incredibly fragile. Although it looked identical to him, its combat prowess was worlds apart.
Muershi retracted his hand. His punch obliterated the entity, giving the sensation of shattering glass. Upon impact, the sound of shattering mirrors echoed, and the duplicate crumbled into fragments, dissipating as specks of light.
Muershi turned to Wen Ying, raising an eyebrow. "This is your confidence? Something that breaks with one hit?"
He approached Wen Ying, his slender and graceful figure casting a shadow as he opened his wings for intimidation. Purple arcs crackled around him, accompanied by a continuous hiss of electricity.
Wen Ying smiled, suddenly adopting a sinister expression. "This is my strength. Given your character, many would want to strike you."
Muershi halted, a foreboding sensation creeping over him.
Wen Ying continued, "If I were to sell this doll, I wonder if any demon would be interested in purchasing it for the sake of venting their anger."
Another round of gasps echoed around the spectator stands. Many demons, upon hearing Wen Ying's words, were flooded with thoughts. Some of them even blushed, though it was unclear if it was from embarrassment or excitement, or simply because they were thrilled at the prospect of beating Muershi.
Muershi could sense the peculiar emotions in the gazes of the surrounding demons. The hostility was tolerable, but what was with that strange enthusiasm? He had no desire to find out.
Wen Ying, attentively observing Muershi's expression, promptly applied the technique he used to pull the bird's consciousness into the doll during lunchtime. This time, he directed it towards Muershi.
Unlike that ordinary bird, Muershi was a demon. To increase the likelihood of success, Wen Ying needed to unsettle his focus.
For a fleeting moment, Muershi's vision turned black, and he found himself in a different spot. Before he could react, Wen Ying suddenly dashed past his field of view, swiftly kicking the identical puppet beside him right in its face, sending it flying out of the arena.
Kicking one's own creation...
When the minute was up, the remaining three puppets vanished. Another flash of darkness later, Muershi found himself outside the arena, still feeling the sting on his face. It dawned on him instantly what Wen Ying's plan had been.
"You have such abilities?" Muershi was utterly stunned. "You must be some kind of mutated Mirror Demon." He was genuinely shocked; he had never heard of a Mirror Demon capable of transferring its consciousness.
As Wen Ying's strength grew, this ability would become increasingly terrifying. Muershi's playful expression turned grave as he contemplated the various ways this power could be used against enemies – it was nothing short of heaven-defying.
The demons, battle-hardened and seasoned from skirmishes since their youth, swiftly conjured up a myriad of potential applications for this ability. Should they ally with another demon, they could orchestrate a cunning ambush and assassination while the targeted demon's consciousness was being transferred. In such a scenario, the demon's true form would be utterly defenseless, reduced to nothing more than a sitting duck, devoid of any means to retaliate.
Aside from their serious combat capabilities, many demons also entertained various thoughts, their minds wandering and their expressions intriguing.
Muershi's feathers stood on end, and with unbroken fervor, he exclaimed to Wen Ying on stage, "Don't sell my puppet! Or I'll sue you for infringing on my right of publicity!"
"That's something unique to the human realm."
"There is no such provision in the laws decreed by His Majesty the Demon Lord."
"Not openly, but secretly, it's possible."
In the realm of demons, power and capability reigned supreme; it was an innate instinct ingrained in their genetic code. They revered the strong and mocked the weak. Many demons' attitudes toward Wen Ying shifted instantly.
Yet, more than half of them still found Wen Ying displeasing to the eye. This was because he had just casually hooked his tail around Beros’s! Beros’s devotees were highly displeased with Wen Ying.
Among Beros’s followers, some harbored secret thoughts, their gazes upon Wen Ying softer or even somewhat bashful.
Wen Ying approached the edge of the arena, looking down at the stomping Muershi from above. He casually twirled a lock of hair between his fingers while making a pointed remark, "Since His Majesty the Devil King hasn't established any laws regarding image rights, I believe my ability should be used for the benefit of my classmates."
Muershi had never met anyone more shameless than himself, and he found it hard to believe.
The demons whistle and cheer audaciously. How rare it is to see the Wicked Bird suffer such a defeat!
Fuming, Muershi stamped his feet. Beros couldn’t sit still either. The image of Wen Ying hugging a chibi three-headed dog plushie during their first meeting keeps flashing through his mind, along with the sensation of that tail brushing against him earlier, repeating over and over in his mind. Beros grew restless; could Wen Ying have made an effigy of him?
Visualizing such a scene, Beros abruptly stands up. His dark expression and oppressive aura send the demons sitting or standing near him scurrying away once again.
A wanton creature! An impudent weakling demon! Beros is furious, unconsciously gripping the armrest of his chair so tightly that his black nails pierce through the wood, sinking deep into it. With a forceful grip, the armrest crumbles.
Wen Ying, basking in the glory of being a father, suddenly feels a terrifying gaze boring into him. Following the sensation, his euphoric mood shatters like a spiderweb.
That tail entanglement hasn't been resolved yet... He needs a plan.
Feng Luo hovers above the arena, pondering the magic Wen Ying just used. According to historical records, even the peak Mirror Demons couldn't transfer a demon's consciousness.
Was it Aruda’s experiment or has this young Mirror Demon undergone some sort of mutation?
With these thoughts in mind, Feng Luo continues his role as referee, announcing the results of the second match before declaring, "The third match will be Wu Fei."
Stunned, Wu Fei, who was still munching on his melon seeds, felt a sudden turn of events from joy to sorrow.
As Wen Ying descended from the stage, he faced the approaching Muershi and said, "Alright, alright, I'm not that shameless to sell your real-life puppet. Who knows what those demons who buy the dolls would do to you."
Muershi: "..." He saw the teasing in Wen Ying's eyes but dared not provoke him now.
But is the Malevolent Bird someone to take this lying down? Muershi glanced at Beros, who looked even more displeased than before. After some thought, Muershi realized that Beros probably suspected Wen Ying had replicated a doll in his likeness and done something with it.
If Wen Ying dared to sell a doll of him, Muershi would dare to spread rumors to Beros that Wen Ying had used his doll for inappropriate activities.
Beros wanted to confront Wen Ying, but regardless of the answer, once the question was out in the open, how could he still save face in front of everyone? He could only endure his anxiety and irritation, waiting for the class to end.
Wu Fei stepped onto the stage, and Wen Ying observed the half-demon who, like him, had come from the human world halfway through.
He chose an ordinary demon from Class One as his opponent. His luck wasn't great either; it was good enough that his score card hadn't been snatched before his awakening, and he didn't have a chance to snatch one after.
Everyone knew that Wu Fei had grown up in the human world, so the noble-born demon offspring viewed this second prince with scrutiny.
The Demon King was already in old age, and within a hundred years, the competition between the two princes would surely come to a conclusion. They would have to choose a side to support.
Wu Fei stepped onto the platform, his limbs trembling slightly as he gazed at the opponent he had chosen, steeling himself and relying on his instincts – he had nothing else. He had never fought with classmates before, oh the woe of it all.
The Second Prince's fighting style was indeed devoid of any tactics, purely relying on overwhelming magical power. Despite possessing such immense strength, he didn't know how to wield it effectively. The demons assessed that if they had a flame talent of such intensity, they could defeat their opponents in under ten seconds, and have them begging for mercy within thirty.
It took Wu Fei five minutes to force his adversary off the arena. The young man, raised in a peaceful society, lacked the audacity to deal decisive blows, hesitating and holding back.
Lilith and Levimo exchanged glances, both understanding the same thing – the Second Prince needed extensive practical combat training.
One by one, the demons completed their ranking matches, extending beyond the scheduled class time until well into the evening. All the demons who had participated in the afternoon session had finally fulfilled their task.
Wen Ying was ready and waiting, his eyes fixed on the door and Beros. Beros was watching him too. As soon as Feng Luo announced the end of class, Wen Ying darted out, using his speed card to vanish instantly.
Beros's tail slammed into the ground, leaving another dent as his pent-up anger had nowhere to vent. He stormed off to wreak havoc on the creatures of the Eternal Forest.
Wen Ying kept running all the way until he reached the castle. Only then did he dare to stop, collapsing on the ground, gasping for air with his mouth wide open.
Had he ever risked his life before?
—For the sake of preserving it.
If time could be rewound, Wen Ying would never have entwined his tail with Beros's. Filled with regret, he decided to spend a few days acquainting himself with the basics of demonic knowledge – ignorance was indeed terrifying.
A human-shaped shadow fell across him, and Wen Ying lifted his gaze to see Aruda. The elder looked at Wen Ying lying on the floor in confusion and asked, "Why are you lying here?"
”Great-grandma, I have a question,” Wen Ying sat up slowly. “If a demon’s tail entwines with another demon’s, what other meaning could it have besides ‘I like you’?”
Aruda blinked, then exclaimed with a teasing smile, "Oh dear, Little Yin, whose tail did you entwine?"
Wen Ying fell silent for a moment before uttering a name, "…Beros."
"I knew that child was a good match."
”Great-grandma.”
Aruda shrugged. "There is another meaning."
Wen Ying instantly perked up.
"Challenging."
Wen Ying wilted once more.
"Alright, come and eat quickly. The school kept you so late today that the food has gone cold. I'll warm it up for you. Take a short rest before you eat."
Regardless of how much Wen Ying wanted to avoid Beros, he still had to attend school the next day. Beros sat right beside him.
With a trembling hand, he sat down at his seat, nervously facing Perseus's silent and fierce gaze. He forced a smile and greeted, "Good morning."
The first class of the day was Magic Studies, which was usually held in a specialized classroom. However, due to a class blowing up their magic classroom the previous day, Wen Ying's class would temporarily have their lesson in their own classroom.
Despite Essence's severe injuries from the previous day, he still came to school, looking like he had only sustained minor wounds with bandages wrapped around him. There was a medicinal scent on him, but his spirits seemed high. Essence poked Wen Ying's back and said, "Do you want me to teach you some tricks?"
"What kind of tricks?" Wen Ying turned around.
"Hmm~" Essence narrowed his eyes slightly, a blush appearing on his face as he exuded charm. "Tricks to make your bed life more enjoyable. Change your perspective – if he becomes too attached to you, wouldn't he be less likely to kill you?"
Thanks, I might die before I even touch him, Wen Ying rolled his eyes, turning back irritably. A succubus's advice was completely unreliable.
Scarlet secretly prayed that Wen Ying wouldn't notice him. If Wen Ying wanted to use his replica doll for something… it would be a disaster. No action needed – just frame the doll for something, like placing it in the girls' restroom.
Scarlet could barely keep his vision from darkening at the mere thought of it. The handsome and robust young man now wore a gloomy expression, completely devoid of the wicked charm he had exuded when he first met Wen Ying.
Muershi was already prepared with a plan and had the leisure to watch the spectacle unfold.
Feeling the various atmospheres behind him, Li Jie opened his book and began studying attentively.
The teacher for the magic class... Feng Luo stepped into the classroom, catching everyone off guard.
With an aloof expression, Feng Luo carried his teaching materials to the lectern and announced, "The teacher who taught you magic yesterday was injured in an explosion. I will be taking over the magic classes for the time being."
A teacher was actually injured by the magic of their students? The students in that class must have been extraordinary.
Feng Luo was secretly astonished. His face might have been disfigured by poison, rendering him unable to recover quickly, but he still had to take on this substitute teaching role.
Feng Luo started the lesson with an icy demeanor. He focused only on key points, delivering concise lectures. Today's class covered basic magic, which everyone was familiar with. However, Feng Luo demanded that they be able to cast all these simple spells instantly without incantations. If they failed to do so before the end of the class, they would have to copy the spells a thousand times.
"Isn't that devilish?" Muershi grumbled. Generally, casting spells instantly required one to have the incantations deeply ingrained through much practice. They usually honed their skills in offensive magic, not these everyday, practical spells.
They were practicing wandless and wordless spell casting. Wen Ying was learning how to cast the parchment messaging charm.
Their aim was consistently off; instead of targeting the parchment on the desk, the spells would veer towards neighboring textbooks, causing chaos. Frustrated, Wen Ying tried again, only for nothing to happen. He assumed the spell had failed.
This time, the magic flew into a drawer, landing in a food box. The parchment inside slipped through a crack and transformed into a raven, taking flight beside them.
By the time Wen Ying noticed the raven and attempted to intercept it, it was too late. The bird fluttered into Beros’s outstretched hand, its wings held captive between his fingers.
Beros unfolded the parchment, surprised. Written on it were the words: “Want to have dinner together?”
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