Chapter 58: Planning

Chapter 58: Plotting

It was the transitional period between summer and autumn, but demons were not susceptible to cold even when naked. Standing by the hot spring, Wen Ying observed Lan Jiaying finding a comfortable position to soak in. The sight of his face and physique irked him.

He was merely taller and more well-built. Apparently, he had left Lan Jiaying's hair too long; it was still long enough to be braided. It should have been cut shorter, Wen Ying thought, turning his lips in disdain. He then stepped down into the water.

This was not his first time soaking in a hot spring, but this experience felt different. As soon as the tips of his toes touched the warm water, he sensed a wave of warmth rising up his body—it was magical energy. This hot spring was brimming with abundant magical power.

Fully submerging himself, Wen Ying felt as if his entire body was being massaged. The magical energy flowed through his veins, and his muscles relaxed as if they were being kneaded. He couldn't help but sigh in blissful comfort.

No wonder it's called the Magic Hot Spring – a soak in this in the human world would easily cost tens of thousands.

Devilish voices could be heard nearby, chatting in twos and threes, their topics diverse. Many deep purple, jade-like plates floated on the surface of the hot spring, carrying boiled eggs, wine, and various beverages, along with some finger foods and fruits.

A devil was playing the violin nearby, while the occasional chirp of insects emerged from the garden's shrubs. They had grown accustomed to the powerful aura of the devils and thus dared to make noise.

The courtyard was illuminated by many ground lights, each with a different color scheme based on its location, creating a visually stunning and sophisticated atmosphere.

The stars in Xia Ye Mo's night sky were bright. Wen Ying leaned against the edge of the hot spring, gazing at the sky. The red stars were too dazzling, so he quickly looked down and reached for an iced juice offered by a server standing by.

Now, how could this be the Realm of Demons? It was more like a paradise of indulgence. There were quite a few captivating beauties around... except for their figures that were a bit distracting. Wen Ying wasn't particularly fond of the statuesque male figures now. He could still spare a few glances at the mermaids, but not at their upper bodies; he was more interested in the glimpses of their tails beneath the warm spring water.

If it weren't for the fact that demons and mermaids couldn't have their tails touched easily, Wen Ying would have rolled on the ground to beg Philos to touch his tail. In this world, in the human realm, no one would resist the temptation to touch the tail of a mythical creature like a mermaid!

Last time when he held Philos down to pluck his scales, his hand did touch it, but during that violent process, he didn't pay attention to anything else. All he remembered was that the tail felt cold to the touch.

Muershi sauntered over from the hot spring and leaned against the poolside next to Wen Ying. Gazing at Levimo ahead, he whispered to Wen Ying, "From my years of surfing, Levimo's fans are fierce. Lilith also has plenty of male demons chasing after her."

"Does Levimo's personality seem possible for that?" Wen Ying had figured out that Levimo appeared aloof and abstinent on the surface, but in reality, he was just socially anxious and forced himself to be distant.

With both arms spread open, Muershi looped his right arm around Wen Ying's shoulder, winking mischievously. "Don't you have the Benefactor Ring of the Nine-Tailed Fox clan?"

Wen Ying's lips twitched. "Your imagination is quite something. Is it worth the trade?"

"There's a saying in the human realm: 'You can't catch a wolf without offering some bait.'" Muershi curled his lips into a smirk, lowering his voice. His purple eyes shimmered with an enchanting depth, exuding an air of mystery as if the surrounding lights dimmed slightly.

Then, he switched back to his playful tone, chuckling wickedly. "Lan Jiaying mocked you so much."

As he spoke, his hand on Wen Ying's shoulder patted the spot where his shoulder connected to his arm. "Don't you want to make him bleed a little more from his wallet?"

Wen Ying brushed off Muershi's hand and glanced at his pectoral muscles with an indifferent expression before heading towards Phileas.

Muershi: "?" Looking down, he chuckled. Wen Ying seemed to be embarrassed and angry. Well, if he must say, wasn't the average physique of the Mirror Demon race like that? What was he so unhappy about? Hahahaha.

Wen Ying temporarily ignored his ally behind him and strolled forward. Phileas was in conversation with Wu Fei. Sensing Wen Ying's approach through the ripples in the water, Phileas cast a curious and cautious glance his way.

"Wen Ying," Wu Fei greeted with a smile, "have you had enough to eat?"

A classic opening line from Huaxia, Wen Ying replied with a smile, "Yes, I'm quite full. Thank you for the hospitality. I've had a great time today."

"That's good to hear." Wu Fei's smile brightened. He didn't have any grand aspirations for forging alliances tonight. He just hoped everyone would enjoy themselves, especially since Lan Jiaying and the demons who were loyal to her were present. Wu Fei feared that a bloody incident might erupt, which would ruin his first hosting attempt and disappoint Levimo and Lilith.

Fortunately, it didn't happen.

Phileas' translucent, fish-like fins, which resembled gossamer curtains, swayed gently with the water's movement, transitioning from blue to white – a mesmerizing sight. Wen Ying couldn't help but steal several glances. Sensing this, Phileas became vigilant, tucking his tail fins to the side. "Planning to pluck my scales again?"

Wen Ying blinked innocently, devoid of the brutality he displayed when he forcefully plucked Phileas' scales in the school infirmary, pinning him face down. His eyes curved into a gentle smile, and his demonic aura as a white demon appeared non-threatening and soothing, with a soft and unhurried voice.

Phileas shuddered, goosebumps rising all over his body. "Just come out with it."

Unfamiliar with Wen Ying's cruel side, Wu Fei found no trace of incongruity in him. Instead, Wen Ying seemed to be viewed through a rosy lens, making the demon appear harmless and adorable. His silver-white hair was untainted, and his eyes held a gentle smile when he gazed at you.

Wu Fei subconsciously suppressed the memory of Wen Ying wielding a large pair of scissors, cutting off the cherished long hair that his elder brother had meticulously cared for over the years.

"I'd like to make a deal with you," Wen Ying raised his right hand, adorned with a spatial ring, presenting it to Phileas. "I have something you desperately need."

On several popular forums, there were discussions about the plight of merfolk being plagued by an icy poison before their hundredth birthday. To grow stronger, they had to venture deeper into frigid lands more frequently, using extremely cold magic potions and plants. Wen Ying's lips curled confidently.

Phileas reacted indifferently, looking at Wen Ying as if he were an insurance salesman. "You're that confident?"

In a low voice, Wen Ying replied, "It's a high-grade magic potion that can resist the icy poison's corrosion."

Phileas' pupils constricted, his gaze instantly shifting from Wen Ying's face to the bracelet on his wrist. His tone lowered. "Made by Aruda?"

Wen Ying nodded, his smile brightening. "With the addition of Lan Jiaying's hair, the fire attribute magic power within is absolutely pure."

Phileas: "..."

Indeed, it was likely that only Wen Ying possessed such an item in the entire Demon Realm. Using materials from a black dragon to create magic potions was something only Aruda would dare to do. Other demons, even if they had the audacity and did so, would keep it hidden, with both buyer and seller living in constant fear of discovery and death.

This kind of potion is precious and rare, no wonder Wen Ying was so confident that he needed something from him.

Phileas indeed longed for this high-grade potion. The recent backlash from the Ice Poison had become severe. In his pursuit of greater power, he had severely damaged his body. He had to resolve his physical issues before reaching the age of one hundred.

Wu Fei interrupted in surprise, "Things from a demon can be used to make potions?"

Looking at Wu Fei, Wen Ying recalled that this poor soul also came from the Human Realm. His eyes rolled, and he grinned, lowering his voice to mimic the eerie tone of a wicked witch. There was a smile on his face, yet it sent chills down everyone's spine. "Everything on a demon can be used for potions - hair, nails, blood, bones, flesh..."

Wu Fei swallowed hard as a cold sensation crept up from his feet to the crown of his head. Wen Ying extended his hand, gently sliding his nails across Wu Fei's arm.

Wu Fei sprang back, jumping to the edge of the hot spring, staring at Wen Ying with horror. His dragon wings fully unfurled, ready to take flight at any moment.

All the demons turned their gazes, making Wu Fei the center of attention. He gathered his wings, forcing a smile and waving his hands. "It's nothing, nothing at all. Carry on, everyone."

Phileas withdrew his gaze. Wen Ying's words and tone had also given him a chill, albeit not as visibly as Wu Fei. Soaking in the warm spring, he felt goosebumps rise on his arms.

"Wen Ying," he asked, "what do you want to trade?"

Phileas nodded. "What exactly do you wish to trade for?" He really couldn't guess. Such a valuable potion was practically priceless and had no market value. What could Wen Ying possibly want from him? Was it possible that Wen Ying referred to his blood and flesh in his earlier remarks?

Phelous glanced at his own hand. If it was a high-grade magical potion that required the addition of a Black Dragon's hair, he wouldn't mind offering his flesh and blood.

Wen Ying took out a card and handed it to Phelous, who accepted it with confusion. On the card was Scarlet, and... Scarlet was depicted casting a water spell, with the words "Cheer Up" written alongside it.

"What is this?" Phelous examined the card in puzzlement. The magic vibrations from the card were not strong, and water magic wasn't exactly a powerful spell. He couldn't grasp Wen Ying's intention.

"This," Wen Ying pointed at the card, "I want you to make cards like this for me. Scarlet has given me permission to do so, as a product for sale."

Phelous returned the card to Wen Ying as if it were scorching hot, his startled eyelashes fluttering like a fan.

"…Why would you sell such an item?" It was embarrassing. Would there really be a demon who'd buy this? Even if there was, he wouldn't have the face to sell it.

"Wen Ying smiles warmly, "Because I want to start a business and make some money." The startled merman's cheeks flushed slightly. "Promise me."

Phileas was highly resistant. "If you want to make money, I can just directly buy it from you. That would be faster."

"But that would be a one-time transaction. What I'm aiming for is sustainable development." Wen Ying steps closer and hooks his hand around Phileas' neck. The spatial bracelet on his right hand happens to be in front of Phileas' eyes.

Before Phileas could push him away, Wen Ying quickly whispers into his ear, "Moreover, this is closely related to my arena match with Lan Jiaying."

Phileas' raised hand gently rested on the back of Wen Ying's hand, looking sidelong at him with suspicion. "How could such an absurd matter involve Lan Jiaying?" He felt like Wen Ying was pulling his leg.

Wen Ying looked sincere. "I'm not lying to you. Really, trust me with this transaction. I plan to create several sets. You can grant me free authorization for the first set, and from the second set onwards, we'll share the profits."

Phileas was extremely hesitant. If he agreed, he wouldn't feel at ease.

Wen Ying didn't push for an immediate answer but waited for Phileas to come to a decision on his own. In the meantime, he closed his eyes and luxuriated in the comfort of the hot spring.

After a while, Phileas seemed to have made up his mind. He spoke as if he were making a sacrifice. "Alright, but only for... ten years."

Without any hesitation, Wen Ying nodded, so quickly that Phileas almost felt like he had lost out. Wen Ying chuckled. "One year per pearl. How many do you want?"

Phileas' mouth gradually widened, his eyes widening in surprise.

So adorable, Wen Ying's eyes sparkled. The butterfly merman usually had a similar demeanor to Belos, acting as if everyone else was worthless. He also carried Levimo's aura of 'stay away from me'. This contrast now had Wen Ying smitten, his heart filled with affection.

Belos was unpredictable and hard to pursue. Perhaps he should switch to chasing Phileas? Phileas didn't seem as cold-hearted as Belos, and he seemed emotionally intelligent. At least, Wen Ying had always been the one bullying him, never the other way around.

With control in his hands, wasn't it better than constantly being on guard against Belos' wrath? Wen Ying's mental calculations began to click into place, and the more he looked at Phileas, the more appealing he found him.

Wondering if he could catch Feilus, Wen Ying pondered the difficulty. After all, he was currently a single, unattached dog. Not having officially confirmed his relationship with Belos, chasing another demon wouldn't count as cheating.

The more he thought about it, the better it seemed. His gaze at Feilus grew increasingly tender.

Feilus rubbed his arms and frowned. "What are you thinking? It gives me the creeps." He now saw Wen Ying through a sinister lens.

Wen Ying innocently pulled out a small box containing an exquisite magical potion from his spatial bracelet, presenting it like a ring box. With a grin, he placed it in the palm of his hand and offered it to Feilus. "Inspect it."

Feilus lifted his hand from the hot spring water, magic swiftly drying it before he touched the little box. A water droplet on its surface evaporated into vapor as his finger touched it. He took the box, opened it, gave it a quick sniff, and his face clearly showed his satisfaction and desire for more.

Closing the lid, Feilus said, "I authorize you for another twenty years, but only if you give me another one."

Without hesitation, Wen Ying granted his request and replied, "Pleasure doing business with you. Shall we start making the card at my villa now? It's just nearby..."

Extending his arm to gesture in the direction of the villa Aluda had gifted him, his finger suddenly struck something that was neither hard nor soft. He gasped in pain. His hand had moved too quickly, colliding directly and causing a bone-crushing pain in his finger.

Grumpily, he turned to see what object had caused this. As he did, he encountered a solid chest muscle. Looking up, he met Belos' handsome face, devoid of expression but seemingly displeased.

Despite not being officially together, Wen Ying felt as if he'd been caught cheating. Scratching his cheek, he kicked against this strange feeling and grumbled while massaging his injured finger, "Why do you keep popping up out of nowhere? You made me hurt my finger. Fingers are connected to the heart, it hurts like hell." The whining tone, due to his injury, carried a hint of petulant complaint.

"Pity," Beros said nonchalantly, reaching out to take the hot spring egg from the purple plate hovering next to Wen Ying before turning away without a second thought to return to his previous spot.

Wen Ying: "???" Damn it! I should've chased after Phileas! He glared at the dog demon with fury. Indeed, it's a real dog! When his angry gaze shifted to Phileas, it transformed like a dramatic mask change in an opera, instantly softening into tenderness, sending shivers down Phileas's spine.

He placed both boxes containing high-grade magic potions into his spatial magic tool and, with a flick of his tail, leaped up to leave.

By the hot spring, Wen Ying looked up at him. "Leaving already? Come to my villa to make a card."

"Let's do it in a few days," Phileas replied before returning to the house.

Today, Wen Ying gave him a feeling that was very... indescribable. Anyway, it was more uncomfortable than when Wen Ying roughly plucked his scales in the school infirmary the other day, not physically but mentally—

Why would he see such deep affection on the face of that devious magic mirror demon?! It was terrifying!

Phileas put on a bathrobe and left. Wen Ying glanced regretfully at Beros, who was still eating eggs. In comparison, he found himself disdainful of the handsome and uniquely charismatic devil with that kind of mouth.

Suddenly, Scarlet approached, patting Wen Ying on the shoulder. With little interest, Wen Ying turned his head to look at this devil standing in the hot spring, taller than him and with a well-built physique. "Stay away from me too."

Scarlet: "???"

"What's gotten into you now?" Scarlet grumbled. "I just saw you give that card to Phileas?" It was embarrassing. He regretted it every day since then for not recognizing Wen Ying's cunning before challenging him and making that bet.

"That," Wen Ying said, his defeated air disappearing as he spoke of his current interest. "I want to become Phileas' card."

"I support you!" Scarlet blurted out without a moment's hesitation.

Wen Ying chuckled, patting Scarlet's shoulder. "I like you more, indeed." This dimwitted demon could always make him happy.

Scarlet took a step back. "... I have no interest in you."

Wen Ying shrugged, pondering over what type of person Phileas might like. Eagerly, he took out his phone to search for information about Phileas on the more active forums.

The demon realm's forums seemed to have no moderators; anything went, and gossip was spelled out in full. Wen Ying read with great interest. Amidst all the succubus rumors, he found out that Essence had once dated the puppet girl, Di Ji, for three days before getting hospitalized after their breakup. Wen Ying almost burst out laughing at this.

Unlike Perseus, Phileas didn't have much gossip surrounding him, but at least there were no boasts like Perseus' "better to cultivate than fall in love." Unable to find any clues about Phileas' preferences, Wen Ying put his phone away in his spatial bracelet with a worried frown.

He was well aware that white demons weren't popular in the demon realm. He lifted some of his silver-white hair that had fallen onto his chest. Wet from the water, it was still sleek and shiny.

As the strands slipped through his fingers, Wen Ying sighed. Dyeing my hair? That sounds troublesome.

Feles's matter was settled, and Wen Ying thought of Muershi's mention of the Nine-Tailed Fox sisters earlier, falling into deep contemplation. It wasn't impossible.

For the first batch of blind draw cards, he planned to make them all water magic cards. Since he wanted to create a blind draw and trick Lan Jiaying, he needed more characters. Wen Ying counted on his fingers: Scarlet, Lan Jiaying, Feles, and Beros. He had to figure out a way to include the last one. If he added the Nine-Tailed Fox siblings, there would be six cards in total, which was a decent number.

One had to take risks to catch prey, Wen Ying thought as he looked at Levimo, who was standing two meters away from Wu Fei despite being beside him. Levimo looked quite attractive on the surface, so he decided to put in more effort.

Wen Ying made up his mind and walked towards Levimo.

Although he had felt Levimo's light weight when he carried him out of the forest last time, now that he saw Levimo's naked body, Wen Ying noticed the abdominal muscles and well-built physique. Levimo was a deceptive fellow who looked slender in clothes but had a muscular body underneath.

The shadow of Wen Ying's scare still lingered in Wu Fei's mind. Seeing Wen Ying approach, he subconsciously took a step back. Levimo, behind him, reluctantly extended a gloved finger and prodded Wu Fei's back, pushing him forward.

"Oh, Wen Ying, were you joking just now?" Wu Fei scratched his cheek, unable to meet the gaze of the white devil.

Wen Ying looked at him with a cryptic smile, not saying a word. This made Wu Fei's spine tingle again, and he turned around, lifting his foot to leave the hot spring. "I'll go get some food."

"I'll h...,"

Wen Ying stopped Levimo from following. Levimo raised an eyebrow, questioning Wen Ying with his eyes.

Wen Ying whispered, "Do you want to help him win against Lan Jiaying?"

Levimo glanced at Lan Jiaying, who was at a moderate distance, and also lowered his voice. "What do you have in mind?"

"I and Muershi have a plan called 'Lan Jiaying's Blood Loss Scheme'."

The name piqued Levimo's interest, prompting him to endure the pain and lean closer. "How do you plan to do it? What can I assist with?"

Wen Ying passed Levimo the magic card representing Scarlet, explaining the same concept he had shared with Phelios. Levimo discarded his own magic card and took three steps back.

Wen Ying then pulled out the ring given to him by the old man outside the forest. "You have to help me."

Levimo's eyes widened, and his finger trembled as he pointed at the ring. "Y-You're using it for something like this? You're serious?"

Wen Ying spoke earnestly. "I'm not forcing you, but both you and your sister are crucial to this plan. And I promise you, your card will be a limited edition."

"Limited edition?"

"It means if there are ten or so other cards, yours will be one of the rare few," Wen Ying winked his right eye at him. "What do you think? You can help Wu Fei. If he keeps losing, his mindset will become more and more negative."

Wen Ying kept talking nonstop until finally, Levimo said impatiently, "Alright, I'll agree, but on one condition: it has to be a hidden character, and we'll produce fewer of them!"

Satisfied, Wen Ying clasped his hands together. "No problem, then I'll discuss it with Lilith."

He had just realized that with six characters, making Levimo a hidden figure and replacing him with Muershi would complete the trio of the demon realm. Apart from wanting to tease Lan Jiaying, Wen Ying's original goal remained intact – he wanted to create popular products and work overtime to ensure that when the Devil released the edited surveillance videos, the blind draw cards would make a splash.

Wen Ying went to talk to Lilith, who readily agreed. He then returned to Muershi, who didn't decline either but shrugged, "If you use me, you need to be prepared. I'm not exactly popular in the demon realm."

Wen Ying waved it off. "It's fine. In a blind draw, there should be both underdogs and favorites."

Muershi: "..." Well, at least it would make Lan Jiaying grit her teeth and bear it.

The gathering ended around ten o'clock, and people started to leave one by one. To secure Beros' authorization and avoid any complications, Wen Ying accompanied Beros after leaving Wu Fei's villa.