“Chapter 73: Teasing”

Chapter 73: Teasing

The sky outside the window darkened quickly. Wen Ying paused his magic duplication and glanced out. The street lamps had turned on, and checking his phone, he realized it was already half past six.

Feeling a bit hungry, Wen Ying got off the bed and observed Beros who still seemed to be asleep.

He planned to go out and order some food to be delivered to the room. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Confused, he walked over and opened it, only to be greeted by the aroma of food wafting into his nose.

"I didn't order any food," Wen Ying said, slightly puzzled.

The hotel staff pushing a food trolley smiled and replied, "A demon has ordered dinner for this room."

As he spoke, he pointed to a large tray on the trolley, which contained two main dishes, two bowls of soup, and a plate of fruit.

Wen Ying examined the tray for a moment before slowly smiling. He gently placed his hand on the trolley and pushed it back out.

The room service attendant, with the trolley pressing against his abdomen, followed in confusion.

Wen Ying himself stepped out, extending his right hand backward to softly close the door.

"Guest, aren't you fond of this set meal?" the male demon asked in confusion.

With the closing of the door behind him, a glint of light flashed from Wen Ying's platinum ring on his tail, and over a dozen vines sprang out to bind the bewildered male demon.

"Gu-Guest?!"

Wen Ying punched him in the face with a cold smile, "I still have some anger left. Since I can't hit She Ang, taking it out on you will do."

The passing demons looked at Wen Ying in horror. He turned to them with an innocent smile, "Please don't panic. This is an extremist. The guard demons will be here soon to take him away. I'm not a bad demon."

"An extremist?"

"How did you know?"

The passing demons were puzzled and started whispering among themselves.

"I'm not an extremist!" the bound demon cried out in fear, "I only came to deliver his dinner! He attacked me for no reason! Help!"

Wen Ying glanced sideways, feeding a spoonful of rice to the male demon amidst the uncertain gazes of the surrounding demons.

"Dare to take a bite?" Wen Ying's tone was chilling as he gazed at the demon with a dark and cold expression. "Remember to use an odorless and tasteless poison next time."

The male demon trembled in fear, staring at Wen Ying. How did he know? He could tell just by looking at the plate of food that it was poisoned? No ordinary demon could do that! The poison he used had no pungent smell, nor would it leave any unusual aftertaste.

What was up with this white demon? !

Upon seeing the bound demon refuse to eat the rice, the surrounding demons quickly came to a conclusion – the demon knew that the food was poisoned, which instantly eased their tense nerves.

"Did you call the security team?" asked a well-meaning demon.

Wen Ying smiled. "I was about to. Sorry for causing such a commotion."

With Wen Ying's seemingly harmless appearance, the others lowered their guard. A demon kindly made the call to the security team before departing.

"How... how did you know it was poisoned?" the male demon demanded, unable to accept that his plan had failed before it even began.

Could it be that one of his steps was discovered, and a witness had tipped off the others? !

Wen Ying looked down at the demon bound on the ground from above, narrowing his silver-gray eyes slightly as suppressed emotions flickered within them. "Didn't you investigate my background before making a move?" Were all members of the extremist group this foolish?

Under Aruda's nurturing and education, Wen Ying could detect the scent of a poison that ordinary demons couldn't perceive, which was abnormal for his kind.

He really wanted to beat the guy up. Was it illegal in the Demon Realm to rough up an extremist who had already been restrained? Various thoughts flashed through Wen Ying's mind, as he felt sorry for Belos, who had suffered greatly because of them.

The male demon on the ground sensed the anger beneath Wen Ying's calm exterior. He trembled under the cold, silver gaze.

Forget it, too much noise might wake Belos up. Wen Ying waited by the door for a while. The demonic guards soon came and took the extremist away, allowing Wen Ying to open the door and return to his room.

As soon as he opened the door, Wen Ying met Belos's gaze.

"I woke you up?" Wen Ying was surprised. Just now, he had gone out specifically to avoid disturbing Belos.

Belos replied, "I was awake when he knocked."

"So alert?" Wen Ying sat down by Belos's bed. "How foolish can a demon be to think of using poison against me? So stupid."

Belos looked at Wen Ying with disdain. "Get down."

"So heartless." Wen Ying sighed and got off the bed.

It felt strange for Beros to be so compliant. Ever since Wen Ying returned from the extremist faction's hideout, he had been unbelievably gentle with Beros, making the latter's arms prickle with goosebumps. Thus, Beros said, "I have something to say."

"Go on," Wen Ying urged.

Beros stated, "Can you, perhaps, be more normal?"

Wen Ying's smile froze on his face. "Huh?"

"It's disgustingly sweet," Beros admitted, feeling relieved after getting it off his chest. "Be normal."

Veins popped out on Wen Ying's forehead as the corners of his lips turned down. Resisting the urge to beat Beros up, he forced himself to speak in a mild tone. "Bero—Beros, let's not say things like that anymore. It's not good for either of us."

Beros chuckled at Wen Ying's patient demeanor, a rare hint of amusement in the curve of his eyes.

Wen Ying looked at him expressionlessly. "Beros, do you know that you can't defeat me in your current state?"

Beros looked at him indifferently, still radiating his usual contempt for others.

Wen Ying felt the tension in his mind snap. He leaned down, pinning Beros' throat with both hands, and growled threateningly in a low voice, "I could overpower you right now."

Boros was surprised, not by Wen Ying's action, but by the realization that his instinct didn't react with tension. Wen Ying's hand was on his vital spot, yet he didn't have a reflex to stop or break away.

Wen Ying laughed in exasperation. How much did this guy despise him? With his hands slowly tightening, although Boros had a collar around his neck, there were still some gaps where he could take action.

Boros remained calm and unperturbed, simply watching Wen Ying without any sign of nervousness.

Wen Ying clicked his tongue, releasing his grip. Boros closed his eyes. "I'm hungry. Aren't you?"

"Hungry," Wen Ying's voice was cold. "It's a rare opportunity, why waste it on eating?"

Boros opened his eyes in confusion.

"I've always wanted to try."

Wen Ying's lips moved, silently casting a spell that caused a tendril to form at his fingertips. The vine grew gradually, its other end drawing closer to Boros.

Boros' face darkened as he raised his hand, attempting to snap the vine wrapped around the collar on his neck. His abrupt movement pulled at his arm wound, slowing him down for a few seconds. In that moment, he found his hands bound by more vines that seemingly came out of nowhere.

"Do you want to die?" Boros's gaze was sharp like an eagle, and the surrounding magic began to stir, releasing a sudden burst of pressure.

"You don't like it when I'm too gentle with you," Wen Ying said. "Do you like it now?"

Boros's intimidating gaze and pressure were no longer effective on Wen Ying. Wen Ying found it somewhat 'hollow and threatening', as Boros hadn't hit him in so long, and even before, it was only during the practical combat training sessions.

Upon careful reflection, although Boros was fierce, he had only physically punished Wen Ying during Feng Luo's combat training classes, oh, and once in the castle due to a kiss on the lips.

Ever since Lan Jiaying started teaching, Wen Ying had been sparring with him during practical combat training. Boros really hadn't laid a hand on him in a while.

"I advise you to dispel your magic before I make a move," Boros warned.

Wen Ying chuckled softly, undeterred by the increasingly irate expression on Beros' face. He leisurely dispersed the vines.

"Beros, you're a Mirror Demon, not a Wood Element Demon," Beros exclaimed. "Why do you have such a fondness for vines?" He had noticed a pattern; Wen Ying didn't use vine magic as frequently at the start of the semester, but now it was almost a staple in every battle.

Wen Ying replied casually, "Because I like them."

"Get out."

Wen Ying had no intention of wasting this opportunity. He sat back down on the bed's edge and, under Beros' fierce gaze, reached out to touch the black collar around his neck. It seemed quite heavy. "Does wearing this bother you?" he asked.

"Leave."

"No." Wen Ying responded without hesitation.

Boros stretched out his hand, forming a claw with his palm, pointing his sharp black nails at Wen Ying's face. "Get out, don't make me say it a fourth time."

Wen Ying glanced at the sharp black nails. The hand was slightly trembling, clearly affected by the wound on his arm. Considerately, Wen Ying wrapped his arms around it and tucked it back under the covers.

Boros: "…Are you really not afraid that I'll kill you?"

"You always just talk the talk," Wen Ying pouted. "You never actually do it."

Boros abruptly sat up, trying to show Wen Ying what it meant to be a ruthless demon, but Wen Ying, who was prepared, pushed him back down. Swinging his tail, dozens of vines formed a cage, tightly constraining Boros's movements.

Wen Ying continuously supplied his magic power to these vines, allowing them to heal instantly whenever Boros tried to break them.

Boros's gaze darkened as black flames sprang from his body, spreading to the vines. As the vines were burned, Wen Ying's magic power immediately replenished them, and the two began a contest of magical strength.

Wen Ying said, "To begin with, your magic power isn't as high as mine."

"You're done for."

In the end, it was Wen Ying who feared that Belleros would aggravate his wounds in a fit of anger, so he severed the magical connection to the vines from his hovering position above the bed. The vines were promptly consumed by black flames.

Belleros glared at Wen Ying, his body still engulfed in the unrelenting black flames that twitched restlessly around him.

"Keep moving and your wounds will tear open," Wen Ying pointed out, gesturing at Belleros's arm, which was already bleeding slightly. "I was just joking, don't take it so seriously."

"Get out."

Wen Ying held up his hands halfway and crab-walked towards the door, quickly turning to leave and shutting it behind him.

Leaning against the door, Wen Ying ran a hand over his cheek, his eyes curving into a pleased smile. "Playtime after dinner." It was such joy, pure joy. Wen Ying found that he now derived great pleasure from provoking other demons into impotent rage.

It was a rare opportunity to tease Belleros to his heart's content, and he wasn't about to waste it.

humming a tune, Wen Ying went to call for their meal. Upon reaching the hall, he spotted a Mandrake demon, who looked momentarily stunned before revealing his undisguised disgust.

"Good evening," Wen Ying greeted with a cheerful wave.

The Mandala Clan demon said, "Don't think that being lucky enough to come in first means you truly have the strength of a champion."

Wen Ying's smile remained unchanged. "Yes, I was just lucky. Lucky enough for my great-grandmother to adopt me."

The other party's expression darkened abruptly.

In terms of intimidating glares, this demon was far from being on the same level as Belos Lan Jiaying. Wen Ying was completely immune.

"But you're just an experiment," the Mandala Clan demon growled, enunciating each word. "Do you really think Aruda sees you as her successor?"

"Better than certain demons raging impotently," Wen Ying shrugged. "I'm so scared..." Damn it! As he caught sight of the demon entering behind the other, Wen Ying's expression shifted, and he genuinely felt a bit afraid.

Feng Luo had entered, his gaze seeming to throw a dagger straight at Wen Ying's forehead.

"Teacher Feng Luo, you've worked hard," Wen Ying's arrogance vanished instantly, replaced by a demure attitude. He walked over eagerly to massage Feng Luo's shoulders. "That thing earlier was a side effect of the transformation magic, not my intention."

The Mandala Clan demon sneered as he watched Wen Ying's expression change.

Feng Luo brushed off his hand. "I have both good news and bad news for you. Which would you like to hear first?"

Wen Ying ventured cautiously, "Good news?"

"You've become famous."

"And the bad news?"

A hint of wicked amusement flickered in Feng Luo's eyes. "The Extremists have issued a warrant for your arrest, and it's at the highest level."

Wen Ying replied, "...Really? It can't be that serious, can it?"

The Mandara demon chuckled sinisterly, though he held back his laughter due to Feng Luo's presence.

Wen Ying glanced at him, taking note of the demon, then turned back to Feng Luo and asked softly, "Do we have a mole within our ranks? How else would they know..."

"Indeed," Feng Luo admitted openly, "There is a mole."

Wen Ying: "..." Damn!

"Be cautious when you go out recently," Feng Luo advised, "But with your escape skills, I don't think we should be too worried."

Wen Ying: "…Teacher Feng Luo, since I helped capture a key leader of the Extremist Party, shouldn't I get some reward?"

The corner of Feng Luo's mouth twitched. "I'll ask for you."

"Wonderful Teacher Feng Luo," Wen Ying immediately flattered, "you can always be relied upon in crucial moments."

A nearby Mandrake demon let out a disdainful snicker.

Wen Ying ignored him. "Teacher Feng Luo, have you eaten? Would you like to join me for dinner?"

Feng Luo declined, "I might not be able to eat with you around."

Wen Ying smiled bashfully, watching as Feng Luo left. Ignoring the mocking demon, he went straight to order his meal.

After selecting his food at the cafeteria, he initially intended to have it delivered to his room, but his hunger was too great, so Wen Ying decided not to wait and carried it back himself.

He ordered a premium magical beast meat steak and a rich, magic-infused soup – Belos needed a large intake of magic at this moment.

Upon returning to his room, Belos was still in bed. Hearing the noise, he opened his eyes, though his expression was far from pleasant.

"I bought dinner." Wen Ying placed everything on the bedside table, opened the boxes, and took out a serving spoon.

Boros sat up slowly, wary of Wen Ying's antics and on high alert.

Sure enough, Wen Ying was up to something again. Boros looked at the spoon filled with soup that Wen Ying was offering expressionlessly. "My hands aren't crippled."

"Well, it's still inconvenient, isn't it?" Wen Ying held the spoon to Boros's lips. "Come on, ah—"

Boros simply snatched the spoon and fed himself.

Wen Ying's lips curled in displeasure. "It's fine if you rely on me."

Looking at the seemingly deranged Wen Ying since the afternoon, Boros said, "Stay away from me tonight."

The mirthful glint in Wen Ying's eyes sent chills down his spine, and he felt as though Wen Ying was plotting something.

Wen Ying declared, "I'm sleeping here tonight."

"Borrow a separate room for yourself," Boros instructed.

Wen Ying spoke softly, "Feng Luo just told me that I'm being hunted by the extremist faction, at the highest level. I'm scared to be alone."

Boros replied, "… I don't see any sign of fear on your face."

Today, Wen Ying really felt like he hadn't taken his medication.

Could it be that there were aftereffects from that transformation magic? Boros thought about the bunny demon and found it highly possible.

Feeling hungry, Wen Ying decided not to tease Boros for now. They ate their meal in silence, and Boros had a peaceful dinner. Afterward, he lay down to rest again.

Wen Ying tidied up the food box and threw it away. When he returned, he saw a human-shaped lump on the bed and bounced over. Halfway there, he stopped and went to take a shower.

After his bath, Wen Ying flew straight to Boros's bedside. He pounced excitedly behind the other, nearly making Boros, who was lying on his side, sit up in shock. Before Boros could react, the vines restrained his movements. With his wings folded, Wen Ying pulled back the covers and nestled in beside him, hugging Boros's waist and rubbing against his shoulder.

Boros was no longer angry; he was now utterly creeped out. "Hey, is there really some aftereffect from Slime's transformation magic? You should let Aluda examine you when we get back."

Seemingly affected, Wen Ying paused for a moment in thought. But then he casually said, "Going back is one thing, and now is another."

Wen Ying hugged Beros tightly around the waist, blissfully leaning against his broad back. The texture was fantastic; his abdominal muscles were distinct, and the fire demon's body was warm.

Beros' body stiffened. He snapped the vine around his wrist, his voice on the verge of breaking, "Are you planning to sleep like this with me tonight?"

"That's right," Wen Ying felt so happy that he could almost bubble over. The vines sprouting from his tail wrapped around Beros, some loose, some tight. "Sleep, I'll keep watch for you. The Extremists won't have a chance."

Beros had never missed Aruda as much as he did now. If he had any issues, he should get them treated immediately!

His inner world was collapsing. If it were the usual Wen Ying, he would have already taken action. Even if it worsened his injuries, he would still do it. But he didn't dare to touch this version of Wen Ying with a problematic courage. Heaven knew what kind of madness Wen Ying would unleash if he did. He was genuinely weak now and couldn't hold back a frenzied Wen Ying.

Boros prayed inwardly for dawn to come quickly, so he could return to the capital and take Wen Ying to find Aruda.

Wen Ying truly slept while hugging him. Boros lay awake with wide eyes in the darkness, feeling desperate and suffocated, until he finally managed to drift off into a fitful sleep in the latter half of the night.

It was Wen Ying who woke up first the next morning. The sensation of holding something was pleasant, and he assumed it was a pillow, so he nuzzled his face against it. But the warmth and solidity didn't match that of a pillow. Confused, Wen Ying opened his eyes to see a broad back.

The intense aura of the three-headed dog enveloped them, leaving Wen Ying's freshly awakened mind somewhat dazed and intoxicated. The flush on his cheeks from sleeping deeply only deepened.

Who am I? Where am I? Whose body am I hugging? A string of questions raced through Wen Ying's mind. Feeling a bit drained of magic, he looked around at the surrounding vines with confusion.

His movement roused Perseus as well, who, recalling the events of last night, tentatively asked Wen Ying, "You're awake. How do you feel?"

A moment of silence followed from behind, causing Perseus's heart to tense up. The surrounding vines suddenly withered, slightly easing his anxious heart. He inquired again, "Wen Ying, is your mind back to normal?"

Still no response. Perseus turned his head to find Wen Ying sitting up, pressing his hands against his legs. His disheveled silver-white hair stuck messily to his face, and his expression was grave, as if pondering over some significant matter.

"Perseus."

Perseus felt an inexplicable shiver run down his spine. He replied solemnly, "Hm?"

"Won't Feng Luo kill me when he finds out?" Wen Ying pressed his hands against his face, feeling somewhat devastated. "Like, beat me to death?"

Perseus was puzzled. "What did you do?"

"I wasn't in my right mind yesterday," Wen Ying's voice trembled. "I attacked him in the form of a bunny devil, fondling his chest, and Levimo's mom even took pictures. In the hotel, I asked Feng Luo for a reward for capturing Shuihua..."

His exhilarated state last night had been akin to being drunk, making him want to tease and provoke everything. He felt adorably mischievous, much like recalling one's drunken antics after sobering up.

Perseus realized that Wen Ying had returned to his normal self, and he was thrilled. He abruptly sat up, pressing Wen Ying back onto the bed with a fierce expression. "Forget Feng Luo. Let's settle our own scores first."

Wen Ying chuckled wryly. "I took care of you yesterday too, stopping the Extremists from poisoning you and even bringing you dinner."

Pausing, he chose his words carefully. "And I warmed your bed, it gets a bit chilly in this hotel at night..."

Boros looked down at him with mocking eyes.

"Where's that arrogance from yesterday?"

Yesterday, Wen Ying had done all the things he wanted to but didn't have the courage or shame to do. In his heart, he found it quite exhilarating, but seeing Boros' menacing expression, he cautiously placed his hands on the angel's chest and tried to push him away — only to find that he couldn't budge him.

"It's not all my fault," Wen Ying said with righteousness. "You didn't exactly resist seriously."

Boros: "?!?"

The anger within Boros instantly materialized into tangible black flames that blazed alongside his spread wings.

Wen Ying nimbly slipped out of the way, jumped down to the ground, and stood up, saying, "Just joking."

At the mention of "just joking," Boros was instantly transported back to the nightmare of the previous night. The flames on his body flickered, and he stared at Wen Ying, making sure that the other's "illness" hadn't returned.

With a dark expression, he got out of bed without another word to Wen Ying, proceeding directly to change his clothes. He didn't guard against Wen Ying and turned his back to undress.

Wen Ying took a few glances. Beros had a better physique than Lan Jiaying. Wen Ying had no interest in seeing Lan Jiaying's effeminate body, but he didn't mind Beros'.

Recalling the touch of Beros' body when he woke up that morning, there was no excess fat on his waist, his abdominal muscles were distinct, and his broad back offered a sense of security and satisfaction.

"Beros, we'll return to the capital today. Let Aruda take a look at you."

Beros quickly changed into fresh clothes, which concealed his injuries. From this angle, Beros seemed to be in excellent health.

"Indeed," Wen Ying nodded. "Aruda can heal your injuries faster."

Beros hesitated, but Wen Ying's head needed treatment more urgently than his wounds.

After tidying himself up, Wen Ying went to find Feng Luo, informing him that he and Beros would be leaving first. Feng Luo consented, and before they left, Wen Ying couldn't help but notice Feng Luo's meaningful gaze.

Wen Ying wasn't keen on staying in Windport any longer. The extremist faction was unpredictable, and it was best to return to the safer capital to endure this period of intense enmity.

Back in the capital, Beros immediately asked Aruda to examine Wen Ying's mind for any issues. After the examination, Aruda concluded that it was likely a side effect from the Slime Demon's magic. For now, Wen Ying seemed to be functioning normally.