Chapter 74: Thought Process

Chapter 74: Train of Thought

Boros repeatedly asked Aluda about Wen Ying's condition, but was eventually dismissed by Aluda for being too bothersome.

Wen Ying found it rare to see Boros so anxious and talkative. He thought that Boros must have been quite frightened by him yesterday. However... Was it really that terrifying? If one could overlook the awkwardness of his drunk behavior and his appearance, it wasn't actually that bad.

He hoped Feng Luo wouldn't take revenge on him when they returned to the academy. The Realm of Magic didn't prohibit teachers from physically punishing students. Feng Luo often beat up students and then threw them into the infirmary.

Wen Ying brought the magic potion out for Aluda while Boros was sent to the living room. Wen Ying removed the bandages from Boros' arm and applied the new medicine.

Boros kept observing Wen Ying with an inspecting gaze, as if he wished to turn into a scanner to examine Wen Ying's head.

Feeling helpless, Wen Ying said, "Boros, I'm really fine now. Don't be so nervous, like a startled bird. Was I that scary yesterday?"

Boros would never forget the horror of yesterday. He kept a stern face and didn't want to answer Wen Ying's question.

"We've only been back for three days since the midterm exams started, and the rest of the week is holiday. You should focus on recovering," Wen Ying said as he wrapped the bandage around Boros' arm.

Boros nodded slightly and gently moved his shoulder joints.

"Don't move around," Wen Ying frowned.

"Boros stood up and stretched his body. "There's no need to be so tense."

"Even if it's a demon..." Wen Ying paused abruptly.

Boros didn't catch what he said and turned back, asking, "What demon?"

Wen Ying changed the subject, "Even a three-headed hound demon wouldn't have such a fast recovery."

"You're worrying too much."

Boros walked out and said at the door, "Tell Aruda that I'm leaving first."

Wen Ying waved halfheartedly, "Hurry up and go."

After Boros left, Wen Ying pinched the bridge of his nose. It was almost a disaster. Muershi and Essence must have suspected him because of something he had said earlier. He needed to be more careful with his words in the future.

Aruda came out, and Little Bai rushed from her feet to Wen Ying's shoulder, rubbing against him warmly. Wen Ying hugged the cat and stroked its fur from head to tail—the texture was getting better and better.

Wen Ying weighed the Slime in his hand and said, "It feels like you've grown even bigger after just a few days."

"Little Bai has been eating a lot lately, changing every day," Aruda chuckled. "I heard you caught Shuihua. Great job! I knew you could do it when you came here before."

Wen Ying scratched his cheek. "Grandma, that was like finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. You get a bonus with the extremist leader. Besides, another one practically walked into my trap at the hotel."

Pausing for a moment after he finished speaking, Wen Ying added, "I think the extremist party... isn't that threatening? Their brains seem to be malfunctioning. They didn't even investigate me before they made a move."

Did the Slime Demon dare to transform into him because the reputation of the Magic Mirror Demon as a weakling had deeply ingrained itself in their minds? And the one who attempted to poison him didn't even bother to find out where he lived or who his guardian demon was.

Aruda shook her head. "They're still a headache for the Demon King. They're too scattered. Even if they're foolish, they can cause trouble. There are also intelligent ones among them. If not for your accidental discovery, you wouldn't have caught Shuihua.

"It's rare to severely injure him, yet he managed to escape and hide for almost two months. Lin Lingwei and the others couldn't find him despite their thorough search."

Aruda found it odd but could only say it was fate. Shuihua wasn't found by Lin Lingwei's team, but Wen Ying managed to catch him. She wondered what Shuihua must be thinking.

Wen Ying mumbled, "That's why I feel like it was a stroke of luck."

"They'll be more cautious in the future," Aruda chuckled teasingly. "Your bounty within their organization is very high. There won't be any more opportunities like that."

"Well, that's not necessarily true. I still have some transformation magic cards on hand," Wen Ying said, though he was still hesitant to use them due to his recent scare.

Little Bai rolled on Wen Ying's shoulder, nuzzling against his chin in various playful ways. It then stuck out its tiny tongue to lick him. Wen Ying picked it up from his shoulder and held it close, the poor man's chin now soaked with the cat's saliva.

Carrying Little Bai upstairs, Wen Ying called the shop employee at the Devil Tower to inquire about the remaining stock of magic cards. The employee informed him that there were only fifty packs left, suggesting that it would be best to restock soon since sales had been steady recently without any decline. Other items were also selling well.

Having gathered all the information, Wen Ying continued crafting in his room. However, after a while, he realized that his replication attempts were failing. Replicating too many times had made the previous casting scene ineffective, and he needed to witness it again.

"What a hassle," Wen Ying frowned. Lan Jiaying would probably throw him out if she saw him these days, let alone allowing him to cast magic in front of her. If he did, he'd be summoning fire dragons instead of water streams.

At present, the only person he could visit without trouble was Beros. It was uncertain whether Muershi and Phileas had returned yet. Levimo, Lilith, and Scarlet were likely still taking their mid-term exams, hence not in the capital city.

Lost in thought, Wen Ying pondered over possible solutions.

Unable to work for the time being, he grabbed his phone to browse through recent events in the demon world. He clicked on a video showing Lan Jiaying's outfit during Devil's Birthday, which was taken by a passing demon in the capital city and posted online.

Lan Jiaying was indeed a popular figure in the demon world, Wen Ying mused as he read the 999+ comments beneath the post. As he watched the video, his gaze suddenly became fixated.

Was there a chance that he could combine the Photoshop and Premiere software in his mind to create something new?

"Grandmama!"

{Wen Ying} took flight straightaway in search of Aruada. Aruada was not within the castle's confines, and after a thorough sweep, {Wen Ying} spotted him tending to a magical plant in the sunroom, diligently watering it. He hastened towards Aruada with a rhythmic tapping of his footsteps.

"Grandma."

Aluda turned his head, frowning with curiosity. "What's so urgent?"

Having shared his thoughts with Aruda, Wen Ying rubbed his hands together and said, "Grandma, could you give me a hand?"

Aluda was also taken aback. Could a Magic Mirror Demon do something like this? Curious, she demonstrated the water flow spell in front of Wen Ying several times, and after Wen Ying attentively memorized it, he vanished with a casual "Grandma, I'll give it a try."

"Be careful, don't fall," Aluda called out from behind.

Wen Ying rushed back to his room, gently pushing away the clingy Little Bai. He took out his phone and repeatedly watched the unfamiliar demon's footage of Lan Jiaying on Magic Birthday, looping it more than a dozen times. After putting down his phone, Wen Ying closed his eyes with solemn determination.

It's just a matter of editing, magic should be able to do that too.

Initially, Wen Ying visualized Aluda casting the water flow spell, then systematically replaced her with Lan Jiaying in his mind – from the head, down the neck, chest, waist, legs, feet, and finally, the arms. In his imagination, he sketched out a concept image, lifting his hand and tracing the outline with his fingers as he envisioned it.

The background remained the same; Wen Ying was too lazy to think of a new one.

After a great effort, Wen Ying sensed that the card had taken form. Excited and expectant, he opened his eyes to examine the floating magic card before him. It looked promising – this could work!

Wen Ying gently took down the hovering magic card, his eyes shining with delight. He attempted to infuse it with magical energy, and the effect produced matched what was depicted on the card's surface – there was no deceitful discrepancy between appearance and reality.

Wen Ying chuckled wickedly, "Hehehe." He no longer needed Lan Jiaying's assistance. With authorization, he could create various magic cards on his own, all with just a simple switch.

"Aha, ha, ha, ha...cough, cough." Wen Ying covered his chest, coughing for a while. He let out a long, relieved breath, though the corners of his mouth still curled upward.

With his two elongated ears, Little Bai affectionately patted Wen Ying's back. Wen Ying, in turn, embraced him joyfully and drew him close, saying, "Little Bai, it's time to harvest the second batch of leeks."

Intent on altering the card faces of the other six demons, Wen Ying seized the opportunity to search online for Boreas and his companions' costumes for their demonic birthday celebration. Numerous results appeared, and Wen Ying opted for those with clear, multi-angle images, beginning the process of photo manipulation.

By dinnertime, Wen Ying had crafted seven new magic cards featuring the same character but with distinct illustrations. It was time to inform Muershi about the need for the factory to produce new packaging.

Adding a touch of nostalgia, Wen Ying hastily finished his meal and, using the same technique, created vintage magic cards for Lan Jiaying and the others. He didn't stop until he had depleted half of his magical energy.

It was nearing dawn of the following day when Wen Ying yawned, realizing that their excitement and passion for card-making had completely overridden their sense of time. After sending a message to Muershi, Wen Ying carried Little Bai to bed for some much-needed rest.

During the break, Wen Ying didn't have to wake up early, so his routine was chaotic. He continuously crafted new cards, replenishing both old and new versions of the magic cards, and only left the castle on the seventh day of the midterm exams.

As a demon, his body was much healthier than when he was human. The irregular sleep schedule didn't affect him much, but looking at the sunlight outside, he felt like he had been away for ages.

He had arranged to meet Muershi to show him the new cards, and the factory could then create packaging based on their appearance.

They agreed to meet at an open-style afternoon tea shop inside the Devil's Skyscraper.

Whether it was due to the natural development of the demon world or too much influence from the human world, Wen Ying saw many cafes similar to those in the human realm during his stay.

The convenience of spatial magic tools in the demon world was great. Wen Ying could go out empty-handed; after arriving at the shop, he retrieved the new cards from his spatial bracelet and pushed the box filled with old cards towards Muershi.

"This box contains the old version of magic cards. Take them to the factory for bagging," Wen Ying said, placing the seven new cards on the table. "These are the updated versions."

Muershi stored the large box of old magic cards in his own spatial magic tool and examined his new cards with interest. As he looked, he asked in puzzlement, "How did you make the new versions? You didn't have my cooperation on Magic Birth Day."

Wen Ying propped his chin on his hands, his eyes slightly narrowed with delight. "Guess."

Muershi held the card thoughtfully. "I can't guess. I'm surprised that your innate magic can replicate objects without any original. It's just like the midterm exam."

Wen Ying casually dismissed Muershi's following words. "You know about photo editing, right?"

Muershi was genuinely shocked, his eyes widening slightly as he looked at Wen Ying. "Are you serious? Your magic can do that too?" Was this really a Magic Mirror Demon? Could it be that Wen Ying belonged to some unknown branch of the demon race?

"Yes," Wen Ying extended his index finger, using his magic to lift Poros's card from the table and make it hover at the tip of his finger. The card slowly spun around on his fingertip.

Muershi composed himself and teased, "Lan Jiaying will be stomping in anger in his room again. He must think that even if he gives you authorization, it's useless for a hundred years if he doesn't cooperate."

Wen Ying tilted his head, laughing brightly. "Yeah." Lan Jiaying would be raging helplessly again. He really wanted to see him stomping in frustration in his room.

Putting down his own card, Muershi asked, "So you're not planning to release that second wave you mentioned earlier? The financial reports for this business have been better than importing things from the Human Realm lately."

"I am," Wen Ying propped his chin with one hand, sitting with a relaxed and casual posture. "But I only have Essence's authorization for now."

Muershi beckoned to Wen Ying with his finger, a cryptic smile on his face.

Wen Ying lowered his hand, stood up, and leaned his ear close to Muershi, who whispered three words softly, "Lai Yehua."

Wen Ying sat back down, lazily saying, "I thought you were going to say something else. I beat Huiguo in the ranking match; do you really think Lai Yehua would agree to that? Besides, from his personality, I don't think he'd be easier to deal with than Levimo."

Muershi chuckled. "I'm merely suggesting a plan. If Lai Yehua agrees, you can convince Feng Luo. Just bet with Feng Luo that if he can win Lai Yehua over, you'll authorize me."

"Were you actually suggesting ways for me to get beaten up, betting with Feng Luo?" Wen Ying tsked. "I suspect you're retaliating for not taking you along during midterms."

"Hardly," Muershi blinked. "I'm just offering you a better way to make money. I've done some research – many demons want magic cards of Lai Yehua in his priest robes. They're urging us to hurry up. Lai Yehua is the current Thunder Demon; he's quite popular."

Wen Ying casually replied, "I'd love to make money too, but Lai Yehua..."

Wait, no. Aruda had given him a black feather before, which presumably belonged to Lai Yehua. It was said that the feather could help solicit Lai Yehua's assistance.

Seeing the contemplative look on Wen Ying's face, Muershi chuckled softly. "Seems like you have an idea. I'll just wait for the influx of cash then."

Wen Ying lifted his gaze. "No, there's something you need to do as well."

Confusion flickered across Muershi's face.

...

Wen Ying had misjudged the situation. It wasn't the eighth day of school – midterms lasted seven days. Some demons only returned to the capital on the seventh day, and some even brought back failing grades. There were still five days of vacation left for them to recover from their wounds and rest.

Since school wasn't in session, Wen Ying asked Muershi to visit Feng Luo at his home. With a long face as if he held a grudge, Muershi reluctantly went. Wen Ying crouched outside, observing a standalone villa.

After a while, a terrifying pressure emerged from inside, accompanied by such a strong wind that it shattered the glass, sending fragments crashing down. Wen Ying's heart skipped a beat as he peered in secretly. Soon, more crashing sounds echoed, suggesting fists hitting flesh.

"Thankfully, I didn't go in myself…" Wen Ying murmured, imagining the pain.

A moment later, the villa's door slammed open, and Muershi was thrown out. Wen Ying didn't dare approach immediately. After the door closed, he tiptoed over like a thief, nudging the seemingly lifeless Muershi on the ground.

"Are you still alive?"

Muershi barely managed to whisper, "The s-second deal, split the p-profit fifty-fifty."

"Alright then," Wen Ying, known for his understanding of others' intentions, responded, "Do you want me to take you to the hospital?"

"For now, no," Muershi replied, "Can you give me a healing card?"

As Wen Ying treated him, he kept an eye out for Feng Luo, relieved that the latter didn't emerge even after both cards were used. Then, he promptly whisked Muershi away.

They retreated to a safe spot, sitting under a parasol outside a store. Looking at the recovering Muershi, Wen Ying inquired, "How was it? Did Feng Luo agree to your bet?"

"Wen Ying blinked. "You used a mental persistence, while Feng Luo used physical persistence."

"Let's not talk about it. Feng Luo was really heavy-handed," Muershi said, massaging his neck with his right hand and gasping for air. "We agreed that I'll get half the profit from the second round."

"Alright then," Wen Ying chuckled. "I'll be counting on your guidance in the future."

Muershi paused in his neck-stretching motion. "Hey, are you implying that I'll be the one taking the hits in the future?"

"I am sharing half the profits with you, aren't I?"

Muershi was speechless. Looking at the smiling Wen Ying, he thought to himself that this white devil seemed innocent on the outside but was wicked through and through. It was the first time he had met such a devil, one more wicked than an extreme evil bird.

Speaking of which... Muershi recalled something and said, "For the second round, include some of your own cards to ensure good sales."

Wen Ying was puzzled. "Why are you so sure? I'm not that popular in the Demon Realm, and many devils hold grudges against me."

"Exactly!" Muershi slammed the table. "Grudges!"

Wen Ying conveyed his question with his gaze.

"I've discovered that my cards are in high demand. Many demons are looking for bargains to purchase them in bulk, which has driven up the market price."

Wen Ying's confusion deepened. "What are you getting at?"

Muershi wagged his index finger. "Do you know why there are so many demons buying my cards?"

"Don't keep me in suspense," Wen Ying replied. Honestly, he couldn't think of a reason. The Sinful Bird race had a notorious reputation in the demon world, although they were powerful, their popularity was far from that of other demons at the same level.

Muershi continued with a somber tone, "At first, I was puzzled too. Then, I realized that they use my cards as punching bags. They summon them and just beat them up in mid-air."

Wen Ying responded, "...I see." It was an unexpected revelation.

"So, I believe that if you release your cards, you won't have to worry about sales," Muershi's eyes held a teasing glint. "You might even be able to identify the extremist group through the buyers. There must be quite a few extremists lately who want you dead."

Wen Ying: "..." It seemed logical.

Though the words were rough, the reasoning made sense... After nearly four months in the demon world, Wen Ying's principles were dwindling. Following his recent loss of face, his actions now resembled those of someone under the influence of fake alcohol.

"Come join the Sandbag Supplier with me quickly," Muershi's eyes flicked up, his smile bright and charming. "Many demons want to buy our cards. How can we disappoint their wallets?"

Only an Evil Bird could put it so nobly when talking about exploiting others.

Wen Ying nodded. "It sounds good."

"By the way, when are you going to look for Lai Yehua?"

"Once school starts."

"...Then why did you want me to find Feng Luo during the holiday?"

"To make sure you look unharmed when you go back to school."

Muershi wore a cheerful smile on his face while cursing in his heart.

As they were about to leave, Muershi casually mentioned to Wen Ying, "You can add Wu Fei to your second round."

Wen Ying stood up. "What do you have in mind now?"

"To appease Lan Jiaying, use this reasoning to persuade Wu Fei to grant the authorization. Recently, Lan Jiaying is on a rampage, and Wu Fei must be eager to soothe his anger. Considering the current situation, Wu Fei's card sales are likely trailing behind Lan Jiaying's. If Lan Jiaying sees that his cards are selling better than Wu Fei's, this flamboyant fellow will undoubtedly be delighted."

"You've got quite an imaginative mind," Wen Ying praised. "No wonder you're the Infamous Raven."

Muershi's lips twitched. Hearing those words from Wen Ying, they sounded like mockery to him. He had his own little thoughts, and he was indeed very petty.

Wu Fei sneezed.

After parting ways with Muershi, Wen Ying inquired about Wu Fei's current location. Wu Fei informed him that he was at a hot spring villa in Blazing Mountain. Wen Ying pondered for a moment. Given the recent surge in hostility from the Extremist Party, Blazing Mountain, with its numerous visitors and a mixed crowd, seemed like a potential hotspot. It was better for him to lay low for now and avoid going there.

Originally planning to check on Belos, Wen Ying found out that he was also residing in a hot spring villa at Mount Flame. Belos mentioned that many demons were there recuperating. After Wen Ying told him to take more rest, they ended the call.

After hanging up the call, Wen Ying muttered to himself, "Aren’t they afraid of retaliation from the extremist faction?"

It seemed like only he received such treatment, yet Wu Fei had also been involved. Moreover, in that house that day, it was Wu Fei who had eliminated those radicals, with She Ang's assistance. So why was he the one being hunted down, not Wu Fei?

"This defies scientific logic," Wen Ying muttered.

{Wen Ying,} too timid to venture out and carouse, obediently returned home and set about crafting his magical card before a mirror. Deciding on simplicity, he settled for a vine magic.

Despite the fact that not many demons desired his card, Wen Ying still made it exceptionally attractive. He decided to turn it into a rare hidden edition to lure the extremist faction and those demons who wished to use him as a punching bag. This way, he could save money for those who didn't want his card while simultaneously draining the wallets of those who despised him – a perfect plan.

The silver-edged card featured a background of entangled vines with blurred demonic faces. Upon a vine branch sat a white demon with one leg crossed nonchalantly, gazing at the viewer from outside the card. With an eyebrow raised, the demon exuded a blend of indifference and casualness. A vine wrapped around its upraised right arm, seemingly ready to pounce on the observer at any moment.

Yes, this design was aimed directly at those who found him displeasing. Even if they wanted to use him as a punching bag, he would still look down on them with disdain.

Wen Ying fell asleep contentedly, cuddling with the fluffy Little Bai, contemplating who else he should choose among the remaining characters and who might grant him authorization.

...

Finally, after the five-day break following mid-term exams, it was time to return to school. The day before, Wen Ying and Muershi had released the first batch of updated cards. Throughout the class, Wen Ying discreetly observed Lan Jiaying, who sat several seats away.

There wasn't any visible anger; Lan Jiaying's emotions were well-controlled, leaving Wen Ying slightly disappointed. It seemed Lan Jiaying's facade had improved.

Boros appeared to be recovering nicely. During the break, Wen Ying purposely approached and rolled up Boros' sleeve to check on his wound. However, Boros quickly pulled his arm back, his eyes filled with terror.

"Are you losing your mind again?"

Wen Ying: "…Boros, if you can't speak properly, then don't speak at all." His temples were throbbing in annoyance.