Chapter 77: The Contract

Chapter 77: Contract

The exorcist he had just contracted with looked more and more like Lu Qingtao.

Lu Qingyuan nodded. "My name is Lu Qingyuan. I hope we can get along well."

"… Lu Qingyuan?"

Hearing the odd tone in the other's voice, Lu Qingyuan asked, "Is there something wrong with my name?"

Wen Ying shook his head, swallowing back the words that were about to slip out, "Are you related to Lu Qingtao?"

"Hey, what exactly do you plan on doing?" Beros whispered to Wen Ying. In his view, there was no benefit in contracting with humans, and he was furious that Wen Ying had chosen to make an equal contract with such a weak human.

It was uncomfortable being in the Human Realm; it felt as if a heavy burden was weighing down on him, making his body feel extremely sluggish.

If not for Wen Ying holding him back, he would have taught these exorcists a lesson, even in his current ridiculous state with his powers suppressed in the Human Realm.

"How could we waste such a great opportunity?" Wen Ying whispered into Beros' ear.

Belphegor's ears twitched, and he lifted his not-yet-long front legs to push Wen Ying's face away. "Speak if you have something to say, but don't get so close."

Wen Ying chuckled. When he first arrived, he realized something: his strength hadn't weakened much. Despite Belphegor's current state, he didn't feel much of a difference; only a slight reduction in power, not the significant decrease the Demon Teacher had mentioned.

According to the Demon Teacher's explanation, ordinary low-ranking demons summoned to the human world had their powers suppressed to the level of an average mid-ranking demon. The more powerful the demon, the more severe the suppression after arriving in the human world. That was likely why the middle-aged exorcist felt so confident and wanted to force a servant contract upon him.

Sure enough, both teachers on either side taught the same thing: make the student immediately pressure the opponent into signing a servant contract. Initially, Wen Ying had planned to sign a contract with his summoner, but the resemblance to Lu Qingtao made him hesitate.

What if this guy was a relative of Lu Qingtao's, one lured to the human world by Feng Luo, and the other bound to him by a servant contract? It seemed rather unfortunate.

Even the now morally corrupt Wen Ying couldn't help feeling a bit reluctant.

But since he was already here and someone had called him "just a measly Mirror Demon," Wen Ying turned his gaze to the boy who had been particularly arrogant before. He offered a bright, gentle smile, for he, Wen Ying, specialized in dealing with defiance.

— This person looked quite wealthy, perfect to be his wallet for the Devil Mobile Game Exhibition.

When Xiao Hefei saw the other party smile at him, a chill suddenly ran up his spine from the soles of his feet. His legs moved faster than his brain, and he hurriedly hid half of his body behind the middle-aged exorcist.

What was going on with this Mirror Demon?

The middle-aged exorcist spoke solemnly, "This is the human world, and there are still many exorcists around. I didn't make you sign a servant contract just now to avoid causing too much commotion. Don't take that as a license to act provocatively."

Wen Ying held Bellerophon with an innocent smile, appearing harmless. The white demon was smaller in build than a typical male demon, with his silver-white hair cascading naturally and strands framing his face, making him seem even younger, like a gentle and handsome high school student.

Holding a little dog, his aura became even more soothing. With his white bat wings and silver hair, one could easily mistake him for an angel.

Shao Hefei, who had initially been scared, stepped out from behind his teacher, regaining his arrogance. He said to Lu Qingyuan, "Hey, Lu Qingyuan, get him down quickly. It's my turn to summon a demon. Don't waste my time."

Upon hearing Shao Hefei's voice, Lu Qingyuan's expression clearly darkened, but he still looked at Wen Ying. "Um, can you come over here?"

However, Wen Ying looked at Shao Hefei, the curve of his lips widening, and his gaze becoming more profound. "Lu Qingyuan, this classmate of yours hasn't made a contract with a demon, right?"

A demon could only contract with one human, but a human could contract with multiple demons. Wen Ying had already signed a contract with Lu Qingyuan and couldn't enter into another one with a second human.

"Enough with the nonsense," Shao Hefei took a few steps forward.

The students who had relaxed because of Wen Ying's restrained aura grew bolder, and some of those who seemed to be followers of Shao Hefei started addressing Lu Qingyuan with unfriendly words.

"Hey, aren't you guys going too far? Even if you're from an exorcist family, so what? This advanced demon summoning spell was earned by Lu Qingyuan through his academic performance. It's really shameless of you to have scored lower in the written exam."

Taking advantage of their argument, Wen Ying whispered into Beros's ear, "How about I find you a Demon Exorcist servant? Look at that arrogant young man, doesn't he resemble the arrogant Lan Jiaying?"

Beros snickered. "He's not even in the same league as Lan Jiaying." At least Lan Jiaying had some power, but that human? Hilarious, like an insect.

"Won't it make little difference to have another Demon Exorcist servant?" Wen Ying continued to whisper sweetly into Beros's ear, "I want to play in the Human Realm. He looks wealthy, how about you sign a servant contract with him?"

"Beros, are you comfortable here?" the demon wondered.

Wen Ying didn't dare reveal that his magic power was only slightly weakened. Instead, he spoke with a sorrowful tone, "Did you hear my conversation with Muershi? I grew up in the Human Realm and miss this world so much."

Beros fell silent. He had indeed heard, and what he heard was quite surprising. No wonder Wen Ying lacked knowledge of the Demon Realm and acted like an idiot; it was all because he had lived in the Human Realm.

For a demon to grow up in the Human Realm might sound simple, but the hardships behind it could fill volumes.

"…Alright then," Beros agreed reluctantly, taking pity on Wen Ying's plight.

Their conversation ended just as the middle-aged exorcist intervened to stop the arguing.

"Don't just rely on your words," the exorcist's voice was cold and detached, "I only care about results. The strong survive while the weak perish; that's the cruel reality of the exorcist society. You'll all be facing ruthless demons in the future, not the straightforward ones you encounter in school trials, and there won't be any teachers to step in when you're in danger."

The ruthless demon Wen Ying: "?" He recalled the faceless low-level demon he encountered on the day he became a demon. Compared to being ruthless in killing, it was ruthless in destroying dolls.

Wen Ying thought of his burned cabinet full of dolls and peripherals, and the forgotten shadow suddenly assaulted his heart, leaving him feeling stifled.

In a soft voice, Wen Ying said, "That student over there, I'd like to introduce you to a demon."

Xiao Hefei glanced over, scoffing. "You're not introducing me to another Mirror Demon, are you? No way. I want to summon a demon more powerful than the one Lu Qingyuan called forth."

"A wish that's easily fulfilled, I think," a sycophantic voice chuckled from the side. "Any randomly summoned low-ranking demon from the Realm of Demons is stronger than a Mirror Demon. Besides, with your top-notch talent in magic, you might even be able to summon a mid-ranking demon."

Xiao Hefei looked confident, pleased by these words.

But Lu Qingyuan and the middle-aged exorcist had different thoughts. When Lu Qingyuan made the contract, he sensed a formidable power in this Mirror Demon. He felt that it might be extraordinary, perhaps more powerful than the low-ranking demons summoned by his classmates earlier.

The middle-aged exorcist believed that the Mirror Demon who could control the canine magical beast might have other means. He was still unclear about what that dog actually was. Setting that aside, the Mirror Demon's ability to instantly cast three spells of different attributes made it a formidable opponent in combat.

Upon hearing Xiao Hefei's words, Wen Ying's eyes curved into a smile as he held up the melancholic puppy. "Although I'm just a Mirror Demon, I can introduce you to it. It's also a demon, suppressed into this form due to its immense strength."

The people around them were taken aback. That dog was a demon?

The focused gazes around him made Baphomet's temperament even more irritable.

Xiao Hefei approached in disbelief, scrutinizing Baphomet closely. He nearly got his face clawed as he recoiled in shock. "You said this guy is a demon?"

The flames earlier were indeed powerful, but it was just a tiny puppy...

Feeling the contempt and disbelief from those around him, Baphomet, with his world-weary expression, opened his mouth, and a black flame sphere began to form inside.

Wen Ying promptly covered his mouth and whispered into his ear, "Baphomet, help me out, okay? When we get back, I'll make you... um, a bento box full of love?"

His family was wealthy, but given the current situation, Wen Ying didn't want the exorcist to notice his family. Therefore, he couldn't go back and interact with them. His great-grandfather had even slept under a bridge to avoid being tracked by exorcists.

Lu Qingyuan didn't seem to have much money. In order to get the limited edition doll from the Demon mobile game event, he had to find himself a rich exorcist servant!

Baphomet's ears twitched, and he coldly replied, "Not needed." One of those love-filled bento boxes that the fairy witch Koroy mentioned? That sounded disgustingly sentimental.

As Wen Ying spoke, a magic card secretly slipped out from his ring and drifted to the ground.

The old man at the arena was a spatial-type demon. The barrier on the stage was created by him, overlaying barrier-type magic patterns onto an existing spatial shield spell to create a perfect barrier against the spread of magical attacks.

With such a convenient spell, Wen Ying had been lurking for several days before he finally witnessed the old man casting the Spatial Shield on the arena once more.

The magic card he released was precisely the Spatial Shield, capable of isolating magical fluctuations and attacks, ensuring that any magical disturbances within the shield wouldn't be detected from the outside.

Only Bellos noticed this. He glanced at the card on the ground, guessing that Wen Ying was about to make his move.

This was the Wen Ying he knew now, someone with a temper who appeared harmless on the surface but harbored cunning thoughts beneath.

Bellos felt a sudden surge of pride, yet alongside it was a tinge of bitterness. After all, he seemed to be one of the victims as well. Not to mention the monthly exam, the midterm exam's lesson wasn't too far in the past.

The middle-aged exorcist approached, not daring to get too close. Standing two or three meters away, he observed Bellos. It made more sense if he wasn't a magical beast, as summoning two devils with a single Demon Summoning Spell was more normal than summoning a devil and a magical beast.

"Teacher Wei?" Xiao Hefei wanted the middle-aged exorcist to make a judgment.

The middle-aged exorcist nodded. "Judging from the flames alone, this devil is quite powerful."

Only then did Xiao Hefei walk over. Actually, he still felt hesitant, but since Teacher Wei said it was powerful, it should be acceptable. He stretched out his hand, revealing the contract rune on his wrist.

Bellos swatted his hand away. Xiao Hefei frowned. "What does that mean?"

"He wishes to establish a servant contract with you," Wen Ying translated for Beros, "the kind where he'd be the master."

Xiao Hefei's expression shifted dramatically. "What a joke!"

The middle-aged exorcist's demeanor altered, his aggressive aura expanding as magical energy stirred within him, ready to burst forth.

"I merely didn't wish to cause a commotion and give you the impression that I'm afraid of you," the demon said.

Spatial Shield activated.

An invisible membrane enveloped the room, catching the exorcist's attention as his gaze sharpened. "What have you done?"

"Balking and hesitating," Beros's voice was cold, "your efficiency has decreased in the Human Realm. You talk too much."

As Beros spoke, he attempted to wriggle free from Wen Ying's embrace to deal with the exorcists. Wen Ying's strength had been diminished, and Beros assumed this was the reason behind his rambling.

Perhaps he's scared, Beros mused.

Struggling and kicking fruitlessly, Beros turned his head to look at Wen Ying, who refused to let him go. "What are you doing?"

"Wen Ying said, "I wouldn't feel right sending you into battle in this state." Raising his gaze, his harmless demeanor shifted abruptly as a potent magical aura radiated with aggression. Dozens of magic cards emerged from the platinum tail ring, hovering around Wen Ying.

Boros: "???"

The puppy's red eyes widened in confusion, its expression a bit dazed. Something was off with this magic. Why did Wen Ying still possess such abundant magical power?

It seemed he now understood why Wen Ying, who usually wouldn't act without personal gain, would contract with a human under the influence of the malevolent bird.

A fraud! Anger and accusation shimmered in Boros's eyes.

Wen Ying guiltily patted Bellerophon, pressing the creature's head against his chest.

Bellerophon: "…"

"The tables seem to have turned." The middle-aged exorcist motioned for his students to step back as he took the forefront. This time, the scale of his wind blade spell was much grander, a barrage dense enough to blanket the sky.

"I'll return that sentiment," Wen Ying smiled, but there was no mirth in his silver-gray eyes; they were coldly composed.

To his side, a magic card was imbued with energy and activated, unleashing a flurry of ice spikes to intercept the first wave of wind blades.

Assuming it was over, the middle-aged exorcist's lips curled into a confident smile, anticipating victory. A few seconds later, his smile froze on his face.

One by one, identical cards lit up around the demonic mirror, emitting ice spikes more densely than his own. There were also vines that slithered like snakes, filling the space above and fiercely coiling towards the students behind him.

How could this be?! Where did he get so much magical power?

"Ahh!"

"Quick, cast a Magic Shield!"

"Let her go!"

"Teacher, there are too many vines!"

The middle-aged exorcist's aura surged, his invisible Wind Magic sweeping towards the rear. However, as he tried to save the students, Wen Ying, who had been standing on a vine, suddenly flew towards him when he turned his head.

He was too fast and had the upper hand. The middle-aged exorcist found himself on the defensive from the start. He was stunned by the opponent's skillful and powerful attacks, leaving no room for him to cast any spells.

Each punch and kick was fierce and swift, delivered with an acute angle. His palms numbed from the impact, and within seconds, he found himself pinned to the ground with the other hand. The surrounding vines swarmed, tightly binding his limbs, while one wrapped tightly around his neck. Whenever he attempted to move, the vine around his neck tightened.

Wen Ying clapped his hands and stood up, examining his own hands. Even in the Human Realm, he was still somewhat affected; his strength and speed had diminished.

He glanced at the disheveled group behind him. Some were still struggling. Wen Ying controlled the vines to stop, and the startled exorcist students finally felt a sense of relief.

It was thanks to the help of those few Low Rank Devils, Wen Ying thought, looking at them. Their gazes held a hint of fear as well as hesitation to speak.

He picked up the irritable Bueros from the ground and walked towards Xiao Hefei.

Xiao Hefei was so nervous and frightened that his heart seemed ready to leap out of his throat. He shouted to Lu Qingyuan, the only one who hadn't been attacked by the vines, "He's the Devil you summoned, right? Quickly send him back to the Demon Realm!"

Wen Ying paused in his steps and offered Lu Qingyuan a faint smile. He mouthed a name silently. Lu Qingyuan, who had intended to forcefully send Wen Ying back to the Demon Realm, found his pupils constricting in shock. "You know where he is?!"

Thus delayed for but a moment, Wen Ying had already carried Boros to stand before Xiao Hefei, who hung suspended from the entangling vines that bound his wrists. He directed the vine coiled around Xiao Hefei's right hand to lower its hold, then grasped Boros's adorable forepaw and pressed it gently onto Xiao Hefei's right hand.

Boros, with a face that conveyed both murder and the slaying of demons, performed the Contract Spell while saying to Wen Ying, "Just you wait."

So adorable! In his puppy form, Bellerophon's anger wasn't the least bit intimidating. Wen Ying only wanted to hold him and rub his fur wildly.

Lu Qingyuan rushed to Wen Ying's side, hesitating to reach out but unable to hold back his pressing inquiries. He asked with restrained anxiety, "Do you know where my brother is?"

"Wen Ying, is he your elder brother?" asked Wen Ying cheerfully.

"…Cousin," replied Xiao Hefei reluctantly.

Feeling that his life was ruined, Xiao Hefei, who was forced to sign the servant contract, screamed at Lu Qingyuan in despair, "What are you doing? Why didn't you send him back to the Demon Realm? You did it on purpose, didn't you?! You want me to be a slave to a demon!"

Lu Qingyuan listened to his shouting with an indifferent expression, "You assume others have the same wicked intentions as yourself."

"Lu Qingyuan, send him back to the Demon Realm," the middle-aged exorcist ordered.

As the summoner of this Mirror Devil, Lu Qingyuan had the authority to forcefully send it back to the Demon Realm as long as it wasn't bound by a servant contract.

Lu Qingyuan ignored him and continued to ask Wen Ying stubbornly, "Where is he now? It's already been four months… Is he still alive?"

Persephone finally realized that this human was related to Lu Qingtao. No wonder Wen Ying didn't sign a servant contract with him but asked him to sign one with another human.

Persephone felt somewhat annoyed. Why did Wen Ying care so much about Lu Qingtao?

"Lu Qingyuan! Do you really think someone could survive for four months in the hands of a demon? He would've been eaten as food a long time ago!" The middle-aged exorcist, bound and unable to move, was infuriated by Lu Qingyuan's hesitation, causing his wounds to ache even more.

Lu Qingyuan trembled, his gaze filled with anticipation as he looked at Wen Ying, this shorter male demon who was the rarest of all, a pure white devil, with an appearance that contradicted his true nature. It was the first time he had shown such a pleading expression.

"You're making me seem like the villain here," Wen Ying said, his fingers twitching as he used vines to bind the middle-aged exorcist's mouth shut. "All I can tell you is that he's alive and doing well." Well enough to bully a higher-ranking demon during the supplementary exam.

Lu Qingyuan's body relaxed, almost causing him to collapse to the ground in relief.

"Wu wu wu!" The middle-aged exorcist was on the verge of being driven mad by Lu Qingyuan's naivety. Wasn't he the top scorer in the written exam, the academic genius? Had he not been listening when they taught about the cunning nature of demons in class?

"Are you done playing?" Beros looked up at Wen Ying. "There's a more troublesome exorcist coming this way." Troublesome for his current form, that is. If it were his true form, he could deal with them with one hand tied behind his back.

Wen Ying's expression froze as he abruptly looked towards the corner, where a surveillance camera was lurking in the darkness. It seemed to be silently mocking him.

In the classrooms of the Lucifer Demon Academy, there were no cameras. Having spent too much time in the demon realm, Wen Ying had forgotten that human classrooms typically had them. He pressed his forehead with a somewhat defeated look; his spatial shield had been activated for nothing.

The puppy Bellos taunted, "Even you can make mistakes sometimes."

Wen Ying gazed at it pensively and replied, "If you can't say anything nice, it's better to stay silent."

He sensed several powerful exorcists approaching, not necessarily a threat he couldn't handle, but certainly troublesome. There would be no benefit in confronting them head-on. He walked over to Lu Qingyuan and whispered something in his ear, leaving the latter with a look of surprise and uncertainty.

"Goodbye." With the equal contract, Wen Ying could return to the Demon Realm on his own. He hugged Beros and waved at Lu Qingyuan with a smile.

After he left, the vines on the scene, without their magical source, were easily torn apart by the middle-aged exorcist. The exorcists who broke in only saw a mess on the floor.

"That guy is definitely not a Mirror Demon!" the middle-aged exorcist roared in anger. What a deceitful demon!

...

Wen Ying was ecstatic about attending the Demon Mobile Game Memorial Exhibition next month. Even the nauseating dizziness from the summoning circle couldn't dim the curve of his lips.

He would go to the event even if he had motion sickness!

Familiarly rolling onto his side on the floor, Wen Ying took a moment to catch his breath. Opening his eyes, he saw many pairs of feet. He lifted his head and found a circle of demonic teachers surrounding him.

"Teacher Feng Luo, what are you all doing?"

The puppy that had been in Wen Ying's arms had returned to its original form and stood up, addressing Feng Luo, "Ask your questions quickly. I need to settle scores with him."

Beros's words were filled with anger, and his demeanor was intimidating. Wen Ying chuckled awkwardly, "There's no need to be so angry."

The demon teacher who had just taught them the Demon Summoning class squeezed through the crowd of demons, excitedly asking, "Did you manage to successfully force the other party into signing a Servant Contract?"

The teacher on the opposite side was also keen on making them sign the Servant Contract. Wen Ying nodded. "We signed it."

"Not bad!"

Lai Yehua commented, "Demon Summoners with a Servant Contract will be strictly monitored. Other exorcists will keep an eye on them when they're out and about. Don't get too excited. We won't obtain much information."

If a demon and an exorcist signed a Servant Contract, and the demon was the dominant party, the demon could actively open the summoning channel for the exorcist. Such an exorcist would pose a significant threat to other exorcists, like a ticking time bomb.

Wen Ying was startled, feeling very grateful that he hadn't signed a Servant Contract with Lu Qingyuan. It seemed that being a kinder demon did have its rewards. He nearly missed his chance to participate in the exhibition. Later, he would send some magic cards to Lu Qingyuan's cousin, Lu Qingtao.

"That's pretty good," the teacher who taught the Demon Summoning class, Ohua, looked very satisfied. "You should press the other party to sign the Servant Contract right away."

Feng Luo asked doubtfully, "Both of you were summoned together?"

Beros nodded but didn't reveal all the strangeness that had happened earlier. Wen Ying, this guy, was quite skilled at hiding things. Beros looked at Wen Ying, planning to make him spill everything later.

Why wasn't his magical power weakened much in the human world? Why could a single summoning formation transport both of them? What else was Wen Ying, who had grown up in the human world, hiding? Beros wanted to know it all.

Wen Ying claimed to like him, but the Darkbird knew better. Pelos remained expressionless, except for his scarlet eyes that seemed even more daunting.

Wen Ying averted his gaze. This time, Pelos seemed rather serious, and it posed a challenge...

In response to Feng Luo's question, Wen Ying said, "When I was forcibly summoned, Pelos came over, and I grabbed his hand. As a result, we were both pulled into the summoning."

"Strange," Feng Luo furrowed his brow. "When did an exorcist's summoning spell become capable of calling two demons at once?"

Wen Ying felt guilty, suspecting that it was due to his human bloodline. Perhaps because he was half-human, half-demon, the summoning spell identified him as half of one, thus dragging Pelos along with him.

"I've studied summoning spells for a long time, and I've never come across a case like yours," Lai Yehua mused, his expression grave. "They might have discovered a new way to use the summoning spell. We can't be careless, Wen Ying. Come with me to my office and give me a detailed account of the summoning and the other party."

Lai Yehua intercepted Wen Ying, forcefully pulling him towards the office.

Pelos frowned and followed suit.

Lei Yehua stopped Pelos. "You're the first high-ranking demon in a thousand years to be summoned by an exorcist using a high-level summoning spell, and you appeared in the human realm in your true form. How does it feel to be here?"

While high-ranking demons had indeed visited the human realm before, they had done so through avatars or possessions. Pelos's direct arrival in his true form was unprecedented.

Boros was reluctant to recall his humiliating transformation. His expression was grim, and he blamed Wen Ying for it all.

Wen Ying had been surrounded by a group of demonic teachers, inquiring about the situation. He had already missed lunch due to being summoned, and now, after returning, he was grilled until two o'clock before he could finally eat.

He went to the cafeteria to buy a meat pie for lunch. Just as he took a bite, he heard a knock on the door. Glancing at it, although he didn't see anyone, Wen Ying had a faint feeling that the demon outside was Boros.

Apparently, Boros had deliberately concealed his aura, fearing that Wen Ying wouldn't open the door.

Wen Ying chuckled softly and sighed, setting down his meat pie before going to answer the door.

Sure enough, it was Boros. With his hand on the open door, he spoke in a low voice, "Explain."

"Don't be so fierce," Wen Ying turned around, "Come in first, let me think about where to start." He needed to figure out how to manipulate the situation.

Boros closed the door with a loud snap, making Wen Ying's heart skip a beat. He turned to look at Boros, who seemed to be creating an atmosphere as if a murder was about to take place.

"I heard your conversation with Muershi," Boros said, "You weren't weakened much in the human realm because you grew up there?"

Wen Ying blinked, "Mm-hmm." Although Boros was formidable, he was far less malevolent than the Terrible Bird.

Many questions swirled in his mind, but looking at the calm and composed Wen Ying in front of him, Bellos didn't know what to ask. He frowned and said, "Tell me yourself."

"Teacher Aowa just mentioned that no upper-class demon has ever been summoned directly by such a summoning spell," Wen Ying paused, "The summoning spell might have transported us both because it detected the aura of the human realm on me. The magic array likely made an error in identification."

"You're probably the only demon in the demon world who grew up in the human realm," Bellos remarked, "What's going on?"

Wen Ying sat down in the chair, lowering his eyelids as his loose hair obscured his face.

"As you know, I grew up in the human realm, disguising myself as a human, hiding my wings, wearing a hat and magic mirror," Wen Ying spoke slowly, the atmosphere turning somewhat oppressive, "I've never met any other high-ranking demons. The mid-ranking ones I've encountered only wanted to devour me for their own evolution."

The oppressive atmosphere around Berlos dissipated as Wen Ying's words rang out.

Wen Ying stole a glance at him, suddenly he liked Berlos more than Muershi, the devil who was calculative from head to toe. He didn't have to keep pushing his mental capacity to its limits.

"How did you travel from the Demon Realm to the Human Realm, and then back again?" Berlos asked, puzzled. This question had plagued demons for thousands of years.

Any demon was unable to cross that barrier. Even if they used various forms of possession to descend into the Human Realm, their strength would be greatly weakened. No powerful demon enjoyed seeking humiliation in the Human Realm.

It must feel terrible to be able to overwhelm those exorcists with one's true form, but then be chased around like a rat once in the Human Realm.

Wen Ying defied this logic, but he didn't share this with the other demons; he selfishly kept it to himself.

"I don't know how I got there, but Alruda helped me return," Wen Ying lied without batting an eyelid, his face flushed but his heart steady. "One day, I heard Alruda's voice. She asked someone to give me a teleportation scroll."

"A teleportation scroll…" Beros fell into deep thought.

He had overheard the conversation between Wen Ying and Muershi. He knew about the weakened barrier around the castle in the Everlasting Forest and the bigger mystery that Muershi had uncovered - the enormous secret concealed by the Devil King and the high-ranking demons.

"Let's not worry about that now," Wen Ying stood up from his chair. "Anyway, we now have a means of traveling freely between the human and demon realms."

With a bright smile, he winked at Beros and said cheerfully, "We can secretly visit the human realm for fun, and no one will be chasing us around."

Beros chuckled. "Go by yourself." He would never again become that pathetic and powerless creature!

How could that be? Wen Ying's intention was to pet the puppy-like Beros, who was incredibly adorable!

"I originally planned to make you sign a servant contract with that rich guy so I could use him as an ATM when needed. I didn't expect exorcists bound by demonic servant contracts to be strictly monitored. No wonder that guy was so devastated back then."

"But it doesn't matter. Lu Qingyuan will summon me again," Wen Ying said confidently, his lips curving upwards as his deep eyes shimmered. "Lu Qingtao is his cousin, and judging from his reaction, he cares a lot about Lu Qingtao."

Beros tilted his head. "So this is why you didn't force him to sign a servant contract. A mere human has captured your attention?"

Wen Ying's curved eyes narrowed slightly as he playfully teased Beros. "Are you... jealous?"

"Bah." All of Beros' emotions were encapsulated in that one syllable, mingling his disdain and mockery.

"As a demon, one mustn't go too far," Wen Ying explained. "If I coerced Lu Qingyuan into signing a servant contract, he would be restricted, and my access to the Human Realm would be severed. Although I could defeat the exorcist supervising him, it would still be troublesome. I'm going there for fun, not to fight."

Having obtained the information he sought, Beros had no desire to engage in further banter with Wen Ying. He turned to leave.

"You're too naive. If they know I can appear with you, do you think they won't keep an eye on Lu Qingyuan?"

Wen Ying sat back down, watching as Belos left, and said with a smile, "I'm not naive. Even if someone is watching, Lu Qingyuan will still do his best to fulfill my requests. He cares about Lu Qingtao."

Oh no, how did that sound like something a villain would say? Wen Ying reflected on himself. Could he really have become the villainous character? Normally, exorcists were considered protagonists, akin to heroes and dragons, where the dragon was the antagonist.

Before departing, Belos left one final warning, "Don't dig your own grave."

"Hmm~"

Wen Ying continued to savor the meat pie, his mood delightful.

First, he would probe the depths of the exorcist's abilities and explore the scope of their influence. Once confirmed, he could return home to meet his parents and the kindly aunt and others who had always been good to him. Though they came from a large and prosperous family, their relationships with relatives were exceptionally close.

That reusable ticket Lu Qingyuan had given him for traveling back and forth was truly invaluable.

Wen Ying's eyes crinkled into a blissful smile.

But it seemed that joy could turn to sorrow, as during Feng Luo's practical training session in the afternoon, Wen Ying found himself being thrown into the infirmary, lying on the familiar white single bed within.

Despite effortlessly overpowering those exorcists earlier in the day, Wen Ying found himself effortlessly manipulated by Feng Luo in the afternoon. He gazed melancholically at the ceiling.

Suddenly, a demon entered - it was Feng Luo. Wen Ying heard the sound of the door being shut and locked, causing his heart to skip a beat.

Wen Ying's smile was ingratiating. "Master Feng Luo, what could be so important that you need to lock the door?"

If it weren't for the pain in his lower back from getting up, he would have already sat up. Lying there, watching Feng Luo approach the bed and look down at him with an air of dominance, Wen Ying felt an even more intense sense of oppression from the demon.

It was as if he were suffocating, his heartbeat erratic and rapid.

"Teacher Feng Luo?"

Even if it was personal revenge, there was no need to lock the door, Wen Ying thought frantically about any recent offenses he might have committed against Feng Luo. The only thing that came to mind was turning into a bunny demon during the mid-term exams and hugging Feng Luo. He had already been punished for that just now.

With Wen Ying's nerves on edge, Feng Luo finally spoke. His voice was deep and laced with complicated emotions, "You've done something significant."

Wen Ying confirmed that aside from the mid-term exam incident, he hadn't done anything reckless. Could it be related to the magic card authorization plan with Muershi? But Feng Luo had already punished Muershi, right then and there.

"What do you mean?" Wen Ying asked, looking innocent.

Feng Luo replied, "Do you know what it means for a high-ranking demon's true form to be summoned to the human world by a traditional high-level summoning spell?"

He and Muershi had discussed it, and Muershi had said that he saw the pattern of a powerful teleportation spell at the time.

"What does it mean?"

"It signifies that the barrier is weakening, and the extremists will become even more fanatical."

Feng Luo's tone shifted, "So, tell me, why was that summoning spell able to send both of you over? It's impossible."

Wen Ying shook his head, indicating that he had no clue.

"If you don't know," Feng Luo paused, "it might really be because the barrier has weakened."

Feng Luo gritted his teeth abruptly, burying his right hand's five fingers into his hair, "Damn it, if those extremist factions find out about this, my workload will increase again. I don't want to work overtime, damn it."

Feeling guilty, Wen Ying whispered, "Uh, could it be an accident?"

Feng Luo looked at him. Suddenly, his face was less than ten centimeters away from Wen Ying's, "Anyway, don't mention anything to outsiders. I've also told the demons in the corridor not to spread the news about what they saw today."

"If you leak it..."

Wen Ying shook his head vigorously. Feng Luo's terrifying expression and tone up close made the hairs on his body stand on end!

Satisfied, Feng Luo straightened up and said before leaving, "If you add to my workload, I'll catch you and make you work for free."

Wen Ying: "..." It seemed that Muershi's previous comment about Feng Luo being stingy was true.

Due to Feng Luo and the others' seriousness regarding the matter, Wen Ying reluctantly dragged himself home that night to seek Aruda.

Alruda, upon seeing Wen Ying limping, exclaimed, "Why did you come back like this?"

Wen Ying was helped by Alruda to sit on the sofa. Eagerly, he recounted today's events to Alruda.

Due to the mystery Muershi had shared with him, Wen Ying felt it necessary to tell Alruda about it. If it wasn't because of his mixed heritage but rather a weakening barrier or some other change, he needed to inform Alruda so that they could decide whether to report it to the Devil King.

"Relax, this is all because of your mixed bloodline. The barrier remains the same," Alruda reassured the anxious Wen Ying. "Did you enjoy being an exorcist?"

Wen Ying thought for a moment. "Yes, it was fun." He enjoyed watching others rage in vain and defying them.

"That's good. Don't let those matters hold you back," Alruda chuckled. "It was just a regular summoning. You can take Berlos to play in the human world."

Wen Ying once again appreciated Alruda's dependability. She had the ability to make him feel incredibly secure.

Recalling what Muershi had mentioned, Wen Ying cautiously asked, "Grandma, why did you choose to build the castle here?"

Alruda maintained her kind expression, but her gaze suddenly became piercing. "Did someone tell you something?"

Without hesitation, Wen Ying betrayed Muershi, though he didn't mention Muershi secretly going through the Devil King's castle archives. He only said that Muershi seemed to have guessed that he originally lived in the human world, not in the Devil Realm, and from there inferred that the area near the castle might be where the barrier was weak. Furthermore, Muershi speculated that Alruda had always lived here to guard this place.

Having spent time with the Wicked Bird, Wen Ying could now lie to Aruda without batting an eyelid, mixing truth and falsehood in a way that made it hard for others to doubt him.

Aruda lowered his eyelids, silent for a while before he slowly spoke, "Even if you guess correctly, don't spread it around."

Wen Ying nodded obediently.

"Bring Muershi over for dinner at home tomorrow."

Wen Ying was startled and tactfully replied, "He might not be willing to come."

Aruda chuckled. "Then just tell him I want to meet him."

Wen Ying sighed inwardly for Muershi. He wasn't the one who took the initiative, but Muershi had asked him to ask Aruda. The moment Aruda questioned him about who told him, he had no choice but to reveal the source.

He was still quite loyal, at least he didn't divulge anything else.

"How's your relationship with Belos?" Aruda suddenly changed the subject.

Wen Ying curled his lips. "His emotional intelligence and communication skills could drive me crazy."

"Grandmama still holds to her word," Aluda spoke softly, "I can shield you from any consequences if you resort to force. There's no need to worry."

Wen Ying recalled the image of that little puppy in the Human Realm, fiercely wriggling in his embrace but unable to break free, and he felt an embarrassing flutter in his heart.

Boros sneezed.