Chapter 134: Turmoil
by 夜阑妖歌Chapter 134: Turmoil
"It went fairly smoothly," Wen Ying walked up to Huo Jue and scanned him for any signs of hiding a puppet, but found none.
Huo Jue sensed that Yang Rixi was acting a bit odd, but he couldn't quite put his finger on why. He assumed it was just because Rixi was in a bad mood after picking someone up.
He had an acquaintance whose son was in high school, who mentioned to him about a classmate who was the "younger brother" with the wrong protagonist. The son had shared this as a lighthearted anecdote.
It was normal for many people from the entertainment industry to attend a renowned director's birthday party, but there were also numerous entrepreneurs present due to the director's aristocratic background, placing them in the same social circle. His family's business was substantial, so everyone was willing to show face and attend.
With the upper echelons present, stars would naturally be eager to join in, hoping for a stroke of luck to connect with someone wealthy and influential. Then, their careers would soar.
Ordinary stars aspired to soar, while superstars maintained relationships, and entrepreneurs used such events for business networking. Legitimate second-generation rich kids followed in their parents' footsteps to maintain connections and seek out new business opportunities. Illegitimate and idle second-generation heirs, like Yang Shiming, were there to search for their next young lover.
Although magic brought him joy, a young lover was still essential.
As Wen Ying strolled through the banquet hall, pretending to mingle while discreetly observing the suspected servant knight, Yang Shiming was busy checking out everyone around him.
Yang Zhenxing conversed with an entrepreneur, and their discussion quickly shifted from business to their children. When he heard the other man boast about his son establishing a company with a revenue of fifty million yuan last year, Yang Zhenxing's tone turned sour with envy.
"For just a small company, he's already doing quite well in learning to fend for himself," Wen Ying commented.
On Cai Yiyi's side, she endured the veiled boasts from the wives of the wealthy, who were either bragging about their successful children or their grandchildren recently born. Cai Yiyi's smile froze.
"Madam Cai, what about your eldest son, the one who was switched at birth? Why haven't we seen him lately? Even though he isn't your biological child, he's still an outstanding individual," someone inquired.
Cai Yiyi forced a smile and replied coolly, "He said he wasn't feeling well and went on a trip to clear his mind." Yang Shize had entered, but for a special reason that couldn't be disclosed. It was fortunate it couldn't be made public, otherwise, where would their faces be?
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Yang Shiming flirting with a female celebrity, causing her fists to clench.
As Wen Ying walked, a few people blocked his view. Assuming they were just passing by, he prepared to detour, but they remained in front of him. That's when Wen Ying looked up to meet their faces.
Unfamiliar faces of wealthy second-generation heirs.
"Yang Rixi, it's been a while since we last saw each other, hasn't it?" one of them said.
"Who are you?" Wen Ying asked.
The trio wore expressions of shock, and one of them seemed to realize something. "Is it because of that incident that you don't have any memories of us?"
The other two reacted as well.
One of them cautiously asked, "You signed that confidentiality agreement too, right?"
Wen Ying nodded.
"That makes sense," Wang Haoran slapped his thigh. "What a ridiculous thing. Just the thought of Yang Shize disgusts me now."
Hong Huisi grumbled, "How can there be such an unscientific thing? Unscientific!"
Zeng Luyuan commented, "We were fortunate. Yang Rixi doesn't even have any memories of it."
Wang Haoran hesitated, "He doesn't remember... Well, that actually seems quite good."
The trio fell silent for a moment. When Yang Rixi was first found, they had been under Yang Shize's enchantment and had acted weirdly towards him, even bullying him. Thinking back on it now, they felt awkward.
They wished they could go back in time and beat up their brainless, love-struck selves. Recalling their past actions made their toes curl.
Zeng Luyuan patted Yang Rixi on the shoulder. "Let me reintroduce myself. I'm from the Zeng family, the real estate Zeng family. If you ever need help in the future, feel free to come find me. Thank you for forgetting."
"Hong Huisi chimed in, "My family runs Shadow Dragon Entertainment. If there's any celebrity you'd like to meet, I can try to arrange it for you."
Wang Haoran added, "My family deals with seafood. Just tell me what you'd like to eat, and I promise to get you the best quality at a discounted price."
Wen Ying revealed his genuine confusion, "Um... may I ask if anything significant happened between us in the past?"
Although these three were under the influence of a succubus, they had indeed caused severe emotional distress to Yang Rixi. Wen Ying wanted them to squirm a little longer.
All three fell silent simultaneously. They were considered moguls in Mu City; when had they ever been so awkward? Most of the time, others would be the ones smoothing their ruffled feathers.
But they had recently enacted the clichéd plot from those silly romance novels where a domineering CEO falls in love with an ordinary person. Recalling that moment now made them want to dig a hole with their toes.
It was something no human should have done.
Wen Ying didn't block Yang Rixi's senses, allowing him to enjoy the discomfort of these three wealthy brats who had once humiliated him.
Smiling, Wen Ying asked, "Are you trying to be friends with me now?"
Only by constantly reminding them of their foolish past actions could he ensure they remained uncomfortable.
The trio exchanged glances and nodded.
Wen Ying's smile was gentle as he gazed at the man not far away and inquired, "Do any of you know what that person does? He doesn't look like an ordinary person in terms of physique, but he doesn't seem like security personnel either."
Hong Huisi replied, "I know that man. He's supposed to be participating in the derivative TV series of the Devil Mobile Game. He was stuffed into the role by the Devil Corporation."
Wen Ying's eyes widened in surprise, his large eyes filled with immense doubt. He even wondered if he had guessed incorrectly—that man wasn't Xiao Long's knight-in-waiting but just an ordinary person.
"Brother," Yang Shiming's aggrieved voice sounded.
Wen Ying turned his head and saw an unhappy Yang Shiming. He asked, "What's wrong?"
"Dad asked me to come over."
When Yang Zhenxing saw him chatting with a small celebrity and Yang Rixi smoothly networking with people from the industry, he directly scolded Yang Shiming and instructed him to go over there.
"It's been a long time," Yang Shiming said to the three of them before suddenly asking, "Do you really have those kinds of memories?"
The trio's expressions turned ugly.
It seemed that there was indeed.
Just as Wen Ying was about to slip away to find Wen Qinxue, the sound of glass shattering echoed from the side, catching everyone's attention with its crisp noise.
Wen Ying turned his gaze and froze. It appeared that Yang Tianen was standing by the broken glass.
"You have no right to hit people randomly!" Amidst the silence in the banquet hall due to the shattered glass, Yang Tianen's furious voice rang out clearly. "It's obvious that your boyfriend has feelings for Xia Xi. How is that Xia Xi's fault? You can't even keep your own boyfriend, yet you take it out on others. I can't believe you're from a wealthy family with such poor manners!"
Wen Ying's expression darkened slightly. He disliked being interrupted when he was working.
"What's wrong with your brain?" The girl standing opposite Yang Tianen also raised her voice in anger. "She was seducing my boyfriend! And you call me rude for hitting a mistress?"
"Who's this person?"
"Never seen her before."
"How did she get in here?"
Whispers broke out around them, making Yang Tianen feel a bit flustered. However, seeing the star he admired standing there with a red mark on her face, looking pitiful, Yang Tianen regained his arrogance and shouted, "Which eye of yours saw her as a mistress? Your boyfriend was the one who approached her!"
"Feh!" Wen Xinxin spat out in fury. "All you men are worthless scoundrels!"
Wen Ying's deep eyes fell on Wen Xinxin, and he was taken aback. It had been a long time since he last saw his cousin. When did she get a boyfriend? He hadn't heard about it before he went to the Demon Realm. Not only did he now know that she had a boyfriend, but there was even a suspicion of infidelity.
It was an overwhelming amount of information.
Looking at the arrogant heiress before him and the pitiful Yue Xiaoxi, Yang Tianen felt a surge of heroic determination to save someone from trouble.
Perhaps the star he'd always admired, Yue Xiaoxi, would offer herself to him in gratitude.
Standing beside Wen Xinxin was a young man with a livid face. He was quite good-looking, but there was a handprint on his cheek.
"Xin Xin, there's really nothing between us. I was just enjoying the breeze on the balcony when she suddenly came over and claimed to like me. I'm an innocent victim here!" He Shengliang said earnestly.
"I spit on your words," Wen Xinxin, who already had a fiery temper, showed no mercy to the man. "I saw the two of you kissing when I came over. Was that an illusion?"
"What's going on here?" Wen Qinxue stepped forward first, frowning as she looked at everyone.
"Aunt, I've truly had the worst luck today. My boyfriend cheated on me with a celebrity, and then a lunatic appeared to tell me I shouldn't have slapped these two b*tches."
Wen Qinxue's brows knitted together. The moment Wen Xinxin spoke, she knew she had made a mistake and instinctively covered her mouth. She had just called someone a "b*tch," a word her aunt disliked hearing from her.
"Obviously, it was your boyfriend who forced Xiaoxi!" Yang Tianen immediately retorted.
Wen Qinxue turned to Wen Xinxin's boyfriend, He Shengliang, with a sharp tone. "What do you have to say?"
"He suddenly came over and started clinging onto me," He Shengliang said, his voice softer, sounding rather wronged. "He said he liked me and then suddenly kissed me."
Wen Qinxue looked at Yue Xiaoxi, the young girl who appeared pitiful. This stirred no sympathy in her. "What do you have to say?"
Yue Xiaoxi's face was pale as she spoke softly, "...It was like that."
He Shengliang's voice rose, now sounding more confident. "See, I'm innocent."
Yang Tianen placed both hands on Yue Xiaoxi's shoulders, indignant. "I saw it too. Clearly, he was the one who initiated it. If you don't speak up now, you'll be labeled as a mistress!"
The Yue Xiaoxi he liked was innocent and kind; she couldn't possibly do such a thing.
"Who are you? Do you have an invitation?" A stern voice of a middle-aged man suddenly interrupted.
"Dad," He Shengliang's eyes lit up.
He Guodong, He Shengliang's father, didn't look at him but instead fixed his sharp gaze on Yang Tianen. This man's demeanor clearly indicated he wasn't from their social circle.
Wen Ying took the initiative to step forward, patting the intimidated Yang Rixi on the shoulder. "Uncle, I brought him in."
Seeing Wen Ying suddenly intervene, the real Yang Rixi felt a tremor. Many people from the upper echelons were watching him, and although his body wasn't under his control, these people were looking at Mr. Demon, yet even hiding inside, he felt a chill run down his spine.
He Guodong's authoritative gaze fell upon Wen Ying. He vaguely remembered this young man as the child who had been switched at birth with the Yang family and had only recently been found.
"How could you just bring someone in like that?" He Guodong said disapprovingly, without a scolding tone but with a sense of reprimand. "You've ruined the atmosphere of the Zeng family's birthday celebration."
When Wen Qinxue saw Yang Rixi, her tightly knitted brows relaxed slightly. She needed to find a moment later to inquire about Wen Ying and how he was doing. Previously, she had refrained from seeking him out for fear that unknown individuals might detect something amiss.
"Uncle, he's my foster parents' younger brother. He wanted to see what celebrities are like in real life," Wen Ying replied calmly, without a hint of nervousness despite being under the scrutiny of so many. This surprised quite a few people who had assumed the Yang family's child had been spoiled outside.
"I sincerely apologize if our presence has dampened everyone's mood, but the current discussion is about this celebrity and that gentleman, unrelated to my brother's identity," Wen Ying deftly redirected the conversation back to He Shengliang and Yue Xiaoxi.
The man seemed to think he could intimidate with his aura, but Wen Ying almost rolled his eyes. Seriously? Before going to the Realm of Demons, he might have been afraid, but after living there for a while, Wen Ying found this to be nothing to worry about.
Having mastered magic, battled demons, tasted demonic blood, brewed poisons, and experienced genuine combat, Wen Ying's perspective had shifted. No matter how high the status of these upper-class figures, he found them unremarkable, his reaction to them tepid.
Yang Zhenxing's eyes gleamed as he nonchalantly addressed the men beside him, "Ah, my eldest son who I've found again is sentimental. What can you do?" He was subtly hinting that his son, unflustered by the crowd's gaze and He Guodong's reprimand, was standing tall with dignity.
Seeing Yang Rixi approach, Yang Tianen, driven by the urge to be a hero, stood by his side, declaring, "I didn't slander anyone. When I arrived, I saw this man pull Xiaoxi over and kiss her initiatively."
He Guodong and He Shengliang's expressions darkened. He Shengliang retorted, "Don't make baseless accusations!" He then reached out for Wen Xinxin's hand.
"Wen Xin, we've been together for so long. Have you ever seen me fool around?"
Wen Xinxin avoided him, replying with disdain, "I didn't know before, but now I do. It's over. Don't bother me anymore."
"Wen Xin," He Shengliang's voice softened, "I really like you."
Wen Xinxin turned away and walked towards Wen Qinxue.
He Shengliang grew anxious. His father had several illegitimate children, all vying for the family fortune. Though his father's attitude was ambiguous, he had clearly stated that if He Shengliang could marry Wen Xin, the company would be his.
With a vindictive look, He Shengliang directed his gaze at Yue Xiaoxi. It was all because of this woman who thought she was clever!
Yang Tianen strutted like a victorious rooster, heading over to console Yue Xiaoxi.
Wen Ying felt He Guodong's icy glares piercing through him, but he didn't mind. Suddenly, Wen Xinxin rushed over and leaned close to Wen Ying, whispering, "My aunt said she wants to..."
"Xin Xin, is it because you like Yang Rixi that you broke up with me?" A distorted and furious male voice drew near.
Wen Xinxin looked at He Shengliang as if he were insane. "He Shengliang, you're the one who cheated. If you enjoy cheating, don't assume everyone else does."
"You were so close to him!" He Shengliang exclaimed. "It must be him! He instructed that man to frame me!"
Humans were naturally gossip-hungry, regardless of their wealth. Curious gazes were cast their way.
Wen Ying's eyes darkened slightly. As a human, he was amiable, but as a demon, his temper was more volatile.
"Nonsense!" Yang Tianen immediately countered. "If he likes men, how could he have an affair with her?!"
He wasn't defending Yang Rixi but Yue Xiaoxi. He couldn't tolerate He Shengliang implicating him in a smear campaign. He had seen everything clearly and wouldn't let Yue Xiaoxi bear the burden of seduction!
The onlookers were startled. While there were indeed many within the circle who engaged in same-sex relationships, whether for fun or genuine affection, few would openly declare their preferences. To reveal one's sexual orientation so loudly in such a setting was unprecedented.
quite a few insiders were present. Yang Tianen had just indirectly outed Yang Rixi.
Wen Ying: "...."
Real Yang Rixi: "!!!" He couldn't communicate with Mr. Devil at the moment. Once Mr. Devil left his body, he would immediately ask him to keep Yang Tianen away from his life.
Yang Zhenxing: "...." Just moments ago, he had been proudly telling someone next to him that the composed young man was his son. Now, he could feel the subtle glances from those around him.
He Shengliang was also shocked. Could this be said so openly and loudly?
The astonished expressions of the onlookers made Yang Tianen even more pleased with himself. "He doesn't like girls! This is proof!"
Unable to hold back, Wen Ying slapped the back of Yang Tianen's head on behalf of Yang Rixi and pulled the smug Yang Tianen towards the door.
"I'm sorry, please continue enjoying yourselves."
Yang Tianen: "Are you crazy? Let me go!" He tried to break free from Yang Rixi's grip but found that Yang Rixi's hands were like iron clamps – he couldn't shake them off at all.
As Wen Ying dragged Yang Tianen towards the door, Yang Tianen struggled to turn back and look at Yue Xiaoxi. He had expected Yue Xiaoxi to come over with concern or at least give him a worried glance. To his surprise, Yue Xiaoxi didn't even spare him a glance!
Wen Ying dragged him to the entrance, but Yang Tianen attempted to push past. Wen Ying promptly instructed the security personnel at the door, "Please hold him back. He doesn't have an invitation."
The security guards standing at the entrance were tall and imposing, creating an intimidating presence. Yang Tianen backed down and could only vent his anger at the retreating Wen Ying, who was soon escorted away by the guards.
Upon returning, Wen Ying sensed that the demonic aura in the banquet hall was abnormal. The demonic energy in the human world was typically thin, but here, it had swollen several times over and was moving at high speed.
His gaze fell on the man who seemed to be a servant knight. A smile lingered on the man's lips as he conversed with someone beside him, his eyes still fixed on the spot where the incident had occurred.
Observing the situation, Wen Ying's eyes darkened. The demonic aura around He Shengliang was even more active, correlating with the intensity of his emotions. The more agitated a person, the more vibrant the demonic energy around them.
Wen Ying quickly scanned the crowd for Wen Qinxue. The other elders hadn't come over, likely occupied with business matters. It was fortunate they hadn't, given the uncertain situation here. He wished now that he hadn't simply dragged Yang Tianen out earlier.
Recalling Wen Xinxin's interrupted remark, Wen Ying approached her.
With Wen Qinxue nearby, there was no need for Wen Xinxin to relay the message. She simply gestured for Wen Ying to look at Wen Qinxue.
Wen Qinxue had many questions, but she chose the safest and most subtle approach: "Did you enjoy your time at the Demon Corporation last time?"
"I did. I felt like you were the one guiding me in."
"Devil Corporation?" Wen Xinxin asked curiously.
"Mm-hmm, I happened to be there for a collaboration discussion," Wen Qinxue smiled. "I ran into this young fellow who said he liked devil-themed mobile games, so I brought him along."
"Eh?" Wen Xinxin was surprised. After all, her aunt and Yang Rixi didn't seem like the type to hang out together.
Wen Ying reassured, "He got home safely that day."
Upon hearing this, Wen Qinxue's lingering worries vanished. Suddenly, as she looked at Yang Rixi, a possibility flashed through her mind. This Yang Rixi gave her an eerily familiar feeling – could it be that the one speaking now was her son?!
Noticing the excitement in Wen Qinxue's eyes, Wen Ying nodded slightly.
"Dude!" Yang Shiming waved from a distance. Wen Ying glanced at him and then told Wen Qinxue, "My friend is calling me over. Bye, Auntie."
Wen Qinxue slowly uttered, "Goodbye."
"Aunt?" Wen Xinxin sensed something odd about Wen Qinxue's attitude toward Yang Rixi.
"It's nothing," Wen Qinxue replied.
Wen Ying approached Yang Shiming, who then sneakedily pulled him into a secluded corner, whispering, "Does the demonic aura in this banquet hall feel different to you?"
Having cultivated, he could sense it.
Huo Jue joined them, also speaking in a hushed tone, "Have either of you noticed that the demonic aura here has become denser? I checked the balcony to see the situation outside, and it seems that only this banquet hall's aura has changed. Do you have any idea what's going on?"
Yang Shiming immediately shook his head. "No idea."
"Huo Jue inquired, "Is the demon you've contracted present?"
Wen Ying was also quite curious.
Yang Shiming shook his head again. "No idea."
Wen Ying: "...I'm not sure either."
Huo Jue's expression fell, disappointment evident. As those who practiced "illegally," they all had a lingering unease in their hearts, intuiting that something sinister might unfold here.
Wen Ying gazed at the man not far away, whose mood seemed excellent as his smile never left his face.
A piercing scream echoed from a corner of the banquet hall, immediately drawing everyone's attention.
From where the scream originated, more shrieks followed. The crowd watched in horror as a massive, dark shadow loomed over the heads of those gathered there. The shadow was a mass of fog, yet it had eyes and a mouth – its blood-red eyes scanned the crowd, while sharp fangs were visible within its grin.
Wen Ying recognized the mid-level demon; it was a common sight in the Demon Realm, viewed by other demons much like how humans regarded rats.
Did the Human Realm already have this kind of mid-level demon? Wen Ying wondered.
"Damn it?!" Yang Shiming's exclamation snapped Wen Ying back to reality. Meanwhile, Beros, unnoticed by most, had approached and landed in Yang Rixi's palm.
Amidst the chaos, no one noticed Yang Rixi holding a palm-sized doll.
Wen Ying moved discreetly, standing in a corner where they were almost invisible to others.
"Where were you?"
"Outside," Beros replied, showing no interest in human gatherings. "This demonic aura comes from the Demon Realm. That foul demon is likely also from there."
Beros was highly sensitive to the scent of the Demon Realm, and he was certain that the dense demonic energy here originated from there.
Wen Ying was astonished, but his expression quickly turned grim as he gazed coldly at the man not far away.
Muershi also appeared, landing on the palm of Wen Ying's other hand and said, "The aura here isn't sealed. Quite a few exorcists are on their way."
The turbid demon triggered a howling like a gust of eerie wind, causing screams to erupt on the scene. Those outside, hearing the alternating cries, looked over in confusion.
"What's happening?!" Security guards rushed in, their faces turning ashen upon seeing the massive black shadow hovering above the hall.
Both Yang Shiming and Huo Jue, hearing Yang Rixi's tone, quickly realized that the silver-haired demon had possessed him.
"Mr. Demon, what should we do now?" Yang Shiming trembled with fear.
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