Chapter 166: Overpowering Defeat
by 夜阑妖歌Chapter 166: Overpowering Defeat
The watching demons were stunned. Before they could process what had happened, the muscular demon who had been bowled over by Wen Ying quickly stood up. Before he could regain his footing, Wen Ying grabbed the hand that held him and flipped him over his shoulder.
The muscular demon was still in a daze, confusion etched on his face.
"Am I weaker than all of you?" Wen Ying's words seemed to roll off his tongue with a teasing lilt, his tone rising and falling in a taunting manner, "Is that so?"
With one foot on the fallen demon's chest, dozens of silver vines sprang from the shadows, tightly binding the demon's hands, feet, throat, waist, and more, holding him firmly in place.
Wen Ying's gaze swept over the demons whose minds had frozen in disbelief. With his well-manicured index finger, he beckoned to San Lin, the one who had brought him in the previous day. "Beat me, and I'll let you have this position as an intern judge."
All the demons turned their gazes towards San Lin. The latter pointed at himself, his mouth slightly agape. The black-haired demon's eyes widened in alarm, revealing a fleeting glimpse of green vertical pupils, like those of a snake.
This Mirror Demon now appeared very dangerous, and the sense of peril made San Lin hesitate. He even entertained the uncharacteristic thought of retreating, something he would never have considered facing a Mirror Demon.
"What's wrong?" Wen Ying tilted his head, his tone slow and deliberately enigmatic, "Weren't you arrogant yesterday?"
Feeling that this Arudha was about to unleash havoc, Kirishino shrank back. The strongest judge was still lying in the hotel, and the remaining demons born in the human realm couldn't cause any real trouble.
"Go on, it's just a Mirror Demon, what's with the arrogance?"
San Lin heard a demon whisper behind him, and without knowing who pushed from his back, he was propelled forward, isolated from the group. The Mirror Demon looked over, and San Lin suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of panic.
San Lin turned around in anger, wanting to see who had pushed him out, but with so many demons standing there, he couldn't tell who it was.
Footsteps drew closer, causing San Lin's hair to stand on end and his scalp to tingle. He stiffly turned his head to find the Mirror Demon, about his height, standing roughly one meter away. Though its appearance was still the same as yesterday and its aura wasn't overly intimidating, its eyes, with a hint of a smile, sent a chill down his spine.
"Do you want a fight?"
The Mirror Demon's words were followed by immediate action. Before San Lin could react, a punch landed on his face. He hurriedly counterattacked, but was completely overwhelmed, his rhythm falling under the demon's control. Shock and fear instinctively made him retreat.
With a strong grip on his throat, San Lin was forced to the ground, his back hitting the cold tiles, the impact causing his vision to darken.
Through his blurred vision, the demon above moved effortlessly, its gaze now different from before.
Excitement, yes, that was it - excitement. San Lin felt his soul tremble as those black eyes watching him from above held a dangerous thrill. It was like an unleashed madman was sharpening a knife, waving it around his body, the pleasure of impending satisfaction already surfacing.
"Surrender, surrender! I yield!" San Lin croaked, his voice distorted from the pressure on his throat.
Wen Ying released him, and San Lin swore he saw a hint of regret in the other's eyes! Still trembling with fear, he clutched his throat with both hands, haunted by the exhilarated gaze that had been fixed on him just moments ago. He knew he would have nightmares for a long time to come.
"Next."
The second sub-level fell silent.
All eyes turned to Kirishino, who seemed to be playing dead. The focus of their gazes was so intense that Wen Ying couldn't help but follow their lead.
Kirishino: "…"
Struggling to maintain his composure, Kirishino tried to sound as composed as usual. "Please don't push them any further. They're native demons born in the Human Realm, and their strength is no match for those from the Demon Realm. The Chief Judge is already the strongest demon stationed in the Human Realm's Judgment Bureau."
Some of the surrounding demons gasped in shock. Did Kirishino mean that even the Chief Judge had been defeated by a Mirror Demon?
Who had spread the rumor that Mirror Demons were weaklings in the Demon Realm, that they didn't even qualify as low-ranking demons? Clearly, Mirror Demons were powerful enough to overpower even Fallen Angels.
The burly demon on the ground, who had been struggling, ceased his movements and pretended to be dead after Wen Ying and San Lin finished their bout.
Demons were war-loving, but they were also keenly aware of the shifting tides of power. They knew that one had to be smart to survive, for the reckless would be severely punished.
There was no rule among demons that prohibited attacking the weak, and killing surrendering foes was actually quite common.
Wen Ying waited for a while. As the fiery sensation in his body gradually subsided, he glanced over the demons with little interest. "That's it?"
They all shook their heads.
"Alright then." Wen Ying clenched his hanging hand. It was frustrating when his interest was piqued but not satisfied. The demons in the human world were less belligerent than those in the demon realm.
Seeing that the chilling aura of the Mirror Demon had calmed down, Kirishino approached and said, "It was chaotic yesterday. There are some matters regarding your appointment at the Judgment Bureau that I need to discuss with you, as well as some enchanted items for employees, like one that can transform your appearance into a human's."
"Enchanted items?" Wen Ying studied Kirishino carefully, glancing at the other demons from the corner of his eye. Their disguises were indeed very convincing; most exorcists wouldn't be able to tell.
"Yes," Kirishino promptly explained the details of Wen Ying's position at the bureau, leading him into the Chief Judge's office.
With the dangerous demon gone, the tense atmosphere in the hall dissipated, and everyone felt as if they had been brought back to life.
The silver-white branches on the muscular demon's body vanished. He sat up, still trembling as he touched the spots where the Mirror Demon had touched him. "Who the hell said that Mirror Demons are weak? This is not weak at all."
San Lin sprawled on the ground, muttering, "I almost thought I was going to die."
What was up with that demon? Yesterday, his gaze was gentle and polite, but today, it suddenly transformed into... a crazed madman with a stable mind? San Lin frantically rubbed his arms, trying to rid himself of the goosebumps that had risen from recalling that stare.
After Kirishino finished updating Wen Ying about his new demonic position, he quickly made his escape.
Wen Ying had intended to tease Kirishino further, basking in the other's fearful change of expression. However, the call from the Demon King interrupted their interaction, leaving Wen Ying no choice but to let Kirishino leave first.
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