34 Huo Bai
◎Old lady****◎
When her thoughts were exposed, Jiangwei instinctively denied it outright: "No! I... I just wanted to repay a debt of gratitude."
“There are many ways to repay a debt of gratitude. Even if you are now a human, as a demon, you must have some methods that others don’t have, right? Or perhaps you…” Ying Jianhua paused deliberately for a moment, then smiled and said, “Don’t be nervous. I am human, and you are a demon. Even if we really fight, I will be the one who suffers, won’t I?”
The more he talked, the more agitated Crimson Tail became; the fur on its ears and tail stood on end, almost reverting to its original form.
Ying Jianhua noticed his reaction and couldn't help but feel puzzled.
With such thick, messy fur, if it sheds, it will definitely make a mess all over the house, and it will be incredibly difficult to clean. What exactly does Du Zhijin see in this fox that makes him touch its fur?
This is a question that only she herself can probably answer, so let's leave Ying Jianhua aside for now and continue with what we were saying earlier: "Or are you deliberately acting like you're worthless just so you can keep bothering her for as long as possible?"
Even the most cowardly and incompetent demon will be provoked to its bloodthirst when repeatedly challenged, and Crimson Tail was no exception. A faint crimson glow surged in his eyes, his canine teeth pierced his lower lip, drawing blood, and the bones in his fingertips made a cracking sound as they slowly turned into bluish-black claws.
Animal ears and tails are harmless and endearing parts, which is why he dared to release them under the full moon. Bodu Zhijin smiled, but if a demon reveals its claws and fangs, it is not far from completely losing its humanity.
Ying Jianhua wanted Jiangwei to lose control. He had a sleeping potion hidden in his sleeve, and he was tightly clutching the corner of his handkerchief. You see, this was a formula he had specially improved after the Phantom Demon incident; with just a flick of it, it was enough to knock out a bear. Surely it couldn't handle a fox?
He concealed his sleeves under the table, ready to strike at any moment. But just before Jiangwei's eyes were about to turn completely crimson, they inexplicably returned to their original black and white.
“You want to force me to revert to my original form.” Jiangwei stared at him and said decisively, “Then when my benefactor returns, she will think that I am still a beast and will be disappointed in me.”
"At that time, she will definitely abandon me and feel sorry for you instead. Young Master Amo, does your benefactor know that you have two faces?"
The room was silent for a moment. After a short while, just as Jiangwei lost his edge and thought he had misunderstood him, Ying Jianhua spoke up: "She doesn't know, and I will never let her know."
Jiangwei looked at him in disbelief, frowning slightly: "Our benefactor is such an upright and kind person, while your methods are despicable. You two are like clouds in the sky and mud in a pond, destined to have no future."
"So what?" Ying Jianhua said coldly. "What does it have to do with you, this beast who appeared out of nowhere? Do you think you and her will end up together?"
He killed so many people, yet Du Zhijin still treated him the same as before. This shows that as long as he hides himself well enough, she won't find out.
Upon hearing his words, Jiangwei's arrogance vanished instantly, her ears drooping as she slumped against her head: "Yes...we can't possibly have a future together..."
Ying Jianhua scoffed.
How naive! What does it matter if there's a difference between humans and demons? If it were him, he would do everything in his power and scheme against fate.
Fortunately, he doesn't have to go that far yet, and he hasn't fallen in love with Du Zhijin.
Thinking of this, one can't help but feel sorry for the fox. His devoted love was misplaced, and he met a tragic end.
Why would Du Zhijin look at him?
"Since you understand, stop wasting your time. Instead of making things worse, cherish the last days you have with her. That way, at least you'll have memories to savor."
"Useless effort, or even a hindrance?" Jiangwei asked, puzzled.
Ying Jianhua's face suddenly turned terrifying, and she began to recount his grievances one by one: "You persuaded her to go drinking, and she got so drunk that she was unconscious. Wasn't I the one on night watch?"
"You mended her clothes, but the hole kept getting bigger and bigger. Was it me who worked through the night to finish the job?"
"And you..."
As he continued his incessant nagging, Jiangwei's already drooping ears seemed to want to disappear into the ground. He closed his eyes, not daring to look at Ying Jianhua's expression, and apologized timidly, "I'm so sorry! I didn't know this would cause you trouble!"
Ying Jianhua suddenly stopped talking.
He asked, "What are you afraid of? Do you think I'm going to turn around and eat you?"
He didn't care about Jiangwei's reaction; what he cared about was that Du Zhijin seemed to be afraid of him too. For example, last night, she even shrank into a corner.
Could it be that I've become ugly from all the running around these past few days?
At this moment, Ying Jianhua really wanted to take out the bronze mirror to look at himself, but Jiangwei was still there, so he couldn't make any rash moves.
Seeing Jiangwei shake its head and nod in bewilderment, he felt disgusted and thought the fox was very stupid. He waved it away.
The moment she received permission, Jiangwei practically fled through the door. Young Master Amo was truly terrifying, even more terrifying than the clan leader.
Just when he was about to escape, the terrifying Young Master Amo spoke up again.
“We’re going to Huzhou next, and you can only go that far at most. So I advise you to make plans early, so you don’t get tricked into bleeding money again and I have to spend money to redeem you.”
He couldn't help but say, "The one who redeemed me is clearly my benefactor."
Ying Jianhua's words carried a hint of sarcasm: "So what?"
Jiangwei opened her mouth, seemingly wanting to refute, but when she caught a glimpse of the coldness surging in his eyes, she immediately shuddered and couldn't say a word.
Back in his room, he mustered his courage and wrote a note, which he kept in his hand, intending to give it to his benefactor when he saw her.
The note read: "Amo is all show and no substance, not a good match for me. You should get away from him as soon as possible!"
However, instead of meeting a benefactor, he first encountered a rotten and unsuitable spouse.
Compared to Jiangwei's pupils shrinking sharply, Ying Jianhua really didn't react much. She just glanced at him indifferently and ordered, "Change your clothes and come out with me."
"Go out? What are you going to do?" He gripped the note tightly, and his palms were sweating within seconds.
If discovered...
"Don't you like her? Aren't you worried about not seeing her for two hours?" Ying Jianhua said sarcastically, adjusting the veil on her head.
Jiangwei's attention was instantly drawn to the strange decoration: "Young Master Amo... it's nighttime, and there's no rain or snow outside. Why, why are you wearing a veiled hat?"
Why wear a veil?
It's because the person in the mirror looks haggard and has lost their youthful appearance.
Of course, Ying Jianhua couldn't possibly tell him the truth. However, looking at the fox demon's still radiant face without any makeup, he clicked his tongue in annoyance.
Humans are infuriating compared to demons. No way, I'll have to find a chance to buy some beauty powder when I go out later.
He tossed him a veiled hat: "You wear it too."
"Huh? Can I ask?" "Even if you keep talking nonsense, we'll still eat fish tomorrow."
Jiangwei immediately fell silent.
————
Du Zhijin, who was being thought of by Ying Jianhua for being away for a long time, was unaware that he was causing her worry.
She is helping out at "Huo's Pork Shop".
Originally, she intended to buy some braised food to take home, but as she walked, she inadvertently found herself near Huo's restaurant.
Huo's business was booming, with crowds thronging the area, even surpassing Liu's business, which sold demon blood buns. Of course, the Liu family couldn't compare now; having lost their easy-to-manage fox demon, their buns had to return to normal, and their business plummeted.
And who can be blamed for this? It was ill-gotten gains, and if Jiangwei hadn't persuaded her, she would have made the Liu family spit it all out.
"Without me, Li Wan, who would want to work for you? The pay is low and the work is heavy. This shop will go bankrupt sooner or later in your hands!"
A loud shout interrupted Du Zhijin's meditation, pulling her thoughts back to reality.
Clutching the braised meat in her arms, she squeezed her way to the front row in a way that most people couldn't comprehend. And lo and behold, wasn't that Young Master Huo Bai?
At this moment, Huo Bai was completely devoid of the boldness she had shown the night before. Holding a cleaver, she stood facing her opponent with a grim expression.
Opposite him was a burly, muscular man with a fierce glare. If a fight really broke out, Huo Bai would probably be at a disadvantage.
It turns out that the people surrounded by three layers of people weren't there to buy meat, but to watch a show.
Du Zhijin quickly asked the young man next to him who was peeking on tiptoe, "What's going on?"
This person was the most excited; he must have eaten the whole melon.
The tiptoeing guy turned around, and both of them were startled.
Isn't this the waiter from the tea stall opposite Liu's? / Isn't this one of those annoying outsiders?
It's easier to get things done with acquaintances, even if it's just someone you've met once. Du Zhijin immediately pressed for details: "Who exactly is Li Wan?"
The waiter initially didn't want to talk to her. After all, this outsider was extremely despicable, actually saying that "the Liu family's steamed buns can cure diseases, which is just nonsense!" However, a few days later, the Liu family claimed that their "divine energy had run out" and moved away with their families. He also felt that this matter was strange, and when facing her, he couldn't help but lose his confidence: "What kind of person could she be? A maid, I guess."
Du Zhijin shook his head, disbelieving: "How dare a maid speak to the young master like that?"
Hearing this, he winked at her and whispered, "You don't know this, do you? Li Wan is not just a maid, he is also... he is one of Huo Bai's women."
That one? Which one is that?
Seeing her blank expression, the waiter exclaimed, "Oh dear! Your lover!"
Oh, I see. Liu Xiucai and Xiao Guo Meng'er both have names and surnames, so Li Wan must be that plain-looking but burly "maid".
As the two were whispering to each other, the cleaver slammed heavily onto the chopping board with a loud thud.
Huo Bai flung aside the cleaver, rolled up his sleeves to his shoulders, revealing suspicious bloodstains and bits of flesh stained his robe.
This greatly increased her imposing presence, making no one dare to underestimate her. Huo Bai frowned and sneered, one hand on her hip and the other pointing a finger at Li Wan's nose, cursing, "Li Wan, you son of a bitch! I'll curse your father! You son of a bitch! May your son be a bastard! I'm a bitch! How dare you curse me!"
Amidst a series of silences, Du Zhijin was dumbfounded.
Could this beautiful language be a local dialect?
The waiter also fell silent. He really didn't want to admit that there was such a harmonious language in the area, but it was the truth.
Just as everyone, including Du Zhijin and "Little Brother," were looking at each other in bewilderment, the scene took another astonishing turn.
Li Wan's mountain-like body crashed down, shaking the earth.
After the earthquake, a tsunami struck.
"Huo Bai! Do you have any conscience?! You said you only loved me!"
Huo Bai retorted angrily, "What the hell? You can believe what they say in bed?!"
[Author's Note]
I'll definitely update as early as possible tomorrow (just kidding).
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