Chapter 5 Collect, Release.
Bai Xuci swallowed, never imagining he possessed such power, attracting the youkai’s attention twice in just an hour.
…
Was this his destined end?
Xuanli clearly didn’t think his question was inappropriate. After all, this little rabbit, though harmless-looking, managed to obtain domesticated pork from humans.
It was quite strange.
How did he leave the mountain, and how did he come into contact with humans?
Bai Xuci glanced back at the culprit, finding the monkey perfectly at ease, staring at him without a hint of guilt.
Its expression was even somewhat innocent.
“Master…” Bai Xuci took a deep breath, pursed his lips, feeling he still had to struggle.
Xuanli sat on the table, propping his chin and watching Bai Xuci, looking detached.
“Mm-hmm, speak quickly.”
In a very perfunctory tone.
Under the countless inquisitive gazes, Bai Xuci felt immense pressure but still said through gritted teeth:
“I stole it.”
As soon as he finished speaking, his head drooped, looking completely indifferent.
A second wave of commotion spread, and the high-ranking individuals also stopped their actions, seemingly interested in the commotion below.
“You’re lying!” Xuanli abruptly stood up and crouched in front of Bai Xuci.
Examining him suspiciously.
“I’m not lying, you need evidence to say that,” Bai Xuci retorted calmly.
“Don’t give me that human-like flowery language, it’s annoying, shut up.”
Bai Xuci’s inner monologue: I &*@￥%……%
“…” Bai Xuci remained silent.
They wouldn’t believe him even if he spoke, so he might as well not.
Anyway, this rabbit life was going to end here anyway.
After so many years of cultivation, he could only transform, his magical power was only enough to show off in front of humans, he was nothing.
Oh well, if he died, maybe he could return to his parents’ embrace!
However, hopefully, they wouldn’t suck his brain again.
He pouted, succumbing to the self-deprecation of being a youkai.
Meanwhile, the esteemed “demon king” finally used some magical power to see the whole picture of the causing commotion through the screen.
Kneeling on the meditation cushion, meek and submissive.
His gaze slowly drifted downward.
He plucked a strand of straw from the meditation cushion and began to weave something.
Was he killing time?
Fan Yue rarely furrowed his brow, trying to discern what the little youkai was weaving.
His gaze drew closer.
Under the dexterous hands, two ears slowly emerged from the straw, and then—
It was clearly a rabbit.
“…”
Were there such youkai on Mount Lin? Even facing death, he still had the leisure to weave things?
However, this skill…
Fan Yue put the cup aside and quietly observed everything below.
His golden eyes showed no strong emotions.
Below in the hall—
Xuanli found the little youkai very suspicious. His magical power was barely enough for transformation, yet his appearance… was stunning.
If he went down the mountain and had contact with humans, it would be understandable, but if he had been on Mount Lin since birth…
That was quite strange.
After all, among the native youkai of Mount Lin, only a small number were keen on transforming into human form; most preferred a half-human, half-youkai form.
Because this suited their aesthetics, and it was more convenient for digging burrows or carrying things.
It was a matter of habit.
Besides, among the small group of youkai who transformed into human form, none were as… alluring as the little youkai before him.
“Why are you bowing your head?!” Xuanli was somewhat agitated. He had asked several times, but the rabbit kept silent.
Didn’t it understand etiquette?
Bai Xuci looked at Xuanli suspiciously, then said crisply, “You told me to shut up.”
Xuanli: “…”
He was completely speechless.
Xuanli calmed himself down, suppressed his temper, and pointed in one direction.
It was the finished “straw rabbit.”
“What are you doing now? Do you have parents? A little youkai, so ignorant of your place, do you know that I can crush you with one finger!” His tone was reproaching.
“I don’t have parents, I was the only one in that litter, the others died.” Bai Xuci answered honestly.
Silence fell…
Bai Xuci handed the straw rabbit to Xuanli and said seriously:
“I wanted to—”
A fierce gaze swept over.
“I wanted to, if I die, to…,” he pointed at the “rabbit” in the other’s hand and continued, “…burn it for me.”
…
Another wave of sighs echoed, but this time, the sighs were full of sympathy.
Xuanli’s face was as black as the bottom of a pot; what kind of little youkai was this?
To have him burn this thing at his grave?!
Even more suspicious! It had even learned the human custom of burning paper money.
He absolutely had to interrogate him!
Just as his hand was about to crush the little “straw rabbit,” a collective gasp filled the surroundings.
Xuanli: “…”
Alright, alright.
He released his hand and tossed the straw rabbit back into Bai Xuci’s arms.
“You—” Xuanli paused, utterly speechless.
“After the banquet, come with me to the Spirit Cave immediately; I want to see how much more you can argue!”
Bai Xuci’s eyes widened in shock, bewilderedly saying, “You’re not going to kill me?”
He thought he was going to die, so he acted recklessly, but judging by the other’s posture…
It didn’t seem to intend to kill him?
Zhu Chong, having had enough of the show, licked the blood off his blade and said slowly:
“The species on Mount Lin aren’t particularly abundant, and those with long soft fur…”
His dark eyes sized up Bai Xuci.
“…are even rarer.”
Bai Xuci: “…”
“The world can’t all be taken by humans and those cultivators! Our youkai world also needs to expand our territory, alright?” Zhu Chong said indignantly.
Bai Xuci finally understood, oh, it turned out that long-haired animals were indeed rare on the mountain.
It wasn’t his imagination.
“Kill you?” Zhu Chong looked over, a thoughtful expression on his face.
“I think we should breed you first, then have you make the seventy-seven forty-nine dishes you mentioned. Then, we can kill you.”
His tone was very gentle, but the words were extremely hurtful.
Bai Xuci was thunderstruck by the “breeding,” and had already become desensitized to the pig youkai eating his flesh.
Since things were already this strange, there wasn’t anything else to be shocked about.
Just then—
“Have you all had your fill?” A majestic voice resounded from above.
The youkai around them paused their drinking and began whispering, analyzing the meaning of their master’s words.
The banquet hadn’t been going on for long, had it?
Bai Xuci was startled and realized there was another youkai above.
He counted on his fingers and widened his pupils.
Could it be the legendary demon king?
A creature entirely covered in wrinkled animal hide, with eerie eyes and strangely shaped limbs.
The image was already spinning in Bai Xuci’s head.
The demon king.
For some reason, Bai Xuci was curious but didn’t dare be too curious.
He clawed at the screen, trying to sneak a peek…
Due to his intense focus, he didn’t realize his rabbit ears had popped out with a “bang,” and were bobbing up and down.
Xuanli: “…”
The youkai pondered for a while, unable to figure it out.
“The master is tired,” a strong voice came from the middle of the banquet, with an impatient tone.
Bai Xuci was startled, looking back at Xuanli.
Then he turned his head back.
“…”
The surrounding youkai suddenly understood and quickly left.
Even the lizard spirit who was drunk on the table was dragged away by its friend by its tail.
They were truly loyal friends.
Bai Xuci assessed the situation, feeling he was also a youkai who should leave.
He tried to use his magical power to teleport himself away.
But before his hand was extended, he was tripped by a flying object.
He fell directly.
Looking down, it was an uneaten carrot.
“???”
Bai Xuci didn’t quite understand the monkey’s methods; why did it keep interrupting him?
Besides, the carrot was even bruised.
He carefully wiped it with his sleeve and said earnestly:
“Please don’t bully plants.”
They failed this time, but perhaps next time, when the spiritual energy is abundant again, they might become beautiful and lovely radish spirits?
Bai Xuci had already discovered that the customs of the youkai world were very bad.
Carnivores always discriminated against herbivores.
A clear hierarchy of contempt had formed.
Not good, not good.
Xuanli twitched his eyebrows, truly amazed.
What was so pitiful about a carrot??
Just as he was about to scold him, he suddenly saw…
“Greetings to the master, this little youkai is detained here, should your subordinate take him to the Spirit Cave for detailed interrogation?” Xuanli neatly lifted his robe and performed a proper bow.
His expression was serious, completely unlike his previous frivolous manner.
Bai Xuci froze because the direction the other was kneeling towards… seemed to be behind him!
He swallowed, and the carrot in his hand plopped to the ground.
The demon king, the great demon king, the book’s great villain, who had slaughtered all the people of Zi Yuan City.
How did the author describe him?
“Rivers of blood, inorganic eyes, unconcerned about the cries of humans.”
Over, over, what should he do?
His brain raced, taking a deep breath, don’t panic.
Fan Yue waved his hand, and Xuanli below instantly turned into a wisp of black smoke and disappeared.
Bai Xuci slightly opened his mouth, his heart aching.
This big brother, didn’t he say he’d take me away for interrogation? Take me away!!!
Why leave a little youkai who can’t do anything here?!
So untrustworthy.
Fan Yue simply lowered his gaze to the little youkai kneeling on the meditation cushion, patiently waiting.
Why didn’t he turn around?
“M-Master…” A trembling voice; Bai Xuci slowly tried to turn around.
But at that moment, he suddenly felt a tug on his head.
He uncontrollably fell back.
Then he bumped into the other’s leg.
Looking up, his eyes widened slightly, involuntarily tilting his head.
Like a small animal’s instinct.
It was a human appearance…
He was a thousand times more handsome than that monkey.
However—
Bai Xuci’s entire rabbit self went numb as his gaze drifted downward.
His… his ears were out?
Bai Xuci immediately tried to retract his rabbit ears, but as soon as he exerted force, Fan Yue’s hand tightened slightly, pulling them back.
He fell onto the other’s leg again.
Collapsing into a heap.
Bai Xuci was furious, and really wanted to curse.
Was it so easy to pull someone’s ears??
Did he ask for his opinion?!
He was so angry, so angry!
“Nice texture,” a faint comment came from above, and then the hand released.
Although Bai Xuci had a thousand things to complain about, he still dared not act presumptuously, and honestly stood up from the meditation cushion.
He bowed properly.
“Greetings to the master.” Bai Xuci lowered his head, his hands clasped in front of him; a lone carrot lay on the floor.
He didn’t know what the demon king wanted from him, and he dared not ask.
After all, the more you speak, the more mistakes you make.
So, a moment of silence…
Bai Xuci felt tired of kneeling and wondered why the other party wasn’t speaking. He couldn’t help but glance up.
He then discovered that the other’s gaze was focused on his head.
Oh, oh, oh, ears, ears!
Hurriedly retracting his runaway ears, he rearranged the corners of his clothes.
“S-sorry.”
Bai Xuci could almost feel the other’s gaze shift downward, finally stopping on his face.
No expression.
He dared not even breathe.
“You can even retract them.” A tone of seeming praise.
Huh?
Bai Xuci felt this development was wrong, staring blankly, not quite understanding the meaning.
“Let them out.”
Bai Xuci’s brain short-circuited for a moment, then pursed his lips, trying to understand.
It shouldn’t mean that, it shouldn’t, right, right…?
He tentatively let his ears out, and they sprang out with a “duang”.
“Collect.”
“…”
Honestly retracting them, Bai Xuci felt inexplicably angry.
“Release.”
They sprang out.
“Collect.”
He retracted them.
“Release.”