Chapter 3 What a disaster…
Chapter 3: Oh, the Sin…
Bai Xuci straightened his sleeves, intending to return to his rabbit burrow. Enough time had passed; it should be safe.
He could never accept the idea of eating human flesh.
Demons came in countless varieties: plant-based, animal-based, and some born from the absorption of the essence of heaven and earth.
While Bai Xuci wasn’t entirely clear on the significant differences in their diets, one thing was certain—they considered “humans” food.
This was peculiar.
Whether demons or ghosts, they all loved transforming into human form and paid great attention to mimicking human expressions.
They ate humans yet disguised themselves as the food.
Perhaps it was to lure humans, or for other reasons.
In Bai Xuci’s years as a demon, he’d seen all kinds of… uh… “demon-humans.”
Some transformations were lifelike; others were a complete mess.
For a long time, Bai Xuci dreamed of terrifying scenes of a minotaur-like creature—an ox head atop human legs.
But after getting used to being a rabbit demon, he became more accepting.
After all, weren’t humans the same?
They labeled any creature other than themselves as “beasts.”
They even possessed a wide array of cooking methods.
Thinking of this, Bai Xuci painfully rubbed his temples, recalling the dream of being “eaten.”
It had truly made him mentally vulnerable.
Anyway…
He didn’t need to worry about these strange things.
As a lowly rabbit demon, he couldn’t act as a “moral police” in the demon world nor meddle in human affairs.
Demons eat people, cultivators eliminate demons, and humans slaughter livestock.
It was all a balance.
All he could do was two things: one, never forget his human core; two, quietly endure.
Endure until the great demon in the book was officially annihilated by the protagonist, then he could enjoy the world without worry.
Bai Xuci walked down the mountain, pondering whether he should store more carrots. Winter was approaching…
“Stop right there!” A rough voice shouted.
Bai Xuci stopped, realizing he shouldn’t have relaxed by the creek. He should have left immediately.
Bai Xuci turned and walked back to the two “horned horses.”
“May I ask what you…”
“The master summons you; go in quickly!” The other impatiently used its hoof to push Bai Xuci inside.
The water-like barrier rippled as Bai Xuci entered…
Bai Xuci: “…”
Why were the demons in this demon realm so impolite?
After complaining, he briefly surveyed the surroundings. It was entirely different from outside.
Hmm, after stroking his chin in thought, he reached a conclusion:
It was much more sinister.
The decorations along the path were made of skulls, and there were even bluish ghost fires.
The guards… ah, demons, were all strangely shaped.
“Are you the little demon who brought the offerings today?” A slightly shrill voice, like wind passing through bamboo pipes, came from above.
Bai Xuci looked up and stepped back slightly.
It was a snake!
It was hissing.
Bai Xuci, seeing scales for the second time, almost got goosebumps, but he forced himself to remain calm.
Couldn’t there be any furry creatures on this mountain?!
“Yes.”
“Follow me.” Seeing that they had found the right demon, it slithered forward.
Bai Xuci looked down and felt his eyes darken.
Why was he so unlucky lately…
The thick snake’s tail rubbed against the ground, making a sound, perhaps due to the gravel.
“…”
He had to follow.
Bai Xuci felt anxious, as a low-level demon like him had little power.
Yes, there was a hierarchy in the demon world.
He’d summarized it roughly: plant spirits were at the bottom, followed by herbivores, then carnivores, and finally, rare species.
Such as the legendary great demon.
Bai Xuci wasn’t sure what species the demon was, but he guessed it was one of the four great beasts.
Long horns, rough beast skin…
Distorted features.
Hmm, something like that.
As he was lost in thought, the guide demon had led him to the grand hall.
“Go in, the master is calling for you.” The guide demon gave emotionless instructions, quite haughty.
Bai Xuci was nervous because Qu San had told him that these “offerings” were rotated every month or so. For unknown little demons like them, the only hope was that the great demon was satisfied and would give a reward.
Qu San had been lucky enough to receive a few spirit herbs.
Bai Xuci wasn’t interested; he just wanted to get through it.
Human flesh…
The thought made him feel sick.
However—
Bai Xuci frowned, feeling something was strange.
These “small offerings” were usually used only during “banquets,” when the demons held discussions.
Usually, they shouldn’t notice the meat in the corner…
There was no reason to call him back?
“Excuse me, which master summoned me?” Bai Xuci stood at the entrance of the grand hall, unsure.
The grand hall was chaotic; how was he supposed to know which demon had summoned him?
A squirrel guard lifted its little eyes to look at Bai Xuci and said:
“Nice fur.”
With a slightly envious tone.
Bai Xuci: “…”
“Do all rabbits have such good fur? My brown fur is almost bald…” The squirrel said as it extended a paw towards Bai Xuci, gesturing for him to follow.
Bai Xuci curiously looked around, trying to see the grand hall clearly.
Since transmigrating into this book, he’d lived in his rabbit burrow at the foot of the mountain, with a scorpion demon as a neighbor.
It took him a long time to accept his living environment, where human-like things would appear from time to time.
But now—
A frog demon was sitting on a banquet table, clearly drunk, yet still holding a wine cup, looking ready to duel with a centipede demon across from it.
Bai Xuci swallowed, trying to calm himself.
But as he continued following the squirrel, his tense nerves caused him to trip.
He quickly regained his balance. The squirrel turned its head when it heard the noise.
“Hey, watch your step.”
Bai Xuci pursed his lips, slightly embarrassed.
“You just stepped on the lizard master’s tail, you know.”
“!!”
Bai Xuci’s pupils dilated, remembering the feeling under his feet.
Soft skin, but also somewhat hard, similar to the feeling of a tailbone.
He slowly looked down.
“Ah… drink… drink!” Slurred words.
The lizard’s face, which he remembered, was currently lying on the table, even crushing a cup.
It clearly hadn’t noticed its tail being stepped on.
“It’s alright, come with me.” The squirrel waved its paw casually, appearing at ease.
Bai Xuci came to his senses, swallowed, quickly moved his foot, and followed.
As he walked, he restrained himself from looking around out of curiosity.
That lizard… was as big as a crocodile.
It was noisy here, with a complete range of species, but most were only half-human, while the other half retained their original forms.
It was quite frightening.
After winding their way through, the squirrel finally stopped and turned to Bai Xuci.
“There, that’s where the master is. That place is noble; I can’t go there.”
Bai Xuci looked in the direction the squirrel indicated, finding it indeed different from where he’d just passed.
The seats below were noisy; cups and plates of fruit were scattered everywhere, it was quite messy.
But here, it was noticeably quieter, with even screens on the tables.
It’s quite stratified, Bai Xuci thought.
“Hmm?” The squirrel beside him looked up and hummed softly.
Bai Xuci quickly turned and said, “Ah, thank you, I… I will definitely…”
He suddenly got stuck. How does one say polite phrases?
Why couldn’t he say polite phrases in his past life, and why still not here?
“Tsk, little demon, come here.” The squirrel, seeming to dislike Bai Xuci’s stammering, pulled his clothes, wanting to whisper something.
“Ah… what is it?” Bai Xuci didn’t understand what was happening.
What did he mean? What did he want him to do?
“Have you put any oil in your fur?” It asked softly, its dark eyes shining.
Bai Xuci’s mind went blank; he hadn’t expected that this demon… would also worry about thinning fur.
Indeed, the concepts of the Three Realms were unified.
The squirrel thought his fur was the smoothest he’d ever seen, so smooth and shiny.
He was so envious.
Bai Xuci’s white hair fell loose as he bent over, landing in the squirrel’s paw.
The squirrel eagerly stroked his hair and muttered.
“Back then, my hair was also like this… why is it so thin now?”
Hearing this, Bai Xuci looked at the “guide demon’s” head and slightly opened his mouth.
He couldn’t say anything comforting…
He hadn’t noticed before, but now that he looked closely, he realized the brown fur on its head was almost gone.
It had even secretly applied brown rock powder to maintain its hair color.
Emmm…
It was hard work.
“What oil did you use?” The squirrel, having finished stroking his hair, returned to the topic.
With a somewhat stubborn tone.
Bai Xuci thought for a moment and said, “To maintain hair… fur, you mainly need to keep your skin clean.”
After saying this, he paused, looking down with a guilty conscience.
The squirrel indeed looked up to him for advice, with an earnest expression.
Bai Xuci found it absurd; why was he discussing “baldness” with a squirrel demon?
But on second thought, had he experienced any less absurd things?
Eh…
Screw it.
Let’s just treat it as protecting animals.
“Then, you can apply some animal oil… This can greatly alleviate dry fur… Finally, remember to maintain regular sleep schedules and pay attention to personal hygiene…”
Bai Xuci earnestly instructed the squirrel, looking at its head several times with affection.
This little bald squirrel.
“Thank you so much! I’ll go apply the oil right away; I’ll definitely grow…” Its dark eyes twinkled.
Then it looked at Bai Xuci.
“Grow hair as beautiful as yours!”
Bai Xuci: “…”
He forced a smile and sent away the “bald little squirrel.”
Adjusting his mood, Bai Xuci took a deep breath and prepared to walk towards that place.
And guessed what species the demon was.
Yes, Bai Xuci couldn’t see clearly because there were screens everywhere.
Perhaps they tried to copy the etiquette of human banquets, but it turned out to be a weird imitation.
The screens were not only ugly but also hindered basic communication.
Bai Xuci confirmed the “master’s” location again and nervously took his first step.
On the screen, only a majestic figure could be vaguely seen, slightly swaying.
It seemed to be wearing a hat of some sort, with large things on both sides of its head. Bai Xuci guessed it was a kind of “official hat.”
Could it be that the demon world had even learned seven or eight points of the titles of human officials?
He murmured to himself as he walked toward the screen.
Then…
He paused slightly.
His red pupils widened, and he felt another blow to his soul.
The demon wasn’t wearing a hat; the thing that looked like an “official hat” was actually a pig’s ears.
The demon was busy gorging himself and hadn’t noticed the arrival of a “little demon.”
“M-My Lord… you summoned me?” Bai Xuci asked tentatively.
The demon, who was burying its head in its food, paused, its pig ears twitched slightly, and then it raised its pig head and looked straight at Bai Xuci.
“!!”
Another blow.
His sleeve was suddenly tugged, and Bai Xuci uncontrollably fell, only to be pulled to the side by the “master.”
“Hey, little demon, is this the meat you brought?” The voice was very rough, quite frightening.
Bai Xuci endured the pain in his shoulder and looked at the table; the hook Lin Shu had used to hang the meat hadn’t been removed yet.
“…”
He stealthily glanced at it—a standard pig head.
A wave of sadness washed over him…
Oh, the sin.