Two people, one after the other.
Leaving Changhong Cloth Shop, they found a Tea House and turned into it.
The waiter came up and before he could speak, Lin Xiaosheng flashed something before his eyes.
The waiter, sharp-eyed, immediately grinned with joy.
"Two sirs, your reserved seats are in the Tian (’Heaven’) chamber!"
With a loud call, he began to lead the way.
The Tian chamber was actually a private room on the second floor by the window, from which the street below could be seen through the glass.
"Bring the tea after the bell."
"Yes."
After sending the waiter away, Lin Xiaosheng wasn’t in a hurry to talk business and gestured for Fang Yu to be silent with a finger to his lips.
He closed his eyes, paused, for a full ten breaths.
Fang Yu didn’t know what he was doing, but suddenly, he faintly saw something in the space reflecting a glint of light.
Was that... a thread?
Incredibly thin, almost invisible to the naked eye, it would have been completely unnoticed if not for the sunlight reflecting off it.
And just with a blink, upon looking again, all traces had vanished.
"It’s done." Lin Xiaosheng suddenly spoke.
Fang Yu had already realized that the room was rigged with many of these invisible, fine threads.
"Diao Deyi, do you know why I’m sure that you caused this trouble?"
"..."
Fang Yu fell silent.
"Because the matter isn’t settled yet. The demon that caused trouble is concerned in their heart and would naturally come back here to check."
"And I waited all morning. Only you came back."
Fang Yu: ...
Are you freaking kidding me?
I came for Yue Guang. I’ve finished my job. Who would come back to the scene of the crime for no reason?
But Lin Xiaosheng didn’t think so and was rather pleased with himself.
"How about that? Do you think I also possess a bit of the wisdom they, Humans, have for handling cases?"
Fang Yu pretended to widen his eyes and anxiously glanced left and right, lowering his voice and said.
"Should you be saying this? Don’t use that kind of talk; people will listen and notice there’s something wrong with your identity!"
This reaction, on the contrary, worked in Lin Xiaosheng’s favor.
He smiled.
"Rest assured, everything is under my control." He moved his fingers.
Rustle rustle—
The entire room was filled with nearly a hundred semi-transparent hidden threads, glinting sharply in the sunlight as if they were blades.
Then, Lin Xiaosheng spoke up.
"You, too, are within my control."
Cold sweat, trickling down the forehead.
Fang Yu tensed his legs, ready to jump out of the window and flee at any hint of trouble.
It’s all up to you now, Phantom White Kick!
"What do you want to do?"
"Simple. I don’t care about the other demons; it’s just dogs biting dogs. How did the Eight-clawed Demon die? He was one of you!"
A slap sounded.
Lin Xiaosheng slammed his hand onto the tea table, staring intently at Fang Yu.
"..."
Silence.
A silence that lasted a full three seconds.
Then, Fang Yu spoke.
"I don’t know."
"Still want to quibble? Are you saying you have nothing to do with what happened at Changhong Cloth Shop?"
"I came to find Yue Guang. Today was the day the Foolish Underworld checked my identity, but..."
Fang Yu opened the new jacket he put on before leaving the house, revealing a black hole on his chest.
"I’ve run into a problem."
Lin Xiaosheng slightly furrowed his brow, but the atmosphere relaxed.
Because Humans would die without a heart.
But not demons.
For demons, all human organs and flesh are just shells worn on the outside.
Without affecting the Demon Body, loss of flesh and organs is inconsequential.
"What happened?"
"Ran into a human Martial Artist."
"Strong?"
"Not really."
"Then you..."
"This human skin is still useful."
Lin Xiaosheng immediately understood.
Demons can only exert their full strength when showing their true forms.
Otherwise, confined in human skin, their strength is limited.
It’s normal not to be able to beat some powerful human warriors.
And Diao Deyi’s identity, to be well-executed, had even sacrificed a colleague.
This skin, for the Shuang Xuyao, must be of significant use; it could not be shed lightly.
"You did well, with great consideration for the plan."
Lin Xiaosheng nodded slightly.
From this perspective, what the person said made sense.
But how exactly the Eight-clawed Demon died, he was somewhat perplexed.
Suddenly, as if sensing something, Lin Xiaosheng’s fingers twitched slightly.
In no time, the door to the private room was opened.
[Yue Guang: 855/855.]
This guy’s health has increased again!
Fang Yu was shocked inside but kept a composed face.
Yue Guang glanced at the hole in Fang Yu’s chest and immediately closed the door with the back of his hand.
"Is it him?"
"No."
"...We won’t investigate further. Li Baizhen has started to suspect me."
"He actually..."
"Shh!"
Yue Guang suddenly signaled for silence.
Tap tap tap.
Footsteps passed by outside the door.
Followed by.
"Have you seen these two men?"
"Sir Hundred, I’ve not seen them."
"...Alright."
Tap tap tap.
The sound of footsteps moved away.
The three inside the room exchanged a glance.
Yue Guang was the first to speak.
"What did you do?" He was asking Fang Yu.
"I was being watched, possibly by people from the Li Family. I dealt with it without revealing my true identity."
"...Shed your skin. This identity isn’t safe to use anymore."
Shed skin? Shed what skin!
I’ve got no skin, if I take off my clothes, there’s nothing underneath!
Fang Yu said gravely, "It’s not time yet!"
Yue Guang glared at Fang Yu, and they stared at each other.
It was Lin Xiaosheng who interjected, "There’s also a Li Baizhen outside, what are you guys planning!"
"..."
"..."
Yue Guang’s demeanor softened, and he silently reached out, plunging his hand into Fang Yu’s chest, burying it inside.
A bizarre sensation of blood flow merged into the body.
Before Fang Yu had time to reflect, Yue Guang had already withdrawn his hand.
Fang Yu looked down and saw the hole in his chest was filled, restored as before.
Thump.
The heartbeat sounded within his body.
Fang Yu was astounded.
So this... you didn’t need me to collect remnants at all, this is creating something from nothing!
Fang Yu felt increasingly that this Yue Guang was extraordinary, this ability far surpassed those of the demons he had slain.
At this moment, Yue Guang met Fang Yu’s gaze, giving a cold smile.
"Your true form is well hidden."
Fang Yu startled, realizing that this guy had just taken the opportunity to search his body!
Lucky I have no demon body! So he can’t find a demon body!
"Everyone to their own duties."
Fang Yu left behind these words, intending to get up, when he seemed to remember something, pausing, he asked, "The Foolish Underworld will verify my identity today, what methods of detection do they use, and is there a way to mask it?"
Yue Guang shook his head.
"They won’t be accurate."
"Why?"
"I switched the items."
Fang Yu: !!!
Why didn’t you say so earlier! You should’ve said so from the start!
So reliable! So reliable!
Yue Guang, suddenly you seem so dependable in my eyes!!
Emotionally excited, Fang Yu felt a weight lifted from his heart, just to hear Yue Guang continue.
"Moreover, there’s never been an absolute method capable of detecting our concealed demonic form."
"All artifacts are only auxiliary, the interrogator is the key."
"Or rather, the interrogator is the demon detection artifact!"
"Handle him well, and you’ll get through this."
"Otherwise..."
Yue Guang didn’t finish speaking, but Lin Xiaosheng sighed.
"If something happens to you, I will credit you with a favor to Shuang Xuyao."
"...Thank you."
Fang Yu pushed the door open and left.
...