Chapter 17: I Will Fight With Honor

Li Changluo followed them up to the second floor.

He didn’t dare rush recklessly into the room; last time, he had been the first to enter. He hadn’t even gotten a clear look at the layout before he was thrown out by Xiaoqing. He had no idea what torments Hei Wa and Xiaoqing had suffered in that room afterward.

He wanted to take a look inside through the window with no bars. However, he found the window now covered by a drawn curtain. Li Changluo thought about pulling it aside, but as soon as his hand reached out, he drew it back in fear. It was the kind of dread you feel when reaching into a mystery box—you never know if you’ll find treasure, a poisonous snake, or, perhaps, a pile of filth. If it were a head-on confrontation, Li Changluo could have forced the snake to swallow the filth, but it was the unknown that truly terrified him.

Just then, another burst of strange, chattering laughter came from the room—it was unmistakably Hei Wa’s voice. Li Changluo could no longer hold himself back.

I’m coming to save you!

Hang in there…

He charged through the door, only to see Hei Wa and Xiaoqing slumped on the sofa, their eyes glazed, staring blankly ahead.

Had their souls been snatched? What on earth…?

As Li Changluo looked closer, he saw what lay before them—

A television.

“Erkang, tell me, how can a broken me help a broken you…”

“It’s all my fault, my fault, my fault…”

“Erkang, just kill me…”

“Ziwei, I’m a scoundrel, the world’s greatest scoundrel…”

“Ah ah~~ ah ah~~ ah ah ah ah ah~~”

Laughter erupted—

Hei Wa and Xiaoqing clutched their bowls of popcorn, tumbling over each other in fits of hilarity.

They were… watching TV.

Dammit.

Li Changluo’s scalp tingled; he slapped his head repeatedly.

He had imagined all sorts of miserable fates for Hei Wa and Xiaoqing. He’d pictured them fighting a fox demon through day and night for their dignity, finally collapsing from exhaustion and being subdued.

But never, in his wildest thoughts, did he imagine these two fools—

—would be subdued like this.

Had they watched romance dramas all night? Or watched the same ones, over and over, night after night?

Damn it all…

My heart aches.

You heartless, cruel, unreasonable bastards…

I spent two days out in the wind and rain, scavenging for food and shelter, and you’re here eating popcorn.

Li Changluo stormed over and snatched Hei Wa’s popcorn, stuffing handfuls into his mouth.

Delicious.

Just then, a violet shadow leapt at him from behind. Li Changluo reacted quickly—he tossed the popcorn aside and drew his fruit knife, brandishing it at the oncomer.

This time, Li Changluo finally saw the violet-robed woman’s face. She was beautiful, more so than Xiaoqing, with a seductive maturity unique to foxes. Yet her complexion was ashen, a deathly pallor hung over her.

“In fact, there’s some truth to feng shui,” he quipped, “judging fortune or misfortune by the vitality or death in a person’s face—vitality brings joy, death brings a villain’s look. I see your brows clouded in darkness; disaster surely looms. I may be unworthy, but I’ve dabbled in the art of divination. Shall we sit and have a good chat? I can read palms too, you know?”

He grinned at her, but she showed no reaction.

“Fox demon lady, it’s fine if you don’t want a reading. But please, let me go. I’m not a fan of soap operas.”

He shook his head and glanced at the TV—a classic diversion tactic he often used.

As he gazed, his hand pressed hard on the handle of his knife, and a long needle shot toward the violet-robed woman.

Everything was under control.

The needle struck her forehead dead center.

She instantly crumpled to the ground like a deflated balloon, leaving behind only a husk of skin.

Li Changluo let out a long sigh. Despicable tricks always worked best.

But before he could savor his triumph, a pair of hands clasped tightly around his neck from behind.

Li Changluo struggled frantically, flailing his limbs, until his strength ebbed away, his eyes rolled back, and he fell still.

“You’re the Twelfth Prince now; even if you call yourself the Thirteenth Prince, it’s no use.”

“It won’t help even if you call yourself the Emperor…”

The TV drama continued blaring, while Hei Wa and Xiaoqing munched on seeds, absorbed in the show.

The person who had seized Li Changluo finally released his grip, dropping Li Changluo to the floor.

It was that man—but now his face bore a pointed snout and tall ears; he was a fox.

“Who said fox demons are always women?” he sneered coldly. He licked his lips, squatted down, and felt Li Changluo’s neck.

Still alive, merely unconscious.

He had no intention of killing Li Changluo. He gently dragged him over to the sofa and propped him upright beside the others.

Then he turned to pick up the deflated violet robe woman from the floor. She was like a discarded human skin, which the fox demon carefully folded.

“What are you waiting for?” he muttered. “Why not let me fall into this time trap too?”

“Azhi really doesn’t suit your imposing looks, ha!” Li Changluo said awkwardly, holding up a cracked ashtray in a half-hearted show of admiration. “Your head is impressively sturdy—mind if I tap it again?”

“I advise you not to be stubborn. Just confess…”

The lines from the TV drama drowned out Li Changluo’s awkward words.

Fox demon Azhi finally realized he’d been ambushed. Clutching his throbbing head, his fox face contorted with pain and tears.

It really did hurt.

Azhi glared at Li Changluo, his claws slowly lengthening.

Damn, was he about to unleash his ultimate move?

Li Changluo, trembling, fished out a pack of cigarettes, lit one, took a long drag, and exhaled a ring of smoke before speaking calmly.

“True victory isn’t about defeating the weak or the strong, but about a fair duel. That’s the real meaning of battle. Bullies—what’s the point in that?”

“Utterly despicable!”

“I think we should have a proper, honorable fight,” he said, his gaze deep, voice low as he exhaled smoke toward Azhi. “Let’s not mince words. Getting an E-level quest is far too easy for me. If you could sense my demon power, you’d understand what I mean.”

“I don’t want to take advantage of you, so…”

“So?” Azhi had no ability to sense demon power.

“So, let’s fight without using any supernatural powers.”

“No demon power? Just a war of words?” Azhi laughed.

But right now, he’d rather spar verbally with Li Changluo. Why hadn’t Li Changluo been trapped by the time anomaly in this building? Because, in truth, Azhi’s body could not hold out much longer…

He was waiting.