Chapter 31: I Demand a Duel
In the ancient tomb’s corridor stood a shadowy figure.
It remained motionless, gazing silently at Li Changluo and his companions.
Under the beam of their flashlight, Li Changluo finally discerned the figure’s true form.
A skeleton...
A skeleton standing upright like a human, still and watchful, its empty sockets fixed upon them, though it lacked any eyes.
Despite his demonic nature, Li Changluo harbored a deep fear of the supernatural. His first instinct was to flee.
But then again...
He was a demon himself.
What puzzled him most, however, was Xiao Qing, who covered her eyes.
Why are you acting shy for no reason?
Are you embarrassed because the skeleton isn’t wearing any clothes?
The skeleton lingered for a long while, simply staring at them.
Just as Li Changluo began to suspect the skeleton was nothing more than a decoration, it stirred.
Slowly, it shuffled toward them, moving like an ancient elder, every step a labor.
“I think... my head is spinning, ah~~~~~.”
Li Changluo let out a delicate groan, and promptly collapsed, his legs twitching weakly on the floor. He considered foaming at the mouth to make it more convincing, but thought better of it—wasn’t that a bit much?
Forget it.
He fell decisively, resolutely, and with remarkable professionalism.
When the enemy reveals itself, let your friends do the fighting—never exert yourself. This was one of Li Changluo’s survival principles.
If you can avoid a fight by causing a commotion, then make a scene and never use your fists.
Heihei and Xiao Qing were dumbfounded. Who had ever heard of someone fainting from seeing bones?
Could this excuse for playing dead be any more blatant?
Couldn’t he at least show some respect for his teammates?
It was as if everyone was happily gaming together, when one of the guys suddenly announced, “I’ve got period cramps, I’m feeling weak, I need to log off.”
...
“It doesn’t seem to have any demonic energy,” Xiao Qing said, widening her eyes as she carefully observed the approaching skeleton.
Heihei stood at the front, handed his lamp to Xiao Qing, and rolled up his sleeves, preparing to grapple with the skeleton.
Regardless of the opponent’s demonic power, Heihei had the highest energy in their group, and it was his duty to protect everyone.
“Wait, let me!” Li Changluo sprang up from the ground with surprising agility. He fished out a cigarette, lit it, and his eyes became sharp and resolute.
A far cry from the fainting act moments ago.
His entire demeanor shifted, radiating trustworthiness and confidence.
“Weren’t you dizzy from the bones?” Xiao Qing asked, puzzled.
“Hey, a man must protect his brothers and the women—what’s a little dizziness?” Li Changluo declared, his gaze fierce, pointing at the approaching skeleton, his words measured: “If you wish to fight, then fight.”
His presence was overwhelming...
The skeleton, however, continued its painstaking approach, as if it hadn’t heard a word.
Damn it, how am I supposed to keep up this act?
He’d hoped his bravado would win him some favor with the girls.
But this skeleton wasn’t playing along.
Luckily...
It wasn’t his match...
This act was risk-free.
“You only got up because you heard it had no demonic energy, didn’t you?” Xiao Qing challenged.
“Hahaha, that’s not important. What matters is, I’m about to thrash this skeleton.”
“No one interfere—this is between me and it.”
Li Changluo finished awkwardly, then struck another pose before charging forward, cigarette dangling, confidence overflowing.
Heihei watched the performance, tempted to give Li Changluo a thumbs-up...
Who knew you could act with such grandiose shamelessness?
Xiao Qing wanted to point out that this was actually important—the skeleton wasn’t a monster, so it had no demonic energy. But Li Changluo was impatient.
Li Changluo drew a fruit knife, its blade glinting coldly.
He launched into a relentless assault on the slow-moving skeleton, his movements smooth and graceful.
In life, Li Changluo rarely fought—he avoided trouble wherever possible, and for twenty years had never thrown a punch.
Still, the age-old adage holds true: no matter how skilled, a kung fu master fears a kitchen knife.
Don’t be timid, just stab away—that’s Li Changluo’s motto, and it served him well. The fancy moves on TV were just for show; in real fights...
Who would be stupid enough to say, “Wait, I haven’t struck a pose yet!”
Why don’t you play by the rules, little adversary? You’re no fun.
As long as you can bring down your opponent, it’s a good move—even hiding weapons in a fruit knife counts.
After Li Changluo’s wild attack, the skeleton was reduced to a heap of dry bones in the corridor.
“I am terrifying indeed.”
Li Changluo wanted a killer line to mark the end of his battle, but before he could utter it, he suddenly couldn’t breathe.
A pair of skeletal hands clamped tightly around his neck, lifting him off the ground.
Wasn’t it supposed to have no demonic power?
Hadn’t he already shattered it?
Was it using cheats?
Boss...
I’ll pay double—give me cheats too!
Li Changluo’s eyeballs nearly popped out from the pressure.
Heihei and Xiao Qing remained where they were, faces blank, as if reporting their teammate Li Changluo for feeding the enemy, watching this tragic scene with indifference.
“Heihei, I think he’s done for.”
“Hey, never say a man is finished. Li is a wolf-hearted, dog-livered demon, full of schemes—this could be a tactic. Let’s wait and see.”
“But Heihei, his eyeballs are about to pop out.”
“No matter. You know the story about the boy who cried wolf? It’s meant to show us...well, how dangerous wolves can be. Li is a wolf.”
...
“Heihei, his eyes are turning white.”
“No matter...”
“Heihei...”
Xiao Qing couldn’t bear to watch anymore—it was too brutal.
Heihei knew Li Changluo best after spending so much time together. The boy was full of tricks and never suffered losses; but after waiting a while, he realized Li Changluo was truly being overpowered by the skeleton.
He quickly transformed into his true form—a plump, adorable hamster.
He darted to the skeleton, swiped a paw, and snapped its hands.
Li Changluo sat down, clutching his neck, gasping desperately for air, needing a long moment to recover.
Heihei’s sharp claws dispatched the skeleton, which had no fighting strength at all; in mere moments it was once again reduced to a pile of bones.
“You’re murdering your own husband, do you realize?” Li Changluo’s voice was hoarse from the skeleton’s grip.
“It doesn’t have any demonic power!” Xiao Qing shrugged, blinking cutely. “Is it my fault?”
“No demonic power means no life. If it has no life, you can’t kill it. It’s like a doll—you stab it, it doesn’t feel a thing.”
Xiao Qing struggled to explain, the analogy taxing her mind.
But before Heihei could recover, the pile of bones on the ground slowly knit itself back together, returning to its original form.
For Heihei, this kind of fight was far from satisfying—he hadn’t enjoyed himself yet. He licked his paw, preparing to battle once more.
However...
After licking his paw, his expression suddenly changed.