Chapter 58: The Second Mission

When Li Changluo awoke, dawn had already broken on the following day.

Little Qing was slumped over at his bedside, fast asleep.

Lying there, Li Changluo felt a dull ache in his neck—he didn't even need to think; clearly, he'd fallen victim to Little Qing's handiwork. He raised his hand, intending to knock her awake, only to realize a chunk of his sleeve had been torn away. Flustered, he lifted his covers for a look—and was at once shocked and incensed.

Damn it...

Why...

Why did you not succumb to my charms and do something indecent to me?

It was as if a woman had gotten drunk and hinted at wanting something to happen, and if you gave in, at worst, you'd be called a beast. But if you, fearing she'd make a scene, simply tied her up and slept soundly till morning with nothing happening at all—well, that was worse than a beast.

And Li Changluo's anger wasn't just about that—his trousers were in tatters, both legs missing entirely. His shirt was riddled with holes, each one evidence of rough handling.

"What did you do to me?" Li Changluo demanded, slapping Little Qing on the head in exasperation—only to discover that her head was, in truth, hard as iron. He found himself clutching his own aching hand, unable to utter a sound.

"Ah, you're awake," Little Qing murmured sleepily, blinking her eyes in an adorably dazed way.

"What's with this—and this? Did you do something improper to me?" Li Changluo covered his face with a show of bashfulness, barely stopping short of accusing her outright. He wasn't ready to give up hope; he knew this dim-witted girl was probably incapable of such things, but he still thought, if I play the victim, maybe I can marry into a powerful demon family.

"I was just helping you undress. Your clothes are too cheap—one tug and they fall apart," Little Qing replied, spreading her hands in innocent grievance.

Li Changluo was struck dumb. How could someone manage to make clothes even more shredded while taking them off? She must be crazy...

He'd lost count of how many sets of clothes Little Qing had ruined by now.

"Are you disgusted with me?" Little Qing looked at him with mournful, puppy-like eyes, her voice trembling. "I just wanted to help you..." she whimpered, sniffling.

"Are you going to leave me too? I'm so scared to be alone..."

Tears rolled down Little Qing's cheeks as she sobbed in genuine heartbreak.

"Alright, alright, fetch me some water—I need to wash my face," Li Changluo said, feeling a pang of sympathy. He understood: Little Qing now saw him as the only person she could trust, the only one she could rely on. All these acts sprang from her fear of losing him.

It was like when you were a child and, after making a mistake, your mother would threaten to abandon you. Panic and terror would set in, and you'd try anything to make up for it, desperate to ease the fear in your heart.

It all came down to seeking a sense of security.

"Oh, okay!" Little Qing's tears disappeared instantly, replaced by a cheerful eagerness as she hurried off to bring him a basin of water.

Li Changluo had a sense that something was amiss—but it was too late. Little Qing lifted the basin and dumped the entire contents over him.

Soaked through, Li Changluo sat motionless on the bed.

"Do you want me to help you wash your face?" Little Qing swept her damp hair aside, sunlight dancing across her figure as she looked at him hopefully.

"No," he muttered.

"Don't move—I'm scared."

"Just stand there and let me have a moment of peace, please."

Today happened to be the second task board assignment day of the month.

The tavern was especially lively; the area around the task board was packed with all manner of demons, jostling for a look.

With his clothing ruined, Li Changluo could only borrow a set from Miss Shadow-Gown. He donned it and made his way excitedly to the main hall. Of course, Miss Shadow-Gown had her own designs—she'd transformed the clothes into an ancient-style costume, something like the Feiyu Robe worn by the Brocade Guards of the Underworld Dynasty. But while the Brocade Guards carried the dashing Embroidered Spring Blades at their waists, he was stuck with a fruit knife.

What was he supposed to do—threaten to peel fruit for people at the drop of a hat?

Was Miss Shadow-Gown doing this on purpose?

Fortunately, Li Changluo made a fine clothes rack; his delicate features and graceful bearing only made the strange attire look even more heroic.

"Li! I've been looking for you everywhere. You have no idea what I went through yesterday—it's the stuff of legend!"

"I don't know which bastard filed a false report, but it about drove me mad. I was locked up all night for eating a free meal," Blacky complained. Though his skin was dark, Li Changluo could see the exhaustion etched on his face, and felt a twinge of sympathy.

Li Changluo guessed that Blacky had likely been bailed out by Zheng the Odd, and since he hadn't been mentioned, he wondered if he should tell Blacky that he was the one who alerted the authorities to save him.

On second thought, better not. After all, he was the kind of little demon who liked to hide his merits and reputation.

"Weren't you, er... soliciting?" Li Changluo asked.

"Yeah, at first it was me and my student, planning to do some wild, reckless things together, then grab a meal. But my student got lost, and I didn't have any money," Blacky recounted woefully.

"You actually did it?" Li Changluo pressed.

"No, she said she admired me and wanted to be my spiritual companion. So after our wild escapade, we just dozed off in each other's arms. She called it a 'vegetarian tryst'—a pure relationship," Blacky said, chest swelling with pride and hope.

"What exactly was this wild escapade?" Li Changluo asked.

"Turns out, she's a demon too—a chicken demon," Blacky whispered in Li Changluo's ear.

Li Changluo was stunned. "So the whole night, she was flying and you were jumping? That was it?"

"Of course not—when we got tired, we hugged and slept," Blacky replied shyly.

Even Little Qing, usually scatterbrained, was left speechless.

All of them thought privately: wasn't Blacky just being taken for a ride?

Li Changluo wanted to tell him that his chicken demon student hadn't really gotten lost—she was just a dinner scammer. But seeing the happiness on Blacky's face, he let it go.

As long as you're happy.

At that moment, the task board began to glow with a gentle goose-yellow light. Sheets of assignments flashed across it in quick succession.

A crowd of demons surged around it, sealing off all access; Li Changluo and his friends couldn't even catch a glimpse of the board.

Li Changluo was used to this. He'd never fought to get to the front.

The reason was simple.

He could never get a task anyway—so why bother shoving his way in?

Just to cheer others on?

"Wow, what a great assignment you got! Good luck next time, maybe you'll get an even bigger one!"

"Why aren't you wearing pants for your assignment? Remember to be a proper demon, alright?"

Why meddle?

So, Li Changluo always waited for the crowd to finish before making his selection.

Besides, his demon power was now at minus twenty-one...

What kind of assignment was he supposed to get—guarding a lollipop?

He probably couldn't even compete with the little demon children.