CHAPTER 396: CHAPTER 392: HARD TO COEXIST

"Lord Dumpling, you can’t be walking around or stepping all over the place when I’m driving," Zhou Li said helplessly. "It’s very dangerous."

"Hm? Why is that so meow?" Tuanzi asked, her eyes shining brightly.

"It’s very dangerous."

"Why is it dangerous meow? Are you afraid Lord Dumpling will bite you meow?"

"..." Zhou Li quickly glanced at Huai Xu in the passenger seat. "Help me out here."

"Got it!"

Huai Xu forcefully picked up Tuanzi, ignoring her struggling, and casually tossed her into the backseat. Only then did he dust off his hands and say, "Once the Heavenly Master’s Office of this era is set up, will we still be able to make money from this line of work?"

"It will be a bit more difficult," Zhou Li replied.

Much later, cases involving Demons might be handled directly with a call to 110 to alleviate the people’s worries. Naturally, it wouldn’t be possible to charge as much, and they might even not charge at all. By then, if Zhou Li had a role in the Heavenly Master Department, helping them "respond to calls," he could probably get some part-time income or subsidies. But, no matter how much, it would definitely be far less than what they’re making now.

"So, what do we do?" Huai Xu asked, a little distressed.

"There will still be opportunities to make money, just fewer of them. It won’t be as easy anymore," Zhou Li reassured him. "There will always be some private jobs we can take on; not all matters can be solved by the officials."

"We have to make more money while we can!"

"But that’s so tiring..." Zhou Li sighed.

"What other choice do we have?" Huai Xu retorted.

"We won’t starve to death; we’ve already made enough money to last for many years." Zhou Li glanced at Tuanzi and suddenly lost some confidence. "Even if we use up all the money later on, we won’t starve... Brother Nan will take care of us."

"Right!" Huai Xu exclaimed.

And so, Huai Xu’s anxiety also eased a little.

「An hour later, West Mountain Bamboo Garden.」

This place was so quiet that you could hear the sound of the breeze passing through the bamboo leaves.

Zhou Li was using his massage skills on Sister Hong Ran. She squinted, her fluffy tail swaying behind her.

"How’s that?" Master Xiao Zhou asked, clearly focused on client experience.

"Did you just learn this move?" Hong Ran asked.

"Yes," Zhou Li confirmed.

"It’s comfortable," Hong Ran hummed softly, the sound akin to a contented stretch. "But why are you always pressing on my shoulders and back? I don’t suffer from back and neck pain like you humans do."

"Hmm..." Zhou Li trailed off, suddenly embarrassed.

It was mainly because Brother Nan liked to play games, and gaming often led to sitting for long periods. Sitting for half a day could easily cause backaches and soreness, which is why he had learned this massage technique. He had thought that Hong Ran also often sat for long periods while managing her many affairs, but he’d overlooked that she was a Great Demon; beneath her human appearance, she didn’t have a human’s physiological structure.

Zhou Li glanced sideways.

Huai Xu was sitting cross-legged on a small sofa, gnawing at an odd fruit with a crisp munching sound, his gaze fixed on them.

He had already hesitated several times, as if he had something to say.

Zhou Li had long noticed that the old demon’s behavior was off.

Normally when he came to play with Hong Ran, Huai Xu would often tag along, but he was mainly there for Hong Ran’s gaming room. The moment he arrived, he would seclude himself in the gaming room, engrossed in various expensive gaming peripherals.

As for the old monster’s thoughts... I can guess them. Clearly, it isn’t because he wants a massage too.

So, after some thought, Zhou Li spoke up, "Sister, have you seen Master Ming recently?"

He glanced at Huai Xu.

The old monster was still gnawing at his fruit, just subtly slowing and quieting his actions while glancing back at Zhou Li, as their gazes met.

Zhou Li offered a slight smile in response.

Hong Ran answered, her eyes still half-closed, "Yes. What about it?"

"When did you see him?" Zhou Li pressed.

"A couple of days ago," Hong Ran said.

"Do you know where he is?"

"Are you gathering information for Huai Xu?" Hong Ran’s voice carried a hint of amusement.

"Hmm..." Zhou Li paused, then, unembarrassed, bluntly asked, "Why hasn’t he come to see Huai Xu?"

"Have you ever seen him?" Hong Ran asked in return.

"Once, I think."

"You’ve seen him?" Hong Ran asked, surprised.

"Yes. I believe it was him, but I’m not certain. I only caught a glimpse from a distance, and it was just his back," Zhou Li said honestly. "It was a peculiar feeling."

"He cannot meet with you," Hong Ran said.

"Hmm?" Zhou Li began, about to ask why when he suddenly remembered the day he saw Master Ming. At that moment, the sky indeed seemed to have changed, and he felt a strange sense of oppression.

Hong Ran patted his hand.

"Oh!" Zhou Li exclaimed, hurriedly continuing to massage her.

It was then that Hong Ran leisurely explained, "Master Ming is very unique. He was unique among humans and Heavenly Masters, and this led to him being different from Huai Xu after he became a Demon."

"Different how?" Zhou Li asked.

"After becoming a Demon, he wasn’t immediately removed from the rolls of humanity. He is still recorded by the Will of the World, still possesses the limitless Spiritual Power bestowed upon him by the Will of the World. It’s a privilege that manifests his special existence and status." Hong Ran’s tone was languid, not befitting someone in power. "You are also quite special, but the difference is that he belongs to the previous era while you belong to this one. You both should be one of a kind. However, he should have died many years ago, but he has lived until now."

"What does that have to do with not being able to meet me?" Zhou Li inquired.

"You could say that him being alive now is already exploiting a loophole, so he has to keep a low profile," Hong Ran shrugged, "and definitely cannot meet with his successor."

"I see," Zhou Li nodded.

"It looks like I can’t be with you every day anymore," Huai Xu said as he threw a fruit pit into the trash. "Otherwise, Master Ming wouldn’t dare to come find me."

"You still need to protect Zhou Li," Hong Ran opened her eyes and gave Huai Xu a glance. "Next time I can arrange a meeting for you and Master Ming... You two really should meet."

"Really?" Huai Xu became visibly excited.

"But didn’t you say we can’t meet?" Zhou Li asked.

"In the Old Land World, the influence of your World Will is weaker. In some special places, it’s even weaker," Hong Ran explained, then smiled at Zhou Li. "I’ll take you to see our world. It’s beautiful."

"But there’s still an influence, right?" Zhou Li probed further.

"There is. Proper preparations are needed, but there’s no helping it..." Hong Ran paused for a few seconds before continuing, "Master Ming might not have much time left."

"Why?" Zhou Li asked.

"How can that be!?" Huai Xu exclaimed in disbelief.

Zhou Li was confused, while Huai Xu was shocked.

This time, Hong Ran paused for a few seconds before saying, "It’s still because of you. Your birth, your growth, they’re compelling the Will of the World to eliminate Master Ming of the previous era, to repair this loophole. Master Ming won’t last much longer."

This statement was clearly directed at Zhou Li.

Opening her eyes and glancing at Huai Xu, she revealed a faint smile. "Don’t be sad. I’ve talked with him, and he’s not someone who clings to life. The more than two thousand years have already been unbearable for him; he actually doesn’t enjoy such a life. In the past decade since the new era began, he has been constantly battling the Will of the World, enduring pressures you can’t imagine, even too preoccupied to think about other matters. Perhaps death, to him, is a relief."

Huai Xu’s eyes were wide, and he looked completely dazed.

Zhou Li subconsciously stopped his hand movements, his mind a bit scrambled, and he murmured, "No wonder..."

"No wonder what?" Hong Ran asked.

"Recently, my friend said that when Master Ming came to visit them, he seemed quite forceful."

"He’s getting impatient," Hong Ran said in an even tone, quickly figuring it out. "He thinks you’re all a bunch of hotheaded young lads, foolhardy rather than brave, just ignorant and rash. Scaring you is the quickest and most effective way to make you realize how high the sky is, how dangerous the world is. He’s the type who would have a chat with a chicken before killing it."

"Possibly," Zhou Li mused.

Zhou Li pondered. After Master Ming’s death, if some young Heavenly Masters acted recklessly, their outrageous actions could provoke the entire Demon Kingdom. There was a good chance they would then be exploited by the radicals, leading to war—much like the aftermath of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. What’s worse, their actions might be guided by radicals within the Demon Kingdom, using them as pawns to topple the peace faction and ignite a war.

And if a war were to break out now, humanity’s odds of winning were too low, despite technological advancement... So in reality, this was a protective measure for the human side.

At that moment, Hong Ran patted his hand again. "Why have you stopped? Worried that Huai Xu might kill you to let his teacher live?"

After a pause, she added, "You needn’t bother because worrying is pointless."

Zhou Li was speechless.

He withdrew his hand and, facing Hong Ran’s puzzled gaze, said, "Sister, I’m hungry."

This tactic worked well; Hong Ran immediately went to have someone prepare some snacks.

Zhou Li then sat down in her place, looked at Huai Xu who was still in a daze, and sighed. For some reason, he felt an inexplicable sense of guilt, as if he had usurped someone’s place and life. It made him feel particularly uncomfortable.