Heavenly King Demonic Eye? Heavenly King Demonic Eye?!
Seeing the young man appear so abruptly, sporting that signature athletic headband, Zhang Yuanqing’s pupils constricted violently. The hairs on his spine stood on end. His body received signals of sheer terror and tension, pumping out adrenaline in a frenzy to cope with the imminent crisis.
*Why is he here? Has he finally tracked me down?*
*No, that’s impossible. My home address couldn’t have leaked. Even if Heavenly King Demonic Eye managed to dig it up, he would have gone to my home, not shown up here.*
*He’s not here for me. Is it because of this kid? Or is he just passing by?*
In a split second, Zhang Yuanqing’s mind raced through tens of thousands of miles. Outwardly, however, he maintained the shock and fear he had just displayed. Giving Kou Beiyue a tug, he deliberately took two steps forward, stared at Heavenly King Demonic Eye, and demanded, “Who are you? Why are you following us?”
Heavenly King Demonic Eye belonged to an evil profession, and so did Kou Beiyue. The chances of them being friends rather than foes were far higher. If Zhang Yuanqing showed a degree of protectiveness toward Kou Beiyue, Heavenly King Demonic Eye wouldn’t just slaughter a comrade, even if Zhang Yuanqing himself was of an orthodox profession.
Zhang Yuanqing was playing a little tactical game.
Guessing that Heavenly King Demonic Eye wasn't here for him, he felt much calmer inside.
Otherwise, his only option would have been to drop to his knees in a desperate tiger bow, shouting at the top of his lungs, *Spare my life, Heavenly King!*
Yet Kou Beiyue did something entirely unexpected. Dropping into a combat stance, he whispered, “He’s likely a Bewitching Demon of the Saint stage. This guy is extremely weird. We have to be careful.”
*This guy is extremely weird, we have to be careful, be careful...* Zhang Yuanqing’s expression froze slightly. *What the hell do you mean? Aren't you two friends? Putting up a defensive stance like that is going to make me panic!*
*This guy isn’t some Saint—he’s a Dominator-level big shot!*
The sudden turn of events left Zhang Yuanqing at a loss. Running away was a guaranteed death sentence. The Night Walk skill was renowned as a godly stealth technique, but across such a massive disparity in rank, Zhang Yuanqing held out no hope of fooling a Dominator.
Going head-to-head was equally out of the question. In front of Heavenly King Demonic Eye, he couldn't put up any stiffness at all.
On the contrary, he felt limp all over, his bones turning to mush.
Kou Beiyue, however, wasn't limp in the slightest. His entire body was taut, his temper just as unyielding. Glaring at the young man he had met once before, he demanded, “Did you fucking mark me?”
How else could he have found him?
Heavenly King Demonic Eye smiled cheerfully. “I told you, I plan to take you up north to nurture you. Naturally, I’d pay closer attention. Just now, I sensed something abnormal about your condition, so I came over to check. I never expected to find you mingling with someone from the official faction.”
With that, he turned his gaze toward Zhang Yuanqing, sizing him up. “You seem to be a Night Wanderer. A Night Wanderer from the Taiyi Sect, hm? Tsk-tsk, why are you keeping company with an evil profession?”
Without waiting for Zhang Yuanqing to answer, his eyes narrowed slightly, glinting with a cold light. “Ah, I see. Collusion between officials and crooks, oppressing the common folk. You deserve death.”
His voice lacked any overt murderous intent—he was even smiling—yet under that gaze, Zhang Yuanqing felt as if he had been plunged into a freezing cellar, chilled to the bone in body and soul.
“You’re the crook!” the defiant youth cursed. “Who I hang out with is none of your damn business!”
*Shut the fuck up! If you want to get yourself killed, don’t drag me down with you, all right?!* Zhang Yuanqing cursed inwardly. Still, thanks to Kou Beiyue’s interruption, his mind finally clicked into place.
*So Kou Beiyue is a junior Heavenly King Demonic Eye has taken a fancy to, someone he wants to take north to train?*
*In that case, they really are friends rather than foes. Right, this guy is an angry young vigilante who detests corrupt officials and bullies the most. I need to play to his tastes and earn his goodwill.*
*This isn't flattering the enemy—it’s strategic risk mitigation.*
With his nerves steadying, Zhang Yuanqing adopted a solemn expression. “I’m an official, that’s true, but he is no crook.
“He is a kind person. Back at the nightclub, he easily could have slaughtered ordinary people to heal his wounds, to put up a desperate fight, or to recover his strength and flee. But he didn’t. He chose to hover on the brink of death rather than sacrifice the lives of the innocent.
“Such a precious virtue surpasses the vast majority of people in this world. Even many official walkers lack that level of resolve. If he’s a crook, then everyone in this world is a crook.”
Kou Beiyue listened, dumbfounded. *I have such noble virtues? How come I didn't know that myself?*
Heavenly King Demonic Eye squinted and chuckled. “But he belongs to an evil profession.”
“So what if he’s from an evil profession?” Zhang Yuanqing countered, puffing out his chest with passionate conviction. “Even among the worst groups, good people exist. Not every member of an evil profession is utterly depraved, and not every member of an orthodox profession is kindhearted. I stopped judging people solely by their profession long ago.
“As long as someone is a good person, whether orthodox or evil, they are my friend. As long as someone commits crimes and evil deeds, whether orthodox or evil, they are my enemy!”
In that moment, Zhang Yuanqing’s image shone brilliantly in Kou Beiyue’s heart, towering and majestic, second only to Master Wuhen.
He suddenly understood why Xiao Yuan, normally so aloof and guarded, had become friends with him.
No one would refuse to befriend a man like this.
Heavenly King Demonic Eye had clearly not anticipated such an answer either. He froze for a second, then broke into a brilliant grin.
“Interesting, very interesting!
“I’ve met many good people among the orthodox professions, but I don’t like them. Their minds are rigid. Even though they do righteous deeds, they remain guardians of the old order, obstacles to cleansing the world.
“You are very different. Rather than clinging to order, you care more about following the guidance of your own heart, following your inner sense of good and evil. And that is precisely what I pursue.”
Showing a touch of admiration, he clicked his tongue. “Then let me see whether what you said came from the heart.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, two crimson runes surfaced within his pupils, radiating red light.
Zhang Yuanqing’s body stiffened instantly. His mind turned groggy, stripping him of the ability to think, and his pupils dilated into a vacant daze.
He had no chance to react at all; he was bewitched almost instantaneously.
Heavenly King Demonic Eye summoned a sharp fruit knife, twirling it idly in his hand as he asked with a smile:
“Have you ever used your position to take bribes, extort money, embezzle public funds, seize illegal gains, rape or coerce women...?”
He fired off a barrage of questions, running through virtually every crime an official could possibly commit.
He was remarkably familiar with the list.
Zhang Yuanqing wore a wooden expression, his voice hollow. “No.”
“No?” Heavenly King Demonic Eye fell silent. A few seconds later, he sighed in marvel. “You’re very lucky. For now, I can’t find any justification to kill you.”
With that, he released the bewitchment.
Watching from the side, Kou Beiyue looked utterly bewildered. For a moment, he couldn’t tell who was the law enforcer and who was the Bewitching Demon.
An evil profession interrogating an orthodox profession about whether he had done bad deeds?
Could anything in this world be more absurd?
Yes!
Namely, that the orthodox walker really hadn't done a single bad thing. Was he even human?!
*Damn it, I got controlled without even realizing it. Good thing I’ve been an official walker for so short a time that I haven’t had the chance to take bribes yet. Besides, spreading pornographic pictures and videos probably isn't a capital offense in this guy’s book...* Regaining control of his body, Zhang Yuanqing broke out in a cold sweat across his back.
“Can I leave now?” Zhang Yuanqing maintained a calm front.
“You may!” Heavenly King Demonic Eye nodded, beaming. “What’s your Spirit Realm ID?”
Zhang Yuanqing said in a deep voice, “Yuan Ting!”
Heavenly King Demonic Eye nodded slightly. “From Kangyang District?”
“Yes.”
“Very good. Then answer me one more question.” Heavenly King Demonic Eye rubbed his chin, curious. “What kind of person do you think Yuanshi Tianzun is?”
Zhang Yuanqing’s expression turned solemn, enunciating each word carefully:
“He is a man of far nobler character, greater courage, and deeper righteousness than myself. In his presence, I often feel out of place simply because I am not righteous enough.”
Heavenly King Demonic Eye looked utterly dumbfounded.
***
Inside Wuhen Hotel, within the quaint Buddhist hall carrying the faint scent of sandalwood.
Xiao Yuan bowed toward the green-robed figure standing beneath the Buddha statue. “Kou Beiyue violated the rules you laid down. He sought revenge against an official Deacon on his own and ended up trapped in a nightclub by his enemy.”
“Do you wish to ask me to save him?”
Master Wuhen’s voice, suppressed with pain, echoed through the hall.
Xiao Yuan shook her head gently. “I already sought help from Yuanshi Tianzun. He rescued Kou Beiyue. In return, I intend to join his guild.”
Master Wuhen seemed somewhat surprised and remained silent for a long time.
“Very well!”
After a prolonged silence, his voice rang out in the quiet hall.
*The Master approves of that kid too...* Xiao Yuan continued, “What should be done with Kou Beiyue?”
“Kou Beiyue has not severed his worldly ties and cannot let go of his hatred. Effective today, he is expelled from Wuhen Hotel. Only when he turns over a new leaf may he return.”
“Understood!”
***
The astonishment on Heavenly King Demonic Eye’s face slowly faded, his lips curving into a smile.
“Intriguing. Very intriguing.
“I can hardly wait to meet this little fellow. He must be quite fun.”
Pondering for a few seconds, he added:
“Actually, I’m a law-abiding Bewitching Demon myself. I appreciate your viewpoint, and I also believe orthodox and evil aren't the standards for measuring good and bad—the human heart is.
“We can add each other as friends and keep in touch. If you could share Yuanshi Tianzun’s contact info with me, I’d be even happier.”
*The only contact info I’m giving you is Elder Gou’s!* Zhang Yuanqing didn't dare refuse. Bracing himself, he fished out his phone and added Heavenly King Demonic Eye as a friend.
All at once, the phone felt unimaginably heavy, making him want to throw it away.
Having quietly marked Yuan Ting of the Taiyi Sect, Heavenly King Demonic Eye stowed his phone, turned around, and waved his back to the two of them.
“Until fate brings us together again. I hope next time, you won’t give me any justification to kill you either.”
Chapter 153