The train screeched to a halt and the compartment doors burst open.

The tourists and businessmen among the passengers quickly dispersed, and in the blink of an eye, only the laborers remained on the platform—their backs burdened with luggage, their faces alight with anticipation. They lingered for two reasons: first, they were struck by the prosperity of the great metropolis hinted at by this small corner of the station; and second, laborers like them, arriving in such a massive city, were almost always met by fellow villagers who had preceded them. They were waiting for these welcoming faces.

Groups of people speaking in myriad regional accents streamed out of the station, instantly swallowed up once they merged into the street crowds. This city was like that, every day "consuming" such influxes of labor and intellect, absorbing them as sustenance, thereby growing ever larger. It then attracted more outsiders, which fueled further growth... a snowball effect.

"Getting closer, this city feels like a colossal monster..." one person waiting at the station murmured to himself. "It could swallow so much in one gulp."

He was a young man, perhaps eighteen or nineteen, of average height and unremarkable features. He wore a suit that seemed wholly incongruous with his worn cloth shoes, and on his back was an enormous backpack, the kind used by mountain climbers. After voicing his thought, he continued to scan his surroundings, brimming with curiosity. By then, the crowd on the platform had slowly thinned, leaving him utterly alone.

"Why didn't Uncle come to meet me?" A thread of unease finally began to weave through him. "I remember he gave me this. He said I could use it to contact him..." He rummaged through the large backpack strapped to his back and finally produced a mobile phone. "Right, this thing! But how do I use it?" He frowned, traced a few paths in the air with his right hand, pointed at the phone, and commanded, "Appear!" With a loud CRACK!, the phone exploded into fragments. He stared blankly at the pieces in his hand, thinking, "Is this how I contact Uncle now?"

The people left on the platform watched him, murmuring amongst themselves. "Did you see that? His phone just exploded!"

"His phone..."

"That crack..."

"Explosion..."

As fingers pointed and whispers circulated, he began to feel unbearable pressure. Grabbing his meager belongings, he bolted out of the station.

Before him stretched a street choked with ceaseless streams of traffic, crisscrossed by elevated highways stacked several levels high. He looked left and right, utterly lost, not knowing which direction to take.

"Beep-beep..." The cacophony of horns surrounded him; he had unconsciously wandered into the middle of the road. He hastily retreated, only for the halted cars to speed past. Several drivers even rolled down their windows to shout curses and spit.

"Sigh..." This metropolis was truly a place where one couldn't take a single step without hindrance. He drooped, deflated. He had come out full of excitement, eager to see the sights, and he couldn't even navigate his way out of the station.

"Please get in." A red car pulled up in front of him and stopped; the driver opened the door and spoke.

He cautiously inspected the vehicle, making sure it wouldn't suddenly lurch forward, before bending low to climb inside. "Is this what the books call a 'taxi'?"

"Where are you headed, sir?"

"I... I'm going to..." He remembered Uncle had given him an address and frantically began searching his bag. "Ah, here it is: No. 167 Shannan Road." Looking up at the driver, he said, "Please take me there." The instant he clearly saw the driver, he sprang up from the seat, his head hitting the roof with a loud THWACK. Clutching his head, he forgot the pain entirely and pointed at the driver, stammering, "You... you are one too!"

The driver seemed unfazed by his astonishment, nodding slightly. "I am Zhou Ying. Are you new here today?"

For a moment, the young man felt embarrassed by his overreaction—Uncle had mentioned it long ago. In this city of over five million people, there lived more than three thousand yao, and while that wasn't a large number compared to humans, running into one or two wasn't unusual. He should have greeted his kin politely, just as he would in his hometown. He quickly bowed from his seat toward Zhou Ying. "I am a Lushu. Lushu. My name is Xiao Jiu. I just arrived today... My uncle was supposed to meet me, but he didn't come, so I..."

"A Lushu," a head popped out of Zhou Ying's pocket. "I've never seen one of those yao before." As the voice spoke, a Bifang appeared on Zhou Ying's shoulder. It looked as if it hadn't woken up properly, rubbing its eyes with its wings as it studied Lu Jiu from top to bottom. "I can't tell what your true form looks like, but I hear your hide makes people fertile and brings many descendants, right?"

"Bifang..." Lu Jiu cried out, his voice trembling. He shrunk as far as possible into the corner of the seat, terrified by the fiery gaze of the creature. Surely it wasn't planning to skin him?

"Huo'er, they won't be willing to grant others many descendants if they end up skinned themselves," Zhou Ying said to the Bifang.

"So it is true that they can bring fertility. I really want to see its original form." Huo'er said this, but its interest in Lu Jiu had already waned. It perched on Zhou Ying's shoulder and began to doze again.

Lu Jiu quietly let out a breath, his heart pounding violently. He hadn't recovered from the shock of seeing the Bifang. Why was a Bifang here? And why could Zhou Ying command a spirit beast? Was he an immortal who had achieved perfect mastery and was merely indulging in the mortal world? "Wait, Bifang! Uncle mentioned it, I think!" Lu Jiu began searching his large backpack again, finally pulling out a small notebook. This was a compendium Uncle had specially prepared for him, detailing necessary precautions for living in this city. Lu Jiu flipped it open, and the very first item listed under the warnings written in thick red ink read: If you must take a taxi in this city, under no circumstances use a red Santana taxi with the license plate XXX00544, as it is driven by a powerful Shadow Demon and accompanied by a Bifang that enjoys eating yao. Once you board that vehicle, you might not even leave any bones behind.

Though he couldn't recall the license plate number, the red car, the Shadow Demon, and the Bifang were all present. Had he, without realizing it, stepped into one of the city's most dangerous traps—a taxi?

"Oh, that's slander!" Lu Jiu looked up to find Huo'er perched on his seat back, craning its neck to read the notebook in his hands. It huffed indignantly, "I'm not that gluttonous! When I eat a yao, I absolutely do not eat the bones!"

Lu Jiu nearly fainted from terror—this was indeed the car Uncle had described. Father, Mother, Eldest Brother, Second Brother, Third Brother, Fourth Brother, Fifth Brother, Sixth Brother, Seventh Brother, Eighth Brother, Eldest Sister, Second Sister, Third Sister, Fourth Sister, Fifth Sister... He might never see any of them again.

The car slowed to a stop by the roadside, and Zhou Ying turned to face him.

Lu Jiu squeezed his eyes shut. "I'm going to be eaten! Eaten!"

"We're here. That will be twenty-three yuan, thank you."

"Here?" Lu Jiu repeated Zhou Ying's words in disbelief, yanked the door open, and scrambled out, half-rolling onto the pavement.

"Hey! Stop right there!" Huo'er shouted, swooping in front of him. "Trying to leave without paying? Do you want to know what happens to humans who ride for free under my cuisine?"

"Money, I have money." Lu Jiu remembered his father had specifically given him cash, saying humans valued this thing highly. He pulled out all the money from his backpack and offered it to Zhou Ying.

Zhou Ying looked at the piles of crumpled gold and silver in his hands with surprise. "Humans stopped using these long ago."

"Ah... this is all I have." They wouldn't demand him as dinner to cover the fare, would they?

Zhou Ying took four one-hundred-yuan bills from his wallet and offered them to Lu Jiu. When he didn't take them, Zhou Ying pressed them into his hand. "Humans use this paper currency now. Take this; it's very troublesome not to have money in this city." He glanced at the pale Lu Jiu, thinking this Lushu was far too timid; even seeing Huo'er shouldn't scare him this badly.

"Huo'er, let's go."

The red Santana pulled away. Lu Jiu's legs buckled, and he sank to the ground, one hand clutching the paper money, the other gripping the gold and silver. Cold sweat soaked his clothes...

"No. 167 Shannan Road... This is it..." Finally gathering the courage to stand, Lu Jiu began to examine the area before him and was instantly jolted by another shock. There were twenty to thirty apartment buildings lined up, each five or six stories high. "Humans live behind all those little lighted windows, right?" Lu Jiu wondered. In his homeland, residences were usually far apart; his own family occupied a sprawling courtyard with dozens of rooms where everyone lived happily together. But here, humans lived stacked on top of each other—it must be exhausting! After marveling at all this, the realization hit him: surely not all these dwellings belonged to his uncle. Where exactly was his uncle staying?

Lu Jiu looked at the complex again. There was one common gate, above which were written the characters "Taoyuan Community," alongside a smaller metal plaque reading, "No. 167 Shannan Road."

"All of this is No. 167 Shannan Road..." Lu Jiu found himself in the same dilemma he had faced at the station—caught between where to go and where to stay.

"Help! Someone, help!" A woman's cry attracted Lu Jiu's attention.

The sound came from a narrow alleyway not far away, but the passing humans hurried by, not sparing a single glance toward the source of the noise.

"Help me... please!" The woman's voice was almost a desperate shriek.

Lu Jiu screwed up his courage, adjusted the backpack on his shoulder, and took cautious steps toward the sound. He peered into the dimly lit alley beneath the streetlamp and let out a quiet sigh of relief. "Thank goodness, just a few humans." If several yao had been attempting to molest the woman ahead, Lu Jiu, still reeling from the shock of seeing the Bifang, would have fled in terror. But if he ran away from humans committing such an act, refusing to save a life, it would be a great disgrace to yao everywhere, wouldn't it? Thinking this, Lu Jiu moved closer.

Four human men surrounded a woman, uttering vulgarities while clamping hands over her mouth and restraining her limbs, tearing at her clothes. Suddenly, the woman's purse, lying on the ground, sprang up and struck one of the men sharply in the face. The tough leather bag immediately split his lip. He roared in anger and looked around for the "culprit," seeing only his companions and the victim. Immediately, one of his comrades beside him cried out and fell backward, his nose smashed flat as if punched away by an invisible force. Then another man jumped up, clutching his groin. The man holding the woman's mouth looked at his companions in confusion, but suddenly an invisible pair of hands clamped around his neck. He kicked out wildly and struck with his elbows, but touched nothing. The hands held fast, slamming his head against the wall—once, twice—and blood began to trickle down his forehead.

The narrow path that had moments before echoed with a woman's scream now filled with the men's howls of pain. With sounds like butchered pigs, the bruised and battered men scrambled out and vanished in seconds.

Lu Jiu poked his head out from the shadows, waiting until he was sure they were gone before tiptoeing over to the woman.

The woman still lay on the ground, eyes tightly shut, biting her lip, completely motionless.

"Madam, they've gone now. You can get up," Lu Jiu said cautiously.

The woman did not stir.

"Is she dead?" Lu Jiu crouched down and gently pushed her. The woman seemed to twitch slightly but remained unconscious. Lu Jiu checked her pulse—he was not skilled in healing arts, but his mother had taught him decent medicine. He quickly determined the woman was suffering from difficulty breathing due to extreme shock. He stood up, automatically looking for the herbs commonly found in the deep mountains. Only when he realized everything in sight was concrete walls and decorative flora did he remember that finding even the most common wild grass was hard in this city, let alone medicinal herbs. He stomped his foot—he had listened to his Eldest Brother and left his acupuncture needles at home. Wait, what had Eldest Brother said? "Humans live in cities; they use something called a 'hospital' to cure illnesses."

Treat them in a 'hospital'! Lu Jiu remembered. Knowing the woman would die if she couldn't breathe, he stopped hesitating, lifted her up, and ran toward the street.

"How do I find a 'hospital'?" Lu Jiu looked around frantically. "Right, a taxi. I'll have one take me where the 'hospital' is."

Lu Jiu flagged down every car he saw on the roadside. Finally, a car stopped, but the driver didn't open the door, instead peering through the window at the woman in his arms with suspicion. Lu Jiu pounded on the glass. "Hurry and take us to the hospital! She's dying!"

"Get in." The driver finally relented and let him enter. "Which hospital?"

"Any 'hospital' that can cure sickness will do!"

"...Alright, we'll go to the nearest one." The driver pulled away, asking, "Sir, is that your wife?"

"No, certainly not. She was attacked by several 'men,' so... I need to get her to a 'hospital.'"

"Oh, you saved her!"

Lu Jiu lowered his head shyly.

"Good for you! Because you're so brave, I'll race you to the hospital!" The driver suddenly seemed energized, stomping on the accelerator. The car darted and weaved between other moving vehicles like it was riding the clouds. Lu Jiu gripped the seat in fear, his mouth agape, unable to even scream, praying internally. Finally, with a long Screeech, the car slid to a stop.

"We're here! Only took seven minutes! My skills are incredible, aren't they!" The driver thumped Lu Jiu heartily on the back, boasting proudly.

Lu Jiu grinned weakly, teeth chattering, hands shaking, and legs weak as he got out. He instantly remembered that one had to pay for a ride and quickly thrust one of the bills Zhou Ying gave him toward the driver before the man could get angry.

The driver waved his hand generously. "No need! You saved her, young man; surely I can give you one free ride. Hurry up and get her inside; the hospital will definitely cost money!" As he spoke, he put the car in gear, muttering, "Nowadays, you don't find many good people like this."

Lu Jiu watched the car speed away.

"Taxi drivers, whether human or yao, are either very kind or very terrifying," Lu Jiu thought, looking up at the "hospital" before him, and exclaimed aloud, "What! This isn't just one building! It's a massive structure... Which room is the 'hospital' in?"

A strange, monstrous scent slowly drifted closer. Lu Jiu instantly tensed, looking around. The Lushu's inherent alertness often saved relatively weaker yao at critical moments, but this time, being surrounded by crowds meant scents were muddled. By the time he registered it, it was too late. Lu Jiu watched helplessly as a yao disguised as a human woman in white clothing approached him.

"Did you bring this woman?" She looked at Lu Jiu with surprise as well.

"Yes... yes, I did."

This yao woman didn't seem malicious. She nodded. "I sensed an aura of yao on her and worried a yao had attacked her."

"I didn't! I didn't! I only scared away the humans who were hurting her and brought her here... I wanted to treat her, but I don't know healing magic, and I couldn't find any herbs here. My silver needles are still on the mountain..."

The yao woman held up a hand to stop him and smiled faintly. "I know. If you had hurt her, you wouldn't have brought her to the hospital. By the way, what is your name? I am Nan Yu; I'm a doctor at this hospital."

"Lu... Lu Jiu." Nan Yu's gentle demeanor gradually calmed Lu Jiu's racing heart. He asked anxiously, "How... how is she?"

"She's fine now. I gave her a sedative; she'll be alright after sleeping."

Lu Jiu didn't know what a "sedative" was, but hearing that the woman was safe made him exhale in relief.

"I think you should leave now," Nan Yu advised. "Otherwise, you might run into a lot of trouble soon."

"Isn't she fine now?"

Nan Yu looked at him. "It's not about her. The police will be here soon to question you, asking you to prove you didn't harm her, and her relatives might come looking for you. Do you want to deal with all that?"

Lu Jiu vigorously shook his head.

"Then you should go. Leave the rest to me."

Lu Jiu nodded, then remembered something. "Money. The hospital will require payment, right? I have money; I'll give you the money first." He pulled out all the bills Zhou Ying had given him and offered them to Nan Yu.

"You don't need that. Just give it to me, quickly, and go back." Nan Yu gently pushed his hands away, showing a very gentle smile. "It was nice meeting you, Lu Jiu. I hope we can meet again."

Lu Jiu took another taxi back to the entrance of Xihai Community. He flipped through Uncle's notebook again, and one of the warnings, scrawled in red ink, stood out starkly: Municipal Hospital is a forbidden zone for the city's yao. Inside resides a Vampire Zombie that has cultivated for a thousand years. It is the most profoundly powerful yao in the city, masquerading as a hospital doctor and claiming the Municipal Hospital as its territory. Therefore, any yao entering this hospital will leave completely drained (sucked dry), no matter how full they entered. Remember this! Remember this!

"Nonsense!" Lu Jiu slammed the notebook shut forcefully. "It's all meant to scare people! Zhou Ying and Nan Yu were clearly good people! Even that Bifang didn't harm me." He tossed the notebook back into his bag, took a deep breath, and looked up at the sky: hardly any stars were visible, only the red and cyan hues cast by the neon lights—a beauty Lu Jiu had never experienced. "This city is a nice place after all. There are so many things I haven't seen, and the yao are very kind. I must tell my parents when I get back; I like this city very much."

"Ouch!"

Lu Jiu's shoulder was bumped hard, nearly sending him sprawling to the ground.

"Hey! Kid!" Several human men dressed bizarrely and wearing unfriendly expressions surrounded him. "You bumped into me!" one man with yellow hair said, exhaling a cloud of smoke directly into Lu Jiu's face.

"I'm sorry!" It must have been because I was looking up the whole time. Lu Jiu quickly apologized.

"Sorry is all you have, country bumpkin!" The man shoved him on the shoulder. "What's 'sorry' worth!" The other men surged forward, pushing and shoving Lu Jiu with fists and hands.

Lu Jiu stumbled among them, gasping out, "But... but..."

"But what! Hand over your money as compensation!"

Could this be the legendary "extortion"! Lu Jiu suddenly understood.

"Hurry up, kid, we don't have all night!"

Lu Jiu frowned, wondering what spell to use to teach them a lesson. "Spell... spell... ah... a knife!" A gleaming blade pressed against his neck. The instant Lu Jiu felt the cold pressure of steel against his throat, all the magic in his memory fled to the nine heavens.

"Hand over the money!"

Lu Jiu, trembling, offered them all the money he possessed.

"If you'd been this obedient earlier, none of this would have happened!" They stuffed the few bills into their pockets, shoved Lu Jiu to the ground, and swaggered off, laughing loudly about where they were headed for "fun tonight."

Lu Jiu sat on the ground, gasping for breath, still reeling from the shock, when a voice suddenly sounded overhead. "To be extorted by humans—you are an absolute disgrace to all yokai!" Lu Jiu looked up and saw the source of the voice—a boy of about ten, his tone carrying a childish lilt mixed with biting mockery.

The boy casually extended a hand as if grasping at air. Before the group of men in front of them noticed anything, several wallets had dropped neatly into his palm. He tossed the wallets onto Lu Jiu, raised an eyebrow, and smirked. "Take them. Try not to lose them again."

"Xiao Rui, what are you doing?" A human woman emerged from the roadside supermarket and called out to the boy.

"Mom!" The boy instantly switched to an innocent, charming smile and ran over. "This uncle is so weird, sitting on the ground."

Lu Jiu was too stunned by the boy's rapid transformation to process it, staring blankly.

His mother approached, asking with concern, "Sir, are you alright?" From behind the mother, two icy gazes shot towards Lu Jiu, brimming with warning.

"I... I fell, I... I dropped my wallet, I was picking it up..." Lu Jiu stammered out a frantic excuse.

"It's good that you're fine," she smiled gently. "Come on, Xiao Rui, say goodbye to the uncle."

"Goodbye, Uncle!" The boy waved at him, then skipped away hand-in-hand with his mother. "Mom, can I play on the computer after I finish my homework?"

"Finish your homework first."

"Absolutely! Tonight I'm going to battle them for three hundred rounds..."

Lu Jiu watched them disappear among the buildings. "She looks so much like my mother... He has a very good mother." Lu Jiu realized he must have encountered the young Nine-Tailed Fox mentioned in his uncle's records—one of the city's known hazards. Yet, this one seemed quite friendly, not at all like the cunning creature that treated visiting yokai as an appetizer.

Lu Jiu brushed the dirt off himself, thinking, I need to find Uncle’s place quickly, or how long am I supposed to wander around like this?

He wandered through the Taoyuan residential area for half the day, but every building looked identical in his eyes. He had no clue how to find his uncle’s residence. What should he do? Wait on the street until his uncle found him? Tired and hungry, Lu Jiu slumped onto the curb.

"La, la, la..." Someone emerged from the nearest building, singing softly as they walked. The person swayed past Lu Jiu, and in a single instant, Lu Jiu caught a line of the song: "...a yokai, a yo... la la la..."

"A... yokai?" A flicker of confusion crossed Lu Jiu’s mind. He hesitated for a moment, intending to look up at the person, but suddenly found a pair of eyes staring directly at him.

"Whoa!" Lu Jiu cried out in alarm.

The person stood with hands thrust into their pockets, leaning over at a near ninety-degree angle, tilting their head to look at Lu Jiu. They blinked and asked, "What's your name? I didn't do anything to you."

Lu Jiu dared not meet his eyes, looking down at the ground, murmuring, "Sorry."

"Hey, why are you sitting here? And carrying such a huge bag—you just arrived?"

Lu Jiu nodded.

The person sat down beside Lu Jiu without ceremony, pulled out a pack of cigarettes, and offered one to Lu Jiu. Seeing Lu Jiu shake his head even at the edge, the man lit one for himself, flicked his wrist, and began exhaling plumes of smoke, asking, "Couldn't find a place to stay?"

"No, I'm looking for my uncle. He said he would pick me up, but he never came."

"Oh, who is your uncle? Tell me about him. I know every yokai in this city."

He sounds so arrogant, Lu Jiu thought, sneaking a glance. The man appeared to be a human in his mid-twenties, tall and handsome, exuding an air of self-importance. Lu Jiu wondered when he might possess such confidence. He lowered his gaze again and replied, "His name is Lu Weima. He said he lives at 167 Shannan Road."

"Lu, Wei, Ma? Hahahaha..." The man suddenly slapped Lu Jiu’s back and burst into loud laughter, nearly knocking Lu Jiu over. He then doubled over, pounding the pavement, "Lu Weima! You’re killing me! Hahahaha... So that old Deer God’s name is Lu Weima! That’s too rich!"

"You really know my uncle! Do you know where he lives?"

The other man finally managed to contain his laughter. "I don't know where he lives, but I know he sets up a stall at the riverside park reading fortunes and scamming money. If you go during the day, he'll definitely be there."

"Fortune-telling? My uncle? His divination skills are his weakest aspect."

"That’s why I said he’s 'scamming money.'"

"Scamming..." Lu Jiu felt a genuine blow; the family hero who survived in the city, whom he deeply respected, was actually making a living through deceit.

"He’ll only be there during the day. How will you spend tonight?"

"I’ll go wait for him..." Lu Jiu replied dejectedly.

"That won't do. You're new here; making you sleep in the park is too cruel. I’ll take care of you tonight!" He threw an arm around Lu Jiu’s shoulder and stood up. "I’ll take you to the most worthwhile spots in this city! Tonight, we eat, drink, and have a blast! My treat!"

"It's our first meeting, troubling you so much..." This yokai was so warm and kind; Lu Jiu was nearly moved to tears.

"Let's go, let's go, don't be so polite. All men are brothers under heaven! Our first stop is..." He pulled Lu Jiu forward, turning his head to ask, "Right, I still don't know your name. Mine is Liu Di."

"Thud!" Lu Jiu’s legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the ground...

Lu Jiu didn't need his uncle's notes to recognize the name "Liu Di." Whenever his uncle returned to the village, he spoke of this Earth Wolf—tales of its immense power, ferocity, and terror that never seemed to end. If you fought it, you’d be eaten. If you argued with it, you’d be eaten. If you snatched its food, you’d be eaten. If you vied for its women, you’d be eaten. If you disobeyed it, you’d be eaten. If it simply took a disliking to you, you’d be eaten... In short, he was the nightmare of every yokai in the city. It was rumored that even the Yayu, who defied its rules, had been consumed.

Lu Shu trembled faintly on the ground, unsure where he was being taken: the slaughterhouse or the kitchen?

"You’re too useless," Liu Di crouched down in front of him. "Am I really that terrifying?"

Lu Jiu looked at him with the eyes of a lamb awaiting the knife.

"Did you hear something that tarnished my glorious image from Lu Weima... Lu Weima, hahahahaha... Calling him that is so funny, hahahaha... I’ll eat that old man next time I see him!"

"Ah!" Hearing Liu Di threaten to eat his uncle, Lu Jiu let out a sharp cry.

"Why do you have no sense of humor!" Liu Di gave his head a hard slap. "Get up, I’m going to teach you what life is—don't be such a disappointment like that Lu Weima (hahahaha)!"

"Come, come, come, look! This is the biggest nightclub in the city! It also has the most beautiful women! Let me introduce you to a few," Liu Di intimately draped an arm over Lu Jiu’s shoulder and led him toward the entrance flashing with seven-colored neon lights. Lu Jiu muttered, "If I resist, I'll be eaten! If I resist, I'll be eaten!" as he was dragged inside.

Seated between two scantily clad women, Lu Jiu kept his hands placed rigidly on his knees, afraid to move. Liu Di sat opposite him, embracing a woman on each side, squinting as he asked, "What's wrong? Not your type?"

Lu Jiu dared not shake his head forcefully (afraid of bumping the woman resting her head on his shoulder). "We... never intermarry with other clans."

Liu Di’s eyes widened like dinner bells. "Marry? A woman you meet here? Hahahaha, you really are... Hahahaha, you’re the densest fellow I’ve ever met, even denser than Zhou Ying! Hahahaha..."

So he knew Zhou Ying. Lu Jiu wondered which of them was stronger. In the mountains, powerful yokai constantly fought, as there could only be one King. Just imagining them clashing sent shivers down Lu Jiu’s spine. And with Nan Yu and the Nine-Tailed Fox in this city, with so many strong beings together, constant conflict must erupt.

"You smell like Zhou Ying," Liu Di sniffed him. "Did you ride in his car?"

"..."

"You actually weren't eaten by Huo'er? You're lucky!" Liu Di tilted his head. "Seeing as you're a customer of Zhou Ying's, I won't tease you anymore." He snapped his fingers, using some unknown magic. The women in the small room quietly exited. Soon, a waiter brought in trays piled high with colorful fruits. "Come, eat! You're a vegetarian, right? Don't be polite. I said I was treating."

Lu Jiu had been famished for a long time. Seeing the array of fresh fruits on the table—even varieties he couldn't name—he swallowed hard.

"Don't hold back," Liu Di popped several grapes into his mouth. "Even if I decide to eat you, I have to fatten you up first! ... Just kidding, just kidding! Stop looking like you're about to die. Eat up!"

Lu Jiu finally couldn't resist, reaching for an apple, then a pear, cherry tomatoes, lychees, kiwis, longans, melons... The fruit on the table vanished at an astonishing rate between his fingers and teeth. Liu Di ordered the waiter to bring three refills before Lu Jiu finally stopped, patting his stomach contentedly, holding a piece of watermelon.

"Full?" Liu Di frowned. "Binge-eating like that is bad for the stomach—though I’m hardly one to lecture."

Lu Jiu smiled sheepishly, wringing the towel in his hand. "I haven't eaten in two days—nothing since I got on the train. Everything on the train smelled oily; I’d rather eat grass."

"You are so much like Zhou Ying!" Liu Di exclaimed. "Don’t tell me you don’t even drink alcohol?"

"Alcohol, I love to drink. Back home, we brew wine from fruit and grains; it’s delicious."

"That’s good! Bring out the wine!" Liu Di cheered, waving his hand. "Let’s drink until we drop!"

Lu Jiu smiled at him. "Before I came to the city, Uncle always warned me it was dangerous here. He said you, Zhou Ying, Bi Fang, Nan Yu, and the Nine-Tailed Fox were extremely dangerous. But I’ve met all of you tonight, and you aren't scary at all... You’re all very nice..."

"Of course!" Liu Di stated without modesty. "While the others might be dangerous, I am one of the best people around, bar none. If there’s anything about this city you don’t understand, just ask me. It’s on me!" Just then, the waiter brought in seven or eight bottles of foreign liquor on a tray. Liu Di popped open two bottles with a 'bang,' stuffed one into Lu Jiu's hand, grabbed one for himself, and commanded, "Cheers!" He tipped his head back, downing a whole bottle of brandy in one go.

Lu Jiu grimaced, looking at the vodka in his hand. The smell alone was fierce, but refusing Liu Di's enthusiasm felt wrong. Gritting his teeth, he gulped it down.

"Good! Looks like you have good stamina. Finally, an opponent who can keep up with my drinking! Another!"

Urged on by Liu Di, they finished bottle after bottle, emptying the table’s selection in short order. Lu Jiu’s face was flushed crimson, and he blinked repeatedly to stay conscious. He had learned to brew wine from his grandfather and had decent tolerance, but this pace was insane. Looking at Liu Di, his face was also ruddy, but his expression was calm and clear, showing no sign of drunkenness.

"Ten more bottles!" Liu Di commanded grandly.

"Still... still drinking?" Lu Jiu waved his hands. "No... no... I can't. I see two of you now."

"Wait until you see nine of me—then we can talk. That will pair nicely with Lin Rui. Come on, bottoms up!" Another bottle of white liquor was thrust at him.

Lu Jiu forced himself to finish one more bottle, feeling truly spent, and refused to drink any more. "Why are you such a wet blanket!" Liu Di grumbled, then grabbed Lu Jiu by the neck, forced his mouth open, and poured a bottle of Maotai down his throat. He finished his own bottle, wiped his mouth, and said, "Excellent wine! Another bottle of Maotai!"

"I really can't drink any more..." Lu Jiu begged for mercy.

"Don't be polite, don't save my money for me!" Liu Di 'pa-pa'ed open two more bottles. Lu Jiu swayed and tried to escape, but Liu Di, sprawled on the sofa, grabbed his ankle and dragged him back. "Don't leave, we haven't finished drinking yet!" Another bottle was jammed into his mouth, pouring down without permission.

"Gulp... gulp... Help..." Lu Jiu struggled, tears welling up. "Uncle, you were right. This Liu Di really is... gulp... I’m going to drown in alcohol... Help me... I'll never drink again... gulp... Help... gulp..."

"Ah..." Lu Jiu groaned, clutching his head, and struggled to climb out of the bed. It took several minutes before he could recall the events of the previous night: after being forced to drink over a dozen bottles by Liu Di, he had completely blacked out and passed out... So where was he now? Liu Di’s place?

He surveyed the room he was in. The room must be on a high floor; he could see the cityscape of varying heights and a nearly setting sun from the window. The room contained only the bed Lu Jiu had slept in and a wardrobe. Lu Jiu staggered to pull the door open—his head throbbed fiercely from the hangover. He covered his head, searching for water.

Stepping out of the sleeping quarters led to a living room. Lu Jiu’s first sight was Liu Di, sprawled on the sofa, hugging a large cushion and snoring loudly. A wave of emotion washed over Lu Jiu: although the man had drunk him under the table, he had kindly brought him home and given him the bed while sleeping on the couch himself.

"Mmm..." Liu Di shifted in his sleep, smacking his lips loudly, mumbling, "This person tastes really good. I could eat two more," smack, smack!

Just imagining what he was dreaming about sobered Lu Jiu halfway. He took a few steps back.

"He's talking in his sleep; you don't need to be afraid." Lu Jiu jumped at the sudden voice and quickly turned his head. On one side of the living room were several large windows, through which the setting sun streamed. Zhou Ying was sitting in the glow of the window light, watching him.

"Zhou Ying? What are you doing here?"

"This is my home." Zhou Ying stood up and poured a glass of boiling water for Lu Jiu. Lu Jiu took it and downed it in one gulp. "Liu Di, drunk as a skunk, carried you in this morning, saying he wanted to drag me out for more drinking. Because he was so disruptive, Huo'er knocked him out. I didn't know where you lived, so I had to leave you at my place."

"I see..." Lu Jiu had vaguely suspected that Liu Di wasn't the type to let someone sleep in a bed while he took the sofa. After washing his face with cold water in Zhou Ying’s bathroom and eating a head of cabbage, Lu Jiu finally felt a bit better. Looking around, his large backpack had also been brought over. He shouldered it and took his leave of Zhou Ying. "I need to go find my uncle. Liu Di said he sets up a stall in the park during the day, and I’m afraid I won’t find him if I wait until it’s dark."

"See that large green area by the river? That’s it. Just tell the taxi driver to go to 'Chunbo Yuan,'" Zhou Ying said, pointing out the direction of the park from the window.

"Thank you!" Lu Jiu bowed deeply to Zhou Ying and walked out.

Though the time spent was short, Lu Jiu already felt somewhat accustomed to this city. He carefully avoided the rough-looking young men, hailed a taxi, and arrived smoothly at the park. This pocket of lush greenery amidst the concrete jungle refreshed him; his steps became lighter, his headache vanished, and his heart filled with hope for the life ahead in the city: the yokai here, despite their power and terrifying legends, were actually quite amiable and not hard to deal with—certainly not as bloodthirsty as the great beasts in the mountains. Humans had good people and bad people. But he was a yokai; wasn't it useless if he was afraid even of mere humans? The path of cultivation for him in the city was first to learn not to fear evil humans! Lu Jiu made this resolution.

Having settled his next goal, he turned a corner on the path and spotted the fortune-telling stall: a small table and a blue banner displaying a few white characters: Direct Descendant of the Celestial Master. "Celestial Master? Aren't they enemies of us yokai? Why is he a direct descendant?" Lu Jiu didn't stop to think, cheering out loud, "Uncle! Uncle!" He hurried over.

"Uncle, why didn't you come to find me earlier?" Lu Jiu asked cheerfully. But as he approached the stall, he saw that the man standing up to greet him behind the table was not his uncle, Lu Weima, but a man transformed from a yokai he did not recognize.

"You must be Old Lu's relative, right?" the man said with a welcoming smile upon seeing Lu Jiu. "I've been waiting here for you for a full day and night; you've finally returned."

"And you are..."

"Oh, I am Old Lu's friend, Qi Zhongsheng. He asked me to wait here for you."

"Then where is my uncle?"

"Old Lu was happily heading to the station to pick you up that day, but he got hit by a car on the way. By the time I took him home and came back to get you, you were already gone. You truly worried me sick! You’re new here; what if something had happened? How could I explain it to Old Lu!"

"My uncle had a car accident? How is he? How...?" Lu Jiu grabbed him anxiously.

"He’s fine, just a leg injury, nothing serious, so he’s staying at my place." He leaned in and whispered, "Don't let those human automobiles fool you—they're just steel, not invincible, right!" He chuckled knowingly.

Lu Jiu smiled too. This Qi Zhongsheng seemed like a very good-natured person as well.

He got into Qi Zhongsheng's car, which headed toward a secluded street. Qi Zhongsheng said while driving, "My two brothers and I came to this city together. None of us liked the noise, so we found an empty old building to live in—it’s old, but quieter than the busy downtown."

"The city is very noisy," Lu Jiu agreed.

Qi Zhongsheng’s residence was less a house and more a massive warehouse. It was the factory floor of a bankrupt enterprise, long abandoned, which the Qi brothers had simply moved into. The three-story factory had several tall smokestacks. One of the two main doors had fallen off, revealing dusty, old machinery inside. The factory windows were small and gridded, most of the glass shattered, leaving dark, gaping holes.

The place made Lu Jiu uncomfortable, and he hesitated after getting out of the car. Qi Zhongsheng nudged him forward, shouting excitedly, "Ji Sheng, Ji Sheng! I brought him back! Tell Bo Sheng to stop waiting in the Taoyuan complex!" As he called out, a man identical to him emerged from the factory, looking Lu Jiu up and down with satisfaction.

Qi Zhongsheng and Qi Jisheng flanked Lu Jiu, walking him forward. Lu Jiu asked nervously, "Is this where you live? And where is my uncle?"

"He's inside. You'll see him as soon as you step in!"

The moment he stepped inside the factory, the darkness prevented Lu Jiu from seeing clearly. He nearly tripped on something underfoot. Rubbing his eyes to look closer, he kicked out what he had stepped on—it was a skull, still revolving with a faint 'whooshing' sound, flecked with bits of flesh. The two empty eye sockets stared directly at Lu Jiu.

"Ah..."

Lu Jiu's shriek startled an old man tied to an ancient machine, who was drowsy and disoriented. He struggled to open his eyes and screamed, "Xiao Jiu, run! Run! They’re going to eat you!"

"Uncle!" Lu Jiu shouted, rushing forward, only to be caught by Qi Zhongsheng in a sudden reversal. Casting aside his previous amiable facade, Qi Zhongsheng sneered, "We heard you had relatives coming from the mountains, which is why we waited so long. You’ve finally arrived; where do you think you're going?" "Eat, eat me..." "Little Jiu, those are the three Qiongqi brothers.

They specialize in catching and tricking newly arrived Yao in this city to eat, purely to boost their own power. Run!" "Let me go!" Lu Jiu struggled violently to break free from Qi Zhongsheng, scrambling toward Lu Weima to frantically untie the ropes binding him. Qi Zhongsheng and Qi Jisheng made no move to stop him, standing by the main entrance and watching them with cold smiles.

"Silly child, what use is it if you untie me? We are no match for them." Lu Jiu’s hands trembled violently; it took him ages to undo a single knot. He choked out, "But...

but..." Ultimately, however, he persisted in freeing him. "The younger one looks tender." "The older one has more flavor!" The Qi brothers stood by the door, casually discussing the quality of their potential meal. "Little Jiu, step back!" Lu Weima said in a deep voice after being freed.

He shook out his robes, placing himself between Lu Jiu and the Qi brothers. "It was them who played dirty that day. Today, I must let them know that a Lu Shu is not to be trifled with." Lu Weima appeared to be around sixty, tall and well-featured, with a long white beard and his grizzled hair pulled up in a topknot.

His eyes were bright, and he wore a pale blue robe. Standing there, he certainly possessed an air of immortal sagacity—which explained why his street stall in the park did such booming business despite his inaccurate fortune-telling. With his stance set, even the Qi brothers were momentarily startled, watching him warily.

"Watch this!" Lu Weima raised both hands, and a thick mist suddenly billowed up in the empty factory. He seized the opportunity to pull Lu Jiu and run. Before they crossed the threshold, Qi Zhongsheng grabbed them both by the necks, sneering, "Old Lu Shu, which Yao in this city doesn't know you’re a fraud?

Do you think I can be fooled by that act! I'll bite your throat out first—see if you run then!" With that, he opened his mouth and lunged toward Lu Weima's neck. "No!" Lu Jiu violently flung his hand out, pushing toward Qi Zhongsheng.

A flash of red light streaked past, and both Qi Zhongsheng and the following Qi Jisheng were flung backward into the factory, overturning several machines. By the time they scrambled up, the two Lu Shu were nowhere in sight. "They ran!" "Chase them!

How can meat that's already reached our mouths escape!" Darkness had fallen. On a narrow path lit only by dim streetlamps, a strange animal darted by like the wind. It resembled a horse in shape, with a white head, but its body was covered in markings like a tiger’s, and its tail was red—a rather comical combination of colors.

Perched on its back was an old man with the bearing of an immortal. Anyone witnessing this pair might wonder if they were watching a movie or if an immortal had descended to the mortal realm. This was Lu Jiu, in his true form, fleeing with his uncle on his back.

"Little Jiu, I never realized your power was so great, to be able to repel even them." "It wasn't me..." Lu Jiu gasped, "That was... the feather of a Bi Fang..." He had slept in Zhou Ying's place all day and hadn't noticed a feather that had fallen from Huo’er clinging to him. When Qi Zhongsheng attacked, the feather of this spiritual beast automatically repelled the Yao energy, knocking down the Qi brothers and propelling the Lu uncle and nephew far away, thus saving their lives.

"Uncle, where should we run?" "To Taoyuan Community! Go there! During the day, Ying Mei and Bi Fang are home; at night, the Nine-Tailed Fox is home.

No Yao dares cause trouble there!" (This was why he chose to live there.) Yes, Lu Jiu thought, seeking help from Zhou Ying—he would certainly save him. With this thought, he quickened his pace. They were almost at the brightly lit street—no Yao would be foolish enough to cause a scene in public (as they would be devoured by Liu Di).

Once there, among the humans, they could finally breathe easy. Lu Weima thought this as he urged Lu Jiu on. Ten paces left, five...

two... Lu Jiu tripped and fell. Lu Weima tumbled right off his back, his head hitting a lamppost with a thud, knocking him unconscious.

A man who looked exactly like Qi Zhongsheng stepped on Lu Jiu and called out, "Zhongsheng, Jisheng, hurry up! I’ve held them here!" "Luckily, Bo Sheng was blocking the way ahead, or we'd go hungry tonight," Qi Zhongsheng and Qi Jisheng puffed up as they arrived. "Clean up, and let’s get ready for dinner!" Qi Bosheng commanded.

"Hey, what’s this big backpack doing here?" A human voice called out. Lu Jiu’s backpack had rolled onto the bustling street outside the narrow path, noticed by a human. He glanced into the path and shrieked, "There's an old man lying there!" The Qi brothers quickly grabbed Lu Jiu, clamping a hand over his mouth, and hid in the shadows, unseen by the humans who rushed in.

"He's bleeding." "Is he dead?" "Someone call 110!" "Call an ambulance first!" "..." The people muttered amongst themselves, some already dialing phones. The Qi brothers exchanged glances and said, "The main course is already secured. Let’s go!" They seized Lu Jiu and vanished into the darkness.

Chained to an iron pillar with heavy links, Lu Jiu curled up, afraid to even open his eyes. All around him on the ground lay the remnants of what the Qi brothers had eaten: several skulls, a few severed arms, and a pelt stretched out to dry above. "Wuh...

wuwu..." Lu Jiu sobbed softly. He had finally gotten permission from his parents and gathered the courage to come to the city, only to face being eaten. He had only just turned fifty and had never even had a girlfriend, yet he was about to become someone's dish—his skin stripped off to become a charm for fertility.

"Dad... Mom... I'm unfilial.

Please let me just show you my dried corpse..." A large cauldron bubbled vigorously, steam rising. Qi Zhongsheng, wearing an apron, tossed in chopped scallions and minced ginger, shouting, "The water's boiling! Get ready to slaughter him!" Qi Bosheng brandished his razor-sharpened butcher knife and shouted back in assent, "Good!" "Don't forget to be careful when skinning him.

Lu Shu hide sells for a very high price." "No problem, watch my knife work!" Thump. A light footfall echoed clearly in the large, empty factory. Thump.

Another one. The Qi brothers both turned to look. A human figure was slowly walking in from outside, stopping at the doorway and politely asking, "Excuse me, is there a Lu Shu named 'Lu Jiu' here?" The voice belonged to a woman.

"Who are you?" The Qi brothers stood shoulder-to-shoulder, questioning her. "Nan Yu." She walked into the patch of light cast by the factory's single lamp. The light illuminated her face: it was Dr.

Nan Yu from the Municipal Hospital, but now her long hair was down, cascading down her back, her complexion was terribly pale, and a tiny fang peeked out from the corner of her mouth. She nodded politely to the Qi brothers and asked, "I’m looking for Lu Jiu. Is he here?" "What do you want him for?" "His uncle is hospitalized.

I need a relative like him to handle the admission procedures." "He’s our dinner! You think you can just take him away that easily? You underestimate us!" Qi Jisheng shuddered, and countless spikes shot out from his body, aimed at Nan Yu.

Nan Yu, who usually stayed quietly at the city hospital treating the sick and surviving only on blood from the blood bank, was unknown even to most Yao living in the same city. They were unaware that she, with a thousand years of cultivation, was the most deeply cultivated Yao in the city. Qi Jisheng’s attack reached where she had been standing, but her figure had already vanished.

"Where did she go?" Qi Jisheng searched everywhere, only to find she had reached Lu Jiu's side. The thick iron chains snapped into pieces under the immense strength of the zombie’s hands. "Can you stand up?" she asked Lu Jiu.

"Nan Yu..." Lu Jiu, already beside himself with terror, stammered, "Save me..." "Your uncle was brought to my hospital. He begged me to save you," Nan Yu said as she helped him up. "He said if I could rescue you from the Qiongqi, I could suck all your blood dry..." "Suck...

my blood?" "He said bringing back your dried husk would be easier to explain to your parents than having you eaten, skin and all." "...Uncle... you..." Lu Jiu’s tears fell. "Dad, Mom, Little Jiu is unfilial.

Please just let me show you my dried corpse..." Nan Yu looked at his frightened state and smiled gently. "Don't worry, I haven't drunk living blood for a long time. Let’s go; your uncle needs you to look after him." "Trying to leave?

Not so easy!" The Qi brothers blocked their path menacingly. "Since you're here, you can be tomorrow's breakfast!" Qi Jisheng was the first to charge again. Lu Jiu ducked behind Nan Yu, but she casually reached out, grasped Qi Jisheng by the neck, and with a snap, twisted his neck until his vertebrae broke.

Before Lu Jiu could even blink, one Yao had lost its life. "You... you killed him?" Lu Jiu remembered Nan Yu as quiet, kind, and compassionate.

To see her act so ruthlessly was shocking; his voice was strained as he asked in disbelief. "Killed him, so what? It’s not a big deal," Nan Yu replied calmly.

Her compassion was reserved only for the weak. Having witnessed the vicissitudes of time for so long, she, like Liu Di, believed in the principle of "stopping killing with killing." "You said you don't drink living blood?" "I only refrain from drinking the blood of living beings; that doesn't mean I won't take a life. I don't kill for my own appetite, but that doesn't mean I never kill," Nan Yu replied to Lu Jiu while preparing to deal with the other two Qiongqi—sometimes, once one starts killing, it's hard to stop, she sighed inwardly.

"Jisheng! Jisheng!" Qi Bosheng and Qi Zhongsheng cradled Jisheng's corpse and wailed loudly. "You woman!

I will kill you to avenge Jisheng!" Qi Bosheng roared, transforming into his true form: a monstrous creature like a wild ox, with fangs in its mouth and quills covering its body like a hedgehog. It pawed the ground, its sharp horns flashing, and charged toward Nan Yu. But before it could reach her, a figure suddenly emerged from the ground and shoved it, sending it tumbling.

"Liu Di..." Nan Yu frowned. She disliked this slovenly Earth Wolf, even though he was a good friend of Zhou Ying. "Hey, Nan Yu!" Liu Di didn't care if his appearance caused her to frown; he approached enthusiastically.

"What a coincidence, meeting you here! Let's grab a late-night snack later." "What are you doing here?" Nan Yu kept her distance. "What am I doing here?" Liu Di suddenly yanked Lu Jiu out from behind Nan Yu, grabbed him by the neck, shook him violently, and bellowed, "You little scamp!

How dare you sneak away while I was sleeping! You deserve to be eaten!" "I didn't sneak away; I was looking for my uncle..." Lu Jiu, dizzy from the shaking, frantically explained. "You dare talk back!" "But..." "You know each other?" Nan Yu interrupted.

She instinctively felt that anything involving Liu Di would not be good. "Lately, a large number of weaker Yao and newly arrived 'country' Yao in this city have been disappearing. I’ve been trying to figure out who’s responsible, but those guys keep hiding from me.

Yesterday, I spotted this Lu Shu; he just came from the countryside, and look..." He lifted Lu Jiu’s chin to show Nan Yu, "See? Doesn't this one look awfully simple-minded too? I figured those guys would definitely pick him as food, so I spent the whole day entertaining him, eating and drinking.

Who knew this ungrateful brat would slip away while I was asleep? Almost got eaten, didn’t you? This is the fate of running away from me." He held Lu Jiu up, lecturing him.

"Entertaining you all day? If that were the case, even Zhou Ying would run away, let alone him," Nan Yu looked at Lu Jiu with sympathy. "Hey, stop!" Liu Di put on a wounded expression toward Nan Yu, then his face hardened as he called out to the Qi brothers who were preparing to slip away.

"Hunting on my turf without even saying hello? You think you can just leave without paying me protection money? Is that acceptable?" If the opponent had only been Nan Yu, the Qi brothers might still have wanted to avenge Qi Jisheng, but with Liu Di’s appearance, the only thought in their minds was "escape." Hearing Liu Di's words, they quickly replied, "We'll give you that Lu Shu.

We'll leave right now, leave this city immediately." "That won't do. I spotted this Lu Shu first. I think..." His eyes flicked between the Qi brothers, as if contemplating which one to keep for a meal.

The Qi brothers exchanged glances and bolted toward the door. Before they reached the entrance, another figure appeared there. Upon seeing who it was, the Qi brothers were forced to stop.

"Zhou Ying, why are you here?" Nan Yu asked with a hint of pleasant surprise. "I was taking a client to the hospital and decided to stop by and see you. But an old Lu Shu said you were here, so I came," Zhou Ying couldn't quite understand why he often felt the urge to protect Nan Yu.

As soon as he heard she was coming to rescue someone, he followed—even though her cultivation was clearly higher than his. Nan Yu lowered her head, an unmistakable smile playing on her lips. With Ying Mei ahead, and the Earth Wolf and the blood-sucking Zombie behind, the Qi brothers weighed their options and charged forward.

After all, without Bi Fang nearby, Ying Mei was currently far less dangerous than the Earth Wolf. CRASH! The sound of a few panes of glass shattering came from above.

Huo’er burst through a window, instantly illuminating the formerly dark factory. Standing on its back was a small, snow-white fox with nine tails. The Nine-Tailed Fox jumped down from Huo’er’s back, landing on the ground and transforming into the boy Lin Rui.

He grinned, "Huo’er and I were just watching the fun." Huo’er flew onto Zhou Ying's shoulder and asked, "Ying, Lin Rui and I were playing Legend. Why did you call me over in such a rush?" "He even called Huo'er here," Nan Yu felt deeply moved. "You guys..." The Qi brothers looked at them in terror: the Earth Wolf, the Zombie, Ying Mei, Bi Fang, the Nine-Tailed Fox...

and the Lu Shu (who could be ignored). "Predation by the strong is supposed to be the law among us Yao. Why must you act like paragons of justice and press us so hard!" Liu Di chuckled, "We are implementing that very law.

Do you have a problem with it?" "Predation by the strong—I like that law," Huo’er praised. "Especially when there’s 'food' right in front of me. I think it can also be called 'eating the weak.' " It proudly played with words, very proud of its education level, while staring intently at Liu Di, viewing him as a serious competitor for dinner.

"You're going to eat us..." "Look at the mess you've made here. It’s going to be such a bother to clean up. Consider this our payment for cleaning up so that humans don't find out.

Stop the tedious talk," Liu Di said, preparing to start clearing the area. "I, I'll help!" Lin Rui eagerly raised his hand. "I often help Mom clean up; I’m very capable!" Bones and fur littered the ground, in cracks between bricks, and under machines.

Bloodstains covered the walls, machinery, and floor. Liu Di frowned, "How am I supposed to clean this?" "That’s easy! It just shows you never do any work," Lin Rui instructed.

He reached out and snapped a pillar. Dust and debris rained down from the ceiling. "Tear this place down, and then Huo’er can set a fire..." "Oh," Liu Di kicked over a wall.

"Is this how you help your mother clean up too? She must be very pitiful..." Lu Jiu scrambled and crawled out of the swaying factory, narrowly dodging a slab of concrete that almost crushed him. He coughed uncontrollably from the swirling dust and collapsed onto the ground, watching helplessly as a three-story building rapidly turned into rubble before his eyes.

Nan Yu walked out empty-handed and stood beside Lu Jiu, commenting, "They are quite fast." Lu Jiu certainly didn't think so. Plop! Huo’er dropped a Qiongqi, which had reverted to its true form, from the sky.

Lu Jiu couldn't tell which of the Qi brothers it was, as it was completely charred black. "Crispy outside, tender inside—the taste is just right," Huo’er explained, then flew back to salvage the remaining 'food' from the collapsing factory. The 'construction' in front of them continued.

Liu Di walked over, clapping dust from his hands—the walls, rebar, concrete, and floor beams behind him were automatically disintegrating, as if the Earth Wolf had an invisible hand dismantling them. He kicked Lu Jiu. "Why are you sitting here slacking off?

Aren't you going to help?" "He’s been frightened half the night. Don't scare him anymore," Nan Yu chided. She inhaled lightly and exhaled a blast of scorching wind.

The machines inside the factory collided with clanging noises, turning into a huge pile of scrap metal. Huo’er dragged the other two Qiongqi out of the near-collapsed factory: one whose neck Nan Yu had twisted, and the other whose heart Zhou Ying had pierced. Huo’er piled them together and asked the group, "Well, shall we divide them equally?" Nan Yu shook her head.

"I don't eat meat. You guys divide it." Lin Rui gazed longingly at the Qiongqi, saying regretfully, "I'd like to eat them, but I promised Mom I wouldn't eat random things outside; she said it’s bad for my health." He licked his lips, caught in an intense internal struggle between being a good child and satisfying his appetite. "Listen to your mother!" Huo’er immediately began piling the 'food' toward itself.

"Then Liu Di and I will 'share' them." It glared threateningly at Liu Di, its gaze clearly showing no intention of truly sharing. "Eat, eat, eat..." Lu Jiu quickly squeezed his eyes shut, trying to avoid the possible scene of carnage that was about to unfold. "You want to eat too?" Huo’er frowned unhappily.

"Don't Lu Shu only eat grass?" "No, I'd rather die than eat that!" Lu Jiu shook his head repeatedly. "Rather die than eat? You’ll die if you say you want to eat!" Liu Di muttered.

After staring at Huo’er for a moment, he obediently gave up his 'right to consume' the Qiongqi and looked up toward the collapsed factory ruins, shouting, "Zhou Ying, it’s been over ten minutes! Aren't you afraid humans will notice? Are you done yet?" Zhou Ying leaped down from what was originally the third floor.

The residual image of the building followed his movement in reverse, flattening the entire ruin into the ground. By this time, not a single intact brick remained of the original structure. Even if humans mobilized heavy machinery and explosives, it would likely take days to achieve this level of destruction.

"It's over, let's go, let's go!" Liu Di waved his hand, reaching out to put an arm around Nan Yu’s shoulder. "Shall we go for a drink together?" Nan Yu pushed his hand away with two fingers. "I need to take Lu Jiu to the hospital." "I'll give you a ride," Zhou Ying said, pointing a finger, and his red Santana drove itself over.

"What about me? You're not the type to put friends over romance, are you?" Liu Di asked, maliciously slinging an arm around Zhou Ying’s shoulder.

“Stop arguing, take me back first!” Lin Rui shrieked, running his hands through his hair after checking the time. “My mom is about to finish her night shift! If she finds out I snuck out in the middle of the night, I’ll be branded a truly bad kid!”

“Sneaking out in the middle of the night to fight, kill ‘people,’ and demolish houses—and you don't consider yourself a bad kid? May I ask what your definition of a bad kid is?”

“If my mom doesn’t know about it, then I’m not a bad kid!” Lin Rui declared with absolute certainty.

Zhou Ying pulled open the car door, and everyone piled in. Liu Di, carrying the leg-weakened Lu Jiu, and Huo’er dragging the three Qiongqi beasts.

“It’s already cramped enough, don’t bring that kind of thing in here!” Liu Di was adamant about not sharing seating space with food he couldn't immediately consume.

Huo’er completely ignored him, piling the carcasses high and saying cheerfully, “If we put them in the fridge, they’ll last for days.”

“Your fridge is specifically reserved for storing things like this…?” Lu Jiu suddenly felt nauseous, remembering that Zhou Ying had once given him a cabbage retrieved from that very refrigerator.

With Liu Di on one side and Lin Rui on the other, three Qiongqi corpses stacked at his feet, and Huo’er perched on the back of the front seat monitoring Liu Di to prevent any unauthorized snacking—even though magic had been applied to make the cabin spacious—Lu Jiu sat there terrified, constantly sweating cold drops. Finally arriving at Taoyuan Residential Area, Huo’er and Lin Rui unloaded the Qiongqi bodies. Liu Di, however, didn’t leave. He slapped Lu Jiu intimately on the shoulder, saying, “I’ll go with you to the hospital to check on Lu Weima (Hahaha—a habitual laugh), and then we’ll grab a drink. You have good stamina for drinking; you could be a worthy opponent.” Lu Jiu felt he was about to pass out.

At the hospital, Liu Di indeed got out of the car too. “Hurry, hurry, I’ll wait for you.” Nan Yu led Lu Jiu into a single-occupancy ward. Lu Weima was lying on the bed, entirely wrapped in bandages. Seeing him, he immediately sat up. “Xiao Jiu, you came back alive… Senior Nan really did go to save you.” Nan Yu stepped out, closing the door to allow the uncle and nephew this reunion after disaster.

“Xiao Jiu, you truly were saved. Otherwise, how could I face your big brother and sister-in-law…” Lu Weima’s eyes streamed with old tears. “Thank goodness Senior Nan is immensely powerful, capable of rescuing you from the hands of the Qiongqi.”

“It wasn't just her,” Lu Jiu said, his expression somewhat vacant. “There was also Liu Di, Zhou Ying, Bifang, and the Nine-Tailed Fox.”

“They all went to save you?” Lu Weima seized his hand in surprise. “You actually managed to become such good friends with them—with them as your backing, you can do whatever you want in this city! Our lives ahead will be so much easier! Xiao Jiu, you truly surpassed the master!”

“Uncle…” Lu Jiu’s lips trembled, and he finally collapsed onto his uncle, sobbing hysterically. “You’re right, they are too dangerous… Wuwuwu… too dangerous… Wu… I want to go home… Wuwuwu… Liu Di is still waiting for me outside… Wu wu… What should I do… Wuwu…”

Such miserable wailing drifted from the ward that passing patients and medical staff couldn’t help but sigh, lowering their heads as they hurried by. Someone even murmured quietly, “The dead cannot be brought back to life…”