Chapter? ?1? ?-? ?Reunion? ?
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Along? ?the? ?path? ?where? ?red? ?maple? ?was? ?growing,? ?the? ?pale? ?floating? ?clouds? ?and? ?waterfalls? ?
from? ?the? ?sky? ?were? ?a? ?perfect? ?match.? ?As? ?the? ?oldest? ?demon? ?slayer? ?academy? ?in? ?history,? ?Maple? ?
Bridge?1?? ?Academy? ?was? ?hidden? ?in? ?the? ?mountains.? ?
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Early? ?in? ?the? ?morning,? ?in? ?the? ?10th? ?grade? ?office.? ?
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As? ?Dean? ?Qin? ?looked? ?at? ?the? ?student? ?standing? ?in? ?front? ?of? ?him,? ?his? ?face? ?grew? ?darker.? ?This? ?
was? ?the? ?third? ?time? ?this? ?veteran? ?had? ?gotten? ?caught?2?.? ?On? ?the? ?surface,? ?he? ?looked? ?as? ?though? ?he? ?was? ?
deep? ?in? ?remorse,? ?but? ?in? ?reality,? ?his? ?eyes? ?were? ?unfocused;? ?he? ?had? ?probably? ?zoned? ?out.? ?
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“Stand? ?up? ?straight!? ?Lift? ?up? ?your? ?head!”? ?Dean? ?Qin? ?knocked? ?the? ?desk? ?with? ?force,? ?“Going? ?
down? ?the? ?mountain? ?overnight? ?with? ?no? ?regard? ?for? ?the? ?prohibitions,? ?even? ?running? ?to? ?the? ?damn? ?
internet? ?cafe? ?to? ?surf? ?the? ?web? ?overnight!? ?I? ?couldn’t? ?believe? ?it? ?when? ?the? ?night? ?patrol? ?team? ?told? ?me? ?a? ?
student? ?had? ?broken? ?through? ?the? ?barrier? ?and? ?gone? ?down? ?the? ?mountain.? ?Your? ?trip? ?this? ?time? ?was? ?so? ?
sneaky?3?,? ?should? ?I? ?somehow? ?be? ?praising? ?you? ?for? ?improving? ?or? ?something?!”? ?
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“I? ?was? ?just? ?wondering? ?which? ?oddball? ?demon? ?slayer? ?student? ?liked? ?going? ?to? ?the? ?internet? ?cafe? ?
to? ?play? ?games;? ?I? ?understood? ?it? ?all? ?the? ?moment? ?I? ?heard? ?your? ?name? ?-? ?Xu? ?Yinian!? ?From? ?your? ?
enrollment? ?till? ?now,? ?how? ?many? ?of? ?the? ?thirty-five? ?school? ?rules? ?have? ?you? ?not? ?broken?!”? ?
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“Ten.”? ?The? ?male? ?student? ?answered? ?without? ?hesitation.? ? ?
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“Utter? ?rubbish!”? ?Dean? ?Qin? ?bellowed.? ?
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“You? ?even? ?remembered? ?it? ?this? ?clearly?”? ?The? ?male? ?student? ?eyed? ?him? ?with? ?suspicion,? ?“Nine? ?
then,? ?it? ?can’t? ?be? ?less.”? ?
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“Four!? ?Only? ?four!? ?Still? ?saying? ?that? ?it? ?can’t? ?be? ?less,? ?I’m? ?guessing? ?you? ?haven’t? ?even? ?taken? ?
the? ?trouble? ?you’ve? ?made? ?before? ?to? ?heart? ?at? ?all!? ?Dean? ?Qin? ?inhaled? ?deeply,? ?barely? ?managing? ?to? ?
keep? ?it? ?together.? ?“Go? ?collect? ?your? ?graduation? ?assessment? ?task? ?yourself!? ?Once? ?you’ve? ?collected? ?it,? ?
hurry? ?back? ?to? ?the? ?dorms,? ?pack? ?your? ?things? ?and? ?be? ?on? ?standby.? ?The? ?other? ?students? ?in? ?your? ?team? ?
have? ?already? ?gotten? ?ready,? ?the? ?only? ?one? ?missing? ?is? ?you!”? ?
?
Budding? ?demon? ?slayers? ?entered? ?the? ?doors? ?of? ?the? ?academy? ?at? ?the? ?age? ?of? ?eleven.? ?At? ?the? ?
age? ?of? ?twenty-one,? ?they? ?would? ?be? ?faced? ?with? ?the? ?graduation? ?assessment? ?after? ?studying? ?for? ?ten? ?
years.? ?The? ?assessment? ?results? ?would? ?determine? ?if? ?one? ?could? ?become? ?a? ?demon? ?slayer? ?that? ?could? ?
stand? ?on? ?their? ?own? ?feet.? ?
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1 ?枫?桥:? ?‘Feng’? ?=? ?maple? ?and? ?‘Qiao’? ?=? ?bridge.? ? ?
2 ?三?进?宫?的?老?人:? ?A? ?more? ?literal? ?translation? ?would? ?be? ?‘third? ?time? ?this? ?veteran? ?was? ?going? ?to? ?jail’,? ?but? ?for? ?better? ?
flow? ?I? ?went? ?with? ?this!? ?
3 ?神?不?知?鬼?不?觉:? ?A? ?more? ?literal? ?translation? ?would? ?be:? ?unknown? ?to? ?god? ?or? ?ghost.? ?
Catching? ?onto? ?a? ?certain? ?keyword,? ?Xu? ?Yinian? ?finally? ?focused? ?his? ?attention.? ?“Graduation? ?
assessment?? ?So? ?soon?”? ?
?
“It? ?wasn’t? ?supposed? ?to? ?happen? ?this? ?soon.? ?Recently,? ?some? ?areas? ?have? ?not? ?been? ?very? ?
peaceful,? ?and? ?as? ?the? ?situation? ?hasn’t? ?been? ?settled? ?yet,? ?the? ?Demon? ?Slayer? ?Bureau? ?tossed? ?the? ?
minor? ?demons? ?over? ?to? ?the? ?academy? ?to? ?handle.? ?It? ?just? ?happened? ?to? ?function? ?nicely? ?as? ?your? ?
graduation? ?assessment.”? ?Dean? ?Qin’s? ?expression? ?relaxed? ?some? ?as? ?he? ?recounted,? ?“The? ?task? ?your? ?
group? ?has? ?been? ?assigned? ?to? ?isn’t? ?considered? ?too? ?difficult;? ?you’re? ?responsible? ?for? ?maintaining? ?
order? ?at? ?the? ?Demon? ?Realm? ?auction.? ?The? ?leader? ?of? ?your? ?team? ?is? ?Chen? ?Ran.? ?You’ll? ?have? ?him? ?
leading,? ?so? ?make? ?sure? ?to? ?complete? ?the? ?task? ?smoothly.”? ?
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Hearing? ?the? ?name? ?of? ?a? ?certain? ?loser,? ?Xu? ?Yinian? ?repeated,? ?“Chen? ?Ran?? ?He’d? ?better? ?not? ?
drag? ?me? ?down.”? ?
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Dean? ?Qin? ?was? ?in? ?disbelief,? ?“Who’s? ?dragging? ?who? ?down?? ?Chen? ?Ran? ?gets? ?straight? ?As? ?on? ?
the? ?final? ?assessments? ?every? ?year,? ?but? ?I? ?can’t? ?say? ?the? ?same? ?about? ?you!”? ?
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“It’s? ?because? ?I? ?let? ?him.”? ?
“...”? ?
“If? ?the? ?exams? ?only? ?test? ?on? ?the? ?practical? ?skills? ?and? ?not? ?theory,? ?Chen? ?Ran? ?would? ?also? ?be? ?
trashed? ?by? ?my? ?skill? ?level—”? ?
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“Xu!? ?Yi!? ?Nian!”? ?Seeing? ?that? ?he? ?held? ?no? ?remorse? ?for? ?the? ?nonsense? ?he? ?was? ?spouting,? ?Dean? ?
Qin? ?bristled? ?with? ?rage,? ?slamming? ?the? ?desk,? ?“Have? ?you? ?no? ?shame?!? ?Ever? ?since? ?Maple? ?Bridge? ?
Academy’s? ?establishment,? ?the? ?only? ?person? ?who? ?has? ?gotten? ?a? ?single? ?digit? ?for? ?the? ?theory? ?exams? ?
has? ?been? ?you!? ?Yet? ?you? ?manage? ?to? ?get? ?a? ?perfect? ?score? ?on? ?every? ?practical? ?assessment,? ?are? ?you? ?
partial? ?to? ?practicals? ?or? ?are? ?you? ?just? ?stupid?!”? ? ?
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“...”? ?Xu? ?Yinian? ?did? ?not? ?respond? ?for? ?a? ?while.? ? ?
After? ?some? ?time,? ?he? ?bit? ?down? ?on? ?his? ?lower? ?lip? ?and? ?muttered,? ?“I’m? ?just? ?too? ?lazy? ?to? ?learn.”? ?
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God? ?knows? ?that? ?the? ?mere? ?sight? ?of? ?theory? ?was? ?enough? ?to? ?send? ?his? ?head? ?spinning.? ?What? ?
he? ?could? ?easily? ?complete? ?in? ?practice? ?was? ?impossible? ?to? ?understand? ?the? ?moment? ?it? ?was? ?laid? ?on? ?
paper.? ?
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In? ?front? ?of? ?a? ?teacher,? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?humble? ?himself? ?to? ?admit? ?that? ?he? ?was? ?only? ?good? ?at? ?
fighting.? ?Observing? ?the? ?indifference? ?in? ?his? ?tone,? ?Dean? ?Qin? ?felt? ?his? ?blood? ?pressure? ?instantly? ?spike.? ?
“The? ?foundation? ?lies? ?in? ?theory!? ?If? ?your? ?foundation? ?is? ?unstable,? ?being? ?any? ?good? ?in? ?practice? ?is? ?
useless!? ?Straighten? ?out? ?your? ?attitude? ?towards? ?learning!!? ?...”? ? ?
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Xu? ?Yinian? ?was? ?then? ?subject? ?to? ?a? ?harsh? ?beratement? ?by? ?Dean? ?Qin.? ?When? ?he? ?left? ?the? ?office,? ?
Dean? ?Qin’s? ?anger? ?hadn’t? ?fully? ?dissipated;? ?a? ?female? ?teacher? ?by? ?the? ?side? ?took? ?a? ?leisurely? ?sip? ?of? ?
warm? ?water.? ?
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“Dean,? ?calm? ?down.”? ?The? ?female? ?teacher? ?consoled,? ?“For? ?some? ?students,? ?it’s? ?useless? ?no? ?
matter? ?how? ?you? ?go? ?about? ?it.? ?You’ve? ?gone? ?to? ?all? ?that? ?trouble? ?and? ?effort? ?for? ?him,? ?yet? ?he? ?doesn’t? ?take? ?
your? ?teachings? ?seriously? ?at? ?all.”? ? ?
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As? ?she? ?continued? ?on,? ?she? ?looked? ?towards? ?that? ?male? ?student’s? ?departing? ?shadow,? ?her? ?
gaze? ?meaningful.? ?
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“He? ?was? ?born? ?like? ?this,? ?he? ?can’t? ?be? ?taught.”? ?
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Dean? ?Qin? ?turned? ?his? ?head? ?to? ?look? ?at? ?her,? ?his? ?voice? ?grave,? ?“If? ?you’re? ?unable? ?to? ?teach? ?your? ?
students? ?well,? ?perhaps? ?consider? ?that? ?the? ?problem? ?lies? ?in? ?your? ?own? ?teaching? ?ability!”? ?
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“...”? ?The? ?female? ?teacher? ?clenched? ?the? ?mug? ?tightly,? ?no? ?longer? ?saying? ?a? ?word.? ?
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Xu? ?Yinian? ?walked? ?down? ?the? ?hallway.? ?
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He? ?was? ?a? ?little? ?lethargic,? ?his? ?eyes? ?slightly? ?downcast.? ?The? ?hallways? ?of? ?Maple? ?Bridge? ?
Academy? ?were? ?adorned? ?with? ?hanging? ?scrolls? ?of? ?demons? ?-? ?they? ?were? ?in? ?the? ?three? ?colors? ?of? ?gold,? ?
silver? ?and? ?red.? ?He? ?walked? ?with? ?an? ?unhurried? ?pace;? ?his? ?face? ?was? ?brighter? ?than? ?the? ??Hundred? ?
Demon?? ?painting,? ?his? ?distinctive? ?appearance? ?tinged? ?with? ?the? ?aura? ?of? ?a? ?demon? ?on? ?a? ?rampage.? ?
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Intentionally? ?or? ?otherwise,? ?all? ?of? ?the? ?students? ?were? ?staring? ?at? ?him.? ?
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“Xu? ?Yinian? ?is? ?skipping? ?class? ?again?”? ?
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“He’s? ?incredible.? ?When? ?I? ?walked? ?past? ?the? ?office? ?this? ?morning,? ?I? ?heard? ?Dean? ?Qin? ?showering? ?
him? ?with? ?torrents? ?of? ?abuse.”? ?
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“How? ?many? ?times? ?has? ?it? ?been?? ?Isn’t? ?he? ?worried? ?that? ?he? ?can’t? ?graduate?”? ?
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“With? ?his? ?status,? ?what? ?would? ?he? ?be? ?afraid? ?of?? ?If? ?any? ?regular? ?person? ?had? ?his? ?fate,? ?they? ?
would’ve? ?long? ?been…”? ?
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It? ?was? ?widely? ?known? ?that? ?the? ?Demon? ?Slayer? ?World? ?had? ?the? ?Four? ?Great? ?Families.? ?As? ?the? ?
Xu? ?family’s? ?sole? ?heir? ?in? ?this? ?generation,? ?Xu? ?Yinian’s? ?reputation? ?had? ?already? ?been? ?notorious? ?when? ?
he? ?was? ?ten? ?-? ?he? ?was? ?a? ?household? ?name.? ?
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Based? ?on? ?convention,? ?a? ?fortune-teller? ?would? ?predict? ?the? ?fates? ?of? ?all? ?the? ?little? ?demon? ?
slayers? ?just? ?before? ?they? ?turned? ?ten.? ?When? ?it? ?was? ?Xu? ?Yinian’s? ?turn,? ?the? ?fortune-teller? ?had? ?
immediately? ?gone? ?ghastly? ?pale.? ?In? ?his? ?readings,? ?massacre? ?and? ?bloodshed? ?were? ?intertwined,? ?the? ?
lives? ?of? ?the? ?people? ?plunged? ?into? ?calamity.? ?It? ?was? ?an? ?inauspicious? ?reading? ?that? ?predicted? ?the? ?
greatest? ?of? ?evils.? ? ?
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Such? ?a? ?domineering? ?reading? ?caused? ?a? ?furor? ?throughout? ?the? ?entire? ?Demon? ?Slayer? ?World.? ?
Although? ?the? ?Xu? ?family? ?tried? ?ways? ?and? ?means? ?to? ?change? ?Xu? ?Yinian’s? ?fate,? ?it? ?remained? ?as? ?
immovable? ?as? ?a? ?mountain,? ?continuing? ?to? ?steadily? ?intimidate? ?others.? ?
?
Xu? ?Yinian? ?was? ?accustomed? ?to? ?being? ?watched? ?like? ?a? ?tyrannosaurus? ?rex? ?on? ?display;? ?he? ?
walked? ?into? ?the? ?classroom? ?without? ?haste.? ?
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Before? ?the? ?first? ?class? ?of? ?the? ?afternoon? ?had? ?begun,? ?there? ?were? ?quite? ?a? ?number? ?of? ?students? ?
who? ?were? ?reciting? ?the? ?study? ?materials? ?in? ?advance.? ?Xu? ?Yinian? ?walked? ?over? ?to? ?his? ?own? ?seat.? ?He''d? ?
played? ?through? ?the? ?night,? ?and? ?when? ?he? ?let? ?out? ?a? ?few? ?lazy? ?yawns,? ?it? ?was? ?as? ?though? ?the? ?classroom? ?
had? ?suddenly? ?pressed? ?the? ?pause? ?button,? ?the? ?chanting? ?sound? ?of? ?memorization? ?fading? ?away? ?in? ?a? ?
rustle.? ?
?
One? ?person? ?hadn''t? ?heard? ?his? ?yawns? ?and? ?continued? ?to? ?chant,? ?and? ?his? ?deskmate? ?reminded? ?
him? ?at? ?a? ?volume? ?that? ?he''d? ?assumed? ?was? ?inconspicuous.? ?“Stop? ?memorizing? ?already!? ?The? ?boss? ?is? ?
sleepy!”? ?
?
“Fuck!”? ?That? ?person? ?shut? ?his? ?mouth? ?in? ?alarm.? ?“I''m? ?sorry? ?for? ?bothering? ?you!”? ? ?
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“...”? ?Xu? ?Yinian? ?didn''t? ?even? ?raise? ?his? ?head.? ?“Continue,? ?it''s? ?hypnotizing.”? ? ?
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The? ?moment? ?he? ?finished? ?his? ?sentence…? ?
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The? ?sound? ?of? ?loud? ?and? ?clear? ?reading? ?picked? ?up? ?from? ?the? ?four? ?corners? ?of? ?the? ?classroom,? ?
and? ?even? ?students? ?who? ?hadn''t? ?previously? ?been? ?reading? ?fished? ?out? ?their? ?textbooks.? ?This? ?caused? ?
the? ?teacher-in-charge? ?who? ?walked? ?into? ?the? ?class? ?to? ?be? ?so? ?touched? ?that? ?he? ?was? ?an? ?utter? ?mess.? ?
“Students,? ?I? ?can? ?see? ?all? ?of? ?the? ?hard? ?work? ?that? ?everyone? ?is? ?putting? ?in,? ?so? ?believe? ?me? ?when? ?I? ?say? ?
that? ?every? ?student? ?in? ?this? ?class? ?will? ?be? ?able? ?to? ?successfully? ?pass? ?the? ?graduation? ?assessment!”? ? ?
? ? ?
In? ?this? ?atmosphere? ?that? ?reeked? ?of? ?enthusiastic? ?learning,? ?Xu? ?Yinian? ?simply? ?could? ?not? ?fall? ?
asleep.? ?He? ?dug? ?around? ?for? ?his? ?phone? ?and? ?logged? ?into? ?the? ?joint? ?forum.? ?
? ? ?
Not? ?all? ?demons? ?were? ?targeted? ?by? ?demon? ?slayers.? ?For? ?the? ?most? ?part,? ?demons? ?who? ?didn''t? ?
stir? ?up? ?trouble? ?or? ?harm? ?other? ?humans? ?would? ?instead? ?become? ?the? ?esteemed? ?guests?4?? ?of? ?demon? ?
slayers.? ?In? ?order? ?to? ?avoid? ?bloodshed,? ?humankind? ?had? ?always? ?advocated? ?for? ?the? ?peaceful? ?
co-existence? ?of? ?both? ?species.? ?To? ?gradually? ?solve? ?the? ?estrangement? ?that? ?existed? ?between? ?
demonkind? ?and? ?demon? ?slayers? ?for? ?the? ?last? ?thousand? ?years? ?as? ?well? ?as? ?to? ?enable? ?regular? ?humans? ?
to? ?better? ?understand? ?demons,? ?the? ?Demon? ?Slayer? ?Bureau? ?had? ?set? ?up? ?the? ?joint? ?forum? ?to? ?facilitate? ?
communication? ?between? ?both? ?species.? ? ?
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It? ?was? ?a? ?pity? ?that? ?after? ?the? ?joint? ?forum? ?was? ?set? ?up,? ?the? ?demons? ?hardly? ?ever? ?made? ?posts? ?on? ?
their? ?own.? ?When? ?there? ?was? ?an? ?interesting? ?topic,? ?they’d? ?occasionally? ?comment? ?on? ?the? ?post,? ?their? ?
responses? ?often? ?rather? ?peculiar.? ? ?
4 ?座?上?宾:? ?term? ?to? ?be? ?confirmed,? ?possibly? ?a? ?specialized? ?term? ?for? ?demon-demon? ?slayer? ?collaboration.? ?
? ? ?
[Question:? ?Will? ?drinking? ?blood? ?from? ?a? ?demon? ?species? ?turn? ?me? ?into? ?a? ?demon?]? ?
?
[A? ?demon? ?replied:? ?It? ?can? ?treat? ?your? ?cerebral? ?palsy.]? ?
?
[[Vomit][Vomit]? ?I? ?was? ?harassed? ?by? ?a? ?Canine? ?demon? ?on? ?the? ?way? ?home? ?from? ?work.? ?Can? ?this? ?
monster? ?just? ?go? ?and? ?die???]? ?
?
[A? ?demon? ?replied:? ?What? ?the? ?heck?? ?Are? ?you? ?sure? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?Canine? ?demon?? ?Give? ?us? ?some? ?details.? ?
If? ?our? ?species? ?really? ?birthed? ?such? ?scum,? ?I’ll? ?get? ?rid? ?of? ?them? ?tonight.]? ? ?
...? ?
...? ?
?
Other? ?than? ?the? ?public? ?section,? ?access? ?to? ?the? ?demon? ?section? ?and? ?demon? ?slayer? ?section? ?
both? ?required? ?identity? ?verification.? ?To? ?infiltrate? ?the? ?demon? ?section,? ?Xu? ?Yinian? ?had? ?paid? ?a? ?high? ?
price? ?for? ?an? ?account? ?belonging? ?to? ?a? ?Feline? ?demon.? ?
? ?
Very? ?quickly,? ?he? ?saw? ?a? ?post? ?that? ?was? ?gaining? ?traction? ?on? ?the? ?first? ?page? ?of? ?the? ?demon? ?
section.? ? ?
? ? ?
[Have? ?you? ?heard?? ?Yu? ?Huai? ?will? ?be? ?going? ?to? ?the? ?Qihai? ?auction!]? ?
? ? ?
[Really?!? ?My? ?husband? ?is? ?finally? ?willing? ?to? ?show? ?his? ?face?]? ?
?
[Aaaaaa? ?who? ?has? ?the? ?invitation? ?to? ?the? ?auction?? ?Sell? ?it? ?to? ?me? ?sell? ?it? ?to? ?me,? ?we? ?can? ?negotiate? ?the? ?
price!]? ?
?
[Sister,? ?calm? ?down!? ?Think? ?about? ?the? ?rumors? ?about? ?his? ?reign? ?of? ?terror.? ?Don’t? ?fight? ?me? ?for? ?the? ?
invitation,? ?let? ?me? ?be? ?the? ?one? ?to? ?bear? ?this? ?grave? ?danger.]? ?
? ? ?
[Is? ?anyone? ?selling? ?the? ?invitation? ?to? ?the? ?Qihai? ?auction?? ?I? ?don’t? ?know? ?who? ?Yu? ?Huai? ?is? ?and? ?most? ?
definitely? ?don’t? ?know? ?who? ?this? ?number? ?one? ?face? ?in? ?the? ?Demon? ?Realm? ?is.? ?I? ?just? ?want? ?to? ?broaden? ?
my? ?horizons.]? ?
?
[Is? ?all? ?this? ?necessary?? ?How? ?many? ?hundreds? ?of? ?years? ?has? ?it? ?been? ?since? ?you’ve? ?seen? ?a? ?man?]? ?
?
[It’s? ?true,? ?I? ?haven’t? ?seen? ?a? ?man? ?who? ?is? ?handsome,? ?has? ?a? ?great? ?pedigree,? ?and? ?who? ?managed? ?to? ?
come? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?Burial? ?Grounds? ?alive,? ?hehe.]? ? ?
? ? ?
Xu? ?Yinian’s? ?finger? ?halted? ?its? ?scrolling.? ?He? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?glance? ?at? ?the? ?assignment? ?he’d? ?
just? ?received.? ?Written? ?clearly? ?on? ?it? ?was? ?the? ?venue? ?of? ?his? ?graduation? ?assessment.? ?
? ? ?
Qihai? ?City,? ?Demon? ?Realm? ?auction.? ?
? ? ?
As? ?he? ?stared? ?at? ?the? ?assessment? ?venue,? ?his? ?gaze? ?grew? ?cold.? ?
? ? ?
[Does? ?everyone? ?think? ?Yu? ?Huai? ?is? ?a? ?random? ?dog? ?or? ?cat? ?on? ?the? ?roadside? ?who’s? ?willing? ?to? ?attend? ?any? ?
random? ?shitty? ?auction?? ?If? ?he? ?really? ?shows? ?up,? ?I’ll? ?pluck? ?my? ?head? ?off? ?and? ?let? ?everyone? ?kick? ?it? ?like? ?a? ?
ball.]? ?
? ?
[I’ll? ?be? ?blunt.? ?I? ?want? ?to? ?play? ?soccer.? ?Yu? ?Huai,? ?don’t? ?disappoint? ?me.]? ?
?
[You’re? ?just? ?fishing? ?for? ?responses?5?.? ?Who? ?doesn’t? ?know? ?that? ?Yu? ?Huai? ?never? ?attends? ?such? ?events?? ?
The? ?last? ?time? ?he? ?showed? ?his? ?face? ?publicly? ?was? ?when? ?he? ?fought? ?his? ?way? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?Burial? ?
Grounds.? ?Just? ?keep? ?fishing.]? ?
?
Xu? ?Yinian? ?scrolled? ?till? ?the? ?very? ?end.? ?There? ?was? ?a? ?lot? ?of? ?buzz? ?and? ?the? ?opinions? ?of? ?the? ?
demons? ?were? ?divergent,? ?yet? ?in? ?the? ?end,? ?they? ?could? ?not? ?come? ?to? ?a? ?definitive? ?conclusion.? ? ?
?
He? ?wasn’t? ?sure? ?to? ?rejoice? ?or? ?be? ?disappointed? ?as? ?he? ?closed? ?the? ?webpage.? ?
? ?
? ?-? ?
? ? ?
The? ?history? ?of? ?the? ?Demon? ?Realm? ?auction? ?ran? ?long? ?and? ?deep.? ?In? ?ancient? ?times,? ?the? ?items? ?
on? ?auction? ?included? ?human? ?bodies? ?and? ?ancient,? ?evil? ?tools.? ?In? ?recent? ?years,? ?as? ?the? ?relationship? ?
between? ?the? ?human? ?and? ?demon? ?species? ?improved,? ?the? ?Demon? ?Realm? ?auction? ?gradually? ?became? ?
legal? ?and? ?proper.? ?All? ?sorts? ?of? ?sanguinary? ?and? ?bloody? ?novelties? ?were? ?replaced? ?by? ?precious? ?
treasures? ?that? ?were? ?worthy? ?of? ?being? ?presented? ?on? ?stage.? ?
?
As? ?its? ?name? ?suggested,? ?the? ?Qihai? ?City?6?? ?that? ?was? ?hosting? ?the? ?auction? ?was? ?a? ?financial? ?hub? ?
located? ?by? ?the? ?sea,? ?and? ?along? ?the? ?city? ?was? ?a? ?chain? ?of? ?islands? ?that? ?formed? ?the? ?shape? ?of? ?a? ?
crescent? ?moon.? ?Located? ?along? ?the? ?beach? ?of? ?one? ?of? ?the? ?private? ?islands? ?was? ?a? ?villa? ?built? ?like? ?an? ?
archetypal? ?imperial? ?city? ?from? ?ancient? ?Rome.? ?With? ?a? ?giant? ?white? ?roof? ?shaped? ?in? ?an? ?arc,? ?its? ?stained? ?
glass? ?windows? ?were? ?bright? ?and? ?reflective,? ?and? ?within? ?the? ?air? ?drifted? ?the? ?faint? ?aroma? ?of? ?bay? ?leaves? ?
that? ?were? ?being? ?used? ?as? ?interior? ?decoration.? ? ?
?
This? ?time,? ?the? ?Phantom? ?demons? ?and? ?the? ?Demon? ?Slayer? ?Bureau? ?of? ?Qihai? ?City? ?were? ?
collectively? ?responsible? ?for? ?maintaining? ?order? ?at? ?the? ?venue,? ?and? ?the? ?students? ?that? ?were? ?coming? ?
for? ?their? ?graduation? ?assessment? ?would? ?have? ?to? ?support? ?the? ?local? ?Demon? ?Slayer? ?Bureau? ?in? ?this.? ?
As? ?Xu? ?Yinian? ?and? ?Chen? ?Ran? ?had? ?the? ?most? ?attractive? ?physical? ?profiles,? ?they? ?were? ?selected? ?to? ?
stand? ?guard? ?by? ?the? ?main? ?entrance? ?to? ?receive? ?guests.? ?Although? ?they? ?were? ?the? ?same? ?age? ?and? ?both? ?
successors? ?of? ?the? ?Four? ?Great? ?Families,? ?their? ?personalities? ?did? ?not? ?mesh? ?well.? ?Not? ?a? ?single? ?word? ?
was? ?said? ?between? ?them? ?all? ?morning.? ? ?
?
5 ?钓?鱼?的?没?妈:? ?Slang,? ?something? ?along? ?the? ?lines? ?of? ?asking? ?purposefully? ?dumb? ?questions? ?to? ?get? ?netizens? ?to? ?
respond.? ?Read? ??here?? ?for? ?more? ?information!? ? ?
6 ?祁?海?市:? ?‘Qi’? ?=? ?vast? ?and? ?‘Hai’? ?=? ?sea.? ?So? ?the? ?city? ?is? ?a? ?namesake? ?for? ?its? ?location.? ?
The? ?auction? ?was? ?prestigious? ?and? ?renowned;? ?other? ?than? ?demons,? ?the? ?guest? ?list? ?also? ?
included? ?a? ?number? ?of? ?powerful? ?humans? ?who? ?were? ?members? ?of? ?the? ?elite.? ?A? ?supercar? ?painted? ?in? ?
dark? ?purple? ?flashed? ?past? ?and? ?stopped? ?in? ?the? ?near? ?distance.? ?When? ?the? ?door? ?opened,? ?a? ?young? ?man? ?
with? ?dyed? ?red? ?hair? ?alighted? ?the? ?car? ?accompanied? ?by? ?a? ?female? ?internet? ?celebrity.? ? ?
? ? ?
Red? ?Hair? ?removed? ?his? ?sunglasses,? ?looking? ?around? ?at? ?his? ?surroundings? ?before? ?speaking? ?in? ?
a? ?particularly? ?pleased? ?tone,? ?“Look!? ?Isn’t? ?this? ?even? ?more? ?exclusive? ?than? ?a? ?cruise? ?party? ?or? ?mountain? ?
road-racing? ?circuit?? ?My? ?brothers? ?don’t? ?even? ?know? ?this? ?place? ?exists? ?in? ?the? ?world;? ?this? ?island? ?
doesn’t? ?show? ?up? ?on? ?any? ?map.? ?If? ?not? ?for? ?my? ?family’s? ?connections? ?with? ?the? ?organizers,? ?you? ?
probably? ?wouldn’t? ?even? ?be? ?able? ?to? ?step? ?foot? ?on? ?this? ?island.”? ?
?
“Yes,? ?yes.”? ?The? ?little? ?internet? ?celebrity? ?laughed? ?along,? ?fiddling? ?with? ?her? ?long? ?hair? ?non-stop.? ?
“It’s? ?all? ?because? ?of? ?you.”? ?
?
“Let? ?me? ?tell? ?you,? ?even? ?though? ?the? ?people? ?who? ?are? ?coming? ?and? ?going? ?look? ?human,? ?it’s? ?
possible? ?that? ?they’re? ?all? ?not? ?humans.”? ?
?
The? ?little? ?internet? ?celebrity? ?revealed? ?an? ?expression? ?of? ?alarm? ?mingled? ?with? ?surprise.? ?
“President? ?Yu,? ?can? ?I? ?do? ?a? ?live? ?broadcast?”? ?
?
Red? ?Hair? ?furrowed? ?his? ?brow.? ?“This? ?place? ?prohibits? ?photography.? ?You? ?should? ?watch? ?
yourself;? ?I? ?won’t? ?be? ?able? ?to? ?protect? ?you? ?if? ?anything? ?happens.”? ?
? ? ?
As? ?Red? ?Hair? ?walked,? ?he? ?peered? ?in? ?all? ?directions.? ?When? ?his? ?line? ?of? ?sight? ?reached? ?Xu? ?
Yinian,? ?he? ?suddenly? ?asked,? ?“What? ?species? ?are? ?you?? ?Let? ?me? ?guess,? ?are? ?you? ?a? ?fox?”? ?
? ? ?
From? ?the? ?moment? ?this? ?pair? ?had? ?arrived? ?Chen? ?Ran? ?had? ?been? ?frowning.? ?He? ?was? ?caught? ?off? ?
guard? ?upon? ?hearing? ?this? ?idiot? ?try? ?to? ?pick? ?a? ?fight? ?with? ?Xu? ?Yinian,? ?his? ?sarcastic? ?tone? ?insinuating? ?that? ?
Xu? ?Yinian? ?looked? ?like? ?a? ?fox? ?vixen.? ?He? ?couldn’t? ?resist? ?a? ?touch? ?of? ?Schadenfreude,? ?the? ?tension? ?
between? ?his? ?brows? ?easing? ?some.? ?
? ? ?
Xu? ?Yinian? ?ignored? ?him.? ? ?
? ? ?
Red? ?Hair? ?was? ?displeased? ?and? ?stepped? ?forward? ?to? ?argue.? ?“I’m? ?talking? ?to? ?you,? ?can’t? ?you? ?
hear?”? ?
? ? ?
Xu? ?Yinian’s? ?eyelid? ?twitched.? ?“Nope.”? ? ?
?
“?”? ?
? ? ?
At? ?this? ?point,? ?Chen? ?Huo? ?politely? ?yet? ?forcefully? ?stopped? ?Red? ?Hair? ?from? ?continuing.? ?“Please? ?
come? ?in.”? ?
?
As? ?he? ?spoke,? ?he? ?pushed? ?open? ?the? ?door? ?of? ?the? ?main? ?entrance.? ?
? ? ?
Red? ?Hair? ?comprehended? ?the? ?kind? ?of? ?occasion? ?he? ?was? ?attending? ?and? ?could? ?only? ?glare? ?at? ?
Xu? ?Yinian? ?before? ?entering? ?in? ?a? ?huff.? ? ?
?
Unlike? ?Red? ?Hair,? ?Xu? ?Yinian? ?was? ?a? ?demon? ?slayer? ?and? ?could? ?easily? ?differentiate? ?between? ?
the? ?demons? ?and? ?humans? ?on-site.? ?
? ? ?
A? ?female? ?demon? ?emanating? ?a? ?graceful? ?air? ?held? ?up? ?her? ?dress? ?as? ?she? ?walked? ?over.? ?If? ?he? ?
recalled? ?correctly,? ?she? ?was? ?a? ?popular? ?female? ?celebrity? ?in? ?human? ?society.? ?Behind? ?the? ?female? ?star? ?
was? ?a? ?middle-aged? ?male? ?demon? ?with? ?a? ?seemingly? ?ordinary? ?appearance.? ?After? ?thinking? ?carefully,? ?
he? ?surmised? ?that? ?he? ?seemed? ?to? ?be? ?some? ?financial? ?magnate.? ?If? ?he? ?looked? ?back? ?even? ?further,? ?Xu? ?
Yinian? ?could? ?vaguely? ?see? ?the? ?big? ?shots? ?of? ?military? ?and? ?politics,? ?elites? ?of? ?the? ?business? ?world...? ? ?
? ?
What? ?he? ?found? ?strange? ?was? ?that? ?these? ?immaculately? ?dressed? ?demons? ?would? ?practically? ?
all? ?halt? ?their? ?step? ?when? ?walking? ?past? ?him.? ?What’s? ?more,? ?some? ?would? ?even? ?turn? ?back? ?and? ?look? ?at? ?
him? ?again.? ?On? ?their? ?faces? ?was? ?laughter? ?and? ?ridicule;? ?it? ?looked? ?like? ?they? ?were? ?watching? ?an? ?exciting? ?
show? ?play? ?out,? ?or? ?even? ?mocking? ?him.? ? ?
? ? ?
“Is? ?it? ?that? ?one?? ?The? ?one? ?on? ?the? ?left.”? ?
?
“From? ?the? ?Xu? ?family…”? ?
?
“He’s? ?certainly? ?got? ?guts? ?to? ?dare? ?stand? ?here.? ?Doesn’t? ?he? ?know? ?who’s? ?coming? ?today?”? ?
? ? ?
Because? ?of? ?the? ?earlier? ?help? ?out? ?of? ?his? ?predicament,? ?Xu? ?Yinian? ?had? ?a? ?slight? ?change? ?of? ?
opinion? ?towards? ?Chen? ?Ran.? ?He? ?casually? ?asked,? ?“Is? ?it? ?very? ?funny? ?for? ?a? ?security? ?guard? ?to? ?stand? ?
here?”? ? ?
?
“It’s? ?not? ?that? ?the? ?security? ?guard? ?is? ?funny.? ?No? ?one’s? ?looking? ?at? ?me.”? ?On? ?this? ?rare? ?occasion,? ?
Chen? ?Ran? ?decided? ?to? ?give? ?him? ?a? ?hint.? ?He? ?kept? ?his? ?tone? ?flat? ?and? ?neutral.? ?“They’re? ?laughing? ?at? ?
you.”? ?
? ? ?
Xu? ?Yinian? ?found? ?this? ?baffling,? ?inwardly? ?wondering? ?how? ?or? ?when? ?he? ?became? ?a? ?comedian.? ?
Before? ?he? ?could? ?figure? ?it? ?out,? ?another? ?luxury? ?car? ?stopped? ?in? ?front? ?of? ?the? ?entrance.? ?
?
The? ?attendant? ?bent? ?his? ?waist? ?to? ?open? ?the? ?door,? ?and? ?stepping? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?car? ?was? ?a? ?tall? ?
young? ?man? ?fully? ?dressed? ?in? ?formal? ?attire.? ?The? ?man’s? ?face? ?was? ?clearly? ?illuminated? ?by? ?the? ?sunlight;? ?
he? ?squinted? ?his? ?eyes? ?to? ?look? ?over,? ?his? ?face? ?handsome? ?yet? ?arrogant?7?.? ? ?
? ? ?
He? ?was? ?younger? ?than? ?most? ?of? ?the? ?demons? ?present,? ?yet? ?all? ?of? ?the? ?demons? ?were? ?staring? ?at? ?
him.? ?
? ? ?
“Holy? ?shit…!”? ?Upon? ?realizing? ?who? ?this? ?god? ?was,? ?Chen? ?Ran? ?inhaled? ?deeply.? ?
7 ?桀?骜:? ?I’m? ?holding? ?myself? ?back? ?from? ?using? ?‘guarded’? ?here!!!? ?
? ? ?
Xu? ?Yinian’s? ?entire? ?body? ?was? ?frozen? ?in? ?place,? ?his? ?breathing? ?nearly? ?ceasing.? ?
?
He? ?looked? ?in? ?disbelief? ?at? ?that? ?figure? ?within? ?the? ?crowd.? ?The? ?post? ?from? ?the? ?joint? ?forum? ?
abruptly? ?emerged? ?in? ?his? ?mind.? ?
?
...? ?
?
[I? ?suddenly? ?thought? ?of? ?something? ?-? ?the? ?Xu? ?family? ?is? ?at? ?the? ?very? ?least? ?considered? ?a? ?noble? ?family? ?of? ?
demon? ?slayers.? ?This? ?is? ?such? ?a? ?grand? ?auction,? ?Xu? ?Yinian? ?might? ?also? ?attend.? ?If? ?he? ?does,? ?the? ?scene? ?
is? ?definitely? ?going? ?to? ?be? ?very? ?exciting? ?hahahaha.]? ? ?
?
[Can? ?you? ?not? ?bring? ?this? ?idiot? ?up?? ?It’s? ?bad? ?luck.]? ?
?
[I’m? ?already? ?used? ?to? ?it.? ?As? ?long? ?as? ?Yu? ?Huai? ?is? ?mentioned,? ?you-know-who’s? ?name? ?will? ?definitely? ?
show? ?up? ?in? ?less? ?than? ?ten? ?minutes.]? ?
?
[Are? ?you? ?crazy?? ?There? ?are? ?still? ?people? ?who? ?ship? ?this?!? ?Based? ?on? ?Yu? ?Huai’s? ?temper,? ?if? ?Xu? ?Yinian? ?
shows? ?up? ?in? ?front? ?of? ?him? ?now? ?he’s? ?just? ?courting? ?death.? ?Back? ?then,? ?his? ?marriage? ?to? ?Yu? ?Huai? ?was? ?a? ?
total? ?social? ?climb? ?for? ?him? ?-? ?did? ?Yu? ?Huai? ?say? ?anything?? ?Was? ?he? ?not? ?good? ?to? ?him?? ?The? ?moment? ?
things? ?went? ?awry,? ?he? ?was? ?the? ?fastest? ?to? ?turn? ?against? ?him;? ?not? ?even? ?a? ?marriage? ?contract? ?was? ?
enough? ?to? ?stop? ?him? ?from? ?cutting? ?ties.? ?That? ?surnamed? ?Xu? ?definitely? ?has? ?a? ?problem? ?with? ?his? ?
morals.]? ? ?
?
[Then? ?again,? ?we? ?can’t? ?entirely? ?blame? ?Xu? ?Yinian.? ?Back? ?then,? ?how? ?many? ?people? ?could? ?have? ?
predicted? ?that? ?Yu? ?Huai? ?could? ?walk? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?Burial? ?Grounds? ?alive?? ?After? ?all,? ?something? ?like? ?this? ?
has? ?never? ?happened? ?before.]? ?
?
[I’m? ?curious? ?how? ?long? ?young? ?master? ?Xu? ?stayed? ?up? ?till? ?the? ?night? ?that? ?Yu? ?Huai? ?came? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?
Burial? ?Grounds.]? ?
?
[He? ?probably? ?didn’t? ?sleep? ?all? ?night,? ?scared? ?for? ?his? ?life.? ?For? ?things? ?to? ?end? ?up? ?like? ?this? ?is? ?
well-deserved;? ?he? ?asked? ?for? ?it.]? ?
?
...? ?
...? ?
? ? ?
After? ?Yu? ?Huai? ?got? ?off? ?the? ?car,? ?the? ?female? ?companion? ?that? ?was? ?accompanying? ?him? ?
extended? ?a? ?hand? ?to? ?hold? ?onto? ?his? ?arm.? ?
?
The? ?female? ?demon’s? ?long? ?platinum? ?hair? ?trailed? ?down? ?her? ?back? ?in? ?curls,? ?her? ?complexion? ?
pale? ?like? ?fresh? ?snow.? ?Both? ?her? ?and? ?Yu? ?Huai’s? ?appearances? ?were? ?exceedingly? ?outstanding,? ?and? ?
when? ?they? ?stood? ?together? ?they? ?were? ?particularly? ?eye-catching.? ?
? ? ?
Xu? ?Yinian? ?unconsciously? ?pursed? ?his? ?lips.? ?
? ? ?
“Hey!”? ?Chen? ?Ran? ?had? ?initially? ?planned? ?on? ?just? ?minding? ?his? ?own? ?business,? ?but? ?upon? ?seeing? ?
Xu? ?Yinian? ?staring? ?fixed? ?in? ?that? ?direction,? ?he? ?had? ?no? ?choice? ?but? ?to? ?lower? ?his? ?voice? ?and? ?remind? ?him.? ?
“Hurry? ?up? ?and? ?hide!? ?Or? ?at? ?the? ?very? ?least? ?bury? ?your? ?face!”? ? ?
? ? ?
Xu? ?Yinian’s? ?mind? ?was? ?in? ?a? ?tangle,? ?and? ?he? ?instinctively? ?listened? ?to? ?Chen? ?Ran.? ?The? ?moment? ?
he? ?lowered? ?his? ?head,? ?he? ?thought? ?this? ?gesture? ?was? ?truly? ?just? ?overdoing? ?it? ?on? ?his? ?part.? ? ?
?
Those? ?idiots? ?on? ?the? ?joint? ?forum? ?constantly? ?fantasized? ?that? ?Yu? ?Huai? ?hated? ?him? ?to? ?the? ?core,? ?
messing? ?with? ?his? ?head? ?till? ?he’d? ?even? ?started? ?believing? ?it.? ?
? ? ?
From? ?alighting? ?the? ?car? ?till? ?now,? ?Yu? ?Huai? ?hadn’t? ?spared? ?him? ?a? ?single? ?glance.? ?
? ? ?
It? ?had? ?been? ?five? ?whole? ?years? ?since? ?they’d? ?broken? ?up.? ?Judging? ?by? ?Yu? ?Huai’s? ?current? ?status? ?
and? ?standing,? ?the? ?amount? ?of? ?love? ?and? ?admiration? ?he? ?received? ?was? ?naturally? ?too? ?much? ?to? ?count.? ?
Yu? ?Huai? ?had? ?likely? ?forgotten? ?all? ?about? ?him.? ? ?
? ? ?
Xu? ?Yinian? ?shut? ?his? ?eyes,? ?working? ?to? ?suppress? ?the? ?ripples? ?in? ?his? ?heart.? ?
?
Yu? ?Huai? ?no? ?longer? ?cared…? ?Wasn’t? ?that? ?good? ?enough?? ?Wasn’t? ?this? ?what? ?he’d? ?wished? ?for? ?
himself?? ?
? ? ?
The? ?very? ?first? ?person? ?to? ?step? ?forward? ?to? ?chat? ?with? ?Yu? ?Huai? ?was? ?that? ?middle-aged? ?man.? ?He? ?
spoke? ?politely,? ?“Mr? ?Yu,? ?I’ve? ?heard? ?a? ?lot? ?about? ?you.”? ?
?
A? ?female? ?demon? ?asked? ?cautiously,? ?“Why? ?did? ?you? ?come? ?to? ?the? ?auction?? ?In? ?the? ?past,? ?you? ?
didn’t? ?seem? ?very? ?interested? ?in? ?attending? ?similar? ?events.”? ?
? ? ?
Rather? ?than? ?behaving? ?in? ?an? ?unbridled? ?and? ?unrestrained? ?manner,? ?Yu? ?Huai? ?actually? ?hardly? ?
ever? ?showed? ?up? ?in? ?public.? ?Demons? ?that? ?were? ?familiar? ?with? ?his? ?personality? ?were? ?few? ?and? ?far? ?
between,? ?and? ?the? ?understanding? ?that? ?the? ?rest? ?of? ?the? ?world? ?had? ?about? ?him? ?came? ?from? ?a? ?mixed? ?
bag? ?of? ?true? ?and? ?false? ?rumors.? ?
?
Although? ?they? ?admired? ?the? ?powerful? ?by? ?nature,? ?any? ?demons? ?that? ?approached? ?or? ?got? ?close? ?
to? ?him? ?would? ?inevitably? ?be? ?on? ?guard.? ? ?
? ? ?
“I? ?heard? ?there’s? ?a? ?large? ?variety? ?of? ?objects? ?being? ?auctioned? ?this? ?time,? ?so? ?I? ?wanted? ?to? ?take? ?a? ?
look.”? ?Yu? ?Huai’s? ?gaze? ?swept? ?across? ?the? ?two? ?demon? ?slayers? ?standing? ?by? ?the? ?main? ?entrance,? ?
pausing? ?for? ?a? ?moment? ?on? ?Xu? ?Yinian? ?who? ?had? ?his? ?head? ?lowered? ?like? ?an? ?ostrich.? ? ?
?
He? ?let? ?out? ?a? ?laugh,? ?then? ?continued? ?meaningfully.? ?“I? ?must? ?have? ?good? ?luck,? ?I’ve? ?stumbled? ?
upon? ?something? ?I? ?want.”? ?