Embraced by a Breeze, Clean Hands in Both Sleeves

"Servants, bring wine!"

Demon Pu barked the order, and soon two fox-maidens with slender waists and alluring curves arrived, carrying trays of wine and delicacies.

"Pour the wine."

"Yes, Master," the fox-maidens replied in a seductive tone.

One began pouring while the other started kneading his shoulders.

Demon Pu downed the wine in one gulp, feeling an indescribable satisfaction.

"Well, well, Demon Pu, long time no see. Living the good life, eh?"

A voice suddenly echoed in Demon Pu's ears.

Clang!

The wine cup slipped from his hand and shattered on the floor. His face twisted into sheer terror as he shot up from his seat.

"That voice... Could it be...?"

Trembling, Demon Pu turned his head—only to see the figure standing behind him, the sight sending his soul fleeing in horror.

It was his eternal nightmare.

Gu Qingfeng.

Gu Qingfeng had already reverted to his true appearance. After all, what was the point of hiding in front of an old acquaintance?

"G-G-Gu Qingfeng!"

"Heh heh heh... So you still remember—Damn it!"

Before Gu Qingfeng could finish, Demon Pu had already bolted. Clearly, his life of luxury hadn’t dulled his survival instincts—the coward was as quick to flee as ever.

Whoosh!

Gu Qingfeng vanished.

Moments later, he returned, dragging Demon Pu by the scruff like a dead dog, the latter’s head now covered in lumps.

Given Gu Qingfeng’s current strength, dealing with a newly ascended Divine Realm demon like Demon Pu was child’s play.

The two fox-maidens, seeing their master captured, opened their mouths to scream—but a single glance from Gu Qingfeng froze them in place with a surge of soul power.

Terror filled their eyes, yet no sound escaped their lips. Their bodies refused to move.

Thud!

Gu Qingfeng tossed Demon Pu back into his seat before plopping down himself.

This time, Demon Pu sat obediently, awaiting his fate.

The sheer power Gu Qingfeng had just displayed left no room for resistance. Survival meant submission.

"Pour the wine. Massage." Gu Qingfeng snapped his fingers.

The fox-maidens suddenly regained control of their bodies. They exchanged glances, then looked at Demon Pu, who was frantically signaling at them with his eyes. Immediately, one rushed to pour wine while the other resumed kneading Gu Qingfeng’s shoulders.

Just like that, the roles of host and guest had reversed.

"Tsk." Gu Qingfeng took a sip and brightened. "This is the Purple Sun Wine Shadow Demon once gave me. Did he join the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom with you?"

"Yes, my lord," Demon Pu answered hastily before turning to the fox-maidens. "Quick, fetch all the Purple Sun Wine for Lord Gu!"

"My lord, may I ask... what brings you here today?" Demon Pu ventured, his tone dripping with sycophancy.

Now that he had reached the Divine Realm, Demon Pu feared death even more. Moreover, having glimpsed some of the upper realm’s secrets, he knew better than to provoke an entity even the Sacred Clan dared not challenge.

In the face of such a being, a Divine Realm cultivator was less than an ant.

Slap!

A resounding backhand struck Demon Pu’s face.

"Insolent! Since when do I need to explain myself to you?"

"My lord, spare me! This lowly demon deserves death!" Demon Pu dropped to his knees, kowtowing in panic.

"Get up. Honestly, I preferred you when you were still scheming and full of yourself."

Demon Pu scrambled to his feet, forcing a sheepish grin.

If I’d known you were an incarnation of the Heavenly Demon, would I have dared act so arrogantly?

"Then... what does my lord require of me?"

Gu Qingfeng wasted no time. After pocketing the freshly delivered Purple Sun Wine, he said, "We’re old friends—no need for formalities. First, kneel. I’d like to ask you a favor."

Demon Pu: "???"

I kneel... so you can ask me a favor?

Thud!

He knelt again.

"Speak, my lord."

"I’ve been bored lately. Thought I’d play emperor of the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom for a bit. Problem is, I’m not familiar with the place. Need a guide to the palace—and who better than you?"

Demon Pu’s mind reeled. Become emperor?! And I’m supposed to lead him there?! That’s a death sentence!

"M-M-My lord... you can’t be serious?"

Slap!

"Fool! Do you think I’d waste my time joking with the likes of you?"

"This lowly one deserves death! What I meant was... for someone of your stature to lower yourself to ruling the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom—it’s beneath you! The very thought pains me!"

"Hmm?" Gu Qingfeng raised an eyebrow, mildly impressed. The guy was getting smoother.

"Not bad. Keep talking."

Demon Pu seized the opportunity, launching into a flurry of fawning praise that left Gu Qingfeng thoroughly pleased.

Ah, the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom truly is better than the human realm. Every demon here is a gem—eloquent, polite, and they’d rather kneel than stand when speaking.

Half an hour later...

"Enough. I despise bootlickers. Now, take me to the palace."

"Y-Yes, my lord." Demon Pu complied outwardly, but inwardly, his heart was drowning in bitterness. Gone was any trace of his earlier satisfaction.

Fate toys with demons!

After finally reaching the Divine Realm, now I’m being forced to betray the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom! Gu Qingfeng, as a Heavenly Demon, will be fine—but what about me?

His only hope was to play along and flee when chaos erupted.

"Wait."

Gu Qingfeng suddenly paused.

"My first visit to your home, and you’d send me away empty-handed? How rude."

Demon Pu: "......"

One incense stick’s time later...

Demon Pu stared at his nearly emptied mansion, his fingers bare where his Kalan Pearl-adorned spatial ring once sat. Tears welled in his eyes.

My newly furnished estate... gone! All those gifts from demons trying to curry favor with a Divine Realm expert—vanished!

The tragedy reminded him of the past—his stolen spatial ring, the later loss of the Kalan Pearl...

Every encounter with Gu Qingfeng left him with nothing but the clothes on his back.

Yet the worst was still to come.

Gu Qingfeng added, "These fox-maidens massage well. I’ll take them too."

Without waiting for a response, he whisked them away into a pocket dimension, leaving them to Little Corpse Charm’s care.

Demon Pu’s eye twitched.

Those cost me a fortune!

Gone! All gone! My wealth, my servants—everything!

Just as he thought he had nothing left to lose, Gu Qingfeng spoke again.

And in that moment, Demon Pu realized he’d underestimated life’s cruelty.