Chapter 396: Chapter 392: An Extraordinarily Thick Skin

Looking at Du Tianyi, the corner of Tu Xiao’an’s mouth curled into a smirk. A playful glint flashed in his eyes as he softly uttered, "I killed her."

I killed her... I killed her... I killed her...

Those three simple words instantly echoed in Du Tianyi’s mind. His expression turned grim, the ominous feeling intensifying. Yet, he remained calm. "Friend, you can’t just say something like that. Killing a group leader from the Demon Management Bureau is a heinous crime. You won’t just be wanted by the Wencheng Bureau; the entire nation will issue a kill order. No matter where you go, you’ll have nowhere to hide."

’Is this guy just arrogant and overconfident, or is he a complete idiot? To kill someone from the Demon Management Bureau and then brazenly step forward and admit to it.’

And a group leader, no less. This was a hundred times more serious than killing an ordinary person.

"But what can I do? I’m the one who killed her. Let’s not beat around the bush," Tu Xiao’an said with a faint smile, shrugging.

Du Tianyi wanted to curse. ’This guy is being so blatant. Is he trying to force me to make a move?’

’I can’t just hear that he killed someone from the Demon Management Bureau and do nothing, can I?’

Damn it. Du Tianyi felt like he was riding a tiger, unable to get off. He was a man of immense power and status, second only to the director of the Demon Management Bureau. He held the power of life and death; killing someone was as easy for him as crushing an ant.

Yet now, he didn’t dare to make a rash move against the young man standing before him.

It wasn’t that he lacked confidence in his own strength. The situation was simply not in his favor.

The Bull Demon King revered this man as his master. If a fight broke out, the Bull Demon King would be the first obstacle. And that wasn’t all. Next to the young man stood a middle-aged man dressed as a Daoist. Though he hadn’t said a word, Du Tianyi’s sharp gaze identified him at once: a Demon Spirit in Transformation.

Furthermore, there were two extraordinary Super level Creatures in the hall. Although they were only Rank Two, dealing with them would still require considerable effort.

Three people, two beasts. Du Tianyi was no fool. Even as a Rank Three Creature, he had to yield to the circumstances.

’That damned Bull Demon King, becoming someone else’s subordinate...’ It put Du Tianyi in a very awkward position, making him feel as if he had walked right into a tiger’s den.

’So much for extorting a hefty sum from the Bull Demon King. Now I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place.’

「After a long moment...」

"Haha... Bull Demon King, your master certainly has a sense of humor. Truly a dragon among men," Du Tianyi said, his face twitching as he forced a loud laugh.

’I’m the goddamn top man at the Demon Management Bureau, and I’ve already backed down this much. Know when to quit! Don’t push your luck!’ he roared internally.

Tu Xiao’an watched Du Tianyi with a beaming smile. The man was giving himself an out, but Tu Xiao’an had no intention of letting him take it.

With a jolt, a deep blue aura erupted from Tu Xiao’an’s body. The temperature in the entire hall plummeted, feeling like the dead of winter.

"You should be familiar with this power, right?" Tu Xiao’an asked, watching him with a smile.

The forced smile on Du Tianyi’s face froze, replaced by sheer astonishment.

’Ice Frost Power?’

’That’s Group Leader Leng Shuang’s unique Frost Attribute ability. How is this possible???’

The astonishment on Du Tianyi’s face morphed into utter disbelief. He looked as if he’d been struck by lightning, rendered speechless and powerless.

’Even if this young man did kill Leng Shuang, how could her ability have been transferred to him? How is that possible?’

’How did he do it? What kind of bizarre method does he possess?’

’Stealing abilities... Such a thing was unheard of. It was the kind of thing you only read about in novels.’

This person was unfathomably mysterious. No wonder he could become the Bull Demon King’s master. Du Tianyi could see through the Daoist’s disguise as a transformed Demon Spirit, but this young man had no discernible aura, making it impossible to gauge his true strength.

And that inability to gauge his strength was the most terrifying part.

Worst of all, the young man was clearly hostile. He was deliberately forcing the issue, trying to back Du Tianyi into a corner where he would have no choice but to fight.

’But damn it, that was a confrontation Du Tianyi did not want right now.’

’He felt like a stampede of ten thousand curses was thundering through his mind.’

As a man of great power and status, when had Du Tianyi ever been subjected to such disrespect? The frustration was suffocating.

He cursed himself for coming to this villa alone—it was like a lamb walking into a tiger’s mouth. He cursed the Bull Demon King even more for having no sense of honor, no respect for the code of the Jianghu.

’You swore allegiance to a new master, you fucker! You could have at least given me a heads-up!’

The Bull Demon King, standing quietly beside Tu Xiao’an, spread his hands toward the grim-faced Du Tianyi. His expression was one of pure innocence, as if to say, ’This old bull had no choice in the matter.’

’How could he have ever imagined that he, a mighty Rank Three Demon Spirit, would be taken as a Battle Companion by a Rank Two Snake Spirit?’

’What could he do? He was in despair, all right?’

"Group Leader Du, aren’t you going to arrest me?" Tu Xiao’an taunted when the other man didn’t respond, his gaze full of ridicule.

Du Tianyi trembled slightly, his hands clenched into tight fists. This guy was absolutely determined to force a confrontation. Yet, the more fearless and confident he acted, the less Du Tianyi wanted to completely break ties.

"Haha... The Bull Demon King and I go way back. As for Leng Shuang, she may have been my colleague, but we never saw eye to eye. We were like fire and water. You did well killing her! Friend, you’ve helped me vent some serious frustration. In fact, I should be thanking you!"

Huh...

The moment those words left his mouth, everyone in the hall gasped. ’How could he say something so shameless?’

Even Tu Xiao’an was baffled, his expression completely dumbfounded. He had just ripped away the pretense, and Du Tianyi had forcibly patched it right back up.

’And this is a group leader from the Demon Management Bureau? Not an ounce of spine.’

Tu Xiao’an shook his head in disappointment. "Completely useless."

Those two words, combined with Tu Xiao’an’s expression, landed in Du Tianyi’s ears like a lit match. Rage ignited in his heart, and his entire body began to tremble.

’Endure.’ He didn’t want to come out on the losing end, so he had to keep enduring. All the while, his mind raced, formulating an escape plan.

Du Tianyi swore to himself, ’If I make it out of this villa in one piece, I will bring my forces back here and raze it to the ground. I’ll drag every single one of them away in chains. I won’t be able to swallow this humiliation otherwise.’

Tu Xiao’an was getting a bit exasperated. He’d been so blatant with his taunts, yet the man was still keeping his composure. He had to admit, he was a little impressed.

Du Tianyi’s thick skin was on a whole other level.

"Golden Pupils, Azure Owl. We have a visitor. Why don’t you two give our guest a proper welcome?" Tu Xiao’an said casually.

ROAR!

The light in Golden Pupils’ Yin Yang Eye flared. An overwhelming aura, possessing the might of a tiger and the power of a lion, surged forth like a tidal wave. It then lunged toward Du Tianyi. In midair, the claws on its forelimbs shot out, sharp enough to kill with a single touch.

"Hee hee, a fight! This is so exciting!"

Azure Owl’s eyes sparkled like jewels. With a flap of its wings, a whirlwind burst forth. Its body shot into the air, riding the cyclone as it charged toward Du Tianyi.

"...This is how you treat a guest?" Du Tianyi’s face was a mask of sheer disbelief. But facing two Rank Two Super level Creatures, he had no Battle Intent whatsoever. He immediately turned and shot off the balcony, launching himself into the air.

’Run. This fight is completely unwinnable. Even if I beat the Rank Two creatures, there’s still a Rank Three Demon Spirit waiting for me afterward.’

’As long as I get away from this villa, I’ll be like a fish returned to the sea. The tables will turn then.’

Du Tianyi leaped from the balcony, soaring into the air above the villa. His heart leaped with joy—the heavy hitters from the hall hadn’t pursued him.

Hmph...

’For the humiliation I suffered today, I, Du Tianyi, will repay it tenfold in the future.’