Chapter 638: Fearing at First, Envying Now

"Mister Chen, to tell you the truth..."

"I didn't have these ideas in the beginning."

The Badger Demon recounted everything he had experienced over the years.

At first, he had indeed followed Chen Changsheng's instructions, ordering his lesser demons to quietly accompany the widows, widowers, and lonely elders of Donglin Ward through the rest of their lives.

But back then, the ward had no men left; those conscripted years ago had never returned.

All the men in the village were demons in disguise. Because of Mister Chen, they didn't dare lay a finger on the local women and rarely even interacted with them. Over time, most of the women married outside the ward or simply left and never returned.

This left Donglin Ward without a next generation.

Once the older generation passed away, only the demons were left. The remaining mortals could be counted on one hand.

"It gave me a headache at the time. I felt a lingering fear at the thought that this place might truly turn into a demon settlement. So, I had my lesser demons go out and adopt some orphans. You must have seen them on your way here, Mister Chen."

"So that's how it is..." Chen Changsheng said.

He had been wondering where all those children came from.

"My little demons have stayed here so long that they slowly grew attached. Compared to our old days of hiding and fleeing, this kind of peaceful life is incredibly rare. Add the little ones into the mix, and they became even more reluctant to leave. So, they stayed. A few did leave, of course, but not many, and I didn't stop them."

"And later..."

The Badger Demon paused, then said, "Because the demonic aura in Donglin Ward was so heavy, demons from the surrounding mountains came to investigate. Once they learned of the situation, they all wanted to move to Donglin Ward."

"I was unwilling at first. But when too many demons came begging at my door, I had to relent. I picked a few with decent character and allowed them to settle down."

"Over these past few years, the number of demons in Donglin Ward has only grown."

"Later, these lesser demons even opened a market."

"A market just for demons. Naturally, we couldn't set it up inside Donglin Ward with the children around, so they chose the deep mountains outside."

"Once the market opened, even more demons came and went, and Donglin Ward's reputation spread far and wide. Gradually, demons started calling this place the Demon Market. No matter how many times I forbade it, I couldn't stop the word from spreading among the mountain demons..."

The Badger Demon sighed. "This was truly not my intention. But since things have turned out this way, I cannot shirk responsibility. Please punish me, Mister."

Chen Changsheng raised a hand. For a moment, he didn't quite know what to say about the current state of Donglin Ward.

The fact that Donglin Ward had become the Demon Market to these demons was inextricably linked to Chen Changsheng's own decision back then.

But when was anything in this world ever perfect?

Without those lesser demons back then, how could the elders of Donglin Ward have passed away with smiles on their faces? Without them, what would have become of the children living here now?

"What are your plans?" Chen Changsheng asked.

The Badger Demon replied, "Just as Mister Chen said, this is ultimately the mortal realm. Once these children grow a bit older and can support themselves, I will send these demons away and return this place to the human world."

Chen Changsheng nodded. "That is the only way."

"It's just..." the Badger Demon said helplessly, "I'm afraid I'll have to spin a lie when the time comes."

Once those children grew up, fooling all of them wouldn't be an easy task.

Chen Changsheng looked at him. "Badger Demons are adept at playing with human hearts. For you, this might not be too difficult."

The Badger Demon offered a helpless smile. "Having acted as the proxy City God all these years and witnessing so many mundane matters, perhaps I've been influenced by the commoners around me. Slowly, some of my old thoughts have faded. It's funny to say, but sometimes I really feel like a City God proper deity. Protecting the commoners has almost become my true duty."

Chen Changsheng looked at him. "Even without incense, without a divine seat, you are willing?"

The Badger Demon said, "Mister says I am adept at playing with human hearts. But in the end, it is all just acting. Yet no matter how good the act, there always comes a time for turning a fake play into reality, doesn't there, Mister?"

Chen Changsheng shook his head. "As you wish."

He stood up. "Although you have changed drastically and have now stepped onto the Righteous Path, This Chen still has some words to say. Your murder of the City God's underworld deputies all those years ago cannot simply be written off. This is a debt you must repay. This Chen does not care if you are willing or not. For these three hundred years, not a single day can be skipped, and not a single judgment can be wrong."

The Badger Demon knelt on the ground and bowed his head. "That is only right."

Chen Changsheng nodded, preparing to leave.

The Badger Demon hurriedly called out, "Please wait, Mister."

"What else is there?" Chen Changsheng asked.

"Regarding the market in the deep mountains... Protecting Donglin Ward for three hundred years is my due punishment, and I am not unwilling. But afterward, I still wish to have a place to settle down. I watched Donglin Ward become what it is today, bit by bit, and my heart is reluctant to part with it. Could I ask Mister to permit me to settle in that deep mountain Demon Market when the time comes?"

Chen Changsheng looked at him and offered only a single sentence. "This Chen never said you couldn't."

The Badger Demon lowered his head and kowtowed.

"The Badger Demon thanks Mister!"

He looked up and watched the azure-robed Mister walk away step by step.

The Badger Demon quietly watched the Mister depart.

Only when Chen Changsheng had walked completely out of the City God Temple did the demon slowly rise from the ground.

He glanced back at the mottled paint of the City God Idol, a sudden sense of contentment welling up in his heart.

He let out a long breath, his gaze bright and steadfast.

.

.

Fu Hongmei stood by the windowsill of the inn.

His gaze slipped through the gap in the window, looking out at the street below.

Every so often, he saw someone walk down the street. Without even opening his spiritual eyes to check for demonic aura, he knew just by their scent that they were definitely demons as well.

So, he counted.

One, two, ten...

In just this short span of time, he had seen dozens of demons pass through the street.

'Just what kind of place is this!'

Fu Hongmei was astonished, yet he also felt a trace of yearning.

So many demons, walking openly on the street, living in this mortal world just like real humans. They didn't have to fear being bullied by other demons, nor did they need to fear Daoist priests or worry about hot-blooded martial artists...

Living out in the open!

Before entering, he had been afraid.

But after coming in, he found himself filled with envy.

"Knock, knock."

"Guest, I've brought your wash water!"

The voice outside the door snapped Fu Hongmei out of his daze. He quickly responded and walked toward the entrance.

"Creak..."

Pulling the door open, he saw the waiter standing outside. The waiter looked at him with a beaming smile and asked, "Shall I carry it in for you, guest, or...?"

Fu Hongmei froze.

Because he realized that this waiter...

Was also a demon!!

"You..."

The waiter seemed to notice his reaction but didn't say anything. He thought nothing of a guest running into a demon; there were simply too many demons coming and going in Donglin Ward.