Chapter 78: Folklore Horror (8)
The room was silent.
The clamor from outside seemed to be trapped in another world, leaving only an icy chill in this space.
After the initial confusion and stunned pause, Jian Yuntai’s expression suddenly darkened.
Only a storm of anger remained in his eyes.
Fuzhu had never seen this look on Jian Yuntai’s face. Being stared at by such an unfamiliar gaze instantly doused the joy and excitement he had felt moments ago with a bucket of cold water.
It was as if a thick layer of frost had formed over his heart.
How could this happen?
It shouldn’t be like this…
He forced a smile and stepped forward, but the young man in front of him raised his hand, his face full of rage.
A deafening bang echoed.
The wooden door behind them shook violently under the impact, as if it might collapse entirely. Fuzhu was grabbed by the neck and slammed hard against the door, yet the hand on his throat did not loosen.
Bit by bit, it tightened.
Fuzhu quickly felt his breath growing shallow. His face went pale as he looked at Jian Yuntai in panic and helplessness.
Jian Yuntai’s eyes stayed locked on him without blinking, lips slightly parted, his entire presence as cold as a block of ice.
“You did this on purpose,” he said in a chilling voice.
“……”
Fuzhu froze, opening his lips. He didn’t understand Jian Yuntai’s meaning. The pain of transformation had long ended, yet he felt a far worse, terrifying pain now—as if his heart had been pierced with a hole.
Whoosh—
Cold wind cut into the void in his chest, leaving his hands and feet icy and his body unable to move.
Fuzhu didn’t understand Jian Yuntai’s words, but the livestream viewers quickly pieced it together:
“Ahhh! When Fuzhu fought the Drowned Ghost two nights ago, he said the fox clan could read hearts and manifest the appearance of someone their loved one adored, then use charm magic. That means he can sense Jian Dadan’s heart too, which explains why Jian Dadan was so angry!”
“So he deliberately transformed to look like Cui Yu? Wuwuwu I really thought it was Cui Yu, I’m crying.”
“Looking at Fuzhu’s expression, it doesn’t seem intentional… maybe Jian Dadan misunderstood him.”
“If it really is a misunderstanding, Fuzhu was so happy just now… oh my god, seeing it from Fuzhu’s perspective, it’s really unfair.”
“After enduring a night of bone-breaking pain, finally succeeding in the transformation, full of anticipation to hear the demon hunter’s praise… and instead of being praised, he was misunderstood and choked nearly to death. Wuwuwu I feel so bad for Fuzhu! QAQ”
Everything happened too fast. Fatty didn’t react until now. Seeing Fuzhu’s face losing color bit by bit, he hurriedly stepped forward to pry Jian Yuntai’s hand away.
He couldn’t budge it.
“Calm down!” Fatty said helplessly.
Jian Yuntai seemed not to hear him at all. His gaze stayed fixed on Fuzhu’s face.
That face… was identical to Cui Yu’s.
The only difference was the addition of fox ears and a fluffy, massive tail.
The fox ears drooped, the large tail hung down. Fuzhu pressed his lips tightly together, saying nothing, and when he lowered his lashes, his eyes were slightly red.
Seeing this, Jian Yuntai finally loosened his grip slightly.
The anger in his eyes, however, had not dissipated.
Fatty seized the opportunity, opened the door, and shoved Fuzhu out, saying reassuringly, “Hide from him for a bit.”
A sinister body like Fuzhu’s would normally be impossible for Fatty to push, but now Fuzhu felt like a puppet. He was pushed out effortlessly and stood in place without moving, radiating an icy chill from head to toe.
Fuzhu took a few steps forward, then crouched in place, palms on his knees. His fluffy fox ears drooped like airplane wings, looking pitiful and dejected.
Voices from inside the room carried out:
“Why are you so angry? You didn’t even ask before grabbing him by the neck. Luckily Fuzhu has a good temper…” Fatty scolded continuously. “Why do you think he did it on purpose?”
“That face,” Jian Yuntai said coldly.
Fatty froze. “Just because of that? That’s too rash. You’re usually so clear-headed—how could you turn like this just because of Cui Yu?”
He paused, then pulled Sun Bin from under the table and asked, “Did you just see Fuzhu?”
Sun Bin stammered, “Y-yes…”
“What expression did he have?”
“Just… very happy…”
Fatty pressed his palms together. “See? That’s it. Fuzhu had no idea about you and Cui Yu. He probably didn’t even understand why you were so angry.”
“Then why did he transform to look like Cui Yu?!” Jian Yuntai raised his voice, his anger nearly palpable. “What happened between Cui Yu and me is over, and it’s not something he can interfere with.”
Outside, Fuzhu’s body trembled. His fingers curled slightly, leaving marks in his palms.
—Cui Yu… who is that?
If Fuzhu had looked up at Jian Yuntai now, he probably couldn’t have spoken a word. Yet Fatty kept explaining inside the room without a hint of hesitation.
“I already said it—Fuzhu knows nothing. When he transformed, he was just innocently happy. Does that look like he was trying to anger you?”
“Besides, Fuzhu already said before that transformation for the demon clan is uncontrollable. Only members of their own clan can change it, and even then, only slightly. I think this has something to do with your master-servant contract. That’s why he transformed this way.”
Seeing Jian Yuntai silent for a long time, Fatty cut straight to the point: “You’re just taking it out on him, aren’t you?”
“…..”
Fatty added, “Do you think that’s fair to Fuzhu?”
“……”
A suffocating silence fell over the room.
Sun Bin, hesitant for a long time—having participated in the last instance—finally whispered, “Actually… I think Fuzhu probably didn’t do it on purpose. When you grabbed his neck, he was genuinely hurt.”
“Genuinely hurt”—that was too mild.
Sun Bin wanted to say “heartbroken,” but seeing the dark clouds over Jian Yuntai’s face, he didn’t dare.
Fatty nodded, patting Jian Yuntai’s shoulder: “You squeezed his neck until he had bruises. You at least owe him an apology, right?”
The livestream comments scrolled rapidly:
“Wuwuwu, thank goodness Fatty’s here, otherwise the little fox would have suffered so much.”
“But Jian Dadan is also really pitiful. Seeing that couplet last night already hurt, and seeing Cui Yu’s face would hurt even more… last instance ended too unresolved.”
“Jian Dadan and Fuzhu both make my heart ache, wuwuwu. You two better make up quickly!”
By this point, Fuzhu could probably guess the whole reason behind everything.
However, knowing the reason behind it only made his chest ache more.
But he understood that Jian Yuntai didn’t truly want to hurt him; Jian Yuntai was just… perhaps just too fond of that person.
That person named Cui Yu.
Fuzhu lowered his eyes slightly, his beautiful gaze tinged with bitterness—but it was fine, he didn’t mind.
He forced himself not to dwell on “Cui Yu.”
As long as Jian Yuntai came over now and gave him a little comfort, he could pretend this whole thing never happened.
Just a little reassurance was enough.
Creak—
The sound of the door moving came from behind.
Fuzhu’s fox ears pricked up subtly, sensing Jian Yuntai standing at the doorway, motionless.
Was Jian Yuntai watching him?
Fuzhu forced himself not to look back, just as he heard the soft tap-tap, tap-tap of footsteps.
Jian Yuntai was walking in his direction!
Fuzhu’s heart, which had felt battered and broken just moments ago, suddenly leapt with hope.
But just as anticipation filled him—Jian Yuntai brushed past him without a word and walked away down the street, not even glancing back.
From inside, Fatty’s sigh drifted out: “Forget it, all that talk was useless. He’s still not calming down.”
“……”
Fuzhu parted his lips slightly, staring at Jian Yuntai’s retreating figure. The boy’s tall, slim silhouette gradually disappeared from view.
The emptiness of the deserted street pressed in almost tangibly.
Cold—
So cold—
The Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox clan was the least afraid of the cold; they possessed the warmest fur in the world. Yet Fuzhu, after transforming, only felt the chill cut through the streets like knives to the bone.
It was as if he had plunged suddenly into an icy pond.
Fuzhu’s face was nearly as pale as death.
※※※
Around noon, Deng Ran came anxiously walking over, glancing at Fuzhu several times in puzzlement.
He stood at the doorway and asked Fatty,
“Who’s outside?”
“Come in, don’t stand at the door.” Fatty pulled Deng Ran inside, closed the door, and muttered softly, “It’s Jian Dadan’s little fox—he transformed. Man, you didn’t see the morning scene. I’ve known Jian Dadan for so long, never seen him lose his temper like that—scared the hell out of me.”
Deng Ran frowned. “Lose his temper at what?”
“Didn’t you see the trending news? Those days, the King of Hell’s Wedding instance dominated the trending searches. Fuzhu even transformed to look like Cui Yu—that was brutal.”
Deng Ran went “oh” and after a moment sighed, “Well, then losing his temper makes sense, it was a rough situation.”
After they both lamented the morning chaos for a while, Deng Ran asked, “Where’s Jian Yuntai?”
Fatty shrugged. “Don’t know.”
Deng Ran: “What about Sun Bin?”
Fatty: “Went to get food.”
Then Fatty asked, “Did you need them for something?”
“No, I’m looking for you.” Deng Ran denied it at first, then suddenly remembered, her face anxious. “The male players discovered Nong Lingling’s trail. Hurry, let’s go, we can still catch it fresh!”
Fatty grinned with excitement.
He didn’t even care about Fuzhu lingering at the door any longer and quickly followed Deng Ran.
They crossed the empty street and entered the forest. In Mother Goddess Village, a river ran through the entire village; villagers drew water from it.
Following the river ensured they wouldn’t get lost.
Fatty hadn’t walked far before, under the effect of a Light Injury buff, he already felt exhausted like a dead dog.
“Rest a bit, can’t go on.”
Deng Ran looked at him amused. “Just a little way and you’re done? Your body really needs exercise, too weak.”
“Shut up. Lord Fatty, I am not weak at all.” He was speechless. “If it weren’t for the Light Injury buff…”
He trailed off.
Deng Ran didn’t comment.
After resting a while, they resumed their journey.
Fatty, unable to tolerate awkwardness, started the conversation, “Why weren’t you caught by demons last night?”
“I already told Jian Yuntai. Didn’t he tell you?” Deng Ran repeated, “Last night, many male players came to protect me—maybe because the room had so many people. The demons didn’t bother me; they went after Xiao Liuliu instead.”
Fatty said, “Then you’ll need protection again tonight.”
“Yeah, I really appreciate the male players.” Deng Ran smiled. “You don’t know, last night my room was so lively. None of them slept, some brought cards… since they were idle, playing poker was the most—”
Her words trailed off.
Deng Ran turned back in confusion, looking at Fatty who had stopped in place, and asked, “Tired again?”
“…..”
Fatty chuckled, “A little tired.”
He subtly glanced backward, giving Jinjin and the cat demon a look.
Earlier, Jian Yuntai had asked him how he and Deng Ran knew each other.
Fatty had said—Deng Ran’s ex-boyfriend cheated. She had stormed over from another school, smashed him with a construction rod until he had a concussion, and he was hospitalized for weeks. The ex and his mistress had met over board games, often gathering to play tabletop games, sometimes poker. After the affair, Deng Ran never touched board games again.
She didn’t play, and she wouldn’t let anyone else play in front of her, or she would overturn the table.
Thinking of this, Fatty’s smile didn’t change, but cold sweat seeped down his forehead.
—The person in front of him wasn’t Deng Ran.
※※※
Jian Yuntai had spent the whole morning wandering alone outside. In the end, he went to where Xiao Liuliu had disappeared, finding no useful clues.
He had been irritable and upset that morning, not really wanting to see Fuzhu, so he had simply withdrawn. Now, coming to his senses, he realized Fatty had been right—completely right.
He had taken out his anger on Fuzhu.
He had bottled up all the unresolved frustration from the previous instance for several days, never telling anyone.
He was used to hiding things in his heart.
But the more he hid, the more resentment built up.
And Fuzhu had just walked right into it.
Like a balloon filled with anger, patiently restrained inside the heart, it had been silently enduring.
Fuzhu inadvertently pricked the balloon, and all the pent-up resentment burst out, with Jian Yuntai’s irritation being vented entirely on him.
That was definitely wrong.
As Fatty had said, it wasn’t fair to Fuzhu.
Only now did Jian Yuntai understand, but he felt that simply going back to apologize wouldn’t be sincere.
Fuzhu’s neck still had a layer of bruises.
“Sigh…” Jian Yuntai sighed, troubled.
The livestream viewers were anxious:
“Ahhh! It’s already been the whole morning, I’ve even had lunch—why haven’t you two reconciled yet?!”
“Jian Dadan, you’re not usually so tsundere. Last instance, you apologized to Cui Yu without caring about face at all—why can’t Fuzhu get the same treatment? 55555”
“White moons always get special treatment, tat.”
“But I think Fuzhu is great too! The young heir of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox clan—just the title sounds so prestigious. His clan is practically the king of all demons. If Fuzhu hadn’t gotten separated from his clan as a child, how many people would’ve pampered him? After returning to his clan, he’d definitely be a high-ranking, future ruler of the demon race. And yet, the powerful Fuzhu… is crouched in a corner, feeling wronged by Jian Dadan—”
“Now he’s so upset he’s curled up in the corner, wuwuwu…”
The livestream viewers tried to cheer on Cui Yu from afar—it didn’t help at all.
Jian Yuntai suddenly lifted his foot and started walking in the opposite direction of the empty street.
The viewers’ vision went dark: “Help!!! Wuwuwu, wife, don’t be so heartless! Please go back and comfort the little fox—he’s so hurt he’s about to pop!”
Amid the viewers’ heart-wrenching screams, Jian Yuntai strode straight to Xiao Liuliu’s house.
Through the walls, the crying and furious shouting of the couple could still be heard. They blamed each other, their voices full of helplessness and grief.
“Those outsiders—they’re not a geological survey team at all. They all have demons with them. Whatever their true identity is, they must have the power to save Xiao Liuliu.”
“But why would they help us?”
“We have no money, nothing to offer them. Who would want to take on such a dangerous task?”
As they spoke, the couple clutched their heads and wept again.
Bang, bang—
Jian Yuntai knocked lightly on the door. The house fell silent for nearly half a minute before Xiao Liuliu’s mother came to open it. Her eyes were swollen like walnuts, her face full of surprise.
“You are…?”
“I can help you.” Jian Yuntai got straight to the point, the corners of his eyes curving slightly as he smiled. “I don’t want your money either.”
Sunlight streamed through the doorway, illuminating the previously dim room.
It was as if a new hope had entered in a line.
The woman was still stunned when the man behind her took a single step forward, anxiously grasped Jian Yuntai’s arm, and cried tears of joy: “What do you want? Whatever we can give you—even our lives—we’ll give it!”
Seeing this, the livestream viewers were immediately curious.
“I can understand why Jian Dadan said he could help. After all, this instance’s key clue involves finding Nong Lingling, so it makes sense.”
“Right… but why did Jian Dadan take such a long detour just to say it? This couple doesn’t have anything that would catch his attention, do they?”
“Money? No, money can’t be taken out—different currency. Nothing else can be carried either.”
“So what does Jian Dadan want?”
Under the curious gaze of everyone, Jian Yuntai parted his thin lips and said a word that no one expected.
“???” The viewers were stunned.
The couple opposite also froze, confirming after a long moment that they hadn’t misheard. Finally, their trembling eyes asked, “Are you… sure?”
※※※
Fuzhu had been crouching by the door all morning.
Passing players stared at him in curiosity; some recognized his face and whispered in shock.
“How is Cui Yu here?”
“That’s not Cui Yu… look at his ears and tail. Probably just looks similar.”
“This is way too similar! Exactly the same!”
“Gah—Jian Yuntai must be going crazy. Last time, he went nuts—when I found out he was coming here too, I nearly died of fright.”
“I asked Sun Bin this morning. This is Jian Yuntai’s contract demon, that fox—no wonder he chose him. Maybe he knew the fox could transform to look like Cui Yu?”
“How could he possibly know?”
“He knows Young Master Xue. Even though Young Master Xue hid the whole time last instance, he might have known something. Maybe he heard something from Young Master Xue, which is why he picked the fox.”
“No wonder! No wonder! I kept wondering why Jian Yuntai would skip stronger demons and pick a fox, hahahaha…”
Every sentence they spoke made Fuzhu’s heart grow colder by half a degree.
In the past two days, many words were foreign to him, like “instance” or “player.” Fuzhu assumed these were human-world words; demons didn’t use them.
Even ignoring the words, he could roughly understand the meaning.
Did Jian Yuntai choose him because of Cui Yu?
No…
Just as that thought appeared in Fuzhu’s mind, he immediately denied it himself—impossible!
If he had known in advance that Fuzhu would transform into Cui Yu’s appearance, Jian Yunta wouldn’t have lost his temper so badly today.
As the players whispered and murmured around him, their demon beasts trembled in fear, worried that Fuzhu might suddenly lash out.
Just a couple of days ago, they had thought this fox was beautiful but otherwise useless. But after the transformation, the terrifying oppressive aura of his bloodline began to seep out, and they could barely keep from prostrating themselves.
Fortunately, Fuzhu did not lose his temper.
He was also curious about Jian Yuntai’s past.
The players’ words cut like knives, stabbing into his heart one by one. Yet Fuzhu listened willingly, almost savoring the venom in their words.
“Looks like Jian Yuntai still can’t let go of Cui Yu!”
“Jian Yuntai and Cui Yu were made for each other in the last instance—a fated match. Sometimes I think this whole ‘destined partner’ thing actually has some truth. Look—Cui Yu’s gone, but now there’s a little fox as a substitute.”
“Hahaha! Don’t say that in front of Jian Yuntai. With his personality, he’d never want to see anyone as a replacement.”
“Not want or not, sometimes seeing that face, you might slip up and mistake him, right?”
…A substitute?
Fuzhu’s lips paled as he lowered his trembling eyelids.
He had never suffered such humiliation before. Not even when he got lost from his clan as a child and was captured by the demon-hunting sects did he endure such a crushing blow. Those wounds had only been physical.
Now, the pain was buried deep in his heart.
Bearing such disgrace, he wanted to rise and leave immediately, to put as much distance as possible between himself and here. But no matter what, his feet wouldn’t move; he couldn’t even stand.
Jian Yuntai would come back.
Jian Yuntai’s friends were still here. He had been gone all morning, but he would return.
The bruises on Fuzhu’s neck still throbbed faintly, but his resolve kept retreating further. That morning, he had thought that if Jian Yuntai would just coax him, he could forgive him immediately.
Now—now, it was enough if Jian Yuntai returned, and he could still bear to be by his side. That alone was enough.
Tap, tap—
Tap, tap—
“I didn’t realize you all knew me so well.”
Suddenly, footsteps came from ahead, carrying a lazy yet threatening warning.
The idle chatter around him seemed to freeze midair, and the crowd scattered at the speed of light.
Jian Yuntai cast a mocking glance at the people, hiding the reed chicken he had painstakingly caught behind his back. To prevent it from making a sound, he had even knocked it unconscious.
Fuzhu wanted to eat the reed chicken.
He knew that.
On the other side, Fuzhu’s pupils trembled slightly. He even felt a little fearful of what was about to happen.
So it wasn’t until Jian Yuntai walked right up in front of him and stopped that Fuzhu’s face turned pale, and he slowly lifted his head.
“I promise you,” Jian Yuntai said, meeting Fuzhu’s slightly reddened, stunned eyes. He sighed with helplessness in his heart, softened his tone, and spoke with solemn seriousness: “From now on, you will never be a substitute.”
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