In the minds of mortals, the underworld is the very embodiment of hell; yet now, a mortal walked undisturbed through the demonic realm—a domain of demons.
With a headband loosely tied, wearing a short, form-fitting outfit, a cow-ear dagger hanging at his waist, and thin-soled swift boots on his feet, this classic rogue figure had finally wandered from the human world into the underworld. Thus began a new chapter in this rogue’s life.
Qiao San, the newly appointed King of the Eastern Gate in the underworld, was in truth a complete novice. Upon stepping onto the land of the Northern Juzhou, he received a tremendous shock from an unexpected scene.
“Welcome, honored guest! My humble shop offers fine wine and delicious dishes…” Several waiters rushed forward enthusiastically, competing to attract customers.
“Sir, please rest here and warm yourself…” A few alluring courtesans waved their handkerchiefs and sent flirtatious glances, instantly capturing the hearts of the guests.
Qiao San was momentarily stunned, then quickly broke through the crowd and fled forward. No sooner had he gone less than thirty feet when another enthusiastic group of men and women surged toward him.
After much hardship, the rogue finally caught his breath, his mind shaken by the intense impact. Unable to contain himself, the rogue king vented in the crudest way possible.
“Damn it! This isn’t hell at all—it’s a paradise for men! Could it be that the heavens were simply jealous and falsely labeled this place hell? Haha…”
Whenever he had questions, Qiao San could always find someone to answer them. As soon as the thought arose, the voice of the Book Spirit echoed in his mind.
“These are ordinary citizens of the underworld; their lifestyle isn’t much different from that of the human world.”
“Does the underworld have commoners too?” Qiao San looked around. With his greatly enhanced magical abilities, he easily discerned the essence of these demon spirits. Surprisingly, most of them had little offensive power, and even those with some magic possessed only limited skills.
The Book Spirit’s voice, increasingly rich and melodious, sounded again. Her evolving form spoke patiently, “All beings that achieve sentience can take human form, but their magical powers naturally vary in strength. The weak must serve the strong to survive. Even in the underworld, there are still three hundred and sixty trades.”
“Oh! Then they can also be called ‘people’!” Qiao San suddenly understood. With his doubts gone, his interest in the bustling underworld town surged. Watching half-demons, minor demons, and spirit beings move around him, the now-demon himself unconsciously stepped into the crowd of “people.”
Qiao San asked no more, and the Book Spirit’s voice faded away. Completely captivated by the novelty around him, the rogue didn’t even notice that this time, from beginning to end, the Book Spirit hadn’t once called him “Master!”
“Waiter, bring me the best wine and dishes!”
The newcomer to the underworld entered a tavern and, upon entering, “borrowed” a money pouch from a passing civilian.
Just as Qiao San was about to taste the underworld’s delicacies, a group of flamboyantly dressed demon soldiers arrived at the tavern entrance. Before even dismounting their demon steeds, a domineering voice bellowed, “Out! Everyone out! The general has reserved this place today. All unrelated persons must leave immediately!”
In a flash, the crowd of underworld citizens vanished without a trace. Qiao San finally saw something different from the human world—right before his eyes, an old man transformed into a sparrow and flew out the window, while a middle-aged woman turned into a vine and climbed up the tavern wall.
Qiao San had seen such bullying behavior countless times in the human world. Never did he expect to encounter a similar situation here in the underworld. No wonder the Book Spirit had said there was little difference between the underworld and the human world.
In less than the blink of an eye, the tavern was emptied. As Qiao San snapped out of his thoughts, he immediately felt several hostile gazes.
“Kid, you want to die?! Boys, throw this clueless brat out!”
“Bang! Bang!” Before the leading demon soldier could finish speaking, a fierce gust of wind had already engulfed them. After a series of dull thuds, only groans remained scattered on the ground.
“Damn it! Don’t interrupt my noble drinking mood! Scram!” As the wind settled, the rogue had already returned to his seat, one foot on the bench, drinking heartily while threatening the unfortunate group with a sideways glance.
“Hehe…” The rogue chuckled inwardly. He never expected his first business deal in the underworld to come so quickly. It seemed the underworld was truly a paradise for rogues.
With the magical power accumulated through surviving ten near-death experiences, Qiao San was more than capable of dealing with these lowly soldiers—it was like using a butcher’s knife to kill a chicken. He especially enjoyed the feeling of overpowering his opponents, for what else could embody the spirit of a rogue better?
Suddenly, a fierce wind burst into the tavern. The demon soldiers, still struggling to rise, were blown rolling in all directions. Qiao San’s eyes narrowed sharply, his previous underestimation of the underworld instantly vanishing.
A master—a true master. The figure hidden in the wind was a rare expert in both martial arts and magical cultivation.
In the blink of an eye, two fierce winds entangled each other. Two distinct colors clashed violently within the narrow space, chasing each other fiercely.
The wind was so fierce, the speed so fast, yet not a single item in the tavern was damaged. A martial artist’s instinct allowed Qiao San to seemingly hear his opponent’s thoughts, and in the heat of battle, they silently agreed: whoever knocked over a table or chair would be considered the loser.
Lightning crackled through the wind. Qiao San had already unleashed his lightning power, barely managing to block the mysterious opponent’s frenzied assault.
“Haha! Come again!” The lightning caught his opponent off guard, but the mysterious figure seemed even more excited. The pressure in the tavern suddenly intensified. The tables and chairs remained untouched, but the demon soldiers were crushed to the floor, their faces turning blue.
No matter how loudly the demon soldiers screamed, the wind did not slow for a moment. The fiery battle spirit even ignited Qiao San’s usually lazy nature, turning him into a rare martial arts fanatic.
“Excellent skill! Allow me to toast you!” Amid a hearty laugh, a small wine glass rose into the air and flew straight toward Qiao San.
“Please, be my guest first!” Qiao San raised his palm and sent a grayish ghostly force flying through the air, blocking his opponent’s attack.
Silently, the contest shifted to the wine glass. Friendly duels were always thrilling and blood-pumping. The glass floated back and forth in midair, immense pressure condensed into a single foot of space. Without prior agreement, both abandoned techniques and began directly pitting their magical powers against each other.
Suddenly, the wine glass shattered into pieces, and the fine wine transformed into countless droplets, scattering into the air like rain.
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