As Liu Nanfeng's mind galloped freely in his dreams, slaying enemies left and right, two people arrived by the river.
They were the same two Nine Section staff members who had watched the battle between Su Jinxiu and the Mountain God of Maoshan from afar that day.
"Good heavens, this place is a wreck."
The young man surveyed the surroundings, finding not only the concrete tiles shattered but also the river embankment riddled with breaches, with broken concrete scattered everywhere.
"That's why as long as these demons are not eliminated, they remain a threat to humanity. We will eventually wipe them all out."
"Hmph."
Just then, a woman's light哼 suddenly came from the side.
The team leader, who had been full of sternness moments ago, immediately changed his expression to a smile and clasped his hands towards the darkness beside him. "An Bohou greets Her Highness the Princess."
"What era is this? Still calling someone 'Her Highness the Princess'?" the woman said testily.
Then, she emerged from the darkness, the same sailor-suited girl Liu Nanfeng had seen during the day.
"That being said, some ancient customs must still be observed."
In reality, 'Princess' wasn't necessarily a good term in modern times, and any daughter from a wealthy family could be revered as a princess.
But no matter which kind, compared to the woman before them, their status was worlds apart. She was the born princess.
The young man accompanying An Bohou also quickly bowed when he saw the woman. "Wei Xiaoming pays his respects to Her Highness the Princess."
The woman glanced at him but said nothing. Instead, she turned her gaze back to An Bohou, her face showing displeasure. "Director An, you speak with such confidence. In thousands of years, have you humans ever completely eliminated demons?"
Director An didn't get angry at her words. Instead, he smiled and said, "I'm just doing some ideological work for him. In our line of work, one must have a goal to strive for."
The originally serene woman let out a "pfft" and chuckled.
"Then your goal is indeed quite grand?"
In fact, in the current world, while it was publicly stated that humans dominated the world, the reality was a co-governance between humans and demons.
Humans excelled in numbers and produced talents generation after generation.
Demons, though long-lived, had difficulty reproducing, and their numbers gradually dwindled.
In the beginning, the two races were mutually hostile and fought to the death. However, as times progressed, they gradually integrated, forming the harmonious society of today.
For example, the woman before them, Ao Jiangyue, daughter of the Dragon King of the Dragon Palace. Her father, the old Dragon King, had established the Sea King Group, which was involved in transportation, deep-sea fishing, offshore oil, fisheries, and so on, a veritable capital tycoon.
It was no exaggeration to say that if she stamped her foot, the global financial market would tremble.
These demon races, with their long lifespans, even if they were slow-witted, had accumulated considerable capital over time.
Moreover, they had tasted the convenience brought by the power of capital.
No matter how powerful a great demon was, at best it could destroy a town or a city, and eventually, it would attract powerful individuals who would slaughter them, thus earning good reputations for others.
But the power of capital was different. With proper operation, let alone destroying towns and cities, it could even destroy nations, all while standing on the high ground of morality.
Of course, with the vast numbers of humans involved in all walks of life, and the special national conditions of Great Xia, the demon race had not been able to grow too powerful.
However, they were intertwined and mutually beneficial. Over the years, they had become so integrated that it was impossible to distinguish.
Therefore, what An Bohou had just said was merely talk.
And An Bohou's department, the Nine Section, was officially called the Ninth Investigation Section, a department specifically handling demon-related cases. It held immense power, and the department was staffed with many experts, even having several demon bigwigs stationed there.
While An Bohou chatted with Ao Jiangyue to inquire about the day's events, Wei Xiaoming photographed the traces of the battle around them.
Through Ao Jiangyue, An Bohou gained a clearer understanding of what had happened.
"Team Leader, I've finished taking the photos."
"Write a report and submit it," An Bohou said.
At this moment, Ao Jiangyue retreated, disappearing back into the darkness.
Wei Xiaoming glanced into the darkness but said nothing more. He turned back to An Bohou and asked, "Team Leader, what's wrong?"
He sensed that An Bohou had become somewhat distracted after talking with Ao Jiangyue.
"Ao Jiangyue told me that the one fighting that monkey demon was a devil."
"A devil?" Wei Xiaoming's expression also turned grim upon hearing this.
Devils were not only good at concealing their tracks but also at escaping.
Moreover, their appearance was always accompanied by heavy casualties and chaos.
Seeing Wei Xiaoming's worried look, An Bohou comforted him, "He was severely injured by that monkey demon, so I don't think he'll cause any trouble in the short term."
Although he said this, An Bohou didn't have much confidence.
He added, "We should keep a closer eye out these days."
Wei Xiaoming nodded and then asked hesitantly, "Should we still send the bill to Zhang Xinwu?"
"Of course, we should send it. He damaged public property, so it's only right that he pays, isn't it?" An Bohou's voice suddenly rose.
"But the department has repair funds, and Zhang Xinwu did help us out," Wei Xiaoming whispered.
"One matter at a time. At most, we can send him a commendation banner. Also, send the bill for that skeleton demon over as well. Don't think just because the place is remote, they don't have to pay..."
"But..."
Wei Xiaoming still retained a shred of conscience, feeling it was somewhat unreasonable to demand money from someone who had helped them.
"No 'buts'. Don't you consider how much your salary is each month? How much is your subsidy? Is it enough for our field expenses? Didn't you say you wanted to buy a new car last time? Where's the money?"
"Team Leader, you're right."
"A promising student," An Bohou said, feeling quite pleased.
"Did you bring the detector?" An Bohou asked again.
"It's in the car."
"Go get it. I want to see if I can find any trace of that devil. He's severely injured now. If we can catch him, our KPI for this year will be fulfilled ahead of schedule."
"I'll go get it."
Wei Xiaoming's face lit up with excitement as he turned and headed towards where the car was parked.
Whether it was a monster or a devil, their biological magnetic fields were vastly different from humans.
Therefore, the government department had developed an instrument based on this characteristic.
As long as they had stayed in a place, their presence could be tracked for a short period using this characteristic.
Soon, the two found the culvert where the devil had hidden in the morning.
However, unfortunately, the devil's aura completely vanished here.
"Fled along the river?" An Bohou looked at the flowing river with a look of regret.
Wei Xiaoming's expression was also not good. As he turned off the instrument in his hand, he said, "Captain, regarding the fox demon we investigated last time, I think we should arrest her."
"Huh?" An Bohou looked surprised.
"She didn't commit any crime, and the beauty salon operates legally. What charge would you use to arrest her? Besides, stirring up a fox den will cause trouble later."
"For harming an international friend, we can fine her," Wei Xiaoming said with a solemn expression.
An Bohou patted his shoulder, very pleased. "I knew I didn't misjudge you. You are naturally intelligent and can think of one thing and apply it to another. It seems not only can you replace your car this year, but you might also be able to buy a house. Let's go..."
The two no longer pursued the matter of the devil and hurried up the embankment.
The fox demon they mentioned was Hu Siniang, who ran a beauty salon in Jiangcheng.
When Hu Siniang first arrived in Jiangcheng, she was penniless and could barely afford to eat.
Later, she used her fox clan's unique charm to ensnare a foreign vampire boyfriend online.
For her sake, her boyfriend traveled thousands of miles to Jiangcheng, but little did he know that this would usher in the darkest period of his life.
He was kept by Hu Siniang in a dark, damp basement, his limbs fixed, a muzzle on his mouth, and his blood drawn daily.
Hu Siniang's beauty salon also officially opened. Using diluted vampire blood, she adopted a high-end approach, specializing in beauty treatments for wealthy ladies.
Any woman who left her beauty salon looked years younger, becoming a sensation among the socialites. Many even flew in for treatments.
Hu Siniang's cost was simply a two-hundred-milliliter blood bag per day.
Hu Siniang would insert two tubes into the vampire, one for drawing blood and one for transfusing blood, making it very efficient.
Vampires recovered quickly. Even if he died from being drained, he could be revived by transfusing several bags of blood. He was the perfect source of profit, harvested again and again.
Using him, the impoverished Hu Siniang quickly amassed a fortune of over a hundred million.
An Bohou and his team had already investigated this matter but had not intervened. Their duty was to protect humans and maintain social stability. As long as foreign demons did not commit offenses, they would not interfere.
Now, fining her under the charges of harming an international friend and disrupting international relations was also reasonable.
...
The next day, Liu Nanfeng woke up feeling refreshed, but he had an uncomfortable erection.
He lay in bed playing with his phone for a while until it subsided, then got out of bed to get dressed.
"You're awake."
Su Jinxiu, who was on the balcony, turned around when she heard the movement.
She held a watering can in her hand, watering the plants.
Today, she wore a printed qipao, looking like a wealthy lady, exuding elegance and nobility. This Chinese-chic style was very popular.
However, Su Jinxiu's tall stature, perky hips, and long legs made her wear it with even more flair.
"Do I look good?"
Su Jinxiu spread her arms and spun lightly in place, allowing Liu Nanfeng to see her more clearly.
"You look good in anything," Liu Nanfeng replied.
Su Jinxiu was very pleased with Liu Nanfeng's answer, let out a soft laugh, then bent down to continue watering the plants.
Liu Nanfeng also went into the washroom to brush his teeth and wash his face first.
When he came out again, Su Jinxiu was already seated at the dining table, glaring at him.
Liu Nanfeng walked to the opposite side and sat down.
Then—
"Want soup again?"
"Drink it quickly. Today it's not red date and pork rib soup with goji berries. I changed it to deer antler and goji berry black chicken soup. It's different."
Su Jinxiu propped her chin with her hand and stared at him without blinking.
Liu Nanfeng: ...
How was this any different?
If only Liu Nanfeng knew the fate of the vampire, he would surely sympathize with him, as their situations were somewhat similar.
One for nourishment, one for draining – both involved blood, no real difference.
However, Liu Nanfeng was willing to be drained and lowered his head to drink the soup.
Seeing Liu Nanfeng obediently drinking the soup, Su Jinxiu finally showed a smile.
"Are you staying home today, or are you coming to the shop with me?"
"I'm going to deliver food," Liu Nanfeng said.
"Still going? Do I not give you enough money?"
"It's not about the money. I need to find something to do."
"You can write a book, and you can accompany me. Isn't that the best of both worlds?"
"I don't have any inspiration lately and don't feel like writing. Running around is also a form of exercise."
Frankly speaking, after getting used to delivering food, it felt more comfortable than writing.
No need to think about the plot every day, no need to worry about performance, and no need to worry about monthly votes, readership, or tips. He lived in constant anxiety.
"Whatever you say."
Su Jinxiu picked up the chopsticks on the table and poked her bowl vigorously, looking quite angry.
"Alright, I have my reasons for delivering food. Why are you so upset?" Liu Nanfeng said with a smile, trying to comfort her.
His main reason for delivering food was to catch more human-demons, refine them into pills, and improve his strength. He couldn't just drink soup for nourishment every day, could he?
"I'm worried you'll be too tired, and it's so hot outside now..."
"Alright," Liu Nanfeng said, reaching across the table to take her hand.
"What job isn't hard? What is a little hardship like this to me? Don't worry too much."
"I can't control what others do," Su Jinxiu mumbled softly, but she didn't continue speaking.
After breakfast, Liu Nanfeng rode his electric scooter and first took Su Jinxiu to the coffee shop.
Then, he rode to the delivery center. The so-called delivery center was actually a regular spot for delivery drivers to gather and boast.
The service center mainly provided plain water and battery replacement services, which were, of course, paid.
By then, there were hardly any people inside; everyone had gone out to deliver food.
"Xiao Liu, you're always the latest every day." The person in charge of the service center said with a smile upon seeing Liu Nanfeng.
Liu Nanfeng smiled without replying, as it was a difficult topic to engage with. Otherwise, they would bring up his "experiencing life" again.
He had forgotten to charge the scooter at home, so he swapped the battery.
The electric scooter had been modified, making battery replacement very convenient and foolproof.
After changing the battery, he opened the order software. There were still many orders in the morning, and he quickly received one.
It was a bowl of beef noodle soup, to be delivered to the Xingfuyuan residential area on Hening Road.
Judging by the name, it was another relocation community.
However, there was a note requesting the delivery driver to help buy a watermelon downstairs and bring it up.
Liu Nanfeng thought for a moment and accepted the order.
He went to the shop first to get the noodles. Now, noodles and other takeaway items were packaged separately from the soup.
This way, even if the delivery took a bit longer, they wouldn't become mushy. However, frankly speaking, eating them after separating the packaging always felt like something was missing.
Liu Nanfeng rode his electric scooter to the outside of Xingfuyuan residential area. As expected, there was a fruit shop at the main entrance. Liu Nanfeng entered, picked out a watermelon, and directly entered the community.
The community looked quite old, with houses appearing worn out. There wasn't even a gatekeeper, and entry was unrestricted.
Liu Nanfeng carried the noodle soup in one hand and the watermelon in the other. Fortunately, the guest who placed the order lived on a low floor, only the third floor. Coupled with the fact that Liu Nanfeng's stamina had improved recently, climbing to the third floor didn't even make him pant.
"Is anyone home?" Liu Nanfeng put down the watermelon and knocked on the door.
"Just a moment."
A man's voice sounded, and then the door was opened.
A chubby man with a honest face blocked the doorway tightly.
"How much for the watermelon? I'll transfer it to you via WeChat," the man said.
Liu Nanfeng found the man vaguely familiar. Looking at the text above his head, he seemed to have recognized him correctly. Yet, after knowing him for so many years, he had never realized he was a demon.
Seeing Liu Nanfeng staring at him, the chubby man also became a bit displeased. He glared at Liu Nanfeng and continued to ask, "How much?"
"Zhan Dundun?" Liu Nanfeng called out tentatively.
The other party froze, then sized up Liu Nanfeng, and a look of surprise appeared on his face.
"Willow Branch?"
Liu Nanfeng nodded.
"Wow, it really is you?" He excitedly opened his arms and rushed towards Liu Nanfeng like a bear.
Liu Nanfeng was startled and instinctively wanted to retreat, then remembered and stopped himself, allowing himself to be hugged tightly.
"It's so good to see you again."
"Let go, let go, my waist is going to break," Liu Nanfeng struggled.
"Sorry, sorry..." Zhan Dundun fumbled and released Liu Nanfeng.
Then, he grabbed Liu Nanfeng's arm and dragged him inside.
"Come in and talk, come in and talk..."
Liu Nanfeng had no resistance and was directly dragged in.
Then, the door slammed shut with a bang.
Pandas don't eat people, right?
In that instant, Liu Nanfeng had this thought.