Chapter 686: Bound to the Birth System, Becoming a Winner in Life Chapter 687 Background Rabbit Demon (59)

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Protagonist:

Shen Yao

Ordinary people say that when old friends meet, they reminisce and chat idly.

But when these demons meet again, it is completely different from ordinary people.

"Ahhhhhhh! You deserve to die!"

Cracks appeared on Wei Cheng Hong's face, like the effect of a porcelain bottle shattering, spreading bit by bit across his entire face, until with a crack it all fell off.

Shen Yao:...

"Your temper really isn't great. It was no different back in Floating Cloud City. It seems these years of experience haven't made you any smarter."

As her words fell, Shen Yao turned around and cast a technique on Lin Xingzhi, then quickly went to Wei Cheng Hong's side, gathering light at her fingertip into a sharp blade, directly slashing toward the right half of the other person's body.

Wei Cheng Hong:...?!!!

Wei Cheng Hong subconsciously shed his skin and ran backward; as Shen Yao's blade landed, a painted skin was hacked beyond recognition.

Not far away, Wei Cheng Hong's appearance became even lighter, looking younger and more spirited than before, like a fine landscape painting that had faded; though it didn't affect the overall composition of the painting, it still made people feel somewhat strange and awkward.

This is the ability of the painted skin demon!

The skins they paint are not human skin, but skin bags condensed by themselves; no one knows how many such skin bags a painted skin demon will put on themselves, because the painted skin demon's true form is formless, merely a strand of flowing, communicative life force.

Lin Xingzhi hid at the very back, staring with his mouth open as his own wife held a sharp blade, chopping off Wei Cheng Hong's skin bags one knife after another.

Like a landscape painting that had lost its ink, like a frame-dropping image, Wei Cheng Hong's body became thinner and thinner, his features and appearance fainter and fainter, until he transformed into another person.

"Oh? Looking at him like this, he is indeed much more pleasing to the eye."

"Hum! Meddlesome and talkative, seeking death!"

Wei Cheng Hong, having restored his female body—oh, should say the painted skin demon flew into a rage, so he no longer dodged Shen Yao's attacks, but instead caught up head-on and actively fought her.

Hmm

Let's not say, maybe it's because I've observed for too long; this painted skin demon doesn't know how many years it has lived, nor how many different painted skins it has on its body; when it fights, it is not at all inferior to Shen Yao, looking like it can even gain a slight advantage.

The painted skin demon felt much more balanced in its heart; the humiliation of being chased and hacked earlier all turned into smugness, and this fellow even used verbal attacks against Shen Yao.

Shen Yao:...

Why say that demons aren't many clever demons; they are all stupid fools with simple brains and developed limbs; they don't even look at where the other demons below have gone while those two fight; is it that Shen Yao can't defeat the painted skin demon? No, she just wants to give the other side a little sweetness to create an illusion, so that when counterattacking later, it will be easier to crush the painted skin demon's psychological defense line.

This demon doesn't live well in Floating Cloud City, but comes to Qingke City to do what?

Since coming to Qingke City, it should properly do things and properly integrate; but instead it insists on coveting Lin Xingzhi's body and identity, thinking of putting another layer of painted skin on itself.

Sigh

What is this called? This is called a demon's greed is not enough, like a snake trying to swallow an elephant; it shows that whether human or demon, their nature is greedy.

Lin Xingzhi had already secretly hidden in a corner, because the two fighting above his head didn't notice him, and those who could notice him had confidence in the painted skin demon; after thinking for a moment, he twisted and turned out of the government office to deal with that great monk outside who looked even stronger.

Sigh

Poor Yuan Kong Master, I hope he can hold on!

Lin Xingzhi silently finished reciting in his heart, then looked up with a worried expression, his palm unconsciously clenching or loosening according to Shen Yao's situation.

Shen Yao had always been prepared, or rather had confidence; seeing the timing was about right, she simply stopped acting, directly condensing a sharp blade in her hand again and slashing down at the painted skin demon.

This time she struck much harder than before; at least the painted skin demon couldn't react in time, and the painted skin on its body was destroyed again.

Painted skin demon:...

The painted skin demon was almost losing its mind, ahhhhh! How hateful this person before her eyes is; isn't it just that she took a fancy to her husband's skin bag? Her husband has it, and she has it too; even because of the painted skin demon's special nature, it can be a prince for many years, with all age groups for it to choose from.

Why must it settle accounts with him? This person truly doesn't know how to adapt!

Shen Yao:...

Shen Yao's speechlessness came unexpectedly; especially this painted skin demon not only didn't feel how outrageous its words were, but eagerly encouraged Shen Yao to try, including threats and inducements all coming, even taking out its ability to be male or female, old or young, as chips.

Shen Yao:... Although but, her taste really isn't that heavy!

"Noisy, don't say more," Shen Yao's words fell and she struck out with a palm, the entire sky exploding with blazing firelight, forcing the painted skin demon to shed its skin again.

Painted skin demon:...

Not understanding why this irritable younger sister insists on not letting it go (selectively forgetting that the matter originally started with it, and also that it insisted on coveting everything of Lin Xingzhi; otherwise Shen Yao couldn't fight it), the painted skin demon changed into another skin for itself, that of a sturdy, wild burly man.

Why say that painted skin demons are really suitable for those who play too openly; they can be called ever-changing and never repeating; if this were to enter the palace, perhaps all the concubines in the three palaces and six courts could be acted out by this one demon.

Fight, can't win; beg for mercy, the other side ignores; the painted skin demon watched its skin bags being lost one by one, unable to remember exactly how many were gone, only knowing that if this continued, it would truly return to its original form and start from zero.

"Stop! I admit defeat and admit guilt, kill or cut as you please, no more fighting!"

The painted skin demon's last skin bag was a cute little person, kneeling on the ground not even as high as a stone mill.

Shen Yao withdrew her hand, floating down from midair, standing before the painted skin demon and curiously sizing it up.

"You mean, this is the last skin?" Truly strange; fighting this kind of demon is like peeling an onion by hand; only when peeled to the end can one see the onion heart inside.

Hmm

Just talking about appearance, it's quite cute.

"Of course, this is a painted skin I carefully drew, completely different from other skin bags."

The painted skin demon arrogantly raised its little head, speaking with great smugness.

Seeing this, Shen Yao only gave an "oh," "How did you start down the evil path later?"

The painted skin demon doesn't only have the path of taking skins; just like this skin bag before her eyes, it was completely formed by relying on the painted skin demon's own demonic qi to slowly nurture.

As for the previous Wei Cheng Hong skin bag, it was made by first dealing with the person, then processing it later; no matter how it's made, it's hard to change that wisp of resentment qi attached to the skin bag.

Painted skin demon:...

The Painted-Skin Demon stammered that doing everything itself was so tiring; you have to understand, this one skin of its cost no small amount of time and effort — with that kind of effort, it didn't know how many other bodies it could have taken.

"Then why are you crying injustice? The evil you did yourself — it's not that it won't be repaid; the time just hasn't come."

"My lord, this little demon knows its wrongs and will never dare again; please, my lord, spare this little demon this once."

"First tell me about your business in Qingke City, then tell me about Floating Cloud City — no tricks, unless you don't want to live."

"..."

The Painted-Skin Demon indeed wanted to play a few tricks, but it also very much wanted to stay alive.

The person before it carried too heavy a murderous Qi; it definitely couldn't beat her — better to cooperate obediently first and then seek a way to survive.

Thoughts turning round and round, the Painted-Skin Demon knelt properly on the ground and began recounting its original affairs in Floating Cloud City, and how after the city's officials were dealt with by Lin Xingzhi on orders, it left for some reason, where it went along the way, and why it finally settled in Qingke City and occupied Wei Cheng Hong's body.

"... My lord, this little demon is truly wronged — they all willingly agreed to make deals with me."

"Willingly? You deceived and deluded them, used intimidation — that's what you call willingly?" What a thick face — daring to say anything.

The Painted-Skin Demon argued confidently, "They indeed agreed without regret; moreover, this little demon also helped them fulfill their wishes — the deal was struck, so it doesn't count as a violation."

Even if — even if there was just a tiny bit of less-than-aboveboard means in the middle — the result was good, everyone was happy; it really did nothing wrong.

Shen Yao:...

"Continue."

Waving a hand, not wanting to hear the Painted-Skin Demon quibble, Shen Yao raised a hand and rubbed her forehead; a hand slowly rested on Shen Yao's shoulder — it was Lin Xingzhi, walking over from the distance.

At this moment in the government office's back courtyard, besides the three of them, there was no one else.

Lin Xingzhi couldn't help asking whether Master Yuan Kong's side needed help; Shen Yao waved him off, "Not afraid — just a few petty demons who amount to nothing; Master Yuan Kong won't have any trouble."

Hearing this, Lin Xingzhi nodded, then turned his gaze to the Painted-Skin Demon kneeling on the ground, "Yao Niang, this one" — not going to kill it directly?

"Wait a bit more — wait until this Painted-Skin Demon can spit out something useful; otherwise killing at every turn right now would be such a waste."

The Painted-Skin Demon still didn't know its life was forfeit (it vaguely knew but couldn't resist, only praying Shen Yao would spare it a way to live), and was reciting its deeds in all seriousness.

Of course, the Painted-Skin Demon wasn't that brainless — it didn't spill everything no matter what; in the end it still held back some, saying less about what was disadvantageous to itself, and saying more and boasting more about what was advantageous.

The effect — well, the Painted-Skin Demon thought it was not bad — but Lin Xingzhi and Shen Yao listened with grave complexions, wishing they could immediately rush to Jiangning City to investigate.

Who knew the Fox Demon Clan would be this crazy — killing Jiang Sheng in the capital wasn't enough; they still wanted to return to Jiangning City and launch a massacre — this doesn't match the story's ending at all.

System:...

"Host, you never really became a background board — the original story's ending being different is perfectly normal, right?"

"Normal?"

This is called losing control — a plot that should have proceeded normally has escaped control; who knows what will happen the next second?

Tapping the incomprehensible System, Shen Yao looked up at Lin Xingzhi; the two locked eyes, gazes meeting — and the Painted-Skin Demon just vanished like smoke and clouds.

The Painted-Skin Demon could not possibly survive — from the moment it put on Wei Cheng Hong's skin, its ending was destined to be bad.

The damaged government office back courtyard recovered under the technique Shen Yao cast.

The two didn't go out to search for people; instead they chose to push open the room where the account books were stored, and went in to see the Painted-Skin Demon's meticulously arranged masterpiece.

The nose-stinging smell of ink made Lin Xingzhi frown involuntarily; his gaze swept the room — he sucked in a cold breath, "All of these are the Painted-Skin Demon's skins?"

Dense and packed, everywhere!

On the beams, before the cabinets, on the bookshelves — even an unfinished skin lay sprawled on the tabletop.

Lin Xingzhi:...

"Every skin on them is a garment the Painted-Skin Demon didn't have time to wear; the Painted-Skin Demon relies on these painted skins to blend into the mortal world."

Shen Yao casually pulled one over with a technique — Lin Xingzhi's likeness could still be seen in it.

A technique fell on it and in no more than a blink the whole skin dispersed into smoke; Shen Yao clapped her palms, telling Lin Xingzhi not to be tense — now that the Painted-Skin Demon was dead, these skins would vanish completely in a moment.

"What are they afraid of?" Lin Xingzhi asked curiously; he had never known the environment he lived in could be this strange.

Although he knew some demons existed — even his wife by his side was a rabbit demon — Painted-Skin Demons were still a bit too far ahead of his knowledge.

"Afraid? They only fear Great Demons and cultivators with stronger techniques than themselves."

Shen Yao walked over to Lin Xingzhi with a light laugh, explaining these skins were all formed from the Painted-Skin Demon's essence Qi and also nourished by it — they mutually supported each other; this was also one of the reasons the Painted-Skin Demon wore so many skins.

"They are not Painted-Skin Demons in the traditional sense — neither water nor fire can harm them in the slightest; the reason I can cut and kill them is because my attack techniques are, in essence, my ability being stronger than the Painted-Skin Demon's, directly suppressing and beating it down."

Lin Xingzhi no longer paid attention to these skins; instead he turned his head toward the bookshelf behind and casually flipped through the account books on it.

Mm.

This Painted-Skin Demon indeed didn't have its mind on government affairs — being fooled by its subordinates like this, it didn't even mind.

Tsk tsk tsk.

Looks like the national treasury will gain another windfall — the Emperor's money worries will be solved very soon.

The two came out of the room and saw the originally tightly shut government office main gate surging with a batch of armored soldiers — the Imperial Guards who had come with Lin Xingzhi.

Master Yuan Kong still wore a kindly appearance — only quite a few captured people followed behind him, each looking dejected and listless.

"Prince, Princess."

Master Yuan Kong pressed his palms together and recited a Buddha's name, then recounted what he had encountered outside, and how he had notified the Imperial Guards and palace guards to rush to the government office at the first moment after resolving it.

Now the palace guards have sealed off the government office's surroundings, and the Imperial Guards have entered to protect the Prince and Princess.

Hearing this, Lin Xingzhi smiled and thanked Master Yuan Kong for arriving in time; the two of them had good luck and were uninjured.

"That's for the best."

Master Yuan Kong finished speaking, raised his head, and met Shen Yao's gaze looking over.

Stunned for an instant, then he nodded; Master Yuan Kong cleared the way, urging Lin Xingzhi and Shen Yao to leave quickly — danger still remained uneliminated here; how could the Prince and Princess put themselves in danger?

"Hey, I don't believe Master Yuan Kong doesn't know the Host's true identity in the slightest."

Feigning — putting on an act!

"Of course he knows — otherwise how could he enter so unhurriedly?"

Did he really think there was no danger inside, that danger wouldn't attack him? It was just that Shen Yao had means to protect Lin Xingzhi.

However, the system got one thing wrong: Yuan Kong Master did not know her true identity (a demon), but the other party might have taken her for a cultivator carrying an inheritance, merely not from a Dao Guan or other major sect.

Changsheng Daoren might have a bit of sensing consciousness, but Changsheng Daoren did not value curiosity much; he probed little into Shen Yao's true identity, caring only about the Dao Guan inheritance, and compared to Shen Yao, Lin Chengjing was clearly more important.