Chapter 266: Desperate Situation?

Time seemed to stand still at this moment.

The other disturbances in the Treasury could no longer reach Ren Yidao's ears.

No, this was not an illusion.

Judging from what could be observed in his peripheral vision, he seemed to have entered a different space.

The entire space was pitch black, with nothing else but the floor-length mirror before him.

He stood quietly in the darkness, squinting his eyes as he looked at the reflection in the mirror—that white fox, which was also squinting its eyes.

"..."

He slightly raised his arm and pressed it gently against the mirror.

At the same time, the white fox also raised its front paw to perform the same action, without the slightest discrepancy.

After remaining silent like this for a while, Ren Yidao suddenly laughed, and the white fox also began to laugh.

Seeing the white fox's curled lips, Ren Yidao shook his head with a chuckle and muttered to himself:

"The Demon-Revealing Mirror?"

Muttering this, he performed a set of astonishing movements without any warning.

He leaned his whole body backward, sprang up the moment he hit the ground, and twisted his entire body, like a zombie just resurrected in a doomsday film, writhing and squirming on the ground.

While writhing, he even let out unintelligible roars from his mouth.

"Roar... roar!"

And immediately after, his expression suddenly straightened after performing such bizarre actions, and he rose to his feet with inhuman speed.

Ren Yidao's expression was calm as he elegantly raised his hand to pat the non-existent dust off his body; one could not tell at all that the person rolling on the ground like a zombie just now was him.

He looked at the motionless white fox in the mirror and snorted triumphantly through his nose.

"Heh."

Heh heh, you little trash.

He looked at the white fox in the mirror arrogantly, lifted his chin, and said with disdain:

"Aren't you very fond of imitating?"

"Imitate then, why aren't you continuing to imitate?"

Seeming to be frightened by the other party's actions just now, the white fox in the mirror twitched its cheeks and silently turned its head away, unable to bear looking.

It couldn't do that; it really couldn't afford to lose face like that!

【...】

Can't watch it at all, it's too much of an eyesore...

Does this guy have even the slightest self-awareness or sense of shame as a great cultivator?

The more it recalled the unprovoked movements from just now, the more it felt its worries were somewhat superfluous.

Is such a guy really worth being wary of?

Probably not.

With its guard slightly lowered, the white fox turned its head back, wanting to open its mouth to negotiate terms with him.

But before the white fox could speak, all the fur on its body puffed up like a dandelion.

Because in its eyes, the youth had at some point pressed his face tightly against the mirror, eyes wide open, staring straight at it through the glass.

!!?

When you gaze into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.

At the same time, you must be careful, never look away!

Because... the abyss will certainly seize this opportunity to drag you into despair.

Ren Yidao breathed onto the mirror, used his finger to draw an exaggerated smiley face, and then personally made a somewhat perverted smile.

"Hehehe!"

That's right, between you and me... I am the abyss.

Upon seeing the indelible fear and confusion in the other party's eyes, Ren Yidao retracted his smile with satisfaction.

He returned to his usual gentle and refined manner and asked kindly:

"Alright, the joke is over, we should be able to talk about business now, right?"

"You brought me here, surely not just to perform a pantomime with me."

Ren Yidao crossed his arms, smiling as he looked at the white fox behind the mirror, as if looking at a feast within easy reach.

Even though the other party was a fox and he was a human, in his human form, he looked even more like a fox than the white fox did.

He made no effort to hide his intentions in his expression, his face full of cunning and treachery.

"Speak, what exactly is your purpose?"

The white fox squinted its eyes at Ren Yidao's condescending tone; it stared at Ren Yidao, wanting to choose to ignore him.

【...】

But thinking of the other party's erratic temperament and its own goal, it dared not remain silent and could only speak helplessly:

【You junior, do you not understand even the slightest bit of etiquette? Is this the attitude one should have toward a senior?】

The white fox in the mirror underwent a change in temperament, radiating a strong, ancient aura, like a fierce beast that had just stepped out of the primordial past.

Ancient, powerful, mysterious.

It arrogantly tilted its head and glanced sideways at Ren Yidao, wanting to see panic and suspicion on his face.

But it was disappointed.

Ren Yidao did not care about the changes occurring on it.

He shrugged indifferently, tilted his head, and smiled:

"Etiquette? Of course I understand it, I understand it all too well!"

"If you don't believe me, go ask around the Divine Path Sect; who doesn't know that I, Ren Yidao, am the most well-read and polite, the most respectful to elders and loving to the young disciple of Luoyue Peak?"

"No one could possibly not know!"

Well, that was before Yu Yu and Li Lingling arrived.

Although they are also formidable rivals, I believe my ranking will definitely not fall out of the top three.

"However, my etiquette is not for a kidnapper who forcibly brought me here."

Completely ignoring the temperament of the white fox in the Mirror, he curled his lips and sneered:

"Don't be too greedy. Since you are the one with ill intentions, don't blame me for not giving you face, right?"

【... This is not kidnapping, but an invitation.】

"An invitation? No, no, no, there is no such thing as an invitation without even a greeting."

"This is kidnapping."

Ren Yidao looked at the white fox seriously and said sincerely:

"This is a violation of the law!"

"Grandpa, stop now. The outside is full of government Constables. I know a head constable named Shi Xue who is extremely terrifying!"

Ren Yidao lowered his voice, his face full of fear, and said with a trembling voice:

"You don't know, this Constable Shi drinks three liters of black dog blood every day, swallows four live chickens whole, and also six..."

【Enough! What kind of nonsense is all this!?】

The white fox in the Mirror let out a low growl, interrupting Ren Yidao's deep narration.

Ren Yidao shrugged and said regretfully:

"Well, since you don't want to listen, don't blame me for not warning you when the time comes."

If I don't tell it, I don't tell it. I don't even want to make it up on the spot; spreading rumors is quite mentally taxing.

"Besides, the person with the least sincerity is you, right?"

White fox:!!?

After finishing this sentence without rhyme or reason, Ren Yidao turned around as if he had said nothing at all and asked curiously:

"So, what exactly do you want to do to me?"

The white fox in the Mirror narrowed its eyes once again, carefully sizing up the young man opposite.

A cunning and sharp fellow.

Such a person is definitely not a reassuring collaborator.

If it had a choice, it would absolutely not choose such a person to cooperate with.

【... Hmph!】

But...

Does it have a choice?

It does not.

How many years have passed already? This is the first fellow to discover its existence. If it misses him, how much longer will it have to keep waiting?

Letting out a long breath, the white fox stopped playing mysterious and sighed powerlessly:

【Cooperation.】

【I want you to listen to my instructions and take me out of here.】

【As long as you satisfy my requirements, I will grant you a great fortune!】

It stared at the thoughtful Ren Yidao and finally added gloomily:

【Otherwise, I will make your biggest secret public.】

【You wouldn't want your secret to be known by others, would you?】

Soft and hard tactics, bribery and coercion.

It felt that it had used both kindness and severity, holding the other party's handle and lifeline; the other party had no reason or capital to refuse.

Ren Yidao's face had been somewhat displeased, but in the end, he returned to calm, repeating the handle the white fox used to hold him:

"... The biggest secret, huh."

He looked at the white fox amusedly and asked in return:

"Can you tell me what my biggest secret is?"

"Please tell me."

Still unwilling to admit it even now?

The white fox stood up and paced back and forth, observing Ren Yidao's expression from different angles.

The corners of its mouth hooked up, and it sneered:

【You don't think you've hidden it well, do you?】

【Even if you pretend well, you can't fool me! The scent on your body, I can smell it at once... you are a demon!】

【You don't need me to remind you what the fate of a Fox Demon hiding among the Human Race is, right?】

Humans and demons cannot coexist; this has been the greatest dispute in this world since ancient times.

Even though it had not been in contact with the outside world for many, many years, it still remained firm in its thinking.

This world will not change.

Even if the Human Race and the Demon Race have temporarily ceased fighting and ushered in a brief peace, that is nothing more than an illusion.

As long as humans and demons both exist, their struggle will not cease!

Only when one of them disappears can it end.

No compromise, no middle ground, no second possibility!

Watching Ren Yidao fall into deep thought, the white fox let out a cold snort and said arrogantly:

【If it weren't for the fact that you are also of the Demon Race, I would never negotiate with a traitor like you who betrayed the Demon Race.】

【Kid, have you made up your mind?】

"Hoo..."

Under the white fox's puzzled gaze, Ren Yidao raised his head, let out a long breath, and sighed with emotion:

"Although I knew in my heart that it was highly unlikely, I still felt nervous involuntarily just now."

The Demon Race is my biggest secret?

No, no, no!

Compared to that matter, this doesn't count for anything at all.

"Not wanting to be known by others, yet wanting to be understood by others..."

Ren Yidao did not want to be studied as a visitor from another world, but he did want to meet a companion just like himself.

A lonely soul always wants to find a similar companion.

It is just a pity...

Ren Yidao let out a long sigh, shook his head, and muttered:

"You are not it."

【What?】

"Nothing, it just stirred up memories and made me think of some old affairs."

Shaking off the faint longing, Ren Yidao thought of another matter and asked curiously:

"Oh right, why do you call me a traitor of the Demon Race?"

【Does that even need to be said?】

【Although I don't know exactly where this place is, it must be a treasury where precious treasures are kept.】

【The fact that you can enter a place so vital to the Human Race proves that your status among them is very high.】

For the sake of this status, you must have betrayed quite a few Demon Race kin, right?

You demon traitor!!!

Being misunderstood like this, Ren Yidao retorted on the spot:

"Hmm... tell me, is there a possibility that I am actually an undercover agent sent by the Demon Race to infiltrate the Human Race?"

White fox:!!!

Hearing this, the white fox blinked its eyes, and its gaze brightened.

It had stayed here for too, too long and had actually forgotten about this possibility!

Emotions that had been dormant for years erupted suddenly, and it hurriedly pressed:

【So that's how it is!!?】

Ren Yidao nodded affectionately and responded immediately:

"Mm!"

"Not!"

【I have wronged... ah?】

Ren Yidao watched with pleasure as the corners of the white fox's mouth sank bit by bit, took a deep breath, and exhaled with satisfaction.

That's right, that's exactly the expression.

"Not only am I not a spy sent by the Demon Race, but I am also not a traitor to the Demon Race."

"Because I am human."

I didn't have a choice before; now, I want to be a good person...

Boom!!!

The Mirror in front was struck heavily by a claw; the white fox on the other side of the Mirror completely lost its previous elegant appearance and lunged directly at the Mirror.

Its body grew massive, its clean white fur was stained pitch-black, its pupils became scarlet and mottled, and it bared its sharp teeth.

【You dare to play me!!?】

Its voice also became blurred, rolling like thunder, like the rough thunder exploding from Heaven.

【Do you think I am not joking with you?】

【Otherwise! I will destroy everything you have!】

Facing the opponent who had torn off its disguise, the smile on Ren Yidao's face grew even brighter.

"Destroy me?"

"How?"

He did not retreat, but instead took a step closer to the Mirror and chuckled:

"Come, tell me, how will you do it? How will you make my 'biggest secret' public? Let everyone in the world know?"

The white fox's momentum stalled, wanting to defend itself.

But Ren Yidao did not give it a chance to continue speaking at all, sneering as he exposed the biggest loophole in the opponent's "deal."

"Do you know why I don't take you seriously?"

"Because your so-called deal is fundamentally invalid."

Ren Yidao is a demon.

He had actually known this all along, clearer than anyone else.

"Whether I am human or a demon, what does it matter?"

"I figured this matter out decades ago."

"No matter what others think, I am clear about what my essence truly is."

I am a human.

Even if my bloodline changes, even if my physical body changes.

This point, no one can change.

"You don't think that, at this stage, such a thing would still leave me feeling lost, do you?"

I'm not a fresh university graduate; what is there to be lost about?

Could it be that one day I will suddenly wake up, awaken a sense of identity with the Demon Race, and cast aside everything I have now to return to the Demon Race?

Friend, that is impossible.

"And your threat is even more utterly ridiculous, because you simply cannot do it!"

"If you were able to contact the outside world, you would have done it long ago; would you have waited until now?"

"Moreover, even if I followed the deal and brought you out, wouldn't you just tell others this secret anyway?"

【...】

The white fox... no, the demon thing in the Mirror narrowed its eyes, observing the youth on the other side of the Mirror seriously for the first time.

He might still be young, merely a newly born cub compared to it.

But in his eyes, there was no confusion regarding his status or bloodline, nor was there any awe or fear toward it.

On the contrary, his pitch-black, abyss-like eyes were filled with mockery and malice.

"Do you think you have driven me into a dead end?"

"No."

"The one who has been driven into a dead end is actually you!"

【...】

Seeing the other party remain silent, Ren Yidao shook his head, barely able to suppress the upward curve of his lips.

"However, you are lucky; I am a good person who cannot bear to see others suffer."

"Now, compared to that insincere deal of yours, I have a better and fairer deal."

He said:

"Do you want to hear it?"