Stepping on the Demoness to become the strongest

The spa service quality was not bad, if only I hadn't been with Chen Lingyun.

What happened to the private, single-person care? How could they let her in too! Just for that, I can only give a passing grade, I can't rate any higher.

Upon arriving at the ground-floor garden, Yan Yu saw Su and Lin standing by the pond, feeding the koi with breadcrumbs.

Based on their appearance and demeanor, neither resembled Chai Dai. Lin Ning was lively and full of vigor, while Su Yunjin was gentle, quiet, and elegantly simple; their characters were entirely different.

However, having spent so much time with them, Yan Yu knew that underneath Lin Ning's seemingly extroverted personality was a delicate, sensitive heart that loved to dwell and fuss over things. Yun Jin was typically soft on the outside yet firm on the inside, her gentle speech could carry a heavy force of control; she appeared frail but was actually astute and assertive.

In a way, could it be that they really did have a bit of Chai Dai's shadow in them?

"I'm here," Yan Yu said, hands in pockets, sauntering over to them, "what did you call me for?"

"We don't need you anymore," Lin Ning said with annoyance.

"I heard someone was being hit on and harassed?" Yan Yu laughed, "Now you realize that being pretty has its disadvantages too, huh?"

Lin Ning immediately spun around to throw a kick, but Yan Yu, having anticipated it, dodged neatly. Su Yunjin then said from the side:

"Don't argue with Ningning, come and stand over here."

Yan Yu stood between the two girls and didn't say much more. Indeed, for the next while, no one else came over to bother them.

The reason was simple: the clubhouse was exclusive to members, with a small circle; everyone recognized the existing female members, so if they saw an unfamiliar and alone pretty lady, they'd hurry to make friends and see if there were any chances. But if there was a man next to her, they'd assume she was a guest brought by a member and immediately lose interest.

Su Yunjin had keenly guessed that was the case when she saw someone pass by with a female companion earlier.

Yet she was unfazed by being seen as a companion, and instead enjoyed the peace, quietly staying beside Yan Yu, watching the carps swim in the pond.

"You girls could also try the downstairs spa," Yan Yu suggested, "It's quite comfortable, and you won't be disturbed."

"Will you join us?" Su Yunjin asked faintly.

"No, I just came back from there," Yan Yu said.

"Then I don't want to go," Su Yunjin said.

In their brief exchange, an invisible gravitational field seemed to form, pressing down on Lin Ning until she couldn't breathe and forced her to cut in abruptly:

"You went to the spa downstairs without us, and now you come up here to show off after you're done!"

"Nonsense," Yan Yu said inexplicably, "If I don't try it, how would I know the quality of the service here? I have to make sure everything is fine before I recommend it to you."

"Hmph," Lin Ning pouted.

Her response wasn't so much a complaint against Yan Yu, but an attempt to break the tension between the two. Now that the goal had been achieved, she naturally didn't say any more.

Su Yunjin, watching quietly from the side, frowned slightly, feeling an uncomfortable twist in her heart, and suggested:

"There's a place for bird-watching over there, come with me to take a look."

"Okay," Yan Yu agreed.

"I'll go too!" Lin Ning quickly followed suit.

In a corner of the garden, various bird cages hung, most of which belonged to members who left their birds here for the clubhouse to take care of—keeping birds was a tradition among the old folks of Pingjing, particularly those who sang often and loudly, or could speak auspicious words, which brought them joy.

"I also want to keep a bird," Su Yunjin suddenly said, "I'll tell it all the secrets I can't say out loud."

The atmosphere suddenly became heavy again. Lin Ning opened her mouth as if to say something but then stopped, only to hear Yan Yu laugh and say:

"Then you shouldn't get a parrot. If it learns everything, and suddenly calls out when there are people around: 'Squawk! I'm gaining weight again,' wouldn't that be embarrassing?"

Su Yunjin couldn't hold back a smile, gave him a light glance, and laughed with her mouth covered:

"As long as you don't hear it, it doesn't matter who it talks to."

Even though it was a quick glance, mixed with a touch of girlish shyness and reproach, it seemed all the more enchanting.

Lin Ning, too, caught the look in her eyes and grew even more restless—not the same strange weight as before, but a new kind of panic and unease that screamed "I don't fit in here."

She was just a simple sword immortal, unable to grasp the mysteries of these spells, her only recourse was to bluntly break in with a change of subject:

"Speaking of pets, I'm thinking of keeping tropical fish."

"Aren't fish quite easy to kill?" Su Yunjin remarked lightly.

"Not really," Lin Ning defended, "We have a big aquarium at home. It's been years, and they're all doing well."

"Which one do you prefer, Captain?" Su Yunjin casually asked, "If you had to choose between the two, bird or fish?"

The heavy atmosphere descended once more!

Yan Yu was no fool and could taste the almost imperceptible tension in the air. If he chose birds, Lin Ning would be unhappy; but if he chose fish, Su Yunjin would be upset... This was no longer about a preference for pets but about the soul-searching question "Whose side are you really on?"

But why should I choose sides? Do you think you deserve my allegiance?

Such amateurs, all causing me these trivial problems!

"Birds need their cages changed, and fish need their water changed, both are troublesome," Yan Yu calmly replied, "I think Sister Zhao is easier to take care of, she can fend for herself, use the toilet on her own, and still provides enough emotional value."

Su Yunjin: ......

Lin Ning: ......

Can you not compare girls to animals, please?!

"Speaking of which, where has Sister Zhao gone?" Yan Yu suddenly realized it had been a while since they'd seen the Demonic Sect Enchantress.

"She went to the restaurant with Ruoxi to find something to eat earlier," Lin Ning replied, feeling somewhat helpless inside. The way she said it sounded a bit too much like they were animals...

"Let's go have a look," Yan Yu said.

The three of them left the garden courtyard and returned to the banquet hall inside, where they saw the dining table surrounded by crowds both inside and out. From time to time, cheers could be heard:

"Great!"

"Thrilling!"

"Can they still eat?"

"Worthy of a cultivator!"

Yan Yu couldn't squeeze through the crowd, so he released his Divine Sense to pierce through the throng and saw a table piled with various foods, with two girls eating heartily.

Xie Ruoxi wolfed down food for a while and then put her hands in front of her and pressed down, channeling True Yuan around her stomach area to speed up digestion—a testament to the woman who could self-taught the art of fasting in her past life. She had also developed a method to digest food.

Zhao Yuanzhen was even more exaggerated. She lined up the shelled lobsters on the side of the table and then, while squatting and shuffling along, shoved chunks of lobster meat into her mouth and chewed vigorously, drawing continuous exclamations from the surrounding members.

It was as if they were watching a tiger feed.

Yan Yu: ......

When one girl breaks your defenses, there's always another girl to break through your defenses in kind. Such is the cycle of natural justice, an inescapable retribution!

Yan Yu could no longer hold back and waved over a suit-clad manager who was standing by, saying:

"Get rid of their meals, quick."

"I apologize," the manager replied respectfully but firmly, "It is our duty to satisfy the members' needs, provided it does not affect other members' enjoyment of our services."

"I understand," Yan Yu said indifferently, "Let me rephrase: If you don't get rid of their meals now, I'm going to smash their dining table. Choose."

The manager immediately fell silent, with a sudden appearance of cold sweat on his forehead.

The owner of the club had a very strong background, so strong that ordinary members would not cause trouble here. But the person in front of him was the captain of the Zhenhai Team, and behind him stood that gentleman; if he really did get angry and smash the place, the owner would likely have no recourse against him.

As everyone knew, when the boss couldn't handle an opponent, he would take out his frustration on the subordinates who caused the trouble; after all, something would have to be done to appease the anger.

"How about this," the manager proposed cautiously, "We have a small issue in the kitchen right now, and the food supply may be affected thereafter... When would you find it acceptable for the issue to be resolved?"

"Tomorrow," Yan Yu understood his hint, saying nonchalantly, "I reckon it definitely won't be fixed tonight, right?"

"Yes, please understand." The manager quickly pressed his headset and ordered the kitchen to cut off the water and electricity, creating a malfunction.

Soon, the food on the table was devoured completely by the two of them.

More food didn't arrive, which not only dissatisfied Zhao Yuanzhen and Xie Ruoxi but also upset the members who enjoyed watching the spectacle; they started to make a commotion:

"Is there more food? Bring it on, quick!"

Many members ran to the kitchen to urge them on, and Yan Yu finally found a chance to quietly weave through the crowd and came up between Zhao Yuanzhen and Xie Ruoxi, asking gently:

"Have you had your fill?"

"How could this little bit be satisfying..." Zhao Yuanzhen said dismissively without looking up.

Xie Ruoxi, trembling beside her, tugged at her sleeve and whispered:

"Sister Zhao, that's Yan... Yan..."

"Bird's nest?" Zhao Yuanzhen turned her head, eyes lighting up, "I'm actually thirsty, where's the bird's nest?"

Then she got slapped on the head as Yan Yu transmitted a scold in a low voice:

"Reincarnation of a starving ghost! Can't you choose the occasion to eat? Are you proud to be made a clown for others to watch you eat?"

Zhao Yuanzhen was hit for no reason, but she dared not publicly argue with Yan Yu; she just held her head with both hands, silently seething:

"What a petty thief! I haven't eaten your rice; what right do you have to lecture me like this!"

"You're cursing me as a reincarnation of a starving ghost, huh? Once I achieve the path of the Demon Lord, I'll hang that petty thief and in front of him, I'll eat up all his rice soup!"

With that thought, a vision came to her mind.

She saw Yan Yu stripped naked, all his treasures and Flying Swords taken away, with his arms and legs bound by the dragon rope, watching Mrs. Zhao search the house for food and then screaming wildly:

"Damn it, you can't! That's the only food we have left at home! You can't eat it!"

"Hee hee hee, didn't you curse me as a starving ghost? Now you'll see!" Mrs. Zhao revealed a wicked smile, fumbling from beneath the coffee table for a starch sausage Yan Yu had stashed away, and adeptly unwrapping it, "Today I'll show you what's what!"

"Quack! No, please! I apologize, I was wrong, I shouldn't have cursed you... Please don't touch it!"

"Haha, I'm going to eat your starch sausage!"

At this point, Zhao Yuanzhen was thoroughly amused, looking at Yan Yu with a mocking and scornful expression as if to say, "We've got a long road ahead; just you wait."

Yan Yu: ?

Still daring to challenge?

He reached out again with a large hand, firmly holding Zhao Yuanzhen's head, and revealed an arrogantly cold smile of a man who suppressed all through the ages.