After Switching Bodies with the Villainous Demon Lord - Chapter 17
Xiao Wuchen glanced at Duan Ze, who was standing silently off to the side, then looked toward the strikingly beautiful man in front of him. “What do you want?”
“Ah! It really is Immortal Duan Ze!” The red-robed man covered his mouth, eyes sparkling, a flush spreading at the corners from excitement. He circled around Xiao Wuchen, sniffing subtly like he was trying to catch a specific scent.
Before Xiao Wuchen could blow up, the man suddenly thought of something and waved a hand at his maids. “Quick, bring the shadow-capturing mirror!”
Duan Ze, now squeezed off to the side, calmly observed the man’s sudden switch in behavior.
Nine tails. Cultivation above the Ascension Stage. Iconic red robes. Six powerful maids all at the Out-of-Body Stage trailing behind him… It wasn’t hard to guess this guy’s identity—Chi Xiuzhu, ruler of the Demon Beast Realm.
This guy was a fox demon who had cultivated for over two thousand years. He hated humans to the core. By all logic, he should’ve despised Duan Ze as well. But he was also a complete sucker for good looks—and Duan Ze’s face was his ultimate type. After some serious inner conflict, he ended up becoming a loyal fanboy.
Later on, when the original Duan Ze’s reputation took a nosedive, Chi Xiuzhu decided his crush was no longer worthy of his affections. He secretly sent assassins after him, stirring up all kinds of trouble for the original.
Back when Duan Ze was still reading the book, he thought Chi Xiuzhu was just a complete psycho—and now that he was seeing him in person? Yeah, definitely a psycho.
Chi Xiuzhu’s eyes stayed glued to Xiao Wuchen’s face. A two-thousand-year-old king acting like a starstruck kid, he held the shadow-capturing mirror with trembling reverence. “Can I take a photo with you?”
Xiao Wuchen looked at the demon king in front of him. His Demon Realm shared a border with the Demon Beast Realm, and the two weren’t exactly on friendly terms. They’d even fought over territory before. Who would’ve thought the day would come when this guy stared at him with puppy-dog eyes?
…It was kind of nauseating.
Right then, Duan Ze stepped forward and slid himself between the two of them. His face looked slightly pale, but his expression was ice-cold, distant. “No. Photos are forbidden.”
The shadow-capturing mirror was basically the cultivation world’s version of a camera. But if it fell into the wrong hands, who knew what it might be used for?
Fox clans were infamous for their charm spells and witchcraft—both top-tier in the cultivation world. And based on what Chi Xiuzhu had done in the novel, Duan Ze wasn’t taking any chances.
Chi Xiuzhu lowered his eyes and met Duan Ze’s icy gaze. A chill crept down his spine, but then he scanned Duan Ze’s features—ugh, not his type at all.
The man’s excitement fizzled out on the spot. Tilting his chin with arrogance, he sneered, “What’s a sickly-looking commoner like you doing butting in here?”
Cough. The person behind Duan Ze covered their mouth and coughed lightly, clearly holding back a laugh.
Duan Ze tilted his head and used divine sense to speak to Xiao Wuchen. “What are you laughing at? That face you’re wearing is the one you created.”
Instantly, Xiao Wuchen stopped laughing.
Duan Ze adjusted his robes, crossed his arms, and looked up at Chi Xiuzhu, brows slightly raised with disdain. “Still judging people by appearances at your age? I bet you’ve made plenty of enemies like that. Better watch out someone doesn’t snatch one of your tails and wear it as a scarf.”
“You—!” Chi Xiuzhu’s tails puffed up immediately. His tails were his greatest pride. Even though he knew Duan Ze was just being sharp-tongued, he couldn’t help getting triggered.
A wave of spiritual pressure surged from him. His narrow eyes gleamed with killing intent. Just as he was about to attack, he turned to Xiao Wuchen. “Let me kill this guy, and I’ll find you someone even better—more obedient, more thoughtful.”
“I’m not looking to replace him.” Xiao Wuchen didn’t hesitate at all.
Even without the body swap, Xiao Wuchen would never let someone else touch Duan Ze. That man had to die by his hand—no one else’s.
And now that Duan Ze’s body was technically his body, there was even less room for negotiation. Xiao Wuchen reached out, grabbed Duan Ze by the collar, and yanked him behind his back. He stared Chi Xiuzhu down, face like a thundercloud. “Also, I don’t like being photographed.”
“So I’m just supposed to let him insult me like that?” Chi Xiuzhu blinked up at him, eyes watery and seductive—enough to make anyone’s heart melt.
Well, anyone except Xiao Wuchen. He frowned. “If we’re keeping score, shouldn’t I be mad you called him a ‘sickly-looking commoner’?”
Duan Ze, “…You don’t have to repeat it.”
“Then how about… you give me a strand of your hair? Just one. That way we’ll call it even.” Chi Xiuzhu handed the shadow-capturing mirror to one of the maids, still clinging to hope.
Giving hair was even worse than taking a photo—it made it way easier to curse someone.
Duan Ze was about to shake his head when Chi Xiuzhu abruptly shifted into his true form. A snarling white fox face with a wicked expression glared at him. “Shut up!”
A moment later, he transformed back and gazed longingly at Xiao Wuchen. “Just one strand…”
“What do you want it for?” Xiao Wuchen asked with genuine curiosity.
“I want to tie it to my heart… so I can feel you with me at all times…” The more he spoke, the more emotional he got. His face turned red, and the tips of his tails trembled.
Xiao Wuchen narrowed his eyes, glanced at Duan Ze—who looked equally creeped out.
“No.” He refused flatly, no discussion needed.
“Why not? Just one—”
“No.” Xiao Wuchen cut him off again. He had no idea if Duan Ze would curse someone out, but for now, he chose to endure.
“…Fine,” Chi Xiuzhu’s tails drooped in disappointment. Then he asked, “So why is Immortal Duan Ze here at this ruin? Don’t tell me… you’re after the Soul Gathering Lamp, too?”
Xiao Wuchen pushed down his irritation and broke down the guy’s question. “Too?”
“Yeah! But this time, just because my opponent is an immortal doesn’t mean I’m backing down.” Chi Xiuzhu retracted his tails, suddenly all serious.
He hadn’t expected Duan Ze to show up at these ruins. Based on his strength alone, even with all six of his maids, they still weren’t a match.
But the Soul Gathering Lamp was something he had to obtain this time.
His gaze slid toward the sickly-looking human standing at the side. His divine sense swept over him—completely empty, not a trace of spiritual power. Just a regular guy with decent physical skills.
Based on how protective Duan Ze was of him, their relationship must be unusual. That meant… he could be used.
If he killed this man, would Immortal Duan Ze remember him forever?
A chill crept up Duan Ze’s spine. He noticed that predatory look and tugged Xiao Wuchen’s sleeve. “Let’s go.”
“Mn.” Xiao Wuchen hadn’t planned on chatting any further anyway. He was barely restraining himself from picking a fight.
But annoyingly, Chi Xiuzhu followed right behind him like a clingy puppy, eyes still stuck on him.
Xiao Wuchen frowned. “Why are you following me?”
The other man looked innocent and lifted a map. “We’re both after the Soul Gathering Lamp, aren’t we? Naturally, our paths align.”
Duan Ze walked alongside Xiao Wuchen, arms folded, expression amused like he was watching a drama. He’d only come down here to make sure Xiao Wuchen didn’t use his body to do anything weird.
And since he didn’t have any particular feelings about Chi Xiuzhu, standing off to the side and observing them interact was honestly kind of entertaining.
He strolled a few steps closer to Xiao Wuchen, just enough to slip out of the subtle encirclement the six maids had been forming around him.
Even though he and Xiao Wuchen only had thirty percent of their power right now, it wasn’t like they couldn’t take Chi Xiuzhu down if needed. But doing so would risk exposing their limited cultivation, so for now, it was better to just wait and see.
The underground city had existed for who knows how long, and yet the air was dry, with no wind. The ground was caked in thick dust—it looked like no one had been here in ages.
All the surrounding buildings were made from yellow mud mixed with straw bricks. There were chicken coops, duck pens, and dead trees gnarled like monsters at every door.
Duan Ze kept his divine sense running at all times. But everywhere it swept, there was no sign of life. The whole place felt eerie.
Until—
As they passed a massive wall, a sudden thump, thump sound echoed out. Like someone was knocking from the other side.
Everyone tensed up.
Chi Xiuzhu’s six maids immediately shielded him. Duan Ze and Xiao Wuchen simultaneously sent their divine sense toward the source—then froze.
On the other side of the wall… was Xie Qingyu.
So the guy did manage to find this place. Judging by the distance, he’d probably enter soon.
Even more troubling—his cultivation had been unsealed, and had even jumped a few levels.
Xiao Wuchen looked toward Duan Ze. The latter waved a hand. “Let’s go.”
He really didn’t feel like seeing Xie Qingyu right now.