INHA Chapter 11

Others tacitly avoided eye contact. Xu Dongyou took the opportunity to change his clothes and then thanked Elder Chen and the others individually.

Elder Chen smiled and waved his hand. “No need to say thank you. After the matter is settled, come with me to the top floor to discuss your identity issue.”

Xu Dongyou nodded and then handed over the healing pill that the chief had given him earlier. “Chief, I didn’t use this while I was in the array. I’m returning it to you now.”

The chief smiled and said, “Since you didn’t use it, just keep it. It can be a lifesaving tool for you.”

Xu Dongyou hesitated a bit.

After all, this pill required points to exchange for, indicating its preciousness.

“This wasn’t given to you personally by me. It’s a rule set by the headquarters. Every qualified newcomer is issued a healing pill. Even if you didn’t use it, it’s still yours,” the chief explained.

Only then did Xu Dongyou feel reassured and put it away.

The fox seized the moment and said, “When we get out of here, I’ll give you all the good things I’ve saved. Each one is better than this healing pill.”

Xu Dongyou shook his head and declined, “No need. I can’t accept rewards without merit.”

The fox became a bit anxious. He seldom used these things himself since the self-healing abilities of adult demons were exceptionally strong. It was the demon cubs who needed these items to enhance their strength.

Elder Chen glanced calmly at the fox.

The fox immediately fell silent and stepped aside.

Only then did Elder Chen, smiling, look at the chief and say kindly, “Regarding Li Dong’s situation, we need to have an internal discussion within the demon clan. I hope, Chief, you can temporarily keep his identity a secret and not make it public.”

The chief also nodded with a smile. “Of course. Humans and demons will always be each other’s most trustworthy partners.”

Elder Chen then checked the array again. Once he confirmed there were no oversights, everyone finally left the sealed array.

Upon reaching the ground floor, everyone no longer concealed their reactions as before. Instead, they openly looked at Xu Dongyou with astonished and envious gazes.

Xu Dongyou paused for a moment but then pretended to walk forward nonchalantly.

Tian Ze immediately glared at them. “What are you all looking at?! Watch out, or I’ll report you to your chief!”

This remark had the desired effect; some people withdrew their gazes and stopped staring at Xu Dongyou.

As Xu Dongyou prepared to follow Elder Chen and the fox to the first floor, he whispered to Tian Ze, “Captain, thank you.”

Tian Ze patted Xu Dongyou’s shoulder, his tone as hearty as ever. “Don’t overthink it. In our division, only the chief and I know your identity, and we will keep it absolutely confidential.”

Xu Dongyou pursed his lips and nodded, then left with Elder Chen.

Tian Ze stood there and sighed. He had thought the team would finally have a high-spiritual-energy member, but it turned out that the opportunity slipped away just as quickly.

Zhao Liu and Zhang Wu walked into the hall at that moment. The first thing they saw was their captain’s deeply troubled expression, without knowing what he was thinking.

They walked over, and Zhang Wu curiously asked, “Captain, what’s wrong?”

The captain glared at them. “Why are you asking so many questions?”

Zhang Wu wasn’t offended by the scolding and approached with a grin. “Captain, what exactly happened last night? Many people in the bureau are saying that something down there almost broke out. If it weren’t for…”

“Weren’t for what?” Tian Ze, who had been down in the formation the whole time, had no idea what kind of rumors were spreading in the bureau.

“If our team’s Li Dong hadn’t successfully calmed the entity in the array…”

“That’s the ancient Zhulong, who self-sealed in the array for our sake. If you don’t watch your mouth, be careful someone might use it against you someday,” Tian Ze said angrily. “At that time, I won’t be able to protect you, and neither will the chief.”

Every handler in the branch knew there was a sealed array entrance under Fengnian Street’s Handling bureau, and that it sealed the mythical ancient Zhulong.

However, most members, due to their inadequate spiritual energy, were not qualified to see the ancient Zhulong.

The saying “ignorance breeds no fear” might have some truth.

At least, from what Tian Ze knew, everyone who had entered the sealed array and seen Zhulong held a profound respect and fear for it, unlike Zhang Wu.

Moreover, the strength of the ancient Zhulong was nearly immeasurable. It had self-sealed in the array for the sake of humanity. Just this act of grace was something humanity could never repay.

So, if Zhang Wu’s words were overheard and reported, he would be in serious trouble, and even the demon clan might be enraged.

However…

Tian Ze now realized why the people in the hall had acted so strangely towards Xu Dongyou.

After all, Xu Dongyou had accomplished something even the chief hadn’t been able to do.

Thinking about this, Tian Ze couldn’t help but sigh again.

What a pity. Xu Dongyou was a demon, and because of this alone, the old demons in the demon clan would probably want to hide and protect him.

***

On the top floor.

Xu Dongyou followed Elder Chen and the fox forward. The fox pushed open a door carved with mysterious patterns. The room had an ancient style, with ink paintings on the screens, but the writing was unclear.

Xu Dongyou didn’t dare to look closely. Elder Chen gestured for Xu Dongyou to sit on a cushion and brewed some tea. “This is very suitable for a young demon like you. Drink more.”

Xu Dongyou obediently sat down, held up the teacup, and took a sip. The tea had a very unique flavor. As it went down, it seemed to transform into a warm energy that soothed his internal organs, making most of his fatigue and discomfort disappear.

The fox also sat down, staring at Xu Dongyou with a gaze typical of an elder looking at a young one.

Under such scrutiny, Xu Dongyou quickly felt uncomfortable.

Even though he knew demons could live for a long time, a fox that looked only around thirty could easily be a few hundred years old.

For someone like him, who had lived just over twenty years, he was indeed just a cub.

Elder Chen began to discuss the main topic, “What era were your parents from?”

Xu Dongyou looked confused. “Huh?”

Elder Chen started to sense that something was amiss and asked, “Your parents never taught you the basic knowledge of demon cultivation?”

Not knowing how to transform into his original form and always thinking he was human—these demon parents were truly irresponsible.

Xu Dongyou shook his head, hesitating a bit. “I don’t think my parents and my younger brother seem like demons.”

If he hadn’t joined the bureau, he might never have known that demons existed in this world.

Elder Chen fell silent, then said, “Last night, while the array was being repaired, the demon clan actually held a meeting through some means.”

Xu Dongyou immediately perked up his ears.

Elder Chen didn’t continue but instead took out an ancient, cracked tortoiseshell. “There are two kinds of demons: those born from the union of demons and those who naturally transformed. This tortoiseshell can identify which type you are. It’s up to you to decide whether to use it.”

Xu Dongyou was silent for a long time. He had a vague feeling that he might not be his parents’ biological child, but he wasn’t entirely sure.

He really wanted to find out. No matter the result, it wouldn’t change his love for his parents.

Reaching out his hand, Xu Dongyou made his decision. “I want to know my true identity.”

Elder Chen gently performed a demon incantation, and a small cut appeared on Xu Dongyou’s fingertip. A drop of blood fell onto the tortoiseshell and quickly disappeared, soon followed by the appearance of black markings resembling oracle bone script.

Elder Chen glanced at it, his hands trembling even more.

Xu Dongyou became nervous. The fox, unable to understand the characters, hurriedly asked Mr. Chen, “Elder, what is the result?”

Elder Chen struggled to calm his emotions and took a deep breath before answering, “You belong to the second category, naturally transformed.”

In other words…

When Xu Dongyou was born, he was just an ordinary Long-tailed Tit. For some reason, he cultivated and became a demon.

Xu Dongyou didn’t know how to feel at that moment. There was even a sense of confirmation, like, “Ah, so it is true.”

It turned out he really wasn’t his parents’ biological child.

Suddenly, Xu Dongyou remembered that he often dreamed of the forest and flying when he was a child. Could those have been memories from before he became a demon?

However, due to the passage of time, many of those dreams were now blurry; after all, he had been very young then.

Elder Chen couldn’t help but look at the characters on the tortoiseshell again before carefully putting it away.

Seeing Xu Dongyou with his head down and silent, the fox, feeling helpless, spoke in a comforting tone, “Don’t be sad. How about I give you all my good stuff?”

Xu Dongyou looked up and replied, “I’m not that sad anymore. Thank you…”

He wasn’t a young cub after all and could quickly adjust his emotions.

The fox suddenly remembered something important. “By the way, Elder, since the cub is from our demon clan, shouldn’t we take him to our side so I can protect him at all times?”

Elder Chen was about to speak when his expression changed. He stood up abruptly and said, “I need to go to the next room for a moment. I’ll be right back.”

Then he hurried into the adjacent room.

About five minutes later, Elder Chen returned with a complex expression and sat down. He said to Xu Dongyou, “You should continue to stay in the anomaly handling bureau. On weekends, come to the top floor where the fox and I will teach you the basics of demon knowledge. As for your identity, I will ask the chief to keep it confidential for now. Once your strength has increased, you can decide whether to reveal it.”

Xu Dongyou was curious about what Elder Chen had done in the other room but still nodded obediently.

The fox, unusually, didn’t say anything at this moment.

This indicated that the room Elder Chen had entered might not be simple.

“So, which squad do you plan to join? I’ll inform the chief about it,” Elder Chen asked.

Xu Dongyou replied, “The 8th squad is fine. I want to stay in my original team.”

Elder Chen nodded and told Xu Dongyou to finish the entire pot of tea before allowing him to go downstairs.

After the door closed, the fox asked Elder Chen, “Elder, what did Elder Bai say?”

Elder Chen didn’t answer directly, but his face showed a hint of hope for the future. “You’ll find out in due time. Remember, don’t interfere casually in matters between the cub and humans, understand?”

The fox, who never trusted humans but trusted Elder Bai, nodded. “I understand.”

When Xu Dongyou went downstairs, the members of the handling bureau all glanced at him with admiration and envy.

Someone whispered jealously to another, “Who knows what reward the demon clan gave him? It must be something good.”

Tian Ze glared at them and quickly went over to Xu Dongyou. “Don’t mind them; they criticize others because they can’t achieve the same.”

Xu Dongyou smiled without responding and said to Tian Ze, “Captain, were you waiting here for me?”

Tian Ze nodded eagerly, pulling Xu Dongyou to a corner and whispering, “What’s going on? I just received a message from the chief saying you would continue to stay in the 8th squad. Didn’t the higher-ups take an interest in you?”

Tian Ze’s face was filled with concern for Xu Dongyou.

Xu Dongyou felt a warmth in his heart and said, “Don’t worry. I don’t fully understand the specifics either.”

Given that Tian Ze knew his identity, Xu Dongyou didn’t hide anything from him and said directly, “Elder Chen wants me to go to the top floor every weekend to learn demon knowledge from them.”

Tian Ze finally relaxed, feeling happy for Xu Dongyou and for himself.

He thought, ‘The valuable team member I had lost is back again!’

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