Bonus Kofi chapter
Jing Li was momentarily stunned, then recovered from the shock of the other person’s brilliantly radiant aura of faith and looked at him with suspicion.
He confirmed that he had heard the man say “koi” and not his own name, Jing Li.
How is it that the demons in this world have become so formidable?
He had only encountered two, and both could discern at a glance that he was not human?
The little chrysanthemum spirit could perhaps be attributed to its keen perception. After all, it was the most sensitive plant spirit in the spiritual realm, able to judge through its aura…
Aura?!
Could it be that the non-humans in this world could all perceive one’s aura? Hence their ability to rapidly identify their own kind?
“Don’t look at me like that, it’s scary.”
Probably due to Jing Li’s solemn gaze, the speaker felt a bit uneasy and scratched his head. He cautiously glanced around at the surrounding people. Seeing no one paying attention to them, he leaned closer and softly asked, “Are you bothered by me seeing through you? If that’s the case, you really don’t need to take it to heart. We foxes are renowned in the spiritual realm for our sharp noses – not only can we sniff out demons, but even celestial beings cannot hide their distinct scent from us.”
Fox clan?
Jing Li scrutinized him carefully, noting his exquisite features that blurred the line between masculine and feminine beauty, especially his slightly upturned, bewitching fox-eyes that seemed to captivate anyone he looked at with an air of profound affection, ensnaring them at a glance.
Truly, it was the innate charm of the fox clan.
It seemed his ability to ascend to the top of the entertainment industry was likely a result of this.
Jing Li lowered his guard slightly, then asked him, “So what do you want with me?”
He didn’t think a demon would approach another without an ulterior motive.
Just like himself, his purpose in seeking out his own kind was equally motivated.
Unlike human cultivators, it was extraordinarily difficult for demon cultivators to advance their cultivation. Plant spirits relied on the constant supply of primordial spiritual energy from the Tree of Life, while other animal demons had to rely on self-cultivation. Without access to suitable heavenly treasures to aid their practice, many demon cultivators resorted to devouring their own kind and absorbing their essence to increase their cultivation.
Moreover, with the scarcity of spiritual energy in this world, even human cultivation could hardly reach the heavens, let alone the arduous struggle for survival faced by demons.
With this in mind, Jing Li’s gaze towards the person beside him became guarded once more.
“I want to bask in your aura1He actually said “I want to hug your thigh!” but I wanted to use aura because they are both demon spirit.!!” The young man, oblivious to Jing Li’s change in demeanor, exclaimed excitedly, “Everyone knows koi spirits like you have your own good luck buff! If you sincerely bless someone, they’ll have their heart’s desires fulfilled! This is practically the most cheat code left behind by the heavens, you know?!”
“I’m so lucky to have stumbled upon such a rare, once-in-a-millennium opportunity! I’ve got to seize it properly!!”
Jing Li: “……”
He imagined countless possibilities, but he really didn’t expect it to be such a reason.
He looked at the chattering young man in front of him with a speechless face, then at his aura of faith that was almost overwhelmed by a white mist, momentarily at a loss for words.
This aura of faith has almost enveloped you completely, and yet you still want to bask in the presence of a half-baked koi spirit like me who hasn’t even manifested a demonic form?
“Ah yes, I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Hu Li, a signed artist with Sentu Entertainment. I’m playing a little prince of the royal family in this drama.” Hu Li suddenly clicked his tongue in regret. “If I had known I would meet you here, I should have aimed for a meatier role with more screentime! This tiny role won’t be enough for me to absorb your auspicious energy!”
Jing Li: “……”
You really don’t need to go that far.
“But it’s alright, even if we don’t get to spend much time together, we can exchange contact details. Ah yes, we can add each other on WeChat too.”
Saying this, Hu Li whipped out his phone and swiftly pulled up the WeChat QR code, holding it before Jing Li.
Jing Li: “……”
This was the first time he had encountered someone…a demon spirit with such a personality. For a moment, he was at a loss on how to respond.
Fortunately, Wang Lele noticed the situation and walked over, curious. “What are you doing here? Making new frien…” His words trailed off as he glanced at the person beside Jing Li and froze. “Hu Li?”
“Hey there.” Hu Li looked up at Wang Lele, his eyes instantly brightening. “Lele?! Are you friends with Jin…Jing Li too? Perfect, once Jing Li and I add each other, the three of us can hang out together.”
Jing Li: “……”
I never agreed to that, yet you’re already making decisions.
Jing Li gave him an exasperated look, then turned to Wang Lele. “You know him?”
“Yeah.” Wang Lele smiled, then admitted sheepishly, “I ran into some trouble before, and he and Teacher Fu Yan helped me out of that mess.”
Ah, the incident at Xingyao Entertainment.
Previously, Jing Li had his assistant investigate Wang Lele’s past and learned about the unpleasant experiences he had faced at Xingyao, as well as how Qian Jianan had deliberately suppressed him, forcing him to terminate his contract and sign with his current company, taking on continuous projects to pay off the exorbitant termination fees.
It was for this reason that Jing Li had someone trace Qian Jianan’s past crimes.
However, for this fox spirit to lend a hand to a human during such a difficult time showed his character wasn’t too bad. Perhaps probing him for information about demonic presences in the entertainment industry could provide a breakthrough.
Before Jing Li could finish that thought, Hu Li was already impatiently holding his phone before him again, urging, “Come on, let’s add each other first, then we can chat.”
Jing Li: “……”
Unable to deflect Hu Li’s fiery personality, Jing Li could only silently take out his phone, scan the code, and add him as a friend.
“Alright, now that we’re friends, you can come to me with any questions. I guarantee I’ll tell you everything I know.” Hu Li confidently thumped his chest.
Jing Li smiled faintly.
He did have many questions he wanted to ask, but not right now. Although he found this fox spirit’s character trustworthy, he wasn’t so naive as to reveal his background to a demon he had just met.
Jing Li decided to observe him for a few more days.
While they were conversing, the first scene had finished filming. Fu Yan’s acting was indeed highly skilled, nailing it in one take.
The director was now beaming with praise over the recorded scene.
The entire crew was brimming with the excitement of an auspicious start.
“Tsk, sometimes I just don’t understand their thought process at all,” Hu Li muttered under his breath. The next second, he was dashing towards the director, smiling broadly as he showered them with congratulations.
An onslaught of flattery poured out seamlessly, not a single redundant word. Even Jing Li and the others around him were left in awe.
“That’s just his brash, talkative personality. But he’s not a bad guy,” Wang Lele laughed, unusually putting in a good word for Hu Li before Jing Li.
Jing Li smiled faintly, staying silent, though the wariness in his eyes dissipated a little.
*
After the opening ceremony, official filming commenced.
This time, the crew’s location was within the film and television city. It was a specially built film and television shooting base, so the accommodation was excellent. Since the cast were all famous celebrities, to minimize disruptions from fans and other unnecessary troubles, the crew booked an entire five-star hotel as their resting quarters.
As an investor in this production, Jing Li didn’t hold back and paid extra for a suite, bringing his assistant along.
The suite’s facilities and decor were very nice, so there was no need for a full interior overhaul, including wallpaper replacement, like before. Just changing the furniture and carpets was sufficient.
“Er Shao, we’re all set up,” his assistant emerged from the master bedroom. “Would you like to rest for a bit now?”
“Your first scene is scheduled for tomorrow morning’s second take. You’re free for the rest of today to make your own arrangements.”
“No need,” Jing Li set down the script, looking up at him. “I heard there’s a famous snack street around here and a Fuji bakery that’s quite good?”
With his first scene not until tomorrow morning and nothing else scheduled, this was a good opportunity to go out for a bit before the busy schedules kicked in later.
“…The Xingfu Alley snacks are quite famous, but the crowds there are huge too. If you plan to go, it’s best to disguise yourself well,” his assistant clearly understood Jing Li’s tendencies and wasn’t surprised by his suggestion.
But things were different now. While not at A-list celebrity levels, the Second Young Master had gained some fame now, so going out required a disguise to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Jing Li naturally understood this reasoning and didn’t object to his assistant’s proposal. After getting a couple of outfits ready, with the bodyguard’s help, they disguised themselves and slipped out.
They had the driver drop them off at the entrance to the snack street, then pulled their caps low and exited the car.
As the assistant had said, the crowd at the snack street was indeed massive. They had barely reached the entrance when the cacophony of sounds assailed them. Waves of bustling crowds everywhere they looked.
The stalls lining both sides of the street were equally lively. Even before dinner time, there were already crowds queued up before each stall, some with extremely long lines.
The aroma of various foods wafted through the air, the mingled scents instantly tantalizing their taste buds. Despite not feeling particularly hungry, their stomachs started rumbling in protest, their mouths watering involuntarily.
Jing Li and his assistant strolled along, eyeing the colorful array of snacks on display, feeling tempted by each one beckoning to them.
By the time they exited the snack street, both of them were carrying bags filled with goodies.
“It’s been so long since I last visited a snack street like this. The aromas alone are enough to make me greedy,” the assistant remarked with a smile.
“You used to go often?” Jing Li smiled back at him.
“Yeah, when I was in university, there was a similar snack street nearby. Before school was over every day, I would be so attracted by the aroma wafting from the street that I would rush down after class.” Reminiscing about his college days, the assistant’s face broke into a nostalgic grin. it was obvious that he missed that time very much.
The original Jing Li had been studying abroad before, so he had never experienced this feeling. However, just imagining the scene described by the assistant felt particularly interesting, causing Jing Li to also smile longingly.
The two of them were talking and laughing when Jing Li suddenly felt as if someone was staring at him from behind. The gaze was direct and eerie, which made him feel really uncomfortable.
Frowning, Jing Li stopped and turned to look back, but all he saw were dense crowds, everyone preoccupied with choosing snacks. No one seemed to notice him, and that cold, sinister gaze had vanished too.
Scanning his surroundings carefully, Jing Li turned back around, only for that penetrating stare to pursue him relentlessly. After taking just a few more steps, the cloying gaze latched onto him again, even more brazen than before.
Pretending not to notice, Jing Li kept walking forward, then suddenly whipped his head around – this time, he caught a fleeting black shadow slipping through the crowd.
But it moved too swiftly for him to get a clear look before it disappeared without a trace.
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