Chapter 93: Misunderstood Him

This was a banquet with hidden intentions.

Yet no one had expected the host to be the shopkeeper herself, that fresh and lovely young woman.

A few great demon clans were discussing candidates for the inn’s attendant position, only to have the shopkeeper forcibly insert one of her own people into the roster.

Everyone understood at once: this move of hers was simply meant to let her own side take part as well.

Only, that one of hers was a pitiful little demon with almost no power at all.

To add a creature like that would only be to hand over a round of experience.

So no one pressed the matter further, merely giving the shopkeeper face.

“Ladies and gentlemen, are the dishes not to your liking?”

The pale, lotus-like beauty pointed somewhat apologetically at the food on the table.

“No, they’re very good…”

The boar demon was a glutton; although he felt he had been tricked, when it came to food, he still cared.

“Then I’m afraid I’ve not served you well this time. Next time, I’ll cook personally and set a table for everyone. How about that?”

The white-lotus beauty smiled as if in a dream, gentle and soft.

She was, in effect, showing them the door.

As she spoke, she went to open it for them.

Her movements were tender and considerate, making one unable to help but sigh that she was truly a virtuous and kind woman.

Even Li Changluo was dazzled by her manner.

She was actually escorting people out with such impeccable courtesy.

It was like a wife seeing off a husband returning home drunk from a night out, speaking with the utmost reasonableness and tenderness: please get out, dear, and do remember your coat.

Yes, very thoughtful.

“Oh dear, why are there two people tied up outside?”

The instant the door opened, the white-lotus beauty looked out in surprise. Then she hurried to the black boy’s side, gently touched his face with evident concern, and asked sorrowfully, “Are you all right?”

Li Changluo’s face went pale.

The thief crying thief.

Clearly, you were the one who tied them up.

Stop acting, all right? We’re all adults here.

The white-lotus beauty gave the little elementary-schooler a glance. He understood immediately, flicked a finger, and sent out a streak of yellow light.

At once, the two ropes binding the black boy and Little Green were touched by the yellow glow, snapped into several pieces, and then the broken cords began to creep as though they were alive.

Crawling and crawling, they wriggled into the little student’s backpack.

“Let me explain. My backpack can subdue demons. You’ve seen Journey to the West, right? Even the umbrella of the Four Heavenly Kings can collect monsters. Anyway, these ropes are absolutely not mine…”

The accountant, Little Student, tried to give Li Changluo, who was staring at him in confusion, a reasonable explanation.

These damn ropes are not mine.

And these damn people are not ones I kidnapped.

But the more he tried to explain, the more suspicious it sounded.

“No wonder. Impressive. Mr. Lin truly has advanced his demonic power, to possess such a formidable treasure. Admirable, admirable.”

Li Changluo could never have imagined that someone would actually endorse such a shoddy excuse.

Have you never received a text message about a low IQ top-up?

The scholar demon cupped his hands and praised the little student. After that, he bowed to the monsters in the guest room, then turned and left.

The other demons also said nothing further about the matter and departed one after another.

Only Young Master Long Qi walked up to Li Changluo, then deliberately slowed his steps, and in a voice only the two of them could hear, said coldly:

“If you want to live, don’t get involved.”

With that, he swept his sleeve and left.

Li Changluo was left utterly baffled.

“Little snake, are you feeling better?”

The white-lotus beauty went to Little Green, gently removed the cloth from her mouth, and kneaded her hands with a look of deep concern.

Little Green burst into tears at once.

“Oh, there, there. It’s all right now.”

Like a considerate older sister, the white-lotus beauty held Little Green and comforted her as she sobbed uncontrollably.

That silly, sweet snake spirit had instantly become the young lady’s devoted little fan.

“Could you stop acting, please? I’m begging you.”

Li Changluo could not hold back anymore. This whole performance had been arranged by the white-lotus beauty in front of him, and yet now she was still putting on that expression—

You poor things...

I feel so sorry for you...

I’ve been helping you all along...

Touched yet?

He could not endure it at all.

“Li, how can you treat our benefactor like that? You’re just like a man who repays kindness with cruelty.”

The black boy was very disappointed in Li Changluo’s behavior. How could he slander such a gentle young lady?

“Don’t be like that. I know you’re friends. Don’t hurt your friendship because of me. I’d feel very guilty.”

“Before the matter is made clear, he may misunderstand me. I don’t mind being misunderstood…”

The white-lotus beauty looked somewhat wronged, yet still smiled as she advised Li Changluo and the black boy.

So thoughtful. So gentle.

“I apologize on behalf of my friend. He shouldn’t have misunderstood you. He’s the kind of fellow whose heart is straight but whose mouth isn’t.”

The black boy forced a smile and explained to the white-lotus beauty. After all, they could not let this gentle young lady have her heart broken by Li Changluo, that beast.

The white-lotus beauty pressed her lips together and smiled, so dazzling that she could charm all living beings. The black boy was stunned, utterly entranced.

“I meant you. You were the one who misunderstood him.”

The white-lotus beauty rose onto her toes, looked down the corridor to make sure there was no one left in sight, then pointed at the black boy and gave a soft smile.

“What?”

The black boy was full of question marks.

What did this have to do with anything?

Could it be...

“That’s right. The two of you were tied up by me. He guessed correctly. You were the one who misunderstood your friend.”

The white-lotus beauty pointed at Li Changluo and covered her mouth with a laugh.

“From the very beginning, I was the one who lured you here, then threatened your friend so that you would give in and take part in the tavern trial.”

“Sister, I know you’re saying that just to clear up the misunderstanding between the two of them. Right?”

That dim-witted snake spirit, hearing the white-lotus beauty admit the truth herself, still refused to believe that this gentle, understanding older sister had actually kidnapped them.

She and the black boy hadn’t even seen the villain’s face clearly. One moment everything had gone black, and then they’d been tied up here.

“You know, why go to all that trouble? This is a sweet deal. Even if you didn’t say it, I’d have been willing to try.”

Li Changluo replied with a grin.

What else could he say?

Now that the other side had laid all their cards on the table and stopped pretending, it only meant they had everything under control.

If he went to resist now, he might as well quietly let the villain have their way.

Living as a coward took less effort.

“You will leave one person behind as a hostage.”

The white-lotus beauty smiled charmingly and glanced at Little Student.

Little Student instantly understood the shopkeeper’s meaning. Pushing up his glasses, he swept both hands outward, and the backpack behind him suddenly burst open, pouring out countless ropes.

In the blink of an eye, the three of them were bound up like dumplings and could not move.

...

I already agreed to it, and you still make it this exciting?

Is this supposed to be a show of force?

Li Changluo was stunned.

One disagreement and they just start kidnapping people.

The key thing was...

I was especially willing!