The Portal of Wonderland

Half an hour after leaving the residence, Shi Mu found himself just outside the courtyard where this particular gang of demons dwelled.

“Shi Tou, why are you here?” Cai had been dispatched to act as surveillance on a particular Snake Demon male, but as soon as it saw Shi Mu, it flew and perched on his shoulder.

Shi Mu did not hide his recent development from Cai, and told all the details about Leng Yue Tong.

“Who would’ve known a secret technique like that exists! If it comes down to this, I recommend that you do what you came here to do right now, ’cause these demons talked about returning to Heaven Ascension Peak and I can’t tell when exactly they’re planning to return.”

“Has Qing Cang leave this place today?”

“He visited the Millennial Gold Store today, probably to purchase some charms, but he didn’t seem to have found whatever he wanted, either, ’cause he returned much sooner than expected.”

“Alright then, we’ll see what happens tomorrow.”

Early the next day…

A male demon wearing a grey robe left his residence and headed toward the commercial area of Red Flame City. Named Qing Cang, he was an Early Xian Tian-rank Demon Snake male from the Earth Serpent Tribe.

He was here in Red Flame City on an important mission: to purchase enough resources within a fixed period and return home exactly as stipulated. The deadline advanced closer and closer with each passing day but he couldn’t locate one particular batch of desired charms. He was starting to get a little upset.

Granted, charms above mid-rank were rare even in a metropolis like Red Flame City. One would have better luck finding them further east in cities where more humans and barbarians dwelled.

Qing Cang cursed below his breath. These humans and barbarians never made a good impression on him. The only reason he took this job was the reward, otherwise he would not have set his foot in places where those species live.

As these thoughts bubbled in his head, he continued his journey until he finally reached one of the more bustling streets in Red Flame City.

Qing Cang turned his attention to one of the larger markets. He heard from the locals that charms were sold here before, so he strutted towards it.

Fifteen minutes later, he walked out. The grey cloak he donned shielded his a grimace of frustration from prying eyes. The trip to this particular market had not been fruitful after all.

He took out a map of Red Flame City and scanned it for a while. Storing it quickly, he turned to a new direction.

Half a day later, Qing Cang walked out from a medium-sized shop, disappointed once again.

He had been busy for a whole day, with nothing to show for his time spent. He managed to purchase only a few low-rank charms, yet he couldn’t even find a single trace of the mid-rank charm that his people sought.

Should he fail in his mission, Qing Cang knew he would have to kiss those handsome rewards goodbye.

“You’ve got the devil’s luck, Shi Tou, getting these charms at such a low, low price!” A voice suddenly rang close by and was immediately picked up by Qing Cang.

Since these charms had been on Qing Cang’s mind for these few days, the man had become uber sensitive to the word itself; Just the mention of “charms” immediately made him turn to the source of the voice, his face dazed.

On a street not far from where he was, a young adult human male had just passed by, though the one he heard talking was actually a multi-colored parrot perching on the man’s shoulder.

“Hahaha, just a lucky catch. That poor sod was so desperately in need of Spirit Stones, he had no choice but to sell them cheaply. Now that I have twenty-odd mid-rank charms, I’m gonna have a blast in the Hundred-Thousand Volcanoes,” the human replied. The parrot nodded.

As they chatted, they passed Qing Cang to cross over to the opposite junction.

Qing Cang’s mind raced. He swallowed his innate hatred for humankind and hurried towards them. “Excuse me, please wait a moment… Friend.”

“Yes, sir?” The young adult human stopped and turned. Seeing that it was a male of the demon race, the human’s eyes were suddenly mired with wariness.

“Hey hey, no need to worry, sir. I overheard your conversation with this… individual about charms just now, and there’s something I would like to ask you.” An unnatural smile slowly creased on Qing Cang’s unsightly face.

“Overheard? You were eavesdropping on us?” The human’s expression darkened.

“I passed by, and my ears picked up your words, see? This lowly one has no malignant intentions,” Qing Cang replied. Gritting his teeth, he produced a Water Attribute Mid-rank Spirit Stone and shoved it into the human’s hand.

The wariness in the human’s face vanished as he tucked away the Spirit Stone quietly. Now he was smiling at Qing Cang, his voice much friendlier as he said, “Ho ho, I guess that can’t be helped, huh. So what is it that you want to know?”

“This lowly one had overheard that you, sir, just bought some mid-rank charms from somewhere, and I would love to know where that is. You see, this lowly one is desperately in need of some charms, but the selection in Red Flame City doesn’t seem to stock what I seek,” Qing Cang explained, his eyes sizing up Shi Mu.

“Oh, uh, I bought them from a pretty well-acquainted friend of mine. He makes charms, including mid-rank charms. But I’m not sure if he still has any left,” the young adult human replied casually.

“So, where does this particular charm master stay? This lowly one would greatly appreciate if you, sir, could show the way,” Qing Cang said. After clenching his teeth again, he took out another mid-rank Spirit Stone and handed it to the young human.

The human was initially a little hesitant, but the second Spirit Stone cleared his doubts.

“Haha, it’s not that big of a deal. Come with me, sir.” With a knowing chuckle, the human turned and walked in the direction he came from.

Qing Cang breathed a sigh of relief. He watched the back of the human and licked his lips before hurriedly following.

The duo—one walking in front while the other followed—passed through street after street until they reached a secluded area. On the way, the two engaged in idle chatter about topics that were not memorable.

Qing Cang scanned the surroundings before landing his gaze on the back of the human, his eyes belying his misgivings.

“Sect Fellow Shi, it appears that your charm master friend lives in quite a quiet area,” Qing Cang hurried forward to catch up with the human’s footsteps as he asked.

“Yea, he’s a pretty eccentric fellow who may be a bit agoraphobic. He says he needs a quiet place to focus on his charm-making, which is why he picked such a secluded area to stay. Oh there it is, not far from here,” the young man smiled as he answered, pointing toward a grey residence in thendistance.

Qing Cang nodded, and the flash of suspicion in his eyes dissipated.

They approached the door—which the human had not even bothered to knock—and pushed it open, entering the area immediately.

Qing Cang’s eyes quickly skimmed through a few other similar houses in the neighborhood before following him.

Suddenly, the scene before him warped. He was not in anyone’s dwelling place at all. Instead, waiting for him was a sea of scarlet lights surrounding him from everywhere before they turned int0 a sea of flames coming from all sides as the fire clawed itself towards him.

“N-no, it’s a spell formation! You despicable human—I’ll kill you for this!”

Qing Cang’s expression turned stormy as he gave a loud cry. An aura of black light exploded from his body and ripped his robe off before forming a protective shield that covered him from head to toe.

At the same time, rows and rows of black scales surfaced on his skin.

His scales had barely materialized when a fist—wearing a crimson glove—swung itself from the side at Qing Cang’s protective barrier.

Bang!

His protective barrier was like paper against the attack, and shattered immediately.

The crimson fist pierced Qing Cang’s back and came out from his chest, the Demon Snake’s scales’ protective ability seemingly nonexistent.

Qing Cang’s heart had been directly smashed by that fist. He spat out a mouthful of blood as incredulity filled his eyes and signs of life in his body rapidly left him.

He forcefully turned his head, trying to see who that assailant was.

It was the same young adult human standing behind him, deadpanned.

Qing Cang gave a look of pure malice, although the lights in his eyes did not stay long before they darkened forever.

Shi Mu pulled his arm out a little and his target’s body slumped limply onto the floor. He waved, and a shabby-looking storage ring flew out of Qing Cang’s hand before landing on Shi Mu’s.

Just then, a streak of black light shone out of the body and gradually elongated until it assumed the form of large, black python about two or three yards long.

A glint flashed in Shi Mu’s eyes as he kept away Qing Cang’s storage ring. Flames erupted from his hand to clear away the blood.

He waved and the fire formation dissipated, returning the scene back to the courtyard they had entered, although the outermost red barrier remained.

In the yard stood Leng Yue Tong, Hou Sai Lei and Yu Yi. It was in fact Yu Yi’s residence.

“Impressive, Brother Shi. A Xian Tian Demon Snake was no match for you,” Leng Yue Tong exclaimed as she eyed the body on the floor.

“There’s no need for compliments. Let’s get to business.” Shi Mu took out a golden dagger and stabbed it through the black python’s body, retrieving a black Demon Pill before handing it to Leng Yue Tong.

She took the Demon Pill and drew it closer to her eyes as she examined it, then turned to the room behind her. “Follow me, Brother Shi. I’ll cast the spell over there.”

“You too. There’s not much time left, so I need you to disguise me to look exactly like that Demon Snake just now,” Shi Mu said as he turned to Hou Sai Lei.

Hou Sai Lei gave an “okay” and followed.

“This Demon Snake’s body has served its purpose. Get rid of it, and make sure you don’t leave any trace,” Shi Mu turned to Yu Yi and ordered after thinking for a while.

“Got it.”

Shi Mu and the others entered the room. An hour or so passed as dusk fell, and only then did the door open once more.

A black figure walked out first—he had the torso of a man, but the head of a snake. On his arms, black scales covered every inch of his skin as a thick demonic scent radiated from him that was not unlike the murdered Qing Cang. Of course, it was none other than Shi Mu in disguise.

Both Leng Yue Tong and Hou Sai Lei stepped out from the door. Leng Yue Tong in particular looked a little worn out. Perhaps the secret technique had taken a toll on her.

“So, how is it?” Shi Mu asked the approaching Yu Yi. Even his voice was the same as Qing Cang’s.

“Flawless… at least to me,” Yu Yi replied after examining Shi Mu’s new look.

“Good.” Shi Mu nodded and took out a grey robe—it was the same one Qing Cang had donned before.

“Miss Leng, I thank you very much for your help. Please wait here for a while. My work will take seven or eight months at least, and a year at most. Should this lowly one accomplish his goal, he would not forget to return to help you on your case,” Shi Mu said.

“No problem, this little girl has complete faith in you, Brother Shi,” Leng Yue Tong replied. “Heaven Ascension Peak is a place fraught with danger though, so please be extra careful.”

He nodded before turning to Yu Yi and Hou Sai Lei. “The two of you have been hard at work for these past few days too. Take a break around here while you wait for my news.”

“Understood,” the two replied simultaneously.

Shi Mu nodded again and turned toward the door as he walked into the distance.

Leng Yue Tong was in a daze, watching his back as his figure slowly melted into the darkness of the night.