28 Thump. Thump. Thump.

"What dare?"

Of all things Chu Changying decided to ask about that, it was the dumb dare. Perhaps it was because she heard mention of Sikong Ren and instantly decided to focus on what was related to him.

Zhang Wang rolled his eyes, of course that part of his story had been completely true! "Don't tell me you don't remember! Renren dared me to infiltrate the Palace of Sins by myself."

"Huh? How could he dare you such a stupid and dangerous thing!"

It might have been both stupid and dangerous, but Zhang Wang really did go and do it. To prove his worth as a man. Or something. "It's true! Maybe you just don't remember because you were drunk off your ass."

"What!?" Chu Changying bristled. She had a lot of apprehension over this weird Bai Hu character and though Zhang Wang claimed that this was his lover, Chu Changying did not appreciate him saying such crass things about her in front of a stranger! Where were his manners or sensibility? "Take that back!"

"How am I supposed to take that back when it's true?" Zhang Wang hummed playfully.

Exasperated, she turned her attention to the man who had been sitting there quietly the entire time, "You!"

"Yes," the way he answered was gentle, but almost a little chilled.

Chu Changying chalked it up to jealousy and continued, "What is it that you even like about this good-for-nothing?"

Zhang Wang was instantly alarmed, remembering that the demon king was terrible at lies. He laughed and pressed himself flush against the demon's body, trying to steal away his attention, "Don't you like me for my looks? Or my shining personality, obviously! Say something nice. But I know the truth, my Huhu, you know like my big fat cock!"

Yu Yanlin hummed and bluntly responded with, "Yes, I do."

Chu Changying shrieked in horror, completely scandalized.

And okay, maybe Zhang Wang was having a bit too much fun but at least he avoided any crises.

The night continued without much trouble. Zhang Wang waited until he heard Chu Changying's breathing even out. He was snuggled close to Yu Yanlin, while annoying at first, was at least quite warm and comfortable to sleep against. The problem was maintaining an impeccable disguise.

In general, Zhang Wang was a person with very thick skin and did not mind being shameless, but he was still a bit awkward with this demon king.

He acquainted the issue with the after that he couldn't get a good read on the guy's personality and character.

After all, weren't there just too many things that didn't make sense about this person!?

Zhang Wang could spend hours trying to reason with himself about Yu Yanlin's personality only to constantly draw on a blank. He was well-spoken and honest. Docile and obedient. How could Zhang Wang believe this was the same Cruel White King? Maybe he was simply a doppelganger, or it was all just an act so that he could catch Zhang Wang off guard.

The thought made him squirm.

And yet there were still moments where Yu Yanlin's eyes were hard and cold. Without hesitation and unflappable in the face of injustice. Wasn't that just a trait of all demons though? Zhang Wang wasn't even sure anymore.

Either way, he still had to make sure not to forget about the whole body fluid exchange bullshit that his system thought was cute.

So he shuffled and turned around in Yu Yanlin's arms and lamented that he couldn't see the demon's face in full. Perhaps Chu Changying should have pointed out how strange it was for someone to sleep with blindfolds on but she was probably still too busy flailing around in anger.

He stared at those lips and sighed to himself. It was a bit awkward to ask for a blowjob when his Shijie was right there sleeping next to them. Kissing will have to do for now. And thus he leaned in and captured those lips with his own.

Yu Yanlin was either sleeping only lightly or not asleep at all and kissed back passionately.

A low groan escaped Zhang Wang's throat, and he pressed back with vigor. Their tongues wrestled, creating wet sounds that echoed around them.

Chu Changying was pretending to be asleep, waiting to see if the two supposed lovers were going to separate when she wasn't looking.

Alas, she'd made a terrible mistake and instead was kept awake with loud sounds of kissing that reminded her of desperate teenagers just barely coming to age. Chu Changying really, really, wanted to scream.

…

They woke before dawn could break. The sky was a medium shade of blue, awash with twilight.

The ground was humming with tremors. Thump. Thump. Thump.

Little bits of rock fell from above them and fell onto Zhang Wang's cheeks like tiny needles. He grumbled, shook his head only to freeze when he realized that the ground was shaking beneath him.

Jolting up, he saw that Yu Yanlin was already standing, his unseeing eyes pointed northward where they were due to travel, but also where the rumbling was louder and more violent.

Chu Changying jolted up from her spot instantly, "We have to go," she said in a rush and began walking toward the end where the tremors were coming from.

"We need to go away from danger, not towards it!" Zhang Wang called and began to jog up to her to pull her back.

But Yu Yanlin interjected as well, "No, either way will be dangerous."

"What?" Zhang Wang didn't have time to fully articulate his question before there was an eagle's cry tearing through the air. It didn't alarm him nearly as much as the trembling ground which was why he was utterly confused when Chu Changying jumped at the sudden noise.

"Hurry, we have to go!" Chu Changying was impatient and started breaking out into a sprint.

Before Zhang Wang had the chance to protest further, his wrist was encircled by Yu Yanlin's large hand, "Let's go." And the demon king was pulling him along too!

Still groggy, Zhang Wang found himself overcome with annoyance. Why the heck did these idiots seem so sure and confident in their actions? Though he didn't get the opportunity to be confused for long, as there was soon a rain of arrows that fell down from the sky.

"What the heck is that!?" He shouted as the earth continued the shake. The rocks that tumbled downward became larger and larger. The slammed against the ground, stirring up dusty debris.

"It's her!" Chu Changying hissed through clenched teeth as she continued to run, "That little bitch!"

It didn't take a genius to guess this was probably the assassin that chased Chu Changying around. The arrows were numerous and fell upon them like a raining army siege rather than the work of a single bowman. And worse, when they hit the ground, they would explode with a bright light and dense firepower. Even stone was blown to bits.

Zhang Wang cursed, shuffling his feet not only to avoid the damned arrows that came down upon them, but also the explosions that happened in their wake.

A surge of irritation overcame him. He did not want to be bested at the bow so easily!