3 three

Qiao Li led MiQian to the mansion while Huang Hua followed them quietly. When they entered, everyone began to whisper.

MiQian quickly found out that Qiao Li was one of the demon lords of the ghost realm and highly respected for his philosophical thoughts. And the woman who was his companion at this party? She had to be very pretty!

MiQian now also knew what was meant by dangerous beings: Demons and ghosts. But he liked it. They were lively and open and just having fun.

Qiao Li talked with many different people, Huang Hua was apparently in love with the buffet and MiQian gave everyone an indifferent smile because he was bored out of his mind. Yes, the people were friendly, but he didn't like parties. He'd always get lost on the sides, being close to invisible.

So when he had the opportunity, he fled outside. There weren't many people, just some couples that liked the moonlight.

He wandered a bit and found an artificial river with a small island that was connected through a white bridge. On the island was a stone on which three people could comfortably sit and beside it was a tree with branches that covered the stone like an umbrella a person. It was a very romantic view.

MiQian hesitated a bit, then walked over the bridge and sat down on the stone. He calmed his mind, a tranquil expression on his face. The water around the island began to move. Like snakes it began to wind itself up in spirals towards the moon above MiQian, creating strange patterns and transparent flowers. He was testing how much control he was allowed to have over the water.

He turned it into ice, freezing the water flower he had created. Afterwards, he slowly melted it, letting it drop back into the river.

Soon, every trace of the dancing water had disappeared.

MiQian raised his head.

Opposite of him, on the other end of the bridge, stood a young man. He wore wide, black pants that shimmered like metal in the moonlight and hid his feet and a simple white shirt. On the neck, one could see the ends of dark-red tattoos, and in his hand was a sword in a blue and golden sheath with white on the grip and a dark-red tassel.

The hair of this man was dark brown and bound into a high ponytail with a lot of longer strands hanging into his face, making it look longer and more Japanese than Chinese. The eyebrows were only two dots in the middle of his forehead and his narrow eyes seemed somehow angry. He reminded MiQian of a tiger. And he was the one that had stepped on the tigers tail. How? How would he know?!

The man stared him down, but even though MiQian felt really uncomfortable, he stared back. He felt like he had already been in worse situations.

The man unsheathed his sword and pointed it at MiQian.

„May I ask how I offended you to deserve such a treatment?" MiQian asked with raised eyebrows. Had that man seen his cultivation experiments? That man was obviously a very strong ghost or something in that direction…

Suddenly, the system blurted „Congratulations! Mission one succeeded! You've met the protagonist!"

Oh shit!

MiQian had difficulties upholding his indifferent look. That tiger was the protagonist? Really?

But in the next moment, another guy appeared.

Another one!

That man had silky black hair that flowed like water, a black outer robe over the layers of white that covered him. His face was gentle, his brows straight and dark, his skin like jade and the smile his thin lips wore was dazzling.

The notification apparently came when that guy appeared… So was he the protagonist? Maybe there were two??

How would he know?!

MiQian stared at the man that stood in front of him like he was protecting him.

„Young lady, you should go now. This might get unsightly."

„That woman has the powers of a goddess, what does she think she's doing in a town occupied by demons?!" The tiger spat.

The man that was like the moon smiled gently. „Maybe she didn't know?"

MiQian stared at the moon guy. How could he not notice that this was a demon town, he wasn't dumb or delusional. Nor was he a mistress in distress!

„As if." The tiger sneered.

„Uh, may I go now…?"

„Hurry." The moon guy kindly urged him.

He stood up and carefully retreated to the edge of the island, then turned around, jumped over the river and hid behind the next best wall of the large garden. Then he peaked through one of the very big, round holes in the wall that was probably supposed to be a window.

The tiger and the moon guy stared at each other.

„LaoHu Jun, I really didn't expect to meet you here. How is the extermination of the gods going?" The moon guy smiled. It was obvious that he stood on the other side of that tiger.

The tiger sneered. „Liang Shao, the demon hunter, you only found my town after a stupid human appeared here. Did you get weaker or what?"

„Ah, you really are the tiger king, as aggressive as always…"

„You're taking this too easy. Don't you know who's here?" The tiger frowned.

„No, tell me."

A person emerged from the shadows. It was Qiao Li.

The moon guy - the system kindly attached his name to him - frowned, still smiling.

„Qiao Li?"

„Correct. Liang Shao, I thought I told you not to mess with us."

„You have to apologize my behavior, but LaoHu Jun is being held responsible for massacring a whole town last month." So he thinks he has no choice?

MiQian really wondered what the deal with these three was.

Qiao Li, a Philosoph with a tsundere character.

That LuoHu Jun was an aggressive tiger.

And then Liang Shao, a demon hunter?

And didn't they say that the tiger was hunting gods…?

Hey, wasn't somebody missing?

Just as MiQian thought that, Fei Mo also joined the fight or whatever this was at this point.

„Gentlemen, please calm down. I don't want to loose my hotel." A materialist.

MiQian started wondering if he should cry or laugh, good that he wasn't at the island anymore.

Qiao Li and the demon king stood on one side, Fei Mo and the moon guy on the other.

Quick, think, on which side are you? Human or demon?

„Qiao Li, do you know a good place to fight?" Asked Fei Mo.

„How about that field?"

„Ah, that one? You sure?"

„Yeah, it's alright. I don't wanna destroy your hotel, since I'm staying there…"

„Thank you. For a moment there, I was worried about or friendship."

„Ah, you really are horrible. I'm a demon, not an asshole. Hey, how about a drink?"

„Sure."

With that, the two friends just left.

The tiger and the moon stared after them. Then they looked at each other.

„Which field was he talking about?" Liang Shao asked.

„Field of the sun and moon." LaoHu Jun grunted. He didn't seem too happy about this development.

„Ah…" Liang Shao looked up to the moon, then left as swiftly as he had come with the words „I'll be waiting."

MiQian had unconsciously left his hiding spot. When he noticed, his head immediately turned to the demon king, who was staring fiercely at him. In the next second, LaoHu Jun stood right in front of him.

„You're still here."

A shiver went down MiQians spine. Those eyes… Like a tiger.Dangerous and incredibly beautiful.

„Hm… You really aren't a god, but you're able to use the divine technique… I should keep you."

„Excuse me??"

„What? Am I not good enough for you?"

„Are you stupid?" MiQian blurted out. Since he had already said what he thought, he would just continue. „It has nothing to do with good or not, but it would basically be kidnapping!"

„And?"

Is this the time where you would kidnap the pregnant wife of your own son or what?! MiQian didn't hide the contempt that had swelled up in him at all.

„Aren't you gonna be late to the duel?"

LaoHu Jun snapped out of his rage with an „Oh, right. I'll kill you later!" and left.

MiQian would have loved to shout „Why is everyone leaving just like that?! What's up with today, is my luck in the negative or what!?!" But he didn't. He just swallowed his anger and started searching for Huang Hua. He wanted to leave and go back to his room in the hotel. How could one evening end up being so frustrating?

He found Huang Hua, left with her and meditated in his room while she was taking a bath. Later he would ask Fei Mo to accept her as worker in the hotel.

While meditating he looked at his stats. He really had negative luck! It didn't tell him how much, just that he had it. It couldn't be too bad, considering he hadn't been pulled into the fight. Wait, no, the woman's clothes increased his luck stat. How shameful.

But remembering that he had originally been a woman, at least in his past life, he thought it wasn't too bad. It could have been really worse.

He organized his thoughts. There were four very good looking men around him, of which two were taboo because he wanted them to be a couple, or at least have a bromance. One of those could be considered his best friend, the other one… his master? Yes, those were good roles.

Ok, onto the other two.

LaoHu Jun, a tiger demon and demon king, with an animalistic character and a carefree attitude, if you wanted to describe him that way. But MiQian didn't know how long he would be able to put up with that arrogant attitude and the biting remarks that should also be somewhere in that character. Also, that guy wanted to kill him! And he was famous for hunting gods… Truly terrifying!

Liang Shao was the best option. He hunted demons, was apparently kind and gentle and very good looking. Who wouldn't want him? Wait, maybe he was a stallion novel protagonist… Every woman he would encounter would want to **** him! It would be a dirty harem spectacle, especially since Liang Shao didn't seem to refuse any woman that was of a good nature with a somehow good looking face and body!

And he still didn't know his own role…

Qiao Li and Fei Mo could be masters, the other two their students with an active rivalry. It would make sense.

But where could he get conformation…

He thought about the system. It said this was a novel, but it felt more like taking over the rpg character of a friend who had stopped playing after creating a great support character for years. And that skill tree reminded him of some very good games… Ah, how he would have loved to watch the let's plays again! Or listen to his beloved music…

But now that he thought about it, the system didn't give points. At least, there was no notification. Was there a way to activate them? No, he rather not… They would only annoy the crap out of him.

The system also didn't try to correct his behavior. Was everything alright or was the system just silently sulking over his bad acting skills? He really didn't know. Hell, he didn't even know the plot line of this novel! Just what was he supposed to do?!

„Young master, I'm done…" Huang Hua peaked at him.

„Ah."

He looked blankly at her. Cleaned up, she was really pretty. Like a flower.

„Give me your hand."

„O-okay…"

He put their hands together and began channeling spiritual energy through their bodies. He evenly shared it, doing his best to help the young girl gain at least a bit of strength. He was worried that she might be tossed to the side as insignificant character. If that would really happen, she should at least survive.

„Young master, you're really kind…"

„Really?"

Huang Hua nodded, which caused MiQian to smile.

He thought, even if he turned into the villain of this story, this girl would still be at his side, holding his hand and saying that he could do it. Her belief wouldn't waver, her heart would continue to beat and her mind would still dream of a better world.

„Body in the abyss, heart in paradise." MiQian recited from one of his favorite novels.

Huang Hua smiled back. „As long as the heart is in paradise, we will be alright."

The warm feeling in MiQians chest grew bigger. With her at his side, he wouldn't feel too lonely in this unknown world. With her, he had hope.