I Have a Golden Crow

The two of them and their whole crowd of Demon Pets were happily eating breakfast; it was rare for Prince Du’s Mansion to feel this lively and cozy.

Mm... maybe it was because there was finally a lady of the house.

Just as Du Yu was enjoying this beautiful atmosphere, the Golden Leaf rolled up the phone and handed it to his side.

The moment he saw the phone, Du Yu’s heart sank.

He didn’t really have friends; once the phone rang, it was very likely a mission.

Du Yu took the phone, saw the name Fu Jianzhou, and immediately picked up: ”Senior Brother?”

”It actually went through.” On the other end, Fu Jianzhou muttered softly.

Du Yu: ”...”

Clearly, Fu Jianzhou hadn’t expected Du Yu to be able to answer the phone.

”Happy New Year, little junior.” Fu Jianzhou changed his tone and offered his greeting.

”New Year?” Du Yu froze for a second.

”You muddled through it?” Fu Jianzhou chuckled. ”Today’s January 1st.”

”Ah.” Du Yu patted his head.

Was it already the year 999?

Time flew so fast; next year would be the millennium.

He didn’t know if this millennium would be easy to cross...

Fu Jianzhou teased, ”Figured out how you’re going to spend it yet?”

Du Yu subconsciously glanced at the girl next to him, then shifted the topic: ”Senior Brother Fu, has your mission been completed?”

”Not yet, but I just need to leave one Rotten Wood body back at the Bureau. After I get off work tonight, I can still go home and keep my family company.”

Du Yu heard the implication in Senior Brother Fu’s words, and his heart eased.

He’d thought the Cold Tree was acting up again!

He asked, ”Senior Brother, are you coming back?”

”Yeah.” Fu Jianzhou explained, ”I just advanced to Demon Taming General·Peak Stage not long ago. I want to go back to the Sea Realm and further consolidate my cultivation realm.

Is that convenient, junior?”

”Of course, Senior Brother, you’re too polite.” Du Yu’s response was crisp and direct. ”Where are you?”

”At the Bureau, drinking tea with your Senior Brother Li Jing.”

Du Yu laughed. ”Axe-link, axe-send then?”

Fu Jianzhou paused for a moment before he understood what his little junior meant.

He also laughed, stood up, and looked out the window: ”Hold on a bit, junior, I’ll go clear the field.”

”Okay.” Du Yu turned on speaker mode, set the phone on the table, and said to the girl, ”Senior Brother Fu is coming.”

Lin Shiwei beckoned to the Golden Leaf: ”Bring his coat over.”

”Shasha~”

Du Yu glanced at the girl’s black silk nightdress, then kept his head down and continued eating his fried ham.

Now that he was already Demon Taming General·Great Success Stage, his appetite wasn’t that big.

Strictly speaking, Du Yu no longer needed to eat; the Energy contained in heaven and earth was enough to sustain his life.

But this meal had been personally made by Little Shiwei, and Du Yu really wanted to finish all of breakfast.

”Junior, all set!”

Hearing the voice on the phone, Du Yu turned slightly, casually picked up the Void Axe, and drew a diagonal slash behind him.

”Zzz...”

A few seconds later, a tall figure stepped out.

Fu Jianzhou’s expression stalled; clearly he hadn’t anticipated seeing such a scene.

Junior brother and junior sister were eating, with several Demon Pets circling around them; just the sight of this was happiness itself.

Maybe junior sister had known he was coming; she had a gray coat draped over her shoulders, obviously junior brother’s.

Fu Jianzhou spoke up at once: ”You two go enjoy the holiday. I won’t intrude; I’ll head to the Sea Realm.”

Lin Shiwei was generous and poised, inviting, ”Senior Brother, have you eaten breakfast yet?”

”Already ate...”

”Whoosh~” Bell Shadow flashed and vanished.

Fu Jianzhou was standing on a reef as he finished his sentence: ”...already.”

”Hehe~” Bai Lan’s laughter rang like silver bells, making Fu Jianzhou feel a bit embarrassed.

Meanwhile, back in the restaurant on the 16th floor, Lin Shiwei looked at Du Yu with a faintly reproachful expression. ”You could at least let Senior Brother finish his sentence.”

Du Yu stuffed bread into his mouth and mumbled, ”Senior Brother’s busy consolidating his realm, he’s in a rush.”

Before Shiwei could say anything else, Du Yu went on, ”Oh right, it’s a holiday today. Are you going back to keep Aunt Su company?”

Lin Shiwei rested her elbow on the table, cupped her cheek with one hand, watching Du Yu wolf down his food. ”I’m staying here with you.”

Du Yu snickered, ”You really are the type to forget your mom once you have a wife... huh?”

Why did that sound off somehow?

The smile in Lin Shiwei’s eyes grew richer.

She didn’t actually tease him, but instead said softly, ”Mom has Dad, and lots of Demon Pets keeping her company.”

”Buzz~ buzz~”

The phone on the table started vibrating again.

Du Yu’s heart sank. What you fear really does come; was there really a mission today?

He looked over and realized the caller was still Fu Jianzhou.

Du Yu: ???

Didn’t I just send you into the Sea Realm... oh, this must be the Rotten Wood Jianzhou at the Twenty-Ninth Bureau calling.

Du Yu directly hit speaker mode: ”Senior Brother?”

”Ahem, junior.” Fu Jianzhou sounded a bit embarrassed. ”Master Qing has ordered that you help me talk some sense into the Cold Lake Sword, get it to coexist peacefully with the Mountain Fire Saber.”

Du Yu: ”Me? Persuade the Cold Lake Sword?”

”Yes. Master Qing wants us to nip any potential problem in the bud.” Fu Jianzhou paused, then continued, ”Master Qing’s side has already been talked through.”

”Oh?” Du Yu was quite surprised. ”How did he talk it through?”

The Mountain Fire Saber had been raging like that; could it really be persuaded?

Fu Jianzhou: ”Master Qing said the Mountain Fire Saber has already agreed not to fight the Cold Lake Sword to the death, but the Mountain Fire Saber wants a bout—a match with the Cold Lake Sword to determine victory and defeat.”

Du Yu’s brows knit tightly.

They say it’s only to decide the winner, nothing to do with life and death. But at the Holy Soldier level, once they really start fighting, can they actually hold back?

Fu Jianzhou: ”If you have time, junior, come to the Sea Realm once. I’ll wait for you by the reef and we can hash it out together.”

”No need. Just wait for me at Shatang Mansion.” Du Yu said directly. ”I’ll come find you, and have a chat with Master Qing while I’m at it.”

”Yes.” Fu Jianzhou instinctively followed the order and responded.

Du Yu hung up and curled his lip. ”We give Senior Brother a Holy Soldier, and I still have to handle after-sales service.”

The problem is, I didn’t even ’sell’ it—purely gave it away for free!

”After all, the Cold Lake Sword recognizes you as its master.” Lin Shiwei stood up. ”I’ll go change.”

”Oh.”

”Don’t worry, it’ll listen to you.” Lin Shiwei patted Du Yu on the shoulder and walked out of the restaurant.

Du Yu turned his head, looking at the girl’s back: ”How do you know?”

Lin Shiwei only smiled without speaking, and quietly sighed in her heart.

All the living beings that acknowledge you and follow you—who among them doesn’t listen to you?

Taking advantage of the time while the girl went to change clothes, Du Yu finally finished his meal and recalled all the Demon Pets back into his body.

After asking the Golden Leaf to help clean up the table, Du Yu took Lin Shiwei and headed together to Sea Realm·Shatang Mansion.

It so happened that Master Qing was meditating under the tree, and beside her stood Fu Jianzhou quietly, as well as a Seven-Colored Crescent Fish slowly drifting about.

Little Sifang really liked the Shatang Tree, practically to the point of never leaving its side.

After all, both sides were Water and Wood Dual Attribute, an especially good match.

”Master Qing.”

”Master Qing.” The two stood before the Immortal Master, greeting her properly and respectfully.

”Mm.” Yang Qingqing lifted her eyelids, looking at the pair—a man and a woman.

Both Du Yu and Lin Shiwei were on one knee, so their master wouldn’t have to look up at them.

Yang Qingqing looked at Du Yu and said softly, ”Sword Province’s face still isn’t big enough. He couldn’t talk Cold Lake Sword into it. I need you to step in.”

Du Yu raised his head to look at Senior Brother Fu and blinked.

Fu Jianzhou: ”...”

So pissed~

Yet he couldn’t refute it.

Du Yu looked back at Master Qing: ”Master Qing wants to bring the two Holy Soldiers together for a spar?”

Yang Qingqing let out a soft sigh: ”I’ve already tried my best. You know what Mountain Fire Saber’s temperament is like—getting it to agree to stop at deciding the winner is already a huge compromise.”

Du Yu thought for a moment and said, ”Master Qing, if one side really does lose, what then?”

Yang Qingqing lightly furrowed her brows and did not respond.

In this world, not every ’Saint’ has the heart of an apprentice.

Once your cultivation realm reaches a certain level, anything touching on dignity and face becomes truly tricky.

What’s even trickier is that the two are mortal enemies, not just some ordinary opponents!

Du Yu suggested, ”Why don’t we redirect the conflict a bit?”

Yang Qingqing: ”Hm?”

Du Yu: ”Master Qing holds Mountain Fire Saber, Senior Brother Fu wields Cold Lake Sword, and the two of you fight.

We don’t let the saber and sword attack each other directly, but instead attack the people holding the weapons.

That way, even if one side loses, it’s us losing. At least for the saber and sword, it serves as a buffer.”

Yang Qingqing looked at Du Yu thoughtfully: ”It is quite a decent way to placate them.”

”See, I’m a genius at placating people... uh.” The more Du Yu talked, the softer his voice became.

The woman’s faint gaze made Du Yu’s heart feel a little weak.

Yang Qingqing: ”I’ll wield the saber, and you will wield the sword.”

Du Yu: ”Huh?”

Yang Qingqing: ”If Sword Province goes up, it’s too unfair to Cold Lake Sword.”

Fu Jianzhou: ”...”

Who am I?

Where am I?

What am I even doing here...

”No, Master Qing!” Du Yu said helplessly, ”I’m only at the Great Success Stage, while Senior Brother Fu is already Demon Taming General·Peak Stage!”

”Junior Brother!” Fu Jianzhou suddenly spoke up.

To avoid his psyche taking even heavier damage, Senior Brother Fu decided to shell himself first.

He said, ”In front of Master Qing, Demon Taming General·Peak Stage is no different from Demon Tamer Prentice or Demon Warrior.”

Du Yu felt completely numb.

To keep yourself from getting beaten, you’re blowing yourself up at my expense, huh?

Du Yu hurriedly said, ”I’m even worse than you—I’m only at Great Success Stage.”

Fu Jianzhou shook his head: ”Wrong! Master Qing’s Bell Bracelet can control me casually, but it’s hard to control you.

Junior Brother, you’re covered head to toe in Holy Soldiers—Void Axe of Fire Age, Tribulation Arrow, and so on—not to mention a Divine Artifact like Shadow Gu Tower, your Demon Breath never runs dry...”

”Stop, just stop.” Du Yu’s face was about to scrunch up like the folds of a steamed bun.

Didn’t get to eat soup dumplings this morning?

No problem, Your Highness can turn into one himself...

Yang Qingqing cut off the two men’s conversation and looked at Du Yu: ”It’ll be you. Just right—I’ll check how much you’ve grown lately.”

Oh, come on!

Du Yu muttered inwardly, I’m not even a sword user, what exactly are you checking?

If you want to beat me up, just say it straight.

Seeing her disciple’s unwilling expression, the woman raised her brows slightly: ”What, you’re not willing?”

”N-no.” Du Yu shook his head repeatedly. ”I’m more than willing to get beaten up.”

Yang Qingqing: ”...”

”No, that’s not what I meant!” Du Yu hurriedly explained, ”I’m very willing to spar with Master Qing, so we can understand each other’s current strength and find my own shortcomings.”

”Heh.” Yang Qingqing snorted. He really was good at placating people.

She curled her finger and knocked lightly yet firmly on Du Yu’s forehead: ”The point is Mountain Fire Saber and Cold Lake Sword—know what’s primary and what’s secondary.

Go on, have a good talk with Cold Lake Sword.”

”Oh.”

Lin Shiwei watched the two walk off, and in her ears came Master Qing’s voice: ”Don’t worry, it’s just a spar.”

The girl immediately said, ”I know, Master Qing.”

Yang Qingqing closed her eyes: ”If it were a real battle, I wouldn’t be able to take him down.”

With the two Demon Saints on Yang Qingqing, she was already standing basically at the summit of the Demon Taming World.

After all, the Seven Saints of Great Xia weren’t much beyond that.

One of the Seven Saints, Elder Langao, was a special case. As for Du Yu, he was a special case among special cases. Though he wasn’t one of the Seven Saints, he had a Supreme backing him!

Who could possibly take down Du Yu?

Even Langao didn’t dare give a firm guarantee!

Lin Shiwei opened her mouth, instinctively wanting to refute, to defend her master’s dignity.

Yet she discovered that when Master Qing said those words, there was a faint smile on her face.

It seemed that, regarding Du Yu’s powerful strength, the woman’s heart was full of pride and joy.

Honestly, if this Holy Blade and Holy Sword could treat each other the way their respective masters do...

Then there probably wouldn’t be any strife.

...

Asking for some monthly passes.