Monday, Donghai City train station.

Liu Benyuan, dressed in a dusty gray Daoist robe, sat on the ground out of sheer boredom. The train station was too crowded today; he couldn't even find a seat.

A passerby saw him and leaned over to ask, "Fortune-telling?"

Liu Benyuan shot the person a look. "No."

"Tch." The passerby walked away.

Liu Benyuan fanned himself with a flyer, then decided to get up and walk around.

He was a disciple of Linshui Temple. Linshui Temple had a rule: to protect the safety of Donghai City and safeguard the happy lives of its people, they would set up mobile posts in several crowded areas within the city. The train station was one of them, mainly to ensure no demons were causing trouble.

In this era, powerful demons were rare, and those that existed stayed in the deep mountains. Therefore, this job was usually handled by junior disciples. Sometimes, it was just a tedious day of standing guard.

Once, Liu Benyuan had followed his senior martial brother to a commercial street and caught a dimwitted little demon who was pretending to be a Daoist to swindle people. These types were low on demonic power and just muddled along in the human world.

The warm afternoon sun made one drowsy. Liu Benyuan felt sluggish as he walked, but suddenly, he sensed a trace of demonic aura.

Liu Benyuan was instantly alert. He made a call to report to his senior martial brother at the temple, then followed the demonic aura.

The train station was crowded. Liu Benyuan took out his compass to pinpoint the location, determined it was in the direction of the vehicle boarding area, and immediately broke into a sprint.

By the time Liu Benyuan reached the boarding area, the demon he was looking for was already in a taxi. Liu Benyuan only caught a fleeting glimpse; it looked like a shifty-eyed middle-aged man.

Liu Benyuan cut directly to the front of the line to hail a taxi, immediately drawing the ire of many people. The demon in the car glanced back and saw the Daoist-robed Liu Benyuan looking over and memorizing the license plate. The demon's expression changed.

Although Linshui Temple had been stationed in Donghai City for over a thousand years and was famous, there were always some little demons living in the mountains who didn't know about them.

This demon was a wild fox spirit named Hu Dawei who couldn't make a living in the mountains. His parents named him that because they thought he had great potential. But clearly, he didn't live up to his name. Even at over two hundred years old, he wasn't thriving like other fox spirits. Instead, he was ostracized by the other demons in the mountains and, in a fit of pique, decided to try his luck in the human world.

Don't the stories all say that fox spirits do very well for themselves in the human world?

Unfortunately, reality was just like the stories: there was usually a Daoist involved. And while most demons in stories meet a Daoist midway through, Hu Dawei met one as soon as he entered the city.

'Demons have it rough these days, being suppressed by Daoists. Better hide, quick.'

"Faster, faster." Seeing Liu Benyuan had also managed to grab a taxi, Hu Dawei urged his driver to speed up.

The driver glanced at him. "Any faster and I'll be speeding. Are you running from someone? You haven't even told me where to go."

How would Hu Dawei know where to go? But in a situation like this, he subconsciously wanted to hide somewhere familiar. "Are there any mountains? Head for the mountains."

The request was quite strange. The driver mumbled, "Then let's go to Cape Mountain."

He thought this person was weird. The driver wouldn't dare go to some deserted mountain, so he named a tourist spot.

Hu Dawei didn't know any better. As soon as he heard "mountain," he nodded vigorously.

And so, the two taxis began a not-so-intense chase on a major road that was periodically jammed with traffic. Hu Dawei, having rarely been to the city, didn't dare get out on the road. Liu Benyuan was worried that if he got out, the traffic ahead would clear up, so he was also conflicted. In the end, neither of them got out.

Just like that, the two taxis headed towards Cape Mountain, located in Cape Sub-district.

They were still two li from Cape Mountain when Hu Dawei could see the mountain. He felt the car was still too slow, and the one behind was about to catch up, so he simply said, "Stop the car, stop the car!"

The driver had just come to a steady stop when Hu Dawei pushed the door open to get out. The driver said, "Pay first."

Hu Dawei snarled at the driver, let out a low growl, and scrambled out through the window.

The driver: "..."

He was completely stunned. He just saw the passenger make faces like a monkey, let out a howl, and then slip out the window with incredible agility. He had never seen someone ride and dash like this before. He was dazed for a moment before getting out of the car.

But the passenger was running incredibly fast, as if he had four legs. The driver, who spent his years sitting, ran out of breath after a short while and squatted down to rest. He then saw a young Daoist rush past like the wind, followed by another driver—this one hadn't been paid either.

In a moment, Liu Benyuan and Hu Dawei had left the two drivers far behind. Liu Benyuan was still shouting, "Demon up ahead, stop right there! I am a disciple of Linshui Temple! If you stop now, we can still spare your life and just banish you from the city!"

Hu Dawei couldn't hear a word Liu Benyuan was saying; he just ran forward desperately.

He didn't know what Linshui Temple was, but he knew very well what a Daoist was.

While silently cursing Hu Dawei for running so fast and wondering what kind of demon he was, Liu Benyuan couldn't help but feel thankful that his own fundamental training was solid, having run up and down Pagoda Mountain since he was a child. Otherwise, he really would have been shaken off. His cultivation wasn't very high either; if it were Martial Uncle Luo, he might have already used a spell to capture him.

But as he ran, the number of people ahead increased, and Liu Benyuan realized he had reached Cape Park.

Wait, besides Cape Park, there's Lingyou Zoo next to it.

Liu Benyuan froze for a moment, recalling the temple's strict order: without the consent of a member of the management committee, no one was to enter Lingyou Zoo without authorization. It was best not to even get close.

But he was chasing a demon right now...

While Liu Benyuan was pondering this, Hu Dawei up ahead discovered that the mountain wasn't so easy to climb. It was fenced off for a long way, and one had to go through some sort of gate. There were two large gates at the foot of the mountain. The one on the left was blocked by some elderly people, while the one on the right was mostly empty.

Hu Dawei's magic wasn't very good—or rather, the magic of many demons nowadays wasn't very good. He'd even bump into tree roots while trying to earth-burrow. Without much thought, he took a turn and darted into the right gate.

Liu Benyuan stopped short, standing outside blankly, not daring to enter. He had no choice but to quickly call the temple office again.

......

Hu Dawei ran into Lingyou Zoo and noticed the young Daoist wasn't chasing him anymore. Instead, a woman selling tickets was shouting in his direction. With a leap, he plunged deeper inside and vanished in an instant.

'It's really not easy to get by in the city.' After sighing with emotion, Hu Dawei noticed there were many buildings here containing animals. He was tired from running, and the young Daoist was no longer in pursuit. Hu Dawei thought to himself, 'Should I grab an animal first, drag it into the mountains, and eat it while I hide?'

But which building should he enter?

At that moment, inside the zoo's three enclosures, a Golden Crow preening its feathers, a white fox drinking water, and a green snake and a white snake hanging from a tree and playfully tying themselves in knots, all paused their actions and turned their heads.

Hu Dawei mulled it over for a long time. Seeing an aquarium on the first floor of a small white building, he decided to scoop up some fish to eat.

And just like that, Hu Dawei perfectly dodged all the dangers and headed towards the least dangerous—and also the most dangerous—place.

......

Duan Jiaze had just seen Xu Wen say in the group chat that someone had snuck in without a ticket. She had posted a photo of the person's back, telling everyone to kick him out if they saw him. He was instantly furious. "Skipping out on a twenty-yuan ticket? Are they crazy poor?!"

Duan Jiaze decided to leave the break room to find this person. The moment he opened the door, he saw a man standing in front of the Aquarium, staring at the fish inside. His clothes looked very familiar—wasn't this the person Xu Wen had photographed?

Duan Jiaze: "Sir, did you come in without buying a ticket?"

Hu Dawei reached directly into the tank to grab a fish, completely ignoring Duan Jiaze.

Seeing him dare to grab a fish, Duan Jiaze grew anxious and rushed over to push Hu Dawei. "Let go!"

Hu Dawei let out a hoarse cry, and for an instant, his entire face was covered in thick fur.

Duan Jiaze jumped in fright, thinking his eyes were playing tricks on him. "...What the hell?"

Hu Dawei had been running the whole way and was feeling resentful. "And what are you?"

Duan Jiaze was baffled. "I'm the Zoo Director here."

"What's a Zoo Director?" Hu Dawei asked. "Sounds like you're the boss here?"

Duan Jiaze nodded. "That's right." 'He thought this person was very strange. Could he be a mental patient?'

Hu Dawei's teeth instantly sharpened. He roared like a chuunibyou, "Excellent! Not anymore!!"

—Tremble, human!

Hu Dawei's figure swelled in size. He spread his hands, his fingers elongating and curling, his nails sharpening. He took on a half-human, half-demon form and pounced at Duan Jiaze!

The next second, a streak of golden-red light shot from the aviary towards the office building, and Hu Dawei was sent flying over ten meters by a kick, slamming into a wall!

Hu Dawei spat out a mouthful of blood containing fragments of his internal organs. It even had a scorched smell, as if his insides had been incinerated.

Luya stood before Duan Jiaze with his arms crossed. The few strands of golden-red hair on his head had transformed into a cluster of burning Essence of Solar Fire—Luya could have burned this wild fox to ashes directly, but he chose to vent a little first.

Duan Jiaze peeked out from behind Luya, then quickly pulled his head back: 'Too violent, too bloody.'

He let out a sigh of relief and said gratefully, "Thank you, Daoist Lord! You are mighty, Daoist Lord! I was nearly scared to death!"

Luya turned his head, and only then did Duan Jiaze notice his foul expression. "You should have been scared to death!"

Duan Jiaze: "..."

Luya: "Do you still want to get a dog now? Could a dog have protected you from this?"

Hu Dawei wiped the corner of his mouth, struggling to get up from the ground, a terrifying sight.

"..." Duan Jiaze said in terror, "Daoist Lord, forget about comparing yourself to a dog for a second, he's getting up!"

Luya gave Hu Dawei a light glance, ignoring him. "First, tell me if you're still getting a dog or not."

Hu Dawei continued to struggle, trying to run towards the entrance. He would rather face that young Daoist.

Duan Jiaze: "He's getting away... Ahhh! I won't get one!"

Only then did Luya, satisfied, channel the power of the True Fire and slam Hu Dawei to the ground again!

"Ahhh!!" Accompanied by a miserable scream, Hu Dawei looked at Luya in terror, feeling as if every bone in his body was about to shatter. But he was more concerned about who this person was.

Not a single trace of demonic aura was revealed, yet the flames on his body made Hu Dawei feel a deep sense of dread. His instincts told him that if he got even a little closer, he would be turned to ash.

'Who said all the great demons were in the deep mountains? If all the great demons are in the deep mountains, then who the F is this?!'

"Se-se-se-senior..."

Luya kicked Hu Dawei, who was trying to get up, back down again. Planting a foot on his chest, he looked down and said, "Are you courting death?! I haven't even hit him, who gave you the nerve to lay a hand on him?"

Duan Jiaze: "..."

'Why does that sound so strange to me? What on earth is the Daoist Lord's logic?'

"Wait a second," Duan Jiaze walked over. Hu Dawei was in such a miserable state that his tail had even been stomped out. He still didn't dare to look directly, half-hiding behind Luya as he asked, "How did you end up here at our place?"

He was a little worried; why would a demon show up at the zoo for no reason?

Hu Dawei didn't dare not answer. He lowered his head and said, "I-I-I was being chased by a Daoist. We fought a life-and-death battle all the way here, so I fled inside..."

He thought that if he described himself as a bit more heroic and a bit more pitiful, he might arouse this senior's empathy. Who hadn't been suppressed by a Daoist before, right?

—Of course, he didn't know that Luya had truly never been suppressed by a Daoist.

Duan Jiaze thought, 'Can you even call that fleeing? You were courting your own death!'

Luya sneered even more coldly. "A life-and-death battle? More like two weaklings pecking at each other!"

Hu Dawei looked completely lost.

Duan Jiaze broke into a cold sweat. 'Daoist Lord, what on earth have you been learning on the internet...'

......

After Luya exposed the truth behind Hu Dawei's so-called "life-and-death battle" with the Daoist, he raised his hand to burn Hu Dawei to ash. Before Duan Jiaze could remind him that someone could come by at any moment, Yousu appeared gracefully.

Fortunately, the zoo had few visitors at this time, and the few keepers weren't always inside the enclosures. Of course, for Yousu, it was probably just a matter of casting a small illusion.

Yousu stopped Luya, saying, "Daoist Lord, please spare his life."

Luya looked at Yousu, then at Hu Dawei, and narrowed his eyes. "What, is he a relative of yours?"

Yousu paused for a moment, then said with a pleasant smile, "You jest, Daoist Lord. I've never met this demon before. I was just thinking that since the zoo is short on both staff and animals, why not keep this little demon to run errands. If the Zoo Director finds it feasible, I can place a restriction on him to ensure he can never attack the Zoo Director again."

Keep someone who just attempted to attack him close by? If this suggestion hadn't come from Yousu, Duan Jiaze would have thrown it back in the speaker's face. After all, his human way of thinking was different from Yousu's.

'I'm already raising a Three-legged Golden Crow, so a regular fox spirit doesn't seem that much worse.' After thinking for a long time, Duan Jiaze said with some conflict, "Let's give it a try then. If it doesn't work out, we'll send him to Linshui Temple."

Luya: "Go ahead and listen to this fox spirit!"

Duan Jiaze: "..."

Duan Jiaze: "No... Bro, do you have a better idea then?"

Luya: "I didn't say I had another idea. But when I suggested you not get a dog, why didn't you listen?" He then added smugly, "But in the end, you still had to listen to me."

Duan Jiaze: "..."

Luya was being too arrogant. Duan Jiaze couldn't stand it anymore. He turned to the trembling-legged, terrified Hu Dawei to change the subject. "Then, Yousu, how about you take him for some training?"

"Hold on," Luya said slowly. "I'll train him."

There's a difference between "training" and "training." Hu Dawei was clearly in for a rough time. Yousu, his smile unchanging, handed Hu Dawei over to Luya. "Then I'll have to trouble you, Daoist Lord."

Luya dragged Hu Dawei away. Given his track record of attacking the Zoo Director, this training didn't seem undeserved.

Duan Jiaze watched his retreating back and muttered, "So hard to please."

Yousu said in a seemingly objective tone, "Zoo Director, the Daoist Lord has already gotten much better, hasn't he? He came to rescue you at the first opportunity. We were all watching the whole way."

Duan Jiaze said miserably, "You don't know. He was rushing over to be the first to threaten me..."

Yousu: "Oh?"