Chapter Thirty-Eight: Truly a Little Demon

Perhaps it was due to his own physical enhancements, but Xiao Zhang didn’t feel sleepy at all. He simply washed his face and was instantly refreshed. As the first faint light of dawn crept into the room, Mo Xiaoxiao finally woke up. She reached out absentmindedly and found a small, furry creature beside her. Without thinking, she switched on the room’s light.

It seemed that Mo Xiaoxiao had indeed spent some time living at Li Shiwan’s home; otherwise, she couldn’t possibly be so familiar with the layout.

With the light on, Mo Xiaoxiao saw a snow-white little fox curled up at her side. She froze, closed her eyes, then opened them again. “A fox?”

At that moment, Tu Shanbai also woke up groggily, rubbed her sleepy eyes, and transformed back into her human form. “Big Sister, you’re awake?”

“Big Sister?” Mo Xiaoxiao climbed out of bed, took a deep breath as she looked at the little demon in front of her. She told herself she had seen the world—no reason to panic! Surely this was a dream. Smack! She slapped herself.

Meanwhile, the little girl quietly slipped out of the room. She saw Xiao Zhang watching the sunrise by the window and Zhao Bai still snoring on the sofa. She tiptoed over to Xiao Zhang and whispered, “Big Brother, Big Sister is awake.”

“Oh!” Xiao Zhang dashed over immediately. Finally, she was awake—he still had so many questions to ask. “You’re awake.”

Mo Xiaoxiao, rubbing her sore backside, forced an awkward smile when she saw Xiao Zhang. “What brings you here?”

Xiao Zhang sighed helplessly. “Mo Mo, are you still half-asleep?”

Suddenly, Mo Xiaoxiao recalled everything. “Those two little devils! And you! And this little girl!”

“Hold on, I haven’t even asked you yet.” Xiao Zhang recounted everything that happened while Mo Xiaoxiao was unconscious, leaving out no detail.

He even exaggerated a bit, claiming he had nearly lost his life saving her.

Mo Xiaoxiao replied sheepishly, “I didn’t know they were carrying tranquilizers meant for tigers. I was careless—sorry. If not for me, you wouldn’t have…”

Even as she apologized, a hint of frustration welled up in her. After all, when had Lady Mo ever suffered such a loss? And on top of it all, her backside still hurt for no apparent reason!

“All right, all right, I was just joking,” Xiao Zhang said with a laugh. “Now everything’s fine. I’m not dead, we’re all alive—isn’t that good enough? By the way, those two were awakened ones too. Why would they target us?”

“Well, how should I put this…”

“Shouldn’t awakened ones be united against the true invaders in the instance worlds?”

Mo Xiaoxiao’s gaze grew distant. “It’s not as simple as you think, Xiao Zhang. Even among awakened ones, there’s conflict and competition for interests, especially in our world. Conflicts of interest are even more intense here. The current international situation is tense; disputes between awakened organizations from different countries are especially fierce.”

Clearly, she couldn’t explain all this in just a few words. “So, why were you targeted all of a sudden?”

“It’s all because I wanted to strengthen my own organization. I left my former group, and once their protection was gone, I became a target for those guys.”

“Wasn’t your previous group an awakened organization?” Xiao Zhang suddenly wondered if the system had granted him permissions so he could build his own power base.

“No, it wasn’t…”

“But Xiao Zhang, this little girl—?”

“It’s a long story.” Xiao Zhang patted Mo Xiaoxiao’s shoulder. “Anyway, it’s good to have you back. Would you consider joining my organization?”

Mo Xiaoxiao looked Xiao Zhang in the eyes. “Are you also planning to start your own group?”

“Yes.” Xiao Zhang had no other choice; after all, he bore a heavy responsibility.

“Let me think about it.” Mo Xiaoxiao didn’t give him an immediate answer, nor did she refuse. Her previous organization had treated her well, and she’d only left to expand her horizons. She made an excuse, “I’m going to take a shower and clear my head.”

Xiao Zhang wasn’t in a hurry. He was confident she’d eventually agree.

Taking advantage of the free moment, Xiao Zhang decided to ask Tu Shanbai about the thing that concerned him most—her skills.

Just then, Tu Shanbai’s stomach rumbled. She blushed when she saw Xiao Zhang looking at her.

Xiao Zhang patted her little head. “Big Brother will get you something to eat.”

“Mm.” Tu Shanbai nodded obediently.

Xiao Zhang checked the fridge: a bottle of soda and a bottle of beer, but no food. Awkward. The little girl hadn’t eaten anything since arriving in this world—what was he supposed to do? Then he remembered his suitcase—there were still a few packs of Weilong spicy sticks inside!

“Baibai, have some of these to tide you over.” He handed her the spicy sticks and the soda, keeping the beer for himself.

Tu Shanbai stared at the snack, unsure how to eat it. Should she just bite into it? In her world, there were no such things as packaging.

“Tsk, still just a kid,” Xiao Zhang chuckled. He tore open a pack for her and twisted open the soda.

“I’m not a child!” Tu Shanbai protested, but as soon as she took a bite, tears welled up in her eyes.

“Why are you crying over a snack?”

“It’s just so delicious!” she sobbed.

Xiao Zhang took a swig of beer. “Really? Just a spicy stick and you’re this emotional. I guess there are no snacks in your world.”

Then Tu Shanbai noticed the beer in his hand. “Big Brother, what’s that you’re drinking?”

“This?” Xiao Zhang waved the bottle at her. “Beer.”

“What kind of liquor is that?” Clearly, there was no such thing as beer in her world.

“It’s a kind of alcohol.”

“I want some!” she declared.

“You want what?” he asked.

She pointed at the beer. “That! The one in your hand!”

Xiao Zhang took another sip. “No way. Kids can’t drink beer.”

“I’m not a kid! I’m already seventy-nine years old!”

Xiao Zhang nearly spat out his beer. He jumped up, wiping his shirt. “Seventy-nine?”

“Of course! So, Big Brother, can I drink it now?”

“No way. You’re just this tall!” He gestured at her height.

“Big Brother, I only made myself this small to save magical energy. If you don’t believe me, I’ll show you.” Tu Shanbai stood up as she spoke.

Xiao Zhang wondered what she could possibly do, beer in hand, watching her curiously.