Chapter 1 The Magic Pill, Successfully Licked

This should have been an extremely natural thing, but the reality that had unfolded earlier made it seem so surprising.

In the courtyard, the six Demon Kings each had their own thoughts. First, the changes in the magic pill had clearly told them that their master had entered the Eighth Rank martial artist realm. According to past experience, they should now one by one regain their own strength.

Second, there was a noticeable change in their master after his return this time, a change that left all six Demon Kings somewhat puzzled.

They didn't know what their master was thinking.

Or perhaps,

Maybe they had previously treated Zheng Fan as their "Master" in word and deed, but they never really took it to heart.

"Creak..."

Zheng Fan, his hair still wet, pushed open the door and walked out, arriving in the courtyard after a short walk.

"Master, let me dry you."

Si Niang immediately got up and found a towel to dry Zheng Fan's hair.

Zheng Fan didn't refuse and sat down in the spot where Si Niang had been.

Si Niang asked, "Master, would you like some lanolin?"

Even though Yinlang County was the southern border of Great Yan, it was still truly a northern land compared to the entire East. The poets of Qian often wrote poems calling the three border counties of Qian a bitter and cold place. Anyone exiled there to serve as an official would be treated to a farewell feast, as if holding a premature "funeral."

In winter, skin was prone to cracking. Lanolin was a method used by the desert barbarians to prevent and treat cracked skin. The main ingredient was extracted from sheep fat, and for a more luxurious touch, some herbs not uncommon in the desert could be added.

"Yes."

Si Niang took out the lanolin, squeezed it onto her hands, opened her hands, and then began to apply it to Zheng Fan's face.

Although Si Niang's hands were constantly doing needlework, they were not rough at all, a fact Zheng Fan could attest to.

After applying it, Zheng Fan smiled

and said,

"I think I'm more used to urea cream or Dabaodi."

When he was a child, Zheng Fan remembered that his family used "urea cream," and later, they slowly started using Dabaodi.

"The profit margin is too small, so we didn't make it," Xiazi Bei replied.

"Mm." Zheng Fan was just saying it.

The others also sat down, while Si Niang stood behind Zheng Fan, massaging his temples with her fingers.

Xiazi Bei took out a cigarette from an iron box and handed it to Zheng Fan, who took it.

"Master, there are some things we need to tell you."

"Speak, we're all family here."

Zheng Fan seemed very calm.

But for some reason, Zheng Fan's calmness gave the six Demon Kings present a sense of unreality.

If you were to say there was a crack in their relationship, there really wasn't. Their relationship was still good, but a layer of separation was indeed starting to deepen.

If you were talking about mutual suspicion and wariness, it was heaviest in Tiger Head City, but the problem now was that with their master's gradual maturity, coupled with the great catalyst of this trip to the capital,

Zheng Fan's personal consciousness had begun to awaken gradually.

Xiazi Bei's empty eye sockets seemed to see nothing, but as a former psychologist, he could accurately capture this change.

The root cause was that the previous master was more like a memorial tablet, to be worshiped, knelt before, and respected.

But a memorial tablet was just a memorial tablet. Its existence was only a way to place one's thoughts.

Now, the memorial tablet had become a spirit, about to turn into a person.

Perhaps Zheng Fan didn't intentionally want to do anything, but as he matured and integrated into this world, the "master-servant" relationship between them was slowly beginning to "correct" itself.

"Master, there's one thing we only recently discovered, and that is that the recovery of our seven people's strength seems to be closely related to your strength level, Master."

"Oh?"

Zheng Fan was taken aback,

But perhaps it was because he had come out with wet hair and been hit by the cold wind, or perhaps because Si Niang's massage was so comfortable, that his whole mind was a little dizzy. As a result, the "oh" and the surprise that followed were not very convincing.

Too lazy to have the director shout "cut" and do it again,

Zheng Fan silently continued,

"Is that so."

Which of the Demon Kings present wasn't an astute person? Even Fan Li, although he often said surprising things, was ultimately different from a simpleton like Chen Daxia.

Everyone knew that the master's reaction proved that he had actually guessed this long ago.

And it was precisely because he had guessed this that he deliberately concealed it this time after he advanced.

"Yes, every time your strength increases by one level, our strength will also recover by one level. However, there seems to be a ceremony involved, like taking an application form to the relevant department to get it stamped."

"This requires my approval?"

"Yes, Master."

From beginning to end, Xiazi Bei had been speaking on behalf of the other five.

"I see."

Zheng Fan nodded and added,

"I'm at the Eighth Rank now."

Xiazi Bei remained silent, waiting for Zheng Fan to continue.

Even Si Niang, who was massaging Zheng Fan's temples, paused slightly with her fingers, but immediately continued massaging with the same strength as before.

Zheng Fan reached out and grabbed Si Niang's hand, and Si Niang let him hold her hand.

When it came to understanding men's hearts, no one present could compare to Si Niang. Zheng Fan didn't believe that her momentary pause earlier was due to a sudden nervousness.

It was just that she wanted to use her identity as his woman to slightly soften the atmosphere.

It couldn't be considered scheming, it was just a habit, even an instinct. Even ordinary couples needed some small tricks to spice things up.

"Everyone, don't be so serious. Although I just woke up, I don't know why, but I feel even lazier than before."

"Master is tired from the trip to the capital."

Returning home, resting and relaxing, without the previous mental urgency, the body began to slack off.

"Perhaps, we're all family here, really, I don't want our conversation to be like this, it's better to be more lively.

Most of you have saved my life, without you, I wouldn't be alive today."

"Master, saying that is truly treating us like outsiders."

"No, Xiazi, let me finish."

Xiazi nodded, the cigarette in his hand not yet lit with a fire starter.

"In the past, I always regarded this world, my resurrection, as the beginning of a game. I was mostly facing everything in this world with a game-playing mentality.

Actually, you and I are probably similar. We are all somewhat out of place with this world.

This trip to the capital, I met Marquis Jingnan, Marquis Zhenbei, and the Yan Emperor. Don't laugh at me, but I was quite intimidated in front of them."

Everyone's faces showed smiles.

"This world is really wonderful, but also very helpless. We've been playing this game for so long, and the troops under our command, whether they're of one mind or not, are almost two thousand, right?"

Four hundred-plus barbarian soldiers, the twelve to thirteen hundred members of the Zuo and Huo families who came today, plus Hong Bazi and Xiao Yibo and some of their subordinates who came from Tiger Head City.

Less than two thousand, but not far off.

"Do you think that my saying this in this tone means that I want to retire and become a wealthy man?"

The six Demon Kings didn't speak.

"Maybe there will be later, but not now. I'm just a little lost. No matter how fun a game is, if you play it for too long, people will inevitably feel a bit of weariness.

But fortunately, this isn't a game, this is a new life, a tangible life. When playing a game, you can choose to quit and turn it off at any time;

But in life, you can't control the progress bar. Whether you want it or not, it keeps pushing you forward.

I've tried to develop some new goals. I used to think that I wanted to be a Demon King, an Emperor, to build my own dynasty, but I don't actually have that much political ambition.

Especially, there's nothing to be embarrassed about telling you, in Tiancheng County, I watched Tian Wujing order the extermination of his entire family.

I thought at the time, if you have to pay so much and make that kind of decision to become a big shot, then what's the point of being a big shot?

Our Great Yan's Emperor treats his sons as if they were all born to the old Wang next door.

As for women..."

Zheng Fan looked up at Si Niang standing beside him and continued,

"I'm quite content now."

Power, are you afraid of it?

Women, are you satisfied with them?

Is there no motivation in life?

The Demon Kings' minds were racing, but on the surface, they all looked like they were listening very carefully.

However, Zheng Fan's setup now was a lot like the Second Disciple preparing to "disband and return to Gao Village."

"This world, for me, for you, actually has one bad thing, and that is, it didn't give us a specific goal. If we don't complete this goal within a certain period of time, we will die.

Although, if there were this goal, it would be very cruel for us, but if you really don't have this goal, we can easily get lost.

I'm not thinking of disbanding. You gave me the chance to choose at the beginning, whether to be a wealthy man or to do something big, and I chose the latter without hesitation.

Even if I were to choose again, I would still choose the latter. God gave me and you the chance to be reborn once, we have to live a life of style.

Hearing this, don't you think my words are a bit contradictory? Sigh, Si Niang, make me a cup of granules later, I might really have a bit of a cold."

"Okay, Master."

Zheng Fan took out a fire starter, lit the cigarette that Xiazi Bei had given him earlier, took a puff, and slowly exhaled a smoke ring,

"People are all contradictory. I just said that I personally don't like Tian Wujing's ruthlessness, although he is indeed a great man.

I also don't like our Yan Emperor's lack of family affection, although he is indeed a wise and ambitious emperor.

But, you know, that day in the palace, I led the Jingnan Army cavalry into the palace, and under the rolling iron hooves, I looked at the three people walking at the front.

I was a little... excited.

I envied them at that time, and I also yearned to have such a day, but the unrealistic part of me is that I only want the part they enjoyed, but I don't want the part they paid and endured for it.

Just like what I just said to you, I don't want any more infighting between us. Although I'm a comic artist, in here, this position is more like being roasted on a fire rack.

Sometimes, I really hope I was a comic character too, like you, one of you, that way, maybe there wouldn't be so many other thoughts.

I'm sorry, I might not be in the best state tonight, I didn't want to come out, but I knew you were waiting for me. My thoughts are a bit messy, and what I'm saying is also messy, please bear with me."

The Demon Kings' eyes were wandering, making contact with each other. The more they listened, the more confused they became, but the more they listened, the more they could feel the sincerity of the master at this moment.

Very contradictory, right?

Indeed, very contradictory.

Maybe the master really has a cold...

It was as if he had returned to his studio in his previous life, the wastebasket full of tissues used to blow his nose, with a cup of cold medicine next to him that he didn't dare drink, because he was afraid of getting sleepy after drinking it. At the same time, he was enduring dizziness while rushing to finish his manuscript.

The manuscript in this state would naturally be a bit messy, but it was often at this time that he could forget too many techniques and expressions, and simply be telling his own thoughts.

Xiazi Bei had been silent, listening quietly all along. At first, he was still trying to distinguish whether the master's state today, his words just now, were an act?

Then, Xiazi stopped dwelling on this question. If the master's performance was an act, then it proved that this leader of the pack had grown his own fangs.

If not, then there was no need to dwell on it anymore.

"I want to play, although I don't have a goal, but I think I should go find one. But I also know that without strength, without power, we don't even have the freedom to find the meaning of living in this world.

At the same time, I also want to try to be one of the elites, just a purely willful elite. I don't want to live as hard as they do.

I think that in order to live a more comfortable and interesting life in the future, I should first truly tell you what's on my mind.

I didn't dare to say these words before because I was afraid of you, or maybe I hadn't thought so deeply before.

Now, it's not that I have the confidence or the qualification to say it, but I really want to treat you as family.

I only drew Mowan, the rest of you are the works of my partners, but please believe me, when I continued to draw you, I put in real emotion, because most of our studio's works were already banned at that time, and we couldn't make money off of you.

Making money may not be entirely out of interest, but not making money mostly is.

Let's not be suspicious anymore, and let's not think about other thoughts. You don't come to calculate my thoughts, and I won't calculate your attitudes.

If there are any problems, just ask directly, if there are any words, just say them directly.

Everyone, try to live a little happier and easier in this world.

This is a world that eats people. We can go outside and eat other people, but at home, no, I mean, I want a real home.

It's like in Tiger Head City and in this Green Willow Fort, every time I come back from a long trip, I have the feeling of coming home.

You can continue to call me 'Master,' but you don't really have to treat me as your master.

I'm sorry,

My head really feels a bit uncomfortable. Damn it, does this Eighth Rank martial artist not even have the resistance to prevent a cold?"

Zheng Fan cleared his throat, pointed to the tea in front of him, and said,

"Si Niang, pour a cup of tea for everyone."

Si Niang nodded, got up and walked to the front, and began to pour tea for everyone.

Zheng Fan raised the teacup in his hand. The tea had long gone cold.

"I don't like formalism, but the older I get, the more I understand a truth, some formalism can't be skipped;

Oh, right, Xiazi?"

"I'm here, Master."

"Is there another possibility, that is, if I die, you might also die?"

Xiazi Bei nodded and said,

"Yes, there is a high possibility of that."

"Heh, that's good, it's a pity I only have one life, so I can't try it out for you. But, Xiazi, I still believe that even without this possibility, that day at the post station outside Yin City,

You and San'er wouldn't have abandoned me and fled for your lives, because doing so would be very meaningless, very boring."

Xiazi Bei thought for a moment,

and said,

"That's right."

"Right, San'er?" Zheng Fan looked at Xue San.

Xue San sighed and said,

"Master, we came to this world together, if we left you there to die and slipped away, that would be too immoral and too boring."

"Yes, that's right, let's be formalistic today and use tea instead of wine, bottoms up."

The seven people present raised their teacups together and drank them dry.

"Alright, starting tomorrow, let's wholeheartedly face a new day, face this world, face a new life. My speech is over, thank you everyone."

Everyone began to applaud, not very enthusiastically, not very sincerely, and not deliberately to cooperate, just simply feeling that there should be applause here.

Zheng Fan reached out and placed his hand on the left side of his chest,

and said,

"Actually, there's one thing I think I'm luckier than them in. It's really not easy for Marquis Jingnan, Marquis Zhenbei, and our Emperor to stand together, it's simply a miracle in political history.

I don't know what methods they use to confirm this trust with each other, and I don't know if they have ever been awakened in their beds at night;

But,

I can prove,

Prove that the words I said tonight are all from the bottom of my heart, and I can also prove that I truly believe in you.

Don't mention it, I'm actually starting to like this kind of bond."

Zheng Fan closed his eyes,

His left hand still placed on his chest,

The next moment,

Six powerful auras burst out!

————

ps: chun jie di xiao long has a cold, plus I was rushing home today, and my spirits aren't very good. There's still another chapter before 1 a.m., don't panic.