Insects Aren't Vegetarians

PS1: Please collect and recommend.

******** Main Story *******

Unlike conversing with an Insect Yokai, this situation had a high probability of leading to combat, and combat with a Yokai at that. Luo Qiu couldn't help but feel a touch of nervousness.

Nervous, but not afraid—his life, his soul, belonged to the Club. There was essentially nothing in the world that could take it away.

However, as the owner of the Club, Luo Qiu hadn't lived through millennia. Human emotions still occupied the vast majority of his being, which was why he felt nervous.

As for not being afraid… since he couldn't die anyway, what was there to be afraid of?

Luo Qiu wasn't the same type of person as his father, who had a strong sense of justice. But the words his old man often uttered had been firmly etched in Luo Qiu's mind over the years.

Old Luo said: "Don't back down, face it head-on."

In his hand was the USP that You Ye had prepared. Luo Qiu immediately loaded it, gripping it with both hands, the barrel pointed diagonally towards the ground.

You Ye, on the other hand, appeared much more relaxed. Perhaps she didn't even consider the mantis Yokai that was expected to appear. She simply stood there, no different from usual.

The Insect Yokai looked more pathetic, its black overcoat trembling slightly due to its shivering. Seeing this, Luo Qiu moved a little closer, positioning himself in front of the Insect Yokai.

At this moment, Luo Qiu and the other two were positioned with their backs to the river. The front and sides were facing the woods. If the mantis Yokai were to come, approaching from the river side would clearly be more troublesome.

Suddenly, a sharper whistle pierced the air. At the same time, a dark silhouette shot out from the woods on the left the moment a patch of cloud drifted past the moonlight!

Before Luo Qiu could react, You Ye had already stepped out into the night. Two metallic clangs suddenly echoed through the air.

When the crescent moon reappeared from the clouds, Luo Qiu saw that You Ye now held a collapsible black metal baton in her hand. Under the moonlight, a fourth figure had appeared… no, a Yokai's shadow.

"Who are you?"

A sinister voice came from ahead. Luo Qiu began to concentrate, finding his vision suddenly much clearer.

The mantis Yokai stood with its legs slightly apart, but its hands hung straight down, fingers pressed tightly together—yes, fingers.

Because what Luo Qiu saw was a young man with a slightly pale complexion, complete facial features, and even clearly defined contours. Surprisingly, from a normal aesthetic perspective, he was quite handsome.

He wore a casual, dark blue striped suit jacket and matching pants. If not for his peculiar stance, he would have looked like a very competent clothing model.

Only the sinister expression on his face greatly marred the otherwise good impression his appearance could have made.

"Hmm, this mantis Yokai's style is clearly different from the Insect Yokai."

Luo Qiu even felt that this was more in line with the demeanor he'd imagined when a Yokai appeared.

"Mister… uh, Mr. Mantis, if possible, I hope you can leave," Luo Qiu carefully chose his words. "This friend here… is currently under our protection. If possible, could we ask you to leave for the night?"

It was foolish to resort to violence at the slightest disagreement. When things could be resolved without resorting to fists, one shouldn't use fists. This was more in line with modern societal views, not at all because he wanted to earn transaction fees easily without expending any effort!

But the Club also had clear regulations—that its existence could not be casually revealed to outsiders, especially when there was an adversarial relationship. It certainly shouldn't be mentioned under the Club's banner.

You Ye had said that many entities knew about 'Trafford,' or had heard rumors, but more didn't. There was no need to let those who didn't know learn too much.

When it came to the Club, the water ran very deep.

Luo Qiu knew that he probably wouldn't be able to truly grasp it all anytime soon—its existence predated You Ye's service by a vast margin. What the maid automaton knew was likely only what she had picked up from the previous owner over the past few hundred years.

The previous owner might have occasionally mentioned some things, but considering the previous owner was a middle-aged shut-in who could spend an entire day listening to a music box, Luo Qiu estimated that much of You Ye's knowledge likely had significant personal, fan-fiction-like embellishments…

Just as Luo Qiu habitually drifted off, the mantis Yokai made a move.

"Hmph."

The mantis Yokai let out a contemptuous smile, its gaze clearly passing over Luo Qiu to fix directly on the Insect Yokai at the very back. "I was wondering why you still dared to show up. So you found two helpers. But, little fellow, do you really think this will let you escape my grasp?"

The mantis Yokai suddenly took a step forward, its expression growing more ferocious.

The Insect Yokai instinctively took a step back in fear, exclaiming in terror, "You, don't, come any closer!!"

The mantis Yokai laughed heartily. "You're a lowly spawn that hasn't even reached fifty years, do you think I truly care about you? If it weren't for the fact that I've eaten all the larger spirits in the mountains these past few years, leaving me with nothing to eat, do you think I'd bother devouring you, a mere unripened brat?"

The mantis Yokai snorted again. "Your mother was eaten by me. I still remember her screams! Do you remember? Hahahaha! Back then, your mother sacrificed herself to protect you, thinking I didn't know you were hidden beneath the soil? Don't be ridiculous, I wasn't in the mood for a mere hatchling! I spared you only because I intended for you to grow up so I could feast on you later! Ah, now that I recall your mother's death screams, I'm getting quite excited! Tell me, how should I devour you? Just like I devoured your mother back then? Should I rip off your arms first, or twist off your head? You remember, right? Your mother's head was twisted off when she died!"

"Don't, say it!!! Ah!!!!"

Letting out a piercing shriek, the Insect Yokai completely lost its reason and lunged past Luo Qiu towards the mantis Yokai.

Unexpectedly, due to its body being rather clumsy, Luo Qiu couldn't help but stick out his leg in front of it, directly knocking the Insect Yokai to the ground.

"It seems Mr. Mantis's skill at inciting hatred is truly top-notch. Even as an eavesdropper, I'm starting to feel like it was a mistake not to have drawn my weapon from the start," Luo Qiu shook his head. "Get up. You are currently under our protection. If someone we're protecting has to fight directly, we'll lose face."

"I…"

Perhaps this fall sobered up the Insect Yokai. It understood the mantis's intentions and was instantly filled with both shock and fear.

"Meddling fool, I'll eat you first!" the mantis sneered, suddenly leaping high into the air.

In mid-air, the mantis Yokai's fair hands suddenly began to elongate, and the clothes on its arms burst open. A pair of arms transformed into sharp scythes, ready to cleave down from above.

Although he had no experience fighting Yokai, looking at the mantis Yokai rapidly descending and becoming clearer in the air, Luo Qiu couldn't help but quickly grab the USP in his hand.

BANG BANG BANG!!!!

This was a perfect target. If he didn't shoot a few rounds, it would truly be a disservice to all the bullets he'd wasted practicing his aim.

"You humans think you can hurt me? How naive!"

Two arm-mounted blades blocked in front of him, and the .45 caliber bullets couldn't penetrate the blades!

The Mantis Yokai landed in front of Luo Qiu, its arm-mounted blades sweeping out horizontally! The blades were incredibly sharp, capable of easily slicing through rock.

Seeing this, Luo Qiu quickly crouched down, dodging the attack.

Of course, it wouldn't have mattered even if he hadn't dodged. Getting shot in the head wouldn't kill him, and he could probably heal even if his body was cut in half.

He felt like he could be more confident with immortality... the problem was that it hurt!

When Jin Zifu had shot him in the head before, although he was alive and kicking now, it had hurt so much at the time that he had almost cried out.

Not wanting to be a masochist, and not wanting to practice some strange martial arts where he'd gain hundreds of years of power by taking a beating – which was essentially letting someone beat him up until they were satisfied before fighting back – Luo Qiu naturally didn't want to feel pain.

And what was the mindset of those who created those bizarre martial arts that required one to be beaten until their head was bloody to gain power?

As Luo Qiu, who had habitually drifted off, crouched down, the Mantis Yokai delivered a vicious kick.

But this kick, which should have connected directly, missed entirely. Luo Qiu had vanished like a phantom, reappearing three meters away from the Mantis Yokai.

Yes, still in a crouching position.

Perhaps feeling that this posture didn't quite fit his image as a supremely mysterious Club owner, Luo Qiu quickly stood up.

Apologies, though it was exhilarating to fire off a dozen magazines last night, Luo Qiu found playing with this teleportation ability even more satisfying once he got home. If he hadn't played with it until midnight and felt utterly drained, he wouldn't have even noticed Ren Ziling, his stepmother (godmother), leaving this morning.

This wasn't like him, usually.

The Mantis Yokai was clearly stunned at this moment, but having been brutal and violent for over a hundred years, it wasn't easily swayed by strange occurrences. Missing with its kick was one thing, but its target was still within sight.

Just as the Mantis Yokai swung its blades again, intending to slice Luo Qiu apart, its entire back of the head suddenly felt like it exploded with a deafening roar. It was so shocking that it completely shattered its mind, leaving it with no coherent thoughts as its body collapsed to the ground, limbs twitching and foaming at the mouth. Then, its body began to undergo a bizarre transformation.

Its true form was revealed.

A giant praying mantis!

Luo Qiu couldn't help but give You Ye a thumbs-up.

That extendable black metal rod had clearly been used to deliver a perfect surprise blow – of course, being able to get close enough for such a sneak attack without the Mantis Yokai noticing required a very high level of skill. Untrained individuals should not attempt this lightly.

The Insect Yokai hadn't expected its old enemy from years ago to be so easily incapacitated with a single blow, revealing its true form.

At this moment, it suddenly let out a shrill cry and began to scuttle rapidly towards the Mantis Yokai's body.

Judging by its speed, it was much faster than when it walked upright.

You Ye seemed somewhat disgusted, retreating several steps as the Insect Yokai approached.

And then, the Insect Yokai lunged directly at the Mantis Yokai, biting into it.

What the heck... this Insect Yokai wasn't a vegetarian after all?