How come I'm the one being conquered?

"As for why... "

Bai Jun's thumb brushed his lips, his peripheral vision subtly flicking towards the mirror beside him.

In the bathroom, where only Bai Jun was present, something indescribable flickered within the mirror. Upon closer inspection, it resembled a spectral flame, darting in and out of existence.

The next instant, the air, previously still as a dead pool, was torn apart. Bai Jun's left fingertips shot upwards, and after a brief sonic boom, a ball of emerald "flame" appeared between his index finger and thumb.

"Found you."

Bai Jun squeezed the flame between his fingers as if it were candy. Sensing a familiar energy fluctuation, he wore a proud expression of "just as I suspected."

Returning to the previous topic, the reason was actually quite simple. Most other residents reported issues like leaky faucets or poor service from the Jiren Alley merchant guild. However, this particular case involved far more troublesome matters. When surveying the room that morning, Bai Jun had faintly sensed the presence of Suiyang, though it was too weak for him to make a definitive conclusion.

The reason he chose to come at night was precisely to confirm this, and it seemed his intuition was quite reliable.

The little creature held between his fingers appeared harmless, but to judge it by its appearance alone would be a grave mistake for any Xianzhou strategist. This flame was, in fact, a notorious and dangerous malevolent spirit from the Xianzhou Alliance's list of major enemies – Suiyang, also known as Formless Demonic Fire.

As a rare Formless Eye lifeform, an energy being without a fixed form, Suiyang could typically evade the visible light spectrum of humans, remaining hidden and tracking prey by the scent of emotions. It would then possess a host, turning them into a walking corpse. Those who failed to merge successfully would die on the spot, and Suiyang would seek its next suitable host. It was a truly terrifying parasite.

It's worth noting that ordinary Suiyang did not prefer to invade the bodies of the long-lived species, as their extended lifespans and superior regenerative abilities made it difficult for them to easily seize control of the host's will. Therefore, the Foxkin and Outworlders on Xianzhou often became their primary targets. Furthermore, Suiyang tended to attach itself to individuals with strong desires...

Thus, that plump Outworlder merchant perfectly fit all the aforementioned criteria!

Looking at this flame, barely the size of a fingernail, it was fortunate that this newborn Suiyang was quite weak and lacked the ability to possess a host in the short term. It could only rely on methods like intimidation to feed on emotions. Otherwise, the merchant would have been replaced long ago. One could say this was a blessing in disguise.

As if uncomfortable from Bai Jun's grip, or perhaps imagining the grim future after being captured, the flame in his fingertip began to struggle restlessly. It gnawed at Bai Jun's fingers like a kitten or puppy, attempting to break free.

A burning sensation, like a bite, inexplicably spread, but for Bai Jun, this level of flame was no different from being nipped by an ant. Still, he put on a show of intimidation, "Don't move!"

"Wuu wuu!" The flame trembled with human-like sentience, nestling obediently on Bai Jun's finger, no longer daring to move.

Bai Jun nodded with satisfaction, slightly easing his grip. "By the way, can you not speak?"

"Wuu wuu..."

"Well, that's understandable. You haven't possessed anyone yet, so you wouldn't have the ability to learn language."

"Wuu wuu?"

"No, if I let you go, you'll just go on to harm others. You're lucky you ran into me this time. If the Ten Lords Bureau catches you, you're definitely in for a rough time."

"Wuu wuu!!"

"It's no use trying to explain yourself like that." Hearing the flame's explanation, Bai Jun clicked his tongue and scratched his cheek with a hint of difficulty.

All beings in the universe obeyed the command of some power. Just as flies knew how to fly without being taught, and spiders knew how to weave webs without instruction, humans ate when hungry and sought entertainment to pass the time when bored. Suiyang was no different.

He knew, of course, that Suiyang's act of possession was neither good nor evil. It was like humans eating out of instinct, a program seemingly embedded in their souls, devoid of right or wrong, merely a matter of differing perspectives.

The Suiyang, receiving no sympathy from Bai Jun, appeared quite dejected. Even the flame at its center dimmed, silently awaiting its confinement in an eternal, sunless prison, enduring endless torment.

"You don't need to play pitiful; I'm not letting you go." Bai Jun sighed and placed his right hand on the hilt of his sword. "However... you can choose between this sword and the Ten Lords Bureau."

Clang—

A crisp unsheathing sound echoed. This unremarkable long sword was drawn half an inch, its straight blade exuding a pale sheen that seemed even more piercing under the soft moonlight, yet it radiated a heat akin to translucent flame.

Upon sensing this aura, the Suiyang paused briefly, then erupted in almost frantic jubilation.

Feeling its fervor, Bai Jun, still holding the Suiyang, gently tapped it against the sword hilt as if cracking an egg. Instantly, the emerald flame transformed into a stream of light and eagerly burrowed into the sword.

After the fervor had completely subsided, he sheathed the now-calm blade.

"Alright, all done!" Having dealt with the matter, Bai Jun stretched with satisfaction, marking the end of a busy day. Now, all he had to do was lie in bed and sleep.

Glancing at the bare bed frame, Bai Jun silently abandoned the idea of staying overnight. He'd rather take the longer route home to sleep and tidy this place up when he had some free time in the coming days.

Oh, right, he almost forgot something.

Bai Jun seemed to recall something, taking out a Jade Omen from his pocket. The time was just around 9 PM.

Estimating it was about time for someone's appearance, he subtly moved his fingers, finding a contact whose avatar was still grayed out.

[Nan Liujing: There's a Suiyang sighting near the Jiren Alley business district. Please have the Ten Lords Bureau investigate when you have a moment.]

As soon as the message was sent, the grayed-out avatar immediately lit up, as if waiting for him... not likely.

[Snowy Coat: Received!]

[Snowy Coat: (Kitten girl giving a thumbs-up emoji)]

The other party replied with two messages at lightning speed. Bai Jun looked at the cute emoji, wondering what was going on with this esteemed individual.

[Nan Liujing: ...You should watch fewer weird anime; it's corrupting you.]

[Snowy Coat: Sorry, meow.**]

So cute...

Thinking of the exquisite, cute black-haired girl on the other party's Jade Omen screen, Bai Jun's finger paused over the screen, and he silently deleted the message he was about to send.

Never mind, considering how cute she was, he wouldn't dwell on it.

Bai Jun put away the Jade Omen, picked up the half-cold milk tea on the table, and was about to leave for home when his Jade Omen in his pocket rang again, unseasonably.

Bai Jun stopped in his tracks, pulling out the Jade Omen again. This time, the avatar displayed on the screen was a small silver-haired figure composed of pixel dots.

[Silver Hacker: Log in.**]

What a letdown. I thought the Ten Lords Bureau had some trouble for me, but it turns out it's just an online friend I met while playing games a while back.

Bai Jun raised an eyebrow. For someone who always adhered to a strict schedule, he certainly wouldn't waste time on something as trivial as playing games.

What he needed to do now was hurry back, take a hot bath, drink a glass of warm milk, do 20 minutes of stretching, and fall asleep the moment he hit the bed until morning, absolutely refusing to carry over fatigue and stress to the next day.

[Nan Liujing: Too late, I'm going to sleep.]

The other party clearly fell silent for a moment. Just as Bai Jun thought they were going to give up on inviting him to play, two suddenly popped-up messages firmly captured his attention.

[Silver Hacker: ???]

[Silver Hacker: Don't sleep, I'll let you play the Greatsword tonight.]

Bai Jun's fingers paused slightly, and he forcefully stopped the perfunctory reply he was editing.

Think about it a little... Does this even require thought? Hesitating for even half a second is an insult to the Greatsword!

[Nan Liujing: Log in?]

ps: Daily update of 10,000 characters. Considering the author's hard work, could you please give me some votes?

Chapter 8: Xianzhou people's tempers are always a compromise

The next morning, a pre-set alarm shattered the tranquility. Listening to the annoying ringing, Bai Jun reluctantly dragged himself out of bed, rubbed his sore eyes, and scanned his surroundings with a bit of confusion.

"Ah, I accidentally played too late..."

Feeling the drowsiness that made it almost impossible to open his eyes, and the fatigue that made him extremely unwilling to get up, Bai Jun was already starting to regret agreeing to play games with that Silver Hacker last night.

He had clearly agreed to let him play the Greatsword at first, but before he could even enjoy it for half an hour, she inexplicably started putting pressure on him.

Things like: [No, buddy?] [This Dragon Dive can miss?] [Poet holds poetry.]

Then she forced him to uninstall the Greatsword and obediently play support for her...

Playing support was fine. Fortunately, during the first half of the night, she maintained a remarkably high level of skill and strategy, and he could just coast to victory by slacking off. But for some reason, in the latter half of the night, the style completely changed, and she became a brainless berserker who only knew how to "pew pew pew, bang — bang!" To keep up with her pace, he couldn't even slack off anymore.

Could it be that she was just going through the motions with him later on?

No, from now on, no matter what she says, he won't play with her again.

Making a silent vow in his heart, Bai Jun struggled to get out of bed. His bare feet landed on the floor, and he rubbed his face vigorously before sleepily walking into the bathroom to wash up and groom himself.

After washing up, Bai Jun took a deep breath in front of the mirror, the corners of his mouth curving slightly upward.

It wasn't that he liked to smile. On the contrary, this smile carried a hint of forcedness and insincerity. But at least this way, he could get a good start to his day.

"Alright, a new day, and I have to live hard."

Uttering a declaration that made little sense, Bai Jun pushed open the door, parted the slightly cold morning mist, and walked out onto the quiet street.

Although it was still early, the morning temperature was by no means cold. On the contrary, he could feel the subtle changes of the passing seasons.

There were only a few people scattered sparsely on the street. Bai Jun walked to his usual breakfast stall and ordered a bowl of Soda Mung Bean Milk, some steamed buns, and some fried dough sticks, as always.

A very classic Xianzhou folk breakfast. The steamed buns and fried dough sticks at this shop were delicious. As for the so-called Soda Mung Bean Milk, it was actually made from fermented bean products. Although it wasn't widely accepted, once you got used to drinking it, you'd find it cool, refreshing, and very tasty.

After breakfast, the chilly air completely dissipated, and the first rays of sunlight cast down. The tall buildings around them couldn't completely block the sunlight, and it felt quite warm falling on him. Bai Jun, sitting up straight, took a sip of the mung bean milk and tilted his head back to look at the sky, his mood seeming to improve considerably.

He tossed a piece of fried dough stick into his mouth and chewed, his gaze casually falling on the street near the window.

The cool mist dispersed with the sunlight, and the number of pedestrians on the road had clearly increased compared to before. The rolling shutters of various shops were going up with a clatter. Familiar neighbors chatted idly, creating a peaceful atmosphere. This was also one of Bai Jun's few moments of leisure during the day. Since it was still early before work, he could rest a bit longer.

So, Bai Jun leaned back lazily in his chair, one hand casually resting on the mung bean milk cup, gently shaking it. His eyes were slightly closed, quietly enjoying the morning sun. His long eyelashes cast a shadow beneath his eyelids, giving him an air of casual ease.

But soon, this rare tranquility was disturbed. A man in ornate robes swaggered into the stall.

"Yo, isn't this General's younger brother, Mr. Jing Fang? What brings you to my humble establishment?" The shopkeeper's eyes lit up when he saw him, and he immediately changed from a waiter to greet him personally.

"Mmm, I was just passing by," Jing Fang said, placing his hands behind his back and nodding proudly. His demeanor exuded arrogance, clearly indicating he wasn't a stranger here.

The shopkeeper wasn't offended. A gentle smile remained on his face. A businessman's principle was to be amiable and prosper, and he also needed to be observant and aware of everything around him. This Jing Fang, who freeloaded meals and drinks, was hardly worth his attention. But who could blame him when he was the General's relative? Even a dog had to be considered before being beaten, let alone a person.

He genuinely felt sorry for the General, though. How could he have such a profligate younger brother? His lifelong reputation would be ruined by this scoundrel. He wondered if future historians would add "indulgence and cover-up" and "abuse of power for personal gain" to the General's evaluation.

While the shopkeeper was muttering to himself, Jing Fang spoke again: "Ahem, the General has returned from his expeditionary hunt. I'm going to visit him later."

With that, he placed his hands on his hips and stared directly at the bewildered waiter standing beside him.

The waiter was stunned by the stare. The shopkeeper, who was well-versed in human relations, quickly stepped forward to smooth things over: "Please, have a seat first. I'll brew you some tea. After you've eaten and drunk your fill, you can go to Shence Mansion and ask the esteemed guests of Changle Heaven to send their regards to the General, thanking him for his continued care."

"Mmm, thank you for your trouble," Jing Fang nodded, quite pleased with the shopkeeper's astuteness.

Jing Fang didn't stand on ceremony after that. He picked up the menu and ordered whatever was most expensive. He ordered seven or eight dishes before smacking his lips with lingering satisfaction: "Fine, that'll be all for this early morning."

He handed the menu back to the waiter and then proceeded to choose a seat he fancied in the shop.

There weren't many dine-in customers in the breakfast stall; most were office workers picking up takeout. But after scanning the surroundings, Jing Fang's gaze fell upon the seat by the window on the far left. Sitting by the window, he could see the street view and also enjoy the warm sunlight.

"Not bad, I'll sit there," Jing Fang pointed to the seat and called out to the waiter beside him.

"G-guest, but someone else is already sitting there."

Although the shopkeeper had instructed him to satisfy this gentleman as much as possible, the waiter couldn't help but remind him in a small voice.

Jing Fang raised his eyebrows. Hearing the waiter's words, he realized that someone was indeed sitting in that spot. However, their presence was so low, and he hadn't paid attention earlier, so he hadn't seen clearly.

But didn't that person's back look a little familiar? Never mind, that wasn't important. All he had to do now was step forward and show them his "identity." He believed no one would be so tactless.

As he thought this, Jing Fang straightened his collar and swaggered over to Bai Jun's side. Before he could even speak, however, his eyes widened in shock, and the words he was about to say were choked back.

The young man before him was dressed in a simple white shirt and black suit pants, his silver hair styled in a way that looked messy but not unkempt. What truly caught the eye were his clear, lake-blue eyes, like precious gems.

The moment Jing Fang met those deep blue eyes, he instantly understood the source of the inexplicable sense of familiarity. Dead memories surged back like a tide, as if the very blood in his veins had frozen.

At that moment, only one thought flashed through Jing Fang's mind: Damn it!

"Is there something you need?"

Bai Jun leaned back in his chair, expressionless as he chewed on a fried dough stick. His gaze was locked onto the trembling Jing Fang. Though his tone was gentle, Jing Fang could feel a hint of suppressed anger in those blue eyes.

"Oh my, this is quite the case of the Dragon King's temple being flooded by his own kin. If only you'd said you were here earlier..." Jing Fang's forehead beaded with cold sweat as he nervously rubbed his hands together, stammering, unsure of what excuse to offer.

"Don't say that. You're the General's own brother, after all, dear Mr. Jing Fang."

"Oh, no, no, no! Please, sir, don't tease me. Just call me Jing Qi, Jing Qi is fine!" Hearing Bai Jun's words, Jing Fang's legs trembled uncontrollably. His demeanor was so fearful that he looked as if he were about to drop to his knees and kowtow.

Of course, he wasn't General Jing Yuan's actual brother. It was just that in the local dialect of Xianzhou, the characters for Yuan and Qi looked similar. People often joked that he was related to General Jing Yuan. Once, he had a sudden inspiration, thinking it was a good way to get by, and had started introducing himself that way.

But this person was different. He vaguely recalled passing by Shence Mansion some time ago and seeing two young figures standing beside the General, chatting and laughing with ease. One was the recently prominent young Marshal Yan Qing, and the other was this living ancestor right before him!

Even if he didn't know whether this esteemed person was a Marshal beside the General or something else entirely, his status was definitely not something a nobody like himself could try to piggyback on!

Jing Fang's intestines were practically turning green with regret. If only he hadn't chosen this particular time to freeload. Now, he'd been caught by a big shot from the General's side. If he didn't end up at the bottom of the bay, it would be a miracle of the Emperor's Bow.

"No, I think Jing Fang sounds better than Jing Qi." Seeing Jing Fang's pitiful, tearful expression, Bai Jun's lips curved slightly, revealing a sly, fox-like smile.

"Whatever... whatever you like to call me..." Jing Fang suppressed the urge to vomit from sheer terror and fearfully crouched before the man's table. He felt like his inner energy was acting up and just wanted to get back under the bridge. He didn't even want to freeload anymore; just being alive was enough.

Bai Jun didn't press further. Instead, he crossed his legs and stared at Jing Fang with amusement. "Do you know who I am?"

"N-no..." Jing Fang had seen similar gangster movies and knew that extras who recognized the boss always died. So, no matter what, he couldn't admit it.

"Take another look?" Bai Jun lightly tapped Jing Fang on the forehead. Though he didn't use much force, Jing Fang's body still jolted.

"Sir! But I really don't know!" Jing Fang stuck to his denial, his head shaking like a rattle drum.