Mind Reading? Alice's Bloodline Gift

(This chapter is free.)

Desolate. That was Chen Rui's first impression of New Moon City.

He did not know whether all cities in the Demon Realm were like this. Including the royal palace, most of New Moon City's buildings looked old and dilapidated. There were few shops and stalls, and many of the demons along the way were savage and ugly, yet mostly dressed in ragged clothes. The entire city was filled with an air of decay and bleakness.

The demons' appearances made Chen Rui tremble with fear. If his human identity were exposed, even if he was not eaten, he would certainly lose his life.

"Hey! You there, straighten your waist, don't clamp your legs so tightly, relax your shoulders!" Alina's voice interrupted Chen Rui's thoughts. "And you call yourself a man? Any child from our Wells Family is much better than you!"

Actually, Chen Rui wanted to say that he was still a virgin and did not really count as a man in that sense. But his posture truly was rather strange. He was sprawled frog-like across the Triangle Rhino's back, clutching its broad carapace with both hands, terrified that he would fall and be trampled into a human pancake by the giant beast.

"Sorry, it's my first time riding something this big." Chen Rui had originally wondered why this world did not have things like stirrups and saddles, thinking he could copy the invention. But when he looked at Alice and the others' Triangle Rhinos, they were all equipped with full saddle gear—so it was simply a matter of different treatment.

"Even if it's your first time, there's no need to clamp so tightly! Loosen your legs!" Alina scolded bluntly.

Whether the little loli truly understood or not, she kindly advised, "Alina, don't be so impatient. Since it's his first time, of course he'll clamp tightly."

That sentence nearly made Chen Rui fall off the Triangle Rhino. Quite a few demons along the road noticed how strange he looked and pointed at him. Fortunately, Chen Rui wore a cloak, so his human identity had not been exposed for now. Only a few demons especially sensitive to scents showed puzzled expressions. With the little princess and Athena present, no one dared approach.

When they reached the city gate, the four Triangle Rhinos were stopped.

"Your Highness Alice, where are you going?" The one who stopped them was a male demon in armor. He was tall and powerfully built, with crimson skin, two huge curved horns on his head, sharply defined features, and a vicious aura all over his body. Judging by his appearance, he was a Greater Devil.

"So it's General Allen, the Public Security officer. I didn't expect you to be personally inspecting the area today." Alice smiled faintly. "We're going to Blue Wave Lake."

General Allen frowned. "There has been a small situation at Blue Wave Lake lately. I am worried that something may have happened to that sleeping Poison Dragon. Scouts have already been sent to investigate. Your Highness Alice, you should wait until its safety is confirmed before going there for recreation."

"That Poison Dragon has been asleep for thousands of years, and it bears Emperor White Night's strongest Lock of Light and Darkness, so there is absolutely no problem." Alice pointed at Chen Rui. "Besides, I'm not going there to play this time... This is Master Aldas's newly accepted apprentice. The master asked me to take him to Blue Wave Lake to gather medicinal herbs."

Of alchemy's two major branches, if artifact makers inspired "reverence," then potion makers inspired "fear." People were more frightened of poisons and harmful potions, while overlooking their healing and enhancement effects.

The usual keywords for a potion master were mysterious, terrifying, vicious, and not to be provoked. Aldas was a representative of that sort. The miserable screams of test subjects often came from his laboratory. Even royal palace guards did not dare approach it. No one knew why the Eldest Princess had been willing to house such a dangerous figure in the outer courtyard of the palace.

Such a mysterious and terrifying potion master had actually taken on an apprentice. Allen was very curious about what kind of person this apprentice was, so he looked at Chen Rui a few more times. His eyes abruptly sharpened just as Alice had Chen Rui remove his cloak.

"That's the human we caught last time!" one of the soldiers behind Allen cried out. Instantly, all manner of hostile gazes focused on Chen Rui. Chen Rui forced himself to maintain a natural expression, though cold sweat was already running down his forehead.

Allen had discovered Chen Rui's identity before the soldiers did. He remembered that when he reported to the Eldest Princess, Master Aldas had happened to be present and personally requested the human as an experimental subject before taking him away. Yet now, this prisoner—or rather, slave—had somehow become the master's apprentice?

Alice casually introduced him to Allen. "This human is named Chen Rui. Because he has considerable talent in potion-making, Master Aldas has exceptionally accepted him as an official apprentice. From now on, he can be considered one of New Moon City's people."

Athena impatiently added, "Alice and I heard the master say it ourselves today. If you still doubt it, go ask Master Aldas directly!"

"Athena, I'm sorry, that's not what I meant. I..."

General Allen's attitude toward Athena was somewhat strange. Before he could finish speaking, Athena coldly interrupted, "Allen, your interrogation should be over, shouldn't it? Don't delay our time gathering medicinal herbs!"

Athena's stiff attitude left Allen helpless. He said to Alice, "Little Princess, just in case, shall I send a squad of soldiers to protect you?"

Alice asked with a smile, "Are you worried Athena can't protect me?"

Athena's delicate brows rose, and a sharp gleam flashed in her red eyes. Allen hurriedly shook his head, then looked at Chen Rui with a hint of chill in his gaze. "Human! Do not try to escape or play any tricks, or I will crush every bone in your body."

After saying that, Allen gave a slight bow to the little princess and signaled for them to pass.

The four Triangle Rhinos left the city gate with heavy footsteps. News that Master Aldas had accepted a human apprentice quickly spread through Darkmoon City.

"Actually, I think Allen is pretty decent. His family background and status are a good match for yours," Alice said with a beaming smile as she looked at Athena. "If he hadn't bypassed you and directly proposed marriage to your father, you probably wouldn't dislike him so much."

Athena said disdainfully, "I didn't like him to begin with! That cowardly, useless fool only became a Public Security officer by relying on the Kalon Family's influence. He only knows how to bully the weak and has no real ability."

The "weak" person beside them finally understood. So there was gossip like this. No wonder the violent woman treated General Allen as though he were an enemy.

"When we went to the Rainy Jungle last time, he must have tattled to the Eldest Princess. I hate that kind of person most," Athena sneered. "He wants to set his sights on me? He should ask the sword in my hand first!"

"That's right, Athena is mine. No one can take her away." The little loli giggled. "Let's speed up!"

The Triangle Rhinos began to run faster. It was hard to believe such a massive body could move at such terrifying speed. For Chen Rui, who had no supporting equipment atop the rhino's back, it was undoubtedly an ordeal. He could only cling to it desperately using Toad Skill, nearly falling several times. Athena found him too troublesome and switched mounts with him. Seeing the violent woman remain perfectly at ease atop the giant rhino racing at high speed, Chen Rui could only admit defeat.

Compared to the sunlit Surface World in Arthur's memories, the Demon Realm's environment was far harsher. Its light came from two "stars" in the sky. Though called "stars," their heat and light were far weaker than Earth's sun. Most of the time, their glow was obscured by thick clouds and smoke in the air. At night, they became "moons," emitting a cold, pale violet radiance. The difference between day and night temperatures was immense.

Along the way were enormous pits formed by long-term erosion, dark and mysterious unknown caverns, and bizarre plants of every kind, creating an unusually beautiful landscape in dark tones.

Blue Wave Lake was vast, surrounded by mountains and especially tranquil. Its water was deep blue, while the plants along its shore were lush and its flowers dazzling, like a paradise hidden within the dark world.

However, Chen Rui soon learned from Alice that the lake was blue because an enormous adult Poison Dragon slept at the bottom. The venom leaking from its body had dyed the lake blue, and not a single living creature existed in the water. Most of the luxuriant, brilliant flowers and grasses around the lake were highly poisonous, and some of the delicate flowers were even carnivorous. Their beautiful, alluring appearances came from the flesh and blood of their prey.

Dragons possessed terrifying power, especially rare Dragon Race members with potent venom. They could easily exterminate an entire city's population, so no one dared provoke them lightly. This Poison Dragon had slept in the lake for thousands of years. Four hundred years ago, when rebellion broke out in the Darkmoon Territory, Emperor White Night, the strongest being in the Demon Realm, personally led troops to suppress it. Even when passing Blue Wave Lake, he did not dare awaken the Poison Dragon. To keep it asleep, he deliberately placed a Lock of Light and Darkness seal upon it.

"There is a rule in the Demon Realm: the more beautiful something is, the more dangerous it tends to be."

Chen Rui deeply agreed with Alice's words, silently adding one more line in his heart: witches are the same.

The adorably cute little princess, the soul-stealing maid, the valiant Swordswoman—weren't all of them dangerous?

The sleeping Poison Dragon in the lake was no mere decoration. Athena did not dare bring the little princess too close. She cautiously chose a relatively safe hilltop, from which they could see the broad surface of the lake below. The view was excellent.

"It's been so long since we came to Blue Wave Lake. Athena, do you remember last time?" Alice eagerly suggested, "It's rare for us to come out. How about we have another picnic?"

Athena hesitated slightly. "Didn't that guy Allen say there had been strange activity at Blue Wave Lake recently? We should pick the fruit and return quickly."

"Do you really believe that coward Allen?" Alice shook her head dismissively. "If you invited him along, he would immediately say the Poison Dragon had been killed and that Blue Wave Lake was safer than his family's bathroom."

"I would never invite that annoying guy!" Athena snorted coldly, secretly agreeing with Alice. "Fine, then. Jia can gather Green Dragon Fruit, and I'll hunt some prey. Hey, human, stay here with Alice and set things up."

Chen Rui had actually wanted to see whether he could use those poisonous flowers to increase the Super System's progress, but considering the terrifying man-eating flowers and the boss in the lake, he immediately gave up on the idea.

After Jia and Athena left, Alice directed Chen Rui to get busy. The bracelet on her wrist was a spatial storage item, though its quality and grade were likely not very high, and the space inside was limited. The little loli had stuffed it completely full. As soon as she opened the spatial entrance, a pile of things fell out, followed by another huge pile.

Chen Rui could only help her sort through them. He accidentally "picked up" a pile of underwear, some even large-sized and trimmed with lace. Chen Rui froze. His first reaction was that this world already had such things. His second reaction was that the size was completely incompatible with a certain not-yet-developed part of the little loli's body. Could Alice possibly be a certain kind of "enthusiast" from legend?

Under Alice's murderous glare, Chen Rui pretended not to see the pile and turned to sort out the other items. When he turned back, the pile had already vanished.

Alice's storage space contained quite a complete assortment of things. Before long, a full set of picnic supplies had been sorted out. It seemed this little loli was always prepared for outings.

Athena and Jia had not returned yet. Seeing no one around, Alice walked toward Chen Rui step by step. Chen Rui felt a wave of nervousness and asked, "Little Princess, do you have any other instructions?"

"That's not how the plot goes." Alice revealed a strange smile and said, "You should say, 'Don't come any closer! If you come any closer, I'll call for help!' Then I'll say, 'Go ahead and scream your throat out. No one will come save you!'"

Chen Rui felt black lines fill his forehead. Rolling his eyes, he asked, "Then I'll call, 'Broken Throat, Broken Throat,' and the guy named 'No One' will come save me?"

Alice looked surprised. "So the human world has the book The Devil King and the Princess too."

Chen Rui smiled inscrutably and did not respond. It seemed many things were universal, regardless of plane or race.

But he could no longer smile after Alice said, "Tell this princess a nice story, like that Primordial World one last time. Your imagination is quite rich."

Chen Rui's heart leaped violently. He defended himself, "That wasn't a story. It was real! If I hadn't inherited Master Wukong's divine thoughts, how could I have made Huarong Dao and the Kongming Lock?"

"I'll tell you a secret, one even Athena doesn't know." Alice lowered her voice mysteriously. "When I first met you, I happened to awaken a special bloodline gift of the Lucifer Royal Family called Mind Reading, and... I accidentally tried it on you."

Chen Rui's mind shook violently, and for a moment, he could not speak.

Accidentally, my ass!