Chapter 467

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Chapter 467: The Greedy Boss Exploiting Online

The story unfolds outside the city, where a dense fog clings to the air, refusing to dissipate.

In the bamboo forest late at night, Bai Wei sat quietly, holding a freshly purchased bottle of milk, feeding a cat.

A striped cat, content and comfortable, rested on his lap, happily licking fresh coconut-infused goat’s milk. It savored the meal thoroughly, showing no signs of hurry.

Demon Cat Yumeko, upon entering the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom, didn’t remain idle. Instead, she swiftly gathered valuable information from all corners. Being fast and agile, she provided insights that helped avoid many detours. Thanks to her, Bai Wei managed to navigate with a better understanding of his surroundings, though trust was still in short supply.

After finishing the milk, the tiger-striped cat lazily stretched, then began meowing.

“The imperial court is really far away. It took a long time just to come and go,” it complained.

Bai Wei, with the stern attitude of an employer enforcing overtime, responded, “Tiredness is a good thing. Comfort is for the dead. If you have time to complain, you should improve your efficiency instead.”

The cat’s paws twitched as it swiped at him. “You have no humanity. You even borrowed the cat’s paws! Can you get any more heartless?”

Bai Wei shrugged coldly. “Humanity from capitalists? It’s easier to make the Trisolarans collectively turn vegetarian. So, what did you find?”

“The imperial courtyard is heavily guarded. Even a cute cat like me would struggle to enter, let alone a flying bird,” Yumeko replied. “I did manage to sneak in once, but I didn’t encounter any royal family members. I was discovered shortly after entering and then… well, I got eaten.”

“Eaten?”

“Yes, there are many pets in the imperial court.”

“But you’re a cat.”

“And the other pets are bigger than me,” Yumeko retorted.

Bai Wei nodded in understanding. “I see. Continue.”

The shadowy figure’s fur bristled in anger, but then it realized it had no salary or insurance. With a sigh, it calmed down.

Bai Wei, not one to share sympathy lightly, would say, “Since I gave you a job, why should I also give you a salary?”

Yumeko, licking her fur, continued, “I only visited the imperial courtyard for a short time. I don’t have much information on other matters.”

Bai Wei asked, “What about the news of the dragon tribe’s stolen dragon pearls?”

“I don’t know anything about that,” Yumeko answered, settling back down. “The Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom is vast. Gathering information isn’t easy, and we haven’t even located their hidden base.”

Bai Wei’s brow furrowed. “So, it’s like getting no results at all… practically a zero score.”

Yumeko yawned. “I have a few reliable tidbits, though. First, we can confirm Bi Fang’s plan is real, not just talk. Second, the intensity of battles near Bai Ze Kingdom hasn’t increased. Lastly, your reputation is spreading.”

Bai Wei nodded. “That’s the result I need.”

In a world where secrets couldn’t be kept for long, showing strength became essential. The Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom had a strong presence in the martial world, and in times of peace, its influence waned. But in times of chaos, many seized the opportunity to rise and become bandits. The martial world, like the kingdom, had its own order. In peaceful times, it was a group of folk armed forces surviving together. But in chaos, it turned brutal, with the strong devouring the weak.

In such times, the martial world was of the people, while the military was official. The two systems operated differently. In a world dominated by warlords, martial artists were often seen as part of their private fish pond. Some powerful martial artists emerged from this pond and became local bosses—respected by the warlords but serving them as guard dogs.

The most powerful martial artists could gain favor from warlords or prominent families. Some notorious villains disappeared, their fates sealed as bodyguards for influential princes.

While Bai Wei didn’t seek fame, it was clear that without status, he would have no standing. Gaining recognition in the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom wasn’t difficult; it only required one thing—killing. The more you kill, the faster you become famous!

This time, Chao Lu and Nalan would draw many heroes and secret assassins from the martial world. Bai Wei needed to prepare for them and eliminate them cleanly. If he could survive this ordeal, a single battle would establish his name.

It sounded simple, but in reality, it was anything but. Along the way, there would be pursuits, ambushes, and blockades.

The constant need to adhere to safety rules was tiresome. Those who understood, understood. There were no easy scenarios, where monsters gathered and let themselves be preyed upon.

Bai Wei couldn’t help but feel a sense of uncertainty about the future. He realized he had no real options. Even if he wanted to take a shortcut, there was none to be had.

What was a shortcut? Fame, power, status.

Bai Wei felt disappointed that his disguise had been useless. Despite his identity as an emperor or mentor being well-known in Europe, it didn’t carry the same weight in the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom. To the people uninterested in foreign history, his reputation was nothing more than a confusing echo, like when one hears the name of a French hero—De Gaulle. Who is he? I don’t know him.

When Bai Wei heard Nalan Qingshu refer to him as a “mentor,” a small sense of pride swelled within him. At least he thought he had some knowledge of history.

Demon Cat Yumeko, having finished her milk, casually asked for more overtime tasks.

“What should we check next?” she asked.

“If you want to tour the scenic spots in the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom, I’ve got a few reference plans,” Bai Wei responded with a wry smile.

Yumeko’s ears twitched in indifference. “Do you know the last person who said this worked overtime until they collapsed?”

Yumeko didn’t seem bothered, though. Cats had nine lives, so they could endure anything.

Bai Wei’s biggest hope was to directly communicate with the Third Princess. The palace was heavily guarded, and as Cat Yumeko had warned, they couldn’t enter. That task would have to wait.

Bai Wei also hoped to investigate the Black Dragon of the North Sea, but Yumeko dismissed it as impossible. It would be extremely difficult. The dragon tribe’s headquarters were in the Frost-free Port—too cold for cats. Cats, naturally afraid of water, didn’t fare well in cold coastal areas. And even if there were aquatic scouts, cats and aquatic creatures didn’t mix well.

“They see cats the way humans see snakes. Oh, how cute! Let me touch it,” Yumeko said with a hint of exasperation.

Bai Wei could only hope Yumeko would check which martial artists might block their path.

“I’m too lazy for that,” she replied nonchalantly. “Anyway, you don’t know them. If anyone stands in our way, I’ll chop them down. No need to waste my precious time on minor characters who’ll probably be gone in three chapters. A cat’s life is short, you know. It’s better spent on meaningful things—like being cute and getting free food.”

Bai Wei sighed. “I have nothing to say. Why don’t you act as Party A then…”

Yumeko, who had already rejected three requests, urged Bai Wei to set his own goals and manage things independently. “You need strong self-management skills.”

Ghost, hearing the request, said, “Alright.” It had a few guesses about the situation, but wasn’t certain yet. It would wait until more was clear, as it was likely connected to the web spun by the strategist. If it could tap into their network, it wouldn’t need to gather information itself. It could just enjoy the fruits of others’ labor, much as it had done in Yingzhou. It was time-saving, efficient, and effective.

Before leaving, Yumeko reminded Bai Wei, “Keep an eye on your surroundings next week. The spread of information seems fast and unnatural. Someone may be fueling the fire.”

Bai Wei asked, “Help me look up the top ten experts in the martial world here.”

“There are no experts, only demons and assassins… I’ll handle it,” Yumeko said, vanishing into the bamboo forest.

Bai Wei stood, picked up his bamboo rod, and realized he had spent so much time fishing without a single catch. Frustrated, he threw the bamboo rod into the water.

The green fish, which had danced around the rod without biting, suffered from the distraction. The angler, now frustrated, swiped at the water, sending fish leaping up. But he no longer cared and walked away after losing his rod.

As he took a few steps back, he said, “Come out… I saw your fox tail.”

“I don’t have a tail! I’m not a fox!” The little snake girl, who had been following Bai Wei out of the city, clumsily tried to explain, tapping her tail nervously on the bamboo.

Ignoring her, Bai Wei continued through the bamboo forest, hands behind his back.

“Were you just talking to a cat?” Yubing asked curiously.

Bai Wei didn’t answer directly but changed the subject. “The security’s tight in Longyao City. As a snake girl, you should be aware of your sensitive identity. It’s fine to go out at night, but leaving the city is out of the question. What if you run into a strict grandpa fishing law enforcement officer?”

Yubing hesitated before speaking. “I followed you because I had something to say… I found it interesting how you were talking to the cat, so prim and proper.”

“Just say it,” Bai Wei encouraged.

Gathering her courage, Yubing asked, “Can you… for me…”

Bai Wei smoothly responded, “Do you owe me 50?”