The Demon Lord’s Morning Routine and a Headless Corpse

Dan Fusheng lived a life of strict routine, retiring to bed at half-past eight and rising promptly at five in the morning.

Each day, he would take his dog for a walk to buy breakfast, followed by his morning exercises.

His genial nature endeared him not only to the elderly but also fostered good relationships with the younger residents nearby.

The Great Demon Lord Dan Fusheng possessed an appearance so deceptively benign that it easily fooled people. Initially, the park at dawn was exclusively populated by seniors performing their morning exercises.

However, after Dan Fusheng had been a regular for some time, a noticeable increase in younger people joined their small group.

Holy City, the primary city of the demon race, was predominantly inhabited by demons and mixed-bloods. Yet, demons without cultivation merely appeared more exotic than ordinary humans and enjoyed a few decades more of life.

Most of the individuals training with Dan Fusheng were mixed-bloods.

The most astonishing mix was a demon resembling a dragon. His lineage comprised the bloodlines of snake, deer, and eagle tribes, so much so that when the young man first arrived, even Dan Fusheng mistook him for something else entirely.

Bai Yu witnessed Dan Fusheng’s emotional shift firsthand, from initial surprise to a quiet composure.

“Does Mr. Dan particularly like the Dragon race?” Bai Yu inquired of Chen Gui, who stood beside him.

“I suppose so. Our Eldest Senior Sister is a Dragon,” Chen Gui murmured softly.

“Eldest Senior Sister?” Currently, True Monarch You Qing’s only recorded disciple was Chen Gui.

“Indeed. Dan Fusheng was taken in by our master when he was three, and it seems Eldest Senior Sister raised him,” Chen Gui paused strangely at this point. “Their relationship… should be… decent?”

“Since he was raised by his senior sister, it’s highly probable that Mr. Dan regards her as a mother figure.”

Chen Gui remained silent.

Assuming Chen Gui preferred not to respond, Bai Yu continued to watch Dan Fusheng lead the exercises. Dan Fusheng had already guided them through a complete set of moves when Chen Gui suddenly spoke up: “Hard to say.”

“Hmm?” Bai Yu prompted.

Chen Gui recalled Dan Fusheng frequently getting thrashed by Eldest Senior Sister. These beatings weren’t for cultivation or character flaws; Dan Fusheng was simply annoying.

In Senior Sister’s cave abode, there was a spiritual spring where she typically resided in her true form. Dan Fusheng, however, would wash vegetables, do laundry, and even clean blood-stained magical artifacts in it, drawing water from the spring whenever he needed.

“He seemed to believe everything in Senior Sister’s cave abode was superior. He’d wander in for no reason, only to be chased out.”

Once, Dan Fusheng, along with a young Chen Gui, snuck into Eldest Senior Sister’s cave to steal food. Upon discovery, Eldest Senior Sister furiously slapped Dan Fusheng’s head, but he merely continued to stuff food into his mouth, enduring the assault. Eventually, Chen Gui started crying from fright, which prompted the two to stop. Dan Fusheng then soothed his junior brother while blaming everything on Eldest Senior Sister.

Naturally, they ended up bickering again.

After hearing the tale, Bai Yu couldn’t help but remark, “Their sibling relationship is surprisingly good, isn’t it?” ‘Even the Demon Lord has such a side to him.’

“Is this normal?” Chen Gui asked, bewildered.

“Isn’t it normal?” Bai Yu found the relationship between Dan Fusheng and his Eldest Senior Sister somewhat childish. Such antics usually occurred between immature siblings, yet it also implicitly affirmed the excellent bond they shared.

“I… don’t really understand these things,” Chen Gui pursed his lips.

“Haha, you’re quite serious.” Bai Yu also found it peculiar. According to Chen Gui’s description, neither Dan Fusheng nor Eldest Senior Sister possessed a rigid or pedantic personality, nor did Jade Mastiff, whom Dan Fusheng had raised.

From this perspective, was Chen Gui the odd one out, the unusual exception?

“Is True Monarch You Qing a very serious senior?” Bai Yu asked again.

“Not really,” Chen Gui answered truthfully. “He enjoys a good joke.”

Chen Gui didn’t reveal too much, for people in this era viewed True Monarch You Qing through a highly idealized lens. Chen Gui would not actively shatter that perception.

He couldn’t possibly claim his master was an irreverent old man; it would be disrespectful.

Yet, Chen Gui still couldn’t fathom how the astonishing genius of yesteryear could possess such a personality. Even the two disciples he raised turned out to be quite eccentric.

True Monarch You Qing’s first adopted child, raised solely by him, was their Eldest Senior Sister. According to Dan Fusheng, for three months after adopting her, True Monarch You Qing refused to give the young Eldest Senior Sister a single bite of food. If she hadn’t been a Dragon, she likely would have perished at her master’s hands.

“Our Senior Sister was also a simpleton; she thought it was a test from an immortal, so she didn’t dare to secretly hunt. She’d return to her old home in the sea, swimming along while salivating at the fish, but not taking a single bite.” Dan Fusheng, embracing a young Chen Gui at the time, exposed all the old secrets of their master and senior sister. “She later found out Master had simply forgotten that she needed to eat grains, and she nearly choked him to death.”

“Perhaps it truly was a test. Master is so powerful; he must think more profoundly than us,” the young Chen Gui responded earnestly.

Dan Fusheng’s gaze upon him at the time was complex, but he said nothing.

Later, as Chen Gui gradually matured, he came to a clear realization—Master’s personality was strange, Senior Sister was strange, and Senior Brother was strange. He had truly fallen into a den of eccentrics.

And then…

“Are you two talking about Eldest Senior Sister?” Dan Fusheng put away his practice sword and walked towards them. “Are you speaking ill of me?”

“No,” Chen Gui leaned back slightly.

Dan Fusheng ignored his dismissive gesture, smiling as he pointed at Chen Gui and told Bai Yu, “Whenever our names escape this old stick-in-the-mud’s lips, only unpleasant words follow.”

Bai Yu took a deep breath.

Jade Mastiff barked at him twice, unable to speak human language conveniently in the park.

“Oh?” Dan Fusheng understood. “So you weren’t speaking ill of me? That’s good. I thought he was complaining again.”

“You clearly heard what I was saying,” Chen Gui frowned deeply.

“Who was paying attention to you two? I was busy leading people in sword practice, wasn’t I?” Dan Fusheng tossed the sword to Chen Gui, then turned to wave at the elderly men and women with a smile.

The seniors responded enthusiastically.

Subsequently, Dan Fusheng began to straighten his clothes. “This fellow always feels like we’re isolating him, not close to him.”

At this, Dan Fusheng let out a heavy sigh. “Look at his rigid personality. How could we possibly take him along when we’re out doing mischief?”

“‘We’?”

“My Master, Senior Sister, and I.”

“You’re spouting nonsense! When have Master and Senior Sister ever done anything mischievous?!” Chen Gui demanded, gritting his teeth.

Dan Fusheng: “…”

He sighed again. “Never mind, I won’t say more, lest your Dao heart shatter.”

Chen Gui still intended to retort, but Dan Fusheng offered him no such opportunity. “Hey, are we going on a group tour a week from now?”

“Another tour?” Bai Yu’s face registered difficulty. “Last time, our cross-province trip involved six hours of travel back and forth. What’s the point of such a tour?” He felt his courage had grown considerably, daring to refuse the Demon Lord Dan Fusheng’s suggestion.

“These group activities are convenient for fostering camaraderie!” Dan Fusheng’s eyes widened. “You’re a leader, after all; you should listen to the opinions of the people below you!”

Bai Yu felt utterly helpless. “Mr. Dan, I already know how many people are in your ‘friends” families, their family dynamics, and what professions they hold.”

“You investigated them?”

“They talked about it themselves during their chats!”

“Oh…” Dan Fusheng frowned. “Then have you been to Red Lotus River?”

“Yes, and you’ve been there too. It used to be called Blood River.” That place was once Dan Fusheng’s territory; he had dyed the river red with the blood of human cultivators.

“Is that so? Then are you still going?” Dan Fusheng didn’t care where they went; he just wanted to participate in an activity.

Bai Yu shook his head. “I don’t want to go.”

Dan Fusheng’s mood immediately plummeted.

It was then that Chen Gui suddenly spoke. “Master also passed away at Blood River.”

Dan Fusheng, who had been feigning pity, instantly composed his expression. “Never mind, I won’t participate in this activity either.” He wasn’t ready to learn how his master died, nor did he want to shift his attention to that matter.

Chen Gui did not rebuke Dan Fusheng either; he merely fell silent once more.

The group quietly began their journey home.

Unaccustomed to Dan Fusheng’s serious and solemn expression, Bai Yu couldn’t resist breaking the silence. “Is there anything you’d like to talk about?”

With a thud, something fell before them.

It was just past seven in the morning, and the path they were taking was relatively quiet.

A heavy stench of blood permeated the air.

It was a headless corpse.

Bai Yu’s pupils constricted, and he instinctively looked towards the alley beside the body.

“Ahhh!” A scream erupted.

Bai Yu mentally cursed; someone had discovered it. He had to secure the scene immediately and notify his colleagues.

He erected a barrier, then turned his head towards the source of the sound.

Dan Fusheng was clinging tightly to Chen Gui, his mouth already covered by Chen Gui’s hand.

Bai Yu: ???

Wait! Was that the Demon Lord who just screamed?

Dan Fusheng didn’t struggle; he merely tried to bury his face into Chen Gui’s embrace, attempting to avoid the gruesome sight.

Chen Gui looked utterly disgusted. Despite his best efforts to control himself, his features were contorted into a grimace.

Chen Gui released his hand, but Dan Fusheng continued to clamber onto him.

“I, I, I! I called the police!” Dan Fusheng stammered nervously as he clambered. After muttering this, he glanced at the corpse again. “Isn’t this a society governed by law?! How can people just kill indiscriminately!”

“Are you not familiar with the aura on him?” Chen Gui asked Dan Fusheng, his face cold. “It’s a cultivation technique from the Yu Kingdom, though incomplete… Get down from me!” Dan Fusheng was almost sitting on his head.

“No! I’m scared!” Dan Fusheng shivered uncontrollably.

Chen Gui didn’t believe him for a second. “Stop pretending; no one here will believe you!”

Dan Fusheng: “Sob sob. Ah!! Don’t shake me!”

Dan Fusheng’s legs were tightly wrapped around Chen Gui’s torso, his hands clasped around Chen Gui’s head, and his body obscured Chen Gui’s view. “Good junior brother, I’ll block it for you. Don’t be afraid; you can’t see anything.”

“Dan Fusheng!!”

Dan Fusheng: “Ahhhh!”

“Dan…”

Dan Fusheng: “Incomprehensible whimpering.”

Chen Gui: …

The police from the Special Personnel Safety Administration arrived swiftly. Bai Yu hadn’t notified them; he had been observing Dan Fusheng at the time.

This group had been summoned by Dan Fusheng’s own emergency call.

Upon arriving at the scene, the leading team captain instinctively asked, “Who called the police?”

Dan Fusheng silently raised his hand.

The team captain looked at Dan Fusheng, who was currently being held in a princess carry by Chen Gui.

Dan Fusheng appeared utterly terrified, still trembling.

Unable to sense Dan Fusheng’s cultivation, the team captain assumed he was an ordinary person. “There’s no need to be too afraid; we will ensure your safety.”

Then, the captain noticed Bai Yu. “Specialist Bai?! What are you doing here? Weren’t you supposed to be supervising ‘that person’?”

Bai Yu scratched his head. “Still supervising.”

“That Demon Lord is here too?!” The captain’s heart sank. This matter was likely connected to the Demon Lord, making it incredibly difficult to resolve.

“Yes, he’s the one who just called the police,” Bai Yu pointed at Dan Fusheng.

The team captain froze.

He slowly turned his head, meeting Dan Fusheng’s gaze.

The officers on duty also instinctively paused their actions, looking towards Dan Fusheng.

The team captain was momentarily speechless, while Dan Fusheng, under scrutiny, shrank further into Chen Gui’s embrace.

Chen Gui couldn’t bear it any longer and tried to shake Dan Fusheng off. However, Dan Fusheng clung to his arm as if glued, swaying up and down with Chen Gui’s movements, but his body remained stubbornly stuck to Chen Gui’s arm.

“Please don’t! Please stop!” The team captain was terrified, fearing that Chen Gui might unleash the Demon Lord’s wrath, leaving everyone in dire straits.

Ultimately, Dan Fusheng was indeed thrown off, but he didn’t hit the ground, as the team captain caught him.

The team captain gasped for air, while Dan Fusheng looked somewhat embarrassed. “Ah! My apologies!”

“No! Please don’t apologize.” The team captain’s heart pounded. “Perhaps you could first explain the current situation?”

Dan Fusheng shifted out of the team captain’s embrace, glaring at Chen Gui. “If you dislike me, you can hit me or scold me, but doing this only troubles others.”

Chen Gui: “I…”

“We encountered this while walking on the road,” Dan Fusheng interrupted Chen Gui, pointing at the headless corpse on the ground. “It’s so scary; it just suddenly appeared on the road in the morning.”

“I am a cultivator, after all, so I could sense the spiritual energy within this deceased friend’s body, which is why I called the police immediately.” Dan Fusheng patted his chest. “How can such things happen in a society governed by law? There truly is no shortage of perverts in this world. What kind of psychology drives these people, do you think?”

“This corpse was meant for you,” Chen Gui said coldly. “The residual magical aura on the body, and the incomplete tattoo on his neck, which is a totem of the Yu Kingdom—didn’t you see it?”

“Why would I look at a dead person? Officer…”

“Please don’t call me that!” The team captain flinched in terror.

“My apologies,” Dan Fusheng lowered his head. “I’m older, so I made you sound old.”

“No, no, no!” The team captain was flustered, unable to speak properly.

“Did I cause you trouble? Was this person really targeting me?” Dan Fusheng asked softly. “I don’t know either; I just haphazardly broke the seal and don’t understand the current situation.”

“Uh, please return for now; we’ll investigate this matter.” Amidst his chaotic and complex thoughts, the team captain managed to grasp some rationality based on his past experience.

“Do I not need to go to the police station?”

“Specialist Bai is with you. If there are any questions you need to answer, we will visit you at home.” The team captain no longer wished to communicate with Dan Fusheng; he felt uncomfortable.

“Oh, alright then.” Dan Fusheng quietly retreated to stand beside Chen Gui and Bai Yu.

Chen Gui stared at Dan Fusheng. Having been tricked by him many times, he dared not trust Dan Fusheng. Was Dan Fusheng truly unrelated to this incident?

Dan Fusheng, however, patted Chen Gui’s hand. “Quick, apologize to the officer.”

The team captain: ‘What in the world? Who is apologizing to whom?!’

Chen Gui was bewildered.

“Can’t you hear the officer’s heartbeat? Don’t you know that throwing me off like that scared him? Aren’t you just causing trouble for others?”

The team captain held his breath.

‘If this long-haired man is the Demon Lord, then the short-haired one beside him must be True Monarch Yaoling. This… could Dan Fusheng be trying to humiliate True Monarch Yaoling?’

The team captain’s mind raced, but True Monarch Yaoling had already clarified the logic and bowed to him in apology. “My apologies, I shouldn’t have thrown this demon off.”

The team captain’s brain temporarily ceased functioning. “Ah? It’s fine.”

After apologizing, True Monarch Yaoling dragged the Demon Lord away. After a few steps, he paused, turned around, and spoke to the team captain again. “I’ve caused you trouble; I apologize.”

“It’s truly fine!”

Chen Gui could gauge the team captain’s cultivation level. For such a junior cultivator to suddenly embrace a Great Demon Lord, the psychological pressure must have been immense. This was indeed his own oversight.

Chen Gui began to reflect on himself.

Jade Mastiff, familiar with Dan Fusheng, couldn’t help but speak in human language. “Are you in a bad mood, using the method of disgusting True Monarch Yaoling to regulate your emotions?” The moment he saw the corpse, Jade Mastiff had felt the demonic energy within Dan Fusheng swell instantly.

“How could that be?! He’s my junior brother!” Dan Fusheng frowned. “Jade Mastiff, we’ve been together for so long; is that truly how you think of me?”

“This time, it was indeed my fault.” Chen Gui still felt Dan Fusheng harbored ill intentions, but Dan Fusheng’s poor motivations could not excuse Chen Gui’s reckless actions.

Jade Mastiff: …

‘Good, he deserved to be bullied by Dan Fusheng! He should suffer this hardship!’