Ch 16: The Malevolent Monster Just Wants To Farm

Jiang Lin was taken aback. How could someone not know their own age?

The black-clad boy, seeing Jiang Lin’s expression, snorted, “I’ve lived too long to remember. Isn’t that normal?”

Jiang Lin looked at the boy’s childlike appearance and said, “I’m going to have dinner now, Master… Zong, feel free to do as you like.”

The black-clad boy glanced at him and said, “My name is Zong Yu. You can call me by my name.”

Jiang Lin found it odd. From the way that middle-aged Taoist from the Supervision Department acted, this kid seemed to have a bad temper. So why was he being so easygoing with him?

Thinking this, he asked directly.

Zong Yu snorted lightly, “Because those guys, while they act all respectful on the surface, are secretly wishing for me to have an accident and die early. The ones who don’t want me dead are just hoping to gain something from me. But you…”

He looked Jiang Lin up and down, his tone turning a bit nuanced, “I can’t sense any disgusting desires from you.”

Disgusting desires?

Jiang Lin silently tried to think of what kind of demon could sense such things but couldn’t come up with an answer.

—In his previous life, he was a staunch atheist and didn’t know much about these kinds of things.

He asked the system, “Can you tell what kind of demon Zong Yu is?”

The system shook its head, “I can sense that it’s a powerful demon bloodline, but I can’t see its original form. I can’t identify it.”

Jiang Lin thought, If I could see its original form, I wouldn’t need to ask you.

But that was just a passing thought. He didn’t have any real connection to this Zong Yu anyway. His plan was to get a general sense of Huaiyang City and its surroundings, understand the human world a bit, and then return to White Tiger Ridge.

Whatever kind of great demon Zong Yu was didn’t concern him.

He sat back down to continue his dinner.

Zong Yu, however, just stared at him.

Jiang Lin: “…”

Normally, Jiang Lin wasn’t bothered by people watching him, but having someone, especially a child, staring at him so intently while he ate was a bit much.

Feeling helpless, Jiang Lin put down his chopsticks. “Zong Yu, if you want to eat, you can join me.”

Zong Yu pouted, “I don’t want to eat. I’m sick of this stuff. It tastes awful.”

Jiang Lin: “…”

“Then could you stop watching me like that?” he asked, trying to keep his tone polite.

Zong Yu rubbed his belly and said, quite righteously, “Who’s fault is it that you’re eating so deliciously? Watching you eat is making me hungry!”

And somehow that’s my fault?

Jiang Lin felt both amused and exasperated, but ultimately decided to ignore him and continued eating.

Zong Yu’s face darkened when Jiang Lin ignored him, and he was about to lose his temper. But then he remembered something, huffed, and turned away, refusing to look at him.

However, it wasn’t long before he couldn’t resist turning back to watch Jiang Lin—this person made eating look too appetizing.

Even though it was just ordinary food, it seemed like a rare delicacy in his hands, tempting the hunger within Zong Yu.

He couldn’t help but sneer, “It really shows you’re from some deep mountain, so unsophisticated. Is this stuff really that good?”

Jiang Lin glanced at him, swallowed the food in his mouth, and replied, “I think it’s delicious. And isn’t the feeling of having a full stomach something to be grateful for?”

For someone who had survived the apocalypse, that had once been his greatest wish.

Zong Yu seemed to be moved by something in Jiang Lin’s words. He stared at Jiang Lin in a daze, his expression softening considerably.

After Jiang Lin finished his meal, the night had already deepened. The curfew in Huaiyang City was strict, and there wasn’t much to see at night. Jiang Lin didn’t plan on going out, so he told Zong Yu he was going to his room to cultivate.

He closed his eyes and sat cross-legged on the bed.

It wasn’t long before he sensed a disturbance in the courtyard.

He opened his eyes, went outside, and found Zong Yu pacing anxiously back and forth.

Jiang Lin asked, “What are you doing out here?”

Zong Yu replied irritably, “I’m too hungry to sleep.”

Jiang Lin said, “There’s some leftover flatbread from dinner.”

Zong Yu huffed, “It’s gross, I don’t want it.”

So, he’d rather go hungry than eat something he didn’t like?

Jiang Lin wasn’t about to indulge him—after all, a demon wouldn’t starve to death.

He said, “Then be quiet; you’re disturbing my cultivation.”

Zong Yu widened his eyes in disbelief, “You said I’m disturbing you?”

Jiang Lin raised an eyebrow, “Aren’t you?”

Zong Yu was shocked, “You’re talking to me like that?”

The people at the Supervision Department treated him like royalty, and here he was being talked to like this?

Jiang Lin found it both funny and irritating. “You’re disturbing me in the middle of the night, and you expect me to coddle you to sleep? Do you think you’re a three-year-old baby?”

“You!”

Zong Yu was furious, and his usual response to anger was—fighting.

But although Zong Yu had strong bloodline power, immense demonic energy, and physical strength, he was still just a child. He couldn’t do anything to Jiang Lin in a short amount of time.

His anger flared up quickly but dissipated just as fast. After a few rounds of exchanging blows with Jiang Lin, he soon gave up, saying, “Forget it, I’m done.”

He plopped down on a stone bench in the courtyard, sulking. “You go to bed; I’ll sit here and not bother you.”

Jiang Lin: “…” Is this kid mentally stable?

Zong Yu ignored him, sitting with his back turned in the dark courtyard. His small figure looked lonely and frail, even the little black horns on his head seemed to emit an aura of unhappiness.

Suddenly, Jiang Lin’s irritation vanished.

He was always softer towards those who were vulnerable.

In the past, every time Xue Nan did something to upset him, a quick apology would usually resolve the matter. Thinking back, Xue Nan must have understood his nature all too well.

And now, this little demon, though erratic and temperamental, hadn’t shown any malice towards him since they met.

Most importantly, Jiang Lin had always had a soft spot for children.

He sighed and called out to Zong Yu, “Is there anything you like to eat? I can cook a little; I could make something for you.”

Zong Yu’s little horns twitched.

He responded gruffly, “No! Why aren’t you going to sleep? Who wants your food anyway?”

But just as he said that, his stomach let out an honest growl.

Jiang Lin: “…” He barely managed to hold back a laugh.

Zong Yu stiffened, quickly turning back with an angry glare at Jiang Lin. “You didn’t hear anything!”

Now he seemed more like a sulky little child.

Jiang Lin thought it wasn’t worth getting worked up over a childish demon, so he said, “I didn’t hear anything. I just felt like having a midnight snack. Do you want to join me?”

Zong Yu snorted, “How do I know if what you make is any good? I don’t eat just anything.”

Jiang Lin shrugged, “Suit yourself.”

He got up and went to the kitchen.

This courtyard had been newly arranged by the Supervision Department after Jiang Lin revealed his strength, so it was fully equipped with everything he might need.

But it was still the middle of the night, so there weren’t many fresh ingredients.

Jiang Lin looked around and found some flour and a couple of eggs.

He decided to make egg noodles.