Slacker Second Gen C57

Chapter 57: The Demon Lord (2)

To prevent more people from discovering the Demon Lord’s current state and developing ulterior motives, Luo Ye and Liu Sha discussed temporarily hiding her in their residence.

They wanted others to believe the Demon Lord was still in seclusion while they secretly searched for a suitable healing cultivator to bring back for treatment.

“These days, we must trouble the Demon Lord to stay at Youjue Palace.”

Youjue Palace was also within the Demon Palace, exclusively belonging to the sibling duo.

Liu Sha’s attitude toward the Demon Lord did not change just because he had become an innocent child—she remained as respectful and cautious as ever.

“Demon Lord, would you like me to assist you in dressing?”

Qian was only wearing a thin inner robe at the moment, which was obviously not suitable for going out.

If it were the previous Demon Lord, Liu Sha wouldn’t have needed to ask—he disliked people getting too close. But now, this little Demon Lord appeared so dazed and confused that it made one wonder if she even knew how to dress herself.

Of course, Qian knew how to dress herself—that was a skill she had long mastered. The problem was that there were no clothes around for her to wear.

Liu Sha was meticulous. Noticing her gaze searching the surroundings, she immediately understood and got up to fetch some clothes.

The Demon Lord’s robes were extravagant, but they were far too large for this child.

Liu Sha only realized this after retrieving them.

“I’ll have proper-fitting clothes prepared for you later, but for now, please bear with these.”

Luo Ye returned after clearing out unnecessary people and saw the little Demon Lord holding a robe that was clearly too large for her. He asked, “Demon Lord, do you need me to help you dress?”

Compared to his sister, his attitude was more casual. That was just his personality, and it was also because the Demon Lord was more lenient with them than with others.

Qian shook her head and dragged the clothes into the bed canopy.

The siblings stood by the bedside, listening to the rustling sounds inside for a long while. They exchanged glances.

—The Demon Lord might really not know how to dress anymore. You should go help him.

—The Demon Lord has never liked women getting too close. You go.

—The Demon Lord indeed doesn’t like women getting close, but he dislikes men approaching even more. You go.

—Why do I always have to test the waters first? You’re such a useless little brother.

Seeing her brother looking indifferent and refusing to act, Liu Sha gently asked, “Demon Lord, do you need my help?”

A soft voice came from inside the canopy: “I can’t tie this belt.”

Liu Sha nearly laughed. “Then allow me to tie it for you?”

“Mhm!”

Liu Sha lifted the bed canopy and saw the child sitting amid a messy pile of clothing. The oversized robe draped over her, twisted into a tangled heap, with her shoulders and small chest exposed.

Her long hair was pressed under the clothing, and her short arms struggled to emerge from the enormous sleeves as she attempted to tie a knot on the belt.

She had even worn the middle layer of clothing on the outside.

Kneeling on the bed, Liu Sha carefully undid the incorrectly worn garments layer by layer.

She moved quickly and gently, not daring to overstep any boundaries. However, she soon noticed something unusual.

This child… this child seemed to be… he… no, she?!

Qian watched as the beautiful elder sister helped her dress. Suddenly, Liu Sha froze, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Qian tugged at her sleeve. “Why did you stop? Do you not know how to dress me either?”

Outside, Luo Ye heard the voices and found it strange. Thinking something was wrong, he lifted the canopy and looked inside.

“What’s going on—”

Liu Sha swiftly pulled the oversized robe over the child’s body and instinctively slapped her brother’s face, sending him flying two meters away.

Luo Ye, who had just been hit: “?”

“What the hell was that for?!” He clutched his bleeding lip, holding back his temper and voice.

Liu Sha was even more stunned than he was. Meeting the child’s puzzled gaze, she forced a stiff smile, unsure of what to say. Without another word, she exited the canopy, grabbed her brother by the collar, and dragged him aside.

“The Demon Lord didn’t just shrink … she also turned into a little girl.”

Luo Ye’s usual roguish smirk turned to utter confusion. “…?”

“What?”

He seemed to finally process the revelation, turning his head to look at the canopy, taking a few steps forward as if he needed to confirm it with his own eyes.

Liu Sha yanked him back by his ponytail and snapped, “What do you think you’re doing? Do you seriously want to take a look?! Do you think the Demon Lord won’t kill you?!”

To be fair, it wasn’t their fault they hadn’t noticed earlier.

A beautiful child, as long as they had long hair at that age, was often indistinguishable in terms of gender.

But the siblings were no strangers to major upheavals. After a brief moment of shock, they regained their composure.

“No matter what changes have occurred to the Demon Lord’s body, he is still our Demon Lord.”

“The Demon Lord is the Demon Lord—male or female, it doesn’t matter.”

Despite their words, their expressions remained complicated.

Qian had managed to get halfway dressed, her head and shoulders poking out as she curiously observed them.

Liu Sha immediately turned her brother’s face away and made him look in another direction. Then, she smiled and said, “Demon Lord, I will finish dressing you now.”

Luo Ye’s neck audibly cracked as he turned away, pressing a hand to it in pain but not daring to look back.

Maintaining her gentle demeanor with difficulty, Liu Sha quickly finished dressing Qian, careful not to glance too much.

“Would you like me to carry you?” she asked.

With the oversized robe trailing on the floor, walking by herself clearly wasn’t an option.

“Or… would you prefer Luo Ye to carry you?”

Qian looked at the two of them and decisively chose the gentle elder sister, wrapping her small arms around Liu Sha’s neck.

The moment Qian’s hands touched her neck, Liu Sha instinctively felt a surge of fear.

She and Luo Ye had killed without hesitation, but as the Demon Lord, Qian had even more blood on her hands. Even the high-ranking Sky Demons had perished under his—no, her—command.

Whenever he raised a hand, it usually meant taking a life.

Holding Qian, Liu Sha’s entire body stiffened, as if she were cradling a highly volatile explosive.

This enforcer, known for his composure, cunning, and ruthlessness, nearly stumbled at this moment—because he stepped on Qian’s trailing robe.

As they were about to leave the palace, Luo Ye suddenly took off his red outer robe, unfolded it, and gently draped it over Qian’s head, covering her face.

All Qian could see was a field of red. She reached up and clutched the outer robe, just as she had clung to her blanket before.

There was a faint, unique fragrance on the fabric. Through a small gap, Qian saw the young man in black combat attire lower his head and say, “I will go ahead and clear the way for you.”

From the Demon Lord’s chambers to Youjue Palace, where Luo Ye and Liu Sha resided, not a single person was in sight. Only the towering buildings loomed like slumbering beasts, their forms fading under the dimming lights.

Liu Sha carried Qian effortlessly, walking on floor tiles as smooth as jade. Her footsteps were light, and palace lanterns lit up one after another along the way. In their glow, Qian noticed the fine, nearly invisible threads stretched across the paths before and behind them.

These were Luo Ye’s weapons—threads he had used before to shred enemies into pieces.

Meanwhile, mist curled faintly around Liu Sha’s figure—one of her abilities, the Phantom Mirage.

With such caution and precision, they escorted Qian to Youjue Palace.

The palace had two main halls. Previously, they had hesitated over which one the Demon Lord should reside in, but now there was no need to hesitate—it was undoubtedly Liu Sha’s hall.

After temporarily settling the little Demon Lord in a room, Liu Sha shut the door and stepped out. She turned to her younger brother and said, “You watch over the Demon Lord. I will personally prepare some clothing and necessities.”

Luo Ye leaned against the doorway with his arms crossed, fine threads still entwined between his fingers.

“Don’t worry, I will guard the Demon Lord well.”

Every corner of this palace—front, back, inside, and out—was already wrapped in layers of his threads.

Liu Sha left in a hurry. Luo Ye closed his eyes, attuning himself to the wind as it brushed against each delicate strand. A while later, the door behind him suddenly opened.

Qian peeked her head out. She saw only him—Liu Sha was nowhere in sight.

Luo Ye turned around and knelt on one knee. “Liu Sha has gone to prepare clothes for you, Demon Lord. Do you have any orders?”

Qian was not particularly shy with strangers. After the experiences in her previous world, she had grown quite accustomed to playing with unfamiliar people.

She grabbed Luo Ye’s sleeve. “I’m hungry. I want to eat.”

Luo Ye still wasn’t used to seeing the Demon Lord like this. He clenched his fist against his chest.

“What does the Demon Lord wish to eat?”

Qian thought for a moment, then held up a finger. “I want to eat Wood Elf Fruit.”

She held up a second finger. “I want to eat Shea Fruit.”

A third finger. “And I want to eat Strange-Flavored Candy.”

Luo Ye: “……”

What were these? He had never even heard of them.

But if he couldn’t fulfill even such a small request from the Demon Lord, how could he call himself an enforcer?

Luo Ye said, “I am not sure what ingredients Youjue Palace has. Why not let the Demon Lord choose personally?”

Qian agreed.

So, Luo Ye picked her up. When Qian wrapped her arms around his neck, he finally understood what his sister had felt earlier.

His entire body screamed danger, cold sweat forming on his back.

He had never carried a child before, so his posture was stiff and awkward as he held Qian and headed toward the kitchen.

The demons were known for their extravagant tastes, and even the kitchen in Youjue Palace—built solely to serve its two masters—was lavish and opulent.

Luo Ye rarely ventured into the rear courtyard. As soon as he appeared, the demon servants quickly retreated, staying at least ten steps away. No one knew whether the enforcer had hidden invisible threads around him, ready to slice anyone who got too close into pieces.

No one dared to lift their heads, let alone notice what he was carrying.

Luo Ye ordered, “Everyone leave, except for the two best cooks.”

A dozen people swiftly obeyed, retreating at once. Only two trembling chefs remained in the corner, standing at attention.

Neither dared to raise their heads. They only heard the enforcer’s low voice asking someone,

“What do you want to eat?”

The kitchen was stocked with a dazzling array of fresh ingredients, and the sight of them reminded Qian of a certain scene—

It felt just like a supermarket.

Her initial craving for Wood Elf Fruit and Shea Fruit was instantly forgotten. Instead, she excitedly picked out the most interesting-looking ingredients—the brightly colored, the oddly shaped.

Luo Ye noted each selection carefully.

He had little interest in food and couldn’t even name most of the ingredients here, let alone offer suggestions to the Demon Lord. After carrying her around the kitchen to choose, he ordered the two chefs to prepare their best dishes with the selected ingredients.

With the child still in his arms, Luo Ye left the kitchen and returned to Liu Sha’s palace.

Under the oppressive pressure of possible death, the chefs worked at an astonishing speed. Soon, servants arrived to set the table, bringing out appetizers first.

Qian sat alone at the center of the dining table, facing a feast that continued to be served like flowing water.

Luo Ye stood behind her, hands clasped behind his back, silently keeping watch.

Qian was truly hungry. It had been a long time since she had seen such a familiar spread of food. She grabbed a pair of white jade chopsticks and stretched her arms to pick up a piece of dark sauce-covered meat, taking a big bite.

Delicious. Absolutely delicious.

Her big, round eyes sparkled as she hugged her bowl, searching for rice.

Luo Ye wasn’t as skilled as his sister at reading people’s expressions, but he wasn’t an idiot either. Seeing this, he took Qian’s empty bowl with both hands and filled it with a large portion of rice.

Qian ate happily, finishing three whole bowls before feeling completely satisfied.

The problem was, once full, drowsiness soon followed. Before she could even put down her chopsticks and bowl, her head tilted to the side, landing on the dining table as she fell asleep.

Luo Ye’s eyes darkened. He immediately stepped forward and caught the child’s falling body. His first reaction was—

“There’s poison in the food?!”

The servants delivering the dishes turned pale with fright. Their legs went weak as they knelt down, voices trembling as they begged for mercy.

Luo Ye’s expression was fierce as he examined the Demon Lord’s condition—only to realize she was just asleep.

Luo Ye: “……”