MRSG Chapter 30

As a mixed-blood taotie, Zhou Mu attended a school for pure-blooded demons up until high school. If you had to sum him up in one phrase, it’d definitely be ‘terrible behavior and worse grades.’

Because his mother practiced a nomadic lifestyle—once they stayed in one place too long, she’d pack up and move the family somewhere new to ‘eat’—Zhou Mu’s family moved to a city predominantly inhabited by humans in his second year of high school. He would now transfer into a human high school as a new student.

Demon living in human cities were usually managed by a special local government office called the ‘Demon Management Bureau’, more commonly known as ‘Office 404.’

Office 404 issued all sorts of rules and regulations for how demons were expected to live and work in human areas—naturally, one of the big rules was ‘no going on random killing sprees.’

His father gave a whole half-hour speech on the topic, worried Zhou Mu might not adjust well to human school life, or that he’d get into trouble with the humans or even other demons.

“There’s even a rule in the system that says kids have to study hard.”

Zhou Mu didn’t buy it. He let out a couple of sneaky chuckles and asked, “Dad, when Mom lived in a human city before… those 404 people… how many of them did she eat?”

He didn’t even bother asking if she ate them—just how many.

Father: “…Cut the nonsense.”

He should’ve known better than to try and bluff his son. Beasts had a low birth rate, but when one was born, they came with maxed-out survival instincts.

Zhou Mu had barely learned to walk when he started dragging his own father out as bait to hunt demon—without anyone teaching him, he even figured out how to lure and trap targets, often bringing back a whole string of them.

While his father didn’t succeed in scaring him straight, his warning did leave an impression—Zhou Mu now had his guard up about Office 404. That place? Obviously a threat to his fun.

……

On his first day in the human city, Zhou Mu ran into someone from Office 404.

At first, he was just wandering around with a map, getting a lay of the land—looking for fun places, good food, and anything interesting.

When he arrived at the provincial museum, he spotted a very popular volunteer guide. Zhou Mu stopped to observe him.

The guide’s name tag read ‘Jiang Xiaocong.’ He wore a white tracksuit and had his slightly long hair tied up in a half-bun. He looked young. From the way visitors whispered about him, it seemed like he was a student working part-time.

Zhou Mu wasn’t sure if Jiang Xiaocong really was a student, but he was certain of one thing—this guy definitely wasn’t human. He was a demon. And a particularly delicious-smelling one.

Zhou Mu grinned to himself and deliberately released a bit of his hunting pheromones—his lure scent. Sure enough, Jiang Xiaocong’s eyes changed instantly.

Humans usually didn’t react much to Zhou Mu’s scent—their senses were too dulled. At most, they’d feel a sudden increase in appetite. But demon? They’d drool uncontrollably, even lose their minds. The fact that Jiang Xiaocong only had a slight change in expression was actually impressive.

What surprised Zhou Mu even more was that the guy didn’t just hold it together—he managed to finish his whole tour before reacting.

After the tour, people were trying to add Jiang Xiaocong on social media, but he stepped out of the crowd and made a beeline for Zhou Mu, who was standing there like he’d been waiting for him. He paused for a couple of seconds, then awkwardly said: “…Just now, when I talked about the Spring and Autumn Period—do you remember what years it covered?”

Zhou Mu, who hadn’t been paying attention at all, replied: “Nope.”

Lord Cong’s expression darkened: “Then come with me. I’ll help you review it properly.”

The crowd: “…?”

As they watched Lord Cong walk away with Zhou Mu, the other visitors were stunned: Wait, they quiz museum-goers now? Why him and not me?

……

Once they were alone in the hallway, Lord Cong checked to make sure no one else was around before lowering his voice seriously: “You’re a newly arrived demon, right? Don’t randomly release your scent like that! You smell way too… delicious! If you hadn’t run into me, you’d be done for!”

This little monster looked young and naïve, physically weak too—he couldn’t even walk steadily on flat ground.

Zhou Mu tilted his head and asked, curious: “Oh? Then why didn’t you eat me?”

“I just got awarded ‘Model Student of the City’—you think I can eat people after that?” Jiang Xiaocong said, exasperated. Seeing that Zhou Mu didn’t even crack a smile at his joke, he awkwardly added, “Anyway, I have strong morals. I don’t eat demons or humans.”

Huh, so urban areas really did have all kinds—even vegetarian demon.

Zhou Mu murmured thoughtfully: “I see. You’re a good guy.”

But Zhou Mu was a teenager, constantly hungry and always growing. Just because Jiang Xiaocong didn’t attack him didn’t mean he’d let him off the hook. He could compliment him and still eat him.

Besides, Lord Cong had led him to a quiet, secluded spot. It was a perfect setup. No way Zhou Mu was letting that go to waste.

Without any warning, he shifted back into his original form and lunged forward, clamping his jaws around Lord Cong’s head—no buildup, no hesitation, just straight-up CHOMP.

“WHAT THE—AAHHHH!!” Lord Cong screamed. He hadn’t expected Zhou Mu to go full beast mode so suddenly—from fragrant lure to full-blown bite. Darkness closed in around him as sharp teeth pressed against his neck—just a hair’s breadth away from severing it.

Thankfully, the protective charm Jiang Xiaocong carried kicked in just in time and stopped Zhou Mu—barely.

So close! His head almost got chewed off. Seizing the brief window of opportunity, Lord Cong yanked his head out and gasped for breath, yelling angrily, “You—you—you!! You’re a ferocious beast! How can you enter this city without registering at Office 404?! I’m going to report you!!”

Zhou Mu didn’t care at all. “Go ahead, report me—from inside my stomach.”

“I’m a sword!!” Lord Cong shouted, touching his neck, where there was already a ring of bloody teeth marks. “What’s wrong with you? What’s so tasty about a sword!”

“Don’t talk about yourself like that! Why shouldn’t swords be edible?!” Zhou Mu shouted back, even more worked up than him.

Lord Cong: “&%￥@￥&*!”

Lord Cong was completely baffled. Now he realized Zhou Mu’s tempting aura earlier was just a hunting tactic. But before he knew Zhou Mu’s true identity, he had intentionally let him go.

He hadn’t expected Zhou Mu to be so… shameless, still trying to eat him anyway.

Did this demon have no conscience at all?

“You’re going too far! Stay back! I’m calling the police! I’m calling the police!” Lord Cong frantically pressed the emergency button, which directly alerted Office 404—essentially the demon version of dialing 911. “Don’t think just because you’re a ferocious beast you can do whatever you want! Office 404 has been managing yokai in this city for years—you should know how capable they are!”

Lord Cong had only said he was a sword—but not just any sword. He was the ceremonial sword of Duke Huan of Qi, classified as a national first-class protected artifact, and Office 404 had strict orders to ensure his safety.

But that kind of identity wasn’t something he liked to flaunt—true nobility doesn’t show off.

Zhou Mu, however, just looked more excited when he heard the alarm had been triggered: “So how long until they get here?”

Lord Cong was ready to cough up blood. What kind of psycho is this?!

Seeing that things were going downhill fast, Lord Cong made a feint move, then bolted.

Zhou Mu saw him run—not fooled by the trick—but still paused for a few seconds before following at a leisurely pace.

The chase led them all the way to the rooftop, dashing across the tops of skyscrapers. Zhou Mu always kept Lord Cong just barely ahead, like he was almost going to escape—yet it was clear everything was under Zhou Mu’s control.

He just wanted to toy with him a little, let him stretch his legs and break a sweat.

Because of Lord Cong’s special status, the response time was fast. Within five minutes, about ten Office 404 personnel arrived, surrounding the chase from all directions.

Lord Cong had dealt with them before. At the sight of their silhouettes, he immediately shouted: “Director Cui! Save me!!”

The shouting seemed to give him a second wind—his speed increased, and once close enough, he dove behind Cui Jue, the director of the local Office 404. All his elegance and poise was gone—in tatters now, and it had taken just one Zhou Mu to do it.

“You—you people! What kind of work are you doing—huff… This ferocious beast entered the city without a single warning, and he’s super—super arrogant!” Feeling he had backup now, Lord Cong even snapped at Cui Jue a little.

Cui Jue didn’t respond. He just locked eyes with Zhou Mu, gaze sharp and penetrating.

Zhou Mu met his gaze calmly, sizing them up—wondering how full he might get from this meal.

The moment their eyes met, even Lord Cong could feel his hair stand on end. The atmosphere was charged—like a bomb about to go off.

Then, Cui Jue moved.

Zhou Mu squinted slightly—

Cui Jue bowed slightly, and with a refined and respectful tone, greeted him: “Young Master.”

……The tense, ready-to-explode atmosphere evaporated in an instant.

Lord Cong, who had been hunched over catching his breath, froze—and then shot upright: “WHAT?!”

Zhou Mu looked even more confused than Lord Cong, but after a brief pause, he laughed knowingly: “Hah, don’t try to get close to me with that trick. Calling me ‘Young Master’? Doesn’t matter—you could call me Grandpa and it still wouldn’t work.”

Lord Cong nervously stared at Cui Jue, subconsciously stepping a little farther away from him. He was almost losing his mind. This couldn’t be real—but Cui Jue looked completely serious.

Don’t tell him that the guy he thought was his backup… had actually turned out to be Zhou Mu’s.

Madness. They’re all mad!

“Director Cui, stop messing around! Who the hell is this guy?! I’m a national first-class artifact, remember? You were ordered to protect me!” Lord Cong was so stressed his voice nearly broke, even slipping into his hometown accent: “Don’t tell me… he’s some first-class protected animal—but even then, he can’t have the same historical value as me!”

Usually so low-key, Lord Cong couldn’t help but flaunt his identity now. Because he never talked like this, even he felt a little awkward saying it.

“Lord Cong, calm down,” Cui Jue said, seeing the hungry look on Zhou Mu’s face directed right at him. He gave a helpless smile, not surprised at all. “We’re old acquaintances with your esteemed mother. Please, for her sake, let this go. We came in a rush and only managed to bring a small gift—please accept it.”

As he spoke, a subordinate stepped forward, offering up a selection of fat, well-fed demon—clearly tailored to Zhou Mu’s tastes.

“You know my mom?” Zhou Mu asked, still calm. “She never mentioned you.”

“Well, do I even need to explain?” Cui Jue said with an awkward chuckle. “You’re almost an adult now—your appetite must be growing. Your mother is probably finding you more and more difficult to tolerate.”

Lord Cong: “…”

What a truly loving family.

Zhou Mu, on the other hand, wasn’t embarrassed at all. He nodded confidently and said, “Looks like you really do know my mom. But I’m still going to video call her to confirm. You humans are too sneaky.”

Zhou Mu clumsily took out an old-style phone. Back in the demon clan’s settlement, he never had use for a mobile phone. This one had been a gift from his grandfather and he’d barely used it. Even the WeChat account was still under his grandfather’s old number.

He opened a WeChat account named ‘Lifelong Happiness,’ with a profile picture of a fishing rod over water. He found his mother He Shi’s contact card and started a video call.

“Mom, I’m out hunting, and someone from Office 404 says they know you. How do you know them? Did you ever eat them?” Zhou Mu’s question was delivered with great poise, while Cui Jue, standing nearby, maintained a calm smile despite hearing it.

He Shi was at home unpacking her luggage, completely unaware that Zhou Mu had gone out. She usually didn’t discipline Zhou Mu; most of the parenting was left to his father. Her role was more about leading by example—mainly in how to act imperious and indulgent.

Hearing Zhou Mu’s question, He Shi answered casually, “I know them. I founded Office 404. Of course I’ve eaten them.”

Zhou Mu: “…………?”

Lord Cong almost bolted on the spot. Just listen to that sentence—the sheer logic and the amount of information packed in there was absolutely insane!

Zhou Mu was just honestly confused. He had never known this before—not even his father knew. For at least the past twenty years, He Shi had been a carefree food connoisseur.

To put it bluntly, she was the least rule-abiding person he knew! And now to find out she had worked within the system—founded an actual organization like Office 404? That revelation alone would be enough to scare the pants off most demons.

“Why are you looking at me like that? I’ve been a civil servant since before the founding of the country—served through several dynasties. I was already working for a court agency specializing in apprehending evil demons during the Song Dynasty. The emperor even gave me a pardon token,” He Shi reminisced via the camera.

That sounded very familiar…

Then again, it did seem like the kind of thing her flaky father (Zhou Mu’s grandfather) would get into.

Zhou Mu asked, “Wait—you actually managed to use that to get him out?”

“Pfft, of course not. They didn’t recognize it. I wasted a whole afternoon trying,” she grumbled. “So I had to trade labor for his release—that’s how I started Office 404. Later, I resigned when I wanted a break.”

“We’ve kept your position on file. You’re welcome to return anytime,” Cui Jue quickly added. “If the young master wants to take the civil service exam after graduation, our office would welcome him as well.”

“I don’t care what he does,” He Shi said indifferently. “As long as he stays away from me, finds his own hunting ground, and stops eating my food.”

“Fine, fine, I’ll eat my own,” Zhou Mu stuck out his tongue and hung up the call.

With this newfound connection—and with Cui Jue and his team having brought tribute— Zhou Mu begrudgingly agreed to comply with the Cultural Relic Protection Law. He shot a not-so-friendly look at Lord Cong and said, “Hey, the food was their gift. I’m still keeping track of your share. And… you look pretty sharp…”

Though he didn’t finish the sentence, Lord Cong was already shivering.

He turned pleading eyes toward Cui Jue and muttered weakly, “I—I’m a national first-class protected cultural relic…”

He’d said that line more times today than in the past ten years combined.

But Cui Jue ignored him. Instead, he said to Zhou Mu, “We’ve still got a case to handle. I’ll add you on WeChat and leave for now. Let us know if you need anything.”

They’d already saved Lord Cong’s life. Knowing Zhou Mu wouldn’t actually eat him, their task was considered complete. Anything else was outside their jurisdiction—and beyond their power.

Cui Jue ignored Lord Cong’s desperate eyes and left with his team.

After they left, Lord Cong remained frozen, unable and unwilling to move. He watched as Zhou Mu shifted back into his original form and even demanded that Lord Cong show him around the city—as his personal tour guide.

Lord Cong thought for three seconds. Realizing he didn’t dare refuse, he could only grit his teeth and stand beside Zhou Mu.

Even though Zhou Mu had suppressed his aura, Lord Cong’s legs were still shaky. Leading him through the streets, his mind kept circling back to why he’d ever volunteered to do commentary today.

Now he just hoped that divine justice might fall from the sky—maybe a billboard could fall and crush Zhou Mu. That’d show him…

Wait, Zhou Mu had only just arrived in the human world, right? Maybe he’d do something stupid and get taken down by heavy weaponry. Modern weapons are nothing like me, Lord Cong thought gleefully.

His fantasies got more vivid by the second.

Zhou Mu saw some humans snacking nearby. Never having tried human food before, he immediately got curious. “Hey, buy me some of that. I wanna try.”

Lord Cong nodded quickly, “Yes sir—what would you like? Maybe… jelly?”

Zhou Mu narrowed his eyes. “Are you thinking that I just arrived in the city and would easily get in trouble because I don’t know anything?”

Lord Cong: “!!!”

This beast was that sharp?! Could he actually read minds?

Sweat broke out on Lord Cong’s forehead. This had to be the most undignified day of his life.

While Lord Cong stammered nervously, Zhou Mu gave a cold chuckle.

“You? Try to trick me?” Zhou Mu pulled out his inherited WeChat account. “I’ve already read up on humans through my grandpa’s Moments. You think I don’t know that jelly is made from shoes?”

He bared two sharp fangs. “I ought to eat you for that…”

Lord Cong: “…………”

…He honestly couldn’t tell if Zhou Mu actually believed that or was just using it as an excuse to eat him. The guy had shown some seriously Oscar-worthy acting earlier.

At that moment, Lord Cong could do nothing but dial Office 404 hotline again, screaming at the top of his lungs: “Help! Emergency rescue for a national first-class cultural relic!!”