268: Chapter 268 The Black Rose's Test

Watching the blazing fire gradually die out, leaving behind a dozen piles of ash on the ground...

The girls then crowded around, expressing their dissatisfaction.

However, their dissatisfaction wasn't directed at Chen Yi for killing, but rather they felt it was too easy on those guys.

"Scum like that, being burned to death just like that, it's really too easy on him!"

"Exactly, he should have been tortured properly to let him taste a fate worse than death!"

"Brother Chen Yi, next time there's dirty work like this, just leave it to us. Don't dirty your hands."

"Right, we can handle it ourselves."

---

Listening to The girls' indignant words, Chen Yi's heart couldn't help but feel a slight warmth.

What they cared about was always his feelings.

"Alright, alright! These are all minor matters!"

"Get ready a bit, and let's start cleaning up the battlefield!"

"Since these guys are the geniuses of Japan, they must be quite wealthy!"

"Okay!!!"

Once the Fox Fire had completely died out, everyone began to clean up the battlefield.

From the ashes of the two Beast Tamers and the twelve Spirit Beast Girls, they found a total of six space rings, as well as the two specially-made katanas used by Miyamoto Genzo and Kameda Taro.

Those two blades shimmered with a cold light, spiritual energy flowing through them; one could tell at a glance they were no ordinary items.

Chen Yi casually picked up Miyamoto Genzo's tachi and gave it a few swings. He felt that the texture, weight, and balance were all top-notch; it was indeed a very good psionic weapon.

But he only toyed with it for a few moments before channeling his spiritual energy and rubbing his hands together!

Crack!

The two valuable katanas were shattered into countless fragments just like that, scattering across the ground.

The unique style of these blades, especially the custom-made tachi of the Miyamoto Family, had features that were too distinct.

Carrying them out would be equivalent to writing 'I killed Miyamoto Genzo and Kameda Taro' on his forehead.

Chen Yi didn't want to invite unnecessary trouble and investigations from the Japanese authorities just for these bits of loot.

Finally, Chen Yi turned his gaze toward the space rings.

As expected, in the corner of one ring, fifteen brand-new Bright Light Pickaxes were neatly stacked.

Seeing this, The girls cheered one after another, happily taking the Bright Light Pickaxes and beginning to harvest the luminous jade from the walls.

"Brother Chen Yi, you just rest on the side! Leave this kind of manual labor to us!"

"Yeah, yeah, you must be tired from fighting just now, go take a break!"

"If you get too tired, what will happen tonight?"

"Conserving your stamina is important, you know~~~"

Yun Zhiyao winked and spoke suggestively, drawing a round of knowing giggles from the other girls.

Clearly, they were all thinking about what Chen Yi had promised before—a one-hour reward for each of them!

They hoped he would be full of energy to carry out the 'reward' work!

Chen Yi looked at the energetic girls and smiled helplessly, though he was happy to enjoy the leisure.

He simply took out a barbecue grill, charcoal, various fresh meat skewers, and vegetables from his space ring, setting up a barbecue stall in the nearby open space to act as a temporary snack chef.

If The girls wanted to rest, they could also taste some delicious food!

The charcoal fire ignited, the meat skewers sizzled on the grill, and an enticing aroma gradually spread.

Just then, Black Rose took the initiative to approach and said softly, "Let me help you!"

After all, in her current persona, her level was only mid-stage Rank 2. She had no strength and no stamina—

Going to harvest luminous jade might even result in her being more of a hindrance than a help!

Chen Yi looked up at her and saw that her gaze was somewhat complicated, as if she had something to say, so he nodded and didn't refuse.

"Alright, then help me thread these vegetables onto the bamboo skewers!"

"Okay!"

The two of them sat side by side like that, one focused on flipping the meat skewers, the other silently skewering vegetables.

For a while, neither of them spoke again.

There was only the crackling of the charcoal fire and the distant clinking of The girls harvesting luminous jade.

About ten minutes passed.

Black Rose finally seemed unable to suppress her inner struggle. She stopped what she was doing, took a deep breath, looked up, and gazed at Chen Yi's profile.

"Chen Yi, I—I want to ask you a question."

"Sure, go ahead."

Chen Yi also stopped brushing the sauce and looked at Black Rose.

He had to admit, looking at this Little Demon Empress up close, she was indeed very beautiful!

If he were still a virgin and didn't know Black Rose's true identity, he would probably have fallen for her on the spot.

Black Rose hesitated for a moment, organizing her words, and asked cautiously, "Suppose—I'm just saying suppose! There was a magical beast who, through some accidental chance, transformed into human form and possessed wisdom and emotions no inferior to humans—"

"Do you think—such a person—no, such a magical beast, would be accepted and recognized by the human world?"

Hearing this, Chen Yi was also stunned for a moment.

If he didn't know that Black Rose's true identity was the Demon Empress.

Anyone hearing this question would likely just treat it as casual banter over tea and wouldn't take it seriously.

But Chen Yi knew!

So he was almost certain that what Black Rose was asking right now was by no means a casual joke.

It was her innermost thoughts and a probe regarding Chen Yi himself!

Whether this question was answered well or poorly was of vital importance!

A perfunctory answer might make her wary and close off her heart;

But if he answered cleverly, he might be able to use this opportunity to pry open her psychological defenses and fish out some deeper secrets about the Demon Abyss Cult or even this world!

Chen Yi's mind raced, but his face remained calm.

He thought for a moment, placed the grilled skewers on a side plate, and said half-jokingly, "For me personally—if that transformed magical beast is a cute girl, and she has no record of ever actively hurting people, and has always behaved peacefully and harmlessly—"

"I might not treat her like an ordinary magical beast, trying to kill her the moment we meet!"

"But if you're talking about letting her into my life, letting me fully accept her without any reservations—sorry, forget it!"

"Why?"

Black Rose followed up almost immediately.

Chen Yi picked up a skewer of grilled green peppers and took a bite.

While chewing, he spoke in a conversational tone, "Because subjective impressions and long-standing prejudices are very hard to change all at once!"

"That's a magical beast, after all. A magical beast that invaded our home and caused countless casualties!"

"You want someone like me, who has fought magical beasts for so long, to immediately drop all hatred and wariness and calmly accept a former enemy? Do you think... that's possible?"

"This—"

Black Rose was momentarily at a loss for words, unable to respond.

What Chen Yi said was completely in line with human nature.

They, the magical beasts, were indeed invaders in a sense.

Asking the invaded side to easily forgive an invader whose hands were stained with the blood of their compatriots was inherently an extremely difficult thing.