Chapter 11 : Interlude: The Demon King’s Principles

“It’s talking about Ye Qingshu, right?”

“Definitely. The hints are obvious. Two childhood friends… clearly Zhu Hanqi and that Mu Ziqing from Class 3.”

“Totally didn’t see that coming. I always thought she seemed so sweet and innocent.”

“Stop it, she took leave today. If it were me, I’d transfer schools right at the start of freshman year.”

Tap tap.

The sound of chalk hitting the blackboard came from the front of the classroom. Shen Yingxu, sitting at the podium, gave a polite smile to the students below.

“Self-study time, everyone. Keep it down, okay?”

As the popular new class president, her gentle reminder quickly hushed the restless chatter.

But similar whispers still spread through every corner of the school.

Freshman, class beauty, private life—these keywords were too perfect for stirring the restless hearts of teenagers.

They weren’t stupid; they didn’t easily buy into the exposé. But for most, truth didn’t matter—what mattered was devouring the fresh gossip.

As for the impact on the person involved? It’s not like they had to bear it. Hidden in the crowd, everyone was just a snowflake.

…

“What do you want?”

During lunch break, Shen Yingxu dragged him to the courtyard.

Seeing the nonchalant boy before her, she couldn’t help frowning.

“You know why your childhood friend took leave, right?”

“Didn’t she say she was sick?”

His response made Shen Yingxu’s eyes widen.

“Is your brain broken? You believed Zhu Lubing when she said she didn’t remember, and now you believe Ye Qingshu’s sick leave excuse? If I said I didn’t hate you in our past life and actually idolized you, would you ask for my autograph?”

“Oh, you want an autograph?”

“No! Thanks! Save it for your own ‘give up treatment’ notice!”

Shen Yingxu didn’t know why, but every time she faced this guy, she couldn’t control her urge to snap.

“As someone who just met Ye Qingshu, even I know most of that article’s nonsense. You’re her childhood friend—why aren’t you reacting?!”

“I did. I said the parts about me are slander. I never pestered her or stalked her. I live next door, but she got security bars on her windows after elementary school. No way I could peek at her changing like the article claims.”

“That’s not the point!!”

Shen Yingxu took a deep breath. “Can you stop joking around? Isn’t she an important childhood friend?!”

“If even you won’t speak up for her, she’ll be left all alone!!”

“…Do you know how hard it is to be all alone?”

Murmuring the last part softly, Shen Yingxu lowered her eyes, her mind filled with memories of that seemingly endless journey.

But the guilt and remorse she expected didn’t appear on the boy’s face.

“You know most of it’s nonsense? Then tell me, which parts are true, and which are fake?”

“Well… the deliberately fabricated stuff…”

“Stop. Don’t give me vague answers, Saintess.”

The boy cut her off with an icy tone.

“Be specific. Like I just explained where the lies about me are, give me details.”

“I-I just met Ye Qingshu recently, so I don’t…”

“See? You don’t know, do you?”

He sighed, giving a bitter smile.

“Funny thing is, neither do I. I can refute the parts about me with evidence—that’s no joke. But the rest? Her middle school extracurriculars, her social life… you think I know, Saintess?”

“…But you can’t just do nothing, right? At a time like this, even as a friend, you should… like teammates, how can you ignore it…”

“Are you brainwashed by your past life?”

“…”

Scolded by the boy, Shen Yingxu was speechless.

“This is modern society, a school, not your buddy-adventure squad.”

Sighing, Zhu Hanqi stretched lazily.

“Unlike your life-or-death team where one slip could wipe everyone out, this is just a school. Ye Qingshu and I are just childhood friends.”

“I’ll offer her sympathy and comfort, but that doesn’t mean I have the right or obligation to face this for her. If she chooses to do nothing, avoid it, or even transfer—I’ll wish her well and support her.”

Shen Yingxu wanted to argue that he, of all people, was the cause of her team’s near annihilation.

But his cold, objective words left her at a loss for a rebuttal.

“That’s too harsh… Is that how a Demon King thinks?”

He replied flatly.

“Don’t keep bringing that up, but if you say so, sure… People have to pay for their choices.”

“Does a Demon King have no heart?”

“With a heart, I’d have offed myself after razing the first city.”

Though she hated to admit it, during their time together, Shen Yingxu had realized something.

She was growing less obsessed with revenge or assassinating him.

He acted too much like a normal guy—kinda pervy, a bit lazy, whining when poked, sighing when scapegoated.

She kept reminding herself he was a monster who destroyed a world, but the more they interacted, the more he seemed like a careless idiot.

If she’d known the Demon King was like this back then, what were she and her team so afraid of? This self-mockery had crossed her mind more than once.

But in this moment, she glimpsed the Demon King’s cold rationality.

A detachment, as if he stood outside this world. Beneath his playful exterior, his core was still that murky soul.

“…I understand. I’ll help her my own way. Sorry for dragging you into what I wanted to do.”

Raising her head, Shen Yingxu reclaimed her saintess pride and resolve.

“Sorry for unfairly dumping responsibility on you. I don’t agree with your twisted logic, but I get one thing.”

“This is what I want to do, so I’ll do it myself. I hesitated because I’m just a classmate, not even a friend. But I’ll visit Ye Qingshu.”

“And together, we’ll find the rumor-monger and beat them up!”

…

Watching Shen Yingxu’s retreating figure without looking back, the boy sighed softly, rubbing his brow.

“What a saintly idiot, speechless.”

“…Did I really kill idiots like her? Wonder if bullying dummies was illegal there.”

Opening his phone, he glanced at an email.

It was a reply from Senior Jiang Xiang, with whom he’d unexpectedly bonded.

He felt he owed her a favor, but he’d already thought of a way to repay it.

“Tennis Club, huh… Man, I used to destroy nations and races without blinking, but back here, I’m dealing with this crap.”

“Such a peaceful life—it’s hard to get motivated.”