Chapter 42: The Demon’s Logic

“Click, click.”

This was the distinct sound of peas being crunched between teeth.

After Cai had evasively retreated from Wang’s presence, the room received its sole visitor of the day.

At present, Wang’s left hand moved rhythmically up and down, weighing a handful of peas clasped in her palm.

Meanwhile, her right hand cradled her head, which was tilted to one side, her right cheek resting gently against her open palm.

Were one to disregard her current state of mind, she might even appear quite leisurely.

“Tell me, aren’t people terribly complex, and at times, utterly unreasonable?”

Wang’s words were addressed to the young woman who also occupied the room.

This young woman was not Cai. Instead, she was a Harpy who had “coincidentally” materialized shortly after Cai’s “escape,” affectionately known as Little Eagle.

Wang knew Little Eagle’s presence could only be attributed to her having overheard the preceding conversation between herself and Cai.

This, however, raised a pressing question.

Had Little Eagle been eavesdropping earlier?

If she hadn’t been eavesdropping, she could have revealed herself openly. Her voice shouldn’t have drifted in from outside the window only after Cai had departed.

Therefore, it was clear that Little Eagle had been secretly listening to their conversation from outside the room just moments before!

Wang didn’t quite grasp Little Eagle’s purpose in coming, yet she could discern that the Harpy hadn’t eaten much.

After so many years of shared experiences, a leader should naturally understand the dietary needs of their subordinates. Thus, Wang retrieved the leftover peas from dinner.

When Wang engaged in this act of feeding, employing the method Little Eagle favored, she never uttered a single word.

Yet, Little Eagle, merely by observing Wang’s raised wrist, could precisely anticipate her every subsequent action.

The moment a pea was launched, Little Eagle would spring upwards, legs drawn together, her mouth opening mid-air to swallow the morsel in a single gulp.

As she prepared to descend, her wings would flutter a few times, guiding her body to a stable landing on the ground.

The roles adopted by both during this feeding ritual mirrored the relationship between a feeder and a pigeon.

Returning to the initial question at hand:

“Don’t you agree that people are incredibly complex, and occasionally, utterly unreasonable?”

Wang had, it seemed, grown somewhat melancholic since their earlier conversation.

She had posed a philosophical conundrum, one she would never have considered in the past, and asked the woman before her—who wasn’t even human—to provide an answer.

“My Lord, you truly put me in a difficult position. You yourself are human; do you not understand people sufficiently?”

“Understand? Hmph. I once believed I understood them perfectly, yet now I suddenly realize that my comprehension falls far short…”

“Speak plainly.”

“Alright, alright. To put it in my usual manner… I simply can’t fathom that foolish woman; I have no idea what she’s thinking!”

Little Eagle knew precisely who the “foolish woman” referred to.

Furthermore, having eavesdropped, she was fully aware of the precise nature of the argument between the two individuals who had previously occupied the room.

Little Eagle possessed considerable emotional intelligence. When confronted with an unanswerable question, she would adeptly shift her perspective, seeking an alternative line of thought.

For instance, the very next second, she candidly stated to her leader:

“What does it matter if you don’t know what they’re thinking? Is it truly imperative to know?”

Had they not known each other for such a long time, Wang might have genuinely misinterpreted Little Eagle’s earlier statement.

In truth, it was precisely because they were akin to family within their group that Wang, after a brief moment of contemplation, grasped the underlying implication of those words.

‘No need to know their thoughts… are you suggesting I disregard the process and focus solely on the outcome?’

Little Eagle neither affirmed nor denied this interpretation.

Consequently, Wang chose to interpret it in the manner most convenient to her.

A sudden realization dawned upon her:

“Little Eagle, you’re right. Though I am human, when it comes to achieving an objective, I don’t necessarily have to employ human methods.”

A moment of careful thought would reveal to Wang:

Human-centric thinking alone would prove insufficient to resolve the current predicament.

Since that approach was unfeasible, why not reverse her thinking and adopt the methods of a demon to achieve her objective?

When humans handled matters of the heart, they typically considered the other party’s feelings, respecting their will to some degree.

Demons, however, operated differently. They prioritized outcomes over processes, viewing the result as paramount.

‘A forced melon isn’t sweet’ — Wang pondered whether this proverb was truly fitting for the situation.

Nevertheless, the adage undeniably highlighted the fundamental differences between humans and demons.

Humans might dislike imposing their will on others, meaning they wouldn’t forcefully pluck the “melon.”

To a demon, however:

“Whether the melon is sweet or bitter is irrelevant. As long as it’s a melon that can be consumed, it holds value in being plucked!”

By applying this line of reasoning to Cai’s situation, a clear plan began to coalesce in Wang’s mind.

At this moment, Wang finally understood the course of action she needed to take!

Although they had initially agreed to the promise of “letting Cai leave after five days,” would everything truly conclude the moment that promise was fulfilled?

Absolutely not!

As the corners of Wang’s lips curved into a subtle smile, her next course of action solidified in her mind:

Cai would be descending the mountain and returning to the village tomorrow, wouldn’t she?

At that opportune moment, she would simply follow. Once the timing was perfect, she would adopt the brazen methods of a mountain bandit, forcibly seizing her target and bringing her back up the mountain.

In this manner, the most vexing problem would be decisively resolved.

Break her word?

Of course not!

What they had both stated at the time was this:

Cai was free to go anywhere she wished, and no one would impede her.

And that was indeed true.

Was anyone preventing Cai from returning to her village?

Wang would only abduct her *after* she had returned!

Cai believed Wang to be a reasonable person, and that assessment was not entirely incorrect.

What Cai failed to grasp, however, was this:

Even reasonable people, on occasion, choose to abandon reason!

Influenced by a wave of excitement that was instantly discernible, Wang flicked her wrist, scattering all the peas she held tightly in her palm.

Little Eagle would never stand by and watch food go to waste. With a swift pivot of her feet, she instantly unfurled her wings, and as her feathers vibrated, she expertly collected every single pea.

Once the peas were no longer in danger of scattering across the ground, Little Eagle had ample time. She tilted each wing in turn, carefully pouring the peas from her feathers directly into her mouth.

“Chew, chew, chew, gulp!”

Wang still didn’t comprehend the true purpose of the woman before her.

If it were merely to snag a free dinner, there was truly no need to arrive at such a late hour, nearly bedtime.

To prevent Little Eagle from concocting an excuse to depart immediately after her meal, Wang chose the precise moment she finished chewing to abruptly move her lips.

“It feels as if you’ve had something weighing on your mind ever since that foolish woman made her appearance… How do you account for that?”

“How would my Lord prefer me to explain?”

In that moment, Little Eagle met Wang’s gaze directly, neither shying away in her response nor yielding in her composure.

“Hmm… very well. If you prefer not to speak of it, then don’t.”

“My thanks.”

That had undeniably been an opportunity, yet Little Eagle had chosen to forgo it!

Her current conviction was this:

The immediate priority was not her own sentiments, but ensuring Wang took the necessary steps to keep Cai here indefinitely!

All other concerns could be temporarily set aside; the primary objective had to be clearly established.

This was Little Eagle’s most genuine desire.

Having listened to Wang’s earlier remarks, she could likely deduce the actions her leader would undertake next.

Problem solved!

Witnessing Wang’s determined expression, Little Eagle knew her decision to reveal herself had been well-founded.

With her objective accomplished, there was no longer any reason to linger.

“Thank you for the hospitality.”

These were Little Eagle’s final words to Wang before she departed from the room.

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