Chapter 17 : The Arch-Nemesis of Hentai Plots—Uncle Cop!

“Might as well let me die.”

Hearing Shen Yingxu’s words, my vision went dark.

“How’s your control over your abilities? Why don’t we team up, storm in, and wipe them out?”

I made a vicious throat-slitting gesture.

“You, a nuke?” Shen Yingxu shot me a look, sighing helplessly. “Idiot.”

“It’s not that bad yet,” I said with an awkward grin.

Turning magic into nuclear energy in this world, without a physique to match, would less likely earn a headline like “Demon King Descends” and more like “Shock! Man Spontaneously Combusts!”

“So, better keep it low-key, right?”

“You said it…”

After reaching this simple consensus, an odd, awkward atmosphere settled in the room.

“Ahem, so, how’d you find out? Is your source reliable?”

“Yep, Ye Qingshu told me herself. Beyond the gossip, she mentioned getting threatening texts… and it’s the second time.”

Seeing my weird look, Shen Yingxu seemed to realize something and added, “Oh, I just talked to her about your past. I know the gist of it.”

Help.

Why’s Ye Qingshu blabbing such embarrassing stuff? What a big mouth.

I scratched my head, showing a sheepish expression.

“I see. Alright. What are the photos like? Can you describe them?”

Noticing my obvious topic shift, Shen Yingxu gave a teasing smile.

“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t help? Why…”

She glanced at my open laptop.

“‘No right or obligation to do anything for her’?”

Using my own words against me…

I spread my hands.

“I haven’t done anything yet, have I? I’m just, as her childhood friend, doing some basic investigation. Reasonable, right?”

“Yes, yes, very reasonable,” Shen Yingxu said, laughing.

“Saying you won’t do anything this afternoon, but your data’s already neatly categorized—Demon King with a mouth as tough as his hide.”

…Ouch, that stings.

“It’s because this feels more complicated than it seems… Fine, you won’t buy that. Call me a hypocrite then.”

Seeing me surrender, Shen Yingxu dropped the smile and got serious.

“Alright, no more jokes. I saw the text sent to Ye Qingshu. It’s a blurry candid shot, probably taken while she was changing—wearing a skirt but about to pull on a top…”

As she spoke, Shen Yingxu grabbed paper and pen from my desk, sketching a rough diagram.

It’s a mid-undressing moment. Not as risqué as some gacha game CGs—no waist exposed—but a teenage girl changing is suggestive enough.

“Unlike the threats in middle school, this message says they have more photos like this. If Ye Qingshu’s interested, she can add an account.”

“That account’s clearly a burner, no info. After adding it, they only send photos and demands, no extra talk. They seem experienced.”

Yeah, their blackmail’s more aggressive than I expected, but it’s definitely at that stage.

“Don’t your church folks have magic to replay past scenes? Can you use it now?”

Shen Yingxu glanced at me, frowning and shaking her head.

“Nope. Jiexin Style is physical, relying on stamina and minimal magic, built on trainable skills and combat experience. Pure magic like forbidden spells? No way I can pull that off now.”

With the easiest option gone, I could only frown at the sketch.

“…Forget it.”

After thinking for a while, I stood up.

“Huh?! Forget it? You can’t just drop this!” Shen Yingxu’s eyes widened, tense. “Should we brainstorm more?”

“Even if you draw well, staring at this sketch won’t reveal more details.”

I said irritably.

“Come with me to find Ye Qingshu. Since they sent that photo and made demands, it’s easier to get clues from her directly.”

“You’re willing to see her?” Shen Yingxu blurted out. “I thought you…”

“We ate together on the rooftop before,” I said with a smile. “It’s all in the past. I don’t care anymore.”

“Oh, right… I just heard about it, but for you, it’s probably been a long, long time…”

Shen Yingxu said softly, looking at me with complex eyes.

As someone who also lived through that world, she probably felt the same faint detachment from this one.

Yeah, it’s been too long.

Long enough that I forgot the trembling fear of walking into class back in middle school.

I gave a silent smile, shrugging.

“…But to avoid any misconceptions, let me clarify: I didn’t become a Demon King over some petty drama. Otherwise, I’d have been toast before crossing over.”

Turning into a Demon King over something like this? Hilarious. Is there anything that fragile in the world?

This isn’t some xianxia drama where love demands the three realms’ burial—these lovesick maniacs are way more Demon King material than me.

“…Are you really a Demon King?”

Shen Yingxu blurted out, earning an “Huh?” from me.

“Sorry, weird comment.”

She said, dodging my puzzled gaze and hurrying to the door.

“Don’t just stand there. Let’s go find… Huh?! Wait, Ye Qingshu?!”

What?

I watched Shen Yingxu open the door in shock and rush out of my house.

“Why are you here, Ye Qingshu?”

She grabbed Ye Qingshu, who seemed about to leave.

…What’s going on?

…

I never expected my house to host this guest again.

By the way, the last uninvited guest hasn’t left yet and is now anxiously hovering around Ye Qingshu.

Is my place haunted or something? Should I get a safety charm for the door?

Glancing at Ye Qingshu, now draped in Shen Yingxu’s school blazer, I set down a cup of tea.

“T-Thanks…”

She looked at me timidly, eyes red, face etched with exhaustion.

Since I’ve known her, Ye Qingshu has never looked this disheveled. For someone who cares so much about her image to go out like this, something big must’ve happened.

“Talk about a coincidence.”

Shen Yingxu jumped in.

I gave her a sympathetic look. As the only one able to break the ice, she was trying hard.

“We were just about to look for you! And then we run into you at the door…”

Keep it up, Shen Yingxu! You were a gentle saintess—you must be a pro at comforting people!

Gentle sea breeze, sails full… even confessing to a dead fish takes courage, Sister!! ()

“You were… looking for me?”

Ye Qingshu said softly, sneaking a glance at me via the reflection in her teacup.

I’d done similar things plenty of times in middle school. Now the roles were reversed.

“Yeah, we thought if we could see more of those messages, we might pinpoint the culprit’s trail.”

I added quickly, “I suspect it’s tied to that tennis prince senior of yours. No solid proof yet, but the exposé paints him as a victim like you.”

After all, the article mentioned Yang Xinwei’s playboy issues too.

“He’s no prince,” Ye Qingshu muttered with venom, clenching her fists and looking up.

“You… want to help me?”

Her almost tearful expression was rare for someone as assertive as her.

“We’re childhood friends, grew up together. If you ask for help, I can’t just stand by, right?”

Ignoring Shen Yingxu’s “tch tch” protest, I said confidently.

She wants to transfer or leave? I’ll wish her well. But if she asks for help, I never said I wouldn’t—backtracking and sophistry are Demon King virtues.

“Thank you, Zhu Hanqi. I know it’s too late to say this, but… I’ve always wanted to tell you… I’m sorry…”

Gently reaching for my sleeve, Ye Qingshu moved slowly, like a wary kitten, ready to shrink back at the slightest hint of rejection.

So naturally, I—

—gently pulled away, keeping her from grabbing my sleeve.

“No need to apologize. I told Ningxi-jie and Yushu too—I don’t think you did anything wrong. It was just our choices back then. Choices aren’t right or wrong; their outcomes are just good or bad.”

I said earnestly, watching her freeze.

Shen Yingxu looked like she wanted to say something but slumped back on the couch, sighing.

“No need to apologize or thank me. I’m helping because I chose to. I’m not in a position to accept either.”

I said flatly, watching the spark in her eyes dim, like fading embers.

“I understand.”

She said softly, pulling her phone from her pocket and gripping it tightly.

“I came out because…”

She took a deep breath, her expression resolute.

“This time, I want to call the police.”

—Unexpected but totally reasonable.

Ye Qingshu continued.

“The first threat came in the second semester of second year, after I cut ties with them. Same unknown contact, same crude candid.”

“They didn’t ask me to add an account—just told me to stay away from Yang Xinwei and not to explain or deny the rumors, or I’d face more scrutiny.”

She clenched her fists, head lowered, tears falling onto her hands.

“I already wanted nothing to do with them and was scared it’d affect my family and friends. I thought it was some obsessed fan of his, so I figured I’d just endure it…”

“But this time, I added the account. They sent more candids—not as private as the changing one, but from angles and places I never imagined.”

“They said if I don’t join the tennis club, they’ll post them online… and hinted if I don’t obey Yang Xinwei and become his girlfriend, they’ll leak even more explicit shots.”

“Then the whole school will have no place for me.”

A chill and rage swirled behind me, like ice and fire colliding.

Shen Yingxu leaned close, whispering so only I could hear.

“How’s your ability control? Should we team up and carve them up for good?”

Didn’t I suggest that earlier? Why’s it looping back?

And isn’t that a bit harsher now?!

“I’m not letting those people blackmail me! I won’t compromise this time!”

Ye Qingshu clenched her fists, looking up.

“…And I’ll never be that guy’s girlfriend. I’d rather die.”

“They deleted the chat and account quickly, but I think the police can recover it. Even if it risks leaking those photos, I won’t do something… stupid again…”

She looked at me earnestly, with a pleading gaze.

“I didn’t do what those rumors say… You probably don’t believe me, but this time, I don’t want to disappoint Mom, them… or you.”

Disappoint me? Weird way to put it…

“Uh, this might ruin the mood.”

In her puzzled look, I raised my hand slightly.

“Can I see those private photos? I haven’t seen them yet.”

Whoosh!

Ye Qingshu’s face turned beet red, and Shen Yingxu’s eyes widened.

“Zhu Hanqi, you—!”

I gave a confused look.

What’d I do? Why’re you yelling at me for no reason?!

“I-I understand. If it’s you…”

Ye Qingshu said, turning away as Shen Yingxu went, “Huh? Huh?! HUH?!”

“It… was probably… like this…”

I watched Ye Qingshu slowly lift her arm, her blushing profile turned toward me.

She raised her shirt, revealing a smooth waist, like the finest silk…

As my eyes widened, Ye Qingshu bit her lip, eyes shut, lifting higher.

Ohh, is that a girl’s bra strap? Peach pink, huh…

“No, no, not a reenactment!!”

I hurriedly stopped my childhood friend, who’d started stripping without warning.

“The photos! My bad, I wasn’t clear! I meant the photos! I want to see the photos!!”

“You heard me! Photos are fine!!”

“Huh? S-Sorry, I thought you meant you hadn’t seen the private shots, so I…”

Ye Qingshu scrambled to explain.

“The photos don’t even show me lifting my shirt…”

I’m exhausted. Really.

This girl’s definitely not right in the head.