Dual Cultivation God Returns Chapter 1031: You owe me

"D-Demon Royalty...", the old man's face drained of all color.

"Oh? Fellow Daoist, it seems you truly possess extensive knowledge to recognize something so uncommon. Have you witnessed a genuine Demon Race Royalty in person?" Wu Long arched his brows in authentic astonishment laced with curiosity.

Qian Ying cast his gaze downward, "M-my deepest apologies... I-I misspoke-... hm? W-wait...!"

Suddenly, he lifted his eyes toward Wu Long, noticing that he had used the term "Demon" rather than the self-designation of the Demon Race, "...Y-you're not from the Demon Race..."

"Heh, correct, I'm human, but that only heightens my desire to chat with you," Wu Long laughed lightly, "I've encountered Demon Race nobility of high and low ranks myself, but never Royalty..."

With a casual gesture to the side, he beckoned gently with his fingers. A chair from the room's corner glided over, which he grabbed, turning it so the backrest faced front before straddling it and resting both hands on top to confront the pair.

"What are you discussing, Grandpa? What's this about Demon Royalty?" Qian Lei appeared utterly confused by the exchange.

"I simply... haven't encountered anyone in our Human Race with such... striking looks, especially not a man like this, yet Demon Race Royalty, though rarely glimpsed, are renowned for their extraordinary beauty in both males and females," Qian Ying gave a quick explanation while scrutinizing Wu Long more intently, confirming the absence of any telltale Demon Race traits—only an ethereal allure, "To your question... no, I haven't laid eyes on them myself, but I spotted high-ranking nobility and learned they were accompanying a Royalty roughly a year back in the Boundless Profound World."

"Hey! I recognize you! You're that notorious... or legendary companion of the 9th prince!!!" Qian Lei's face lit up with sudden realization as he peered harder at Wu Long.

His grandfather muttered profanities beneath his breath in utter exasperation, 'This idiotic boy is going to doom us both!'

"Ha-haha... hahaha... H-he's just babbling nonsense, there's no way we'd know you... ah, as I mentioned, he took a blow to the head in childhood—it causes him to imagine and spout rubbish... kindly disregard him..." Qian Ying hastily interjected once more.

Meanwhile...

"Hmm, it looks like this Generational Wave will truly stand out, with even them getting involved..." Wu Long murmured thoughtfully, ignoring the duo entirely, before resuming in a regular tone that drew their focus back, "I'll get more details from you on that afterward; for now, let's discuss you two."

"Weren't... you planning to release us?" Qian Ying swallowed hard at the ominous 'later.'

Wu Long grinned once more, sending a shiver through the elder, who then gaped in shock at the following statement, "I wish to enlist you both in my service."

"B-Boss...!!! Wha-...?" Kwon Qianhong's eyes nearly bulged out in disbelief, halting only when Zhao Xieren's palm pressed against his chest; a shared glance prompted the latter to shake his head mutely.

"O-o-of course! Oh benevolent lord! I am-..." Qian Ying's stunned visage morphed into one of reprieve, flattery, and thrill at the promising opportunity.

Yet he was interrupted before finishing.

"You appear to be mistaken. Though I endured—and frankly enjoyed—the clumsy performance as you desperately struggled against your bonds and seals..." Wu Long continued in his steady voice and amiable demeanor, freezing Qian Ying's features anew as an icy sensation slithered up his back, forcing another gulp, "...it's time for a straightforward discussion now."

"M-my apologies..."

"No apologies needed. You saw your escape attempt fail, prompting you to engage me over your grandson. We align now, everything's fine. I merely seek a composed dialogue."

"Yes," Qian Ying grasped that only candid words would suffice.

"Good," Wu Long affirmed with a nod.

Qian Lei watched his grandfather and Wu Long converse anxiously, sensing the exchange's profound weight from the outset.

Yet abruptly, a petite white fox with rosy eyes caught his attention perched on Wu Long's shoulder; it peered at him inquisitively, groomed its paw briefly, seemed to smirk his way, then feigned a nip at Wu Long's earlobe by parting her tiny jaws around it, paused, retreated, and repeated the playful act.

Qian Lei's eyes expanded in astonishment as he glanced at his grandfather, whose grave demeanor ignored the oddity entirely, as did everyone else present.

Suddenly, he perked up, whipping his head around with a stunned look that drew the attention of both Kwon Qianhong and Zhao Xieren.

The former squinted suspiciously at the young thief, while the latter sighed silently, shaking his head as though to convey, ’don’t you grasp how grave this is, young man?’ and appeared somewhat let down.

Meanwhile, Qian Lei was on the verge of losing his mind, itching to shout and draw eyes to the...

....empty spot...

’W-where is it?’, he wondered, staring wide-eyed at the vacant spot on Wu Long’s shoulder, then spinning around to check if the fox had just slipped away elsewhere, yet not a single trace remained. It even seemed as if he hadn’t truly seen it at all, an eerie sensation seizing him that perhaps he had only conjured it up in his imagination.

Qian Ying, by contrast, listened intently this time without haste to respond, absorbing Wu Long’s explanation.

"Now, when I speak of working for me, it’s not about a one-off theft job, but ongoing employment", Wu Long began clarifying.

"And we both know that those in positions like mine aren’t foolish or innocent enough to simply hand jobs to thieves who tried robbing them, then release them to disappear forever. Naturally, I possess something that could motivate you to serve me beyond short-term gains. Plus, I’ll need some initial assurance of your cooperation, at least until trust develops between us", Wu Long explained in a soft yet casual tone that still lent gravity to every word, avoiding any sense of levity or jest.

With a smile, he continued, "And I truly hope to foster that trust and a solid partnership in time. I have no desire to retain anyone who isn’t willingly committed long-term. Nor do I believe such a person would give their all"

His words carried such genuine candor that doubting them felt nearly impossible. Though Qian Ying, a worldly veteran, harbored suspicions, he couldn’t shake the feeling that Wu Long sincerely sought a mutually beneficial alliance.

For the seasoned thief, this outlook seemed idealistic, even odd, yet questioning Wu Long’s honesty would mean undermining his own sharp instincts and people-reading skills—the very traits that had preserved his life amid perilous pursuits.

"But the long-term doesn’t worry me much", Wu Long shrugged nonchalantly, startling the elder, "No wise person would overlook the advantages of aligning with me over time, and you—though no merchant prodigy—are certainly no idiot. Should you accept my offer and our collaboration thrive, you’ll come to realize it’s vastly more rewarding to stand as my ally than imagined. You’ll see this as a once-in-a-lifetime chance unlikely to repeat"

Though his assertions rang arrogant, they flowed so effortlessly that denial or counterargument seemed futile. Zhao Xieren and Kwon Qianhong appeared to accept them as obvious truths, requiring no nod of confirmation—as plain as declaring ’the sky shines blue on a clear sunny day here.’

"No, my focus is the present, not the future", Wu Long’s voice sharpened subtly as his smile vanished, "For any partnership to proceed, we must address this incident first. You attempted to rob me, and I captured you. There’s a cost for targeting my possessions. Thus, you owe me"

Qian Ying swallowed hard, grasping that this man earnestly desired a lasting hire for the thieves, brimmed with assurance of future success, yet firmly marked the boundary over the affront committed.

The intent rang crystal clear—transgressing against him bore repercussions, regardless of his regard for one’s talents or nature.

"Therefore...", Wu Long wrapped up, "...you must first perform one task for me. No pay or perks attached. Fair recompense for your misdeed"

As Qian Ying parted his lips, Wu Long shook his head, "Ponder deeply before replying. Once you consent and learn the task, retreat will be impossible"

"Do I... even have a choice?", Qian Ying replied gravely, resembling a sage elder now.

"You may be shocked to learn this, but yes, you do", Wu Long grinned once more, "And no, it's not the dilemma of death or submission. I already said I want to recruit you. Would any fool threaten to kill someone into obedience, only to believe they won't turn on him at the faintest glimpse of a chance?"

"Then..."

"Should you decline to work for me, I'll provide a one-time task for you to settle the debt of attempting to rob me, and we'll separate afterward, never meeting again unless you foolishly seek revenge or blab about me to others. You may have to wait a bit while I locate a fitting job of equal worth with minimal risk to me if connected back, though the delay will be insignificant"

Qian Ying's eyes narrowed, blending doubt with puzzlement.

"I see you require time to mull it over, a sensible choice", Wu Long chuckled as he rose, flicking his fingers to swivel Qian Ying's and Qian Lei's chairs toward each other, "It's late, and I have no intention of staying the night. Thinking clearly is hard with someone looming above. Thus, I'll leave you both space and time to decide by dawn"

Kwon Qianhong and Zhao Xieren gave the two thieves one final glance, their faces showing contrasting emotions—the first laced with intense mistrust and wariness, the second bearing a pointed expression hinting at the proper path—before trailing Wu Long out of the chamber.

"Grandpa...", Qian Lei whispered softly as the door clicked shut.

Qian Ying let out a deep sigh, "What's on your mind, Lei'er? No need to say sorry-..."

"Did you catch sight of a white fox back there?"

"Huh? What-... what on earth are you rambling about?!"

"A tiny white fox perched on that man's shoulder! She even threatened to nip his ear!"

"Did you seriously injure your head back in childhood or something?! What's gotten into you?!"