LRPB Ch1

Chapter 1: All Races Express Their Displeasure with the Fox Spirit

On a midsummer afternoon, at the Jinmao Tower.

A red Ferrari sped through the street and executed a beautiful drift, coming to a smooth stop at the entrance with a screeching sound. A young man in jeans and a baseball cap got out of the car, twirling his car keys nonchalantly, and strode through the revolving door under the curious and envious gazes of passersby.

This commercial building, situated in the bustling city center, was resplendent in its grandeur. As soon as he entered the lobby, the air conditioning hit him like it was free. Standing in front of the security gate that required a card swipe, the young man patted his pockets, felt the goosebumps on his arm, and turned to the receptionist, “Hey beautiful, I forgot my card. Could you swipe it for me?”

The receptionist, obviously new, stared blankly and said, “I’m sorry, sir. Visitors need to register first. Who are you here to see?”

The young man partially removed his sunglasses and looked at her with a half-smile.

He was quite tall, definitely over six feet, and very handsome. Although his full face wasn’t visible, his half-raised eyebrows and deep eyes were enough to make anyone’s heart race.

The receptionist blushed slightly, but before she could say anything, he turned around and took out his phone. “…Hey, bro? I’m here to see you but forgot my card. Ask your pretty receptionist to let me in!”

He didn’t wait for a response before hanging up and casually lighting a cigarette.

“Excuse me, sir, smoking is not allowed in the lobby,” the receptionist stammered.

“Just a few puffs, don’t worry, beautiful,” he replied nonchalantly.

“But… but…”

Just then, the elevator dinged and opened slowly, revealing a man in a black suit.

The receptionist turned and gasped, “B-boss!”

Although addressed as “boss,” Chu He actually looked quite young, seemingly just over thirty. He had a lean and well-toned physique, clad in a well-tailored black suit and white shirt. Unlike his brother’s striking handsomeness, his features were more pale and plain, making him appear very low-key when not speaking, completely inconspicuous as the head of a prominent group.

He swiped his card, exited the glass security gate, and stood before his brother.

The two brothers locked eyes for a moment. Chu He took the cigarette from his brother’s mouth and handed it to the receptionist.

“No smoking in the lobby,” he said calmly. Then he instructed the receptionist, “His name is Zhang Shun, my brother. Let him in next time.”

His voice, though mismatched with his plain looks, was deep, raspy, and very steady, with a hint of calm authority. The receptionist, so nervous she forgot to blush, hurriedly took the cigarette and bowed repeatedly, “Yes, boss! I’m sorry, I’ll remember!”

Chu He nodded at her and turned toward the elevator.

Zhang Shun followed, waving at the receptionist before leaving, “Sorry about that, beautiful! I’ll treat you to tea later!”

The receptionist stumbled, quickly checked that no one was around, and ran to the duty room, frantically waking her napping colleague, “Sister Wang, Sister Wang! Did you know our boss has a brother?”

Her sleepy colleague lifted her head, “Oh, the Second Young Master Zhang? He’s here again? Don’t forget to let him in…”

The receptionist, unable to contain her excitement, said, “But our boss’s surname is Chu, how does he have a brother named Zhang? And he’s as handsome as a movie star, did you know that, Sister Wang?”

Her colleague immediately signaled her to lower her voice, “Are you asking for trouble, young lady? Do you want everyone to hear?”

Being two years older, her colleague looked around to ensure no one was around and then whispered, “Our former chairman’s surname was Zhang. The Second Young Master Zhang is his only son. Our current boss took his mother’s surname. It’s said that when Chairman Zhang remarried, he brought his wife and her son into the family…”

The elevator ascended smoothly, the mirrored walls glowing under the luxurious lighting.

In the confined space, only the two of them were present. Zhang Shun removed his sunglasses and provocatively stared at his brother’s reflection in the mirror. Chu He showed no intention of speaking, merely looking straight ahead with a calm, expressionless face.

“Aren’t you going to ask why I’m here?” Zhang Shun couldn’t hold back and spoke first.

“For money.”

“Hey—can’t I just be here to see my big brother?”

“How much?”

Zhang Shun’s expression froze. After a moment, he said, “…Five million.”

Chu He finally glanced at his brother, “For what?”

His skin was extremely pale, almost translucent under the light. His lips were thin, giving him a cold and unfeeling look, starkly different from Zhang Shun’s charming and handsome face.

How did someone like him manage to find people willing to risk their lives for him, wresting control of the group from their father?

Lost in thought, Zhang Shun replied absentmindedly, “Just for fun. The principal cellist from the Central Orchestra—I bought her a car last time and used up all my New Year’s money. Now she’s clamoring to go to some auction. Mayor Huang’s nephew and a few others will be there. I estimate this time won’t be less than a few million…”

Chu He said indifferently, “What about Fu Ya?”

“Who?” Zhang Shun was momentarily confused before realizing, “Oh, that professor’s daughter you introduced to me—she’s definitely got a screw loose. She takes a book everywhere, doesn’t know how to have fun, can’t let loose. I can’t handle someone like her. She seems more suited for you. You two can wrap up in blankets and talk about life and ideals every night, hahaha…”

Chu He stared unblinkingly at his brother, his eyes as clear as glass marbles under the light.

Zhang Shun, oblivious to any fear, playfully placed his elbow on Chu He’s shoulder and grinned, “Not to be disrespectful, big brother, but she might have come straight from your room. Please take her back. Your little brother doesn’t lack for company—oh, by the way, don’t think I’m being disrespectful. I didn’t touch a hair on that girl. She’s all yours, haha!”

Chu He raised his hand and pushed his brother’s arm away.

Just then, the elevator stopped at the floor for the finance department. The doors opened, and Chu He, with a stern expression, walked out. Even then, Zhang Shun didn’t know when to stop and followed behind, joking, “You two must have a lot to talk about! If just talking isn’t exciting enough, your little brother can lend you a couple of educational films! If that doesn’t work, we can find a doctor to check you out. For someone so young, you always look like you’re suffering from kidney deficiency…”

Chu He walked into the finance office, ignoring the varied expressions of the accountants outside, and knocked on the finance manager’s door, saying, “Give him fifty thousand, charge it to my account.”

The manager immediately stood up, “Yes, boss. Check or transfer?”

“Check.”

Zhang Shun sauntered in just in time to hear this and asked, “Didn’t you say five hundred thousand? Why is it fifty thousand now?”

Chu He didn’t answer. The manager felt the room’s pressure drop dramatically, making him feel like he was walking on needles. By the time he finished writing the check, his back was soaked in cold sweat.

Chu He took the check and threw it into his brother’s arms.

“Save the other four hundred fifty for me to find a doctor,” he said coldly. “Don’t you know that medical treatments are expensive these days?”

Ten minutes later, Zhang Shun hummed a tune as he went downstairs. Passing the receptionist, he whistled at her.

“Beauty, not much money this time. I’ll treat you next time!”

The receptionist didn’t like such a frivolous and slick young man, but seeing how handsome he was, her face involuntarily reddened. She was about to dodge when Zhang Shun, with his long legs, was already swaggering away.

That evening, when Chu He returned home, he could hear the deafening music from the villa from afar.

He took off his suit jacket and handed it to the butler, asking, “What’s Second Young Master up to again?”

The old butler, having watched Zhang Shun grow up in this house over the years, naturally felt some protectiveness and cautiously said, “Second Young Master is with some friends, having a little gathering…”

Chu He shook his head, unsure if it was in ridicule or amusement, and said lightly, “…Friends.”

He wore a white shirt and black suit pants, no tie, and while unbuttoning his collar, he walked towards the hall. The old butler, wanting to divert his attention, followed closely behind and asked, “By the way, Young Master, the rumor you asked me to investigate this morning has been clarified. It was Aunt Liu from the kitchen, who got up at night and saw a white figure wandering outside Second Young Master’s room. She got scared and screamed…”

Chu He, while rolling up his sleeves to his elbows, asked, “What did she see?”

The old butler, careful not to mention anything supernatural, smartly replied, “Aunt Liu has poor eyesight and might have seen it wrong. I’ll knock some sense into the servants and make sure they don’t spread rumors anymore.”

Chu He nodded and said, “I know what it is.” As he spoke, he passed through the hall, looking down from the railing to see a small dance floor below, lit up with neon lights. Several young men and women were wildly shaking their heads there. Zhang Shun lounged lazily on a small sofa, with a delicate, fair-skinned boy nestled in his arms like a pet bird.

Chu He leaned over the railing and shouted, “Zhang Shun!”

Several people below looked up. Chu He sternly asked, “Who did you have over last night? Don’t run around the corridors half-naked in the middle of the night!”

After saying that, he turned and walked away.

The group of friends all turned their gazes to Zhang Shun—he, having been falsely accused of running around naked at night, was baffled and said, “I didn’t do that!”

Back in his study, Chu He called for a bowl of sweet soup over the intercom and pulled an old, yellowed book, “Bao Si Zi,” from the shelf to read.

After a short while, there was a gentle knock on the study door.

Chu He turned a page and said, “Come in.”

The door clicked open, and the sound of light footsteps approached, followed by the door being quietly shut again. The person seemed very cautious, taking a while to walk up to the large desk, speaking in a soft, fresh voice, “Young Master, your sweet soup.”

Chu He looked up to see the delicate boy who had been nestled next to Zhang Shun downstairs standing before him.

No wonder Zhang Shun, with his vast experience, brought him home. This boy was indeed very beautiful. His big eyes were so charming they seemed ready to shed a tear at any moment, and his figure was as delicate as a young girl who hadn’t begun to develop. Just standing there, a continuous seductive aura emanated from every inch of his skin, intoxicating anyone nearby.

Chu He returned his gaze to the book, “Leave it.”

The boy set down the bowl, hesitated for a moment, then gently knelt on the ground, moving forward on his knees to the armchair. He looked up and softly said, “Young Master.”

Chu He’s face showed no sign of either welcoming or rejecting him, not even a glance from the corner of his eye.

The boy steeled himself and said, “Young Master, my name is Xiao Hu. I’ve only been with Second Young Master for a few days. I’ve come to pay my respects to you.”

His words were interesting, covering several points—first, he wasn’t here to bother but to respectfully and politely greet him; second, he wasn’t late in doing so, since he’d only been with Second Young Master for a few days, showing his respect.

A slight smile, almost imperceptible, appeared at the corner of Chu He’s mouth. “Do you know who I am?”

“No.”

“Yet you kneel?”

Xiao Hu smiled, lips pursed. “Though my eyes are not sharp enough to recognize you, I can sense the demonic aura from you. You’ve almost become a demon, so accepting my kneel shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

This intrigued Chu He. He put down his book, leaned slightly, and stared into Xiao Hu’s captivating eyes with interest. “Your fox clan—I knew one of your elders. He wasn’t much better looking than you, but he wasn’t as eloquent.”

Xiao Hu grinned. “If you find my humble self somewhat acceptable, I would willingly serve you wholeheartedly, Young Master…” Saying this, he moved a step closer, a delicate, white hand gently touching Chu He’s chest, then moving down to unbutton his expensive shirt.

Chu He didn’t stop him, nor did he move, just leaning back in the wide armchair, watching the fox spirit busy himself. After a while, he sighed, not knowing whether in mockery or contemplation, “Your fox clan is just like humans, with many faces. Some are as obedient and sensible as you, while others are rebellious and naturally sharp-tongued…”

Xiao Hu smiled sweetly, “I wonder which elder offended you back then?”

Chu He said slowly, “Oh, that was before I fell into becoming a demon… Do you know Hu Qing?”

Xiao Hu froze.

The next second, his face turned deathly pale as if all the blood in his body had been drained.

At that moment, a red-black mist slowly rose behind him, condensing in mid-air and vaguely forming a human shape. The shape became clearer, and finally, a foot stepped out from the mist, followed by a man in black emerging as if tearing through space!

Xiao Hu trembled and turned his head.

The overwhelming pressure forced him to bend down, making it extremely difficult to even lift his head. The room seemed devoid of oxygen, creating an intense sense of suffocation. The fox spirit forgot even his innate charms, only hearing a roaring in his ears and feeling his eyes almost bulge out of their sockets—

He saw the red rune-like marks on the side of the man’s face.

“Demon…” he heard his teeth chattering, “Demon Lord…”

Chu He nonchalantly adjusted his collar and said, “I forgot to tell you, if you want to become a demon too, there’s no use seeking me. He’s the one who can help you quickly.”

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