123: Chapter 123 Attacking cities is inferior; attacking hearts and minds is superior!

Poison Python took a deep breath, forcing down the anger of having been "played" by Jiang You just now.

He glanced at his empty palm, then at Jiang You, who was holding the box in the distance with an innocent look on his face, a trace of wariness flashing in his eyes.

"This kid... is indeed very bizarre. Even I can't see through his depth."

"Forget it, business first."

Poison Python turned around and redirected his gaze to the cozy little wooden cabin surrounded by a wooden fence up ahead.

That was his ultimate goal for this trip—the Tier 5 Great Demon, the Phantom Demon Fox Bai Lan!

As long as I devour her, I'll be able to break through my shackles. When that time comes, forget about some bizarre kid, I'll even be able to go toe-to-toe with that old man Pang Ban outside!

"Boss, what's the plan?"

Plum Blossom Three leaned in and whispered, "Are we going for a direct assault? How do we use these thousands of hostages? Just throw them into the array to fill the gaps?"

Slap!

"Idiot!"

Poison Python backhanded him, sending Plum Blossom Three stumbling.

"How many times have I told you? These students are our bargaining chips against Magic City Martial Arts University! They are our protective amulets!"

"If they all die, won't those Grandmasters outside rush in like crazy to fight us to the death?"

"Keep them alive! As long as they're not dead, the people outside won't dare to make a rash move!"

Poison Python adjusted his black robe, a cunning light flashing in his slit pupils.

"As for this defensive grand array..."

"Hmph, that idiot Bai Lan has barely seen the world. Her mind is as simple as a blank sheet of paper."

"Against her, a brute-force attack is the worst strategy. I can trick her out just by using my brain!"

"As the saying goes, 'attacking the mind is supreme, attacking the city is secondary'!"

Saying this, Poison Python made a "shush" gesture to the beast tide and Plum Blossom Three's group behind him.

"Everyone, quiet down!"

"I'll go knock on the door in a moment. As soon as she opens it and comes out, we'll swarm her!"

Having arranged the tactics, Poison Python took a deep breath and adjusted his expression, trying his best to make his gloomy, sinister face look slightly... more benevolent.

He walked up to the fence gate, reached out, and knocked on the door gently and very politely.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

The sound wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear in the silent valley.

...

Inside the cabin.

The midday sun shone through the gaps in the curtains, spilling onto a large round bed.

A small lump bulged under the duvet, where Bai Lan was curled up, sleeping in.

Zzz... snore...

Although she was a Tier 5 Great Demon, her sleeping posture seemed to have come from the exact same school as Jiang You's.

Knock, knock, knock!

The sound of knocking drifted in.

The lump under the duvet wiggled, and two snow-white fox ears popped out first, twitching twice.

Right after, Bai Lan rubbed her bleary eyes and crawled out from under the duvet in a daze.

"Mmh... who is it?"

"So rude. Don't they know an afternoon nap is crucial for beauty sleep?"

Bai Lan slipped into her fluffy rabbit slippers, hugged a giant body pillow, and yawned as she walked over to the French window.

She casually pulled back a corner of the curtain and looked outside.

With one look, she was instantly wide awake.

Outside the valley was a dense, dark crowd of people, surrounded by demonic beasts.

And at the very front of the crowd stood a black-robed man striking a pose.

Bai Lan's mouth slowly formed an 'O' shape, her clear, large eyes filled with shock:

"Wow..."

"This is... so many people!"

"I don't think... I ordered any large packages recently?"

"Why did the entire logistics company show up to deliver my package?"

Bai Lan's face flushed red with excitement.

If it were in the past, she would have opened the door to sign for it without a second thought.

But!

Just as her hand was about to touch the doorknob.

The words Jiang You had said before leaving suddenly echoed in her mind:

"Sister, take my advice."

"Keep the door locked tight these next few days. No matter who knocks, don't open it!"

"Whether it's 'neighborhood care packages,' 'fellow countrymen reunions,' or even 'successful people leading you to fortune'... they're all scams!"

"Scammers nowadays have so many tricks! They might even come in a group to fool you!"

Bai Lan's hand snapped back instantly.

Bai Lan took a deep breath, her little face turning serious.

Instead of opening the door directly, she shouted through the crack in a crisp voice, using the tone of someone interrogating a suspect:

"You outside, state your name!"

"Name, race, home address, any criminal record?"

"If you're selling insurance or financial products, please turn right outside, jump into a mud pit, and commit suicide. Thank you for your cooperation!"

Poison Python outside: "..."

The opening remarks he had just prepared were instantly choked back by this barrage of questions.

Is this a damn census check? Or a suspect interrogation?

Poison Python's eye twitched, but for the sake of the big picture, he forced out what he thought was a friendly smile. His voice, carried into the cabin by demonic power, held a magnetic allure:

"Hehehe, Sister Bai Lan, why so wary?"

"This seat... I mean, I am one of your kind."

"I am Poison Python. We are both demon compatriots persecuted by humans. I've come to... save you."

"Save me?"

Bai Lan let out a cold laugh inside the cabin, her tone sounding exactly like Jiang You when he was complaining:

"Save it!"

"What era do you think this is? Still using that cliché 'fellow countryman' script?"

"Since you're one of my kind, let me ask you—"

Bai Lan threw out her first soul-searching question:

"Where is your Demonic Beast Qualification Certificate? Do you have a health certificate? Have you had your rabies shot?"

The smile on Poison Python's face froze. "What certificate?"

Bai Lan didn't give him any time to react, continuing her rapid-fire questioning:

"Since you're here to save me, do you have a legal prison break permit?"

"If not, then this is an illegal jailbreak, which is against the law!"

"Also, you brought so many people here. Are you going to charge membership fees? Do you want to recruit downlines? Are you trying to brainwash me?"

Poison Python's head buzzed from Bai Lan's combination punches.

Has this fox... gone stupid from being locked up?

Or did her brain mutate?

Why is her mouth full of these terms that make no sense but sound so professional?

"Bai Lan!"

Poison Python took a deep breath, suppressing his anger. Attempting to steer the conversation back on track, his voice grew impassioned:

"Don't let human thinking corrupt you!"

"Look outside! I have thousands of troops! I have countless hostages!"

"I'm here to lead you to freedom! As long as you come with me, we can join forces to rule this world! When that time comes, we'll live in luxury and have whatever we want!"

"Just open the door and join our Demon Race Revival Alliance, and you'll be the Vice Alliance Leader!"

Poison Python felt his words were highly inspiring; any demon would have their blood boiling.

However.

There was a three-second silence inside the door.

Following that, Bai Lan's voice drifted out, filled with deep disdain and the tone of someone who had long seen through everything:

"Drawing pies in the sky."

"A classic empty promise."

"Right off the bat, you talk about ideals, the future, going public... oh wait, ruling the world."

"Yet you haven't even brought out a single bag of potato chips."

Bai Lan's voice became exceptionally firm:

"That big brother in pajamas said so!"

"This kind of empty-handed catch, promising high returns and high positions right from the start, is 10,000%—"

"A! Pyramid! Scheme!"

"I'm not listening! I don't believe you! I'm not transferring any money!"

"You pyramid scheme scammers, get lost! Or else I'm calling the police!"

Thud!

The sound of a heavy object hitting the floor came from inside, as if Bai Lan, to show her determination, had dragged a cabinet over to block the door.

Outside the door.

There was a dead silence.

Thousands of teachers and students looked at one another, their expressions extremely bizarre.