My avatar is becoming the final boss

Chapter 372 The Gu Family's Inclusion, The Seven Deadly Sins (6000 words, requesting monthly votes)

Haifan City, this is inside one of the mansions of the Lake Hunter Lin family located in this small city.

The first ray of sunlight shone through the thin paper window into the office, falling on the potted plants on the windowsill.

At this moment, Lin Xingshi was sitting in a swivel chair behind the table, quietly reviewing the documents. He seemed to have heard something interesting, so he looked up from the pages.

She looked at Zhuge Hui with curiosity, her fiery red braid swaying slightly in the morning breeze.

"Old Hui, were you referring to those people from the Gu family just now?" she asked.

"Could there be other people outside?"

Zhuge Hui smiled slightly, a clear light in his eyes, "If we need to find some people to help us keep an eye on the tour group, they would be very suitable."

"First of all, let me clarify that the group you're talking about doesn't include our genius exorcist, Lady Mai Mai," Ke Qi Rui coughed twice and said seriously. "Although she's also a member of the Gu family, she was almost scared into diaper-wearing demons by the White Raven Brigade before. You don't expect her to clash with the White Raven Brigade again, do you?"

As she spoke, she lowered her head, took a drag of her pipe, and couldn't help but chuckle, "I hope it doesn't scare you into some weird new species this time."

"None of us mentioned your little sister either." Zhuge Hui tilted his head as he spoke. "Anyone with eyes can see what kind of ability she has. Why would we send her to do something as risky as a moth drawn to a flame?"

Ke Qirui shrugged, sensing the sarcasm implied in Zhuge Hui's words.

When she took Su Zimai to the Tokyo auction house, she genuinely believed that with her Ghost Train group and Zhou Jiuya's combined strength, they could wipe out the White Raven Brigade in one fell swoop.

But to everyone's surprise, a torrential downpour hit Tokyo that day, and Zhou Jiuya didn't wake up from his dream. If Xia Pingzhou hadn't secretly helped him, Su Zimai might have really been in trouble.

"That little girl you're talking about is probably eavesdropping at the door right now. If you go out, she'll slap you." Ke Qirui loosened his pipe and teased, "Don't underestimate her. With her temper, she's capable of anything."

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Hui quickly covered his lips with his folding fan and shook his head, "My apologies, my apologies, I shouldn't have made such sarcastic remarks about the genius exorcist, Master Mai."

"Hmm... guess what she said about you? You look so young, but you talk like someone much older. You're glib and have an old-fashioned way of speaking," Ke Qirui added.

Zhuge Hui's face darkened, but a kind smile still lingered on his lips.

Zhou Jiuya frowned slightly and couldn't help but take a deep breath. "It's just dealing with a few bugs, do we really need to call in outside help? Aren't we ashamed of ourselves as Lake Hunters?"

"In the end, Old Crow, isn't it because you were too arrogant? If you hadn't let them escape at the auction, would this have happened today?" Zhuge Hui shook his head.

"It's only been a month. I'd like to ask how strong they can become?"

"Then I'll be frank. The White Raven Brigade destroyed Hakoniwa and obtained a whole bunch of treasures. Their combat strength is now vastly different from what it used to be." Zhuge Hui tapped the mahogany table with his folding fan.

"Where is the difference between now and then?"

"Not long ago, they also captured Julius, the Calamity-level ability user in the Shin-e-go prison in Hokkaido... As for how strong Julius is, you and I have both seen it." At this point, Zhuge Hui waved his folding fan.

He turned and glanced at Zhou Jiuya. "Do you really think a bunch of lackeys can take down Julius?"

"It's just a small fish with a few more thorns, isn't it still a small fish?" Zhou Jiuya said indifferently. "Don't exaggerate so much, Lao Hui, I didn't know you had become this stupid."

"Alas, this child is beyond redemption," Zhuge Hui sighed and shook his head.

"It smells like an old person's cooking." Zhou Jiuya sighed as well.

"you……"

Zhuge Hui was furious. He raised his folding fan and pointed it at Zhou Jiuya, his forehead covered in black lines.

“We at Genius Diapers aren’t joking when we say you smell like an old person,” Zhou Jiuya said coldly.

Listening to their conversation, Ke Qirui, who was leaning against the wall, suddenly thought of something.

So she put the pipe back in her trench coat pocket, quietly lowered her head, and her eyes flickered slightly.

At this moment, she was considering whether or not to mention "Xia Pingzhou" to the four members of the Lake Hunters, in case Xia Pingzhou was actually killed by the Lake Hunters later.

But it might not be good to say it out loud at this time, since Xia Pingzhou is already planning how to leave the group. If something happens because of this, it could very well disrupt his plans.

After much deliberation, Ke Qirui ultimately decided to keep the secret to herself.

Moreover, even if she said it aloud, she didn't think that the Lake Hunters would show any mercy to Xia Pingzhou, given their personalities.

In their eyes, even if Xia Pingzhou initially only wanted to be an undercover agent, he would inevitably be involved in many acts of indiscriminate killing. As long as he stayed in the White Raven Brigade long enough, he could not extricate himself from those beastly deeds.

Xia Pingzhou has long since ceased to be a clean person.

"Both of you, don't rush. Let's see what the captain thinks first," Zhong Wujiu said coldly.

Ke Qirui looked up at him. This young man, wearing a demon mask and a black overcoat, was taciturn and rarely spoke. However, his voice was unexpectedly cold and clear, unlike the deep tone Ke Qirui had imagined.

Zhuge Hui covered half his face with his fan and looked at Lin Xingshi, "Then, Captain, what do you think?"

“I don’t think it’s a good idea. Since the troupe is targeting us, the Ravens, how can we shift this risk to outsiders?” Lin Xingshi lowered his head and remained silent for a moment before shaking his head.

“One of them is a former member of Rainbow Wing, and the other is a cataclysmic time-type ability user. Aren’t they enough to handle this task?” Zhuge Hui said. “Besides… we don’t need them to wipe out the entire White Raven Brigade. That’s unrealistic. We just need them to keep an eye on those bandits.”

He patted the mahogany table and chairs with his folding fan. "Once we've dealt with the Nian beast, the White Raven Brigade will have no chance to take advantage of us."

Lin Xingshi stroked his chin. "I'm not referring to a lack of trust in their abilities, but rather that there's no need to owe them this favor."

"As for favors? Since we're protecting them, we should at least get some protection money." Zhuge Hui shook his head. "We can't help these people for nothing, especially since we've paid a considerable price."

"Oh dear, how come I didn't know you paid such a high price?" Ke Qirui smiled.

“Miss Ke, after all, it’s troublesome for us to be investigated openly and secretly by people from Rainbow Wing every day.”

Zhuge Hui paused for a moment: "Moreover, Su Wei was also involved in that deserted island incident. Although he has recently resigned from his position as president and disappeared, Hongyi knows that Su Wei was the president of the Exorcist Association before, so naturally they will suspect us. After all... within the association, only Lake Hunter can hide the power of Blue Arc and Ghost Bell and others."

Ke Qirui slightly composed herself. Although she wanted to stop them from dragging the Gu family into danger, what they said was true. Since they were under the protection of Lake Hunting, they had to pay a price.

"Captain, what do you think?" Zhuge Hui asked.

“You’re right, but…” Lin Xingshi looked down at the table, hesitating to speak.

“I also think it’s unnecessary to ask outsiders for help. The captain has already said so, so what are you all still chattering about?” Zhou Jiuya said impatiently, not even bothering to open his eyes.

Zhuge Hui picked up his folding fan and pointed it at him, "Hey... you culprit, shut up! You have no right to speak here. Every time we encounter a critical moment, if it weren't for my advice, we would have been wiped out long ago."

"The parties involved are right outside," Ke Qirui smiled, even she, an outsider, couldn't help but interject, "Why don't you just call them in and ask for their opinions?"

"Then let's leave it at that." Lin Xingshi stopped resting his chin on his hand and sighed. "Call Mr. Gu and Ms. Mai in, and we'll ask for their opinions."

"Wouldn't it be okay if it was just like this?"

Ke Qirui said helplessly, took a step towards the office door, pushed the door open, and looked up from her pipe.

The corridor was empty, the floor bathed in the soft morning light, and the distant sound of the ocean waves could be heard. A standing fan stood against the wall, turning slowly.

She glanced at the three members of the Gu family who were leaning against the wall, chatting intimately.

Gu Zhuo'an crossed his arms and lowered his head in thought, Gu Qiye stared blankly out the window, and Su Zimai was scrolling through Weibo with her head down again. Whenever this family of three had a little free time, they would fall into this state, as if they had been collectively infected with depression.

If you were to dig out their brains, you'd find that they're all filled with the same person at this moment.

"Gu Wenyu, you are truly guilty of grave sins..." Ke Qirui sighed inwardly, her expression darkening.

In truth, she quite admired Hei Yong. Her feelings became even more complicated after learning that he was Gu Wenyu. She had been completely fooled by a high school student and didn't know what he was thinking until the very last moment.

Another thing is that she can't understand why a high school student could be associated with an organization like the Salvation Society... But Gu Wenyu is dead, and no one will ever answer her questions again.

"Did you relay the message to them, Commander?" Su Zimai asked, looking up as she stood with her hands behind her back.

"Yes, they already know the troupe is in this city," Ke Qirui said absentmindedly.

"Can we go now?" Su Zimai then asked.

She didn't want to stay in this aristocratic mansion for even a second longer. Every second she felt out of place, so she quickly came up with an excuse to leave. "My brother and father haven't had breakfast yet, and I'm afraid they'll starve! Look how thin they've become!"

As she spoke, she patted Gu Qiye's strong leg muscles with her left hand and Gu Zhuo'an's muscular arms with her right hand, squinting at Ke Qirui.

Ke Qirui looked at her with annoyance, thinking to herself, "Is your brother and your dad skinny? Even world champions in ring wrestling would be lifted up and tossed around by them, okay?"

Gu Qiye chuckled softly, thinking to herself, "Little sister, do you mean that two disaster-level beings will starve to death if they skip breakfast?"

"Say something, Commander!" Su Zimai lowered her head and glared at Ke Qirui.

“No, you can’t leave yet.” Ke Qirui shook her head. “Our Lion Dance Captain wants to have a talk with you. If it’s convenient, please come into the office.”

"Looking for us?" Gu Qiye raised an eyebrow, pointed to himself, and then to Gu Zhuo'an.

Ke Qirui nodded silently.

“Alright, then Dad, come with me.” After a moment of silence, Gu Qiye and Gu Zhuoan exchanged a glance. He then walked into the office first, his face expressionless. Gu Zhuoan frowned and followed. Su Zimai looked at Ke Qirui suspiciously, then followed the two into the office.

After the three entered the office, Ke Qirui silently closed the office door from the outside, then leaned against the door frame for a while in a daze, before letting out a long sigh.

"Xia Pingzhou, you'd better watch yourself..." she murmured to herself.

Inside the office.

“This is our idea,” Zhuge Hui said. “What do you think? It’s just a matter of helping us hold off those bandits while we fight the Nian beast. It shouldn’t be difficult for you, right?” As he spoke, he waved his folding fan and looked at Gu Zhuoan and Gu Qiye with a smile.

"No way, weren't my dad and my older brother both beaten half to death by the White Raven Brigade before?"

Su Zimai shook her head decisively.

“I heard that some of you were so frightened that you lost control of your bladder,” Zhou Jiuya said coldly.

Su Zimai's face flushed red instantly. She frowned in embarrassment and annoyance, her eyes twitching slightly as Ke Qirui's face appeared in her mind.

It was obviously the commander who said it. Thinking of this, Su Zimai pressed her chest and took a deep breath, thinking to herself, "Commander, I'll settle accounts with you later."

She looked up, annoyed, at Gu Zhuo'an, then at Gu Qiye, and said, "Tell me, which of you was scared to death by the tour group?"

"Me," Gu Qiye smiled slightly, "is that alright?"

“The White Raven Brigade…” Gu Zhuoan lowered his voice and murmured hoarsely.

The moment he heard that name, he recalled the young man surrounded by crows at the auction house that day, and the scene of Gu Qiye being besieged and forced to kneel down. Qi Yuanli's indifferent face and deep eyes at that time seemed to be right in front of him.

As his thoughts drifted to this point, Gu Zhuo'an's expression darkened.

Gu Qiye remained silent.

Lin Xingshi remained silent, sitting quietly in her chair the entire time, her hands clasped together, staring blankly at the sea and sky outside the window, not participating in the conversation.

"Have you understood the situation?" Zhuge Hui opened his folding fan, obscuring the lower half of his face.

“Alright, then we will help you.” Gu Qiye said calmly, “But let’s make it clear first, our mission is only to hold back the White Raven Brigade’s personnel while you are fighting the Nian Beast.”

Gu Zhuoan slowly raised his head, his brows furrowed, and met Zhuge Hui's gaze.

Zhuge Hui understood perfectly. Since Gui Zhong, a man of unpredictable temperament, did not immediately object vehemently, he tacitly agreed.

"That's enough." Zhuge Hui opened his folding fan, beaming. "Thank you for your help, gentlemen of the Gu family. Captain, do you have anything to say?"

Lin Xingshi slowly turned her head, opened her mouth, and said softly, "Then let's leave it at that."

"I disagree."

In the silence, Su Zimai suddenly raised her head and spoke.

Gu Qiye was taken aback.

"Xiaomai, be good." He raised his hand to pat her head, then slowly leaned down to meet her eyes. "Or have you stopped trusting your older brother and father?"

Su Zimai frowned and remained silent for a while, then her brows slowly relaxed, and she murmured somewhat wistfully, "The last person who asked me to believe in him is gone forever."

Gu Qiye slightly composed himself, and after a moment, silently withdrew his right hand.

It was also early morning of August 20th, at Haifan Mountain, in the conference space behind the waterfall.

Torches flickered, and on red prayer cushions sat zodiac demons. At the very center, on a massive prayer cushion, lay a crimson lion. A tuft of black mane adorned its head, and its majestic eyes stared directly at a palm-sized rat.

“My Lord, the Demon of Sloth is dead,” the Rat Demon said tremblingly. “We found her body in a forest on the mountain… Her lower body was still alive, but it soon stopped moving.”

"Is it dead..." The Nian Beast King narrowed his eyes and murmured thoughtfully.

Then it slowly turned its head and looked at the gluttonous demon sitting in the distance, eating.

Upon hearing the news of the Sloth Demon's death, the Gluttonous Demon's expression was one of anger, but not rage. After a moment, its mind raced, and it seemed to decide that it should now display a furious rage. So it opened its mouth and roared to the sky. But soon its facial muscles relaxed again, and it simply continued to eat the fruit on its plate.

The little Nian beast, who was lying in the corner with his legs crossed, rolled his eyes and thought to himself, "My judgment was right after all. This stupidest of the Seven Deadly Sins won't pose any threat if it stays."

Even if the former Lake Hunter really did apply mental abilities to these Seven Deadly Sins demons, such abilities would probably have no effect on a demon like "Gluttony" that has no brain cells at all.

Idiots and morons are completely immune to mental abilities because they don't have brains.

The hall fell silent. None of the zodiac demons could believe this fact. The Great Lord had been having the Rat Demon secretly follow three of the Seven Deadly Sins and report to it whenever there was any movement.

But last night, the Rat Demon was affected by the Sloth Demon's song and fell into an uncontrollable slumber, so he didn't know what happened afterward.

But the Rat Demon knew that two exorcists had invaded their territory, but they hadn't had time to find out who these two humans were.

"And what about the raging demon?" The Nian Beast King pondered for a moment. "How is it?"

"The whereabouts of the raging demon are currently unknown, but I'm afraid..." The Rat Demon hesitated before continuing.

After a long silence, the Nian Beast King said in a low voice, "Fine... You, come with me."

Upon hearing the Great Lord's words, all the Zodiac Demons present looked up at him. They saw that the Great Lord was not focusing his gaze on any of the Zodiac Demons, but was staring intently at the Little Year Beast lying in the corner with a blade of grass in its mouth.

"oh oh."

The little beast then came to its senses, raised its head to meet the Great Lord's gaze, and belatedly got up from the ground.

The Great Lord of the Nian Beast was the first to rise from the futon, and the Little Nian Beast followed him out of the meeting space.

Two lions, one large and one small, crossed the rushing waterfall and arrived in the tranquil forest, where the lanterns above their heads lit up.

The little Nian beast raised its head and looked disdainfully at the thousands of lights in the forest, thinking to itself, "Why weren't you so welcoming when I came here on my own?"

Two lions strolled slowly through the forest, the surroundings were quiet, and the only sound could be the rustling of the wind through the leaves.

"You were the one who did this, weren't you?" the Nian Beast King suddenly spoke up.

"Why did I do it?" The little Nian beast turned to look at it. "Dad, aren't you framing me? Ten years have passed, and now you want to turn against your father?"

"You don't need to lie, just tell the truth," the Nian Beast King said without turning his head.

"Who knows?" The little Nian beast shook its head and looked away.

It didn't want to admit that these two humans were related to it. Of course, it was possible that if it did, the Great Lord would start thinking that "those two humans were invited by Bai Tanlang," but what did that have to do with it?

“You don’t need to deny it. The Rat Demon overheard your conversation with the Wrathful Demon by the Spirit Heart Lake. We all know that you are the most likely person to have done what happened last night,” the Year Beast Lord said slowly.

He paused for a moment: "Actually, it's quite good. Originally, I invited these three from the Seven Deadly Sins over here to verify whether it was true that they made a deal with the Lake Hunter in order to survive... If it is true, then keeping the threat under our noses is better than letting them roam around in the shadows without us even knowing we've been stabbed in the back."

"So that's what you were thinking, Dad. I thought you were really stupid enough to cooperate with them," the little beast said suddenly.

"The Rat Demon was affected by the power of Sloth and fell into a deep sleep. But he said he saw two humans kill them. What is your relationship with those two humans?"

"They're just friends I met in the human world," said the little Nian beast. "But don't tell anyone else, okay?"

The Nian Beast King seemed to want to say something more, but only sighed, "Never mind..."

It walked alone into the deep forest. The little beast stopped and silently watched the Great Lord's back as he left.

The little beast thought to itself, "Then tonight is the time the prophet and I agreed on. I'd better stay in the cell and see how things go, just in case something unexpected happens. I shouldn't cause any trouble today."

Thinking of this, the little Nian beast leaped up and landed on the branch of one of the giant trees, where it lay down.

Then it raised its paw, patted the lantern demon that was pretending to be dead, causing it to light up, and then slowly closed its eyes.

The wind blew, the lanterns swayed, and the leaves rustled. Over time, the little beast's consciousness gradually sank down and finally arrived at the library in the spiritual world.

As the sun set, its reddish afterglow shone through the window. Ji Minghuan slowly opened his eyes, looked up, and gazed at the four corpses hanging upside down from the library ceiling.

The last corpse had transformed into a boy with purplish-red hair.

Ji Minghuan tugged on the rope hanging from the ceiling, and the four corpses swayed. Some of them grinned mockingly, some were expressionless and unresponsive, some were muttering about wanting food, and some were yawning.

He sighed, loosened the rope, slowly lowered his gaze, and turned to look at the red dragon in the corner of the library, drinking tea and reading a book while wearing reading glasses.

"Grandpa Long, what kind of person do you think the prophet will be?" After a moment of silence, he asked softly.

"Won't you find out the answer tonight?"

As Honglong spoke, he glanced at him through his reading glasses.

(End of this chapter)