Misery: There is a pawn shop here

Chapter 129 The Change of Mind
The Little Prince of Twisted Reasons, the Demon Sheep, the Creator of Memorable Quotes...

Bearing the name of an anomaly, the Demon Prince has never failed to live up to such a title. In his eyes, everything in the world, so-called etiquette, morality, shame, and rules, is nothing but meaningless illusion, and he has never paid any attention to them. Just as the Lord of Curses commented, "My son is heartless." A heartless person only possesses an emptiness that no person, thing, or matter can fill.

and so……

"Can a heartless person value freedom so much?" The clear, melodious voice echoed in the space as Li Xuanxiao looked at the Demon Prince opposite him.

The latter stroked his chin and raised an eyebrow slightly. "Tsk, how do you know what that great but foolish King of the Buddha's Prison said? Are you really someone he sent to observe my situation?"

“Eh.” Li Xuanxiao shook his head. “Demon Prince, don’t misunderstand. I’m just a businessman who accidentally wandered into this place.”

"Businessman?"

Upon hearing this, the Demon Prince instantly became interested, leaned closer to Li Xuanxiao, tilted his head, and looked innocent and naive.

What do you sell here?

What do you need? Freedom?

"Oh? It sounds like you have quite a few things you can sell."

"Of course, as long as the Demon Prince can afford the price, I will not disappoint you."

"Interesting, interesting, ha." The Demon Prince toyed with a stray hair beside his forehead, his eyes growing brighter. "So, what do I need to give in order to take your place?"

"Oh?" Upon hearing this, Li Xuanxiao's smile widened.

Since its opening, Youjian Pawnshop has welcomed and seen off a variety of customers, both righteous and wicked, and many have sacrificed everything to make a deal. However, none of them have dared to express their covetousness for the owner of the pawnshop like the Demon Prince. In other words, in their view, if Youjian Pawnshop is so capable, the owner must be even more unfathomable. How could they possibly replace him? Or rather, replacing him would come at a price they could not afford.

But the Demon Prince is an exception.

This person, whom I've never seen before, is only the second person to have visited this place in many years. His origins are mysterious, and his tone is extraordinary. Is it mere posturing, or...?

"Surely we shouldn't have trusted merchants who claim to be omnipotent?" the Demon Prince said, covering half his face with his right hand. "It's truly heartbreaking."

“No, of course we can trade.” Li Xuanxiao smiled at the Demon Prince. “You will lose your freedom, body and soul, forever a part of Youjian Pawnshop’s history. You will take my place and become the new pawnshop manager. How about it?”

"A pawnshop?"

"A pawnshop that connects various places for transactions and pawning—you can have all your wishes fulfilled. Want to give it a try?"

"It sounds really amazing, but it sounds like utter nonsense. Why don't you let me go out and see the scenery first?"

“That’s also what I was thinking,” Li Xuanxiao said. “So, what will you offer in exchange for escaping this seal and seeing the Four Demons again?”

Upon hearing this, the Demon Prince tilted his head and thought for a moment, then asked, "What do you want?"

In the short time it took for the Demon Prince to ask that question, Li Xuanxiao had already analyzed the Demon Prince's value. If such a person were to truly enter the karma of the pawnshop, even the shadowy figure of Pawnshop No. 8 would have to be humble. You must know that what is truly terrifying in this world is never a heart full of evil thoughts, but rather an indifference that finds even evil thoughts boring.

As for the rest...

“I suddenly thought of something really fun. If you agree, I’ll make this deal with you,” Li Xuanxiao said to the Demon Prince.

If a compassionate heart were placed upon an unsuspecting anomaly, how would everything unfold? What kind of changes would the Demon Prince bring to the Four Realms and even the future martial arts world? "How fun is it?" The Demon Prince remained as carefree as ever. If one did not know his true nature, one might easily be fooled by his sunny appearance.

"I'll give you my heart in exchange for your freedom," Li Xuanxiao said, looking at the Demon Prince, word by word.

"Hiss." The Demon Prince immediately dodged away as if he had seen something dirty, his eyes filled with disgust as he looked at Li Xuanxiao. "No merchant is honest. Do you want me to exchange my freedom of mind for my freedom of body?"

"If there is no mind, how can there be freedom of mind?" Li Xuanxiao asked.

"You are not me, so why should my heart be free?" the Demon Prince retorted vehemently, waving his hand repeatedly as he spoke, implying, "You may leave."

“It seems that even you are ultimately afraid.” Li Xuanxiao stood there motionless as he spoke.

The Demon Prince clicked his tongue and shook his head, saying, "Your attempt to provoke me is so clumsy it's outrageous. I, the Demon Prince, have never needed to prove anything to anyone, and there is no such thing as true and complete recognition between people."

“Hmm, you have a point.” Li Xuanxiao nodded first, then shook his head and said, “But it seems you still despise those things that you discard like trash. Farewell.”

After bidding farewell, Li Xuanxiao turned to leave, but the Demon Prince was even faster and blocked his way again.

"Is there anything else?" Li Xuanxiao replied, not surprised by the Demon Prince's actions.

"Your attempt to provoke me is clumsy." The Demon Prince suddenly smiled. "That statement of yours has also piqued my curiosity."

So, should we give it a try?

"What kind of heart do you want to give me in a replacement?"

"The heart of a Buddha," Li Xuanxiao replied, "capable of feeling the suffering of all beings, enduring the calamities of the world, shedding tears for an insect or ant, showing compassion for a blade of grass or a tree. Would the Demon Prince dare to test such a heart?"

"Ouch."

The Demon Prince feigned surprise, but then quickly replied, "That's a great idea."

So, shall we give it a try?

"I beg you to let me leave this place."

"of course can."

With a flick of his wrist, Li Xuanxiao conjured a contract in his palm, which then floated in front of the Demon Prince. The contents of the contract were exactly what Li Xuanxiao had told him earlier.

"Sign this contract, and I will break the seal on this place, freeing your body." Li Xuanxiao said slowly to the Demon Prince, "And after you regain your freedom, you will be given the Buddha's heart that I mentioned."

"Hahahahaha."

The Demon Prince looked at the contract and suddenly burst into laughter. Li Xuanxiao was not surprised. The name of the Outcast was inherently unrestrained, so it was not surprising at all that the Demon Prince would experience such sudden joy or sorrow.

So, after you've laughed it off, what's your decision? (The Demon Prince)

(End of this chapter)