It turns out I'm a second-generation demon.

This morning, Long Aotian's cousin, Miss Linglong, went out for a stroll with her maid. They unexpectedly encountered Ye Liangjing, who had just recovered from serious injuries, by the roadside. Ye Liangjing's injuries had healed, but his dantian was destroyed, rendering him unable to cultivate for the rest of his life. His life had hit rock bottom, and he was in a state of utter despair. Upon seeing Miss Linglong, both old and new grudges surged up within him. Hatred drives people mad, and without a word, he kidnapped Miss Linglong.

If you hate him, then put a hat on him.

The maidservant hurriedly returned to the manor to report the news. Long Aotian's eyes were bloodshot. He rushed into the stable, selected the best horse in the Long family, a thousand-mile steed. As long as he rode it, even a Dou Di would have no chance of catching up with him.

Thunder War Maiden and Girl Killer had little interest in him. Rather than watching Long Aotian awkwardly show off, they preferred to stay home, drink tea, wait for him to leave the beginner village, and then pretend to follow him, kicking him when he was in danger.

The celestial heroine is targeted and forced by the villain, and the protagonist makes a dazzling appearance—this is a tried-and-true trope.

"Let's follow Long Aotian and take a look." Li Xianyu pulled the two seniors out the door, went to the stable to get a mount, and headed towards the Ye family.

"What's so interesting about this? It's just a hero rescuing a damsel in distress, and then the cousins' relationship deepens," said the young assassin. However, he and Thunder War Maiden still chose to go out with Li Xianyu.

Recently, Li Xianyu has frequently analyzed and discussed the tropes of online novels with them, proving his status within the five-person team. When problems arise, Thunder Warrior and Girl Killer instinctively seek his advice.

As it turned out, this newcomer was right; like Long Aotian, he had read many novels.

The four men rode swiftly on horseback, traveling at breakneck speed, until they ran into Long Aotian returning on horseback, and the two sides met head-on.

"Brother Aotian, why are you back? Where is Miss Linglong?" Li Xianyu called out loudly.

He should be wreaking havoc in the Ye residence right now.

Long Aotian remained silent, his face ashen, on the verge of exploding with rage, as he brushed past Li Xianyu and the others.

"Didn't find him?" Li Xianyu reined in his horse and turned it around. "Let's go, let's catch up with him."

The four followed Long Aotian from a distance, and the five riders galloped wildly along the main street. Soon, they stopped in front of a brothel.

"Whoa!"

Li Xianyu and his companions pulled on the reins, about to follow Long Aotian inside, when suddenly a man approached them from the street near the brothel entrance, excitedly saying, "You're finally out... Wait, why didn't you come out from inside?"

This man was tall and burly, but looked quite disheveled, with an expression on his face that seemed to say, "Why are you so late, you rascal? I've been waiting so long!"

Li Xianyu looked at Thunder War Maiden, who was also looking at him; at this moment, silence spoke louder than words.

"King Kong?" The young assassin recognized him and exclaimed in surprise, "Why are you here too? Why didn't you come looking for me?"

King Kong was stunned for a moment: "We came to find you. I've been waiting for you to come out of the brothel for three months... sob."

A wave of bitterness washed over him, and the burly man suddenly appeared pitiful.

Waiting for us at the brothel... no, I should say waiting for them.

The teenage assassin suddenly realized something, glancing sideways at Li Xianyu and Thunder War Maiden: "Have you two forgotten about him?"

Li Xianyu: "No, don't talk nonsense."

Thunder Valkyrie: "Say that again and I'll kill you."

This must be denied; it would be too hurtful to the relationship.

Sanwu was rather straightforward: "Yes, we forgot about King Kong."

Everyone: "..."

Feeling a bit awkward, Li Xianyu changed the subject: "Let's not talk about that now, we have important business to attend to, let's hurry into the brothel."

Thunder War Maiden nodded hastily: "Business comes first."

King Kong asked, "And what about me?"

The teenage assassin looked at him: "Are you going into the brothel, or waiting outside?"

King Kong looked conflicted: "I think I'll wait outside. Don't forget about me this time."

Li Xianyu said solemnly, "Don't worry, it definitely won't happen this time. Trust me."

King Kong no longer trusts this kid, nor Thunder War Maiden. It's understandable that Sanwu forgot about him; after all, that girl is a bit dim-witted. But why did even the two of them forget about him? And for three whole months?

He endured three heartbreaking months, afraid to stray far from his teammates. Day after day, he squatted outside the brothel. It was a virtual world, so he didn't get hungry, but the mental torment was real.

King Kong silently looked at the young assassin, who nodded and patted him on the shoulder: "I understand, I won't forget you."

......

When the group found Long Aotian, the matter had already been settled, and the scene in the room was particularly tragic.

Ye Liangjing lay on the ground, his hair disheveled, groaning in pain. He clutched his groin, his face contorted, blood flowing from between his legs.

Egg's sadness.

"Save me..." When he saw Li Xianyu, he was like a drowning man grasping at a straw, desperate and clinging to any hope. He struggled to crawl over and said, "I am the second young master of the Ye family. Save me, and I can give you wealth and honor. Long Aotian has gone mad. He wants to kill me. My sister is an imperial concubine. My father and brother will not let him go."

His eyes were bloodshot, like the dying man's final moments.

Li Xianyu thought for a moment, then said regretfully, "You've already lost your testicles, what's the use of saving them? Go to the palace as a eunuch and serve your sister?"

Upon hearing this, Ye Liangjing's face turned ashen at an alarming rate, and with a sudden kick of his legs and a roll of his eyes, he died.

Li Xianyu was caught off guard. Had I said something wrong?

On the bed, Linglong was held in Long Aotian's arms, sobbing softly. She was only wearing a light green embroidered lotus-patterned bodice on her upper body. Her lower body was covered by a quilt and could not be seen.

"Linglong, don't cry. It's my fault. I didn't protect you and made you suffer." Long Aotian said with tears in his eyes.

Linglong wept and said, "Cousin, I'm so scared. If I lose my virginity, I'd rather die than live on in this world. I'll never be able to face you again."

Long Aotian felt even more pity for her. "I, Long Aotian, hereby swear that from this day forward, no one shall ever bully my woman again. Otherwise, I will search the heavens and the underworld to tear him to pieces and grind his bones to dust."

Ling'er trembled, raising her snow-white chin, her pretty face streaked with tears, a mixture of sorrow and joy in her eyes: "Cousin, you..."

Beside her, the teenage assassin silently covered her face: "I can't watch anymore, it's so embarrassing."

He was so embarrassed that he was about to have a breakdown. He was just trying to get some recognition from his companions when he found that Thunder War Maiden looked like a girl in love.

Thunder War Maiden murmured, "Long Aotian is so handsome. Only a man like him is worthy of entrusting one's life to."

Li Xianyu was filled with indignation: "How could a grown man do such a thing to humiliate a respectable family? Ye Liangjing deserves to die."

After saying that, he paused for a moment.

Huh, why am I speaking up for Long Aotian?

Long Aotian is my enemy! I should be happy that he cheated on me. The protagonist's cheat code is so overpowered, he didn't even get cheated on.

......

This incident caused a huge uproar in Wuji City, leading to a rift between the Long and Ye families and almost resulting in a full-blown war. In the end, the royal family intervened to mediate, barely managing to shift the impending conflict from the public stage to a behind-the-scenes battle.

None of this concerned Li Xianyu and the others; they were living a comfortable life in the Long Mansion.

Every day there is fine wine, delicious food, and top-quality tea. You can bask in the sun in the courtyard and admire the beautiful ladies, both slender and plump.

That day, they gathered in the courtyard to drink tea again, and King Kong was there too; he had finally not been abandoned.

Thunder War Maiden sipped her tea, her expression one of infatuation: "Long Aotian is so handsome, so manly."

Li Xianyu: "How boring! Women are so boring! I hate women the most!"

A few minutes later.

Thunder War Maiden: "Long Aotian is so handsome, he has such a manly air about him."

Li Xianyu: "How boring! Women are so boring! I hate women the most!"

A few minutes later...

When they repeated the same lines again, the teenage assassin said in a deep voice, "I feel like something's off about them."

King Kong agreed with him: "That kid stole my lines, something's definitely not right. And how could War Maiden think Long Aotian has any manly qualities?"

The two looked at each other, their hearts heavy.

It seems these two have been subtly brainwashed by Long Aotian. The most terrifying aspect of illusion arrays isn't their mental impact, but rather their subtle and pervasive influence on your mind, making them impossible to defend against.

"Nothing, no skills, no reputation," the young assassin said.

Sanwu nodded and chopped Thunder Warrior on the head: "You're a stupid woman, no man will like you."

Thunder Maiden's delicate body trembled, as if she had just woken from a dream.

Sanwu then delivered a chop to Li Xianyu's head: "Your great-grandmother is here."

Li Xianyu shuddered in fright, his eyes instantly clearing.

The teenage assassin said with exasperation, "It's one thing for Li Xianyu to be affected, but his cultivation is still shallow. How come even you, the War Maiden, have been affected? How much do you crave men?"

Thunder War Maiden blushed and glared at him, saying, "Pah, nonsense! I'll beat you to death!"

After saying that, she frowned: "No wonder we've been holed up here for three months without any particular urge to leave, just drifting along like salted fish. It turns out we've already been subtly influenced by the illusion array. It's terrifying."

Originally, the plan was to first gain Long Aotian's trust and then strike when the opportunity arose. The best strategy was to find a loophole in the virtual world, while the next best was to play the role of a werewolf by Long Aotian's side and wait for an opportunity to deliver a fatal blow. However, things never go according to plan. Before they found a loophole or got the chance to assassinate him, two members of the team seemed to be succumbing to Long Aotian's manipulative brainwashing.

Li Xianyu's face darkened: "We can't stay here anymore, we have to find a way out. I'm actually not interested in women anymore? Long Aotian, am I pretty? Am I pretty?"

Long Aotian seems to genuinely treat him as his lackey, which is a good thing, indicating that he has gained Long Aotian's trust. However, in naive harem novels, the male supporting character has no right to mate and is blindly loyal, which is a very unfriendly setting.

Li Xianyu was afraid that he had been brainwashed and what would happen if he returned to reality with lingering effects.

Besides, if they continue to stay here, they might not have time to find the loopholes before they follow in the footsteps of their colleagues.

The teenage assassin said, "But we don't have a particularly good method; we haven't found a loophole yet."

Everyone fell silent, somewhat discouraged.

Long Aotian is currently the most troublesome problem within the company; even the big boss hasn't come up with a proper solution. There are a few methods with significant side effects, but we haven't dared to try them because there's a 50% chance that Long Aotian and his colleagues trapped in the virtual world will become vegetative.

"We don't have time to find this loophole. Loopholes that could cause the world to collapse are hard to find, and may not even exist. We have no choice but to take a desperate gamble." Li Xianyu said in a deep voice, "Long Aotian has already reached the Qi Refining stage. He will definitely be traveling around and will experience many life-and-death trials along the way. We will follow Long Aotian and wait for the right opportunity to strike."

King Kong lacked confidence: "Will this work?"

Li Xianyu analyzed rationally: "Although we have gained his trust, the protagonist's halo is too terrifying, and there are many variables. I am not confident unless we can restrain his protagonist's halo."

The young assassin stroked her chin and pondered, "If it's just a short-term restraint, I'm fine. Because I'm also a mental power awakener, I have some control over the illusion array, but it's far from comparable to Long Aotian's, like the difference between management and group leader. So many of my colleagues initially chose to attack Long Aotian when he was in danger, but they all failed. Our advantage lies in the fact that we've gained Long Aotian's trust."

Li Xianyu was taken aback: "Why didn't you say so sooner?"

The heartthrob: "I've told you, I've told you so many times."

Li Xianyu: "...I don't remember, was it the effect of Long Aotian's illusion array?"

The teenage assassin said, "There's a limitation: before Long Aotian reaches my level, if I make a move against him, I'll be killed by heavenly tribulation, or all sorts of unexpected events will occur. So I haven't dared to make a move these past few days."

Li Xianyu: "But if it's us who make the move, a super expert won't suddenly appear. Therefore, you can't intervene; you should stay on the sidelines to prevent any unexpected situations. We've already gained Long Aotian's trust, which means that in his mind, we're not his enemy. Once we turn against him, as long as we can finish the battle quickly, Long Aotian's subconscious won't even have time to react."

The teenage assassin's eyes lit up: "That's right, this plan is feasible."

Thunder War Maiden beamed and flicked Li Xianyu's forehead with her finger: "Not bad, you've got a good head."

Jin Gang said, "In other words, all we're missing now is an opportunity to fish in troubled waters."

"I remember that not long after Long Aotian killed Ye Liangjing, he was assassinated by Ye Liangchen in the Black Bamboo Forest outside the city. Long Aotian was seriously injured and almost died. Later, Long Aotian's cultivation reached a minor level, and he returned to Wuji City to destroy the Ye family." The young assassin frowned and said, "But I don't remember the exact time."

Li Xianyu clapped his hands: "Keep a close eye on Long Aotian. We'll make our move in the Black Bamboo Forest. Long Aotian is still young and inexperienced, so this is the best time to strike."

For the next few days, they continued to act as slackers, secretly observing. Finally, Long Aotian decided to go out, and Li Xianyu, who had been watching his every move, acted as a lackey and eagerly went up to ask him questions.

"I'm going to the Black Bamboo Forest outside the city to catch bamboo vipers to make medicine," Long Aotian explained.

"We'll go with you," Li Xianyu said.

But Long Aotian rejected him.

Half an hour after he left, a group of five people rode fast horses out of the mansion and headed out of the city.

The Black Bamboo Forest is fifteen kilometers away from Wuji City. To Li Xianyu's surprise, the map of this virtual world is very well made. They ran on the official road, enjoying the beautiful scenery along the way: lush green fields, fragrant wildflowers, dense forests, and a blue sky that can never be seen in big cities.

"What a beautiful view!" Thunder Warrior said.

"Yes, yes, why don't we go for a picnic by the river?" Li Xianyu said.

"Good idea, shall I go back to town and buy some ingredients?" King Kong suggested.

The teenage heartthrob: "..."

He roared, "Wake up, you guys! We're going to kill Long Aotian, what the hell is this picnic?"

The three of them awoke with a start, shaking their heads violently, their hearts heavy. The effects of the illusion array were intensifying, constantly assaulting their minds; you didn't even know when you were being controlled by your own mind.

Taking down Long Aotian is of utmost urgency.

Before long, they arrived at the Black Bamboo Forest, where a great battle had recently taken place. Patches of bamboo had collapsed and broken, and more than a dozen corpses lay scattered on the ground, thick blood seeping into the soil.

Ye Liangchen has already made his move; everything is as expected. Long Aotian's ambush in the Black Bamboo Forest shows that Ye Liangchen had been watching him for a long time.

Following the traces of the fight, two figures confronted each other ahead, both covered in blood.

A young man in fine clothes, holding a long sword, stared intently at Long Aotian: "The hatred for killing my brother is irreconcilable. Today is your death day."

Long Aotian: "Ye Liangchen, I've disliked you for a long time. Do you think you're worthy to be my enemy?"

On the other side, Li Xianyu whispered, "According to our agreed-upon plan, Long Aotian trusts me the most, so I'll go first. Success or failure hinges on this."

Jin Gang joined late and asked, "Why does Long Aotian trust you the most?"

Before Li Xianyu could answer, the straightforward Sanwu said, "Because he's the most sycophantic."

Long Aotian's ears twitched: "Who goes there!"

He discovered Li Xianyu and the others.

Li Xianyu decided not to hide anymore, drew the dagger from his waist, and strode over: "Brother Aotian, it's so good that you're alright, we've come to help you."

He rushed towards Long Aotian, and as he got close, he suddenly flicked his wrist, stabbing the dagger into Long Aotian's chest: "Eat shit, Long Aotian."