Becoming an Evil God and Stealing His Wife - Chapter 10

Li Jiu hesitated for a brief fraction of a second. “Alright. I’m listening.”

Zhang Li drew a shaky breath, forcing his mind back to the traumatic memory. “Yesterday, while I was working in the back kitchen, everything seemed entirely normal at first. But then, Auntie Hu had to step out for a brief moment. Right after she left, the ambient light in the kitchen suddenly turned… incredibly dark.”

A violent shudder racked Zhang Li’s thin frame, a look of profound, primal terror resurfacing in his eyes. “I immediately felt that something was fundamentally wrong. I instinctively looked around the room, trying to find the source of the drop in light. That’s when I saw it… stretching across the floor tiles… a massive, heavy tail entirely covered in thick scales.”

“But why on earth would a scaled tail like that be hiding inside a kitchen?!”

“I can’t explain it, but the absolute second I saw it, I was gripped by an overwhelming wave of panic. I felt so intensely terrified that it literally felt like my heart was failing. Then, a sharp, stabbing agony pierced my chest, and everything went black. I don’t remember a single thing after that. When my consciousness finally returned, I was already lying in a hospital bed.”

Li Jiu listened to every word with intense focus, interjecting with a few precise questions regarding the specific texture of the anomaly. However, due to the paralyzing nature of the encounter and how rapidly he had lost consciousness, Zhang Li’s memory was heavily fragmented. He simply couldn’t provide many granular details.

The only concrete impressions burned into his psyche were the unexplainable scaled tail and the suffocating, paralyzing dread.

Eventually, Zhang Li began shaking his head frantically. “That’s it. That’s truly every single thing I can remember.”

“I understand,” Li Jiu replied calmly, his tone reassuring. “I’ve gathered exactly what I need.”

Zhang Li’s tense posture began to ease up slightly.

Meanwhile, Li Jiu systematically cataloged every phrase Zhang Li had uttered, committing the narrative to memory to ensure he could reference it later.

“Did… did any of that actually help?” Zhang Li asked tentatively.

“Immensely,” Li Jiu noted. “I’ve already formulated an effective strategy.”

Zhang Li looked up with a flash of grateful surprise. “What strategy?”

Li Jiu chose not to answer.

In reality, the rationale being used by Zhang Li’s relatives possessed zero legal or moral standing. They were simply leveraging a tragic health crisis as an excuse to act like common ruffians. When dealing with bad-faith actors—especially when official legal intervention wasn’t a preferred option—the only effective solution was to act even more formidable than they were.

The exact second they realized that persistent harassment wouldn’t yield a payout, but would instead cost them their livelihoods, they would tuck their tails and run.

And while calling the local constabulary directly had been ruled out by Auntie Hu, borrowing the imposing shadow of Ling Xiao’s official status to bluff them was entirely fair game.

However, it was best to keep the specific mechanics of this plan hidden from Zhang Li to prevent his anxious nature from compromising the performance.

Turning around, Li Jiu prepared to lead the way out of the secluded alleyway and back toward the noodle house. But the exact moment his foot reached the edge of the thoroughfare, he froze, halting his stride entirely.

Through the gaps in the shifting pedestrian crowd, his eyes locked onto two specific men walking down the pavement.

This was far from the first time Li Jiu had spotted this duo patrolling the perimeter of the noodle house today; they seemed to loop back around the block at highly coordinated intervals.

Analyzing their subtle body language, it was clear they harbored zero hostile intent toward Auntie Hu or the establishment. Furthermore, Li Jiu recognized one of them from the shadows across the street the previous evening.

They are operatives from the Quality Inspection Department.

Their continuous presence in this commercial block implied one terrifying fact: the anomalous entity that had attacked Zhang Li had not been captured yet. Their highly structured patrol pattern suggests they were actively hunting the scaled creature within this specific sector.

Li Jiu had originally interrogated Zhang Li simply to broaden his own academic understanding of the supernatural underbelly of this world. But seeing those two operatives gave him a highly ambitious idea.

Based on Zhang Li’s survival, the threat level of this particular entity didn’t cause instantaneous death upon sight.

If he could somehow position himself at the exact scene where the Quality Inspection Department engaged the creature, he might be able to manifest a brand-new page within his mysterious Illustrated Guide. Having elite state operatives acting as a front-line shield would provide a massive safety net.

Even if the attempt failed, it would allow him to map out the exact operational boundaries and rules of the Guide.

Executing it, however, would be an logistical nightmare. During the daylight hours, he was tethered to his duties at the noodle house, and by nightfall, he had to return to his residence on the far outskirts of the city. Tracking the department’s real-time tactical movements would be nearly impossible.

First things first, he reminded himself. Deal with the immediate threat to the shop.

Right then, Li Jiu noticed that the two patrolling operatives had picked up on the commotion unfolding inside the noodle house. After extracting a few brief details from the lingering onlookers outside the door, one of the men detached from the post and sprinted off in the direction of the Quality Inspection Department’s headquarters.

It was highly probable that Ling Xiao would be apprised of the situation within the hour. The crisis was naturally accelerating toward the exact grim scenario Li Jiu had used to terrify Zhang Li moments ago.

He simply wondered how ruthlessly the department would choose to neutralize the extortionists.

Li Jiu glanced down at the young man standing beside him. Dried flakes of dark blood still stained the corners of Zhang Li’s mouth, yet the moment he heard a solution had been found, his face filled with profound, naive relief.

How incredibly pitiful, Li Jiu thought.

Waiting until the remaining operative had looped past the block, Li Jiu stepped out of the alleyway and guided Zhang Li back through the glass doors of the noodle house.

Inside the dining room, the atmosphere was incredibly tense.

Hu Xiangxiang had attempted to reason with the uncle several more times during their absence, but her logical arguments were utterly useless against his shamelessness, leaving her visibly exhausted and furious.

Remembering Li Jiu’s prior advice, she eventually stopped engaging altogether, plunging the shop into an uneasy silence. Because the duo had been outside for a considerable amount of time, the fickle crowd of neighborhood onlookers had lost their patience, thinning out significantly.

The uncle and aunt remained lounging comfortably on the dining chairs, their posture radiating absolute smugness. They were fully committed to playing the long game of intimidation, utterly convinced they held all the cards.

As Li Jiu and Zhang Li entered, three distinct expressions met them.

Auntie Hu’s anger flared alongside a wave of nervous anticipation, while the remaining onlookers outside perked up, expecting a conclusion.

The uncle, determined to maintain psychological dominance, immediately barked: “What did you pull him out there to discuss? Let me make one thing clear to both of you: I don’t care what kind of sob story my nephew spun out there, my conditions are entirely non-negotiable!”

Auntie Hu’s knuckles turned white. “You shameless bastards!”

Li Jiu walked calmly over to Auntie Hu’s side, leaning in to deliver a low, composed whisper. He outlined the general framework of his strategy specifically, that they didn’t need to physically drag Ling Xiao down here; they merely needed to use his official title as a massive psychological lever to break their confidence.

The darker mechanics of the plan specifically, threatening the uncle’s employment stability, family assets, and his cousin’s upcoming marriage using fabricated state leverage were details Li Jiu chose to keep to himself. Auntie Hu’s gentle nature didn’t need to be burdened by the uglier side of street leverage.

Auntie Hu looked back at him, her eyes filled with hesitation. “Do you truly believe a bluff like that will suffice?”

“Allow me to test their resolve,” Li Jiu replied softly.

Auntie Hu blinked, momentarily taken aback. The last time this young man had used the phrase ‘allow me to test it’ was during his initial job interview. His subsequent performance in the kitchen had been a magnificent surprise.

From the exact moment she had laid eyes on Li Jiu, she had sensed an incredibly distinct, grounded aura around him. Despite his youth, his pulse never seemed to spike in the face of chaos; he possessed a rare, profoundly reliable stability.

Perhaps he would pull off another miracle today.

“Xiao Li… I am deeply sorry for forcing you to shoulder my burdens like this.”

Li Jiu offered a reassuring nod, then turned and walked directly into the uncle’s personal space. Standing over the seated man, he leaned down and began to speak in a low, cold monotone that was mathematically calculated to reach the uncle’s ears alone.

As the quiet words left Li Jiu’s lips, the smug arrogance on the uncle’s face began to violently fracture. His expression shifted through a rapid succession of disbelief, shock, and mounting panic.

Finishing his piece, Li Jiu took a smooth step back, his face completely expressionless. “I suggest you weigh your options with extreme care.”

Zhang Li stepped forward, his voice cracking as he added his own plea: “Uncle… please. Just drop this and let’s leave. Don’t push this any further.”

The uncle snapped his head around to stare at his nephew, searching for a sign of deception. But all he found on Zhang Li’s pale face was a profound, suffocating terror.

The older man’s heart skipped a violent beat. For the first time, an acute realization hit him: the trajectory of this extortion scheme had veered completely off his mapped coordinates.

Before marching into this district, he had performed basic reconnaissance. Every source confirmed that the proprietor was a solitary widow whose husband was long dead. She was known across the neighborhood for her soft, accommodating demeanor the ultimate easy target.

None of the local rumors had ever mentioned a shadow of state backing.

But this terrifyingly calm kid was whispering that the woman was under the direct, classified protection of a highly specialized government department a detail kept entirely out of public records due to strict national security protocols.

Did I truly just march into a lethal bureaucratic trap?

Or is this snarky kid simply spinning a magnificent web of lies to save his boss?

The uncle’s mind gridlocked, the balance shifting between greed and survival.

Li Jiu tracked the hesitation with a cold eye. The reaction didn’t surprise him. However, during his conversation with the uncle, he had actively toned down the severity of his threats. Since he knew the Quality Inspection Department’s operatives had already dispatched a messenger, official backup would be arriving imminently. Any words he uttered right now would likely be reviewed by state officers later, so maintaining a degree of restraint was a tactical necessity.

Ultimately, the uncle’s deep-seated greed managed to suppress his rising panic. He surged out of his chair, leveling a shaking finger directly at Li Jiu’s face. “You little punk, you think you can scare me with—”

“Clear the way! Step back!”

A sharp, authoritative command cut through the humid evening air. The crowd bottlenecked at the entrance was violently parted as a squad of men clad in stark official uniforms, heavy truncheons secured to their utility belts, marched directly into the dining room. They crossed the threshold just in time to witness the uncle’s aggressive, pointing finger aimed at Li Jiu’s face.

The uncle froze mid-motion, his jaw dropping. He looked at the grim faces of the state officers, then darted his eyes back to Li Jiu’s icy glare.

Within a millisecond, his spine bent into a deep, groveling bow. He dropped his pointing hand, extending both palms forward in a frantic, desperate gesture to clasp Li Jiu’s hand.

“Brother!” the uncle squeaked.

Li Jiu: “…”

The onlookers outside: “…”

Li Jiu seamlessly shifted his weight, stepping completely out of the man’s reach as he retreated back to Auntie Hu’s side.

The lead officer stepped forward, his face a severe, terrifying mask of state authority. “We received an immediate dispatch report. Is there an individual systematically executing a targeted harassment and extortion scheme on these premises?”

Every single civilian in the room understood one fundamental truth: the regular metropolitan police force never mobilized with this level of speed or aggression for a simple civil dispute.

This display was absolute, undeniable proof that Hu Xiangxiang’s establishment possessed immense systemic power behind the scenes.

The uncle practically vaulted away from his chair, his hands waving frantically in the air as he broke into a sweat. “No! Absolutely not! Officers, there has been a massive, tragic misunderstanding! My wife and I… we simply noted the late hour and stepped inside to purchase a quiet family dinner!”

The crowd lingering outside immediately erupted into mocking laughter. “That’s not even close to what you were screaming two minutes ago, you old parasite!”

The lead officer’s piercing gaze locked onto the trembling uncle like a targeting laser. “State your business. What exactly is going on here?”

“I… we…”

By this point, the uncle was entirely convinced that Li Jiu’s whispered warnings were absolute, classified truth. Terrified of being dragged into a black-site prison cell, he completely abandoned his fraudulent narrative, turning a frantic, pleading gaze toward Hu Xiangxiang, silently begging her to show mercy.

Zhang Li was equally paralyzed with panic. He shot a frantic look toward Li Jiu, silently imploring him to find a loophole, before looking at Auntie Hu with wide, desperate eyes, praying she would spare his family from the state’s hammer.

Li Jiu leaned down, his voice dropped to a quiet murmur. “Auntie Hu, did you secretly coordinate with Ling Xiao to dispatch these officers?”

Hu Xiangxiang shook her head, her face filled with genuine bewilderment. “No, I haven’t initiated a single communication.”

“That is highly curious. I certainly didn’t place a call either,” Li Jiu noted, his mind rapidly connecting the dots back to the patrolling operatives. “Regardless, now that the official authorities are on the floor, resolving this nightmare becomes an absolute formality.”

“Auntie Hu, what is your executive decision? How would you like them handled?”

Hu Xiangxiang looked at the trembling Zhang family, her eyes lingering briefly on Zhang Li’s agonizing, silent plea. She quieted her thoughts, her moral compass remaining perfectly steady.

“They committed a calculated, malicious act, Xiao Li. They must face the legal consequences of their choices. If those officers hadn’t arrived due to an independent report, this harassment would have broken my business. What happens when people like them target a vulnerable civilian who doesn’t possess our resources? How does an ordinary person survive that kind of cruelty?”

“Therefore, I intend to provide a completely transparent, factual statement to the officers. Let the law hand down the exact punishment they earned. It’s the only way to guarantee they never target an innocent storefront again.”

She looked up at him. “Xiao Li, do you agree with this course of action?”

“Completely,” Li Jiu replied smoothly.

Across the room, the lead officer grew tired of the uncle’s stuttering evasions. He turned his sharp gaze toward the counter. “Are you the proprietor of this establishment?”

“I am,” Hu Xiangxiang noted, stepping forward with absolute composure.

The officer’s severe expression softened a fraction. “Please outline the exact sequence of events for the official record.”

Hu Xiangxiang delivered a precise, unembellished account of the extortion attempt from the exact moment the couple had crossed her threshold.

With a crystal-clear narrative framework backed by a dozen vocal civilian witnesses from the street, the aunt and uncle’s desperate lies were completely useless. Within minutes, the squad secured the extortionists and marched them out of the commercial block to face formal processing.

As the squad departed, the remaining neighborhood crowd slowly dispersed, leaving the dining room completely silent. Only Li Jiu, Hu Xiangxiang, and Zhang Li remained under the warm light of the shop.

Zhang Li stood near the entrance, his face a complex maze of conflicting emotions. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but the words caught in his throat.

Hu Xiangxiang let out a long, emotional sigh, turning on her heel to retreat into the quiet safety of the back kitchen to decompress.

Left alone on the floor, Li Jiu accompanied Zhang Li out to the front threshold, officially escorting him off the property.

Zhang Li bit his lip, staring at the concrete. “You… you explicitly assured me in the alleyway that the proprietor would avoid involving the official departments.”

“The proprietor didn’t initiate that dispatch, Zhang Li,” Li Jiu noted, his tone entirely objective. “You heard the lead officer’s words they mobilized in response to an independent citizen report. Neither Auntie Hu nor I stepped away to utilize a telephone during this entire ordeal. The law arrived on its own terms.”