Becoming an Evil God and Stealing His Wife - Chapter 11

Zhang Li fell completely silent, internalizing the gravity of the situation.

“Once you return home, pay close attention to how the authorities choose to process your relatives,” Li Jiu noted calmly. “Your pleas for leniency would fall on deaf ears, but if Auntie Hu ultimately decides to request a lighter sentence, the outcome will be entirely different.”

Zhang Li’s eyes lit up with a sudden spark of hope.

“However, I have a piece of advice. Take it or leave it; the choice is entirely yours,” Li Jiu continued, his voice steady. “You recognize the inherent nature of your relatives better than anyone. Left unchecked, their malicious behavior will inevitably harm others and destroy themselves.”

“Look at this ordeal as a necessary crossroads. Let them endure a few bitter lessons now so they learn to cease these reckless schemes. It is far better than them blindly kicking a lethal iron plate in the future and throwing their lives away entirely.”

Leaving him with those thoughts, Li Jiu turned and walked back into the noodle house.

“A necessary crossroads…?” Zhang Li murmured to himself, staring blankly at Li Jiu’s retreating figure. He vividly recalled the grotesque arrogance on his uncle’s face when he demanded a fraudulent payout of 100,000 credits.

“Perhaps… you are entirely right,” he whispered to the empty street.

When Li Jiu re-entered the dining room, Hu Xiangxiang had just emerged from the back kitchen. “Has Xiao Zhang departed?”

“Yes, he’s gone home,” Li Jiu replied.

Auntie Hu let out a soft, heavy sigh. “I am well aware that he hoped I would show mercy to his blood relatives, but…”

“Auntie Hu, you have absolutely nothing to reproach yourself for,” Li Jiu interrupted gently.

She blinked in surprise, the heavy tension leaving her shoulders as a genuine smile broke across her face. “You’re right.”

“The chaos tonight severely disrupted our peak hours and put a damper on the atmosphere. I initially considered closing the doors early, but the kitchen staff already prepared all the fresh ingredients for the evening. If we don’t sell them tonight, they’ll spoil by tomorrow morning, which would be an absolute waste.”

“Xiao Li, would you be willing to work a bit of overtime with me tonight? I will naturally provide extra compensation for your hours.”

“There’s no need for additional pay, Auntie Hu,” Li Jiu replied smoothly. “You have already extended immense kindness to me. A little overtime is the least I can do.”

Auntie Hu smiled warmly, nodding her appreciation.

By the time the clock crept past 9:00 PM, the pedestrian traffic on the main thoroughfare had thinned out significantly, and the frantic rush inside the noodle house finally wound down.

As they ushered their final customer out into the evening air, Hu Xiangxiang leaned against the counter and breathed a sigh of relief.

“Fabulous! We managed to turn a profit on the vast majority of our inventory despite the chaos. You worked incredibly hard today, Xiao Li.”

“I’ve decided to keep the storefront closed for the next two days. I desperately need some rest, which means I’m granting you a two-day paid leave as well.”

“Don’t worry, your standard wages will be covered in full.”

Hearing that his income was secure, Li Jiu felt a massive weight lift from his chest. He hesitated for a brief fraction of a second before asking carefully:

“Auntie Hu, would it be possible for me to secure an advance on a portion of my salary?”

With the noodle house closed for two days, his primary source of daily lunch and dinner would vanish. Furthermore, during this upcoming window of free time, he intended to aggressively train his physical body and test his supernatural abilities a process that required a massive caloric intake.

His official payday was nearly a month away. While the kitchen occasionally allowed him to harvest leftover ingredients, the meager supply of grey taro roots stashed in his home cellar simply wouldn’t sustain two mouths for an entire month.

Hu Xiangxiang didn’t hesitate for a single second. “Of course. How much capital do you require?”

Factoring in the previous evening, Li Jiu had only been an official employee at the noodle house for a little over twenty-four hours. He was acutely aware of how unusual his request was, so he weighed his words with extreme care:

“Nothing extravagant. I simply need a modest amount to secure fresh groceries. Additionally, the ambient temperature has been dropping rapidly over the past few days, so I would love to purchase a couple of thick winter coats for my younger sister and myself. An advance equivalent to one week’s wages would be perfect. If that poses a logistical inconvenience, any smaller amount is perfectly fine.”

Auntie Hu looked up, her expression turning into one of gentle surprise. “You have a younger sister?”

“Yes,” Li Jiu noted. “She is eleven years old.”

Images flashed through Auntie Hu’s mind recalling how Li Jiu’s lunch on his first day consisted of a single, dry grey taro root, and how he had nearly choked because he didn’t possess a flask of water.

“And… your parents?” she asked softly.

Li Jiu lowered his gaze, his voice quiet. “They are no longer with us.”

“Oh, Xiao Li… please don’t be sad.” Hu Xiangxiang stepped into the back room for a brief moment. When she emerged, she held a crisp stack of currency out toward him. “Here is 800 credits. Consider it a half-month advance on your wages. A single week’s pay might leave you tight if you encounter unexpected expenses while shopping.”

Li Jiu was genuinely stunned by the gesture. “Auntie Hu, are you not concerned that I might simply run off with—”

Hu Xiangxiang cut him off with a warm laugh. “I trust my eye for character, and you are absolutely not that type of person. Besides, in the incredibly brief window since we met, you have shielded me more times than I can count. Look at tonight if you hadn’t been standing by my side, an old woman like me would have broken long before the officers arrived.”

“Take it. You’ve earned it.”

Li Jiu accepted the currency, bowing slightly. “Thank you, Auntie Hu.”

By the time the restaurant was fully sanitized and the doors locked, the clock was rapidly approaching 10:00 PM.

Li Jiu walked down the steps clutching a heavy parcel of premium ingredients surplus stock that hadn’t sold out, which Auntie Hu insisted he take home to his kitchen.

He cast a calculating gaze across the darkened streets. The pedestrian count had dropped to zero, and there was no immediate sign of the Quality Inspection Department.

I wonder if those elite hunters managed to locate the scaled entity yet, he thought.

Stepping off the curb, he began the long trek toward the outskirts of the city. This route served a dual purpose: it led directly to his dilapidated residence, and it simultaneously intersected one of the specific patrol vectors he had observed the state operatives utilizing earlier.

Based on his mathematical observations, the department’s hunters made a complete sweep around the noodle house block roughly every two hours.

That appears to be their standard operational rhythm.

As a new temporal node approached, he intentionally maintained a measured pace, hoping to intercept their patrol path.

His calculating patience paid off. Just as he reached a distant intersection and began to suspect his hypothesis had failed, two distinct figures turned out from a dark side alley slightly ahead of him. They maintained a perfectly calm, vigilant demeanor as they brushed past him in the gloom.

Operatives from the Quality Inspection Department.

The fact that they were still conducting routine sweeps meant the creature remained at large. His window of opportunity was still wide open.

While he couldn’t track their real-time tactical movements across the entire city, this successful encounter allowed him to map out a concrete geographic zone of high suspicion. He could systematically observe other sectors over the next two days to fill in the missing pieces of their search grid.

The creature was clearly an expert at concealment; otherwise, a specialized government task force wouldn’t have spent over twenty-four hours scouring such a concentrated zone without a single contact.

This cannot be rushed, Li Jiu reminded himself. Success will require a blend of meticulous preparation and absolute luck.

His immediate objective was clear: keep a vigilant eye on these high-suspicion sectors during his two days of leave and wait for a perfect opportunity to exploit a chaotic encounter.

But for now, it was time to return to his sanctuary.

“It’s officially ten o’clock. Only two hours left until the midnight shift rotation.”

“Man, the temperature has been dropping like a rock these past few days. When the hell are we going to flush that anomalous creature out of hiding?”

The faint, hushed murmurs of the passing operatives drifted clearly into Li Jiu’s ears.

His footsteps faltered for a fraction of a second. He snapped his eyes forward the road ahead was completely barren. He glanced back over his shoulder; the two operatives had already walked a significant distance away from him.

Yet, despite the widening gap, their low whispers had resonated in his mind with crystalline clarity.

Is it simply because the night is completely silent, or did they accidentally raise their voices? he wondered, a subtle suspicion forming about his own sensory limits.

Having traversed the route multiple times now, Li Jiu navigated the complex shortcuts back to the city outskirts with significantly greater speed and spatial familiarity.

He maintained an elevated level of vigilance throughout the trek, constantly scanning the shadows to ensure that if another aberration materialized, he could execute an immediate tactical retreat.

Fortunately, the journey remained perfectly uneventful. However, as he crossed the threshold of the outer ring street, his eyes locked onto a highly familiar silhouette gathered beneath a dim streetlamp.

It was the eccentric old man who had tried to scam him out of his hard-earned credits that morning.

Currently, a dense cluster of desperate-looking civilians was huddled tightly around the old man.

The exact second Li Jiu’s footsteps echoed down the pavement, the entire group snapped their heads around to glare at him, their eyes flashing with distinct hostility.

Li Jiu maintained a steady, unremarkable pace, hurrying past the gathering without making eye contact. Only after he had put a safe distance between them did he feel the weight of their aggressive glares slowly lift.

Glancing back over his shoulder from the darkness, he analyzed the crowd surrounding the old man. The group consisted of both men and women, all bound by one unmistakable trait: they were wrapped in the tattered, grime-stained rags of the extreme poor. Yet, the numb, hollow expressions typically found on the faces of the slum-dwellers had been replaced by something entirely different.

They were staring at the old man as if he were a divine beacon of absolute hope.

Choosing not to entangle himself in local cult dynamics or street scams, Li Jiu accelerated his pace and returned to his residence.

He quietly deposited the premium restaurant ingredients onto the kitchen counter. The moment his boots crossed into the small living room, the door to Li Mengmeng’s bedroom creaked open. The little girl stepped out into the dim light, rubbing her sleepy eyes.

“Brother… you’re finally home.”

Li Jiu smiled. “Are you hungry?”

Knowing that his return always heralded incredible food, Li Mengmeng instantly dropped her hands and nodded emphatically. “Starving!”

Li Jiu had only consumed a few hurried bites alongside Auntie Hu during the chaotic dinner shift at the restaurant, and his stomach was beginning to hollow out. Anticipating the brutal physical training session he had scheduled for later tonight, he noted:

“How about I whip up a fresh batch of hand-pulled noodles for us?”

Li Mengmeng’s head bobbed up and down like a piston.

Utilizing the fresh pork and seasonal vegetables Auntie Hu had gifted him, Li Jiu prepared a massive bowl of hand-pulled noodles drenched in a rich, savory meat sauce, paired with dense, steamed buns.

The siblings ate with absolute relish, the quiet room filling with the comforting sound of a warm meal.

During the dinner, Li Jiu casually mentioned his upcoming schedule. “The noodle house is going to be closed for the next two days, Mengmeng. I’ve been granted a brief leave of absence.”

Li Mengmeng’s eyes sparked with instant joy. “Really? Will you be staying home to play with me, Brother?”

“I have a few critical tasks to process across the city, so I won’t be able to stay inside the house the entire time,” Li Jiu replied honestly.

The little girl’s face fell, a look of profound disappointment clouding her features.

“But,” Li Jiu added smoothly, “I am heading out first thing tomorrow morning to visit the market squares. Would you like to accompany me?”

“The weather is turning quite cold, so my primary goal is to purchase thick winter clothing for both of us. We also need to stock up on standard groceries and daily supplies.”

“If you come along, I can buy you some premium street snacks and whatever treats catch your eye.”

Li Mengmeng was visibly tempted, her eyes darting toward the front door. But after a long moment of internal struggle, she shook her head softly. “No… I think I’ll stay inside, Brother. There’s no need to waste money buying me new winter clothes either. I stay inside the house all day anyway; the cold can’t reach me in here.”

Li Jiu looked at her tiny, fragile frame. “We can purchase a thick winter hat and a heavy face mask to completely shield you from the wind outside.”

Li Mengmeng lifted her head slightly, her gaze drifting toward the cracked mirror on the far wall, before she quickly cast her eyes down and shook her head with absolute finality. “I truly shouldn’t go, Brother.”

Li Jiu reached out, his large hand gently patting the crown of her head. “Alright. I’ll make it a quick trip and return as fast as possible. Is there a specific item or toy you want me to bring back for you? Any particular delicacy you’re craving?”

The little girl hesitated, looking up at him with wide, uncertain eyes. “Can I… can I truly ask for anything?”

Li Jiu offered a firm, reassuring nod. “Absolutely anything.”

Mengmeng thought it over with immense seriousness before whispering, “I would love a beautiful cloth doll.”

“Consider it done,” Li Jiu smiled. “And what about food?”

Li Mengmeng beamed happily. “There’s no need to buy food outside, Brother! The meals you cook right here in our kitchen are the absolute most delicious things in the entire world!”

“Our little Jiu makes the absolute most delicious food…”

An ancient, weathered voice suddenly echoed from the deepest recesses of Li Jiu’s borrowed memories.

He froze mid-motion, his eyelids blinking rapidly as a strange warmth bloomed in his chest. Shaking off the ghostly echo, he offered Li Mengmeng a bright, genuine smile. “Then make sure you eat your fill tonight. There is plenty more waiting in the kitchen pots.”

Knowing how deeply his sister hated spending their meager capital, Li Jiu silently resolved to simply surprise her with a massive assortment of street delicacies when he returned tomorrow.

Once the dinnerware was scrubbed clean, Li Jiu retreated into the isolation of his bedroom to aggressively practice channeling his supernatural abilities. After exhausting his energy reserves, he emerged to consume a massive midnight snack to rebuild his calories, thoroughly cleansed himself in the washroom, and collapsed onto his mattress.

He drifted into a profound, restorative sleep that lasted until dawn.

That night, his dreams were filled with the image of a massive, blood-red eye but in the dream narrative, a swarm of shifting black tentacles rose from the abyss to completely shield him from its gaze, rendering the nightmare surprisingly peaceful.

The following morning.

Li Jiu awoke precisely on schedule. He executed a series of deep calisthenics stretches before stepping through the front door into the dim morning air to begin his daily long-distance run.

Barring an absolute catastrophe, he intended to maintain this brutal regimen of morning conditioning and skill practice during every window of free time he possessed.

By nature, he wasn’t an inherently workaholic or disciplined individual. In his previous life, he had simply driven himself to work with relentless intensity because there was no one else to act as a financial safety net; he fought purely to secure a stable, comfortable existence.

But in this bizarre new world, everything had been stripped away. He was starting from a massive deficit, having already danced on the razor’s edge of death multiple times. He had to push his mind and body past their absolute limits because he was going to survive, and he was going to find a way back to his own world.

As he sprinted down the familiar cobblestone streets of the outer district, Li Jiu gradually slowed his pace, coming to a complete halt beneath a brick archway.

The morning light was a dull, misty grey, and the biting wind was incredibly chilly. The streets were largely barren of pedestrian traffic.

Li Jiu looked down at his chest, his brow furrowing in deep confusion.

This makes absolutely no sense… normally, by the time my running route reaches this specific intersection, my lungs are burning, my muscles are screaming for oxygen, and I am completely drenched in sweat.

Why on earth do I feel completely energized and barely winded right now?