Chapter Five Hundred Thirty-Five: Newcomer Xiaozhang

At the Demon Cultivators’ branch office.

Before heading out, Young Master Sang insisted that Ancestral Cang change his bright red hair, which triggered Ancestral Cang’s irritation once again.

“Why? Is there a rule against red hair?”

“Who dyes their hair red and calls themselves respectable?” Young Master Sang shook his head, “Even our Demon Cultivators have proper standards. We should at least pay attention to our appearance. It wouldn’t look good for the company culture.”

“Besides, with that flashy red hair, are you trying to make sure everyone notices you’re a God or a Demon?”

Ancestral Cang’s mouth twitched, clearly repressing his anger.

“Uh, if you need it, we have a professional beauty team that can do a full makeover for you?”

“…No need.”

Ancestral Cang huffed, and in the next moment, his appearance transformed into that of a slightly thin and sinister young man with short hair.

Everything about him – clothing and all – screamed bland, the kind that wouldn’t attract a single glance in a crowd.

“Hmm. This isn’t too bad.”

Young Master Sang nodded in satisfaction and took him to the square of the Demon Cultivators.

It was a bright and sunny morning. The square was bustling, groups of people chatting and laughing, and those passing by greeted Young Master Sang with smiles.

“Good morning, Sect Leader!”

“Morning.”

“You were so cool yesterday, Sect Leader! I want to have your child!”

“Oh dear, please, I can’t afford to raise that many kids!”

“Sect Leader is invincible! I knew those so-called Gods and Demons are nothing in front of the Sect Leader!”

“Oh dear, too much flattery!” Young Master Sang shot a sideways glance at Ancestral Cang, whose face was contorting with frustration.

Once they bypassed the crowd and entered the building’s hallway, Ancestral Cang finally huffed.

“Hmph… Faced with disaster and you act so nonchalant; sometimes I just—”

Seeing Young Master Sang’s gaze, Ancestral Cang corrected himself: “…I truly don’t understand what these ants are thinking.”

“What can we do?” Young Master Sang replied leisurely, “Life is short; enjoying it while it lasts is what matters. If you’re always worried about the apocalypse, you might as well not live at all.”

“Are these ants not afraid of us, the Gods and Demons?” Ancestral Cang frowned.

“To them, there’s not much difference between Gods, Demons, and higher-level cultivators,” Young Master Sang shrugged, “They’re all beings that can easily kill them. What difference does it make? If you want to destroy the world, go ahead; what can we do? We just sit back and watch.”

Ancestral Cang: “…”

Although he was extremely displeased, Ancestral Cang had to admit that these ants might actually think this way.

But the idea of being compared to someone like Young Master Sang filled Ancestral Cang with deep humiliation.

“Come on. Let’s introduce you to your coworkers.”

Walking to the office area of the Punishment Department, when they pushed the door open, Cheng Da Yong’s leering, sycophantic face appeared.

“Hey boss, you’re here!”

“I watched the live stream yesterday; you really were impressive! That scary, dominant look in front of the Gods and Demons was just—”

“Shut up and get to the point.” Young Master Sang waved his hand in disdain, “Stop slacking off, and focus on actually working instead of just buttering me up.”

Cheng Da Yong immediately plastered a smile on his face: “I’m just a useless subordinate; it makes you look even better, boss!”

“Let’s get serious. Are the new employees here for their interviews yet?”

“A few have arrived; they’re waiting inside.”

“Perfect.” Young Master Sang turned to Ancestral Cang: “Off you go.”

“Don’t be late again; if you show up late for the interview, do you even want this job?”

Ancestral Cang looked at Young Master Sang, a bit baffled.

…What are you joking about? I have to interview?

Young Master Sang shot him a look.

…Duh. Otherwise, should I just tell them you’re my plus one? Everyone watched the live stream yesterday; heaven forbid they forget you’re a God or a Demon!

“Boss, don’t be mad, I’ll make sure to train the newbies well.”

Cheng Da Yong nodded and bowed until Young Master Sang happy nodded and left, then let out a sigh.

Ancestral Cang watched Young Master Sang go, intending to say a few more words.

But in the end, pride and face held him back, leaving him silent.

“You’re the one…”

As soon as Young Master Sang left, Cheng Da Yong’s tone dramatically altered, adopting a condescending elder persona. He picked up the communication device and started flipping through it: “Let’s see… Zhang Zucang…”

“Alright then, I’ll call you Xiaozhang.”

Ancestral Cang: “?”

“Xiaozhang, it’s not like I’m insulting you.”

Cheng Da Yong said earnestly: “As a young person, you have to be proactive in your work. You can’t just think about slacking off.”

“Look at today; it’s interview day, and so many people got here an hour early, and you waltz in right on time.”

“Good thing you met the boss; otherwise, if you just kept being late, I’d have marked you down right away!”

Ancestral Cang’s lips twitched slightly.

…He couldn’t remember the last time someone spoke to him with such arrogance.

Or, frankly, he doubted anyone ever dared to speak to him like this since his birth.

On a regular day, crushing pests like Cheng Da Yong wouldn’t even require thought.

But now that he had decided to participate in the game, as a proud God King, he wouldn’t allow himself to backtrack midway.

So, after a long silence, he slowly spoke: “…I’m sorry.”

“Ah, there you go!”

Cheng Da Yong patted his shoulder reassuringly: “Young man, it’s not terrible to make mistakes; acknowledging them and correcting them is what counts.”

“Come on now, let’s get you inside. The interviews are about to start.”

Ancestral Cang walked into the room without saying a word.

His eyes darkened, an ominous glimmer flashing.

…Five years is just a blink of an eye for a God or Demon with endless lifespans.

He would remember this man, Cheng Da Yong.

Five years later, he would witness in the most torturous way all his loved ones being tortured to death, while he himself suffered in a hell of despair.

After all, it’s just five years. Time is the least of concern for Gods and Demons.

Enduring those five years, he would ensure that all who displeased him would pay the price.

Including Young Master Sang.

No… why not make the entirety of the Abyss Realm and all its beings experience the utmost pain instead?

Ripping apart every being in that realm, torturing them to the edge of collapse, forcing them to kneel and beg for mercy, witnessing their beloved suffer agony, their screams echoing in futility…

Unknowingly, as he fantasized about that exhilarating scene, Ancestral Cang’s mouth slowly curled into a twisted smile.

However, in the next moment, the smile vanished.

Because he realized that the interview candidates waiting beside him were now looking at him en masse.

Their stares felt akin to high-schoolers watching a cringe-worthy late-blooming anime nerd.

Ancestral Cang: “…What are you staring at? Hmph.”