Chapter 20: Opening the Coffin

The eerie silence of the underground passage in the abandoned amusement park was broken by a casual humming.

Xuanqing Zhenren strolled leisurely, swinging an old-fashioned oil lamp in one hand and carrying a bulging, worn-out cloth bag on his back. The bag clanked with every step, as if filled with an assortment of trinkets.

Suddenly, he halted mid-step. His gaze was drawn to a darkened corner ahead.

"Hmm?" Xuanqing squinted, then his eyes lit up with excitement. He hurried forward and slapped his palm onto the heavy stone coffin resting there.

"Wow! This is a real find!" He circled the coffin, examining the intricate carvings and symbols on its surface. Clicking his tongue in admiration, he murmured, "Look at this craftsmanship! The runes! The ominous energy... This is definitely not ordinary! There's got to be something priceless inside! Hah! I'm about to get rich!"

Brushing the dust off his hands, Xuanqing dug into his bag and pulled out a small crowbar. Before prying the lid open, he clasped his hands together and made a solemn bow toward the coffin.

"No offense, no offense. You've been sleeping here for centuries, and your treasures are just gathering dust. Why not let me bring them back into the world, eh?"

With that, he eagerly wedged the crowbar under the lid and started to pry. However, the coffin was far sturdier than he had anticipated, and after several attempts, the lid hadn't budged an inch.

"Hah, tough one, huh?" Xuanqing clicked his tongue. After thinking for a moment, he retrieved a yellow talisman from his bag. With swift strokes, he traced a charm in the air before slapping the talisman onto the coffin.

"This is a high-grade unsealing charm! It could even break the seal on an ancient demon king, let alone a mere stone coffin!"

The talisman burned to ash upon contact, and a deep rumbling echoed through the chamber. The dark energy enshrouding the coffin visibly weakened, but the lid remained firmly shut.

"Still not enough?" Xuanqing scratched his head, contemplating. Then, with a mischievous grin, he began rummaging through his bag, pulling out an assortment of items: glutinous rice, a copper bell, red cinnabar powder, and even a wind-up toy frog. He started sprinkling and tossing various objects onto the coffin while muttering, "Grandpa always said, 'More tools, more chances.' Just gotta keep trying till something works!"

After several attempts, the coffin finally showed signs of loosening. The symbols on the lid faded one by one, and the surrounding dark mist began to dissipate.

Xuanqing grinned, gripping the crowbar tightly. "Almost there! Hah, I knew it! When Xuanqing Zhenren takes action, no seal can hold!"

With a crack, the coffin lid finally slid open. Xuanqing stood back, hands on his hips, smirking at the now-exposed interior.

"Alright! Come out and let me see what treasure you've got hidden in here!"

But as he peered inside, his smirk froze.

Instead of ancient relics or mystical artifacts, he found two people crammed inside.

A black-clad man with an unreadable expression sat with his arms crossed, while beside him, a young woman in casual attire stared back at Xuanqing with wide-eyed shock and deep embarrassment.

"Shen Lu! Why does it suddenly feel colder? Did the coffin just open?" Chen Jing gasped before muttering under her breath.

"Quiet," Lucifer commanded in a low voice, his gaze still locked on the now-opened lid, as if expecting danger. He hadn't yet realized who was standing outside.

Xuanqing blinked.

They blinked back.

An awkward silence fell over the chamber.

Then—

"Uh… What the hell?" Xuanqing's lips twitched. He pointed at the two of them, eyes narrowing in suspicion. "Wow… You two really went all out, huh? Roleplaying in a coffin? Kinky!"

Lucifer's eyes twitched.

Chen Jing's face exploded into color.

"YOU STUPID FRAUD! IT'S NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE!!!"

Lucifer, on the other hand, finally turned his icy gaze toward Xuanqing, his voice laced with irritation. "Mortal, was it you who broke the seal?"

Xuanqing immediately raised both hands in surrender, taking a cautious step back. "Whoa, whoa, let's not get violent! I apologize for interrupting whatever...intimate moment you two had in there. Should I just...uh, close the lid again for you?"

Chen Jing finally climbed out of the coffin, face flushed red as she glared daggers at Xuanqing. "Are you blind?! Who the hell would willingly get locked in there?!"

Xuanqing shamelessly stroked his chin, studying her expression. "Ohhh, feisty one, aren't ya? But come on, the way you two were squeezed together like that... Hmm… I see, I see! A couple's bonding experience, huh?"

"Enough," Lucifer growled, his patience clearly wearing thin. A flicker of black flames danced around his fingertips, a silent warning for Xuanqing to shut his mouth.

"Alright, alright! No more jokes," Xuanqing backed off, waving dismissively. He casually pulled out a spicy snack, tore open the package, and popped one into his mouth. His eyes, however, darted between the two of them with growing curiosity.

"But seriously, how'd you even end up inside the coffin? The seal on this thing wasn't just for decoration—I had to go through hell to break it open!"

Lucifer straightened up, brushing off the dust from his coat. His gaze darkened. "The energy inside the coffin has weakened, but the external forces binding this place remain intact. Mortal, did you sense anything unusual outside?"

Xuanqing chewed on his snack thoughtfully before flashing an amused grin. He tapped his folded fan against his palm and spoke in a deliberately mysterious tone.

"Ohhh, you mean those cute little fellas lurking around? They wanted to play with me so badly, I just...helped send them home."

Chen Jing, stretching her sore limbs, shot him a doubtful look. "You're acting way too nonchalant. What the hell is your deal?"

Xuanqing gave a dramatic bow. "I am Xuanqing Zhenren! Wandering Daoist, ghost hunter, and the ultimate problem solver!" He smirked, twirling his fan before pointing it toward them. "But you two… Hah, what a legendary duo! A demon king and a human, trapped together? That's one hell of a story."

Lucifer ignored his antics, instead scanning the surroundings with a cold, calculating gaze. "The forces here have not completely dissipated. If the seal has been broken, they will return soon."

Xuanqing's grin widened. "Oho? 'They,' you say? You mean Beelzebub's lackeys?" His eyes sparkled with interest. "Sounds valuable! Say, if I catch one, do you think I can sell it for a good price?"

Chen Jing looked at him in disbelief. "You... You're thinking about profit?! We're talking about dangerous spirits and demons, not some flea market antiques!"

Xuanqing patted his pocket, tucking away his snack. "Oh, young lady, you just don't understand. In this world, ghosts and demons? They're just another form of business!"

"Business..." Chen Jing groaned, massaging her temples. "Lucifer, I beg you, don't let this lunatic stick with us. I refuse to be part of his scam!"

"You're trying to ditch me?" Xuanqing gasped in mock offense, clutching his fan to his chest. "Unacceptable! I just freed you from that coffin! Doesn't that make us comrades of destiny?"

Lucifer and Chen Jing exchanged a long, exasperated look.

Clearly, this shameless man wasn't going anywhere.