Chapter 13: Demon Arena (11)
“Uh… this is it?” Tang Mobai stood in the cafeteria, holding his tray and staring blankly at the so-called “meal” before him — a foul-smelling, watery sludge that looked somewhere between gray-blue and purple.
“That’s all there is. Eat it or don’t.”
The hooded worker behind the counter rolled his eyes. Even though this was an infinite-stream world, the man somehow gave Tang Mobai a familiar mix of oppressive authority and everyday irritation.
As three soul coins were deducted from his balance, Tang Mobai’s heart ached. Buying real food was one thing — but this?! No way could he admit this was edible! Even the British wouldn’t call this food! Its rightful place was in a trash heap!
Struggling, he carried the three “meals” back to the section where Yan Wuzhen and the others were sitting, his face twisted in misery, “Seriously… are we supposed to eat this?”
“Or,” Yan Wuzhen said lazily, picking one portion from the tray, “you could go upstairs and buy a loaf of bread for five coins. All the cheap food here tastes awful. It’s only designed to keep gladiators alive — just enough calories and nutrients to fight.”
“No way! I worked my ass off for thirty coins! What, do they think I’m made of money?!”
After one round in the arena, Tang Mobai had developed a deep understanding of the absurdly high prices here. Even someone like him — who could technically “cheat” — couldn’t afford a loaf of bread. It had to be a luxury item.
“They are robbing you,” Yan Wuzhen sneered. “That’s how they keep the slaves motivated — make them fight harder if they want a better life.”
Tang Mobai fell silent. Thinking carefully, he realized that every part of this so-called “Revival Tournament” was designed to whip them into obedience. Those shadow creatures at night forced everyone to earn at least five soul coins daily — just enough to survive. But if anyone wanted a decent life, or save up the hundred coins needed for freedom, they’d have to live in the arena.
But… why did they insist on such frequent combat? Just for betting?
Even so, Tang Mobai couldn’t shake the feeling something deeper was going on — especially remembering 009’s cryptic question back in the infirmary. He couldn’t help asking Yan Wuzhen.
“You really don’t know?” Yan Wuzhen looked at him like he was an idiot. “You honestly don’t know why explorers in Lost Paradise are all called demons?”
“…Should I know?” Tang Mobai asked cautiously.
“That’s basic common sense here.”
Tang Mobai glanced at Xiu Weiyi — who looked equally clueless — and felt slightly relieved, “We really don’t know. Is it because we’ve done too many bad things?”
Yan Wuzhen studied his expression for a moment, then frowned slightly before explaining, “We’re called demons for no special reason. Simply because… we are demons.”
Tang Mobai: “???” When did my species change?
“What do you think separates humans from demons?” Yan Wuzhen countered. “Horns? Eating lava? Living in hell?”
“Isn’t that it…?” Tang Mobai asked hesitantly.
Yan Wuzhen smiled faintly. “In Lost Paradise, the only real difference is this — humans restrain their desires, while demons indulge in them. And through those desires, we come to understand the original sin we carry.”
“Only by recognizing and fulfilling our desires can our true selves ascend — awakening greater power.”
True self…
A light flickered in Tang Mobai’s mind. He quickly opened his personal status panel.
[Name: Tang Mobai
Occupation: Rascal (Fate Path 7)
Stream ID: 99998
Original Sin: ???]
Back in the real world, the expert team had been trying to analyze these “Fate Paths” and “Original Sins,” but information about them was classified — the live feeds always censored such data. Now Tang Mobai finally understood what they meant.
“Wait,” he asked, “then why didn’t we awaken anything during the rookie trials? Wasn’t our will to survive strong enough?”
“It was,” Yan Wuzhen said, “but survival instinct is a biological drive, not a demon’s desire. Pride, envy, wrath, sloth, greed, gluttony, and lust — these are the seven deadly sins, the seven ‘Fate Paths’ of demons. Here in Lost Paradise, demons grow stronger by awakening and indulging in these desires. Why else do you think the arena exists?”
Tang Mobai scratched his hair. “Uh… for the revival fees?”
“Exactly.” Yan Wuzhen gave a faint smile. “The Revival Tournament exists to give the defeated one last chance — a rebirth through sin. To shed their humanity and become true demons, to recognize and embrace desire. Look around you — despising the weak, killing rivals, reveling in bloodlust… what better stage for that?”
Tang Mobai froze for a moment, but Yan Wuzhen didn’t give him time to digest it.
“Of course, the entertainment value matters too. The proud find satisfaction watching us fight. The wrathful enjoy the slaughter. The envious feel comforted. The greedy come for the gambling.…”
“The whole tournament isn’t about redemption,” he said flatly, “it’s about squeezing every last drop of use out of people like us.”
Tang Mobai said nothing. Yan Wuzhen looked at him, then smiled faintly.
“So… do you regret it?”
“Regret what?”
“If you’d gone along with the crowd and finished your opponent brutally,” Yan Wuzhen said, “your popularity would’ve soared. You might’ve even awakened a new desire — like the thrill of domination. Your power could’ve grown stronger. Maybe even enough to fix your current weakness.”
“Oh…” Tang Mobai exhaled. “Then it’s a good thing I didn’t.”
“Huh?”
“If I really awakened something like that, I’d end up as someone completely different from who I was before,” Tang Mobai said lightly. “And that would be pretty unpleasant.”
For a moment, Yan Wuzhen’s smile nearly cracked. He looked at Tang Mobai like he was staring at an alien.
“I was just feeling a bit guilty, that’s all,” Tang Mobai rubbed the back of his neck, glancing at Yan before quickly looking away. “I didn’t mess up your plans or anything, right?”
He meant I hope this didn’t mess up your strategy. Even if it did, he’d probably still have done the same — but it didn’t stop him from feeling awkward.
Yan Wuzhen paused, then said with a thin, forced smile, “Let’s just say that after what you said, the bettors are probably wondering if you’re worth putting money on at all.”
“Ah—sorry—” Tang Mobai began to apologize, but suddenly a familiar username popped up in the live chat:
[Warning: classic emotional manipulation detected]
Tang Mobai blinked, lifted his head, and glanced at Yan Wuzhen — who was saying he was annoyed, but didn’t actually look it. In fact, he kept glancing around subtly, lips curved in a faint, knowing smile.
And just like that, Tang Mobai snapped out of his guilt. He straightened up and said firmly, “How is that my fault? You were the one who didn’t explain things properly! If I’d known, I could’ve done even better!”
Yan Wuzhen’s eyes narrowed slightly. He hadn’t even been serious — it was just habit. As soon as Tang Mobai started apologizing, he’d casually used a few pressure tactics. It was his professional instinct as an information broker: even if the client did everything perfectly, you still point out one or two “mistakes,” offer some hindsight advice, and subtly imply you’re on their side. That way, they’d grow more dependent on your intel.
He hadn’t expected Tang Mobai to catch on so quickly…
Was that thanks to someone advising him behind the scenes?
Yan Wuzhen’s mind turned rapidly. Then he smirked, “So it’s my fault, huh?”
Tang Mobai nodded. “Of course! Next time, be clearer — I paid for your intel, didn’t I?”
Xiu Weiyi blinked and whispered, “Uh… are we really having this kind of conversation in public?”
Although Xiu Weiyi was eating with them, he kept his head down, trying to stay as inconspicuous as possible—because the surrounding gazes were far too intense.
Tang Mobai had now become completely famous in this place. The other newcomers, though still confused about many things, had already seen Tang Mobai defeat veterans with deeper experience. They quietly acknowledged him as the strongest among the new arrivals, and naturally, no one dared to challenge him anymore. As for the veterans—especially those aware of the betting system—their emotions were far more complicated.
The table where the three of them sat had become the absolute center of attention in the cafeteria, surrounded by wary and greedy stares from all directions.
Xiu Weiyi couldn’t help but shift uneasily in his seat. The burning intensity of all those gazes made him nervous, but since the other two remained perfectly calm, he didn’t dare to stand up and leave.
“Don’t worry,” Yan Wuzhen said casually as he wiped his mouth, tapping the collar on his neck. “They can’t do anything right now. Outside the arena, no one is allowed to harm another slave—that’s a rule the ‘Masters’ gave us. And since you still have the newbie protection period, they can’t touch you even if they want to. Let them stare all they like. You’re the newly risen superstar of the arena now.”
But in the middle of all this attention, Tang Mobai showed no sign of pride. On the contrary, he stared at Yan Wuzhen, his expression calm and serious.
“But once the newbie protection ends, I’ll definitely become everyone’s target.”
Indeed, the looks around them were already blazing hot. If not for the protection period and Yan Wuzhen sitting beside him, those people would’ve already swarmed him, doing anything they could to challenge or even gamble against him.
No other reason—he was simply too valuable.
Newcomers were already the most sought-after commodity in the arena, but Tang Mobai was on another level—he was like a ginseng fruit among ordinary goods. Even a regular fight involving him would attract far more attention than others. It was like having a celebrity athlete in a game—people would flock to watch.
Yan Wuzhen smiled slyly. “To achieve the greatest results in the shortest time, you have to make yourself a target. There’s no such thing as reaping heaven’s riches without taking risks.”
Tang Mobai understood that too. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have signed the contract in the first place. And even the most cautious experts couldn’t demand that Yan Wuzhen add a clause guaranteeing Tang Mobai’s safety.
Everyone knew that was impossible.
So technically, Yan Wuzhen hadn’t broken their agreement at all—he had fulfilled it perfectly. Tang Mobai’s next arena match would undoubtedly skyrocket in popularity.
He had indeed become the arena’s “rising star,” but it felt like standing on the edge of a cliff.
“If you’re afraid of becoming everyone’s target,” Yan Wuzhen said “coincidentally” at this moment, “why not consider losing to me? After all, you worked hard to earn your current standing. We could make a contract—I promise not to beat you up after winning, and I can even help you fend off others.”
Tang Mobai lowered his eyelids. “Your map of Yan Country is a bit too small, isn’t it?”
He’d been prepared for this guy’s ulterior motives, but still—on the first day? He thought Yan Wuzhen would at least wait until the third day before revealing his true hand.
“There’s no point pretending in front of you,” Yan Wuzhen shrugged. “After all, you have people backing you. I’m sure they’ve already advised you how to minimize your risk.”
Tang Mobai didn’t respond, but Xiu Weiyi shifted uneasily in his seat. “Well, there’s still the qualification test, right? As long as you collect 100 soul coins in three days, you could pass the revival match directly.”
“Oh, right,” Yan Wuzhen said with exaggerated realization. “I almost forgot. It might be hard for others, but for Tang Mobai, not necessarily. With your popularity, you could earn that in three days easily. If you’re lucky, you might even win the revival match right away. How nice—you’ll get to leave us trash behind and rejoin Paradise as a full member.”
At that, even Xiu Weiyi couldn’t force a smile anymore. He lowered his head and stared at his hands.
Tang Mobai, however, kept watching Yan Wuzhen, sensing a hidden meaning in his words. Because of the angle, he didn’t notice Xiu Weiyi’s expression.
But on the other side of the livestream, the expert team noticed it.
Outside the screen, Wang Yuanzhi and the others frowned deeply. After a long silence, they sent Tang Mobai a coded message.
Thank you for reading 🙂 I hope you all liked my translations. If you enjoyed my work, please consider buying me a Ko-Fi 😉
