Heaven's Golden Finger

Acquisitions

The first thing Shirong had to do was fight back panic. That last move hadn't come from his training. A blow like that could kill a normal human being, even protected by padding. He was lucky, damned lucky, his opponent had been a demon. She might look fragile and delicate, but she was immensely strong and immensely tough. He shuddered to think of the consequences if she hadn't been.

"Master? Do you have orders for Mo Qingshe?"

The demoness' name wasn't particularly imaginative. Demon Green Snake. Exactly What It Says On the Label. He probably shouldn't have spent quite so much time on TV Tropes. This world was just full of them and it wasn't doing his state of mind any good to realize it. Realizing he was becoming distracted, he tried to focus. "Possibly a change of clothing? Something less revealing?"

"Doesn't Master like what he sees? Perhaps Master would be happier if this slave changed her shape? Would he prefer more bust?" Her breasts enlarged. "Or less?" They shrank. Then shrank to flatness as she became he. "Or maybe you'd prefer a man?"

"I don't want a slave at all, to be honest."

"You should have thought of that before you took the ring, boy." Mo Qingshe's voice was darker, deeper, in his masculine form.

"If I'd known what the ring was, I would have given it straight back to Shun Shixiong," he snapped in return.

"Thus hurrying my descent to Hell? Why thank you, Shidi." For some reason Shun Shixiong was enjoying his embarrassment. Something in his eyes suggested he was scared and determined to wring what little enjoyment he could from the situation.

Shirong forced himself to focus. "Is there a way I can free you?"

"Want to die?" Said in a man's voice, the words came out a great deal more threatening than it would have from the demon's female form. He clearly reveled in it, too, looking down at Shirong with a dangerous gleam in his eyes.

Thoughtfully, Shirong examined Mo Qingshe's face. "How would you kill me, if you were free?"

A startled expression crossed the demon's handsome features. "Flay the skin from your flesh. Disembowel you slowly. Fry you in boiling oil."

The list went on. All hideously painful. None quite as bad as having your own organs turn on you, your own flesh devour itself. Shirong nodded his head politely, waiting. When Mo Qingshe ran out of ideas, or perhaps breath, he said, "Interesting. Why?"

That made both Mo Qingshe and Shun Shixiong stare at him. "Why?" Shun repeated. "She... he's a demon. Does there need to be another reason?"

"Not really. But I'd like to know if there's something beyond a desire to cause pain here. I mean, from what I know of demons, they're the way they are because they exist through magic." At Shun's raised brow, he added, "Apparently I did pay attention to some lessons."

"Congratulations," Shun Shixiong muttered. "Am I supposed to be impressed?"

Shirong smiled. "No. I'm still too ignorant to know what I'm doing here." He returned his attention to Mo Qingshe, who'd gone back to her female form again. "I'd like to free you. I don't want a slave. I also don't want you killing me."

From the look on the demoness' face, she didn't believe him. Well, he probably wouldn't either. "It doesn't matter what you want. You've proved yourself stronger, so I acknowledge you as master and obey. But the one who bound me, the same one who bound my sister in the ice, is the only one who can end my servitude to that damned ring."