Little Pink Starfish

The atmosphere in the arena grew even more fevered as countless demons roared:

“Python God! Python God!”

“Python God! Kill him!”

“Kill! Kill! Kill—!”

On the arena platform, the handsome youth licked his fingers, his smile growing softer. His tongue flicked out, instantly transforming into a crimson forked snake tongue, hissing ominously. Bright red blood trickled down his pale face—a splatter from tearing flesh earlier—its stark contrast against his white skin creating an eerie, macabre beauty.

Elephant King Liu Yanghong, wounded and in pain, stomped his heel and whirled around, catching sight of the youth’s strangely bewitching visage. It felt entirely different from before. But for demons, such pain was hardly worth noticing. Liu Yanghong’s energy surged around him, forming an aura of power. In an instant, he lunged again, his long tusks whistling through the air with a sharp whoosh.

The youth’s snake tail snapped against the platform, the crisp echo resounding through the arena as his figure vanished once more.

Liu Yanghong’s nerves tensed—Where is he? He projected his Wu Qi outward, forming a protective barrier around himself. But the next moment, an almost imperceptible breeze grazed his skin. He reacted instinctively, dodging, but still another chunk of flesh was clawed from him.

He couldn’t even see his opponent. Soon, his proud elephant legs bore a web of wounds. Finally, something coiled around his waist with an overwhelming, constricting force.

Liu Yanghong’s eyes shot open as he tried to lower his head and use his tusks to pierce it—but the constriction tightened. From his neck downward, his body was entirely bound, unable to move an inch. Even breathing became laboured. His vision darkened as he strained to focus, catching sight of a long tail connected to the upper half of the handsome youth. Hovering high above him, those emotionless snake-like eyes stared down as if he were nothing more than an insignificant bug. How… infuriating! But the force around him intensified, cutting off any chance of speaking. His body succumbed to the crushing power. In his final moments, the only sound he heard was the shattering of his own bones. Then, nothing.

Qiguan Rui’s snake tail flicked, tossing the limp, shattered corpse aside like a broken rag doll. The body was utterly destroyed. The Earth-Splitting Elephant bloodline was indeed formidable—whether through its tusks or mountain-crushing legs. But its speed was abysmal.

It wasn’t even worth Qiguan Rui’s notice.

After all, he possessed the bloodline of the ancient Heaven-Devouring Python. This mighty beast had once reigned supreme, subduing all other creatures, treating the world as its hunting ground and all beings as prey.

Compared to that, what was an Earth-Splitting Elephant?

Draped in a bloodstained mantle, Qiguan Rui tilted his head and smiled faintly. “Are there any more challengers today?” His answer was the sound of the massive gate opening, its iron bars creaking apart like the jaws of a great beast.

Clearly, no one else dared to face him.

In the private viewing box, Liu Wuheng slammed his fist onto the table before him, shattering it to splinters. His eyes burned with murderous intent. “That brat…”

Lou Pao, seated opposite him, appeared thoughtful. At that moment, a servant entered and whispered something into Lou Pao’s ear. He frowned, his expression darkening.

Liu Wuheng exhaled heavily, then turned toward him. “What now?”

Lou Pao’s face grew grim. “My plant in the Xin family failed.”

Liu Wuheng gritted his teeth. “That brat cannot be allowed to live!”

Lou Pao nodded. “I’ll see to it personally.”

Meanwhile, Qiguan Rui descended from the arena platform, his snake tail shifting back into human legs. Wherever he passed, the crowd erupted in excitement, but anyone who tried to get too close was met with a swift swipe of his claws, tearing off patches of their skin.

In an instant, no one dared to approach him. With a flicker of movement, Qiguan Rui vanished from sight.

At the small side gate of the arena, a figure emerged from the shadows. Qiguan Rui halted and smiled faintly. “How was he today?”

The demon who stepped out bowed respectfully. “The City Lord this morning…”

Qiguan Rui listened with a serene expression until the demon mentioned the meal delivery girl. His gaze turned ice-cold.

Tilting his head slightly, he asked softly, “What did you just say?”

The demon bowed lower. “I retrieved the remains. The food… Was indeed drugged. But the attempt failed. The City Lord is unharmed.”

Qiguan Rui pressed his palm against the stone wall, embedding it deeply into the surface. “…Who’s behind this?”

The demon replied dutifully, “Through a soul-searching technique, I discovered she was planted by the Lou family.”

Qiguan Rui’s face remained calm, but his eyes twisted with dark fury. “Lou Pao…?”

The demon retreated further, not daring to utter another word.

Qiguan Rui dismissed the demon and returned to the arena as if nothing had happened. Watching the ongoing fights, he suddenly challenged another combatant—a man who, unbeknownst to most, was a Lou family operative sent to recruit fighters from the arena.

On the platform, Qiguan Rui tore the man to shreds using his serpent tail’s blistering speed. The Lou family… Lou family! Drenched in gore, he shed his outer garments, revealing his chiselled figure as he disappeared into the night, heading toward the Xin family estate.

***

The Xin family had provided luxurious accommodations for their guests, with private courtyards, well-furnished rooms, and obedient maidservants.

That evening, the courtyard was brightly lit, the doors wide open, revealing a silhouette inside. A young man dressed in white, his demeanour cold and aloof, sat cross-legged with his hair draped loosely, sipping wine beneath the moonlight. The night breeze carried a faint fragrance. The maids had been dismissed long ago, forbidden from approaching him too closely.

Gu Bai, gazing at the moon, appeared both lonely and melancholic—a sight that could move hearts and draw tears.

In truth, Gu Bai was staring blankly at the pancake-like moon, thinking he lacked proper props. If I weren’t tone-deaf, I’d place a zither on my lap and play a mournful tune to set the mood. That’d make me look truly detached, elegant, and even cruel. Alas, he couldn’t play. So he settled for wine, which was a poor substitute. The atmosphere felt lacking. What a shame.

Sighing deeply, Gu Bai suddenly found himself plunged into darkness as the lights went out. Damn it! An assassin?

Before panic could set in, he heard the sound of fabric rustling, followed by the swift and familiar scent of blood. Instead of worrying, Gu Bai relaxed. This scent… I’d recognise it even if it turned to ash.

A pair of arms encircled his waist tightly, and Gu Bai knew immediately who it was. The strength in that embrace was unmistakable.

Raising his hand, Gu Bai unleashed a gust of energy, illuminating the room with the glow of night pearls as boxes on a nearby table sprang open.

Sure enough, a familiar head rested against his waist. Vacantly, Gu Bai patted it. “You’re back early today.” Couldn’t you have waited for me to finish my brooding act properly?

Qiguan Rui lifted his head, smiling gently. “I missed you, Gege… Didn’t you miss me?”

Gu Bai froze. How should I answer that?

Qiguan Rui sighed dramatically. “I work so hard out there, yet Gege won’t say anything nice to comfort me…”

Gu Bai twitched. Can you stop pretending we’re some domestic couple?!

Looking at Qiguan Rui’s expectant eyes, Gu Bai finally relented. “Tomorrow, I’ll come with you.”

Qiguan Rui’s smile faltered. “Do you even know where I’m going?”

Gu Bai hesitated before shaking his head. “No idea. But I can guess.”

Qiguan Rui’s eyes filled with a strange vulnerability. “I hope you won’t hate me after you see it…”

Gu Bai was silent, then patted his head again. As if anything you do could faze me now!

But Qiguan Rui’s snake tail coiled around his waist, shredding Gu Bai’s robes in the process.

Gu Bai clenched his fist. This… I cannot forgive! “Qiguan Rui…”

“Gege,” Qiguan Rui murmured, pulling him close, his lips brushing Gu Bai’s. “Today, I was jealous.”

****

Pinky says: When he make snake bum… Where pants go? Do pants come back? Does he shirt-cock it like toddler?