Little Pink Starfish

The woman who entered had long, dark red hair cascading down her back, her tall figure framed by porcelain-white skin. Her beauty was intoxicating, her movements dripping with allure. She was the embodiment of temptation, like a goddess of the night, drawing moths into her glowing orbit.

Damn those fiery red lips! Gu Bai cast a glance at her and was immediately assaulted by a storm of pheromones. It was as if an overwhelming wave was threatening to sweep him away.

He sighed inwardly, feeling a strange sense of relief settle in his chest. Finally, he thought. It was only a matter of time before the protagonist’s female leads started showing up. No matter where I go, it’s inevitable.

His initial concern that his luck in avoiding these encounters had miraculously improved was clearly misplaced. Of course, it wasn’t him who attracted them—it was the pervert at his side, a beacon for chaos.

Now that one had appeared, he felt oddly… reassured. (Though not really.)

But this woman wasn’t just any ordinary beauty. She was Liu Manluo, the only full-blooded sister of the Earth-Splitting Elephant King, Liu Wuheng. In the Liu family, her position was second only to her brother’s. Cunning and resourceful, she was both breathtakingly beautiful and dangerously intelligent—a rare combination.

If the Lingwu Continent’s Princess Tianxiang was the pinnacle of virtuous beauty, then Liu Manluo was her counterpart in seductive allure. While Tianxiang carried the stately grace of an empress, Liu Manluo exuded the intoxicating charm of a consort, a siren capable of turning heads and bending wills.

In the original story, both women were cornerstones of Qiguan Rui’s harem collection, their contrasting personalities serving as perfect foils. But if anyone had earned Qiguan Rui’s unwavering trust, it was the loyal and self-sacrificing Yun Menglian.

Liu Manluo’s captivating gaze swept over the room as she entered, taking in the hungry stares and unrestrained admiration of those present. She was long accustomed to such reactions—even her own brother often couldn’t hide his astonishment when he looked at her.

But today, two exceptions stood out.

The first was the man her brother had warned her about: Ziche Shubai. His flawless appearance made him the most stunning man she’d ever seen, yet his face remained as cold and expressionless as a marble statue. Even when his eyes flickered her way, they betrayed no interest, as though she were utterly unremarkable.

The second was Qiguan Rui. Though slightly less striking than Ziche Shubai, his fame as an undefeated fighter in the underground arena had made him a highly desirable figure among the magic-worshipping demons. And yet, his gaze wasn’t filled with lust—it was laced with wariness and… Disdain? The experience of being dismissed by both men was a novelty for Liu Manluo, one that piqued her interest.

Her mission was simple: seduce one or both of them. She had assumed it would be easy. Now, it seemed she might have to try harder. Failure, however, was not an option.

Smiling seductively, she glided across the room to sit beside her brother. Her every movement was calculated to entice, her voice low and husky with a magnetic charm. “Greetings, gentlemen. I apologise for my tardiness.” The moment she spoke, the room shivered with a collective, primal response.

Many of the men present were visibly affected—some even to embarrassing degrees.

Gu Bai instinctively glanced at Qiguan Rui and found him already looking back. Their gazes met.

Gu Bai: I seem to recall the pervert being quite taken with this woman in the original story. Wonder how he feels now.

Qiguan Rui: Is Gege looking at another woman again?

Both men promptly averted their eyes.

Gu Bai turned away, blankly and Qiguan Rui’s lips curved into a small smile.

To the onlookers, this exchange was yet another display of their unshakable bond.

Liu Wuheng narrowed his eyes. It seems these two won’t be easily dealt with. If their bond is truly this deep, then my sister will need to pull out all the stops.

Beside him, Liu Manluo’s ruby lips curved into a confident smirk. She relished the challenge.

Meanwhile, Xin Xinba watched the scene with bemused detachment. So that’s their plan, is it? Hah, ridiculous. If my granddaughter couldn’t win over these two, what hope does a little trinket like Liu Manluo have?

With the introductions over, the Five Elders began their meeting.

The discussion revolved around the distribution of resources, division of authority, and management of subordinate clans. It was a balancing act of maintaining civility while occasionally devolving into heated disputes.

Qiguan Rui and Gu Bai sat quietly off to the side, hands clasped as though declaring their alliance without words.

For Qiguan Rui, this was an opportunity to glean critical information. He had come to Demon Domain not out of loyalty to its inhabitants, but to understand their motives and ensure no unforeseen variables disrupted his plans.

As the meeting progressed, certain patterns emerged. The demons were divided into factions:

• Conservative: Represented by Xin Xinba, who believed in self-preservation above all else.
• Neutral: Including Cang Yao and Yan Hong, who were indifferent but would act if provoked.
• Aggressive: Led by Liu Wuheng and Lou Pao, who were eager to stir chaos in the Lingwu Continent.

Gu Bai, already familiar with the original plot, understood the motivations behind these divisions.

Xin Xinba’s conservatism stemmed from a deep-seated hatred for martial artists, born from personal tragedy. Despite his restraint, he knew that stepping onto the Lingwu Continent would ignite a bloodbath he might not be able to control. His best solution was to remain isolated.

The others, however, saw this as a sign of weakness, interpreting his caution as the waning ambition of an old man.

Meanwhile, Liu Wuheng and Lou Pao’s plan to infiltrate Lingwu with low-level demons aimed to create chaos through sabotage and terrorism. Their strategy included grooming disposable pawns to self-destruct if captured, ensuring no trace of Demon Domain’s involvement.

Xin Xinba opposed this, arguing that such reckless actions could expose their location. The debate escalated, drawing in neutral parties who offered varying levels of support or dissent.

It was at that moment Qiguan Rui spoke. “Why not send intelligent, skilled demons to infiltrate the Lingwu Continent? Instead of targeting large cities, focus on smaller towns. By subjugating local leaders, you could consolidate power incrementally. Over time, this approach could yield greater influence without attracting unnecessary attention.”

The room fell silent. Several elders exchanged thoughtful glances.

“Now that you mention it…”

“There’s already someone who fits that description.”

“Perfectly placed, high-ranking, with no visible flaws in their identity…”

Simultaneously, several pairs of eyes turned to Gu Bai. “City Lord Ziche is an ideal candidate. With his background and position, he could bridge the gap between us and the Lingwu Continent. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Gu Bai froze. What the hell?! Are they asking me to infiltrate Lingwu as a spy?! First, I pretend to be a demon to blend in here, and now they want me to go back as a double agent?

This is too much!

****

Pinky says: Ah, my favourite political groups, conservative, neutral and aggressive.

I would be part of the aggressive faction for sure. I shot out of the womb with a wooden spoon; I was made to stir shit up.

Everyone put your demon domain faction in the comments, it’s the new harry potter house because I said so.