Little Pink Starfish

Yuan Yuanyuan glanced around at the surrounding monsters, then down at the ground beneath her feet.

From the surrounding murmurs, she realized her face must have transformed. She wasn’t sure how it happened, but at least it was better than having her true face exposed. More importantly, this might explain why so many monsters hadn’t pounced on her and torn her to shreds.

All the monsters around her were watching like hawks, but none dared to step forward.

It was like a group of vultures circling a wounded lion.

—No matter what, for now, she still bore the identity of a “big shot who fought in a brutal war a hundred years ago.” None of the monsters dared to be the first to challenge her. They weren’t as united as vultures.

While Yuan Yuanyuan was thinking, the others were also secretly observing her, each with their own thoughts and calculations.

“She’s not Ruhua.” One monster suddenly spoke.

His voice rang clearly in the quiet space.

All eyes turned to him. His expression was calm, even with a faint smile on his lips.

Yuan Yuanyuan looked at him. He was standing at the front. She didn’t know who he was, but his aura felt gentle—not quite like a bloodthirsty monster.

“Ruhua is quite carefree. She seems… much more restrained.” The man spoke slowly, his tone firm. “She’s very cautious. Back then, there weren’t many like her in the Blood Jade Demon Army.”

“I’m not Ruhua,” Yuan Yuanyuan said quietly.

Her voice was low and deep, echoing through the forest. It was the first time the monsters had heard her speak—her voice like a cello, low and resonant.

“Then who are you?” the man asked curiously. “We’ve been guessing for a while but can’t figure out your identity. No matter who we think of, there’s always a reason to rule them out…”

“I’m Yuan,” Yuan Yuanyuan interrupted.

That was the truth. She didn’t know who she was. Everything about “Yi Qi” was just her speculation, so saying it didn’t mean much. Only the name “Yuan” could clearly define her.

A completely fake identity. A person with no past, created from a manga. Once out of the manga, she held no meaning.

In a way, Yuan Yuanyuan was still a very down-to-earth girl…

Though she thought her hint was obvious, the other monsters didn’t see it that way. They clearly overthought her words, because who would guess the real reason was that simple?

Some monsters’ expressions changed instantly, and their eyes deepened as they looked at her.

That name… it sounded like she was trying to deny her entire past.

A monster’s name held symbolic meaning. Spells, enchantments, and contracts often involved a monster’s name. Failing to honor those contracts could lead to divine punishment.

So monsters didn’t change names lightly—only in extreme circumstances.

Like wanting to sever ties with their past… That was one reason to change names.

But Yuan Yuanyuan didn’t understand those rules. No one had ever explained them to her, so she had no idea what kind of wild assumptions the others were making.

The monster opposite her was momentarily stunned, but then smiled and nodded. “Quite a personality. That’s something every member of the Blood Jade Demon Army had.”

His words were meant to ease the tension. Someone beside him picked up the thread, “Personality, huh… All the famous veterans had that. Senior, are you Qingqing? Or Pingshu?”

Yuan Yuanyuan didn’t want to talk to him anymore. She sensed that although he was smiling, he was trying to pry things out of her. And she’d just said her name was Yuan—yet here he was still fishing.

She was about to leave, but didn’t know where she’d end up if she traveled underground again. Last time she’d veered way off course. If she messed up again and accidentally returned here, that’d be embarrassing.

She marked a direction with her eyes and was just about to move when someone suddenly said, “There’s an anomaly in the sky… red clouds, even…”

The speaker paused, seeming to hesitate, but continued, “In my memory, only one senior could do that…”

Yuan Yuanyuan didn’t wait to hear the rest. She activated her Skysteel Technique and instantly turned into a cloud of red mist, disappearing from sight.

The red mist lingered in the air like a solid object, hovering for a long time. It looked like a red zone, and as it dissolved, it spread like ink dropped in water, drifting freely, then slowly took the shape of a “tree.”

The tree wasn’t exactly beautiful, but it looked like a brushstroke made with an ink brush.

“That was…” The monster who had been questioning her turned pale as he watched her vanish.

All the monsters close to the center went white in the face. The ones farther out or the younger ones didn’t realize what had just happened.

All who saw the red tree shut their mouths at once. Even the one who’d blurted out something earlier clamped his mouth shut tightly, not letting a single word slip out.

Very few had heard what he said, so his reaction didn’t draw attention… except from a few keen observers.

The monsters watched the red tree gradually dissipate into the air. There was no sign of where the woman had gone—no trace, not even for those with sharp senses. The clueless monsters had no chance.

Hundreds of monsters instantly erupted in chaos, searching frantically in all directions. Some even flew up to get a better look at the sky.

The scene stayed chaotic for a long while before it calmed down. But Yuan Yuanyuan had long since vanished. She had shed her disguise underground and now dashed up the stairs, looking spooked.

God, that scared her to death.

Big bosses one and two had shown up… If she ever told this story, she could brag about it for life.

Yuan Yuanyuan felt that just surviving today probably shortened her lifespan… But lately, she’d had way too many of these life-draining moments. Every one of them was exhausting.

Back in the kitchen, she took the leftover pork ribs, boiled them, skimmed the blood, added scallions, ginger, and garlic, then threw in some noodles. She slurped them up alone.

Today was brutal… Gotta eat something to recover. Life’s unpredictable—next time she might just drop dead.

---

Saturday was Demon Chronicles release day. As soon as she walked in, Yuan Yuanyuan saw Siqun slumped on the doorstep, chin resting on his palms.

“What’s wrong now? Did Sis beat you again?” Yuan Yuanyuan asked.

“No.” Siqun had squished his cheeks down so far they puffed under his eyes.

“What happened then…” Yuan Yuanyuan peeked into the kitchen and asked Li Zi Jie, “Your little brother looks so down.”

“Oh, you mean Siqun.” Li Zi Jie looked a bit helpless but also amused. “He’s been recognized and featured in the comic. A few young monsters at the tavern have been chasing him around, saying they want to marry him.”

“What?” Yuan Yuanyuan’s face lit up, instantly excited like she was grabbing popcorn. “Seriously?”

“Qun’er! Qun’er!” She ran happily into the kitchen and sat next to him. “Damn, Qun’er, those little monsters really wanted to toss you a bridal bouquet?”

“I don’t know…” Siqun’s voice got quieter, and he looked a bit sullen. Seeing Yuan Yuanyuan crowding in, he shifted over.

Yuan Yuanyuan was still super giddy—because honestly… it was kind of cute. Adorably cute.

“You’d think someone like him—quiet, always bullied by girls—wouldn’t be popular. But now he’s in a comic, and suddenly all these girls love him? Don’t they know what he’s really like?” Li Zi Jie walked over carrying a big jar of fruit wine.

“You just don’t get it,” Yuan Yuanyuan said. “Sure, this type might not appeal in real life, but once he’s drawn into a comic? Fan goggles activate. All the fangirls totally believe he is that version of him. Not this shy dork. Even if someone tells them otherwise, they won’t listen—la la la, can’t hear you. That’s why so many talentless idols still rake in the cash these days.”

“I don’t get it. What nonsense are you even talking about.” Li Zi Jie opened the wine, and a strong aroma filled the kitchen. She waved Yuan Yuanyuan over, “Come help me pour this into the warmer.”

Yuan Yuanyuan came over, still stifling laughter. Every time she thought of Siqun’s sulky face, and the way he got smacked, she couldn’t stop grinning like a lovestruck idiot.

After they finished bottling the wine, it was already past midnight. Yuan Yuanyuan stretched and felt all numb. She checked her phone and opened Demon Chronicles to see what had been drawn.

Turned out they’d released two issues this week.

What was the second one? Yuan Yuanyuan clicked it open—“Special Edition”?

A side story?

She looked over the two issues, then, out of some weird instinct, clicked on the special edition…

The moment she opened it, she was stunned.

It was special—so special her scalp went numb.