Little Pink Starfish

[Circle Circle]: Fat Cat, you still alive?

[Group Admin]: Still kicking! ⊙▽⊙

[Circle Circle]: Got a question for you. Why are so many demons from other cities coming to C City lately?

[Group Admin]: Why? You spotted some outsiders?

[Circle Circle]: Loads of them… What’s happening on your end?

[Black and Red]: Hmm… My guess? It’s because more and more demons are watching Demon Chronicle lately. Most of the major demon-related plotlines in the comic are set in C City. The opportunities here are growing, so everyone’s flooding in for a shot at something.

[Circle Circle]: What’s watching a comic got to do with whether or not opportunities increase?

[Black and Red]: Are you dense…? All your C City stuff is practically being livestreamed. Tons of plot points have been revealed to match the real world. I heard some demons even dug up the actual location of your city’s barrier… It’s the perfect chance to slip in while things are exposed.

[Group Admin]: Exactly! Your city was already a mess—big demons fighting each other, nobody keeping order. For ambitious demons, it’s paradise. Now that Demon Chronicle has mapped out the city’s layout and shown who’s who, it’s like a cheat sheet. Come over, stir the pot, and maybe even grab a top-dog position.

[Circle Circle]: …WTF. So we’re all in danger?! Holy crap!!!

[Group Admin]: What are you afraid of? It’s not like little demons are the ones getting hit. Your city’s been running on a feudal offering system for ages—small demons pay tribute, and that’s it. You can switch sides, and nobody will touch you.

[Black and Red]: Admin’s right. You just gotta be savvy—find the right backer and cling tight. I bet your city’s about to go through a power reshuffle. If you need help picking a side, we’ll advise you.

Yuan Yuanyuan stared at her phone screen, eyes welling up for some unknown reason.

She wasn’t even involved in this, really. But now, somehow, she was.

She stuffed her phone back in her pocket and went back to examining the jade token in her hand.

It was the same one the white-clad woman had given her earlier that day. The jade was smooth, polished, and distinctly high-quality. Black jade—not something you came across often.

Yuan Yuanyuan held the obsidian piece, small and round, with a subtle design etched onto the surface. She weighed it lightly in her palm. With white jade, green jade, blood jade, and now black jade, she was seriously considering opening a jade accessory shop.

Demons were definitely loaded, but this was the first time she’d seen something like a black jade used for record-keeping. She studied the contents within for a long time.

The inscription matched what the white-clad woman had told her:

“To Lord Yuan: In the event of unidentified intruders, subdue immediately and report. If capture proves impossible—terminate without hesitation.”

Yuan Yuanyuan recognized the faint wisp of demonic energy woven into the script. It was the same signature she’d sensed when signing that contract—the one that had made her part of an unspoken, invisible demon clan within C City.

A clan was obligated to maintain security. Whether or not her role included public law enforcement didn’t change that.

She glanced again at the black jade.

Black. The color of concealment, secrecy, shadows, schemes…

When the white-clad woman gave it to her, she’d made a point of saying, “Only a handful of demons know about this.”

Black stood for things that stayed hidden.

Yuan Yuanyuan looked at the time and began getting ready for another shift. She had originally only worked sporadically, but now… it seemed she’d be showing up a lot more often.

She’d checked the location. It wasn’t far from the secure zone. If the city ever went into lockdown, the place was defensible. The real threat would be stealthy demons who knew how to hide in plain sight. C City was full of demons from elsewhere. You couldn’t exactly grab one off the street and demand their papers.

The demon she saw the other day must’ve snuck in that way.

Yuan Yuanyuan rubbed her eyes, grabbed her notebook and pen, and headed to her shop. No matter what happened, learning more demon magic was always a good idea.

“What are you drawing now? Didn’t you say you trashed all your old drafts?”

“That last version got disproved by the author, okay? I’ve got a new theory now, so I’m drawing again,” Gao Ling said, glancing at her screen while chatting with her best friend.

“What new theory?”

“About how Nian Niang turned into Yuan… Seriously, those two? You’d never connect them if Ji Qiu hadn’t dropped such a heavy hint. No one would guess.”

“I dunno. I think the current Yuan is way hotter than the old Nian Niang. Back then she was just girly—now she’s girly but cool. Like… you can be pretty, but still have that edge, right? Gotta have some bite.”

“Cough. I’m not as thirsty as you,” Gao Ling said, “But yeah… I just think their whole vibe is completely different. As an artist, it’s all about the energy. Nian Niang felt warm, vivid red—Yuan is cool, muted, like… steel gray. The only thing that connects them is the demon tattoos.”

“You artsy types and your color metaphors. Anyway, you wanna hit the mall later?”

“Yeah. I saw this cute jacket downtown the other day. Payday just came in, so let’s go.”

Meanwhile, Yuan Yuanyuan was hunched over her desk, fiddling with a leaf.

It was early winter. The last snow had just melted, and the leaves had mostly turned yellow. She played with one crinkled leaf for a bit. Slowly, the yellow faded. From the center outward, the leaf turned green again—lush and vibrant.

Yuan Yuanyuan exhaled shakily. Her hands were trembling. She tossed the leaf into a teacup where several others floated.

The spell One Leaf Hides the Eye was really hard to master. This was as good as she could get it for now. But the demon manual claimed that, with practice, a single leaf could cast entire illusions.

She picked up another leaf and resumed practicing.

---

Gao Ling took a deep breath. The air outside was sharp and freezing, like a blade across her throat. She hadn’t left the house in weeks—not since the demon attack incident. She’d quit her job and decided to become a full-time illustrator.

She and her friend wandered through the shopping district, hit a few favorite stores, and finally bought that jacket she’d been eyeing. Then they strolled down a quieter street.

“There’s a school around here? Must be pricey—downtown and in the school district,” her friend said, eyeing the nearby high school.

“Yeah,” Gao Ling replied. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at the students.

She could see something others couldn’t.

Among the students milling around, she spotted something… off. She doubted her friend could see it, but she definitely could. Within minutes, she’d already counted more than a dozen anomalies.

So many demons… Was it possible she had demon classmates back in school too? She vaguely recalled a few loners who never fit in…

Lost in thought, she passed the school and a nearby hotel. Then, suddenly, she saw it.

A small building—quaint and elegant.

“Huh? When did that pop up? Is that a heritage site or leftover structure? Looks kinda pretty. Didn’t think this part of town had any old-style buildings left.”

“Where?” her friend asked.

“Right there.” Gao Ling pointed.

Her friend followed her finger and froze. “Wait… when did that show up? I’ve never seen that before.”

“Let’s check it out. There’s a sign on the door—it looks like a store.”

They walked over. The paper sign read:

[The shopkeeper is rarely present. Let fate decide our meeting.]

“Wow… this guy’s full-on chuuni. Is this a merch shop for some anime?” Gao Ling said with a smirk.

The wooden door was carved with delicate patterns. She pushed it open. Warm air greeted her like a blanket.

Inside was quiet. And spotless.

A man sat silently at the table.

In his hand, he held a vibrant green leaf. Before him, a cup of tea floated with several more.

When the door opened, he looked up.

His eyes—deep, pure black—met hers.

There was something unexplainable in his gaze. Calm. Profound.

Gao Ling’s friend whispered, “Damn… this guy’s hot.”

The room was spacious, lined with mannequin figures and hanging garments—costumes that were clearly not for everyday wear.

“Is this… a cosplay shop? Those outfits are crazy dramatic,” her friend whispered.

But Gao Ling wasn’t listening.

She stood stiff as a board, staring at the man.

For a full minute, she didn’t move. Then she slowly exhaled.

“Can I help you?” the man in black asked.

Sunlight cast a soft glow on his face.

“Uh… no, we’re just browsing,” Gao Ling replied, sneaking another glance.

She walked toward the racks. Then she peeked back at him again.

And suddenly… it clicked.

The confusion that had haunted her for weeks—why she couldn’t put into words what connected Yuan to Nian Niang—cleared in a flash of understanding.

The man before her wore black. Cold, reserved.

But on his neck hung a small jade pendant.

Its string was red.

A stark splash of crimson against a field of shadowy black.