Little Pink Starfish

After passing on the intel that day, Yuan Yuanyuan stayed on edge for a while.

But oddly enough, everything remained calm. The landlady hadn’t noticed she had leaked anything, and Yuan Yingli’s side hadn’t said anything further.

Was that normal…? Or maybe nothing had happened on their end yet? Yuan Yuanyuan felt a little uncertain.

A week later, Yuan Yingli finally sent her a message.

【Black Red: Hei and Fat Cat are heading back soon. But before we go, we’re sending you something. Please accept it, and I’ll contact you again afterward.】

【Circle: What is it?】

【Black Red: A small mirror.】

Hmm? Yuan Yuanyuan immediately sensed what that meant.

She glanced down at the mirror hanging around her neck, usually hidden under her clothes where no one could see it.

This mirror was used to communicate with high-level demons in City C. Now Yuan Yingli was giving her another one from his side.

That meant the intel she had given them last time must’ve been accurate—accurate enough for Yuan Yingli and Fat Cat to invest something as valuable as this in her. Mirrors like that were extremely rare and not usually entrusted to minor demons like her. It proved just how useful they now considered her.

But they were heading back? Back to where? The Hundred Demon King?

Yuan Yuanyuan had also received another piece of information—she was probably among the first to get it, possibly alongside Fa Ning himself.

The manga was currently focused on the battle between Fa Ning and the head of the Li family. The entire battlefield had now shifted to revolve around these two. Officially, the Li family head was just another faction leader, but everyone knew the Hundred Demon King now relied on him entirely.

There were few direct fights between Fa Ning and the Li clan head—most of it was handled by their respective forces. The two served as generals, commanding their troops. Yuan Yuanyuan’s head was already spinning from reading the last two chapters. The manga had evolved from a hot-blooded shounen series into some kind of military strategy drama.

Ugh… her brain hurt.

Rubbing her temples, Yuan Yuanyuan knew even the events shown in the manga were heavily simplified. The real situation was likely even more complex. Fa Ning seemed naturally gifted at strategy. She found herself thinking again about his mysterious background—maybe the manga would finally reveal it near the end?

Could talents like that really be inherited?

Something else had also recently happened on the Li family’s side: the Li family’s young miss had called off her engagement. The manga didn’t explain the reason.

Yuan Yuanyuan had always felt that the Li family head didn’t really care about his daughter’s marriage—which probably explained why she hated him so much.

At the wedding, he had acted like the whole event was just a convenient excuse to gather all the demons together and make an announcement. His daughter wasn’t even the focus. The more Yuan Yuanyuan thought about it, the more pitiful that girl seemed.

【Breaking: Li family heiress cancels her engagement!】

【Guess who she did it for? Fa Ning or Yuan?】

【…Could be either.】

Yuan Yuanyuan read the comments and sighed. That girl was trouble… truly.

Still, the latest chapter had mentioned Yuan again—which made Yuan Yuanyuan perk up a bit. She didn’t care much for political scheming, but when it came to her own character, she paid very close attention.

…

【Fa Ning told his people not to reveal that Yuan was still alive to the demons from the northwest, but the younger ones kept trying to pry information out of him, hoping to learn about Seventeen’s current state.】

【”Lord Seventeen…” some of them would mutter, their eyes welling up with tears. Fa Ning stood off to the side, feeling helpless. He had really intended to keep the truth from them—they were still so fragile.】

【”Why would Lord Seventeen change his name to Yuan?” someone murmured.】

【”I’m not really sure,” Fa Ning replied. “But… I think it came up once when we met again. He said it casually.”】

【”Whoa…” A group of little demons surrounded Fa Ning, staring at him with awe. Fa Ning felt his face heat up, a bit embarrassed, though he didn’t show it.】

【He hadn’t expected this kind of attention—he just wanted to share a few stories.】

【Their curiosity was natural. They were obsessed with Yuan and eager for every scrap of information. Because Fa Ning had once been Yuan’s student, they revered him too—adoring the master and all who followed.】

【Fa Ning had now fully realized just how deep the little demons’ admiration for Seventeen ran.】

【He found himself remembering his own childhood. Back then, his sect often told stories about legendary Taoists. As a kid, he was the pitiful one—his favorite pastime was listening to those tales.】

【The heroes in those stories had been his childhood idols.】

【To these young demons, Yuan was likely the same kind of figure.】

【But… Yuan now seemed to carry a certain worry.】

【Fa Ning chuckled self-deprecatingly. These days, it seemed like he was the only person still close to Yuan. Everyone else… they’d all either left or passed on. Yuan’s fate was simply too cruel.】

【But perhaps the time they’d spent together had left a deep impression. Fa Ning still remembered that red-clad man, sitting quietly and reading.】

【He still thought of Yuan—】

【He looked down at the children and suddenly said, “You know, Yuan…”】

【”What are you doing?” Changsheng suddenly stepped through the door. He reeked of demon scent now, which Fa Ning found strangely amusing—he knew how awkward this kind of work must be for someone like Changsheng.】

【”Nothing—just telling a story,” Fa Ning said.】

【”About what? I want to hear too.”】

【”Uh… I was saying, Yuan’s actually just a regular guy. I lived with him for a while. He seemed…”】

Fa Ning hadn’t even finished his sentence before someone shoved him hard from behind. He turned to see Changsheng winking exaggeratedly at him.

What? Fa Ning blinked, confused.

“You… don’t say stuff like that to kids. They won’t get it,” Changsheng said gently.

Fa Ning looked back and saw the group of young demons staring at him with strange expressions.

…Uh-oh. That was the “shattered ideal” look. He remembered having the exact same expression when he’d learned his sect master had once lost to a demon.

Cold sweat broke out on Fa Ning’s forehead. Yeah… maybe this topic wasn’t a good idea after all. They probably didn’t understand anyway.

He quickly changed tack. “Yuan… Yuan is incredible! He taught me everything I know about trickery. All those illusions—I learned them from him. I even improved some of his techniques!”

“Lord Yuan is that amazing!” The kids immediately lit up again, chattering excitedly.

“I know trickery too!”

“Me too!”

“I’m great at illusions!”

Seeing their enthusiasm return, Fa Ning finally relaxed.

Back in the tavern, Yuan Yuanyuan thought Fa Ning had set up way too many flags in this chapter. Like when he told those kids that Yuan had always seemed like an ordinary man when he wore red and read quietly…

On the surface, it didn’t sound like much. But in truth, it was a pretty sincere compliment. Given that the war had escalated to a battle for power, whether it was Fa Ning or the Li family head, they were all playing the same game.

But Yuan… Yuan was different. Quietly reading? That kind of aimless, chill vibe was the opposite of ambition. In Fa Ning’s eyes, that was probably a high compliment—especially in a world where no one sat still anymore.

But still… still…

Yuan Yuanyuan collapsed onto the table, face full of despair.

Fa Ning… poor Ning… what are you going to do when you meet her on the battlefield later? Will you end up swallowing your words?

Because at this rate, it was certain—Yuan Yuanyuan would go to war. And she would fight Fa Ning.

Poor disciple…

That flag was waving so high now. Yuan Yuanyuan already knew she’d do something awful later. Looking back on this moment would be the perfect “face slap” scene.

Still, she had to admit—Fa Ning really did understand her. She had always been a slacker with no real ambitions. Her favorite activity was zoning out in a corner, reading a book.

She didn’t know why, but her heart felt… warm. Even when the entire world mistook her for Seventeen, there was still one person who had seen past her bland exterior to her lazy, laid-back soul.

Humans always needed a bit of self-validation. And Fa Ning was very, very good at giving Yuan Yuanyuan that sense of self-worth.

Staring at the manga page, Yuan Yuanyuan smiled faintly. Since you think of me that way… I definitely won’t let you down.

But when that time comes… will Fa Ning still believe in her?

That, she wasn’t so sure about. She used to think she didn’t care. But now, thinking about it, her heart ached just a little.

Let’s hope we really are connected at heart, my disciple. Yuan Yuanyuan thought.

Just like that time in the clothing store when they could both guess which snacks Tang Shi had bought that night.