Little Pink Starfish

Demon Chronicles updated again this time, and the cover was especially spectacular.

It was a procession of “Night Parade of a Hundred Demons” that looked as if it could crush the entire city beneath it. Readers were full of praise for Ji Qiu’s drawing skills, saying they’d reached a whole new level. But no one really thought about what it would be like if this kind of thing actually happened in real life—what sort of emotions people would feel then.

It would be terrifying. Deeply unsettling.

Gao Ling was certainly feeling unsettled. Maybe the shock was too much, because now she’d started to feel a kind of Zen detachment.

The electricity finally came back on after two days. During that time, everyone was full of complaints. If it had only been out for a day, it might not have been such a big deal, but two days in a row already counted as a major incident. The moment the power was restored, Gao Ling saw the incident shoot to the trending searches—but it was suppressed quickly. Very quickly…

But in the information age, how can there really be that many secrets? So people began to curse the power plant like crazy. Over the past few days, Gao Ling had watched the power plant take the blame for countless problems caused by the demons. They were shouldering so much of it that she actually started to feel a little sorry for them…

Well… fine. It’s still better for the power plant to take the blame than for the truth to be revealed. The only question is—how long can they keep taking it?

After two days of blackout in City C, the power went out in the neighboring city. Gao Ling had watched with her own eyes as that massive procession flew toward the neighboring city. The next day, she couldn’t get in touch with her friends there. No one knew how far this procession was going to fly.

Gao Ling hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in days. Every time she closed her eyes, she’d be seized by terror, wondering if a horde of demons would suddenly burst in and drag her off her bed to kill her.

That kind of fear—when death feels imminent—isn’t something one person can just control or suppress.

If, before, she could still stay safely in her room, now she could truly feel a suffocating dread. Because this was something that had everything to do with her.

If things continued like this, Gao Ling felt she might need to get checked for depression—or at least get some sleeping pills to force herself to rest.

Who knew how many people were like her these past few days—immersed in fear, tossing and turning in bed—while the majority of people remained blissfully unaware, still able to sleep soundly and comfortably through the night.

Is that a kind of blessing?

Gao Ling looked at her parents… maybe it really was a kind of blessing. But she didn’t want that. If she was going to die, she wanted to die knowing why.

…

Yuan Yuanyuan wore her usual fur coat… no, fur jacket, walking right at the front. The wind high up in the sky was bitterly cold. The outfit wasn’t just for show—it was also for warmth. But once she put it on, Yuan Yuanyuan felt like she was roasting alive. The people around her were shivering like grandkids in comparison.

She walked forward a few steps, with two rows of people following behind. It looked quite imposing.

Halfway forward, she saw someone blocking the way ahead.

“Why are you back again?” Yuan Yuanyuan asked. “Wasn’t the last lesson enough?”

“I let sentiment get in the way last time,” Fan Ning replied. “But this time, I may not be so soft.”

He wasn’t lying.

Behind Yuan Yuanyuan were countless troops, and behind Fan Ning there was also a large, shadowy crowd.

Though in numbers it looked like the demons had the advantage, modern humans didn’t fight wars by just throwing people at each other… In fact, seeing that comparatively small number made Yuan Yuanyuan truly realize that Fan Ning must be here today with a deadly serious intent.

There was probably a missile somewhere, already locked on to them—ready to take out not only the demons but the entire human population of the city below.

Yuan Yuanyuan laughed when she heard that line.

Disciple! So good! Good job!

She had waited so long for this day!

Yuan Yuanyuan’s heart was welling up with tears, but on the outside, she was grinning like a boss. To outsiders, she looked like a total badass, with a wild, cocky smile on her face as she stared at Fan Ning with a “What can you even do to me?” kind of look.

…Actually, this was the worst possible time for her to smile. As soon as she did, the other side would overthink it. But she couldn’t help it. Everything she did now was under close scrutiny.

Fan Ning looked at her with an icy gaze. This was the first time his expression had ever been this cold. Even back when Yuan Yuanyuan was undercover, before her identity was exposed, Fan Ning hadn’t looked at her like this. There was probably some hatred mixed in now.

Yuan Yuanyuan knew full well what she’d done these days. She’d basically forced Fan Ning onto a path of no return. It wasn’t ideal for the demons to declare war first, especially since the treaty from the last war was still in effect—and the divine punishment hadn’t disappeared. No one knew what would happen if the demons were the ones to break the rules first.

But if it was the humans who struck first, it was different. They hadn’t left behind any binding treaties last time. So even if they triggered divine punishment, there might not be any direct consequence for them.

Yuan Yuanyuan was definitely trying to force Fan Ning to make the first move. If he did, this place would instantly become a sea of blood.

Fan Ning knew that too. One way or another, there would be no survivors. If they were going to start fighting, they had to sacrifice someone first, right? Just picking a single city would already be lucky…

There was no way back from this.

By showcasing the power of the demon side, Yuan Yuanyuan’s message was: “Even if I lose, I’ll drag you down with me.”

Don’t want to fight? Fine. Then let’s go back to how it used to be.

And honestly, it wasn’t even that long ago. Just a few hundred years… even just a few decades? Back when people were poor, many couldn’t afford to use electricity. But now it was different—not that they couldn’t afford it, but the source was completely cut off.

War really does cut at the root. Think about it—Battle of Guandu? They just burned some supplies. Battle of Red Cliffs? Borrowed some wind… Yuan Yuanyuan hadn’t expected the human side’s lifeline to be so easy to seize. Even though humans could fight demons, both sides could easily strangle each other’s weaknesses.

Is that fortunate? Or unfortunate?

Human society had developed so far, but once the internet was gone, it was like they’d had their wings broken. If their power systems didn’t change, they’d always be vulnerable.

From ancient times to now, demons and humans had always been in a complicated standoff. For every trick, there was a counter-trick. Neither side ever backed down, and neither could truly defeat the other.

Yuan Yuanyuan found it a bit ridiculous that someone like her could play strategist among a bunch of demons… Honestly, she just had compulsory education, knew how to use the internet and a phone, and somehow that made her Zhuge Liang? Pathetic. It really showed how closed-off the demon world was. If they didn’t change soon, they’d always be under the humans’ thumb.

Standing between the humans and the demons, Yuan Yuanyuan looked at the differences on both sides and found it a little funny—like watching two weaklings peck at each other… though of course, it wasn’t just that simple. There had been other demons who realized this before—like Yuan Yingli, and Fat Cat. You can’t say they didn’t understand what was going on. Those demons were better at the internet than humans.

—But demons had something in their blood. A natural inclination to submit to strength.

In other words, Yuan Yingli and Fat Cat weren’t “great demons.” Even if they spoke out, no other demons would listen. At most, the little demons under them might. Right now, the one who was the “great demon” was Yuan Yuanyuan.

They were all listening to her now.

They had pushed Yuan Yuanyuan into her current position under the guise of another identity—Yuan. Yuan had become something of a legend. Her legendary experiences added a mysterious aura, making her seem invincible.

Over the past century, Yuan had the most legendary rise. And nothing excites demons more than legends—they were born to follow the strong.

You could say Yuan’s rise was fate, timing, and opportunity all lining up.

Fan Ning looked at Yuan Yuanyuan and slowly drew his dagger. Yuan Yuanyuan looked at him calmly and smiled. “Have you really decided to go through with this? Look at your feet. Think carefully before you answer.”

She saw that Fan Ning’s hands were trembling.

It seemed their mutual understanding was really lacking… Fan Ning hadn’t picked up on her meaning at all. But Yuan Yuanyuan figured that was already good enough. Honestly, who could think that clearly at a time like this? Who would dare to think so much?

You think the general across from you on the battlefield is just joking around with you? What a joke.

Yuan Yuanyuan said, casually, “Still, in this situation—even if you don’t want to go through with it, I’m afraid you won’t have a choice. Has anyone ever told you how this ends?”

“You’re forcing me,” Fan Ning said.

“Yes,” Yuan Yuanyuan smiled and nodded at him.

“You’re forcing me.”

Fan Ning seemed overwhelmed—he said the same line twice. Yuan Yuanyuan watched him, and slowly drew her own dagger.

“Are you their great demon now?” Fan Ning asked, “They all listen to you?”

“That’s right,” Yuan Yuanyuan said slowly. “They all listen to me now. Because I killed the last King of a Hundred Demons.”

“Heh.” Fan Ning let out a short, unreadable laugh. Yuan Yuanyuan heard him say, “I really don’t understand you all… your way of life, the way you think—so different from ours.”

“Demons are just like this,” Yuan Yuanyuan knew he was referring to the demons’ innate obedience to the strong. And though she wholeheartedly agreed, she still couldn’t resist a bit of verbal defiance.

“They made you their leader?” Fan Ning approached her, observing her for weak points. “They’ve been suppressed for a long time… You were their breaking point? They put you on a pedestal, and now the whole demon world is following your lead.”

“Oh? No need to make it sound so unpleasant. I’m just helping the demons take back what was once theirs,” Yuan Yuanyuan said, also watching Fan Ning for any signs of weakness.

Fan Ning murmured, “I’ve thought about this for a long time, but still couldn’t come up with any solution. If I had a choice, I really wouldn’t want to start this war…”

“I think so too,” Yuan Yuanyuan replied. “The conflict between humans and demons has lasted this long—it’s already at a breaking point. Aside from war, I can’t think of any other way to end it.”

He looked at Yuan Yuanyuan, and the demons behind her looked eager to move. Yuan Yuanyuan smiled. “No need to be so tense. We haven’t seen each other in so long—how about a good old-fashioned spar between master and disciple?”

“Zoom in,” said someone from a live broadcast of the situation. A group of people stared at the screen showing Yuan’s face.

It was a massive, terrifying screen—something that would’ve looked ridiculous in a TV drama. But here it was, in reality. On screen was a close-up of Yuan’s face.

Countless people gathered in front of that screen, every one of them tense. These weren’t ordinary folks. With just one word from them, the city below might be completely wiped out.

“I know,” Fan Ning whispered. “Let me see just what the hell you’re up to.”