Little Pink Starfish

The comic had clearly reached its final chapter. Before reading today’s issue, Gao Ling was in a weird mood.

Her head was filled with all sorts of thoughts. The comic had reached this point, reality had also changed this much—she had no idea how much longer things could be sustained. At this point, she didn’t even enjoy reading novels or comics anymore. She was practically guzzling Coke just to numb herself.

She knew this wasn’t a long-term solution. Still, Gao Ling felt she was holding up okay. She even started thinking—maybe she should go travel abroad soon… but her parents didn’t want to go. They still had to work. Gao Ling even argued with them over this, but it didn’t help.

Besides her parents, she had lots of relatives and friends. After asking around, some people said they wanted to leave, others didn’t. Gao Ling nearly declared she’d go alone with her own money—only to get scolded again by her mom when she overheard it.

Her parents, her relatives, her friends—none of them wanted to go. And suddenly, Gao Ling felt… zen. If no one was going, why bother running?

No wonder, she thought, that in apocalypse movies, so many people chose to stay and die with their families rather than run. That must be how she was feeling now.

Let it be. She wasn’t going anywhere.

Besides, it didn’t seem like demons abroad were any more peaceful. The first war between humans and demons had coincided with World War I, and the second time was with World War II. Even if the secular and spiritual worlds seemed separate, they were closely connected. Back then, not just domestic demons fought—foreign ones were involved too. If war really broke out, it would only be a matter of time before everything was dragged in. Gao Ling didn’t think she had the financial means to survive till the end.

Though she hadn’t touched comics or novels in days, Demon Chronicles was the one thing she still couldn’t skip. Thinking about it, Gao Ling suddenly gained new respect for Ji Qiu. Look at that consistency—how reliable. No need for fake reviews or marketing schemes. Just pure, forced reading. You had to read it. Miss a chapter, and who knows—you might die the next day, not even knowing why.

As a fellow comic artist, Gao Ling couldn’t help but feel like a total loser in comparison. Ji Qiu was like a towering mountain none of them could climb.

Then she suddenly remembered an old interview with Ji Qiu. The host had asked, “Why did you create this comic?” and Ji Qiu had answered nonchalantly, “I just wanted to make the number-one best-selling comic in the world.” And back then, Gao Ling had screamed internally, What the hell kind of reason is that?!

Just wanted to create the world’s best-selling comic, so he did it. If that counts as a reason, it’s got to be one of the most willful reasons ever uttered.

She opened the comic and looked at the cover. It was… an odd one.

Usually, the covers featured a single character. But this time, it was just a black background, with two bold, stylized characters written across it:

——【The End】

“What the hell? What kind of title is that? Reeks of Japanese edginess,” muttered Yuan Yuanyuan upon seeing it. But Gao Ling had a different reaction. She froze. Wait—The End?

Nothing had happened in the real world yet! She hadn’t seen any real changes!

Gao Ling was stunned. Based on how things were going, she thought that if this were truly the end, reality would’ve gone through some massive upheaval too. She had even mentally prepared herself for the whole world to realize the comic was based on a true story—imagining everyone staring up at the sky as battles erupted above, then down at the comic in their hands, utterly baffled, wondering if they’d somehow time-traveled… It would’ve been amazing. If she lived to see it.

But now, after all her worrying, she opened the comic—and it was just… over.

The End—that meant… everything was finished?

So suddenly?

Not that she didn’t want it to end. But she’d already braced herself for a storm—and what she got instead was… something surprisingly gentle.

She flipped open the comic and started reading what this “ending” actually contained.

…

【“Actually, there’s another way.” Yuan said. Before Fan Ning could react, he suddenly stepped forward, and the long dagger pierced him.】

【The blood flowed immediately. In that moment, Fan Ning hadn’t even registered what had happened.】

【The same smiling expression from before—Yuan had once used it to taunt him. Now, it remained on his face.】

【“…Sorry.”】

【The surrounding demons froze, their eyes shining with mixed emotions.】

【The world around them looked like a paused black-and-white painting.】

【Everyone fell silent, like someone had dumped a bucket of ice water on them.】

Gao Ling knocked over her water cup.

Something was ringing in her head, but she couldn’t tell what she’d just seen.

Still, mechanically, she kept reading.

…

【“Don’t move. You want the people below to see?”】

…

【“Just lower me down. Help me finish this performance.”】

…

【“This is the simplest method I could come up with after thinking about it for a long, long time. Can you think of anything better?”】

…

【“Now, let’s finish the act. Go back to your people—and throw me down.”】

【“Throw… you down?”】

【“Yes. Throw me down.”】

…

After finishing, Gao Ling wandered over to the window in a daze. She pulled open the curtains and looked outside.

Cars flowed in the streets. The sky above was clear and blue—a color she hadn’t seen in what felt like ages.

And suddenly, tears fell from her eyes. They came faster and faster, until she was sobbing so hard that an old man downstairs looked up in concern.

“What’s with that girl?” the old man said, “Crying that hard… she must’ve had her heart broken.”

…

【That ending? Holy crap, I did not see that coming. This is the first time a chapter of this comic actually shocked me. Even when Yuan faked his death before, I wasn’t this freaked out. Damn—how did they even come up with this? Mad respect.】

【What the hell happened while I was at school?! Yuan became the leader of the demons? Then suddenly turned on Fan Ning? Then died?? Ji Qiu, you bastard! I’m not done with you!】

【That ending was so unexpected. I really thought Yuan would start a war with the humans. He might’ve been Fan Ning’s master, but he was still a demon… never expected this.】

【No way he actually died. Just like that? Dead? That’s how he went out? A genius like him—dead because of this??】

The online forums exploded with reactions.

Someone had once said Demon Chronicles was a domestic masterpiece, but now it seemed… that might’ve been premature.

As of today, Demon Chronicles became a true masterpiece.

It had everything a legendary manga should have: an epic setting, a righteous and passionate protagonist, countless memorable side characters, and a final, tragic twist that no one saw coming.

—As of now, it could officially be called a legendary work.

Many readers broke out in goosebumps while reading this issue. That feeling—it was like being electrocuted. Scalp tingling, spine prickling.

They watched as Yuan collapsed in a pool of blood, and for the first time, felt something they’d never felt before.

—So this is how Yuan’s story ends.

Tragedy always strikes deepest. And this one—hit like a thunderclap.

Humans and demons alike were stunned. They’d seen all the dialogue in the comic. While some humans had known the truth, they’d tried to keep it quiet, hoping it wouldn’t be drawn. If it wasn’t, humanity would claim a perfect victory. Fan Ning didn’t object. In fact, for the past few days, he’d been in a withdrawn, nearly catatonic state. When spoken to, he barely responded. He still ate—mechanically, like he was forcing himself.

Both demons and humans had assumed Yuan lost to Fan Ning. But now… the truth was out. Yet the human authorities stayed silent, still insisting Fan Ning had killed Yuan in combat. The demons, meanwhile, said nothing. A deep, wordless silence.

“That’s why I call it The Human Observation Diary,” said Yuan Yuanyuan. “Though maybe we should add Demon Observation Diary now too.”

“Why’s that?” came a familiar, lazy voice over the phone. It was Fat Cat. Yesterday, he’d suddenly called Yuan, saying he’d be visiting soon. Yuan had been both surprised and delighted—finally, retirement with a cat.

“Remember that time when Yuan’s spy identity was exposed, but the demons still pretended they hadn’t read Demon Chronicles? They even refused to acknowledge it existed?”

“This is the same thing. The humans are pretending they didn’t see anything. And the demons… even knowing Yuan wasn’t truly defeated, they still feel resentment.”

“You’re pretty sharp,” Fat Cat said on the other end. “Didn’t expect that from you. We should’ve recruited you into our tavern’s organization. What a waste of talent.”

“Ah—speaking of the tavern,” Yuan Yuanyuan suddenly lit up. “They reopened yesterday! That means I have money again! I can finally buy you some fish snacks!”

“…What?”

After hanging up, Yuan lay on the sofa, thinking about what she’d just said.

“Maybe they still resent him…”

Damn. She’d just depressed herself with her own words.

Luckily, she had a good disciple. Rumor had it her student recently negotiated with the humans, and their school—Tang Shi’s alma mater—was getting an expansion.

Apparently, they were planning to add a few mixed human-demon classes, maybe even bring in some demon teachers. Quietly promoting mutual understanding between the two sides. Because honestly, demon education right now was… a mess.

Maybe there was hope for the next generation… Hahaha. Humans and demons were the same—they both wanted their kids to grow up strong and successful. But hey, that’s just how things develop, right?

What comes next… well, we’ll see. Nothing ever goes perfectly. Yuan Yuanyuan was more laid-back these days. Who knows what the world outside will look like when she wakes up tomorrow?

She rolled over on the couch. For now, Fan Ning was doing a pretty good job. But if one day he screws up—

Haha. Then maybe she, Yuan, will just have to come back from the dead. Again.