Chapter 34
In a lavish suite atop S City’s central hotel, Shao Mian, recently logged out of “Demon World,” sat in his opulent study, reviewing documents, his golden lion tail swishing across the burgundy carpet, a sign of deep thought.
His secretary, Ser, entered, placing more files on the desk, his gaze briefly falling on a screenshot Shao Mian was holding: a small, white fluffball sitting in the grass, its wide eyes looking at the camera. Even in a still image, it conveyed a sense of delicate cleanliness, carefully perched on a small rock to avoid dirtying its fur. The background looked like “Demon World,” but how could such a pristine creature survive there? White fur was a liability in the forest, unless it belonged to an incredibly powerful demon.
“Have you seen this creature before?” Shao Mian asked, showing Ser the screenshot.
Ser, a demon whose true form was a “Messenger of the Abyss,” a black raven, possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of “Demon World,” his lineage serving as messengers to the Demon Kings since ancient times.
But even he, after studying the image, couldn’t identify it. “It resembles a young Luna Clan cub, but the white fur is unusual. They prefer the shadows. White fur is impractical…” Yet, the cub was undeniably beautiful, drawing him in.
“Perhaps a mutation?” he suggested cautiously.
“It’s the human from ‘Demon World,'” Shao Mian revealed, surprising Ser.
“The one living in your territory?” Ser asked, his initial suspicion resurfacing. He had been wary of the human’s presence, suspecting a virus from the Human Bureau. But Shao Mian had been unconcerned, even appearing in the human’s livestream and accepting grilled lamb from him.
“I’ve always found his presence unusual. I don’t understand why ‘Demon World’ placed him in your territory,” Ser said, finding the location strategically convenient, considering Shao Mian’s laissez-faire attitude. As long as Shao Mian allowed it, no other demon would dare harm the human.
After Ser left, Shao Mian questioned “Demon World” directly. He had been too preoccupied before, but last night’s events had made him suspicious. Snowball had wanted to sleep with A-Ran, so he had nudged Sootball awake and placed it beside Snowball, ensuring neither cub could cuddle with A-Ran. Fair and square. He then realized he could have simply used his tail to move them. But his tail had hesitated, and he had let the small, white fluffball sleep in his mane all night. It was light and almost weightless, but he could still feel its presence. It had slept soundly, barely moving, making him wonder if its human form also slept peacefully.
“Demon World’s” reply was surprisingly straightforward:
[Because he’s still human. He can’t be placed in a dangerous area initially.]
Shao Mian felt like his tail had been stepped on. Wasn’t his territory the most dangerous place?! If not for the human’s audacity in bandaging his wound, he would have eaten him!
Before he could protest, “Demon World” answered his next question, diverting his attention:
[His transformation into a cub is due to magic depletion. He’s vulnerable in this state and could even die.] As he suspected, the tiredness and shrinking were related to magic exhaustion. A human with awakened magic wouldn’t have much to spare. But death?
[Yes. If an NPC dies, they disappear from all dimensions.]
Shao Mian’s claws tapped the table. He thought of Abyss, the flame sprite he had sent to the Continent S barrier. Newly awakened, it was practically a cub. If it formed a bond with the human, it could provide him with magic. He didn’t consider Abyss’s opinion on the matter. He would simply force it upon him.
Meanwhile, a film crew, after scouting several locations, chose Jiangjia Village for their next project, paying a fee and cordoning off several areas.
“It’s a big production! Those whose houses were chosen even signed confidentiality agreements!”
“I wonder which celebrities are coming. Do they look better in person?”
“Secretary Gu said it’s good for the village. If the film is successful, it’ll attract tourists…” The villagers, busy packing and shipping produce, discussed the exciting news.
“Lin-zai, aren’t you curious about the celebrities?” Jiang Jie asked, seeing him engrossed in calculations.
“It’s not like we can just meet them. A-Jie, get ready; we need to go see Secretary Gu about the contracts,” Lin Ran said, not interested in celebrities.
“Okay!” Jiang Jie said, feeling a pang of sadness. Summer was ending, and he wouldn’t be able to see Lin-zai every day.
At the village committee office, Secretary Gu asked them to deliver some items to the film crew.
“We can do it! We’re passing by Aunt Huang’s house anyway!” Jiang Jie volunteered eagerly.
Secretary Gu, seeing through his eagerness to see the film crew, said, “Lin Ran, are you busy? I can find someone else.”
“It’s fine, I’m free. And the tricycle is outside,” Lin Ran said, always willing to help. Secretary Gu had been taking care of his grandparents while he was away.
“Oh, delivering props? Thanks! I thought you were actors, haha,” the crew member said, his eyes lighting up as he saw Lin Ran, then explaining himself after learning they were from the village committee. “Follow me. Don’t touch anything.”
“Do you need extras? I’d love to act,” Jiang Jie said, looking around curiously at the equipment.
“Are you college students on vacation?” the crew member asked, still glancing at Lin Ran.
“Yes! And Lin-zai would be a perfect extra!” Jiang Jie said, remembering Secretary Gu’s words about the film boosting tourism and thinking Lin Ran’s appearance could boost their livestream sales, though he hadn’t seen any celebrities selling produce online.
“A-Jie!” Lin Ran protested, embarrassed.
The crew member chuckled. “You two are quite charming. I’ll let you know if there are any roles. But filming isn’t always glamorous. I’m Liu Weng Gang, the assistant director,” he said, handing them his card.
Jiang Jie was stunned. Assistant director?!
“You’re the assistant director?! That’s amazing! I was just joking…”
Liu Weng Gang laughed. “Just an assistant. I can only recommend, not decide.” He found the young man amusing.
Just then, a group of people entered, and Liu Weng Gang said, “The actors are here. Could you two leave through the side exit?”
Lin Ran glanced at the group, noticing a small figure in the center, even with a mask, its aura distinct, seemingly unhappy, or perhaps simply used to being surrounded.
They quickly left, guided by a less friendly staff member who seemed worried they would ask for autographs.
“An Xun, today’s…” An Xun, listening to his manager, suddenly stopped, looking towards a corner, as if recognizing someone. But the person was gone.
“An Xun!? What’s wrong?” his manager asked, alarmed, grabbing his hand, fearing another disappearance. The crew members looked around curiously, but there was no one there.
“Nothing. I thought I saw someone,” An Xun said quietly.
“Did you stay up late playing games again?” the manager asked, and An Xun, his senses dulled, felt a pang of longing for “Demon World.” He had imagined A-Ran appearing in real life.
Back home, Lin Ran decided to go to the city.
“Shopping?” Jiang Jie asked.
“Taking Xiao Mi to get neutered,” he said. Xiao Mi was one of the village cats, often visiting with Ah Huang.
“I’ll pay half! I have a salary now!” Jiang Jie offered.
At the veterinary clinic, while waiting for Xiao Mi’s surgery, Lin Ran asked the vet about hearing problems in animals.
“You said your cat, Snowball, has difficulty hearing in one ear?” Dr. Tao Ran asked.
“It depends on whether it’s congenital or acquired. Blue-eyed white cats can have genetic defects affecting their inner ear…”
Lin Ran frowned. He couldn’t exactly say Snowball was a snow leopard.
“But it’s only one ear, and it can still understand me. Isn’t that more likely to be acquired?” he asked.
“I need to examine it to be sure,” Dr. Tao said. “If it’s not severe, we can try auditory rehabilitation training, using different sounds to improve its sensitivity.”
Auditory rehabilitation training? Could he try that with Snowball?
Back in “Demon World,” he was back in his human form, though the brooch was still recharging. He found Snowball asleep in its basket and gently stroked its ear, admiring its beauty. It was sleeping on its tail, like a plush toy.
“Mew…?” It woke up, its blue eyes fixed on him.
“You’re so clingy today,” he chuckled, picking it up, noticing its tail wrapped around his wrist.
An Xun had logged in during his break, happy to see A-Ran.
Lin Ran, holding the cub, decided to examine its ear.
“Mew…” Snowball’s injured ear was sensitive, any touch triggering a defensive reaction, except from Lin Ran.
“You tense up when I touch this ear. It hasn’t healed properly since the injury, has it? You can’t hear well sometimes, right?” he asked gently.
An Xun: ! He hadn’t expected Lin Ran to notice. He didn’t want to be seen as flawed. He was grateful it was just one ear. His parents had warned him not to let anyone on set notice. He thought he could hide it with good acting.
“Sometimes, your ears react differently to sounds. But it’s okay. It’s just better to get it treated…” Lin Ran said, thinking Snowball was distressed, and gently stroked its back.
Snowball, however, just stared at him, surprised he had been noticed. No one else, besides his parents and the doctor, had noticed. Hiding his hearing impairment felt like a game of hide-and-seek. His parents had told him not to be found, so he had hidden diligently, until someone found him and hugged him.
“Mew!” He nuzzled against Lin Ran, his ear being gently stroked, his face warm, feeling no urge to resist.
[Beep—Affection level reached 80. Activated hidden quest: Whispers of the Snow Mountain!]
So, Snowball’s ear could be healed? Lin Ran looked at the unresisting cub, delighted.
“Mew…!” Snowball, embarrassed, tried to hide its face against him.
But the quest wasn’t as simple as Sootball’s wing training, which had progressed naturally. How could he help Snowball’s ear? Expose it to various sounds to stimulate its hearing?
Just then, the conch shell on his desk emitted a soft, echoing sound.
“The conch from Atylanthos?” It was like a phone call. So, they could contact him too. He wondered who it was, probably Atylanthos. That tsundere merman, calling him so soon?
Ossi, having made sure his brother was busy with guests, had snuck into “Demon World” and found the conch shell in Atylanthos’s study. His brother had forbidden him from using it, but he missed A-Ran.
“Ah…!” His soft voice echoed from the shell.
“Ossi? Did you take the conch? Is Atylanthos there?” Lin Ran asked, surprised it wasn’t Atylanthos.
Ossi’s voice, slightly unclear, explained the situation. An Xun, his ears twitching, listened intently.
Lin Ran suddenly realized he had overlooked a clue. Mermaids’ songs were said to be magical, even healing. Could they help Snowball’s ear?
He listened to Ossi, realizing he had run away from home and was now at the beach, waiting for him, unable to reach his house without legs. His brother could transform, but he wouldn’t.
“…What do you mean? Ossi, if you’re at the beach, stay there. Don’t move,” he said, realizing Ossi had come looking for him.
“Snowball, let’s go find Ossi. Maybe he can help your ear.”
“Mew—!” Snowball eagerly followed.
“You little clingy thing, you’re so cute,” Lin Ran chuckled, petting Snowball, which was rubbing against his leg.
He hesitated, then took Ossi’s pearl, in case he missed it. He was so generous with his favorite toy.
A few minutes later, Ossi, playing in the water, saw a familiar figure and waved excitedly.
“A-A-Ran—!”
“You came here alone? Where’s Atylanthos?” Lin Ran asked, picking him up, seeing his brother wasn’t around. How could Atylanthos be so careless? He would be in trouble if their parents found out. And now, how could he contact him without the conch?
“A-Ran~” Ossi, unconcerned about his brother, nuzzled against Lin Ran, then, seeing the pearl, thought A-Ran didn’t like it and offered to take him to his underwater home to choose another one.
“Me? Go underwater?” Lin Ran asked, wondering if he could take Ossi back to his home. But he couldn’t swim, and neither could Snowball.
“Ah!” Ossi pushed the pearl into his hand and pulled him towards the water.
“Mew…?” Snowball, also nervous, watched as a miracle happened. Holding the “Song of the Sea God,” they could walk underwater!
Atylanthos, having just finished meeting with his guests, was informed by his nanny that Ossi was missing.
“Ossi is gone?” He remembered Ossi sneaking glances at the conch shell in his study.
Meanwhile, Lin Ran, led by Ossi, stared in shock at the magnificent underwater palace.
Atylanthos lived in this?! It was incredibly luxurious! O皿O#
