Chapter 4: Social Death

Chapter 4: Social Death

Wen Ying stared at his great-grandfather in shock, wondering if he was really his biological descendant.

The old woman chuckled and said, "Stop teasing him. Come on in."

Wen Dingjue nodded, patting Wen Ying's shoulder. "Let's go in. I can't stay in the demon realm for too long. This is your guardian, an old friend of mine."

"One you met a hundred years ago?" Wen Ying felt it was a bit unreliable. "Won't the relationship be distant after such a long time?"

"You ungrateful brat, I've known her for centuries," Wen Dingjue replied, dragging Wen Ying in like a little chick. The elderly woman with white hair seemed to have no trouble handling him.

Wen Ying was astonished by the duration of their acquaintance.

"Demons live much longer than humans," his great-grandfather explained.

Upon entering the castle, it was as Wen Ying had imagined – filled with all sorts of flowers and plants. The overall theme seemed to revolve around greenery, or perhaps, witchcraft? Wen Ying clung tightly to his great-grandfather's sleeve, not daring to let go.

This must be a witch's castle!

In the cozy green living room, a horrifying atmosphere began from its side. There were enormous carnivorous potted plants with bloody fangs, writhing demonic vines, peculiarly colored jars and bottles, and even a standing coffin that emitted mournful cries upon entering.

Wen Ying clung tightly to Wen Dingjue with one hand while hugging his doll with the other.

Alruda's eyes were perpetually filled with a kindly warmth. She emerged from a side chamber holding fruits, gazing at Wen Ying, who nodded politely in response.

"Like the three-headed dog?" Alruda asked with a smile, gesturing towards the doll in Wen Ying's arms.

Wen Ying nodded subconsciously.

"That young man had quite the looks," she said.

Wen Ying's mind momentarily failed to connect her comment to his answer.

Wen Dingjue explained, "Was that the Hellhound? I've never seen its appearance before. Is it a new birth within the last hundred years?"

"Hellhound?" Wen Ying repeated the words.

"Yes," Alruda placed the fruit in Wen Ying's hand. "If I were a few hundred years younger, I would have gone crazy over that three-headed puppy too."

A bolt of lightning struck Wen Ying's heart on a clear day; his left hand, holding the doll, trembled. No wonder that person had looked at him with such an odd gaze... It was utterly embarrassing.

"Handsome and possessing the strongest Three-Headed Dog talent in nearly a thousand years – he's a legend in the demon world," Aruda's tone turned suggestive. "Unfortunately, he's different from that Succubus youngster. There's never been any mention of him being interested in anyone. If you like him, not only will the competition be fierce, but the challenge will be immense..."

"No, no, Grandma, I don't like him!" Wen Ying hurriedly defended himself, feeling so awkward that he wished he could move to another planet.

Aruda's knowing expression made Wen Ying even more eager to change planets; the demon world was indeed uninhabitable for him.

"I didn't expect you to give birth to such an adorable child. Was he born in the demon world?"

Wen Dingjue stroked his snowy beard, shaking his head with a pleased air. "No, he was born in the mortal realm."

Aluda's eyes darkened instantly, and her gentle green gaze took on an eerie chill. Wen Ying was startled by this sudden change in atmosphere.

"That's a promising seedling."

Silently, Wen Ying shifted his buttocks towards the spot where his great-grandfather had been sitting.

"Have you still not given up?" Aluda returned to her original appearance, but Wen Ying had already etched her previous image into his mind. Demons were indeed demons - how perilous.

"I had given up hope, but now that this child has become a demon in the human world, I have regained my confidence," Wen Dingjue said. "I've heard that the Devil King plans to establish a school this year like humans do. I'll entrust my great-grandson to you. I can't stay here too long; otherwise, I'll absorb too much demonic aura, and those pesky exorcists with their sharp noses will come knocking."

Aluda agreed readily. "Sure, I've been rather bored lately. Without any descendants, I couldn't join in their conversations about that school."

Looking at Wen Ying, Aluda's expression was incredibly kind, as if she were doting on a beloved grandchild. Wen Ying, having witnessed her transformation, didn't dare treat her as an ordinary elderly person.

After settling matters, Wen Dingjue took out a scroll and prepared to leave. "Wen Ying, our clan can replicate a target's ability after seeing it once. The more we attempt to replicate it, the higher the chance of failure. After multiple replications, we need to witness the target using the skill again before we can replicate it anew. Remember that."

Thinking of something, he handed another scroll to Wen Ying. "This is a teleportation scroll I replicated during my prime. There's only a limited number left, so use it if you're truly in danger and need to return to the human world."

Wen Ying nodded, holding the life-saving scroll close with his doll. He still felt somewhat adopted, though.

Wen Dingjue left promptly, leaving Wen Ying behind. The latter awkwardly began, "Um..."

"Just call me Grandma Flower Demon," Aluda said, smiling. "It's been ages since I last raised a child. I miss it. It's my first time nurturing a well-behaved one. That old Mirror fellow didn't even give me a heads-up. I'll tidy up a room for you. Enjoy the fruit while you wait."

Wen Ying nodded.

"Don't be too formal. Treat this place as your own home," Aluda said cheerfully. "Lucifer Academy will open its doors tomorrow. There'll be an entrance exam, so get ready. I'll arrange your enrollment tonight."

Wen Ying cautiously inquired, "Is there a fighting component to the entrance exam?"

Aluda paused for a moment before soothingly replying, "I've heard that it's modeled after the exams in the Human Realm. You should be quite familiar with them."

Wen Ying felt a slight relief. It wasn't as terrible as he had imagined. The worst-case scenario would be scoring zero on the written test and returning to the Human Realm.

The next morning, Wen Ying followed Aluda out of the forest. To his surprise, beyond the primeval forest stood a bustling city.

Flapping his wings, Aluda introduced the city below, "In recent years, the Demon Realm has been learning from humans. Fighting and killing is uncivilized, so we need to develop. Otherwise, we'd always be ridiculed by humans as an uncultured race."

This city looked like a rendered scene from a popular game, but Wen Ying hesitated about mentioning it. He struggled to flap his wings, causing their flight path to waver.

As they flew over the city, Wen Ying noticed a magnificent structure shrouded in mist in the distance. Its towering clock tower was adorned with enigmatic beasts at each corner, and the metallic walls resembled those in the game's CG.

Upon arriving, Wen Ying observed many young men and women, all demons. Most of their tails were similar to his, but their wings came in various colors, and some had unique shapes.

Feeling the pressure, Wen Ying had hastily studied about the Demon Realm with Grandma Flower Spirit the previous night. He again doubted whether he was truly Wen Dingjue's biological son. Devil Mirrors had once been prosperous, but now they were merely at the bottom tier among high-ranking demons. Sometimes, they couldn't even defeat mid-ranking demons, becoming a laughingstock.

Despite belonging to such a demonic lineage, his great-grandfather wanted him to become the Devil King?

Wen Ying never had any aspirations to become the Devil King in the first place. After cramming the basics of the demonic world, he decisively abandoned the unrealistic fantasy of a poor student getting into top universities like Tsinghua and Peking.

It was more practical to first study his innate abilities. It could be seen as another form of gacha game. Since his phone lost signal in the demon realm, Wen Ying felt odd not drawing cards as soon as he woke up. He tried using his innate ability to draw a card, only to get the same repeat R-card Fireball from last night.

Now, he had two R-cards in hand.

Aluda gently stroked Wen Ying's head. "It doesn't matter if you fail; the important thing is to participate."

Next to them, a two-meter-tall muscular man was fiercely scolding his son, "If you don't get into Lucifer Academy, just wait and see what I'll do to you when we get back."

The young man glanced at Wen Ying with resentment. Wen Ying lifted the corners of his lips, looking innocent.

"Keep this cheat sheet," Aluda slipped a small notebook into Wen Ying's pocket. "These are all spells. You have magic power but don't know how to use it. This notebook can help you."

"Thank you, Grandma."

"Eh, no need to be formal..." Aluda suddenly realized something, her expression turning serious. "Don't call me Grandma, call me Great-Grandma. Otherwise, I'll be a generation shorter than Old Mirror for no reason."

Wen Ying: "Alright, Great-Grandma."

"Good boy." Aruda's smile crinkled his eyes into slits.

Surrounded by demons, some appeared gentle, others fierce, and there were those... whose attire left little to the imagination. Wen Ying caught a glimpse of a pink-haired demon with his clothes haphazardly worn, exuding a rather dissolute and... captivating aura.

It was difficult to describe how such an appearance on a male didn't seem out of place, especially on one whose physique contradicted his delicate appearance.

Though tall and not slender, he gave off an impression of fragility, as if boneless. His pink eyes held a tender gaze, combined with a lazy yet radiant catwalk-like strut. His hair reached around his shoulders, with a small ponytail tied at the back of his head.

When their eyes met, Wen Ying was momentarily stunned. The pink-haired demon flashed a grin and waved at him. Hesitantly, Wen Ying returned the gesture. Aruda patted his shoulder, saying, "That kid is a High-ranking Succubus. His race naturally exudes allure. Don't fall for it. He once had a new boyfriend or girlfriend every day."

The perpetually single Wen Ying was slightly shocked. He then turned his attention to another eye-catching figure, a merman. Most striking was his thick, gradient blue tail, several times the length of his upper body.

The scales on the tail shimmered in the light with an ethereal beauty. His long, deep blue hair resembled seaweed, while ear-like fins adorned his head. Under his blue eyes, there were small, glittering scales, and butterfly-like wings spread across his back.

The merman carried himself with haughty pride, his face as cold as ice, almost as if he dared anyone to approach.

"That's a Butterfly Mermaid. You two have something in common," Aruda chuckled.

Wen Ying's gaze was filled with doubt.

"He's an avid fan of Beloros."

"Grandma," Wen Ying sighed, speaking helplessly, "I don't like Beloros..."

A chill ran down his spine as he felt a tall shadow enveloping him. A bad premonition arose in his heart, and when he turned around, he saw a muscular chest wrapped in black clothing.

He slowly lifted his head and met a face without any expression, with scarlet eyes reflecting his own image.

...The ferocious aura emanating from this demon was enough to make one overlook his appearance.

"Isn't this Beloros?" Aruda seemed unaffected by Beloros' aura, speaking cheerfully as he patted Beloros on the shoulder. "Little Yin was just joking. Actually, he really likes you."

Wen Ying dug his toes into the ground, his emotions swinging between social death and actual death.

Beloros didn't say anything, only gazing at him for a few seconds before walking away.

Wen Ying spoke in a faint, dispirited voice, "Grandmama, I only have feelings for that doll, not the demonic beings from the Realm of Magic."

Aluda seemed to pay little heed, merely pushing up her golden monocle with a kindly smile.

Everyone was gathered in the grand square in front of the academy, where a colossal statue stood at its center – a black dragon.

"That's Lord Devil King. Currently, the Devil King is from the Black Dragon Clan," Aluda dutifully explained.

Just as Wen Ying was about to inquire more about the Devil King, a loud announcement interrupted.

"Commence the admission exams now, all of you be silent!"