Chapter 68: The Talkative One

Chapter 68: Chatterbox

Wen Ying subconsciously withdrew his hand.

Lan Jiaying left with a warning, "Just wait for me back at the academy. You'll definitely fall in this ranking tournament."

Before Wen Ying could say anything, Lan Jiaying rushed to find the Demon King. Wen Ying muttered to himself, "Why hasn't that guy learned his lesson about making flags?" It had happened too many times already.

Beros kept watching from the side. A robust and uninhibited demon standing next to him opened his mouth in confusion, "The rumors don't match reality, son. Does that Demon Mirror really like you?"

Beros: "..." Lennach's words stabbed at his heart again. He turned his head, looking at his father with an unhappy expression.

Lennach pretended not to notice and gazed at the white demon following Aruda, quite astonished, "He isn't afraid of Aruda. What kind of magical breed is he?"

Although Beros didn't tremble in fear like other demons around Aruda, he still held back and had some reservations. However, that child was very relaxed, the intimacy between their words and actions obvious to anyone with eyes.

"Is his strength really as formidable as the rumors suggest?" Lennach ignored Beros's silence and continued talking to himself, "Lucifer's first place in the ranking tournament is his. It seems Lan Jiaying hasn't defeated him yet. Son, can you not defeat him either? I doubt it."

Beros remained silent, his expression impatient.

Lennach was stunned and whispered in Berlos' ear, "Could it be that he doesn't like you, but you like him?!"

Berlos finally couldn't hold back any longer. He said through gritted teeth, "How could that be possible?!"

Some of the surrounding demons looked over. Berlos suppressed his anger and managed to speak in a normal tone, "Father, the ranking matches aren't life-or-death duels. As long as the opponent leaves the arena, they lose. Wen Ying's been able to maintain first place because of this. His racial innate magic is very suitable for ranking matches, so Lan Jiaying always falls for his tricks."

Lennach asked, "Have you challenged him in a ranking match before?"

Berlos flicked his tail tip. Lennach's question reminded him of the time at the beginning of school when Wen Ying had brazenly hooked his tail with his own. If not for that unexpected incident, he would have challenged him long ago. Later on, due to the seesaw battle between Wen Ying and Lan Jiaying, none of the other demons, including himself, had joined in. It was because it wasn't yet the end of the semester.

By the end of the semester, only the one who could hold onto first place until the end would receive a legitimate ticket to the Human Realm.

Even they were curious about the Human Realm, and the ranking matches at the end of the semester would be the most brutal.

"Yet you haven't?" Lennach was even more shocked. His son, who loved battles, hadn't challenged the top spot. Could it really be that he liked the other party, but the other party didn't quite feel the same way?

Berlos was furious with his father. His face was ashen, and he didn't particularly enjoy spending time with his father, who was a chatterbox. His father could talk from heaven to earth, making his head spin. Berlos feared he might lose control and resort to violence.

He wondered what kind of oddball Cerberus his father was. In their entire family, only he was a laid-back, non-aggressive three-headed dog. Some relatives privately speculated that his father might lack the typical ferocity of the Cerberus clan due to his overly simple-minded nature.

Why couldn't his father be as reserved as his mother? How had she endured this chatterbox all those years ago? Bellows didn't even want to spend more than half an hour with Lennach.

He began to walk away, and since his mother hadn't arrived yet, Bellows suspected she was intentionally avoiding more chatter.

Wen Ying had noticed the more sophisticated desserts prepared by Aruda. They were made from a variety of high-grade magical plants, resulting in delicate, compact pastries with a high concentration of magic. The colors of the pastries differed depending on the attributes of the magical plants used, allowing everyone to know which attributes were incorporated.

Along both sides of the grand hall stood long tables, already adorned with an array of exquisite cold dishes. There were also several massive stone tables displaying roasted whole beasts, but Wen Ying couldn't identify the specific magical creatures.

Aruda smiled as he offered one to Wen Ying, who promptly swallowed it in a single bite.

"How was it?"

Wen Ying nodded. "Absolutely delicious!" The dessert was soft and sweet, leaving a warm sensation throughout his body after consumption.

The Demon King walked up to the platform in the hall, with Lan Jiaying standing by his side. Wu Fei had somehow also arrived and stood behind the Demon King. It could only be said that the contrast between Wu Fei and Lan Jiaying was striking. One was full of vigor, proud, and confident, facing the numerous powerful demons below without any sign of unease. On the other hand, Wu Fei's nervousness was obvious to all demons with eyes.

The Demon King didn't deliver an intimidating speech. Instead, he chatted casually about everyday matters, discussing even the extremist party's topic in a neighborly manner, making it sound like, "Oh, did you hear? There were thieves in the neighboring village" "Is it serious? Should our village send out some guards for patrol?" "Yes, we're already organizing it. They say they want to root out the thief hideouts!"

Wen Ying's lips twitched several times. The Demon King on the platform was incredibly relaxed, lacking the intimidating aura he had imagined. Listening to him speak felt no different from attending a neighborhood association meeting.

The demons present seemed to be accustomed to this, with casual attitudes and sporadic conversations. If words didn't match, they would simply engage in combat right there. Wen Ying's lips twitched uncontrollably.

They were still quite civilized, not using their magic powers. Perhaps both demons were proponents of direct combat, locked in an intense battle that had the surrounding demons eagerly watching and discussing.

Wen Ying felt as if he was experiencing the ancient court scene where officials would start fighting at the slightest disagreement, a strange out-of-time sensation.

Aluda noticed Wen Ying's speechlessness and patted his shoulder, saying, "You'll get used to it. This happens once a year. There will be more fights later, this is just the appetizer. The main event is yet to come."

Wen Ying: "..." Now he understood why the Demon King's castle needed to be so spacious, and why this grand hall was chosen for the gathering instead of the smaller chambers more suitable for demonic gatherings.

This grand hall was too large for the number of demons present, appearing empty, but just right for their battles.

Sure enough, the Demon Realm always had new surprises in store for him when he thought he had fully assimilated into their world, surprises that were more shocking than delightful.

"Seeing this annual spectacle has grown old, it lacks novelty," Muershi suddenly approached. "But this is your first time, right? How do you feel?"

Wen Ying replied directly, "Their images have shattered in my mind, irreparably."

Essence chuckled, having arrived alongside Muershi. Since Wen Ying hadn't seen the cat-like demon beside him, he asked, "What about that demon from the bar?"

Essence chuckled lightly. "Are you asking about the bartender who caught your interest, or the little kitten sitting next to me?"

Wen Ying raised an eyebrow. "I haven't even settled the score with you for stirring up trouble at the bar."

Essence shrugged. "I was just helping, passing along the message, you know. As a succubus, my way of thinking tends to be rather ambiguous."

"Do other succubi know that you're putting down your own kind like this?"

As they spoke, Wen Ying noticed that a second round had begun over there, quickly spreading into a chaotic melee. Everyone wore masks, so he couldn't accurately gauge their emotions. But Wen Ying sensed that some of the demons were excited, not angry.

"Hopefully, it'll all end soon if we're lucky," Essence said, watching the scene unfold as if it were a spectacle. "If not, we might be here until late at night."

Wen Ying: "..." These demons had better stamina than ancient court officials.

He deliberately searched for Beros in the crowd, expecting him to join in, but found that Beros was standing among the uninvolved demons, looking uninterested.

Muershi stepped in front of Wen Ying, blocking his view. "Minors aren't allowed to participate."

So that was it.

Alruda, seeing their easy rapport, chuckled and said, "Little Ying, go have fun with them first. I'll go chat with some other old timers."

Wen Ying nodded.

After Alruda left, Muershi and Essence visibly relaxed. Muershi promptly looped his arm around Wen Ying's neck and whispered mysteriously, "Look, that's Beros' father, the one who seems eager to join in."

Following Muershi's indication, Wen Ying saw a towering demon wearing a mask. He couldn't tell if this demon resembled Beros at all.

Essence also leaned over, pointing at another female demon. "That's Beros' mother."

Wen Ying looked towards the demon Essence indicated. It was a highly enigmatic and aloof woman with long black hair that reached her hips. She wore a dark purple beast skin that resembled a formal dress, with a cloak-like shawl draped over it.

"Beros' mother is from the Demon Fairy Clan," Essence's voice softened as if she was afraid of disturbing something. "This race has the ability to foretell the future."

Wen Ying lingered on the female demon for a while longer. Suddenly, she turned her head, locking gazes with him. Startled, Wen Ying jumped. She had a nonchalant expression which disappeared after a few seconds.

He wasn't sure how she felt about him. She must have heard about his "feat" during the school opening ceremony. He wondered how she would feel knowing her son was being teased by a demon.

Muershi casually said, "She often goes out and travels around the demon realm. Maybe she's even been to your hometown... Where are you from originally?"

Just as Wen Ying was about to instinctively utter the name Mu City, she caught herself at the brink of speech and tersely swallowed the words back, exasperatedly saying, "You know full well I've forgotten much after that bout of high fever. Must you poke at my sore spot, reminding me of the heap of common knowledge I've lost?"

Muershi retracted his hand that was resting on Wen Ying's shoulder, wearing an innocent smile.

Wen Ying's heart grew wary; Muershi would not ask such a question without reason. The utterly nefarious bird, despite its seemingly erratic nature, possessed remarkable prowess in ferreting out information. Even the most casual exchange with it might conceal some ulterior motive. Muershi was precisely such a fiend.

Wen Ying stole a sidelong glance at Essence. From their earlier conversation, he surmised that the two of them shared a common objective: to inquire about his origins. A faint crease formed on his brow beneath his mask. What were they suspecting? Had he inadvertently revealed something about himself?

It shouldn't be, Wen Ying pondered meticulously over his recent interactions with the two demons. If they were suspicious, where might it have started?

Wen Ying pondered but couldn't find any suspicious points. Muershi and Essence didn't mention their hometown again, as if it was just a casual question from Muershi.

Wen Ying didn't want them to know that he had mixed human blood, grew up in the human world, and wasn't afraid of being devoured by demons now. The risk might be low, but he didn't want them to look at him like they were observing some exotic creature.

No one wanted to be treated like a monkey in a zoo for others' amusement.

The fight over there had been going on for a while. Wen Ying gradually calmed down and watched the spectacle, even snacking on some high-grade magical pastry made by Aruda, like popcorn.

After about an hour, the chaos finally ceased. It seemed that they all held back, not fighting to the death. The Devil King pretended to persuade them half-heartedly, and eventually settled some matters, such as extremist factions and taxes. The way they sealed the deal felt very lighthearted and casual, lacking any sense of seriousness, like children playing house.

After the decision was made, everyone began to truly enjoy the banquet, circulating around to seek out familiar demons for conversation. The castle staff brought out hot dishes one by one, placing them on the empty stone platforms.

dish after another, the last to arrive was a grand platter bearing a snow-white fish that seemed to be alive but had actually been prepared. The chef's skills were exceptional, arranging it to appear as if it were still breathing. Upon closer inspection, one would notice that the fish flesh had been sliced into thin, delicate slivers.

Beros, observing Wen Ying conversing with Essence and Muershi, couldn't tolerate his father's incessant chatter in his ear, which felt like knives piercing his heart. Heaving a deep breath, he approached Wen Ying directly.

Demons were curious creatures, even the powerful ones. As Beros made his way towards the Mirror Demon, all eyes, though subtly, shifted in their direction.

Beros' reputation for being solely interested in battle and strength had spread throughout the demon realm. Everyone was curious whether the rumors about his interest in the Mirror Demon held any truth.

"I'll leave you two alone," Essence chuckled softly, stepping aside. "I won't disturb."

Muershi also "voluntarily" excused himself.

Wen Ying was left standing alone, holding a demonic pastry in his left hand and a drink in his right. He could feel countless pairs of eyes on him; if they had physical form, the space would have been overcrowded.

Looking at Beros as he approached, Wen Ying almost told him not to come over. Fortunately, he held back, knowing that Beros might have reacted angrily otherwise.

"Why are you here?" Wen Ying asked casually.

"Bothered." Beros was succinct, walking over to Wen Ying's side and picking up a magical pastry from a table behind him.

Wen Ying: "?" If you're annoyed, why come over to me?

The Demon King approached Aluda, where a circle of high-ranking demons had gathered. They all couldn't help but pay attention to Wen Ying and Beros. Seeing this, the Demon King said straightforwardly, "It's tiring to sneak glances. You might as well look directly without worrying about each other."

"..."

After a moment of silence, the Mermaid King Cangyuan spoke, "Please don't make it seem like we're terribly nosy."

Feng Luo's expression was cold. "Your Highness the Demon King, please mind your image."

The Demon King sighed, looking at Feng Luo with an expression of disappointment. "You weren't like this when you were young. You were adorable, always seeking hugs from me. If I didn't give you one, you'd cry."

"Your Highness the Demon King!" Feng Luo gritted his teeth. "Those are ancient history! Everyone acted that way when they were young."

Upon hearing this, Lan Jiaying's eyes widened slightly as she looked at Feng Luo, her lips pressed together.

Both father and son were abnormal. Feng Luo, feeling down, saw the relatively normal Wu Fei and thought, At least there's still one who's somewhat normal.

"Alruda, I'm truly curious about that child's situation," said the Demon King's sister, Alruna. She appeared to be around the same age as Alruda, and one could still glimpse her stunning youthful beauty from her features.

Alruda replied calmly, "Quin Silver, he's just a conventional Magic Mirror Demon."

The leader of the Demon Fairy clan, Wuya, with an air of nonchalance, produced a crystal ball and began divination anew.

The Demon King asked with a smile, "What are you inquiring about?"

Wuya replied, "Love destiny."

Feng Luo's lips twitched. Spending so much time with the Demon King had made even the Demon Fairy clan's leader start to act playfully.

Curious, Alruda leaned in. "How's Little Ying's love fate?"

Wuya gazed at the floating crystal ball in her hand, which only she could decipher while other demons saw nothing but a blur.

"Last time it didn't work out, but this time it will," Wuya observed the two young demons not far away. "They have a connection."

"Lacking fate?" Lennach instinctively responded, only to feel a chilly aura of killing intent. He glanced surreptitiously at Alruda, who was the source of the hostility.

He immediately feigned death.

Wu Yi expressed his strong will to survive, "The crystal ball shows he has connections with several demons, but Beros in particular. My divination can only offer choices, not answers."

Aludara chuckled, saying merrily, "Seems like my Little Ying is quite charming. Who are the other demons with whom he has connections?"

"I can't see clearly, because Wen Ying's choice points distinctly towards Beros," Wu Yi reported truthfully.

Taking advantage of their focus on this gossip, Wu Yi stealthily began another attempt at divining Wen Ying. Previous attempts had failed, but perhaps this time would be different.

Unfortunately, it was another failure. The crystal ball was shrouded in mist, as if some force was obscuring the Mirror Demon's past and future. Wu Yi frowned and tried again. Unbeknownst to her, the Demon King had approached her side; his sudden deep voice startled her so much that she almost dropped the crystal ball.

"What are you doing?"

"D-Demon King, I was trying to see those demons with connections to him," Wu Yi managed to keep her composure, "But unfortunately, I've failed again."

Aludara's smile held a deeper meaning, "I'm looking forward to your success."

Lennach also nodded, "My son rarely shows any hints of interest. If you manage to see clearly who else has a connection with that Mirror Demon, let me know promptly." Then we'll have Na Yi divine as well.

Lai Yehua observed the crystal ball in Wizard Wei's hand, which had just exhibited different magical fluctuations. It seemed that the attempt had failed. The Demon King suddenly appeared by his side, patting his shoulder, causing Lai Yehua to jump in surprise.

"Lord Demon King!"

"Why do you and Feng Luo always have such stern expressions?" The Demon King prodded Lai Yehua's face. "Smile more. The two of you look older than me."

While the high-ranking demons over there were seething with undercurrents, Wen Ying's conversation with Belos on this side was rather concise. Somehow, it had evolved into Wen Ying pointing at a demon, and Belos identifying them.

"What about the one with long black hair next to the Demon King?"

"That's the Chief of the Witch Elf Clan, Wizard Wei."

"And that muscular demon, is he your father?"

"Mm-hmm."

"And is the one with blue-violet wings Muershi's mother?"

"Yes, the Chief of the Extremly Malevolent Bird Clan."

"Why haven't we seen Levimo's parents?" Wen Ying was still hoping to catch a glimpse of a larger Nine-Tailed Fox.

"They're always outside suppressing the Radicals. There are quite a number of them in their territory."

"Ahh! That must be a Succubus, right!" So alluring!

"Mm."

Boros, with his arms crossed and leaning against a pillar, responded monotonously to Wen Ying's questions. He had practically become an automatic answering machine for the white devil beside him, ignoring the curious glances from other devils around them.

They were merely trivial gossip that wasn't worth his attention.

Looking at the excited Wen Ying, he tilted his head and said, "You really lack common knowledge. Even many young ones know about these major devils."

Wen Ying turned his head. "Can't be helped, I've forgotten."

Suddenly, a devil approached them. Wen Ying glanced over and took a few seconds to confirm that the devil's gaze was directed at him, clearly coming over to speak with him.

As the devil drew closer, Wen Ying sized him up and asked first, "Is there something you need?"

The other party didn't respond, only gazing at him with a complicated expression.

Wen Ying observed carefully and noticed that this demon's hair color resembled Aruda's, and there was an indescribable sense of familiarity. Could it be that they were from the same clan?

Speaking of which, he still didn't know what race Aruda belonged to. She never mentioned it, and online, all the posts about her were horror stories, without any mention of her race.

"Wen Ying politely inquired, "What race of demon are you?"

Beros, who had been leaning against the pillar with his arms crossed, straightened up and took a step to stand beside Wen Ying. "We are the Mandrakes."

"Mandrakes?" Upon hearing this, Wen Ying looked at the demon with interest. "A flower?"

A bright red flower that blooms in the afterworld? It really suited Aruda.

The other party was taken aback for a moment. Beros, sounding unenthusiastic, explained for him, "In the Mandrake clan, males are vines, and females are flowers."

But Aruda should be like a snake-like vine, Wen Ying thought, stunned. He had never seen Aruda use any flower-related magic.

Seemingly able to read Wen Ying's confusion, Beros glanced at Aruda not far away, then leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Aruda is a taboo among the Mandrakes. Born female, she is a Mandrake vine."

Wen Ying's face was filled with confusion. "What's the problem?"

"To think that the demon she nurtured is so ignorant," the demon finally spoke, scrutinizing Wen Ying with a blend of disappointment and bewilderment. "You're very different from what I had imagined."

Which punk dared to provoke him? Wen Ying specialized in dealing with such people. His eyes narrowed slightly, confirming his suspicion.

"I don't know what's going on here, but my great-grandma raised me well. Do you want to give it a try?" Wen Ying smiled, his recently cultivated fighting spirit overwhelming the other party.

"How dare you act rashly in this situation?" The other party was intimidated but tried to maintain a tough front.

"If you don't want to end up like that demon who provoked me just now, you can also try provoking me," Wen Ying blinked innocently while speaking the arrogant words of a privileged youth in a harmless tone. "I'll be fine. Great-Grandma can bail me out, but I doubt you can do the same for yourself."

"You!"

Boros thought Wen Ying was becoming more and more arrogant. He didn't like this demon either. Squinting slightly, he exuded a bloodthirsty aura that made the demon's face pale beneath its mask.

"Scram."

The demon dared to be angry but not to speak. It glared at Wen Ying. "Even if Aruda likes you, it doesn't change the fact that you have no blood ties with her!"

Boros, dissatisfied with his pace, took a step forward, and the demon immediately quickened its stride.