Chapter 59: Return to the Human Realm

It felt like a long, tedious dream.

I had been sleeping in a daze for a very long time.

...

Something was licking my face. I struggled to open my eyes and saw a small furball of snowy white.

"Snowy?"

Seeing me wake up, Snowy flicked its tiny ears and gave me a "guji" sound, nuzzling me with its furry head.

I gave its ears a little tug, picked it up, and sat up. This was a somewhat unfamiliar room. I pushed open the door and stepped out.

Outside was a wooden staircase with a handrail. Standing at the top, I peered down into a large hall. The moment I opened the door, the air was filled with the sweet fragrance of candy. I saw familiar rose-red walls, golden moldings, and framed wooden wainscoting decorated with lace borders and light-colored Oriental brocade. A bright crystal chandelier illuminated rows of candies of various brands and flavors in the display cabinets, making them shine enticingly.

This place... is the long-vanished Splendid Candy House?!

A thunderous snore startled me. I steadied myself, nearly tumbling down the stairs.

I saw Little Mountain lying horizontally across a wide sofa, sleeping soundly. Usan, with his bow and arrows on his back, was also asleep, leaning against a nearby chair. Orlando, the little spirit, was actually lying inside a display cabinet, sleeping among the candies like a beautiful candy doll.

"You're awake?" A detached voice rang out abruptly behind me.

I turned around to see the teenage version of the Demon King Samael—my classmate, Yang Weisheng—standing right behind me.

"Uh... Boss?" I was completely baffled, unable to make head or tail of the situation.

"Awoo! Aurora, you’re finally awake..." An exaggerated voice rose from downstairs. Alastor, wearing a pink lace apron, rushed up the stairs in a grand fashion, reaching out to embrace me.

Yang Weisheng raised his hand to block him. "She is my wife."

Alastor arched an eyebrow. "I was created by Aurora!"

"Don't make me angry." Yang Weisheng's lips pressed into a thin line.

Alastor ducked behind me with a look of mock terror. Pouting, he pointed at Yang Weisheng. "He’s bullying me! Aurora, look at how he bullies me... Aurora, you have to protect me..."

"Why am I here?" Ignoring their bickering, I asked directly.

Yang Weisheng looked at me with a cold, indifferent expression, then looked down at his toes. "Don't you like the candy house?"

"Hmm?" I nodded, then had a sudden realization. "You didn't bring this back just because I like it, did you...?"

"If you like it, I don't mind living here with you," Yang Weisheng said calmly, looking away with an air of granting a grand favor.

I immediately burst out laughing.

He frowned, his pale cheeks tinged with a faint red; he was slightly annoyed.

The laughter woke the supernatural creatures sleeping downstairs, and they all looked up.

"The Inquisition and the Demon Realm have shared thousands of years of animosity, and countless demons have been slaughtered. Although it has been destroyed by Your Majesty, the Director, Hino Wuma, is still missing," Usan of the Wolf Tribe said as he walked slowly up the stairs, looking at me. "More importantly, the Grand Priest, Michael... mmmph..."

Alastor rushed forward to cover Usan's mouth, looking nervously at my face.

My smile became a bit forced. "I'm going out for a walk."

Carrying Snowy, I walked out of the Splendid Candy House. Behind me, I heard Usan's muffled groans; it seemed Alastor was hitting him.

"You big mouth! You big mouth! I told you not to talk nonsense!..."

I looked back to see Alastor pummeling Usan while muttering his complaints.

Yang Weisheng stood by with his hands in his sleeves, watching from the sidelines. Little Mountain and Orlando had already closed their eyes again, following the principle of "what the eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve over," and continued their comfortable slumber.

A slight smile finally touched my lips. Without realizing it, I had reached the main street. The Splendid Candy House was located in exactly the same spot as before, without the slightest deviation.

It was already dark, but the streets were still woven with a constant flow of traffic—the noisy bustle of the human world.

A stray dog sat under a green tree by the roadside. It seemed hot, panting with its tongue hanging out. When it saw me looking, it gave a wary whimper, cowered, and bolted across the street.

"Watch out!" I couldn't help but shout.

A large truck roared past. On the ground, only a pool of blood and a heap of crushed flesh and fur remained.

I stood alone at the street corner, staring blankly at that small puddle of blood.

The night in City A was filled with flickering neon lights, as bright as day. The weather was sweltering, yet I felt nothing at all.

Another car drove over the spot. I pursed my lips and turned away. As I walked, every view was familiar. Nothing had changed, yet my state of mind was completely different. Is this what they call "the scenery remains, but the people have changed"?

My pitch-black pupils scanned the passing pedestrians. I could hear their heartbeats; I could see the way the blood flowed through their veins; I could imagine that warm temperature.

This was exactly where I had met Alastor for the first time.

Licking my lips, I walked slowly along the neon-lit street. When I stopped, I found myself standing in front of a bar. The neon sign flickered, outlining two extremely seductive characters: Night Charm.

It was Morven's bar.

But Morven was no longer there. I wondered how Li was doing now.

Standing at the entrance, I watched the fashionable men and women going in and out. The business of this bar was actually quite thriving. I wondered who the current owner was.

Suddenly, I intensely missed the drinks Morven used to mix—especially the one called "Incineration."

I slowly walked inside. The dim, alluring lights and the swirling smoke were exactly the same as before.

"The descent of the dark night, the boiling melody, lingering through a thousand years of solitude... The feast of blood, the magical light of demons, reveling in this city..."

A familiar melody drifted over, accompanied by a voice that was hoarse and strangely haunting.

My eyes widened. I looked toward the figure playing the guitar on the swivel chair of the high stage. The lights weren't hitting him, so I couldn't distinguish his features for a moment, but I heard him singing to his own accompaniment.

That person... is it Morven?!

Impossible. Morven clearly already...

"I'm sorry, minors are not allowed to enter." A waiter in white holding a tray stepped forward to block me, politely pointing to the sign standing by the door.

My lips twitched again and again. Once more, I was hit with a harsh reality: is my appearance really that unfortunate? Do I really look that much like a minor?