In the snake territory, chaos erupted as news of the demon lord's return spread like wildfire. Lucas woke to find both Yetao and Yuchen missing from their rooms. An unsettling feeling gnawed at him as he ventured outside, only to witness people rushing about in panic.
Following the crowds, Lucas reached the main hall where anxiety permeated the air. Concerned voices rose above the commotion.
"Does it mean we are going to face a calamity?" someone from the crowd called out to the snake lord.
"Are the immortals going to wage war against us? But weren't we on good terms for centuries?" another voice questioned.
Lucas's gaze fell upon Jackson, whose face was etched with nervousness as he struggled to address the barrage of questions.
"Why are you staying silent, my lord? What do you mean by announcing that the demon lord woke up?"
The words struck Lucas like lightning. Confusion coursed through him as the crowd continued their relentless questioning while Jackson remained speechless.
Gathering his composure, Lucas stepped forward, urging the crowd not to panic. With a decisive gesture, he signaled the guards to clear the swarming masses both inside and outside the hall.
Once the hall emptied, Jackson collapsed onto his throne, his strength seemingly deserting him. Despite his own growing concern, Lucas approached, more troubled by the gravity of the situation than Jackson's weakened state.
"Jackson gege," Lucas addressed him firmly, causing Jackson to slowly lift his gaze.
"Can you please explain? Is what you said true? The demon lord is here?" Lucas asked, his voice steady despite his inner turmoil.
Jackson nodded slowly, guilt evident in every movement.
Lucas's pupils dilated in utter confusion. "When did the demon lord descend to our realm? Even if he did, it takes at least 1000 years after his birth for his awakening, right? Why didn't you notify the other main clans about his birth?"
Jackson closed his eyes, drawing a deep breath as if accepting that the truth could no longer remain hidden. "Lucas... I know what I'm about to tell you will be unbelievable. But the demon lord was not born. He appeared suddenly—already awakened—300 years ago."
The revelation hit Lucas like a physical blow. "How could that be? According to my elders, the demon lord was supposed to be born and raised by the snake clan 1000 years before a calamity strikes the demon realm. How can he simply appear already awakened? Does this mean someone raised him and helped him cultivate for 1000 years without our knowledge until then?"
"If that were the case, I'd actually be at ease," Jackson replied, his hand trembling visibly. "He could face whatever calamity with his full powers. But... it's much worse."
Seeing Jackson's distress, Lucas placed his hands reassuringly on the snake lord's shoulders, encouraging him to reveal everything.
Jackson steeled himself, preparing to reveal the truth. He took a deep breath.
"Whenever the demon lord is about to be born, the snake lord receives a prophecy through the 'Demon's eye.' We welcome the child and support his cultivation for 1000 years. But 300 years ago, the 'Demon's eye[1]' was destroyed," he confessed.
Lucas's eyes widened in shock. "What? Isn't the 'Demon's eye' your family treasure—the bracelet you always carry? Didn't you use it to communicate with the demon lord?"
Jackson shook his head solemnly. "The one I'm wearing now is fake. That was indeed our family treasure, which gave us prophecies about the demon lord's arrival," he explained as Lucas listened intently. "I wore it always. One day, my bracelet began to burn bright red, and I immediately placed it on the summoning altar, expecting a child to appear."
His voice grew quieter. "But defying all expectations, the bracelet shattered to pieces, and the demon lord emerged—not as a child, but as a fully grown man. He emanated a reddish aura of immense power unlike anything I'd ever sensed. I will never forget it."
Jackson's eyes and hands trembled as he recalled the overwhelming energy. "There was no doubt he was indeed the demon lord. He claimed to be weak and needed to cultivate for 300 years to face the upcoming calamity. He insisted this news not to be spread beyond the snake clan. He created his own portal and space to cultivate underwater. Only I was permitted to visit him."
His expression darkened. "But months ago, the water began emitting poisonous substances, unable to withstand his cultivation. We poured purification stones into his cultivation spot beneath the sea, but it didn't help. When I visited him a week ago, he said, 'The time's close. Wait a little more.' I couldn't comprehend his meaning, but I trusted him. And now... it has already happened."
Worry for their dangerous future clouded Jackson's face as Lucas processed everything he'd heard.
"If he is awake, does it mean the calamity is near?" Lucas asked, his voice steady despite his growing concern.
"I suppose so," Jackson replied, nervousness evident in his tone. "But whatever we're facing requires him to cultivate for more than 1000 years. It won't be easy. We'll only know when the lord tells us."
"Where is he?" Lucas asked, anxiety seeping into his words.
Jackson's gaze wavered. "I don't know," he admitted, frustration evident in his voice.
"What do you mean you don't know?" Lucas demanded, when suddenly Yuchen burst into the hall, panting heavily with news of Yetao's disappearance.
Lucas froze, his body stiffening as if turned to stone. With a trembling hand, he grasped Yuchen's arm and demanded to know what happened. As Yuchen explained everything, shock registered on Jackson's face.
"That's where the demon lord was sealed," Jackson revealed, his statement sending shockwaves through all three of them.
"My lord, the southwest regions report numerous sea creatures washed ashore," a soldier announced, rushing into the hall.
"My lord, the southeast and northwest regions report the same," another soldier added urgently.
Jackson's face contorted with panic. "It must be because of the demon lord. If he intensified his cultivation, an explosion would have occurred when he awoke. I only received signals that his chains had broken—I never imagined the impact would be so severe."
"Taotao..." Lucas's voice trembled with fear for Yetao's safety.
Without wasting another moment, the three of them—Lucas, Yuchen, and Jackson—rushed off to find Yetao, each step heavy with dread of what they might discover.
Meanwhile on the island, Yetao tried every possible method to escape with Bambam. He transformed into his mermaid form and attempted to swim away, only to discover the barrier extended deep underwater, blocking his path. Next, he manifested wings on his back concentrating his energy and tried flying, but the lack of oxygen at higher altitudes caused him to plummet. Bambam caught him carefully before he hit the ground.
Panting from all the escape attempts, "Just how did you come to this island?", Yetao asked Bambam.
"I just swam swiftly to the nearest land I could see. But the waves kept redirecting me. So I can't really tell which direction I came from", Bambam fabricated a believable story.
In a final attempt, Yetao suggested they combine their qi energy to break through the barrier. As they gathered their power, Yetao channeled his full strength while Bambam deliberately contributed only 0.0001% of his power, secretly ensuring their efforts would fail.
Exhausted from his many escape attempts, Yetao studied the large figure beside him. "You look huge. But you're really weak. How old are you?" he asked Bambam.
"If I say my real age, he'll definitely tease me. If I say I'm younger than him, he'll see me as nothing more than a younger brother. I must be careful," Bambam calculated in his mind before answering cautiously, "900?"
Yetao's eyes widened in surprise. "You're nearly my age!" A delighted smile spread across his face.
"Then why are you so weak? Were you being a lazy boy and not cultivate enough?" Yetao squinted, giving Bambam a playfully scolding look.
Bambam paused, crafting the perfect excuse. "I was born weak. I couldn't cultivate and get results like others in my clan. That's why they sealed me under the sea with protection magic," he explained, fabricating a pitiful story that Yetao immediately believed.
"You must be really weak if the protection shield was so powerful. I also wore a protection stone, but it got exploded by yours," Yetao said sympathetically.
Bambam felt as though he'd dug his own grave, an invisible arrow piercing through his pride at being called "really weak."
"But why were you sealed through a teleportation cave? Why not swim directly?" Yetao asked, curiosity glinting in his eyes.
Thinking quickly, Bambam answered, "I needed a separate space, and my family members would come by sometimes to give me enhancers" He put on his most pitiful expression.
"I totally created a scene over nothing," Yetao muttered, slapping his forehead as he observed Bambam's woeful demeanor. A surge of protectiveness washed over him, along with a sense of responsibility for the seemingly fragile being before him.
"Don't worry. My friends will come here sooner," Yetao assured him with a warm smile. "My friend is an important lord in the demon realm, and my younger brother has a strong sense for sniffing people out. He'll find us even if we got trapped in heaven."
Bambam's expression shifted to shock. "The friend must be the wolf lord, but he has a younger brother in this timeline?" he wondered, confusion clouding his thoughts.
Yetao noticed the change in Bambam's demeanor. "Why do you look like that?"
Composing himself, Bambam asked, "You have a younger brother?"
Yetao's face brightened all of a sudden. "It just became that way. Since he calls me gege now, isn't he a younger brother to me?" His smile grew radiant as he spoke about Yuchen.
"Looks like they are not blood brothers" Bambam thought. "Then why does he have such an expression while talking about him?" Jealousy and annoyance surged through him as he watched Yetao think fondly of another man.
"Should I just..." Bambam's thoughts darkened as his expression grew more sinister, but he quickly caught himself. "No... I can't kill people who're close to Taotao. He will hate me again."
Yetao remained oblivious to Bambam's shifting expressions, his mind occupied with planning their escape. After exhausting all his options, he dramatically sprawled on the sand, stretching his limbs to create the impression of an angel in the sand.
"Ahhhhhhh..." he groaned, pouting adorably. "At this rate, I'm going to rot away with the fishes, bored to death."
Bambam couldn't help but laugh at Yetao's childlike display. "I shouldn't waste time thinking about useless things when he's trapped here alone with me," he thought. "I need to make use of this opportunity to win his heart sooner."
"What's so funny?" Yetao asked, still lying on his back, looking up at Bambam with eyes that sparkled in the golden light of the setting sun. "Tell me so I can laugh too. I'm getting bored rather than anxious."
Something in that gaze broke Bambam's resistance. He moved closer to Yetao, leaning down until their faces were mere inches apart, as if he might kiss him. Yetao's heart raced at the sudden proximity, his breath catching in his throat.
But Bambam stopped just short, gently brushing sand from Yetao's hair instead. "You're going to get your hair dirty lying like that," he murmured. "I'll get something that could serve as a bed. Wait here until then."
As Bambam disappeared into the woods, his pace quickened with each step, his heart hammering in his chest. "Should I blame his pretty face? Or should I blame my lack of self-control?" Heat flooded his cheeks as he flushed crimson, walking even faster to put distance between them.
Yetao slowly sat up as Bambam's figure vanished among the trees. His own heart pounded so loudly he feared it might burst from his chest. The warmth in his cheeks persisted, a testament to the moment they'd shared.
"What was that?" he whispered to himself, fingers brushing the spot in his hair where Bambam's touch had lingered.
Something was blooming between them—a feeling that made this stranger increasingly familiar to Yetao, while for Bambam, an already familiar emotion grew stronger. The question remained: Would Yetao recognize these feelings and surrender to them? Or would he ignore them and pull away, denying what his heart was beginning to understand?
[1] 'Demon's eye' is a treasure's name like 'Infinity stones'