Their eyes fell on the peculiar elf. Though he stood no taller than a child, his frame was stocky and robust, making him much larger than the average elf. His face was round and ruddy, framed by a straw hat, and his fingers were short but strong. With a grunt of effort, he yanked a fishing pole from the murky water. A skeletal fish emerged at the end of the line, its hollow eye sockets glaring as it flopped and writhed on the ground despite its lack of flesh. The surrounding fireflies flickered and swarmed the fish, their tiny glowing bodies darting like sparks in the night. In an instant, the fishbones vanished, leaving nothing behind. The elf let out a booming laugh, his swollen belly shaking like a sack of grain.
"Hey, are you the one who set up the array?" Xue Laohu asked cautiously, his voice laced with suspicion as his eyes narrowed.
The elf smirked, his lips curling mischievously. "And if it was me," he asked, leaning on his fishing pole, "what do you intend to do about it?"
Shudu, bristling with indignation, stepped forward, his jaw tight. "Beat the living crap out of you!" he growled, rolling up his sleeves and flexing his fists, ready to pummel the elf into submission.
But before Shudu could lunge, the elf raised a hand and snapped his fingers. The air grew cold, and out of the shadows, a dozen red eyes appeared, glowing malevolently in the gloom. The creatures' gazes were fixed on Shudu and Xue Laohu, hungry and predatory.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," the elf said smugly, his voice calm but tinged with menace. "Unless you'd prefer to become a snack for my little friends here."
The tension crackled like a storm on the verge of breaking. The elf clapped his hands sharply, and just as suddenly as they had appeared, the red eyes vanished into the darkness.
"Elf Gongzi, why are you doing all of this?" Li Zhameng asked, his voice trembling with both confusion and frustration.
Before he could say more, Xue Tuzi cut him off with a sneer. "Because he's a jerk, and he gets a kick out of watching others suffer," he said, rolling his eyes. His tone was as sharp as a dagger, yet the elf only found it amusing, bursting into a deep belly laugh that echoed around them.
"Lord Shudu…" the elf said suddenly, rising to his feet with an air of theatrical flair. He clasped his hands behind his back and began to pace, his steps deliberate, his posture exaggerated, as though savoring his role as the center of attention. The fireflies around him seemed to brighten, casting an eerie glow across his rotund figure. Slowly, his gaze swept the group as he spoke their names with mocking precision.
"Xue Tuzi… Li Zhameng…" He paused, turning his head dramatically until his glittering eyes landed on Xue Laohu. "Grandmaster Xue," the elf added in a lilting, almost sing-song voice, dragging out the title with a mixture of respect and derision.
He stopped in the center of the group, his grin widening. "Your fates are intertwined, as are your bodies," the elf declared, gesturing with one hand in an exaggerated flourish. "To reclaim your true forms, you must answer my riddle. Fail…" He leaned closer, his grin stretching unnaturally wide, "…and you shall amuse me for eternity as my charming little playthings."
Xue Laohu clenched his fists, his face flushing with anger. "Fine!" he shouted, his voice echoing with defiance. "We'll play your little game." He crossed his arms tightly, his frustration radiating from every tense line of his body.
The elf snickered, the sound delicate yet cruel, as though he were savoring some private joke. He raised a hand to his mouth to stifle his laughter, then straightened, smoothing down his big belly. "Excellent," he said, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
The Elf leaned forward, his grin widening as his gleaming eyes bore into them. His voice was smooth and measured, yet it carried an undeniable edge of menace.
"Here is your riddle:
I am the spark that kindles fire,
A fleeting whisper of desire.
I bind hearts but cannot be seen,
In truth and lies, I intervene.
Too much of me will bring you pain,
Yet without me, life's in vain.
What am I?
You have one hour to solve it."
His words hung in the air like an enchantment, heavy with the weight of consequence.
The group exchanged uneasy glances, the tension obvious.
One hour? Yi Ming screamed internally. His mind was already spiraling. He loathed riddles with every fiber of his being, and now the pressure made his head pound. Why did I agree to this? he cursed himself, yanking at his hair in desperation. His thoughts were a whirlwind of chaos, the riddle echoing mockingly in his mind, but no answer emerged from the haze.
He began gnawing nervously on the long fingernails of his borrowed body, his anxiety manifesting in the action.
"Stop that," Shudu scolded, grabbing Xue Laohu's hand and yanking it away with an irritated snap. The faint imprint of red crescents from his nails marked Shudu's palm, but he didn't flinch.
"We need to think," Shudu said firmly, his sharp gaze moving between the others. "And fast. He's not bluffing."
Xue Laohu gulped and nodded, his stomach knotting tighter as he tried to push through the panic clawing at his mind.
Xue Tuzi frowned deeply, his brow furrowed as he rested his chin on his hand, sinking into thought. "Kindles fire and whispers of desire?" he murmured, the words tumbling from his lips like a half-formed idea. Then his eyes lit up, "could it be passion?" he asked, glancing cautiously at the Elf.
The Elf didn't respond, but his head twisted slowly, his neck bending at an unnatural angle. His grin widened unnervingly, stretching the corners of his mouth to almost impossible lengths. "Is that your final answer?" he asked, his voice a silky taunt.
Li Zhameng, fidgeting nervously with the frayed hem of his borrowed cloak, bit his lip. "Wait!" he said, his voice barely more than a whisper. His fingers tightened on the fabric as he wrestled with the riddle. "Something unseen but powerful…" he hesitated, then continued, "Could it be love?"
Again, the Elf's head twisted, this time with a sudden, jerking movement that made the fireflies flutter away in fright. His smile now stretched from ear to ear, teeth glinting in the dim light. "Is that your final answer?" he repeated, his tone dripping with mockery.
"Love?" Xue Laohu said skeptically, his arms crossed as his sharp gaze flicked between the Elf and Li Zhameng. "It's too broad, isn't it?" His voice was quiet but firm, trying to make sense of the riddle's layers. "What binds hearts and causes both pain and joy?" He frowned, repeating the question silently to himself. Could it be love? he thought, his eyes narrowing as he studied the Elf's unmoving grin. No… he's toying with us. If we get this wrong…
Shudu, seated on a nearby rock with his arms crossed and a scowl etched onto his face, suddenly spat, "Let's just beat the crap out of this guy." His voice was laced with frustration, clearly done with the Elf's manipulative game.
The Elf chuckled, a low, throaty sound that sent a shiver down their spines. "My, such venomous words. But what else could one expect from the Gu Lord himself?" His tone dripped with mockery, and his glinting eyes lingered on Shudu with a knowing amusement.
"Hmph," Shudu scoffed, turning his head away dismissively, though the tension in his jaw betrayed his irritation.
Xue Tuzi shot him a glare, frustrated by Shudu's impatience. He let out a long sigh before closing his eyes briefly, centering himself. Then, he repeated the riddle softly, his voice almost reverent. "What binds but can destroy? What gives meaning but can bring sorrow?" His words hung in the air as though each syllable carried weight.
"Love," Li Zhameng said firmly, his voice trembling but determined. "It must be love. That's what makes us all feel alive."
The Elf raised a single, sharp eyebrow, his expression unreadable. "Is that your final answer?" he asked, his voice lilting with faint amusement.
Li Zhameng clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white as he took a hesitant step forward. His entire body trembled, but his resolve was unshaken. "The answer is love," he repeated, his voice steady despite the weight of the moment.
Behind him, Xue Laohu began biting his nails anxiously, his sharp teeth clicking against the hardened tips. His eyes darted to Li Zhameng, his heart twisting with unease. Since when did my little NPC take charge? he thought, his mind racing. It's always been me pulling him out of trouble. Times have changed I just hope he's right… His nails cracked under the pressure, and before he could do more damage, Shudu's strong hand closed around his wrist, pulling his fingers away from his mouth.
"Stop that," Shudu muttered, his tone half-scolding, half-concerned. His sharp eyes flicked briefly to Xue Laohu's poisonous nails.
Meanwhile, Xue Tuzi stood still as stone, his face a mask of intense focus. His brows were drawn tight, and in Li Zhameng's emerald brown eyes burned with a quiet fury as they fixed on the Elf, daring him to dismiss Li Zhameng's answer.
The forest seemed to hold its breath. Not a leaf rustled, not a firefly flickered. The air grew thick with tension, pressing down on them like a storm about to break.
The Elf's sharp, glittering eyes narrowed, scrutinizing Li Zhameng as if weighing his very soul. Then, to everyone's surprise, they softened. His lips curled into a slow, wicked smile that spread across his face like a shadow.
"Correct," the Elf declared, rising gracefully to his feet. His voice carried a note of dark amusement as he clasped his hands behind his back. "Love it is. A force both wondrous and cruel. It binds hearts, shatters dreams, and yet we cannot live without it." His grin widened, predatory and approving. "You've saved yourselves—for now."
The spell shattered, and in a dazzling burst of light that danced like a thousand fireflies, the group's bodies were restored. The transformation was sudden yet seamless, and as they emerged, gasps of awe and relief escaped their lips. Hands flew to faces, arms were stretched, and fingers flexed as each marveled at the return of their familiar forms.
Xue Tuzi found himself holding Shudu's hands, the warmth startling but not welcomed. He glanced up, only to meet Shudu's gaze, intense and brimming with mischief. Before he could pull away, Shudu lifted Xue Tuzi's delicate fingers to his lips, pressing a kiss to their tips. The gesture was slow, deliberate, and utterly disarming. Shudu's lips brushed against Xue Tuzi's skin, a teasing caress that sent a shiver down his spine.
"Don't look so shocked," Shudu murmured, his voice low and rich. With a sly smile, he slid an arm around Xue Tuzi's waist, pulling him closer in a bold, possessive motion.
Xue Tuzi's face burned, a rush of indignation and confusion flashing across his delicate features. He stiffened in Shudu's hold, his mouth opening to protest, but before he could speak, something cold and unsettling pressed against his shoulder.
He turned his head sharply, only to come face to face with Xiao Zongzi, her many legs curled tightly as she rested nervously on his shoulder. Xue Tuzi jolted instinctively, his body reacting before his mind could catch up, his hand twitching as though ready to swat her away.
Xiao Zongzi flinched, shrinking back, her small form trembling as she prepared for the inevitable strike. But the blow never came. Instead, Xue Tuzi froze, his breath hitching audibly. His chest rose and fell unevenly as he fought to compose himself, his jaw tightening as he forced his hand to lower.
Seeing the tension, Xiao Zongzi hesitated only for a moment before quickly skittering away, her delicate legs moving swiftly as she sought refuge on Shudu's broad shoulder. Shudu, still holding Xue Tuzi in his arms, merely chuckled, his amusement evident in the glint of his eyes.
"Come to your Master," Shudu said, a hint of playful arrogance in his tone. His grip around Xue Tuzi tightened slightly, as though daring him to escape.
Xue Tuzi, narrowed his eyes, glaring at Shudu with a mix of anger and defiance, his body stiff against the embrace. "Let go of me, you insufferable insect," he hissed, though the bite in his voice was tempered by the faint tremor of lingering unease.
Shudu only laughed, unbothered by the resistance, his expression softening into something dangerously close to fondness. "Not a chance," he murmured, his voice a low, teasing drawl forcing an eye roll from Xue Tuzi.
Xue Laohu exhaled deeply, rolling his shoulders as he relished the familiar ease of his own body. Gone was the taut, muscular frame of Shudu, and with it the constant weight of bearing someone else's power. He ran a hand through his shaggy hair, the strands falling messily into place, and patted his shirt absentmindedly, searching for his beloved fan. A frown crept onto his face as he remembered Li Zhameng had taken it from him earlier, leaving him without the comforting accessory.
Nearby, Li Zhameng stood quietly, the tension that had hardened his features now melting away. His brows unfurrowed, softening his expression and returning it to its usual youthful, almost careless demeanor. Without the weight of the moment pressing on him, he looked more like the aloof and unassuming figure Xue Laohu was accustomed to seeing, his gaze distant yet oddly serene.
The Elf, standing a short distance away, watched them with a bemused smile curling across his face. His eyes gleamed with amusement, as if he were savoring the drama he had orchestrated. With a flourish of his hand, he waved them off as if dismissing unruly guests.
"Begone, mortals," he said, his voice smooth and mocking, the words laced with an unsettling playfulness. "You amuse me, but next time, you may not be so fortunate."