The moment Jackson appeared, Yetao found himself mesmerized. Before he could stare too obviously, Yuchen's swift pinch brought him back to reality. Jackson greeted them warmly, his presence commanding yet welcoming, and guided them into the snake clan's territory.
After brief introductions, Jackson apologized and departed to handle urgent matters, leaving them with a servant to escort them to the guest quarters. Lucas followed, casting a fleeting suspicious glance at Jackson's retreating figure.
Yetao's jaw dropped. This was nothing like the primitive snake territory he had imagined—no dark, dank caves or endless snake mounds, but a breathtaking landscape that seemed sculpted by magic itself. Century-old trees towered around them, their branches adorned with extraordinary golden and silver flowers that shimmered like living jewels. Creepers draped around massive snake pits were embedded with gems that caught the light, transforming the landscape into a glittering wonderland.
"You look like a curious cat who found a golden thread," Lucas teased, his laughter echoing through the magical forest.
Yetao's immediate response was indignation. "Lu, don't compare me with those creatures. Cats are the slyest beings I've seen in this realm," he sulked, shooting a short, cute glare at Yuchen—a silent revenge for his previous "kitty" comments.
Lucas, lost in his own amusement, missed the subtle exchange. Yuchen, however, caught Yetao's look and cleared his throat.
"Alright, my bad" Lucas said, patting Yetao's head with an elder brother's affection, "I'll explain everything. Ask me anything you want to know about this place."
Yetao's curiosity bubbled over, his questions tumbling out like a cascade of water. "I've heard the snake clan is surrounded by a deadly miasma where no other demons can survive. They supposedly give invited guests a protection bracelet. But this place—" he gestured around, "it looks like a slice of the heavenly realm!"
Lucas's smile was patient, almost indulgent. "Those are mere fabricated stories, Yetao. The snake clan is incredibly wealthy, and because they serve directly under the demon lord, legends and rumors swirl around them like mist."
He explained methodically, his voice taking on a scholarly tone. "The bracelet you mentioned? It's far more than a simple protective charm. Only the snake clan lord possesses it—a secret key to directly contact the demon lord himself."
Yetao listened, captivated.
"These people," Lucas continued, "are remarkably ordinary. The true danger lies in their territory's natural defenses. The surrounding waters are lethally venomous. Outsiders can't breach their borders—not by flying, not by swimming. Instant death awaits any intruder. That's why we used their special teleportation pass. Even teleportation has strict limitations—unauthorized travelers can only reach the poisonous borders."
His final words hung in the air: "The snake clan territory is simultaneously the safest and most dangerous place in the demon realm."
Their conversation halted as they reached the guest fort—a breathtaking structure composed entirely of colourful transparent crystals. The moment Yetao saw it, his scholarly curiosity transformed into pure, childlike wonder.
He bounded up the crystal stairs, dancing and leaping, completely entranced by his own reflections. The uneven crystal surfaces distorted his image, making him appear larger, then smaller. Each movement became a performance, each pose a delightful experiment in visual manipulation.
Lucas burst into uncontrollable laughter while Yuchen struggled to contain his own amusement. The servants watching couldn't help but smile at Yetao's infectious joy.
Sensing the potential breach of Yetao's unselfconscious moment, both Lucas and Yuchen shot warning glares at the servants. The message was clear: this display of pure delight was not for outside eyes.
The servants dutifully lowered their heads, the crystal fort sparkling around them like a magical, reflective playground.
A servant had shown them rooms that were nothing short of royal chambers—vast spaces adorned with glittering gems that caught and scattered light like miniature galaxies. Lucas's instruction was clear: "Wait here. I'll cast soundproof magic and send the servants away."
The moment Lucas left, Yetao's childlike excitement erupted. He began bouncing on the bed, each jump a declaration of pure, unbridled joy. Yuchen watched, a mixture of amusement and exasperation crossing his face.
"Are you a five-year-old?" Yuchen teased. "Why are you so ridiculously playful?"
Yetao's eyes narrowed. "Then how should I act? Like you? You're practically a grandfather with wrinkles. I bet you're over 1500 years old!"
He leaned in close, his fierce expression inches from Yuchen's face. Yuchen instinctively retreated, stumbling backward. In a moment of unexpected grace, Yetao caught him before he could fall.
"Look," Yetao crowed, "even your knees are weak!"
Yuchen quickly righted himself, pride wounded. "I'm way younger than you," he blurted out—then immediately realized his mistake.
"Oh?" Yetao's smile turned predatory. "Younger? How much younger?"
Cornered, Yuchen surrendered. "Four hundred years. Happy now?"
The number hung in the air like a challenge. Yetao's sneaky smile suggested he was anything but satisfied. "Four hundred years?" he drawled. "Then where's my respect? Shouldn't you be calling me gege?"
Yuchen scoffed. "When did you ever behave like a gege? Weren't you just jumping on the bed like a child?"
The room erupted into chaos. Pillows became weapons, feathers began to fly. They darted and weaved, turning the luxurious bedroom into a battlefield of playful aggression.
Lucas returned to a scene of absolute chaos—feathers suspended in mid-air, two grown demons mid-battle. With a single gesture, a glowing rope materialized from his hands, efficiently binding Yuchen and Yetao, stopping their warfare as quickly as it had begun.
The gems sparkled. The feathers hung suspended. Silence descended.
"I literally disappeared for two minutes, and you managed to create this much chaos?" Lucas's expression was a mixture of disbelief and exasperation. His eyes landed on Yuchen with particular disappointment. "I understand Yetao's playful nature, but Yuchen—what's happened to you?"
Yuchen lowered his head, embarrassment coloring his cheeks.
With a deep sigh, Lucas turned to Yetao. "Can you explain what happened?"
Yetao's lips formed a defiant pout. "Lu, you know he's younger than me, right? So why isn't he showing proper respect and calling me elder brother?" The complaint hung in the air, sounding particularly childish against the backdrop of scattered feathers.
Lucas pinched the bridge of his nose. "That's the entire problem?" When Yetao remained stubbornly silent, Lucas continued, "Yetao... you're not significantly older than him in any practical sense. Is this truly worth fighting over? Consider everything Yuchen has accomplished in the past century. Can we please let this go?"
Yetao sulked initially but eventually relented with a reluctant pout. Confusion flickered across Yuchen's face at Lucas's cryptic reference to his accomplishments, but he chose not to press the matter.
With a gesture, Lucas released them from their magical bindings. They rose, brushing feathers and dust from their clothing with as much dignity as they could salvage.
"We have far more urgent matters to address," Lucas said, his tone shifting to one of gravity. Both Yuchen and Yetao straightened, sensing the change in atmosphere.
"For the past few months, reports have indicated that the seawater surrounding certain shore-bound territories contains a poisonous pigment. Every investigation points to this island as the source." His voice lowered. "Recent intelligence suggests that members of the snake clan are conducting covert operations affecting the ocean water—and the snake lord himself may be involved."
Yetao's brow furrowed. "Is that why you asked me to transform into a mermaid? But didn't you say the water is poisonous?"
Lucas withdrew a delicate chain from his sleeve and hung it around Yetao's neck. The pendant gleamed with an inner light that seemed to pulse in time with Yetao's heartbeat.
"This ornament contains a protection magic stone," Lucas explained. "While you wear it, you can breathe underwater and remain unaffected by any poison or attack. It will serve as your shield."
Understanding dawned in Yetao's eyes. He drew a deep breath and nodded with a smile of acceptance. Lucas returned the smile, though Yuchen's expression remained troubled, concern etched in the lines of his face.
With their plan established, they retired to their respective rooms as night descended over the crystal fort, each lost in thoughts of the mission that awaited them.
The intensity of the night wrapped around Yuchen as he stalked through the shadows, his stealth skill allowing him to move like a ghost. His eyes narrowed when he spotted several suspicious men emerging from a cave, empty buckets in hand. Something felt wrong.
After they disappeared into the darkness, Yuchen slipped inside the cave. What appeared to be a simple hollow in the rock revealed itself as something far more dangerous—a hidden passage that instantly teleported him to a solitary rock formation floating above turbulent waters. Massive waves crashed around him, making the narrow platform treacherous.
In the distance stood Snake Island, barely visible through the sea spray. Yuchen quickly realized the entire area was encased in some sort of invisible barrier, concealing it from outside eyes.
"What is this space?" he whispered, confusion evident in his voice.
His attention was drawn to a strange light pulsing beneath the churning waters. His mind raced: "Could this be the source of the problem? If I take care of this now, Yetao won't have to risk it, right?"
Just as Yuchen prepared to dive into the dangerous ocean, a familiar voice cut through the roar of the waves.
"What is this place?"
Yuchen whirled around, genuine shock on his face. "Yetao? What are you doing here?"
"I saw you sneaking around and found it interesting. So, I followed you," Yetao replied with playful nonchalance that only heightened Yuchen's anxiety.
"Oh? What is that light from the water? I'll go check it out," Yetao said, moving toward the edge.
Before Yetao could leap, Yuchen grabbed him and pulled them both back through the teleportation portal. They tumbled out at the cave entrance, and Yuchen immediately dragged Yetao to a secluded spot.
"Have you lost your mind?" Yuchen's voice rose with concern. "I understand you love adventure, but jumping into the middle of the ocean in the middle of the night just like that? Everything about that place screams danger, and you want to be reckless?"
Yetao's eyes narrowed. "Then tell me—if you knew it was dangerous, why were you going to jump?"
The question struck Yuchen like a physical blow. He wavered, eyes darting away. "Who said I was going to jump? I was just looking," he lied, unable to meet Yetao's penetrating gaze.
"Oh really? Then I'll also have a clear look, just once. After all, I couldn't see properly since you dragged me away so abruptly." Yetao immediately turned toward the cave again, but Yuchen caught his hand, stopping him.
"I just... want to get it over with quickly and return," Yuchen admitted reluctantly.
"And what about the poison? Can you handle it? What if you can't breathe inside and get tangled by some creepy creeper? What will you do if it gets darker and darker in the deep sea and you're attacked by a massive fish?" Yetao's barrage of worried questions made Yuchen laugh despite himself.
"I'm an immortal. Did you forget that? I can create light and neutralize poison. As for breathing, I can control my breath for half an hour. It was part of my training," Yuchen explained confidently.
Yetao responded by smacking Yuchen's forehead. "Are you so confident that you'd take care of everything in half an hour? I'll break your legs if you spout such nonsense and get near that cave again, understand?" he warned, his threat carrying genuine concern.
Yuchen could only laugh at his friend's protective nature.
"Now you're worried about me? Why? You felt like you should take care of your younger brother?" Yuchen teased, watching as Yetao's eyes wavered at the question.
After a thoughtful pause, Yuchen's expression turned serious. "The wolf lord said you're not much older than me practically. What was that about?" The question had been weighing on him, impossible to contain any longer.
Yetao seemed to consider his response carefully before releasing a deep sigh of resignation. They found a comfortable spot on a wide tree branch, legs dangling in the night air.
"I was weak from birth," Yetao began quietly. "I was just breathing and sleeping. My aunt thought she could cure me if I ascended, so she cultivated my soul while I slept. My parents worried about me since I couldn't open my eyes for a long time. They wandered around the demon realm to find me a cure. That's when..."
His voice trailed off, unable to speak of his parents' death. Yuchen nodded, understanding filling the silence between them.
"I was literally just sleeping for 500 years," Yetao continued, his gaze fixed on the moon hanging bright in the night sky. "After my parents' death, seems like an immortal cured me with some scale. My aunt revealed it just recently. I opened my eyes and started to age only after that."
Yuchen's expression softened with sadness as he looked at Yetao.
Noticing this, Yetao quickly tried to lighten the mood.
"But I'm still your elder brother," he insisted with forced playfulness. "I'm still 100 years older than you, ok?"
Yuchen's lips curved into a smile. "Fine, I'll call you gege from now. Happy?"
Pride brightened Yetao's face. "Now everything's settled. Tomorrow's going to be a lot of fun. Let's go have some sleep." He jumped down from the tree with Yuchen following suit.
Before Yetao could walk away, Yuchen called out, "Wait."
Yetao turned back, watching curiously as Yuchen pulled two small studs seemingly from a subspace in the air and offered one to him.
"Wear it," Yuchen instructed.
"What's with the sudden gift?" Yetao asked, confused.
"This is a rare item from the immortal realm. You can communicate with me through the other one I have. Even if you're not speaking with your voice, I can get what you say. We use it as a secret communication artifact, but I did not have the need to use it till now. You need to wear it tomorrow."
Intrigued, Yetao immediately put on the stud and insisted Yuchen do the same. "Think something with your mind and I'll try to get it," he said, excitement evident in his voice.
"Yetao gege..." Yuchen thought without opening his mouth.
"Wow, I heard it!" Yetao exclaimed mentally, his thoughts reaching Yuchen clearly.
"...you're the dumbest man in this world," Yuchen completed his thought.
Instantly annoyed, Yetao moved to throw hands at him, but Yuchen had already darted away, leaving Yetao sulking in his wake.
Returning to his room, Yetao finally allowed himself some much-needed rest, the magical stud still glimmering in his ear as he drifted off to sleep.