Jiang Ziyang's words did not suggest that the human race itself possessed any particular distinction. Rather, humans had lived and multiplied around Azure Sea Lake for over ten thousand years. With the passage of time, the races had mingled, and many humans had acquired demon bloodlines, giving rise to half-demons.
In the Southern Shu Lands, humans with half-demon blood had always been far from rare.
Though pure-blooded demons often despised and belittled those of mixed ancestry, the human race did not reject them, accepting their origins without reservation.
More importantly, these half-demon communities wielded considerable power among the humans of Azure Sea Lake.
The Third Prince of Azure Sea Lake before them, Gu Xing, himself carried both the demon blood of Blazing Sun Mountain and the human blood of Azure Sea Lake. Naturally, Jiang Ziyang's remark held another layer of meaning.
Gu Rui's brows drew together slightly. Changing the subject, he said gently, "Little brother, you actually know human customs so thoroughly, yet I've never heard you mention any of this before."
Quick-witted as he was, Guizhi immediately understood that Gu Rui intended to smooth things over. He picked up the thread. "Perhaps living at Azure Sea Lake for so long, surrounded by demons every day, has instead sparked some curiosity about humans in the Third Prince."
He then asked unhurriedly, "Has Your Highness ever explored human literary traditions? Poetry and prose, for instance, or calligraphy, painting, and classical writings?"
Guizhi and Gu Rui's words were meant to suggest that, though the Third Prince appeared friendly toward humans, he was merely using Jiang Ziyang to strike up a conversation and had no real knowledge of them.
In other words, was he merely playing along for the occasion? Like Gu Feng, he had no desire to understand humans; he only wanted