Night deepened, and the clamor of the snack street had long since faded.
Rain Spirit Grilled Fish Shop stood on the famous food street beside East Sea Academy. During the day, it was packed with people, but now only silence remained. A few lanterns still hung lit along both sides of the street, their dim yellow halos spilling across the bluestone pavement and casting mottled shadows. Every so often, a stray cat meowed in the distance, accompanied by the crisp echoes of late pedestrians' footsteps on the stone slabs.
On the second floor of the grilled fish shop, moonlight filtered through the window gauze and spread a layer of soft silver light across the floor.
Demon Spirit lay on the bed, breathing evenly and deeply. She was curled on her side, hugging a fluffy pillow—merchandise she had designed herself. Her pink hoodie hung over the back of a chair beside the bed, the two signature pom-poms at the back of its hood swaying gently in the night breeze. Moonlight fell across her face, illuminating her small features, which still carried a faint smile even in sleep. Her long lashes cast pale shadows beneath her eyelids.
Yet beneath those shadows, faint bluish discoloration could be seen.
They were traces of exhaustion.
Her breathing was light and slow. Occasionally, she frowned slightly, as though having an unpleasant dream, but her expression soon relaxed again as she sank back into deep sleep. Her little mouth pouted faintly, as if she were muttering something in her dream.
By the bed, Huo Yuhao stood silently.
His gaze moved away from Demon Spirit's face and fell upon the golden figure before him.
The Golden Dragon King had appeared in his complete human form—a wild mane of golden hair draped loosely over his shoulders, his features so