The darkness of dawn still shrouded the garden as Bai Ye and Lian stood outside, preparing to depart for the underworld. Mochen bid them farewell, his eyes serious with concern.
"Be careful, both of you," Mochen cautioned. "Bai Ye, please take care of Lian. The underworld is no place for a mortal."
Lian took a deep breath, his determination evident on his face. "I want to go, Mochen. I'm not scared of any demons."
Mochen and Bai Ye exchanged amused glances, chuckling at Lian's bravado.
Bai Ye assured Mochen, "Don't worry, I'll keep Lian safe. I just need to speak with my father."
Mochen nodded, though his eyes still held a hint of concern.
After their goodbyes, Bai Ye created a portal, but this time, it was different. He pricked two of his fingers, and his blood dripped onto the floor, forming a glowing, crimson portal.
Bai Ye offered Lian his hand, his eyes locked onto Lian's. "This portal will take us to the underworld. The journey will last a few hours, but we'll be okay."
Lian nodded, though his eyes betrayed a hint of fear.
As they stepped into the portal, Lian expected a smooth transition, but instead, he found himself screaming as their bodies hurtled through the void at an incredible speed. His grip on Bai Ye's robe was tight, his knuckles white with fear.
Bai Ye laughed, his eyes sparkling with amusement, but he eventually helped Lian, holding him close as they traversed the portal.
After what felt like an eternity, they emerged on the other side, finding themselves in the underworld. The air was thick with the stench of decay, and the darkness was oppressive, like a physical weight.
Lian's eyes widened as he took in their surroundings. The underworld was exactly as he had been told: a realm of eternal darkness, where the very fabric of existence seemed twisted and corrupted.
Bai Ye's hand still held Lian's, his grip reassuring. "We're here," he said, his voice low and steady.
Lian nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. He had never felt so small, so vulnerable. But with Bai Ye by his side, he steeled himself for what lay ahead.
-
As they arrived in the underworld, Bai Ye stood straight, his demeanor instantly transforming into a stern, imposing presence. Lian noticed the change and felt a shiver run down his spine.
Bai Ye's eyes, once bright and warm, had turned a deep, piercing red. Lian's curiosity got the better of him, and he asked, "Old monster, why are your eyes red?"
Bai Ye's expression remained unyielding, his voice low and even. "This is just me bringing out the demon side in me. I'm the Demon Prince; I need to rule these people as one."
Lian nodded, his mind racing with questions. But before he could ask another, he whispered in Bai Ye's ear, "Old monster, how about you make me look like a demon so I don't get killed or anything?"
Bai Ye's gaze turned to Lian, his eyes narrowing slightly as if considering the request. For a moment, Lian thought he had made a ridiculous suggestion, but then Bai Ye's expression changed, and he nodded to himself.
With a wave of his hand, Bai Ye transformed Lian's outfit. The light blue robe with intricate gold and white patterns was replaced by a dark blue robe with red highlights. Lian's hair was pulled back into a sleek ponytail, secured with a red ribbon that flowed down his back like a river of fire.
Lian couldn't help but admire his new look. He felt a surge of confidence, his heart pounding with excitement.
Just as Lian was about to move forward, Bai Ye caught him, holding him in place. With a swift motion, Bai Ye attached a delicate hair accessory to Lian's head, the clip snapping into place.
Lian turned to ask, "Why did you put this accessory on my head?"
Bai Ye's smile was enigmatic. "You'll understand soon. Let's go."
With that, Bai Ye led the way, Lian following closely behind, his heart pounding with anticipation and fear. The underworld stretched out before them, a twisted realm of darkness and shadow.
As they walked, Lian noticed that the monsters and demons they passed on the road seemed to be terrified of Bai Ye. Every single demon or monster that caught sight of them would scurry away, hiding in the shadows.
Lian found this amusing, a thought forming in his mind. He liked being feared, weirdly enough. As someone who had always been seen as childish and dumb, the fact that he was being feared simply because he was standing with Bai Ye was a novel experience.
A sly grin spread across Lian's face as he walked beside Bai Ye, feeling a sense of pride and importance. He glanced up at Bai Ye, who was walking with his usual calm and collected demeanor.
Bai Ye's red eyes seemed to gleam in the dim light, his sharp features chiseled from the shadows. Lian felt a shiver run down his spine as he gazed at Bai Ye, his heart pounding with a mix of excitement and fear.
The underworld seemed to stretch on forever, a twisted realm of dark alleys and crumbling buildings. Lian stuck close to Bai Ye, feeling a sense of safety in the demon prince's presence.
As they turned a corner, a group of demons scurried across their path, their eyes wide with fear. Lian watched them disappear into the shadows, a chuckle rising to his lips.
Bai Ye glanced down at him, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. "Enjoying the fear, little one?" he asked, his voice low and teasing.
Lian's grin faltered, his face flushing with embarrassment. But Bai Ye just smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
As they walked, Lian couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and importance. He had never been one to enjoy being feared, but there was something about being by Bai Ye's side that made him feel powerful.
They eventually arrived at the bank of a river, and Lian's eyes widened in surprise. "Ah, ehm, Dear Prince, is your father inside the river? Is he a fish or a water demon?"
Bai Ye's expression remained calm, but Lian could sense a hint of amusement behind his eyes. Instead of responding, Bai Ye simply held Lian by the waist and flew over the river.
As they reached the other side, Lian looked back and noticed a massive serpent swimming in the water. He immediately felt a surge of fear and moved closer to Bai Ye.
Bai Ye smiled and walked over to the serpent, whose head was sticking out of the river. The serpent was enormous, its body as thick as a house.
Lian watched in shock as Bai Ye patted the serpent's head, and it swam back into the water. Lian's mouth opened and closed several times as he tried to process what he had just seen.
"What...what monster is that?" Lian finally managed to ask. "Is it your pet, some kind of demonic deity?"
Bai Ye raised an eyebrow, leaving Lian hanging. He then turned and walked into the massive mansion in front of them, its dark roof and walls looming ominously.
Lian followed Bai Ye, his heart still racing with fear and excitement. The mansion's interior was just as imposing, with dark wood panels and lanterns casting flickering shadows on the walls.
As they walked, Lian couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation. What lay ahead, and what would happen when they met Bai Ye's father?