My Demon Friends-Chapter 456 - 452 Master Ming Master Ming

The reason Zhou Li was so nervous was largely due to the formidable presence of Master Ming, who, as it happened, was his... Predecessor? Zhou Li held him in high regard.

This brought him considerable pressure.

Moreover, to some extent, the current Master Ming and he were on opposing paths—Zhou Li kept growing while Master Ming kept weakening. As time relentlessly pushed people forward, as long as Zhou Li lived, each day he survived meant one less day of life for Master Ming. Now, he had to meet Master Ming. The pressure was immense.

Huai Xu, on the other hand, was nervous because it had been too long since she had seen this teacher. She wasn’t very confident about her recent situation, fearing she might disappoint him.

It wasn’t hard to understand. When she first met her teacher, she was considered at the pinnacle of combat power among human Heavenly Masters—one of the pinnacles. After becoming a Demon, she also became a Great Demon renowned for her combat prowess, especially with her innate talent for swift attacks, making her inherently unbeatable against anyone.

But now?

If her teacher asked about her recent situation...

I just made the top ten on the national server?

Besides, she feared that after such a long time, her teacher and she might have grown estranged.

This was the scariest part.

"Teacher, lately..." Huai Xu hesitated, then asked, "How has he been?"

"Not much has changed." Hong Ran casually glanced at her, discerning her thoughts, and chuckled softly. "The last time we met, he was talking about you, reminiscing about the old days... Old people love to ramble on."

"You’re older than Teacher, right?" Huai Xu said.

"Not really." Hong Ran calmly replied, "My name is Li Hongran, born in ’94, and I’m only twenty-six this year."

"What about in ten years?"

"Then I’ll have been born in ’04."

"...Since Teacher remembers me, why doesn’t he come to see me?" Huai Xu shifted the conversation back, breathing a sigh of relief. After the earlier digression, she felt much more relaxed. "I’m not with Zhou Li every day anymore. He lives in the dormitory, and I haven’t followed him there; I live at home. Teacher could totally come see me if he misses me."

"How do you know he hasn’t seen you?" Hong Ran retorted. "Maybe he knows all about your recent situation?"

"Really?" Huai Xu was stunned.

"He’s always watching this world." Seeing that she seemed frightened, Hong Ran couldn’t help but laugh again. "Doesn’t it sound tiring?"

Huai Xu suddenly puffed out her chest, though her figure wasn’t particularly well-endowed today.

She was no longer nervous. After all, what’s the use in being scared now? It won’t change anything.

"We’re heading out," Hong Ran quietly reminded them. A delicate short staff appeared in her hand, and she tapped it gently on the ground.

WHOOSH!

Their vision blurred, and the light intensified.

They had arrived at the Mirror Zone.

The Mirror Zone was a peculiar place, belonging neither to the Old Land World nor the human world, yet connected to both. It was situated between them, a special space developed by Demons using fragments of the Old Land World and a so-called ’Divine Artifact’ allegedly brought from their original world. This space itself was one of Yu Country’s highest technological achievements and an important research center.

The Great Demons were utilizing the capabilities of the Mirror Zone to temporarily isolate the rules of the human world, allowing Zhou Li to confront Master Ming directly.

The area still looked as Zhou Li remembered it: a mountain hollow, a cluster of small Western-style houses.

The core area was, naturally, out of sight.

Hong Ran didn’t move but said to Zhou Li and his companions, "You go ahead. Master Ming is right there waiting for you."

"Aren’t you coming?" Zhou Li subconsciously looked at her.

"I have some matters to attend to in the Mirror Zone," Hong Ran replied, her smile serene. The awareness of Zhou Li’s reliance on her at that moment pleased her greatly. She raised a hand to straighten a crease on his clothing and continued, "Go on. He’s just a very old man, very amiable. You might not have much time together, but don’t worry too much. Just chat casually; it’s not that formal."

"Oh..." Zhou Li grew even more nervous.

With such limited time, what could I say that wouldn’t feel like a waste?

He turned to glance beside him. Thankfully, Huai Xu is still here.

"Don’t be afraid..." Hong Ran continued to speak, then slowly floated up. "I’m off."

Hong Ran had left. Zhou Li felt a bit lost.

"We..." Zhou Li looked at the distant houses, about to say something to Huai Xu. But when he turned to look beside him—where did she go?

...

Thankfully, Lord Dumpling is still here.

Zhou Li lowered his head, and Tuanzi looked up, her small head perfectly round, her eyes just as round. Man and cat gazed at each other.

"Let’s go too." Zhou Li took a deep breath, stopped overthinking, and set off with firm steps.

「At the entrance of a small Western-style house.」

Zhou Li walked closer, holding Tuanzi.

Inside the door was the main hall, its layout similar to those commonly found in rural Western-style houses, though likely with better facilities and decorations. An elderly man with graying hair, dressed simply, sat at a table drinking tea from a thermos. Huai Xu stood beside him, visibly unhappy yet well-behaved.

The two Demons spoke softly.

Of course, Huai Xu was upset. Her Teacher had woken up long ago but hadn’t come to see her, which naturally made her want to throw a little tantrum.

Master Ming played the role of a parent. The parent, admittedly, was in the wrong—rather like promising to go to the market before leaving but instead running off to work elsewhere for half a year. However, a parent wouldn’t respond too harshly to a child’s tantrum, only offering customary tolerance and a few quiet, soothing words.

It wasn’t much different from a typical human family. A few quiet words of comfort, and she was placated.

"Master Ming!" It was Tuanzi in Zhou Li’s arms who spoke first, her crisp voice calling out. Then she wriggled out of Zhou Li’s arms, hit the ground, and darted straight towards Master Ming.

Master Ming quickly bent down to pick her up.

After straightening up, he then looked towards Zhou Li at the door.

The moment their eyes met, a sudden wind swept across the ground. An inexplicable sense of oppression welled up within Zhou Li, and his body began to feel unwell.

It seemed the isolation of the Mirror Zone wasn’t perfect.

Zhou Li endured the sensation and continued to look at Master Ming. The image he had seen in the dream within the Mirror Zone merged with the silhouette he had seen on Yan City Street, gradually coalescing into the figure of the Master Ming before him now.

Then he bowed slightly.

"Greetings, Master Ming."

"Come over and sit," Master Ming said, holding the thermos, his expression kind. "You seem a bit tense."

"Alright."

"Don’t be nervous."

"Alright."

Zhou Li walked over and sat to Master Ming’s left. But how should I start this conversation?

But Lord Dumpling was less introverted than him.

"Master Ming, Master Ming..."

"What is it?"

"Lord Dumpling has a question for you!"

"What’s the question?"

Master Ming’s eyes were cloudy and dull, typical of many elderly people, but Zhou Li had witnessed the intensity of his gaze in dreams. Like most elders nearing the end of their lives, Master Ming’s hair was gray but well-groomed. After all, as a respected teacher, one must pay attention to one’s image.

Just judging by appearance, he might seem a bit stern, but his expression was always very kind.

The old man leaned slightly forward, bowing his head and tilting his ear towards the small cat in his arms—it was a very heartwarming scene.

Seeing this, Zhou Li’s expression softened further.

"Master Ming, Master Ming..." Tuanzi’s tone was like she was uttering an incantation such as "Mirror, mirror, on the wall" or "Open sesame!" Then she asked, "Do you know where Your Highness is?"

"Yes, I do," answered Master Ming.

"Huh, meow?" This answer seemed to surprise the little cat, but she quickly pressed on, "Then where is Your Highness?"

"I can’t tell you."

"Why won’t you tell Lord Dumpling?"

"Because Your Highness doesn’t want Lord Dumpling to know."

"Has Your Highness woken up, meow?"

"Your Highness wasn’t asleep, you know," Master Ming’s tone gradually grew closer to Tuanzi’s, though his voice was a bit rough, like a grandfather coaxing his granddaughter. "If Your Highness wants Lord Dumpling to know, she will tell Lord Dumpling."

"Why won’t she come out?" Tuanzi tilted her head, her eyes confused, a question she absolutely couldn’t figure out. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"Perhaps... she thinks Hong Ran is more suitable."

"Put Lord Dumpling down."

"Doesn’t Lord Dumpling want to play with me anymore?"

"Lord Dumpling doesn’t want to play with you anymore." After saying this, Tuanzi paused to think, then added, "If Lord Dumpling wants to play with you, she will tell you."

"...What a clever little imp."

Zhou Li, meanwhile, sat to the side, silently observing their conversation. He, too, was naturally interested in the question Tuanzi had asked. In fact, not just him; all Demons and humans were likely interested... with the possible exception of a certain Great Demon currently pondering whether to step forward and confess her gaming addiction.

It wasn’t until Tuanzi ran over to hug his legs, climbing up bit by bit like an agile little monkey.

Only then did Zhou Li pick her up and hold her in his arms. When he looked up again, his eyes met those of the old man before him. The old man’s gaze was calm, and he offered Zhou Li a slight, smiling nod, as if in greeting or to convey warmth.

But he felt as though his thoughts had been completely seen through.