Ascending the Demon Realm

He quieted for a moment, his heartbeat gradually steadying. "Remember how you loved my mother's jerky when we were kids?"

"Mhm."

"You'd always save half for me..."

I froze. Was he...?

"I... tasted your saliva back then."

"Ew!" I shuddered involuntarily.

I couldn't believe my childhood self had done something so shamelessly gross!

What's worse, Xue Ling had eaten it without hesitation!

Truly something only cubs would do.

What malice could exist between two innocent children?

He nervously vanished from behind me, resuming human form to kneel obediently by my desk. His thumb nail bore a miniature chibi version of me.

"Sorry," he suddenly murmured, bowing his head.

A laugh burst from me. "Pfft—ha!"

I collapsed onto the floor, laughter shaking my body.

He watched anxiously from his kneeling position, as if fearing my rejection.

Tears streamed down my face. How freeing to drop pretenses around him.

Wiping my eyes, I sat up. "Why apologize? I'm the one who made you eat gross stuff."

"Didn't feel gross then," he clarified earnestly.

I waved urgently. "Stop! It's weird discussing this as adults."

His eyes crinkled, lips curving slightly.

Resuming my drawing on his nails, I felt tension dissipate. "Kids have no filters, do they?"

"Mhm." His shoulders relaxed completely.

Nowadays I even use isolation spray in my mouth.

"But how did you recognize human scent later?" Even with my saliva, he should've thought it capybara flavor.

After prolonged silence, he began, "At Divine Academy's Law Division... during evidence inspection..." His voice trailed off.

Like Yu Tu, he'd learned through... exposure.

His expression darkened.

I blew gently on his nail art—my chibi self in sunhat and frilly dress from elementary days.

"Done! Cute?" I grinned expectantly.

He studied the design solemnly before nodding.

"Looks like childhood you. Feels like old times." His gaze softened.

I beamed. "Yeah!"

The heavy atmosphere evaporated.

"Carefree days."

"True."

"Miss those times." He stared at the artwork nostalgically.

Click.

Xue Ling's head snapped toward the door, smile vanishing. His tiger ears swiveled forward.

Silence hung thickly.

Every hair on my body stood alert—human instincts awakening.

Yu Tu's vulpine face emerged from the doorframe, pink demonic mist curling from his snarling jaws. The gentle fox had transformed into a storybook demon.

Xue Ling shifted into white tiger form—but instead of attacking, he cowered behind my arm like a housecat.

Yu Tu blinked in astonishment.

So did I.

This was unprecedented—a celestial tiger submitting to a nine-tailed fox. Such shame could get Xue Ling exiled.

The fox shimmered into human form, leaning casually against the doorframe. "Xue Ling. Explain."

The tiger peeked out. "We're childhood friends."

Yu Tu's eyes narrowed. "How quaint. I'm her preschool... intimate... friend." Each word dripped emphasis.

They flanked me at the table, gazes locked like rival cats.

Xue Ling maintained calm. "She often spoke of you in first grade. Cried sometimes."

I blinked. Had I?

"Truly?" Yu Tu's ears relaxed, transforming into human ones. He propped his chin happily. "You missed me that much?"

"Especially when you left," Xue Ling added.

Yu Tu chuckled fondly. "I was rather clingy then."

"Me too," Xue Ling admitted.

"You?" Yu Tu's brow arched skeptically. "A celestial tiger needing others?"

Xue Ling's brows knit. "Family expectations..." 

Surprisingly, recognition flashed in Yu Tu's eyes—two scions bound by duty.