The gentle breeze stirred.
Moonlight spilled like a silver curtain across the surface of the artificial lake, its waters rippling with faint undulations.
This city-state, granted its freedom,
Still glittered with lights, its many beastmen toiling diligently.
Chen Yu stood motionless by the artificial lake, like a statue, gazing for a long time at the mirror-like surface, as if contemplating the moon on the water, or perhaps his own reflection.
Thump!
A stone, tossed from nearby, struck the lake, shattering the water's tranquility. The moon in the water fragmented into pieces of jade, drifting on the surface and breaking the peace of the place.
It also roused Chen Yu, who had been like a stone carving.
"Who?" kanδん
Chen Yu, by the lake, glanced around. From the darkness, the little demoness approached with a smile, her hands clasped behind her back. She raised a hand to her forehead in greeting.
"Yo—"
Seeing it was the little demoness, Chen Yu turned his gaze back to the lake.
A single small stone had limited impact on the water's surface. Faint ripples could already be seen spreading across it.
The fragmented moon in the lake, carried by the ripples, reformed into a bright, full disc.
"Why are you sitting here? Isn't this place still under construction?" The little demoness, joining Chen Yu, smoothed her long skirt and sat down on the ground.
Leaning back and supporting herself with her hands, she gazed at Chen Yu's profile.
"Why are you standing? Sit down."
Chen Yu remained silent, but he sat down beside the little demoness.
"It's hard to imagine that not long ago, this city-state was as broken as a ruin. Now it already has the semblance of a city-state, and even an artificial lake." The little demoness, bathed in moonlight, smiled gently. "This lake was made with those water condensers you developed, wasn't it?"
"Yes."
Chen Yu, also supporting himself with his hands behind him, murmured.
The chaotic abyssal planes were subject to many laws, one of which prevented the extraction of water. To obtain large quantities of water, one could only rely on water condensers to gather it.
Fortunately, he had not stopped acquiring blueprints for water condensers during this time.
The number of water condensers in the city-state had surpassed a thousand.
With over a thousand rare-grade water condensers, combined with Chen Yu's critical hits, the daily water output was astonishingly high, which led to the creation of this nascent artificial lake.
"So luxurious."
The little demoness tutted softly, shaking her head as she looked at the lake.
"Even now, some people in the abyss might still lack the freedom to utilize water. Yet you've used thousands of water condensers to create a decorative lake. I wonder if they'd want to bite you to death if they knew."
"That's not entirely accurate."
Chen Yu's eyes lifted slightly, a smile appearing.
"This lake belongs to the city-state. I am merely a manager with some authority here. In the eyes of the survivors of this city-state, this lake belongs to Kailin."
"Tch~"
The little demoness pouted, unimpressed by Chen Yu's words.
The moonlight remained as bright as ever.
Chen Yu and the little demoness sat quietly by the lake, facing the gentle breeze, watching the calm water before them, neither speaking further.
Suddenly—
"Are you troubled by something?"
The little demoness asked casually. Chen Yu looked at her in surprise. Feeling his gaze, the little demoness quickly put on a stern face.
"Sona told me to come and talk to you."
Perhaps feeling that explanation wasn't enough, the little demoness frowned and added earnestly.
"Don't misunderstand, Sona really sent me. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother with you. It's not like I came because I'm worried about you."
All the while, Chen Yu watched her with gentle eyes.
Regardless of whether the little demoness's words were true or not, Chen Yu reached out and ruffled her hair.
"What are you doing? Don't touch my head." The little demoness frowned and pushed Chen Yu's hand away. "Don't think you can act recklessly just because you're in a bad mood, Great Demon King."
"This is the transmission of affection, don't you understand?"
Chen Yu suddenly raised his hand and tapped the little demoness on the head.
The little demoness yelped in pain, her eyes wide and ready to shout. But she stopped when she saw Chen Yu's calm profile as he gazed at the lake, and pursed her lips.
"Are you thinking about Hei Dou and the others?"
Chen Yu looked at her in surprise, his eyes filled with confusion.
"Why would you say that?"
"Their temperaments, they've all changed significantly after merging with the Divine Generals. Are you blaming yourself?" the little demoness asked, a hint of caution in her voice.
"Did Sona tell you to ask this too?" Chen Yu raised an eyebrow.
"Mm..."
The little demoness hesitated, not giving a clear answer. Chen Yu reached out again and gently stroked her head.
"Stop pretending. Sona would absolutely not ask something like this. She's an exceptionally mature and rational person. She might have noticed I was in a bad mood, but she wouldn't have sent you to find me. You came here yourself, didn't you?"
"I..."
The little demoness's lips moved, but she couldn't speak for a long time. Chen Yu then suddenly smirked.
"You're a Great Demon King, aren't you? Logically, your personality should be very domineering. Is this personality really suitable for controlling a Demon King's Fortress? Tell me honestly, did you inherit the family business?"
"Nonsense!"
Immediately, the little demoness yelled, her eyes wide.
"I personally conquered my Demon King's Fortress bit by bit. Don't insult me with useless terms like inheriting a family business."
"Oh?"
"Have I been too nice to you these past few days?" the little demoness glared. "Let me tell you, in my prime, you wouldn't even dare to look at me without kneeling. You should be happy that I'm still treating you like a person right now, instead of lecturing me."
"Yes, yes, your humble subordinate greets the Great Demon King."
Chen Yu cupped his hands in a bow, his gaze returning to the moon in the lake, and fell silent.
The little demoness, basking in Chen Yu's flattering deference, noticed the change in his expression. She withdrew her arrogance and murmured softly.
"What's wrong with you, really?"
"Even if their temperaments have changed slightly, there's nothing that can be done about it. Even if you didn't use the Pointing Generals' Talisman, as your foundation grows in the future, their personalities cannot remain the same as before."
"They all change!"
"Take my early subordinates, for instance. As I conquered more cities, I appointed them as regional governors, and their temperaments changed too."
"Power, status, and wealth all contribute to changes in one's heart."
"You need to understand, and you need to accept it."
Uncharacteristically, the little demoness uttered a profound statement. Chen Yu, sitting by the lake, couldn't help but look at her with renewed respect.
In the past, she was either bickering or on her way to bickering.
Sarcasm was her forte.
Inciting trouble was her hobby.
For her to say something like this so seriously was quite a feat.
"I understand all of that, of course."
A hint of a smile flickered in Chen Yu's eyes. Hearing this, the little demoness frowned.
"Then you..."
Suddenly, Chen Yu's expression darkened, and he whispered.
"I just... miss home."