"Where did Liu Haoyu go?" Yao Yuxuan asked as he sat patiently, feeling the soft jade comb that A-Mei delicately ran through his long black hair. The rhythmic strokes were calming, each one working through the tangles with the practiced ease of someone who had done this many times before.
"His Majesty has important matters to attend to," A-Mei responded quietly, her small hands steady as she continued combing. "He's not usually away from the demonic realm for this long. There are many things in the mortal world he needs to handle."
Yao Yuxuan bit his lip, hesitating for a moment. He was unsure how much to pry into the affairs of the demon prince, and there was no telling how much information these two ghostly servants were allowed to share. He wasn't even sure how much he could trust them. Despite their young appearances, they had loyalties that lay far beyond their innocent smiles. After a few moments of silence and internal conflict, Yao Yuxuan decided that since Liu Haoyu hadn't killed him yet, there was no reason to fear asking a few questions. He could afford to be cautious, but he would ease into it.
Meili continued her work, gently separating Yao Yuxuan's long strands of hair. When she finished, she handed him a small hand mirror, holding it delicately as though it were something precious. She stepped back a little, watching him with large, hopeful eyes. "What does the honored guest think?" she asked, her voice a soft murmur.
Yao Yuxuan looked into the mirror, inspecting his reflection before smiling. "You can just call me brother," he said warmly, his expression softening. His hair was sleek and smooth now, tamed by A-Mei's careful attention. After a few seconds of thought, he added, "A-Mei, do you know how to do makeup?"
The young girl's eyes widened at the unexpected question, her round face flushing slightly. She tugged at the edges of her simple pink servant's dress, clearly embarrassed. "I haven't learned how," she admitted. "Ever since I became a ghost, I've worked for His Majesty, and he doesn't have ladies around… so I never had a reason to learn."
Yao Yuxuan chuckled softly, finding her innocence endearing. "I could teach you," he offered. "Would you be able to get some makeup for us to practice with?"
Meili's eyes lit up with excitement, her earlier shyness quickly replaced by enthusiasm. "Gege! You'll really teach me? Do you mean it?"
He nodded, his smile growing wider. "When I was your age, I used to help my older sisters with their makeup. I even wear it myself sometimes. I think it would be fun for us to practice together—I'm a little out of practice, though."
Her joy was palpable, but there was a flicker of hesitation in her eyes. "His Majesty left us some money in case you needed anything… but I wouldn't know what to buy. Maybe we should wait for him to come back first?"
Yao Yuxuan considered this for a moment before nodding in agreement. "That's probably a good idea. Besides, I can't exactly walk by myself yet, so we couldn't leave on our own anyway. When do you think he'll be back?"
Meili's gaze drifted to the window, where the sun was climbing higher into the sky. She sighed softly. "I'm not sure. His Majesty didn't say when he would return."
"Ah," Yao Yuxuan replied, his voice growing softer. He sensed that the moment was right to bring up the questions that had been building in his mind. "I don't know much about the world anymore," he began, his tone careful. "I've been in seclusion for so long… would it be alright if I asked you a few questions?"
Meili hesitated, clearly uncertain, but after a brief pause, she nodded. "I'll do my best, Gege."
Yao Yuxuan smiled gently, feeling reassured by her willingness to help. "How long will it take for us to reach the demonic realm?" he asked. "That's where we're headed, right?"
"Yes," Meili responded, nodding solemnly. "We're on our way back. If we traveled nonstop on foot, it would take about a month. But given your health… we'll need to take a lot of breaks. It might take two, maybe three months. His Majesty also has unfinished business in the mortal realm before he can return home."
Yao Yuxuan frowned, his fingers nervously brushing against the collar of his robe. "I'm sorry for being such a burden," he muttered, clearly uncomfortable. "I wish I weren't so sick. If I get hurt again, I might suffer serious qi deviation."
Meili's eyes widened in alarm, and she immediately shook her head. "No, no, Gege! You're not a burden! You've been so kind to us… and even if you were sick forever, I'd be happy to take care of you! You're the first living person to ever call me and my brother cute." Her voice softened, a flicker of vulnerability showing as she spoke.
Yao Yuxuan felt a wave of emotion rise within him, surprised by how deeply her words touched him. The sincerity in her voice stirred something inside him, and he found himself wanting to offer comfort. With a warm smile, he motioned for both Meili and Qin Lei to come closer. The two ghostly children hesitated for a brief moment, then stepped forward. Gently, Yao Yuxuan wrapped his arms around them in a soft, comforting embrace. "I've been alone for a long time," he admitted quietly. "It's nice to have the two of you here, especially when Liu Haoyu is away."
They stayed like that for a few moments, sharing a silent understanding. For Yao Yuxuan, it was a rare moment of peace. As the tension in the air eased, the three of them spent the rest of the afternoon in quiet conversation, even sharing a few jokes. Qin Lei, who had remained silent but attentive, poured tea for Yao Yuxuan as the sunlight continued to warm the room.
After a while, Yao Yuxuan remembered the real reason he had initiated the conversation. He had skirted around the topic long enough, and his curiosity finally got the better of him. "You call Liu Haoyu 'His Majesty,'" he began cautiously. "Is he some sort of demon king?"
Meili glanced nervously around the room before answering. "He's technically the fifth prince of the demon realm," she explained, her voice a bit quieter now. "But he's expected to take over as ruler one day. That's why some of his most loyal servants—like me and my brother—call him His Majesty, even though he hasn't claimed the throne yet."
Yao Yuxuan's heart skipped a beat, shock flashing through him. His fingers tightened around the delicate porcelain cup in his hands. "He's really the fifth prince?" Yao Yuxuan's voice trembled slightly as he spoke. "He's really the fifth prince? D-doesn't that mean he's…"
"A dragon?" a deep voice interrupted from behind him.
Yao Yuxuan nearly jumped out of his skin. His heart pounded as he spun around, startled by the sudden intrusion. Liu Haoyu stood behind him, his presence as commanding and intimidating as ever. Yao Yuxuan hadn't heard him enter the room, and his sudden appearance sent a jolt of adrenaline through his veins.
Meili immediately dropped into a low bow, her expression respectful as she backed away from the two men. She said nothing, retreating to stand near the door in silence. The air around them shifted, growing colder under the weight of Liu Haoyu's commanding aura.
"Yes." Liu Haoyu's lavender eyes gleamed with something dark and dangerous as a smirk curled at the corner of his lips. "I am the youngest of the six dragons of hell, the fifth son of the Night Dragon. I am the Spirit Dragon."
Yao Yuxuan's mind reeled as the weight of the revelation hit him. His hands trembled, his breath catching in his throat. No wonder Liu Haoyu's presence had always felt so overwhelming—he was a dragon! Not just any dragon, but one of the legendary dragons of hell, beings of immense power that ruled their realms with an iron grip. Yao Yuxuan had heard stories of the dragons, the six heavenly dragons and the six hell dragons, all of whom were said to be more powerful than the ascended gods themselves. The realization sent shivers down his spine.
"I…" Yao Yuxuan fumbled for words, his thoughts a chaotic whirlwind. How could he ever hope to stand against a being like this? A dragon was a force beyond reckoning, a creature whose very presence could bend the laws of nature. After a moment of stunned silence, he finally managed to say, "That's… that's incredible."
Liu Haoyu's smirk deepened, his gaze filled with amusement. "I suppose you could say that," he replied, his voice smooth and cold, like the edge of a blade.
Yao Yuxuan stared at him in disbelief, his mind struggling to comprehend what this meant for him. No wonder Liu Haoyu had been able to so easily overpower him. A dragon's power was unmatched, and Yao Yuxuan couldn't imagine how anyone—demon or otherwise—could stand a chance against such a creature.
"Does that mean… I was fighting against a dragon back then?" Yao Yuxuan asked, his voice a mix of awe and fear as memories of their battle resurfaced.
Liu Haoyu chuckled darkly, the sound low and rumbling in his chest. "Indeed. Although I wasn't using the full extent of my power when we fought. If I had been, you wouldn't be sitting here talking to me right now." He tilted his head. "You're lucky I need you."
Yao Yuxuan frowned and raised an eyebrow curiously. Although a believable statement, the maestro could tell in all of their previous battles with one another that Liu Haoyu had, in fact, been fighting with nearly all of his might. If it weren't for Yao Yuxuan's illness, the two would be evenly matched.
"What do you need me for, exactly?" Yao Yuxuan dared to ask.
The dragon scoffed. "You'll know soon enough."