The Return of the Demon Lord: Beach Shorts and Buns

In New Calendar Year 642, early summer.

Today marked the anniversary of the Great Convergence of the Human, Demonic, and Beast races.

Banners stretched across the long streets, and slogans proclaiming the unity of the three races adorned the lampposts.

Later, a grand float parade would commence, its procession starting from the four corners of Holy City and culminating at the Demonic Palace in the city center, where the festivities would truly begin.

Holy City teemed with tourists from other regions.

While their own cities also held celebrations, none could rival the vibrant atmosphere of the Demonic race’s Holy City, which pulsed with an unmatched liveliness.

The Demonic race was known for its fiery and uninhibited nature, and their beauty was exceptionally striking.

Legend claimed the Demonic race’s captivating beauty stemmed from their insatiable desires, a weapon capable of luring anyone into depravity.

Yet, in the current era, pure-blood demonic cultivators were becoming scarce, replaced by an increasing number of hybrids.

The primary distinction between the Demonic race and ordinary humans now lay solely in their slightly longer lifespans.

On the day of the anniversary, the Demonic Botanical Garden was closed.

Officially, it was shut down for maintenance, though many on online forums griped about the glacial pace of repairs.

‘Seven months already!’ one post lamented. ‘Was the Demonic Botanical Garden bombed? Does maintenance really take this long?’

Little did they know the palpable tension that permeated the Demonic Botanical Garden at that very moment.

Even less did they comprehend the true danger that now surrounded them.

“The demonic energy has grown denser!”

“Has the barrier opened?!”

“Have all the esteemed elders arrived?”

“Can we now calculate the exact time of the barrier’s collapse, based on the rate of the demonic energy’s rise?!”

Bai Yu anxiously questioned his subordinate in charge of the task.

The cultivators participating in this mission were all reclusive grand elders, beings who had lived for millennia, whom ordinary people would never encounter in a lifetime.

Currently, over a hundred such formidable figures had gathered within this botanical garden.

Yet, even with their combined might, they could not guarantee the mission’s success.

For the Demon Lord was returning.

The very demon who had named this city ‘Holy City,’ the former master of the Demonic Palace, and the architect of the Millennium Chaos.

“Dan Fusheng.”

These three words were forced through Bai Yu’s teeth, his voice barely a tremor.

“The barrier will shatter at nine o’clock, six minutes, and twelve seconds tonight!”

A man’s voice resonated directly in Bai Yu’s ear, a clear sign of sound transmission magic.

Only cultivators were involved in this operation.

“There are still over ten hours to go, Agent Bai. Would you like something to eat?” his subordinate inquired.

“No… no, wait. Perhaps I should eat something after all.”

Bai Yu found himself in a state of extreme tension, his stomach clenching in spasms.

He had not yet reached the realm where one could forgo mortal food, and the impending confrontation would undoubtedly drain his physical and mental energy.

‘What if my legs give out when I face Dan Fusheng later, all because I didn’t eat?’ he worried.

Bai Yu requested his subordinate bring him a bowl of stir-fried noodles.

However, after only a few bites, his appetite vanished.

His superiors had their reasons for appointing Bai Yu as the negotiator.

They feared that a cultivator of excessive strength might be perceived as a threat by Dan Fusheng, potentially leading to a battle before any communication could truly begin.

Bai Yu, a cultivator just over a hundred years old, was deemed perfectly suitable.

If Dan Fusheng were to attack him, it would signify that negotiation was utterly impossible, leaving only a fight to the death.

As for Bai Yu, he would become a glorious martyr.

Bai Yu set down the noodles, then began to count the minutes.

He swore these would be the most grueling hours of his entire 124-year life.

As dusk gradually enveloped the city, Bai Yu faintly heard the festive music of the float parade.

The procession had begun at eight o’clock.

The demonic energy intensified, growing ever more potent.

When Bai Yu looked up, he could only discern a swirling mass of black mist.

Precisely at nine o’clock, the black mist completely enveloped the Demonic Botanical Garden.

It was contained within the existing barrier.

At nine-oh-six, Bai Yu felt as though he could hear nothing but the frantic pounding of his own heart.

He had volunteered for this mission, yet that did not diminish his apprehension.

Bai Yu counted the seconds by his heartbeat.

As he reached twelve, his mind momentarily froze.

At that exact instant, the demonic energy erupted, scattering outwards, only to be swiftly reined in—gathered by the figure standing at the very eye of the swirling vortex.

Dan Fusheng had appeared.

The moment Dan Fusheng materialized, Bai Yu strangely found himself unafraid.

His fear, it seemed, had been entirely consumed during the agonizing wait for this demonic entity.

Bai Yu took a deep breath, then forced a smile. “Dan—”

He couldn’t finish his sentence.

It wasn’t due to fear, but rather because he had finally laid eyes on Dan Fusheng’s appearance.

Dan Fusheng was exquisitely handsome.

Bai Yu had long ago seen images of him on memory stones, so he knew Dan Fusheng possessed striking looks.

But Dan Fusheng’s attire…

After drawing in the demonic energy, Dan Fusheng stood with his hands clasped behind his back.

His long hair, unbound, flowed freely, stirred by the night breeze.

Carried by the same breeze were his vibrantly patterned beach shorts and a loose white tank top.

Truthfully, Dan Fusheng possessed an excellent physique: broad shoulders, clearly defined musculature, and a balanced, upright posture that wasn’t overly exaggerated.

The old-man tank top didn’t look entirely out of place on him—that is, if it hadn’t been emblazoned with the large characters “Welcome to Ye City.”

‘Ye City is… where?’

As Bai Yu’s mind reeled, Dan Fusheng suddenly moved.

Bai Yu’s pupils dilated.

‘He missed the optimal moment for communication! Is Dan Fusheng about to strike?!’ he thought, his heart pounding.

Instead, Dan Fusheng extended the hands he had held behind his back.

In one hand, he clutched two plastic bags, one filled with eggs that bore a red stamp proclaiming “Sterilized Fresh Eggs.”

The other plastic bag contained steamed buns.

With his free hand, Dan Fusheng tugged at the hem of his tank top, then reached down to hold his billowing shorts in place against the breeze.

Whether it was Bai Yu’s imagination or not, the Demon Lord appeared somewhat awkward.

Bai Yu was speechless for a moment, overcome by a strange sense of shame, as if he had intruded upon someone’s private moment.

The atmosphere became deathly silent.

Bai Yu and Dan Fusheng stood face to face, until Bai Yu could no longer contain himself. He had a mission to fulfill. “Your Exce—”

“Um…” Dan Fusheng also spoke.

They both stopped simultaneously.

After a silence of over ten seconds, they both spoke again at the same instant: “You go first.”

Bai Yu’s confusion only deepened.

Fortunately, Dan Fusheng didn’t fall silent this time, instead asking, “If I recall correctly, I was supposed to be permanently exiled, wasn’t I?”

Bai Yu froze slightly.

‘What did Dan Fusheng mean by that?’ he wondered.

“How did I get back?” Dan Fusheng pressed.

“Weren’t you the one breaking through the seal?!”

The seal had loosened seven months ago; surely, this was Dan Fusheng’s doing?

“I didn’t.” Dan Fusheng looked utterly innocent.

“If it were me, I’d at least change my clothes before making a grand return today.”

Bai Yu gazed at Dan Fusheng’s attire, and for some inexplicable reason, found his words surprisingly logical.

No! That’s not right!

Bai Yu quickly caught himself, realizing he had nearly fallen for Dan Fusheng’s ploy. “If you weren’t breaking the seal, then how would you know where this is?”

Hearing this, Dan Fusheng gestured towards several empty spots. “I saw these faces before my exile.”

‘The grand elders have been discovered?!’

After pointing, Dan Fusheng sighed again.

His sigh had barely escaped his lips when his next words sent Bai Yu’s heart into his throat: “You’re ambushing me, aren’t you?”

Bai Yu didn’t know how to respond.

Dan Fusheng, meanwhile, clasped his hands behind his back once more, shook his head, and turned as if to leave.

“Wait, Your Excellency!!” Bai Yu urgently called out, attempting to stop Dan Fusheng.

It was a purely subconscious action, as he didn’t actually believe Dan Fusheng would halt.

Yet, Dan Fusheng actually stopped.

He had stopped, and Bai Yu found himself needing to speak again, though this time his thoughts raced quickly. “Where do you intend to go?”

“I’m going to look for a way back,” Dan Fusheng explained patiently. “I still have matters to attend to in that other world.”

“You probably can’t go back,” Bai Yu replied.

A millennium ago, Dan Fusheng had been exiled by a grand elder of that era to a chaotic, low-magic world.

However, that grand elder had since ascended, and they had long lost the means to pinpoint that world’s location.

“Isn’t True Monarch You Qing’s magic artifact around here?” Dan Fusheng gestured vaguely at the ground.

He suspected the item might be buried within the mountain.

“True Monarch You Qing has ascended,” Bai Yu explained. “The moment you broke through the seal, his artifact shattered alongside it.”

Dan Fusheng fell silent.

He didn’t appear particularly pleased.

True Monarch You Qing had been the former leader of the righteous path, Dan Fusheng’s mortal enemy.

It was You Qing who had personally inflicted grievous wounds upon Dan Fusheng and exiled him to the Three Thousand Minor Worlds.

‘Didn’t Dan Fusheng resent him?’

“That’s… quite reasonable, I suppose. It’s been a thousand years,” Dan Fusheng mused, scratching his head.

His long hair became slightly disheveled from the action.

Finally, Dan Fusheng ceased his movements, turned, and asked Bai Yu, “So, what do we do now?”

‘Ask him?’

Bai Yu blinked. “Well, perhaps you could come with us first, and we can make arrangements for you then?”

“Ah? Oh, alright,” Dan Fusheng replied, walking over to Bai Yu.

“Do you want to put handcuffs on me or something?”

“Ordinary handcuffs wouldn’t affect you, would they?” Bai Yu countered. “Would you be amenable to the Immortal Binding Chains?”

“Alright,” Dan Fusheng replied with the same casual tone. “Though I should mention upfront, the Immortal Binding Chains are useless against me.”

Bai Yu: “…Thank you for your honesty.”

“You’re welcome, it’s only proper,” Dan Fusheng said, reaching into his plastic bag to touch the steamed buns.

He let out a soft gasp.

Bai Yu, who had been intently watching Dan Fusheng’s every move, felt his hairs stand on end once more.

‘A few more scares like this and I’ll have a heart attack,’ he thought.

“What is it?” he asked nervously.

“The buns are cold,” Dan Fusheng said, his voice dropping slightly.

He pulled out a bun and took a bite, then his tone grew even more dejected. “They’re completely cold.”

“Then, would you like to…”

“No need, I can eat it,” Dan Fusheng insisted, taking another bite and furrowing his brows.

“My cultivation is profound; eating it won’t make me sick.”

The more he chewed, the more distressed his expression became, as if he had suffered some immense grievance and was forced to endure it in silence.

“Let me buy you a fresh one,” Bai Yu said, unable to bear it any longer.

“Wouldn’t that be improper? I can’t spend your money,” Dan Fusheng replied, still gnawing.

Bai Yu forced a couple of strained laughs, trying to appear more relaxed. “It’s fine, the expenses for this mission are reimbursable.”

“Spending the nation’s money isn’t good either,” Dan Fusheng stated.

He gnawed for a long time, yet couldn’t finish the single bun.

“This isn’t a lot of money; it’s just treating you to a meal, it won’t break the bank,” Bai Yu insisted, wanting nothing more than to snatch the wretched bun from Dan Fusheng’s hand and toss it away.

“Oh, in that case, thank you. You’re truly kind,” Dan Fusheng said.

He then glanced hesitantly at the buns still in the plastic bag, pursing his lips. “The buns… they’re quite tasty too.”

Bai Yu, who had been about to instruct his subordinate to buy fresh buns, paused.

‘What did that even mean?’ he wondered.

“Do you perhaps not want to eat buns?” Bai Yu asked.

“That’s not what I meant. I can eat them, just give me buns, that’s fine,” Dan Fusheng replied, even smiling at Bai Yu.

Bai Yu remained silent for a moment, then asked, “Is there anything specific you’d like to eat?”

“No, truly nothing.”

“Just tell me directly what you want to eat. As long as you don’t eat people, anything is negotiable.”

“Wouldn’t that be a huge bother for you all? That’s not good, hmm! What’s that music that keeps playing?”

Half an hour later, Bai Yu sat beside a street-side outdoor table, his face a mask of bewilderment, accompanying Dan Fusheng.

The table was laden with various barbecued skewers, while Dan Fusheng, dressed in new clothes, looked particularly flustered across from him.

“Thank you,” Dan Fusheng whispered to him. “You’re truly kind.”

“You’re welcome,” Bai Yu replied, his smile stiff.

Earlier, after asking about the music, Dan Fusheng had immediately inquired if he had ‘crossed a line,’ merely remarking that the area felt familiar.

Upon learning it was Holy City, Dan Fusheng began to sigh, apparently wishing to see its current state, but then affirmed he would cooperate with Bai Yu’s work.

Ultimately, Bai Yu asked his superiors if Dan Fusheng could be allowed in a crowded area.

His superiors, realizing that the grand elders couldn’t even conceal their presence from Dan Fusheng, agreed.

After all, none of them seemed capable of defeating Dan Fusheng anyway.

But Dan Fusheng then refused.

He declared that he was too ashamed to face the demonic cultivators in his current attire and suggested he just leave, skipping the meal altogether.

In the end, Bai Yu bought Dan Fusheng a new outfit.

Dan Fusheng declined, but the result of his declining was Bai Yu buying him a total of three sets of clothes.

Throughout the entire process, Dan Fusheng repeatedly expressed his thanks and his shame.

‘This Demon Lord… he couldn’t possibly be doing this on purpose, could he?!’

Bai Yu looked into Dan Fusheng’s eyes.

Dan Fusheng, in turn, offered him another smile.

Dan Fusheng said, “The roasted skewers are delicious.”

“As long as you enjoy them,” Bai Yu replied.

‘He truly couldn’t comprehend it. Was this really Dan Fusheng’s demeanor?’

He wasn’t alone in his confusion.

The grand elders whom Dan Fusheng had recognized were equally bewildered.

“Is this that fiend, Dan Fusheng?”

“He looks like him.”

“What do you mean, ‘looks like him’?”

“If he wasn’t Dan Fusheng, how could he see through our concealment techniques with a single glance?”

While they conversed, Bai Yu’s distressed shout suddenly rang out: “Don’t go!”

‘Dan Fusheng is trying to run?!’

Their divine senses instantly locked onto Dan Fusheng’s direction.

Then they realized Dan Fusheng was being abducted.

Indeed, as the float parade passed the street, a spirited demonic cultivator immediately spotted the exceptionally striking Dan Fusheng.

The demonic cultivator, dancing exuberantly, slung an arm around Dan Fusheng, about to carry him off with the procession.

Dan Fusheng looked utterly bewildered.

The demonic cultivator asked Dan Fusheng if he wanted to join their activity, and Dan Fusheng replied that he liked joining activities.

Then Dan Fusheng’s cheek was kissed by the demonic cultivator.

This was actually a very normal celebratory act; Holy City’s festivities always had countless ‘lucky audience members.’

But Dan Fusheng couldn’t be taken away!

Bai Yu clung desperately to Dan Fusheng’s waist. “He can’t! He really can’t!”

The demonic cultivator, assuming Bai Yu and Dan Fusheng shared an unusual relationship, smiled and reassured him, “Don’t worry, we won’t do anything inappropriate to this young man, just dance a bit together.”

Dan Fusheng reached out to Bai Yu, handing him the bag of eggs. “Can you protect these for me?”

Bai Yu instinctively took the bag with both hands, and at that moment, Dan Fusheng slipped free from his grasp.

“Wait! Don’t go!” Bai Yu quickly grabbed Dan Fusheng’s collar.

“Oh dear! Oh dear! Don’t get so agitated!” Dan Fusheng exclaimed, looking worriedly at his stretched collar.

The observing grand elders collectively fell silent.

They watched as the dancing crowd accidentally knocked over a few eggs from the plastic bag, and as Dan Fusheng refused the demonic cultivator’s invitation, cradling the remaining bag of eggs, trembling slightly.

“Did we get the wrong person?”

“Uncertain, but he certainly resembles Dan Fusheng.”

“At first glance, very much so.”

“The eyes and nose are identical.”

“Is it him?”

“Uncertain, let’s observe further.”