"Argh…" An'er groaned, blinking her eyes open as she slowly pushed herself off the cold ground. Her lips were pale and dry this time… she didn't even realize she was bleeding.
"Miss!" Xin Xin's voice echoed from somewhere above.
"Xin Xin!" she called out, panic rising. "Are you okay?"
"Yes! But where are we? I've been trying to contact Master Shu but I—"
Silence. Everything cut off like a snatched thread.
"Huh?" An'er muttered, staring up at the ceiling. "Xin Xin!" She cupped her hands around her mouth, yelling again, but no response came.
She sighed, scratching her head lightly while thinking of a way out, but then....
"Aaaahhhhh!"
THUD!
An'er found herself on the floor, tied up completely.
"Huh?" she whispered, confused and trembling as she looked around.
"Who are you? Please untie me. I really didn't do anything wrong!" she cried. Her voice shook, her eyes glistening.
"Who do you think she is?" A voice chirped like a toy.
"I don't know. No normal human can enter the "Xuán Mò Jìng" Chinese for (The Abyssal Void Realm)," the other replied.
"I really don't know how I got here!" An'er whimpered. Then two tiny creatures waddled out.
Her tears stopped instantly.
They were adorable, purple and yellow with tiny legs, little hands, and long lashes. An'er gasped.
"Funyi…" she whispered in shock. She'd seen them in Master Shu's Book of Knowledge. They were said to be exiled with the Demon King… though they looked way too cute for such a dark history.
"Should we eat her?" the purple one asked.
"She's too thin. She won't fill our bellies," the yellow one said.
An'er laughed nervously. "Ah… I'm not edible at all. My flesh is very bitter."
They froze, staring at her before gathering in a circle. Their tiny voices chattered in fast gibberish.
An'er tugged at the ropes desperately, but they wouldn't budge. Her legs were tied too tight to run.
"Well, there is someone you can eat!" she announced.
The Funyis stopped and stared at her in disbelief.
"Who?" they asked, baring their tiny teeth as they came closer.
"My cat!" she blurted.
They paused.
"Cat? What is that?" The purple one tilted its head.
"Miss. How can you sell me out like that?" Xin Xin's voice boomed. "You always called me your precious!"
An'er sighed. "Xin Xin, when I leave here alive, I'll tell Master Shu to rescue you. Don't you know at least one of us has to survive?"
Xin Xin scoffed. "Then I should be the one. I'm cute and clearly the survivor type."
An'er laughed nervously.
"Who's that?" the Funyis asked in unison.
"Let me go, huh? I'll bring you a lot of fish!" she coaxed.
The little demons burst into laughter.
"You're not leaving here alive!"
Her mouth opened to speak, but froze as the Funyis suddenly grew gigantic.
Their teeth sharpened. Their eyes glowed red. Their claws extended.
They crawled toward her, and An'er thrashed wildly.
"HELP!" she screamed as a claw grazed her skin.....
SWOOSH!
Black mist sliced through the air like a blade.
The Funyis were thrown backward, slamming into the realm's invisible wall.
An'er's eyes widened. She slowly lifted her gaze.....
And there he was.
Xi Mi'An floated in midair, his white hair swaying around him. The ends shimmered with layered red. Mist twirled around his left hand.
"Funyi. You have no manners," he thundered. His voice echoed brutally across the realm.
An'er stared in shock and… admiration.
"Wow…" she breathed, mesmerized by the powerful male in front of her.
"We just wanted dinner!" the demons squeaked, shrinking back to their tiny adorable size before running off.
Xi Mi'An—demon lord sealed away 400 years ago after slaughtering half the realm's warriors and generals.
He landed gracefully, turning to An'er in a swift motion. His sleeves swirled dramatically with the movement.
An'er's breath hitched. He was… handsome. Perfect nose, dark red eyes, and phoenix-like wing markings beside his eyes. On his forehead, a glowing red diamond-shaped sigil pulsed ominously.
"Mortal," Xi Mi'An spat, hatred dripping from his tone.
He flicked his hand. The wind roared. An'er's hair whipped around her face and her ropes snapped free.
She smiled brightly and bowed. "Thank you!"
His gaze darkened.
"Did you free me?" His voice dropped, low and dangerous. "Why?"
"Free? I can't do that. I'm a mortal."
"Low-life mortal," he snarled. He swung his hand again. Black mist hit her and An'er fainted instantly.
He caught her by the waist before she hit the ground. Staring at her blank face, he frowned… then vanished.
***********
"Hey. Wake up."
An'er's eyes fluttered open.
"Xiaolongbao…" she mumbled, licking her lips as drool gathered.
Xi Mi'An stared in disgust and flicked her forehead lightly. "Disgusting mortal."
An'er snapped awake.
She was lying on a floating rock… though she hadn't realized.
"Ah! Handsome Mister!" she said, rushing toward him, only to freeze halfway as her foot slipped. Pebbles fell off the rock, echoing far below.
"Who are you? Were you sent to slay me?" Xi Mi'An demanded.
"Slay? Is that a game?" she asked cluelessly.
He glared. The rock cracked.
"Really! I know nothing!" she screamed, terrified. The rock was high. Her heart pounded, she hated heights: she was scared of them
"Liar!" Xi Mi'An roared, making another piece crumble.
"What's wrong with you?! Is this how you thank someone for saving you?" she yelled back. Honestly, she wasn't even sure she saved him… but she needed to stay alive somehow.
"Free? A mortal?" Xi Mi'An cackled. "I don't need you."
He raised his hand.
"T-The Demon King!" An'er yelled suddenly.
Xi Mi'An froze. Suspicion filled his eyes.
"What about him?" he asked.
An'er swallowed, her mind spinning through every book she'd ever read.
"H… he… um… said… you are his companion beast!" she blurted.
Xi Mi'An stared at her.
Then scoffed darkly. "Useless."
The rock vanished.
An'er screamed as she fell, hair whipping wildly. She stared up at him....fear and confusion filling her eyes.
Xi Mi'An floated above her, expression cold, hands clasped behind him as if watching a leaf drop.
Then.....
Zzzzzzzz
The sigil on his forehead blazed red. His body froze.
Just before she hit the bottom, he vanished and reappeared beneath her.
She landed straight into his arms.
"You Demon!" she shouted…
Then fainted again.
Xi Mi'An stared at her emotionlessly. Why did he save her? His head split in pain each time she was hurt. Even when the Funyis grazed her, he felt it.
Who was she? A mortal… or something pretending to be one?
He raised his hand over her head, a crystal spike forming....but paused when he heard—
"Miss!"