Ascending the Demon Realm

The Panda Boss thumped my back with his massive paw again. "Relax. You've done me a huge favor today. From now on, I've got your back here."  

I nodded. "Thanks, Iron Boss."  

He gave me an encouraging fist bump—his fist nearly the size of my head.  

Whoa—gotta cling tight to Panda Boss' thick legs to secure my iron rice bowl!  

Just then, a group hurried toward us. Before they could speak, Panda Boss roared, "What's the damn point of showing up now? It's already handled!"  

The team froze under his scolding.  

I glimpsed their badges: Crisis Department of the Border Affairs Bureau.  

Their tense expressions said it all—this wasn't an easy job.  

Mishandling border crises meant either losing their positions or sparking wars between realms.  

The demon and immortal races were powder kegs ready to ignite.  

Though bound by permanent peace treaties, accidents still happened—like today.  

Too many clans between the realms held generational feuds. Normally, sworn enemies were kept apart. So why...?  

Strange. Didn't they screen attendees beforehand?  

Panda Boss led me past offices until we entered one.  

A floating jade desk dominated the room. Across it sat Sicang, visibly restraining irritation.  

Rage simmered beneath his composed facade. Behind him stood Mingjin and Xueling.  

Xueling stood poised as ever—the model student all demons admired. Mingjin had reverted to yesterday's appearance, smiling charmingly at me with frost in his eyes.  

"Sicang, this is Xiyao from Eastern Imperial University's Border Affairs program. She handled..."  

"Are you really a capybara?" Mingjin interrupted, daring to cut off Panda Boss—typical of the ancient demon royalty.  

The Panda Boss' face darkened.  

Mingjin leaned on the jade table, narrowing dragon-pupiled eyes. "Capybaras have weak magic. At your age, maintaining human form should be impossible."  

Xueling's gaze turned icy. "Ming. Don't interfere with her work."  

Mingjin smirked. "This capybara feels... off." His eyes shifted fully draconic, piercing through me.  

I remained calm under his scrutiny. "I'm exceptionally gifted."  

Damn right I'm the chosen capybara—got a problem?  

His smile chilled.  

"My younger brother achieved human form too." Who do you think you're underestimating?  

"Mingjin!" Panda Boss barked. "This is the Border Affairs Bureau. Stand down."  

The dragon prince retreated, hands clasped behind his back like a polite upperclassman. He needed this mission's academic credits.  

I sat opposite Sicang. "Welcome to the demon realm. We're honored to have you join..."  

"Skip the crap. Hurry up!" His jade-green horns flashed—bull impatience incarnate.  

I kept smiling. Should've let that fire-breathing jerk break your horns earlier.  

As my hands touched the desk, glowing forms materialized and slid toward him.  

"Please complete these."  

Veins bulged at his temples. He slammed fists on the table. "I filled stacks to leave the immortal realm, more to enter here! It's the AI era—why can't you share data? I'm switching factions!"  

"So... you resent becoming demonkind?" I asked mildly.  

Xueling stared impassively. Mingjin smirked with cold mockery.  

Sicang gritted his teeth.  

Still smiling, I continued, "If unsatisfied, I'll have Sloth Brother take over." I emphasized "Sloth Brother."  

His eyes flickered. Everyone knew sloth clerks topped the universal list of worst civil servants.  

Sicang submitted, grudgingly filling forms. Each completed document flew back, revealing his immortal realm records.  

My pulse quickened—not from snooping, but because his case number glowed like a key to the Border Archives. One thread from these files could unravel smuggling truths.  

"Xiyao." Panda Boss' paw landed on my shoulder. I fought to stay calm.  

"Confidentiality is core to our professionalism," he said gravely.  

Nodding, I focused on Sicang's profile. His true form surprised me—not green, but platinum-gold hide shimmering with silvery light, cloud-stepping hooves radiating celestial grace.  

His ancestors had been mounts for high immortals. Even as prestigious spirit steeds, they remained bottom-rung in that hierarchy—status symbols for elites.  

Yet they'd still sent Sicang here. Among immortals, sacred mounts received no more respect than chariots.