Ascending the Demon Realm

He stared at me excitedly, his head bobbing up and down before circling around me. His thick neck coiled around mine, entangling both me and Sloth Brother behind.  

Cold yet familiar—still his signature temperature.  

Zhu Zhu hastily leapt off Tu Sheng's body.  

Sloth Brother stayed silent. Was he okay? Not strangled, right?  

"It’s really you! Me! You do recognize me, right?" He widened his heterochromatic red-and-green serpent eyes excitedly.  

My heart raced—it was truly him!  

He hadn’t changed much, still that radiant pretty-boy.  

Just shed his childish softness, now a striking young man.  

As I opened my mouth to call his name, a gigantic female face materialized behind him: "Ji Boyu—where the hell are you—the lab’s about to explode—"  

An illusion, yet hyper-realistic. Even summoning someone screamed dominance.  

And…slightly mortifying…  

The girl’s face morphed into a green-skinned, fanged demon spewing flames, resembling a vengeful ghost hunting Ji Boyu.  

Indeed, this guy currently wrapped around my neck was my middle school deskmate and best friend: Ji Boyu.  

Twisting his neck to glance back, Ji Boyu roared, "Got it! Coming!"  

The demon girl noticed me. Her bell-sized eyes blinked before transforming into an elegant human form, tucking hair behind her ear with a sweet smile: "Hurry up~"  

Her sugary tone dripped lethal undertones!  

Ji Boyu scowled. "Why are you still here?"  

Her expression frosted over, maintaining a strained smile. "I’m supervising. We’re at critical phase, Team Leader. Stop wasting time on females."  

Her words nearly crackled with rage.  

"She’s my friend Xi Yao!" Ji Boyu barked. "Show respect!"  

Hearing "friend," the girl softened, blinking at me before resuming her death glare at Ji Boyu.  

He rotated his head 180 degrees fluidly, grinning: "Xiao Chuan, now!"  

Xiao Chuan?  

As he shouted, his school badge zipped over—apparently naming his badge assistant Xiao Chuan. A beam connected our badges, adding me as alumni.  

His neck retracted from mine, head zooming backward.  

"Xi Yao! Wait for me—" He yelled while his body stood meters away, clad in silver-gray lab robes.  

After reattaching his head, he waved and dissolved into prismatic light, weaving through students until vanishing.  

"So you’re Xi Yao. Pleasure." The girl’s hologram lingered.  

I nodded. "Hello."  

"Bye." Her image snapped off.  

Leaving dazed me, frozen Tu Sheng, and Zhu Zhu.  

"Ugh…" Sloth Brother finally exhaled.  

Alive! Thank gods!  

"Wow…those are Research Institute uniforms! Only top three majors qualify…legendary…" Tu Sheng gushed.  

"Move! We’re late!" I urged.  

Tu Sheng sprinted on stubby legs.  

*Whoosh!* Zhu Zhu launched a webline onto me, swinging back to perch spider-like on Tu Sheng, panicking: "No no no, can’t be late—"  

Her anxiety turbocharged Tu Sheng’s pace.  

"Relax—I’ll get us there—" He bellowed like a hero.  

Since when did this turn epic?  

At the assembly point, Mei was waiting.  

Everyone else had arrived!  

We barely made it, scrambling forward.  

Mei glared. "If this were real work—"  

Suddenly, she sniffed sharply, locking eyes on me.  

I maintained my capybara poker face.  

Tu Sheng and Zhu Zhu stealthily hid behind me.  

"Last warning." Mei finally grumbled.  

They exhaled in relief.  

Wow—Yu Tu and Xue Ling’s scents really work! Even a dean-level gives face.  

Heh. Clinging to powerful thighs pays off.  

In demon realm, plant-based clans detect molecular-level pheromones beyond mere smell.  

Mei reopened the Bureau of Interdimensional Affairs portal.  

Our eyes sparkled—ready to battle for credits!  

"Xi Yao set a fine example yesterday. Keep striving!" Mei lectured.  

"YES!"  

We roared. Even minor demons have fiery lives!  

Can’t fight wars? Then the workplace is our battlefield!  

We marched in with rookie audacity.  

Walked taller. Acted like real agents!  

Then—something felt off.  

Mei led us into…public restrooms.  

Why?!  

Were we banned from bathroom breaks all day?  

We gaped at the luxurious crystalline facilities.  

Palatial architecture, glowing demonic crystal pillars.  

Spacious stalls separated by lush plants.  

Demons love nature—even toilets mimic wild marking spots.  

But why tour restrooms?!  

Mei smiled. "Your workplace starts today."  

What?!  

Speak sense!  

Total petrification.  

"Clean and maintain these facilities. Girls stay here." Mei left.  

Boys followed her. Girls stood frozen.  

Wait—Sloth Brother!  

I dashed to swap with Tu Sheng carrying Lai Sen.  

After the covert handoff, I rejoined the stunned girls.