Bingbing lives two doors down from me. She's asleep and hasn't woken up yet. I doubt she knows the heavy "courage" she's about to shoulder. There shouldn't be any after-effects. When I simultaneously absorbed the demon cores of Daji and Diana, two immensely powerful demons, they were obedient. They only became a bit lethargic at times, but they never acted against their master.
No need to wake her. This trial is serious and will take a lot of time.
"Is there any more news from the Miao King?" I asked again.
"He has already evacuated Jinling and is likely heading back to his old nest in Xiangnan."
"Then what's our next task?" I inquired. I was called over by Bai Qingcheng to help.
"That's it. Tomorrow at noon, if Zheng Bingbing's identity is suitable, after you hand over the demon core to her, you can return to the Northeast."
Shen Xingyue leaned in and said with a smile, "The scales of victory have already begun to tip in your favor."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"The higher-ups have started to intervene, contacting various major powers to jointly suppress the Shan Hai demon race's atrocity of destroying the world. With humanity's current technological level, it's already possible to completely bridge the power gap between humans and demons. According to reports from various battlefronts, the alliance between humanity and the Bai Ze demon race has mostly achieved victories against the Shan Hai demon race."
I nodded. This situation was foreseeable. That's good. It would be best to avoid a widespread catastrophe, and I could return to a normal life sooner. Running around all over the place, even making business trips to the underworld, I haven't had a full night's sleep in the past month.
"It's snowing outside. Do you want to go admire the snow?" Shen Xingyue asked.
"It's snowing?" I exclaimed in surprise. Snow in Jinling is quite rare.
Shen Xingyue and I took the lab's shuttle car and drove about a kilometer to the outside of the laboratory. I finally understood why Bai Qingcheng hadn't set up defenses next to the demon core. The defensive forces were all on the outer layers and above ground. Where we were was about seven or eight levels underground, deep within the earth, making it extremely safe.
It was snowing heavily. The snowfall was silent, already accumulating about a centimeter on the ground. This is considered a lot of snow in the south.
The last time I saw snow in Jinling was probably three years ago. A few hours later, the snow all over the city had almost disappeared under the sun, leaving traces only in shady spots. Thus, the whiteness of snow can highlight darkness, just as exceptionally pure people can highlight the darkness of society.
There was a Honda Odyssey outside. Shen Xingyue lifted the trunk lid and folded down the last row of seats, turning it into a fishing spot. She and I sat in the back of the car. There was a cover overhead, so we wouldn't get wet from the snow, and we could see the snow falling from the sky. It felt quite good.
It was just a bit cold. If only I had a cup of coffee in my hand, it would be even better.
I tried ordering takeout on my phone, but the nearby beverage shops were already closed. At this hour, the only places likely still open would be bars.
I don't like bars; they're too noisy, and I don't use that platform to flirt, so I rarely go.
"If we win this war, what do you plan to do afterward?" Shen Xingyue asked me.
"What about you?" I countered.
"Not much will change for me. I'll continue my career in politics," Shen Xingyue said with a smile. "I've been trained by Sabia since I was a child and have a contract. I can only do this, and I'm happy to do it. But you're different. You entered this world unexpectedly and out of necessity. Now that Yao Yao's influence has fully established itself, you've completed your mission. Will you consider withdrawing from the martial world, or rather, from the demon realm, and returning to a normal human life?"
"Can I ever go back?" I asked with a bitter smile. My physical functions are already different from those of a normal person.
"As long as you want to, you can naturally live a normal life. I'm just afraid you'll be reluctant to leave so many beautiful women, ha." Shen Xingyue chuckled.
"There are so many, but they aren't all mine," I corrected. "If the war ends, my so-called team will surely scatter like birds and beasts. They are all great demons; if they leave on their own, they can all find their own happy lives. Why would they orbit around just one man like me?"
That's what I've always thought. The reason I brought them along was simply for mutual protection, nothing more.
Besides, it wasn't me who actively brought them along; they've been following me all along.
"It's good that you think this way. It seems you prefer interacting with humans more?" Shen Xingyue seemed to have misunderstood my meaning, thinking that deep down, I was still wary of the demon race.