Inside the cave, a deathly silence hung. Sitting before the pot, freshly cleaned and refilled with water, Luo Li glanced at the little boy. His face was devoid of expression, and his entire being seemed lifeless. Like a puppet, he sat blankly, hugging his knees, curled up in the corner. Fortunately, the water temperature wasn't too high, and the pot was too large, so he wasn't scalded in the short time he was in it. Even so, his skin was reddened from the heat. Luo Li looked at the hot water in the pot, then at the lifeless expression on the little boy's face. Luo Li couldn't help but sigh.
"Come here."
She raised a hand and beckoned. The little boy, who had been squatting in the corner, looked at Luo Li when he heard her, hesitated, then stood up and walked barefoot across the hard stones to stand before her. Luo Li didn't waste words; she raised her hand and tore open his clothes. What was revealed was a small, skinny frame. His little thing, not yet sprouted, timidly hid inside, unwilling to show itself. She looked down at her fingers, then at the tender-skinned little boy before her. Luo Li turned, took a relatively clean cloth from a box, dipped it in the hot water in the pot, and handed it to him.
"Clean yourself."
The boy paused, looked down at the cloth Luo Li offered, hesitated for a long time, and finally spoke his first words.
"Are you going to make me wash myself clean before putting me back in the pot?"
Luo Li blinked, then lifted her head to stare blankly at the child.
"You're not mute?"
"Who told you I was mute?"
Huh? There seemed to be nothing wrong with that statement. But why did it feel like something was off?
"If you could speak, why didn't you say anything earlier?"
"I had nothing to say to you."
Huh!? The way he said that. It sounded quite reasonable. Yet... it was so annoying?
"What's your name?"
"Do demons have a habit of asking their food's name before eating it?"
'What the hell?' This kid's mouth was really sharp. What kind of upbringing produced a child like this? Why was everything he said so prickly?
"Clean yourself!"
She was too lazy to ask anymore. Whether he spoke or not, it didn't matter. She wasn't a saint who had to take this child with her. If he wanted to die, finding a clean place to do it would be fine. It would save her the trouble of painstakingly bringing him back. Trying to take a small child back from the demon island. The difficulty would be akin to sneaking through an enemy camp with a giant spotlight on her head, impossible to go unnoticed. The boy looked at the cloth, then raised his head again, his lifeless eyes staring, his voice slightly hoarse.
"If I clean myself, how are you planning to eat me?"
"…I'm not eating you."
Luo Li's brow furrowed, and she replied casually.
"If you're not eating me, why do you want me to clean myself?"
'Oh, for goodness sake?' I told you to clean yourself to avoid catching a cold! You're taking my kindness for something malicious?
"Clean yourself or don't, there are clothes in that box, put them on!"
Luo Li had run out of patience. She was no longer the Saintess she once was. In her Saintess state, seeing such a child would naturally evoke pity in her heart. But at this moment, Luo Li felt no pity whatsoever. In fact, a brutal desire would occasionally prick at her heart. Whispering, 'Kill him quickly, tear him open, I long to hear his screams~' Though the brutal desire in her mind constantly urged her, Luo Li's rationality always held the upper hand. And what she least wanted to think about was... besides the brutal desire. Her other desire had also risen. And what's more, it was for a little kid who hadn't even matured yet! Indeed, in her current state, her situation was truly not optimistic. This desire would occasionally stir in her heart, giving her a strong urge to try it. If she continued to endure, this desire would gradually take over. The only thing she could do now was find an opportune moment to switch back to her Saintess state. To clear these desires from her heart, and then return to her demonized state. Although holy-demon conversion had become a practiced action. There was almost no cooldown period in between, but to avoid any mishaps, she had to ensure her surroundings were absolutely safe. Otherwise, if she were discovered, the situation would be entirely different. And the child before her was also a concern. Even for a child, she remained wary. Human nature shouldn't be tested, for it knows no bounds. Just thinking about it, desperate acts like cannibalism were not uncommon in ancient times. From this perspective, one could see how base human nature could become under the most fundamental survival instincts. Although this child presented no immediate problem. But next, it was hard to guarantee she wouldn't encounter other demons. If she brought this child along, she could still claim 'keeping him to savor as a delicacy later.' But if this child saw her transform into her Saintess state. And used that as a bargaining chip for survival with the demons. Then her fate would be miserable. Therefore, even with a child, she remained highly vigilant. This was the demon island; she couldn't show the slightest weakness. Otherwise, the outcome... would be worse than death.
Luo Li poured out the water, cleaned the pot, and refilled it with fresh water. After all, she still needed to eat. Though there was nothing substantial, at least some cabbage and corn. It was better than starving. She placed the pot back over the fire. She looked up and glanced outside the cave; it was already night. The tide—its waves echoed outside the cave. This 'whooshing' sound of water, accompanied by the pouring rain and the wailing wind. Made her involuntarily drop her guard, a sense of peace inexplicably settling in her heart. Since childhood, Luo Li had loved rainy days. Whenever it was gloomy and wet, she would look up and sit quietly by the window, watching the heavy rain outside. She enjoyed the feeling of the world being cleansed. As if even her own heart had been washed clean.
"You... really won't eat me?"
Just then, the boy's slightly hoarse voice suddenly came from behind her. The voice didn't sound like it belonged to a small boy, but Luo Li looked at him. She guessed he had cried and screamed too much earlier, making his throat hoarse, which was why he sounded like that.
"No."
Luo Li replied cleanly and decisively. The little boy hesitated for a moment, then suddenly spoke:
"Mochizuki... Shingen."
"Huh?"
"I won't say it a second time."
Mochizuki Shingen glanced at the demon woman. Though still doubtful, he raised his hand, picked up the cloth, and began to wipe his body. While he didn't know why this demon woman wouldn't eat him, that didn't mean he was safe. On this demon island, there was no such thing as safety for humans. All he could do now was cooperate as much as possible and survive. If there was truly still a chance to go back...
...
This little brat spoke? Luo Li paused, then scrutinized the child up and down. What did he say just now? Mochizuki, Shingen? Oh right, names in the Kingdom of the Sun still placed the surname first, then the given name. So, his given name was Shingen, and his surname was Mochizuki? Was this some kind of fate? As the Saintess of the Moon, she saved a child whose surname was Mochizuki? Truly... an incredible coincidence. Of course, such a coincidence held no real importance now. Even if it was a coincidence, it was just a mere coincidence. What she needed to do now was eat first. She turned, set up the iron pot, and stewed a pot of cabbage. Though it wouldn't taste great, it was better than starving. As steam rose, Luo Li quietly waited for the cabbage in the iron pot to cook through. Just then, the little boy finally finished cleaning himself and walked over, draped in a fur coat. The fur coat on him looked completely ill-fitting; a long section dragged behind him, trailing on the ground. It was obvious at a glance that it wasn't meant for a child. Luo Li frowned slightly, stepped forward, and gently cut off the lower half of the fur coat, then split it into two flaps. Finally, she handed him a long strip of cloth.
"Tie it yourself; my fingers can't touch you."
Luo Li raised her hand and wiggled her fingers in front of Mochizuki Shingen. Her sharp, five-fingered claws were reflected in the boy's eyes, and he stared silently. Without another word, he obediently took the rope and tied it around his waist. At least now, though it was ill-fitting, it no longer hindered his movement.
"All tied up? Then wait a bit for dinner."
Luo Li looked at the child. From his gaunt appearance, it was clear he hadn't eaten properly in a long time. Such a child was malnourished. Problems would easily arise over time. It was best to eat something.
"Why won't you eat me?"
He walked to Luo Li's side, not sitting down, but staring intently at her. At this moment, a hint of life finally appeared in his eyes. Though this spark of life seemed somewhat abnormal.
"No reason, I just don't want to eat you."
Luo Li replied casually, then gently stirred the cabbage leaves in the large pot with a spoon. Seeing the leaves were cooked through, she picked up a bowl, served herself a portion, and then served one for the little brat.
"Take it and eat."
Then, she began to sip the cabbage soup in small mouthfuls. Although the cabbage soup only tasted of salt, it was better than starving, wasn't it? The little boy paused, looked at the cabbage soup placed before him, and then lifted his head, a bewildered expression on his face, to look at Luo Li.
"You want me to eat?"
"Yes, what else? Do you want to starve to death?"
"…Okay."
Shingen nodded, picked up the bowl, and mimicking Luo Li, began to drink the cabbage soup mouthful by mouthful. Though there was nothing else in the bowl of soup before him. Yet, as Shingen drank it, it tasted far more delicious than anything he had ever eaten before. This greatly opened Shingen's appetite. Soon, a bowl of cabbage soup was down. He turned his head and looked at the demon woman before him. Then he placed the bowl on the ground.
"Want more?"
Luo Li looked up at him, asking. Shingen hesitated for a moment, then suddenly asked:
"What's your name?"
"I'm Luo Li. We'll be seeing more of each other."
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