Chapter 286: Cutscene of Odd Choices and Unusual Folks

"Where did he go?" Han Jing looked around to only find the ocean and sand dunes—and realized they were still trapped in the Veil. The man was nowhere to be found, so he must have slipped back into the 'normal' world.

Odele pointed towards the beach. "He went that way! To the crowd of humans!"

The two of them couldn't see the same thing, but he trusted her. "Then let's go!"

"Okay!" She started to run towards the beach, and then nearly toppled over a wooden plank.

Han Jing grabbed her arm at the nick of time. "Careful."

"Yes, not used to legs. But we're losing him in the crowd, you guys all have black hair it's confusing—woah, someone is singing. He's actually good for a human."

Han Jing shook his head and grabbed her hand, taking the opportunity to tug her along back to the beach. "I can't see it, but okay. Just tell me where to go and I won't let you fall." He really need to learn how to get out of these situation, or at least have a clear vision to see both the natural and supernatural at the same time—

The sound of shattering mirrors and showering around him came over Han Jing before the sight of the talent show appeared to him and that of the crowd. He couldn't see where Dai Song Lan was, but he had to be there or already escaping.

"Do we really need to capture him?" she asked. Odele immediately captured the essence of puppy dog eyes despite having spent a majority of her life with fish. "I'll be gone soon, so it won't be too troublesome to me unless these cultivators plan to chase after me into the oceans."

She had a point.

Unless Dai Song Lan could immediately assemble a crowd of cultivators to come here and capture Odele… but if it meant that the guy could call Mou Gu over, then it was two birds in one stone, right?

Han Jing scratched the back of his head. "Okay. Let's head back to the inn then—er, room. Faeran and Jilanya are there watching some movies."

She smiled at him. "Oh, it's really not just the two of us."

"Why? Did you want it to—"

She cut him off by pulling him forward. "Let's go and say hi. This is usually the time for supper right? I can't wait to meet the Demon Lord for the first time. She's amazing, I hear."

"Amazingly hot...hotheaded." Han Jing corrected himself.

"Do you have a fetish for supernatural creatures?"

"W-What?" He looked back at her startled. She was familiar with the slang and all of the modern terms, it kind of freaked him out as he tried to lead her back to where the others were. "I don't know what you're trying to say. Am I fascinated? Yes. Fetish… er, no?"

"Well, some gods and other creatures have a human fetish—well, mostly gods leaving demi-gods across the globe. Kind of a yikes, but that's life." She grinned at him. "No judgement. So far so good, though, huh?"

"I guess?"

The two of them arrived back into the room. And now Han Jing was considering a new career—the Supernatural Tourist Guide. If that wasn't a thing yet. He wanted to ask about the pearls, but maybe once everything was said and done.

"Odele!"

"Faeran!"

The Wood Elf and Mermaid exchanged hugs with one another. Not that Han Jing could blame Faeran, if he was shameless enough he might have gone for a group hug, but instead he plopped down a seat on the couch and sighed in relief.

"I'm so glad to see you—you look as beautiful as the day I met you."

"You too!"

He ignored them and went over the plans in his head.

Dinner. Overnight sleeping and then morning amusement park visit. Accept pearls and then bye-bye everyone. He could start slacking off after that and take it easy. And maybe tell Mou Gu everyone once others were gone, or if the cultivator here earlier.

Simple, convenient… he just had to deal with all three of them. 

His conversation with Jilanya back at the train was still at the back of his mind, albeit the Succubus had already teased him about the bikini he got for Odele. So maybe they were good? He glanced at the Succubus—

Jilanya only had a frown on her face.

Maybe watching the two other Races hug it out wasn't really something a Demon enjoyed to watch. Her gaze flitted to him and he immediately looked away… until he realized it was stupid. He shouldn't let Odele's words bother him that much.

He should show a little more dominance in this situation—this was basically his turf!

"Greetings to you, Demon Lord Mursiel." Odele respectfully curtsied in front of Jilanya. After the cheerful greeting with the Wood Elf, she was more courteous with her. "It is quite amazing to see you here at this hour, I hope our activities today will bring you some amusement. Speaking of which, I have also brought a small token of appreciation."

In doing so, she reached out in thin air and procured a weirdly shaped coral structure which was almost as tall as a kid.

Han Jing's eyes bulged. This was his long-desired Inventory feature! 

He almost felt betrayed that somehow the Mermaid had it while he was still here trying to get by with life. How much time did he need to actually get that feature? 

Odele shyly motioned to the item. "I brought this volcanic vent—it's very hot but full of minerals. It sometimes gushes out black smoke, not toxic. I wasn't exactly sure what to give since Faeran only told me about your arrival at the last minute."

Han Jing threw a look at the Wood Elf. This guy acted surprised that he was going to see Odele, but the two had already been talking behind his back… he wasn't surprised about this.

"You have my gratitude…" Jilanya blinked. "I have not been able to bring anything for you. I had no inclination to bring the other two here anything, but it seems I failed to preconceive the notion you would bring something for me."

The Mermaid beamed, clearly awestruck. "It's fine, I'm already honored to meet you."

"I cannot accept a gift without anything in exchange for it."

Han Jing quirked a brow. "Not much of a gift if you had to give something back… er, forget it. You guys do you." He had already learned his lesson on not disturbing women unless he wanted their wrath. But, he was technically the one in charge so he asked, "Are we going to eat out and find a restaurant or would you like to get something delivered here?"

He had his priorities straight.

—-

Then.

Dai Song Lan looked back across from the crowd of beach-goers and spotted the Mermaid and Han Jing head off into an entirely different direction. They were heading back to one of the available hotels close to the beach. The man tilted his head and stared at them silently.

A thought finally crossed his mind. 

He should probably report it.

"Hmm… pearls." He thought back to the 'offer' of Mou Gu's friend. He did not have any need for it, and he was with his relatives, but this was the person supposed to have his memory wiped of all incidents related to the cultivation world.

Would Mou Gu be happy about this?

Not exactly.

However, incidents like this happened. "Mermaid and… something?" The qi that flowed around them were a little more different from regular people. A different intensity and vibrancy if one could compare it to sound waves. And they were stronger too. His spiritual sensing skill was possibly the third strongest, or second weakest among the Four Pillars, but he noticed it.

There was something in the air, caused by their arrival.

The other people around the cultivator gave him a natural wide berth, something which the man hardly noticed as he stepped out of the crowd. But before he could walk over to the hotel and speak with the two, he heard someone call out to him.

"Song Lan, there you are—let's have dinner! Everyone's been looking for you." his cousin beckoned him over. "Where did you even go?"

He shrugged. "Somewhere."

His cousin looked at him, brows furrowed, but then nodded. "Okay."

Family was family. Eccentricities aside.