Chapter 2 is not optimistic.

Chi Li, a phoenix who has lived for ten thousand years, has experienced the ancient war and faced thousands of enemy troops. She believes that she has long since cultivated a heart as still as water.

But at this moment, she felt that her heart, perhaps, maybe... couldn't stop.

The little tree spirit in his arms was still rubbing against him oblivious to his impending doom, like a little animal that had found a warm nest, making satisfied squeaking sounds.

That "It's so warm" seemed to have a magical power, playing in 3D surround sound in her ears.

Chi Li's arms were stiff; she didn't know whether to hug him or throw him away.

What if we accidentally break this fragile little thing that has just taken human form?

She had no interest in enlightening the second one.

"Ahem." She cleared her throat, trying to regain the majesty that belonged to the demon king. "You, stand still."

The voice that came out was a little lower and softer than she had expected.

The little tree spirit raised its head, its amber eyes filled with curiosity, completely unaware of "offending the king."

She tried to straighten her body, swaying slightly, as Chi Li had instructed.

But those newly grown legs were clearly not yet under control; their knees buckled, and they were about to fall down again.

Chi Li reacted quickly and grabbed her arm.

"It seems that not only is his mind not very sharp, but his legs are also not very nimble." Chi Li silently rubbed her forehead in her heart, feeling that she had picked up a huge trouble.

"I...I can't stand up." The little tree spirit looked at her with a pitiful expression, its eyes wet, like a lost deer in the forest.

Chi Li sighed, resignedly letting her lean on him, while simultaneously sending a wisp of gentle divine power to help stabilize her newly formed body.

This little tree spirit's spirit is pure, but it's too weak, like a dandelion that can be blown away by a gust of wind.

"You," Chi Li looked down at her, "do you have a name?"

The little tree spirit blinked blankly, clearly unfamiliar with the concept of "name".

She instinctively nestled against this warm and powerful presence beside her, like a seedling seeking the sunlight.

Chi Li's gaze swept over her long golden hair, and then she thought of the ginkgo tree that originally belonged to her, which was as bright as clouds in the autumn sun.

A thought naturally came to mind.

"Tang means red, reflecting my name. Lu means morning dew, which nourishes plants and trees, and suits your wood spirit nature." She paused, feeling that she had chosen a very good name, which was both elegant and meaningful. "From now on, you will be called 'Tang Lu'."

"Tang... Lu..." the girl repeated, her voice soft and sweet, with the awkwardness of someone learning to speak for the first time.

She chewed on those two syllables repeatedly, her eyes slowly brightening, as if she had finally found a treasure of her own.

She looked up and gave Chi Li an even brighter smile than before: "I like it! Tang Lu... I like it!"

Seeing her undisguised joy, the subtle emotions that Chi Li felt from being offended vanished instantly, and even a strange sense of...satisfaction arose within her.

No, the Demon King's dignity cannot be lost.

She tried to keep a straight face and feign indifference: "Well, if you like it, that's good. From now on, you will follow me."

"Follow...you?" Tang Lu tilted her head, puzzled.

“That’s right, wherever I am, you will be there.” Chi Li explained succinctly, thinking that this should be clear now, right?

Tang Lu processed those words for a moment, then nodded vigorously, wrapping her arms even tighter around Chi Li's arm like vines (literally, several tiny golden vines emerged from her fingertips and coiled around Chi Li's wrist), her tone cheerful: "Okay! I'll stay with you! It'll be warm!"

Chili: "..."

This feeling is like being marked by some strange plant.

She tried moving her wrist; the vines weren't wrapped tightly, but rather seemed to be clinging to her in a more intimate way.

Forget it, why bother arguing with a little tree spirit who can't even walk properly?

"It's time to return to the palace," Chi Li said, preparing to use her supernatural powers to tear through space and go back.

"Shall we go...back?" Tang Lu asked curiously, watching her movements.

Chi Li paused.

Looking at Tang Lu's still unsteady legs and her eyes filled with dependence and curiosity, she silently gave up the idea of ​​directly traversing space.

That method would be too shocking for a newly transformed demon; what if it terrifies it...?

"I... will take you back." She finally made her decision.

The tone sounded very gracious, as if it were bestowing a great honor upon the other party.

In reality, what Chi Li was thinking was: I can't really let her crawl back like that, can I? What will become of my dignity!

Thus, the beings of the demon realm witnessed a scene they would never forget:

Their solitary and icy-sounding emperor carefully cradled a blonde, green-skirted little tree spirit in his arms, who was curiously looking around. He was enveloped in a gentle protective divine light as he slowly flew over the demon capital at a leisurely pace.

Wherever he went, all the demons knelt in worship, but in every glimpse of his eyes that he secretly raised, there was utter astonishment and a burning passion for gossip.

Who is that?

"What is His Majesty holding in his arms?"

"A minor demon? My goodness, doesn't His Majesty hate it when weaklings get close?"

"Did you see that clearly? That little demon looks like it's pulling His Majesty's hair!"

"Not only that! She was still squirming in His Majesty's arms!"

Chi Li remained expressionless, trying her best to ignore the almost tangible gazes below and the restless behavior of the little one in her arms.

Tang Lu is indeed very restless.

This was her first time "flying," and she found it incredibly novel.

She would point at the colorful buildings of the demon capital below and exclaim in amazement, then reach out to grab the drifting clouds, only to find that she couldn't catch them. Then, she would curiously tug at a strand of reddish-gold hair hanging down in front of Chi Li's chest.

"Don't move," Chi Li said in a low voice, helplessly stopping him.

Tang Lu immediately stopped moving, but after a while, she was attracted by a flying butterfly and leaned out most of her body.

Chi Li quickly pulled her back and tightened his grip, feeling even more exhausted than if he had been engaged in a verbal battle with those old fogies in the Immortal Realm.

Finally, we arrived at the magnificent and splendid Demon King's Palace.

Chi Li, carrying Tang Lu, landed in the plaza in front of the main hall.

The eunuchs and guards, who had already received the news, stood with their heads bowed, but they couldn't help but glance at the pure and innocent little demon in His Majesty's arms.

Chi Li gently placed Tang Lu on the smooth, mirror-like ground and released her hand.

"From now on, this will be your..." home.

Before she could finish speaking, she saw Tang Lu, unaccustomed to the slippery ground, slip and cry out, falling precisely in her direction once again...

This time, Chi Li was experienced and caught it steadily.

She looked down at Tang Lu, who was snuggling in her arms again and seemed to find it particularly comfortable, and started to yawn. She took a deep breath.

She began to seriously consider a question:

Was it a wise decision to pick up this seemingly not-so-bright little tree spirit?

The answer seems... not optimistic.

But looking at Tang Lu leaning against her chest, her sleeping face completely defenseless and dependent, Chi Li realized that she didn't seem to intend to throw her back.

"I really... owe you something." She muttered to herself, then resignedly picked up the little tree spirit who was almost asleep and walked towards the inner hall.

He left behind a group of demon palace servants whose jaws were practically hitting their feet, bewildered in the wind.

The demon realm is about to undergo a major upheaval.