"Grinding demons? Is it like playing a game?" Zhu Yanyi blurted out.
She held a handful of melon seeds, her eyes wide with curiosity. To her, the word "grinding" sounded just like the fun games she played in the Ruyi Space.
Si Kong Xuran choked on his spiritual fruit. He looked at the little girl, then at the serious faces of the other students. He couldn't help but laugh, the tension in the air breaking slightly.
"Little Ani, it is not a game," Si Kong Xuran said gently, wiping his mouth. "It is very dangerous. We fight the evil demons to survive. 'Grinding' means we keep fighting them, one after another, until we get stronger or… until we fall."
Zhu Yanyi tilted her head. She didn't fully understand the weight of "falling," but she saw the serious look on Yi Yunfei’s face. She put down the melon seeds and nodded slowly.
"Okay," she said simply. "I will be brave. I won't cry."
Yi Yunfei smiled, reaching out to pat her head. "That’s right, Ani. We are all together."
Si Kong Xuran shook his head, looking at the group. These young ones were naive, but their unity was genuine. He sighed, knowing that the real test was just beginning. The forest of dead students on the hill was a silent warning, but here, in this circle, there was still warmth.
"Listen carefully," Si Kong Xuran said, his voice turning serious again. "The demons are not like the monsters in stories. They are cruel. They do not stop. You must trust your teammates. If one falls, the others must cover them. This is how we survive."
Zhu Yanyi listened quietly. She didn't speak, but her small hands clenched into fists. She remembered what her uncle had said about being strong. She wanted to be strong too. Not for glory, but to protect her friends.
The morning sun rose higher, casting long shadows over the camp. The time for rest was over. The time for battle had come.