"Ahhh..." Su Xiaobai let out a long, shaky sigh of relief. "Still intact... future's still safe... thank the heavens..."
His precious jewels were bruised, no doubt, but survivable. The demon child had done her best to squeeze the life out of him, but somehow, against all odds, Su Xiaobai's lineage would live to fight another day.
Lying there on the grass, half-naked and panting from a combination of pain and exhaustion, Su Xiaobai looked over at the demon child, who had now rolled onto her back and was staring up at the sky like a lifeless doll.
_____
After an agonizing ten minutes, Su Xiaobai finally felt his nerves settle, the sharp ache in his body easing as he stood up.
He took a deep breath, wincing slightly as the last traces of pain lingered, and the very first thing he did was slip on some clothes.
No way was he going to risk another near-death experience with that demonic girl 'finishing' what she'd started.
"Eh?" he muttered, noticing the demon girl sitting up. Her round, porcelain face was framed by raven-black hair that cascaded down her back like a midnight waterfall.
Wide, curious red eyes stared up at him with the intensity of a moonlit sky, filled with mystery and a strange innocence.
The light reflecting off the water made her pale skin glow like morning dew on a delicate flower.
Her lips, slightly parted, formed a soft, pouty curve that could easily be mistaken for innocence—but those same lips had just grinned at him moments ago, sending a chill down his spine.
Her dress had magically adjusted to fit her new size, hugging her small frame like a second skin, the black and red fabric clinging to her as if woven from the very shadows of the forest. Her body was petite but sculpted, every curve slight yet noticeable, like the delicate shape of a budding flower on the cusp of blooming.
Su Xiaobai gulped, a strange mixture of awe and fear bubbling inside him. "You... Never touch 'that' again, got it?" He pointed between his legs with a stern expression, trying to reclaim some control over the situation.
The demon girl's red eyes blinked twice, like a curious fox caught in the moonlight.
Then, as if teasing him, a small innocent grin curled at the corner of her lips—evil and very terrifying.
"!?"
Su Xiaobai shuddered. That smile—it was too much. A perfect mix of innocence and danger.
But in the blink of an eye, the grin vanished, her face returning to its doll-like serenity.
He was left wondering if he'd imagined it?
Trying to shake off the weird feeling, Su Xiaobai cleared his throat. "Alright, enough of that. No freeloading. What's your name? Your origin? You better start talking before I show you my angry mode!"
He stepped closer, his hand reaching out to gently grab her chin. Her skin was impossibly soft, smooth like the petals of a lotus flower floating on a calm lake.
He could feel the warmth radiating from her as he held her face between his fingers, her tiny frame barely resisting, those crimson eyes locked onto him like a predator waiting to strike.
But after a long, uncomfortable silence, there was no response. No name. No origin. Just those unblinking, wide eyes staring back at him.
"Don't tell me this thing can't speak..." Su Xiaobai sighed, releasing her chin and collapsing back onto the ground, groaning. "Great. I've got myself a mute freeloader. Perfect. I should just find a butcher and donate her to society."
While he lay there muttering to himself, the demon girl stood up. Her movements were slow and fluid, graceful as the morning breeze brushing through the leaves.
Her bare feet, pale and delicate like polished jade, made no sound as she walked toward him, her body moving with the effortless beauty of a fox spirit gliding through the forest.
She crouched down beside him, her red eyes studying him intently as her small, soft hands reached out and began gently stroking his face.
Her touch was feather-light, like the gentle caress of a butterfly landing on a flower. It was almost soothing—almost.
"..."
Su Xiaobai's face darkened. He had never felt so helpless.
Here he was, lying defenseless, while this adorable yet deadly creature ran her fingers over his face as if she owned him.
He was both irritated and... well, slightly embarrassed.
"I swear, I'll refine you into a blood pill if you don't stop right now!" he growled, grabbing her hand. But the moment he did, a faint electric current passed between them, sending a small jolt through his body.
"What the—?" he muttered, looking down at her hand, but the demon girl remained unchanged, her face as calm and doll-like as ever.
And then it hit him. "Wait... You've already formed your core?!"
His eyes widened in disbelief. This small, delicate creature—who looked like she was carved from the moonlight itself—had a cultivation level above his own. She might've looked like a dainty flower, but beneath that adorable exterior was a powerhouse.
Su Xiaobai suddenly felt a bitter laugh bubbling up inside him. "Even the infants of Immortals have better cultivation than so-called mortal geniuses like me..." He shook his head, letting out a chuckle at the absurdity of it all.
The demon girl, still silently watching him, seemed to be used to his muttering.
Her hollow eyes betrayed no emotion, but something deeper flickered behind them—something he couldn't quite place.
Su Xiaobai closed his eyes, the exhaustion finally weighing on him. "Since you're stronger than me, you're my bodyguard from now on. If anyone comes near me, kill them—except for one old grandpa and that weird guy you saw earlier."
He didn't even know why he felt so tired, but the urge to sleep was overwhelming.
Before he could finish his thought—
His eyes shut, and he slipped into a deep, defenseless sleep, the demon girl crouched beside him, her eyes reflecting the soft glow of the setting sun.
____
A few minutes passed, the forest quiet save for the faint rustle of leaves and the soft trickle of the nearby waterfall.
Su Xiaobai lay motionless, his 'abrupt' exhaustion dragging him into a deep, unguarded sleep.
His chest rose and fell steadily as he lay there, completely unaware of the demon girl beside him.
Tap... tap...
The demon girl's bare feet padded softly on the grass as she moved closer.
Without a sound, she slipped onto Su Xiaobai's chest, her small body pressing lightly against him.
Her breathing was shallow, weak—barely more than a soft whisper.
Huff... huff...
Her head rested on his chest, her face inches from his, and her crimson eyes—once sharp and predatory—now glistened with something unfamiliar.
Her breath hitched slightly, her red eyes looking hazy, as if mist were forming at their corners.
She stared up at Su Xiaobai's sleeping face, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her ear.
Ba-dump... ba-dump...
For a moment, her gaze softened, her expression betraying some unknown emotion.
The tears shimmered, gathering like dew at the edge of her lashes.
But then, her breathing changed.
Hissss...
Her eyes narrowed, the haze of emotion fading as her red eyes turned cold, calculating.
The faint glimmer of tears disappeared, replaced by a cruel gleam.
Her lips curled into a small, dangerous smile, and her once gentle hands twisted into sharp claws—deadly and precise.
The tips of her razor-sharp claws hovered just above Su Xiaobai's throat, the soft swish of her fingers running through the air like a predator stalking its prey.
Her hands moved slowly, deliberately, savoring the moment before the strike.
Her claws inched closer, close enough to graze the skin of his unprotected neck, the deadly edge of each claw ready to tear into him.
Her chest heaved as she crouched over him, her breathing now sharp and ragged, the contrast of her earlier tenderness completely vanished.
Ba-dump... ba-dump...
The rhythmic sound of Su Xiaobai's heartbeat echoed in her ears, almost mocking her hesitation.
Her claws trembled, quivering just above his pulse, the tension thick in the air as though she were fighting some internal battle.
Tap... tap... tap...
Her fingers danced above his skin, ready to close around his neck, the darkness in her gaze growing stronger.