Chapter Fifteen: You Have...

Previously, Xiao Xiao had always thought that aside from the strange scent, Ruan Rou behaved just like any normal girl. Was he overthinking it? After all, so much had happened recently; perhaps he was simply on edge.

Yet, that unsettling feeling from before lingered vividly in his mind, impossible to ignore.

He told himself this wasn’t paranoia—there was truly something off about this girl.

Could she be some kind of demon?

If so, then a shape-shifting demon would have to be incredibly powerful.

He wasn’t sure whether that gaze was intentional or accidental, but if it was deliberate, Xiao Xiao didn’t think he stood the slightest chance in meeting her eyes.

Now this was bad. He looked up at the sky, thinking, curiosity really did kill the cat. Why had he been so reckless to stare at her earlier?

A strange smell was one thing, but enduring it was better than losing his life.

Sigh. He wondered if Qin Yuan combined with Er Shu could take her down.

Maybe adding Guo Guo Fish to the mix?

“Third brother, what are you spacing out for? Let’s go.”

“Coming.” Xiao Xiao finally noticed that his older brothers had already walked far ahead, and he hurried to catch up.

“Hey, third brother, your zoning out is getting worse. You can daydream anywhere, huh?”

“...An accident.”

“What accident? This is the third time.”

“Well... Third brother, you’re going to...”

...

Xiao Xiao was self-aware. Besides, he didn’t really know the person. As long as he didn’t get involved, there shouldn’t be any connection.

But the girl had other ideas.

Xiao Xiao looked silently at the girl before him, her smile graceful and enchanting.

They were standing beneath the boys’ dormitory; someone had just passed a message to Xiao Xiao’s room that a girl was looking for him downstairs.

His older brothers were still shouting and howling. If they knew this girl was Ruan Rou, who knew what they’d think?

Feeling the burning gaze fixed on him, Xiao Xiao looked at this “source of trouble.”

“Is there something you need? If it’s a long story, maybe we should talk somewhere else?”

“Let’s go.” Ruan Rou turned around decisively.

...

Ruan Rou stopped at the corner of the dormitory building. With a deft turn, she fixed her gaze on Xiao Xiao behind her. The large shadow cast over her face made it hard for him to see her features clearly.

Xiao Xiao halted three steps from her.

In the quiet space, he could hear the wind whisper past his ears and the rustling of the leaves. Only now did he recover from the shock of her sudden visit.

...

He quietly observed the girl before him. Although they had met a few times before and he was somewhat familiar with her face, her aura now was different.

Xiao Xiao’s gaze slid from her face down to her shoulder.

There lay a small red fox, lounging lazily with a mischievous expression.

Don’t ask how he discerned such a complex expression on a furry fox face.

It was so obvious he couldn’t pretend not to see.

“Hehe, you can see Little Man?” Ruan Rou raised her hand to stroke the fox’s soft fur, smiling with an ambiguous expression. Her questioning tone was actually full of certainty.

Xiao Xiao was stunned. Suddenly he realized this little fox was a demon too, like the Guo Guo Fish, Er Shu, and Qin Yuan before—beings invisible to ordinary people.

But he was puzzled again—what exactly was Ruan Rou’s identity?

Was she the demon he suspected? Or was she someone like him, who could see demons?

...

Ruan Rou was hesitant about coming here.

She had thought that since he had noticed something was off about her, the safest bet would be to kill him and cover her tracks.

She certainly had the ability to do so without leaving a trace.

But she couldn’t read Xiao Xiao. She even felt a faint fear of him.

Her cultivation was extremely important to her now, so she wouldn’t take such a risk. Her survival and steady growth in power had relied on caution and careful planning.

Besides, from their few encounters, Xiao Xiao clearly had no intention to harm her. So she didn’t want to make an enemy needlessly.

...

She wasn’t sure if he couldn’t defeat her or if he simply didn’t take her seriously.

She feared making a mistake that would backfire.

Having suffered setbacks before, she no longer underestimated those she ought to dismiss.

So here she stood.

Hoping they could avoid conflict.

“Xiao Xiao.” Ruan Rou’s voice was as always soft and alluring, her elongated tone adding a touch of ambiguity. Yet her words were blunt. “I don’t know who you are.”

“But don’t disturb me.”

Even with her wariness, as a demon she wasn’t afraid of humans.

She just didn’t want unnecessary trouble.

To her, time was better spent seeking her next target—whether to possess or to absorb vital energy.

She disliked wasting time on anything unrelated to cultivation.

...

Faced with Ruan Rou’s directness, Xiao Xiao was a little surprised, then nodded.

He was neither a saint nor a fool. Without assurance of his own safety, he lacked the power to meddle in others’ affairs and chose temporary compromise.

Yes, just temporary.

But “Are you a demon or a human?” Since she was so straightforward, Xiao Xiao didn’t hold back and asked directly.

“Guess.”

Ruan Rou smiled brightly, but her eyes had somehow transformed into those of a beast—vertical pupils.

“A demon?!” Xiao Xiao whispered. “Then why can people see you?”

Ruan Rou waved her hand. “Hehe, this body is a genuine human.”

“What do you mean?” Xiao Xiao blurted out, then quickly connected the dots from novels he had read, his expression darkening. “You possess the body?”

If that were the case, a cold chill surged through his eyes.

“Nope.”

Possession was exhausting and not worth the trouble. Why would she do that?

“The original owner of this body is still alive.”

Though soon to die.

“Annoying, I’m not that bloodthirsty a demon.”

Lying to you, I don’t kill Bo Ren, but Bo Ren dies because of me. That’s probably how it goes.

Ruan Rou smiled with curved brows and eyes, her delicate face showing innocent delight and... cruelty.

A beauty’s smile should be a pleasant sight, but Xiao Xiao frowned, the foul stench at his nose growing stronger, and disgust crept onto his face.

Xiao Xiao made no effort to hide his expression, and Ruan Rou noticed perfectly.

Her smile froze.

A hint of ferocity uncontrollably flashed across her features.

Disgusted? Disgusted! Ha, how laughable!

Wasn’t she beautiful? How could anyone despise her?

No one had ever humiliated her like this before!

Ruan Rou’s crimson vertical pupils narrowed sharply, her beastly instincts awakening. A dangerous aura spread. The lazy fox on her shoulder bristled, its gaze fierce and bloodthirsty.

“Hey, why do you hate me?” Despite her fierce expression, Ruan Rou’s voice was plaintive, soft and harmless, with a slight catch that made her seem deeply wronged and pitiful.

“You know why?” Xiao Xiao remained unmoved, speaking each word carefully. “You stink.”