In the hospital corridor, Ye Xi walked toward the exit with her hands behind her back, skipping slightly.
She hummed an unknown tune every now and then, a behavior that felt completely out of place in the somber, silent environment of the hospital.
Shen Ji watched her from behind with suspicion, suppressing the confusion in his heart.
More than wondering why Ye Xi was acting this way, he was curious whether she had seen through Shen Wan’s identity as a human.
He asked tentatively, “What do you think… of my sister?”
Ye Xi stopped in her tracks and turned around.
“In what sense?”
She asked calmly.
A flash of nervousness crossed Shen Ji’s eyes, but he pressed on.
“Just… how do you feel about her?”
Ye Xi narrowed her eyes slightly, as if seeing right through Shen Ji’s thoughts.
She gave a mischievous smile.
“She’s very tempting. Like a little cream cake—it makes me want to find out what she tastes like.”
“No!”
Shen Ji shouted instinctively.
The people in the hospital turned to look at them.
Shen Ji realized he had been far too agitated.
Calming his breathing, he lowered his voice.
“I mean, she’s one of us!”
The teasing look in Ye Xi’s eyes deepened.
“So what if she’s one of us? It’s not like you haven’t tasted mine before.”
“Anyway, she’s my sister. If you really want a taste… you can have my blood!” Shen Ji gritted his teeth. If he didn’t know for a fact that his current strength wasn’t enough to beat this woman, he wouldn’t be playing along so submissively.
Ye Xi burst out laughing.
“Xiao Jizi, why are you so easy to tease?”
Watching Ye Xi laugh so hard her whole body trembled, an inexplicable anger bubbled up inside Shen Ji.
When did he become like this?
In the past, he should have seen through Ye Xi’s tricks at a glance.
But now… he found himself believing her words far too easily.
At that thought, Shen Ji turned and walked out the door first.
Ye Xi followed closely behind, her tone like someone coaxing a child.
“Oh, is Little Xiao Jizi angry? How about Big Sister Ye Xi buys you some cotton candy?”
The dark lines on Shen Ji’s face grew more prominent.
‘What “Xiao Jizi”?’
He blamed Shen Wan.
It was fine when she called him that in private, but now that Ye Xi knew about it, where was his dignity?
No, he couldn’t let Ye Xi lead him by the nose forever. He had to win one back.
Stopping abruptly, Shen Ji turned around and flashed a wicked grin.
“Instead of cotton candy, I’d rather have a taste of you.”
Ye Xi blinked, momentarily stunned, but she recovered quickly.
She naturally draped her arms around Shen Ji’s neck, her eyes becoming hazy.
“Xiao Jizi, greedy bad boys don’t get anything.”
With that, Ye Xi moved with lightning speed, locking Shen Ji against her chest with one arm, her strength steadily increasing.
Shen Ji’s vision went dark as he found himself pressed against a soft fullness.
The fragrant scent immediately pulled him back to reality, and he realized he was currently surrounded by “warm jade,” but the pressure on his neck made it impossible for him to do anything.
He had no choice but to plead for mercy.
“Ye Xi, Ye Xi, I was joking.”
“Call me Sister.”
Shen Ji squeezed the words out through his teeth.
“Sister… Ye Xi.”
Hearing this, Ye Xi released him, looking satisfied.
“That’s a good boy. Here, this is a gift for you.”
As if performing a magic trick, Ye Xi pulled a bottle of red liquid from behind her back.
Looking at the liquid, a flash of surprise crossed Shen Ji’s eyes.
This looked exactly like the Specialized Blood Plasma Liu Yao had given him.
Could items issued by The Official be smuggled out like this?
Even though Shen Ji had a good guess about what it was, he feigned confusion to ensure Ye Xi didn’t realize he had been in contact with someone from The Official.
“What is this?”
“This is specialized blood plasma made by The Official for the Blood Race. I originally planned to use it to help you get through your First Evolution, but I didn’t expect you to evolve faster than I imagined.”
“Is there only one bottle?”
Ye Xi tapped the glass bottle against Shen Ji’s head.
“What are you thinking? I went through a lot of trouble to steal this from my dad. Having one full bottle is already lucky.”
Shen Ji took it carefully.
He couldn’t help but feel curious about the true identity of Ye Xi’s father.
If her father worked for The Official, it wouldn’t be strange for him to have this plasma.
However, based on Ye Xi’s previous attitude when she wanted to take him away, if her father really held a high position in The Official, she wouldn’t have been so passive.
While Shen Ji was lost in thought, Ye Xi asked with great interest, “By the way, what does your Blood Tribe Form look like after the First Evolution?”
“It’s… it’s about the same as yours.”
Ye Xi leaned in and whispered into his ear.
“Wait for me at home tonight. I’ll teach you how to properly use our Blood Race talents.”
“Can I refuse?”
“What? Are you hiding something from me? Or… are you waiting for some other Blood Race member to guide you?”
Shen Ji waved his hands repeatedly.
Because of the System, he was already an anomaly among humans.
If other members of the Blood Race found out what he looked like after transforming, wouldn’t he become an anomaly among anomalies?
Ye Xi sighed.
“Our Little Xiao Jizi has grown up and doesn’t need me anymore. I guess I’ll just have to send Wang Kai and the others back then.”
Shen Ji gritted his teeth.
“Are you threatening me?”
Ye Xi smirked.
“I’m doing no such thing. I’m just stating facts.”
“Fine. You want to see what I look like after the First Evolution? I’ll show you.”
Ye Xi looked at the surrounding crowd warily.
“Not here. Do you really want to—”
Before she could finish her sentence, Shen Ji’s eyes began to change.
Tiny blue ripples emanated from his pupils, eventually dyeing his entire eyes an eerie night-blue.
Ye Xi felt Shen Ji’s aura shift abruptly.
It was like a superior being looking down upon an inferior one.
Even though she had already completed her Third Evolution, she felt a faint, lingering sense of oppression from the bottom of her heart while facing the current Shen Ji.
As the pressure continued, the power within Ye Xi began to surge involuntarily, as if her own Blood Tribe Form would be triggered at any moment.
Seeing the crimson swirl in the depths of Ye Xi’s eyes, Shen Ji quickly retracted his aura, fearing she might reveal her Blood Tribe Form in public.
Ye Xi suppressed her inner impulses and panted heavily.
“You… what exactly are you?!”
A complex look appeared in Shen Ji’s eyes.
‘I don’t know either…’
A brief silence followed.
As the two reached a fork in the road, Ye Xi seemed to make a decision and spoke first.
“Shen Ji, no matter what you are, I’ll be on your side.”
Shen Ji gave a bitter laugh. “Thanks.”
Seeing his dismissive attitude, Ye Xi grabbed him by the collar.
“I’m serious!”
Shen Ji was yanked forward, his eyes meeting Ye Xi’s beautiful, phoenix-like eyes.
Before he could say anything, a mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
[**Ding! Three members of the Blood Race detected**]
“Dad, what are you doing here?”
Following Ye Xi’s shocked gaze, Shen Ji saw a dignified middle-aged man staring solemnly at her.
Behind him stood a man and a woman, both wearing black hoods.
“I should be the one asking you that question,” the man said.