Warm blood flowed into her burning throat like sweet spring water.
The hand that was about to stroke her paused midair, and Lin Mo’s body stiffened slightly as well.
The unconscious Chu You in his arms no longer bit his collarbone; instead, she became unconscious in her actions.
Even more surprising was that the restlessness of the origin power, which even his continuous infusion of divine decree energy couldn’t fully suppress, gradually calmed down after Chu You drank his blood.
I still have this effect?
Lin Mo raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of puzzlement flashing in his eyes.
The peach-pink glow was no longer so dazzling, and the wildly fluttering fox tail slowly drooped, becoming soft and obedient, unconsciously wrapping around Lin Mo’s arm and waist with a fledgling-like dependence.
The tight strings of Lin Mo’s heart suddenly loosened, a deep weariness washing over him, but more than that was an indescribable thrill.
He no longer tried to guide anything, only holding her more tightly, almost as if wanting to meld her into his very bones and blood, embracing the soft, trembling body in his arms firmly.
He lowered his head, resting his chin gently on the crown of her fragrant hair, closed his eyes, and let her instinctively draw his blood.
No one knew how long passed before the pressure from the biting on his collarbone gradually lessened.
Chu You’s hazy peach-pink pupils began to focus; though still moist with a misty sheen, the frenzy in her gaze had vanished.
She slightly loosened her mouth; her lips, stained more vividly red by the blood, parted and uttered faint, broken murmurs.
“Lin… Mo…”
“Lin Mo…”
Again and again, like a lost child confirming their only support.
Lin Mo’s heart was stirred soft and aching by her unconscious calls.
He tightened the arms encircling her and replied in a gentler voice than ever before, “I’m here.”
Receiving his response, Chu You seemed somewhat reassured, but then, as if falling into a nightmare, her body trembled slightly, her voice trembling with tears and utter terror as she stammered a full plea:
“Do… don’t… kill me…”
Those words were like the sharpest ice pick, piercing Lin Mo’s heart precisely, causing all his movements and breaths to freeze.
She… was begging him?
At the moment when her consciousness was blurred and all defenses dropped, her deepest fear came from him?
A complicated emotion mixed with pain, regret, and something hard to describe surged inside his chest.
He suddenly recalled their confrontation on the library rooftop before Chu You faked her death—he pretended not to see the hidden hope between her brows, until the starlight in her eyes dimmed.
So, senior sister always thought I would hurt her.
Lin Mo was silent for a long time, finally releasing a nearly inaudible sigh.
He raised his hand, gently brushed through her sweat-dampened temple, wiped the moisture from the corner of her eye, and spoke in a low voice—
“I won’t.”
“I will never hurt you, senior sister.”
The person in his arms seemed to hear his promise, and the tense body finally relaxed completely.
The fluffy white fox tail gently curled around Lin Mo’s waist, pressing them tightly together, each drawing warmth from the other.
Slowly, Chu You sank into unconscious sleep.
In the dim corridor, the lights flickered faintly from the earlier surge of demon power, casting wavering, blurry shadows on the walls.
Lin Mo leaned against the wall, holding the finally calm Chu You in his arms.
Her long, even breathing lightly brushed against his neck, bringing a slight tickling sensation.
The stubborn, fluffy, and warm fox tail still clung to his waist, its tip twitching unconsciously, like the most primal form of trust and longing.
This posture of absolute trust was a stark contrast to the usual Chu You who always scowled at him and constantly thought of fleeing.
Lin Mo lowered his eyes, looking at her still slightly furrowed brows in sleep, the blood-stained lips, and the bite marks at her collarbone that no longer bled, his emotions surging within.
He carefully gathered the tail that wrapped around his waist.
The soft touch made his fingertips hesitate.
Lin Mo tried to gently move it away, but the tail seemed to have its own will, rubbing against his palm and winding even tighter.
With no choice, he used an even softer touch to soothe and slowly untangle it from himself.
Then, with a standard princess carry, he lifted Chu You lightly into his arms.
“Uh…”
Chu You let out an unconscious whimper, instinctively leaning her head against Lin Mo’s chest.
Lin Mo slowed his breathing once more, carrying her back to the room, gently laying her on the soft bed, pulling the covers over her carefully, even tucking in the edges with considerate care.
Just as Lin Mo was about to turn and leave, the fox tail caught his arm first, pulling him back toward the bedside.
Almost at the same moment the door to Lin Mo’s room closed.
On a quiet, deserted street.
Xia Ji, who had just finished her part-time job, lowered her head and walked along the roadside toward home.
The late-night street was empty, only the dim street lamps stretching her lonely shadow long.
The night wind brought a chill, rustling the fallen leaves by the roadside.
She wrapped her thin coat tighter and quickened her pace.
Suddenly, an unnatural thick fog spread without warning from deep within an alley, quickly engulfing the entire street. The surrounding scenery blurred and twisted in the mist, even the streetlamp light became hazy and eerie.
Xia Ji’s heart tightened; a cold shiver ran down her spine.
Her pupils trembled and constricted sharply—up ahead, a black shadow emerged silently from the fog like a ghost, radiating an inhuman chill.
The shadow held an oversized broad sword, its body dripping a thick, foul-smelling liquid. It moved incredibly fast, appearing before Xia Ji in the blink of an eye.
Before Xia Ji could even scream for help, a large hand wrapped in mist grabbed her neck.
Desperate fear seized her; she kicked frantically, her vision swallowed by fog and darkness, and her consciousness sank into a cold void.
…
…
Morning light tore through the gloom, slowly spilling through the beige curtains and casting warm patches on the floor.
Chu You stirred lazily awake, her long lashes fluttering a few times before she struggled to open her heavy eyelids.
The moment consciousness returned, the first thing she felt was an almost debilitating exhaustion.
But the origin fox demon power within her, which had been restless and nearly tearing her apart, was now unusually calm.
She instinctively licked her dry lips, trying to soothe the burning thirst in her throat.
However, the tip of her tongue tasted not moisture, but a faint, strange, sweet-and-sour metallic rust flavor.
The taste of blood?
Chu You furrowed her brow, her muddled brain struggling to recall the fragmented memories of last night.
She remembered at the critical moment when her origin lost control, she had pushed open the door to seek help from Lin Mo, then… wait?
Bit that guy hard?
Memory became vague and ambiguous here, only the hard sensation on her collarbone and the lingering blood-tinged scent with a unique power aura were especially clear.
This realization threw her mind into chaos, struggling to sit up and make sense of the situation.
However, as soon as she moved, she found something tightly bound her waist and arms.
Something was wrong!
She abruptly turned her head, and the sight before her made her brain instantly buzz and crash—Lin Mo’s face was extremely close.
His eyes were closed, breathing steady, seemingly deep asleep, his arm naturally and firmly wrapped around her waist, holding her entirely in his embrace.
She could even feel the warm heat from his chest and his steady heartbeat.
Time seemed to freeze for three seconds.
Chu You’s pupils shifted from confusion to shock, then disbelief, and finally flared with burning shame and anger.
Is this, is this my room?
How did that bastard Lin Mo end up lying here?!
And still holding me while he sleeps?!
The fragmented images of him soothing her last night flashed in her mind, instantly shattered by the explosive reality of “sharing the same bed.”
Humiliation, offended anger, and a fluster she didn’t want to admit overwhelmed her.
“Lin Mo—!!”
A scream filled with shame and fury nearly broke from her throat.
Immediately, almost as a reflex, Chu You gathered the slight strength she had regained in her right leg and kicked with all her might toward the peacefully sleeping man beside her.
“Bang!”
A dull thud sounded, accompanied by the rustling of bedsheets.
Caught completely off guard, Lin Mo was kicked clean off the warm bed and soft “pillow,” falling clumsily onto the cold floor.
He sat up groggily, rubbing his eyes and yawning as he looked toward the bed.
What greeted his eyes was Chu You, wrapped tightly in the blanket, her face flushed with embarrassment.
“Senior sister…” Lin Mo rubbed his eyes, yawning, and said—“Good morning.”
“I’ll see your damn spiral rainbow ascension fart!”