In the brief face-to-face moment just now, she had cast a spell on the fox demon using hand seals. Now was the moment when the spell would take effect, forcing the demon to reveal its true form, the perfect opportunity to capture it. Without a second thought for Shi Yu, the homeowner, she immediately kicked the door.
The chaotic sounds from Shi Yu’s home continued unabated, occasionally punctuated by eerie creaking noises. Yet, no matter how hard she kicked, the door refused to budge.
Until a muffled thud erupted from inside, its force so immense that it blasted the door wide open.
Ji Yao excelled at hand seals, but her martial skills were somewhat lacking. She was no match for the fox demon, now frenzied and darting about wildly.
The demon hadn’t fully revealed its true form yet its body remained human, but its face flickered unsettlingly between human and fox.
Ji Yao had no time to attend to Shi Yu, but she deliberately positioned herself as a shield, blocking the unsettling sight from her view.
Meanwhile, inside the room, Xie Bing began to act.
She lay on the floor as if paralyzed with fear, pointing a trembling finger at the fox demon while suppressing a scream.
Had it not been for the moment when Xiao Hu’s demonic energy leaked out even the portion hidden within Xie Bing, Ji Yao might have been convinced by her performance.
But now?
She couldn’t help but think it was a shame Xie Bing didn’t pursue acting and settled for being a manager instead.
Fortunately, Shi Yu didn’t seem entirely bewitched.
Yet, she appeared visibly shaken. Her phone lay discarded nearby, and though her face remained composed, her trembling hands betrayed her fear.
She even seemed to be subtly leaning against Ji Yao.
It was easy to imagine just how terrified she was.
Though Ji Yao was concerned about Shi Yu’s mental state, the situation at hand demanded her full attention.
The hand seals could restrict the fox demon’s movements and cloud its mind. This was the best time to capture it.
Young and inexperienced, the demon wasn’t much of a threat. Ji Yao tightened her hand seals, swiftly and decisively grabbing the fox demon by the nape of its neck, attempting to immobilize it.
But even in its death throes, the demon thrashed about violently.
The two faces shifted faster and faster, a dizzying and grotesque spectacle.
Ji Yao was unfazed, but she could clearly feel Shi Yu, who had initially kept her distance, now pressing against her back.
At first, it was just an arm, but as the fox demon struggled more fiercely, Shi Yu clung to her even tighter.
Her trembling intensified.
Unable to split her focus, Ji Yao could only warn Shi Yu: “Close your eyes!”
Fox demons possessed the power to bewitch and paralyze. It was unclear which ability this young fox demon favored.
But neither would bode well for Shi Yu. Being influenced by a demon was unpleasant and difficult to dispel.
The lingering effects? Unknown.
“Ji Yao.”
In this extraordinary situation, the only person she could trust was Ji Yao. Her voice trembled slightly as she called out, carrying a faint sob.
Only after Ji Yao firmly grasped her hand did Shi Yu obediently close her eyes.
Instantly, the screams in her ears grew more intense.
It wasn’t the volume but a piercing sensation that seemed to penetrate her very soul, so overwhelming that Shi Yu felt her heart shudder.
Gradually, the screams turned into desperate pleas before fading into silence.
“You can open your eyes now.”
Shi Yu faintly heard the words and tentatively opened her eyes.
Ji Yao had closed the door, and the hallway was now as quiet as if nothing had ever happened.
But the pain on the back of her hand reminded her of the monster she had just seen and how Ji Yao had once again stepped in front of her.
“Your hand, it’s injured.”
Shi Yu’s gaze was somewhat dazed, prompting Ji Yao to remind her. It also brought to mind Qiao Zixi’s words: Shi Yu was destined for a bloody calamity.
Fortunately, it was only a minor injury, and she had successfully captured the fox demon.
Shi Yu snapped back to attention at her call, though she seemed a bit fixated on the fox demon Ji Yao held behind her back.
Not wanting to leave Shi Yu with too many lingering fears, Ji Yao instinctively tried to slip the fox demon into her pocket.
Oh, right she didn’t have pockets.
She had crossed over as a soul, unable to bring any physical objects with her.
So, she could only tighten her hand seal, attempting to weaken the fox demon’s aura and form.
This world was nothing like the otherworld, where humans, demons, and spirits coexisted, and people’s acceptance was far greater. Shi Yu clearly seemed unaware of such things.
If she had known, she wouldn’t have paled and locked Xie Bing and Xiao Hu inside, confronting Ji Yao alone.
Ji Yao understood, Shi Yu didn’t want others to know about her shameful marriage and her long-entangled alpha ex-wife.
But Ji Yao was different.
Years of training in the otherworld had reshaped her perspective entirely.
To her, this matter seemed trivial.
Well, not exactly trivial just not as significant as vanquishing demons and monsters!
Still, seeing Shi Yu so frightened was a big deal to her.
Shi Yu’s legs went weak, unable to support her.
Ji Yao turned to slip away but saw Shi Yu leaning weakly against the doorframe.
Without a second thought, Ji Yao reached out and wrapped an arm around Shi Yu’s waist.
As they drew close, she began to feel it was inappropriate, yet a faint sense of relief washed over her.
Relieved that she had come, relieved that Shi Yu wasn’t in her heat cycle.
Unlike last time, when the pheromones during her heat had made Ji Yao deeply uncomfortable.
Taking advantage of Shi Yu’s semi-conscious state, Ji Yao brought her back inside, laid her gently on the sofa, checked her condition, and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
It was indeed shock, compounded by prolonged contact with Xiao Hu, leaving Shi Yu depleted and anemic.
Ignoring Xie Bing’s ongoing performance, Ji Yao let her pretend to fuss over Shi Yu.
Before long, Xie Bing managed to rouse Shi Yu.
Her eyes were clouded and confused.
Her voice carried a trace of bewilderment: “Ji Yao?”
Ji Yao hummed softly in response, but before she could say more, Xie Bing seized the moment: “Ah Yu, you scared me so much, you fainted all of a sudden.”
Ji Yao actually knew a thing or two about Xie Bing.
Back in the days when her admiration for Shi Yu was at its peak, even her company, agents, and assistants were aware of it.
Having worked together for years, Shi Yu undoubtedly trusted her deeply.
So Ji Yao had no confidence that a few words from her would make Shi Yu believe her.
A stranger might not be convinced, let alone given their current relationship.
Still, Ji Yao was prepared for not being understood in such situations.
Except when dealing with people, Ji Yao had her methods.
She wasn’t particularly eloquent, nor did she wish to argue.
But Shi Yu’s expression was too bewildered, it didn’t seem like she fully believed Xie Bing, yet she lacked concrete evidence.
Moreover, Ji Yao wasn’t sure how much Shi Yu had actually witnessed at the doorway.
Asking outright would be unwise.
And just then, Xie Bing shot her a somewhat provocative look.
She was defiant, of course she was defiant.
In front of her, Ji Yao captured the fox demon. For Xie Bing, the reason she didn’t want to expose the truth was undoubtedly because of Shi Yu.
At this moment, Ji Yao’s thoughts aligned with hers.
If Shi Yu didn’t know, then it was better to keep it that way.
Moreover, that little fox demon was far too unruly she needed to leave this place quickly.
But handing Shi Yu over to Xie Bing?
That was clearly not a good idea.
As Ji Yao contemplated her next move, she took a few steps back, all while Xie Bing feigned concern and fear beside her.
Shi Yu, now awake, wasn’t paying attention to Xie Bing’s words but was instead looking directly at her.
It was then that Ji Yao remembered, the first thing Shi Yu did upon waking was call out her name.
“Will you come with me?”
If Xie Bing was dangerous, then she was willing to take Shi Yu away. The only worry was whether Shi Yu would refuse.