The torn pages they had found the previous night happened to contain no information about how succubi obtained their food.
Different demon races survived on different sources of nourishment.
For example, the most common type, possession demons, needed only to find a suitable host. Once they successfully possessed someone, they could continuously absorb everything from that host, using it as sustenance.
As for Xue Zhao…
He was so weak that he barely seemed like a demon at all.
Perhaps it was because…
He had been starving all this time.
Hearing Xiu Jixin ask him, Xue Zhao answered vaguely,
“Anything is fine…”
He let out a sleepy yawn, rubbed his eyes and felt his mind gradually clear.
He really was hungry.
Last night, he had fallen asleep before Xiu Jixin returned.
Otherwise, once midnight had passed, it would have counted as a new day…
And he could have stolen another kiss.
Xue Zhao couldn’t help thinking…
Xiu Jixin had only seen his demonic markings and learned that his true form had a tail.
He had never asked what race of demon Xue Zhao actually was.
Without knowing his race…
He wouldn’t be able to identify a demon’s weaknesses.
Which meant…
Xue Zhao could secretly “feed.”
He probably wouldn’t notice.
Besides…
Ever since his Life Points had once climbed to a peak of more than twenty…
Only to plummet again…
Xue Zhao felt as though he had become even less capable of enduring hunger.
His thoughts constantly drifted toward “food.”
Yesterday, after his identity had been exposed, the shock had frightened him badly.
His fear had barely been enough to suppress his instincts.
But now…
After sleeping peacefully through the night…
Wrapped securely in Xiu Jixin’s gentle embrace…
He found it increasingly difficult to resist.
He nestled closer into Xiu Jixin’s arms.
A trace of hopeful anticipation shimmered within his crimson eyes.
With visible shyness, he softly asked,
“Could you kiss me… please?”
As long as Xiu Jixin kissed him of his own accord…
His Life Points would increase by one extra point.
Xue Zhao didn’t want to waste the single opportunity he had each day.
Xiu Jixin’s breathing paused ever so slightly.
He tightened his embrace around Xue Zhao before quietly asking,
“Where should I kiss you?”
Xue Zhao froze.
Feeling the warmth of Xiu Jixin’s breath drawing closer…
His thoughts drifted back to their previous kiss.
If he wanted to gain more Life Points…
A real kiss was obviously the best choice.
Last time…
His Life Points had increased by a full eight.
But merely recalling that level of intimacy…
The instinctive timidity ingrained deep within him surfaced once more.
If they didn’t kiss…
He would only gain three Life Points…
Xue Zhao hesitated.
His pale eyelashes trembled gently as they lowered.
His voice became so soft it was barely audible.
“…Anywhere is… fine.”
The moment the words left his lips…
Xiu Jixin leaned in.
His movement paused for just a brief instant…
Before gently pressing a kiss against Xue Zhao’s lips.
It was a simple kiss.
No different from the casual way he usually kissed his cheek.
[Life Points increased by 5.]
Five points…
That was already a lot.
And unlike last time…
He hadn’t become so nervous that he wanted to run away.
The tips of Xue Zhao’s ears turned bright red.
The fingers clutching the edge of his sleeve tightened…
Then slowly relaxed.
Lowering his head, he buried himself against Xiu Jixin’s chest and gave a tiny, affectionate nuzzle.
Secretly…
He lightly licked his lips.
Still innocent and bewildered, he quietly savored the taste of his “food.”
Not long afterward…
An assistant delivered breakfast as usual, placing it in the study.
The clothes Xue Zhao had been wearing had accidentally gotten wet while bathing the previous night.
So he was still dressed in the oversized “sleepwear” from before.
He went into the study and quietly finished a small bowl of rice porridge.
It was already getting late.
Xiu Jixin had to leave for the church to attend to his duties.
Before departing, he handed Xue Zhao a copy of the Holy Bible along with a thick stack of blank paper.
“Before I return…”
He spoke calmly.
“Copy the first fifty verses of the Bible five times.”
[System]: Making a demon copy the Bible… He’s really capable of coming up with anything.
Seeing the hesitation appear on Xue Zhao’s face, Xiu Jixin added,
“This is your punishment…”
“…for placing a curse in the village well.”
At those words…
Xue Zhao’s expression stiffened.
Silently…
He accepted both the Bible and the paper.
The System also fell silent.
Since Xiu Jixin even knew about that incident…
It meant he truly had been showing Xue Zhao leniency all along.
Moreover…
Although the poisoning mission hadn’t caused particularly severe symptoms…
It had still resulted in many of the villagers becoming infected.
The punishment imposed on Xue Zhao was merely to copy the first fifty verses of the Bible five times. Compared to what it could have been, it was already exceptionally lenient.
An assistant would come to the study later to clear away the dishes. After Xiu Jixin left, Xue Zhao gathered the Bible and a stack of blank paper before returning to the bedroom to begin copying.
At first, he wrote with great care, stroke by stroke.
But he was a demon, after all.
He disliked the Bible from the bottom of his heart.
The longer he copied, the slower his hand became. His once neat handwriting gradually turned sloppy, each line messier than the last.
Fortunately, copying the first fifty verses five times did not amount to many words. Before long, he had finished all five copies and Xiu Jixin still had not returned.
Curious, Xue Zhao opened his system panel.
His Life Points had actually dropped by one.
[System]: It should be the effect of copying the Bible. Fortunately, it only reduced your Life Points by one.
It was not only his Life Points that had fallen.
His mood had sunk as well, leaving him strangely gloomy and dispirited.
He tossed the pen aside, then quietly slipped onto Xiu Jixin’s bed. Wrapping himself tightly in the blanket, he buried his face against the familiar scent lingering on the fabric.
Only then did he begin to feel a little better.
As noon gradually approached, the bells of the church echoed from outside.
Listening to the solemn chimes, Xue Zhao sighed anxiously.
“I wonder when I’ll finally be able to do my mission…”
Originally, he had planned to leave the church.
Now that he had suddenly disappeared without a word, would Aunt Huai be worried about him?
[System]: Why not test Xiu Jixin’s attitude tonight?
There were still six days remaining before the mission deadline.
The system advised against rushing over the next couple of days. As for secretly escaping, that was even more impossible. The risk was simply too great.
He had already been locked up.
He had already been kissed.
He had already copied the scriptures…
Judging from the Affection Value, the system estimated that, at most, Xiu Jixin would soften within four days and allow Xue Zhao to leave.
At most…
Four days.
Xue Zhao rolled over beneath the blanket.
Just then, a familiar sound suddenly echoed through the room.
With a soft click, the window was pushed open.
Xue Zhao lowered the blanket from over his head.
Sure enough, the black cat had slipped in through the window.
Originally, the cat had looked completely relaxed. It leaped lightly down from the windowsill but the instant its paws touched the floor, its entire body stiffened with vigilance.
Its nose twitched.
It caught the faintest trace of demonic aura lingering in the room.
Immediately, every muscle in its body tensed as it cautiously scanned its surroundings.
Then,
It saw Xue Zhao sitting up on the bed.
Silver hair.
Crimson eyes.
And a pair of tiny black horns peeking out from his forehead.
Those…
Were unmistakably one of a demon’s defining characteristics.
The black cat froze in disbelief.
Its golden eyes widened into perfect circles.
Back when it had discovered Xue Zhao beside the sacrificial altar, it had personally confirmed his scent.
It had even sought Xiu Jixin’s confirmation before allowing Xue Zhao to remain in the town.
Yesterday, when Xiu Jixin instructed it to bring Xue Zhao here, he had never explained why.
After delivering him, the black cat had simply resumed its usual patrols.
Only today, after noticing that Xue Zhao had neither left with the other temporary assistants nor appeared anywhere inside the church, had it come over to check on him.
Who could have imagined…
That Xue Zhao was actually the demon that had been hiding inside the church all along.
A trace of hurt flashed across the black cat’s eyes.
It was quickly followed by the anger of having been deceived.
At that moment, it had no time to think about why Xue Zhao was here.
A low, threatening growl rumbled deep in its throat as it slowly advanced toward the bed.
Yet the moment it saw Xue Zhao clutching the corner of the blanket, shrinking backward with obvious fear, it still stopped in its tracks.
The black cat stared at him.
Its tail flicked restlessly before it let out a troubled, impatient meow.
Xue Zhao hesitated before speaking cautiously.
“You…”
At that exact moment, Xiu Jixin returned.
Pushing open the bedroom door, his gaze swept across the room before settling on the cat.
“Yingjie.”
The black cat turned to look at Xiu Jixin.
Then it looked back at Xue Zhao.
In that instant, everything finally became clear.
It shot Xiu Jixin a fierce glare.
Then, without another sound, it spun around and ran.
In just a few swift bounds, it slipped back out through the open window.
Xue Zhao hurried to his feet and leaned over to look outside.
He caught sight of the black cat leaping onto the courtyard wall before disappearing into the distance.
[System]: Is it… angry?
Compared to Xiu Jixin secretly hiding a demon inside the residence, perhaps it was even angrier with Xue Zhao himself.
The system clearly remembered how much the black cat had liked Xue Zhao.
In many ways, it seemed like another extension of Xiu Jixin.
Most of the time, even their likes and dislikes were exactly the same.
But no matter how intelligent a spirit cat might be…
It was still only a cat.
There was no way it could have guessed Xue Zhao’s true identity.
Xue Zhao stood there helplessly, unsure of what to do.
Xiu Jixin, however, paid it no attention.
“There’s no need to mind it.”
He placed a small suitcase onto the coffee table.
“These are your belongings.”
Inside the suitcase were the items that had been brought back from the residential building.
When Xue Zhao opened it, he found his clothes, his daily necessities and even the unfinished biscuits and snacks Aunt Huai had previously given him.
Xiu Jixin picked up one of the biscuits and held it to Xue Zhao’s lips.
“Have you finished copying the scriptures?”
Xue Zhao obediently ate the biscuit directly from his hand before nodding.
Then he turned around, retrieved the pages he had spent the entire morning copying and brought them over for inspection.
Sitting on the sofa, Xiu Jixin carefully flipped through each page, examining them one by one.
Xue Zhao quietly nestled into his embrace.
“I copied them five times. I didn’t leave out a single one.”
“Mm.”
Xiu Jixin responded softly before setting the stack of papers aside.
After hesitating for a while, Xue Zhao finally reached out and took hold of his hand.
“Do I… still have to copy more this afternoon?”
“This afternoon, you’ll copy them two more times,” Xiu Jixin replied calmly. “That is your punishment for placing a curse on Zong Ping.”
Zong Ping was one of the church assistants.
Previously, after growing suspicious of Xue Zhao, he had been secretly cursed by him using a leaf. He ended up bedridden for two full days because of it.
Xue Zhao obediently nodded.
“I understand.”
After those two incidents, he had not done anything else.
Then…
If he finished copying those two additional sets of scriptures this afternoon…
Would he finally be allowed to leave?
Xue Zhao thought about it again and again.
In the end, he still could not hold back any longer.
He finally voiced the question that had been weighing on his mind.
Xiu Jixin slightly raised his eyes.
“You’ve been here for less than a day and you’re already thinking about running away?”
“I’m not going to run away,” Xue Zhao hurriedly explained. “I just want to go back and see Aunt Huai…”
The system had advised him to wait a little longer.
But Xue Zhao was afraid that even after several more days, he still wouldn’t be allowed to leave. If he waited until then to think of another solution, it might already be too late.
“No.”
Xiu Jixin’s refusal was cold and absolute.
Disappointment immediately filled Xue Zhao’s face. He pressed his lips together before asking quietly,
“Then… when will I be allowed to…?”
His expression became pitiful once more, his eyes carrying a faint trace of grievance, as though silently accusing him.
Xiu Jixin leaned a little closer and gently pinched the tip of Xue Zhao’s chin.
“If you’re obedient,” he said, “I’ll let you go out.”
His tone grew lower as he continued,
“Otherwise, if you go outside and cause trouble again, who’s going to take responsibility?”
Although Xiu Jixin’s expression had turned somewhat cold, there was still unmistakable indulgence hidden within his words.
It was as if he were simply dealing with an overly mischievous little kitten.
Xue Zhao was unhappy.
He brushed Xiu Jixin’s hand away, hugged the suitcase to his chest and returned to his own small room.
By now, it was already noon.
The assistant still hadn’t arrived with lunch.
Just then, a faint rustling sound came from beside the courtyard wall.
Xiu Jixin remained seated on the sofa, continuing to inspect the scriptures Xue Zhao had copied without even lifting his head.
Outside, the black cat had quietly returned.
It was still visibly irritated.
It scraped forcefully at the stone paving with its claws several times before crouching atop the courtyard wall, vigilantly surveying its surroundings.
Even if Xue Zhao was a demon…
Even after returning to his true form…
He was still so weak.
If anyone were to discover him…
The consequences would be unimaginable.
The black cat remained perched there for a while before lightly leaping onto the rooftop, changing its position and continuing its silent watch.
Not long afterward, the assistant arrived carrying lunch.
After placing the meal inside the study, he immediately turned and left.
Xue Zhao also emerged from his little room.
He walked back over to the sofa and quietly nestled himself into Xiu Jixin’s embrace once again.
Wrapping his arms affectionately around Xiu Jixin’s neck, he gently rubbed his cheek against the man’s collar.
“Could you let me go out just this once…?”
“You can come with me.”
Earlier, while he had been alone in his room, the system had come up with an idea for him.
Since he had already brought up the subject once, he might as well try again.
After all, the mission only required him to look through the town’s historical notices and old news records.
It wasn’t as though he intended to do anything bad.
The system had even prepared a suitable explanation.
He could simply say that he wanted to search for clues related to his own race.
Xiu Jixin frowned.
“Your race?”
Xue Zhao nodded with complete seriousness.
“Mm.”
As for why it had to be within the next few days…
It was because, before long, his race would enter an important stage of development and he didn’t know what he was supposed to do.
That wasn’t entirely a lie.
Every succubus would eventually experience a period of maturity.
It truly was an important stage.
It was simply that Xue Zhao’s Life Points were still so low that he didn’t need to worry about it at all.
After quietly listening to every explanation Xue Zhao gave, Xiu Jixin remained silent.
He appeared to be considering it.
Xue Zhao secretly observed his expression.
His heartbeat gradually sped up.
The system had taught him all of this.
He had also tried hard to come up with a solution himself.
Maybe…
Maybe it would actually work.
The system had said before that Xiu Jixin liked him.
Xue Zhao unconsciously leaned a little closer.
A faint blush slowly spread across his cheeks.
In a small, hesitant voice, he asked,
“If you agree…”
“I’ll let you see my tail…”
“Okay?”
✦ ✧ ✦
Cresvynia
[Translator]
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ChaptersChapter 1 · [Mission Identity]: SuccubusChapter 2 · Let him copy the scriptures fifty more timesChapter 3 · Can I seduce him?Chapter 4 · Can I have a bite?Chapter 5 · I wasn’t full at allChapter 6 · This is its original formChapter 7 · Xue Zhao slowly licked it againChapter 8 · If something is discoveredChapter 9 · Because he is… a succubusChapter 10 · Are you trying to seduce me?Chapter 11 · That’s right, a cage to lock up the devilChapter 12 · Can I keep you company for a while?Chapter 13 · Only one kiss a dayChapter 14 · Uncomfortable?Chapter 15 · Day of RepentanceChapter 16 · It’s the last bit left, silver halideChapter 17 · Current Form: SuccubusChapter 18 · This is your… original form?Chapter 19 · What would you like to eat?Chapter 20 · I’ll show you my tail… okay?Chapter 21 · The premise is that he didn’t lieChapter 22 · It has a light, pleasant fragranceChapter 23 · Demons typically have a limited dietChapter 24 · Don’t touch me…Chapter 25 · MaturityChapter 26 · Touch What?Chapter 27 · I never imaginedChapter 28 · “I’ll feed you until you’re fullChapter 29 · You’d better keep having this kind of luckChapter 30 · Anyway, I’ve already touched it onceChapter 31 · Like a kitten begging for extra food.Chapter 32 · [Skill “Charm” in effect]Chapter 33 · [You have entered the “Mature Stage”]Chapter 34 · He wanted Xiu Jixin to feed him….Chapter 35 · You’re trying to seduce me againChapter 36 · He seems… even more off now.Chapter 37 · Xue Zhao blushedChapter 38 · The fallen Holy SpiritChapter 39 · [Health points have reached maximum]Chapter 40 · [Corruption Value]: 63%Chapter 41 · Besides seducing me, what else can you do?Chapter 42 · Can we take the NPC with us?Chapter 43 · Horror Comics: The Murder DollChapter 44 · [Task Details]: Find a new owner for your itemsChapter 45 · The skill “Entering Dreams”Chapter 46 · The thought of making him cryChapter 47 · With a rather wicked interest.Chapter 48 · I’ll buy you new clothes, little bunnyChapter 49 · I should say, thank you, MasterChapter 50 · Do toy bunnies go into heat?