A Helping Hand (3)

"Don't be afraid. He's a person, just a little strange." Seeing Ren Fang turn pale with fright, Little Black Cat immediately leaped onto her shoulder and comforted her.

Fanxin had entrusted Ren Fang to Little Black Cat's care. Now that Fanxin was in danger and could barely look after himself, Little Black Cat naturally couldn't let his wish go unfulfilled.

"How could anyone look like that?" Seeing Little Black Cat on her shoulder, Ren Fang felt much more reassured, though the head still frightened her.

"I can't really explain it either. I was frightened the first time I saw him too. My eyes even rolled back in my head. But after spending a long time with him, I stopped noticing it." Little Black Cat smiled. "Don't worry, he's very kind. And he came here this time to help Fanxin."

"Oh, I see. All right, then!" Ren Fang nodded, though she still refused to go near Grandpa Nick. At a loss, Little Black Cat had no choice but to let her be.

Little Black Cat jumped down from Ren Fang's shoulder, went over to Grandpa Nick, and asked, "Grandpa Nick, what should we do now? Look how much pain Fanxin's in!"

Fanxin was gritting his teeth and holding on. Beads of sweat the size of soybeans stood out on his forehead, clearly visible even from far away. Little Black Cat knew Fanxin had to be suffering immense pain inside.

"He's looking for trouble and bringing that pain on himself," Grandpa Nick said.

"What do you mean?" Little Black Cat asked, puzzled. Fanxin was fighting so hard to hold on, yet Grandpa Nick said he was looking for trouble. Did that mean the only way to avoid trouble was not to resist?

"Shout to Fanxin and tell him to stop resisting. Then this whole matter will be resolved satisfactorily," Grandpa Nick said.

"Huh? Wouldn't giving up resistance be suicide?" Little Black Cat froze. Was Grandpa Nick here to save Fanxin or harm him?

"Hehe, I won't hurt Fanxin. Go on and tell him. I guarantee he'll be fine," Grandpa Nick said.

Fanxin hesitated. After a moment, he asked, "You're sure nothing will happen if he does that, right?"

"Don't worry, I won't hurt Fanxin. He's like a grandson to me. How could a grandfather hurt his own grandson?" Grandpa Nick said. His voice was grave as he spoke, without a trace of joking. Clearly, he wasn't lying, but telling the truth.

Little Black Cat hesitated for a moment, then immediately headed toward Fanxin. Once beside him, Little Black Cat spoke into his ear. "Fanxin, stop resisting. It's the only way to deal with Little Fox. Do you understand? If you can hear me, nod."

Inside the mind domain.

Fanxin had heard Little Black Cat, but he hesitated. He didn't know what Little Black Cat meant by this. If he stopped resisting, Little Fox would take over his mind domain. What could he rely on to turn defeat into victory then?

He stood there, not knowing what to do.

"Hehe, Fanxin, even your own companion is telling you to give up. I think you should. That way, it'll be good for both of us, and neither of us will have to suffer anymore." Little Fox seized the chance to attack him with words, intending to make Fanxin give up.

Little Fox didn't want to remain entangled with Fanxin for too long. The longer it took, the greater the chance of something unexpected happening. Little Fox wanted to finish the fight quickly.

"Hmph, that's not true," Fanxin said with a soft snort.

"Is that so? Hehe, then listen. Your friend's still shouting out there. Your friend wants you to give up that badly, so what chance do you have of winning?" Little Fox said with a laugh.

"All right, since you want it, you can have it!" After pondering for a moment, Fanxin gritted his teeth and stopped resisting.

He gave up resisting because he trusted Little Black Cat. They had known each other for years and faced life and death together. The bond between them was genuine. He didn't believe Little Black Cat would hurt him. Although he didn't know why Little Black Cat wanted him to give up, he believed there must be something else behind it. So he decided to take a gamble.

Little Fox froze. Little Fox had thought it would take a great deal of effort to make Fanxin stop resisting, but hadn't expected him to give up just like that.

"Are you really sure you're not going to resist?" Little Fox was still somewhat uncertain, because it was such a surprise.

"That's right, I'm not resisting anymore. If you want to take over my mind domain, go ahead!" Fanxin nodded. "But don't get too pleased with yourself, Little Fox. I can tell you that Little Black Cat and I have been close for more than ten years. We're partners who can entrust our backs to each other. I believe Little Black Cat wouldn't hurt me."

"In other words, telling me to give up might really be a strategy to deal with you. So I advise you to think carefully. This could be a trap, and if you fall into it, you might never recover."

"I don't hate you all that much yet, so I'm willing to share a body with you. If you agree, we can coexist peacefully. How about it?"

"Hmph, sorry, I don't have that habit. This body is mine, and I won't let go of it," Little Fox shouted with a soft snort.

Little Fox was so aggressive because Clark had tortured Little Fox, leaving Little Fox deeply distrustful of humans. Even though Fanxin was so sincere, Little Fox paid him no heed.

"Alas, ignore your elders' advice and you'll soon suffer for it. Since you insist on doing this, there's nothing I can do. Come on, I've already stopped resisting," Fanxin said.

Little Fox showed no restraint, using soul power to slowly take over Fanxin's mind domain.

Fanxin's soul withdrew from the mind domain step by step.

By the time Fanxin's soul had completely withdrawn, Little Fox had taken over his entire mind domain. Delighted, Little Fox laughed heartily, then began using soul power, preparing to take control of Fanxin's entire body.

Fanxin could only watch, unable to do anything, because he no longer had a vessel for his soul.

What's Little Black Cat doing? I've already withdrawn, but I still don't see anything happening! Fanxin glanced around and was dumbfounded. He could feel his soul slowly weakening, perhaps because it had no vessel to contain it.

Little Black Cat wasn't just guessing, was that it? If so, I'm finished. Fanxin grew anxious. He didn't want to die like this.

Meanwhile, Little Fox was excitedly manipulating soul power, gradually taking control of Fanxin's body. Fanxin could already feel his control over his own body slowly diminishing.

Little Fox was overjoyed, but a few minutes later, Little Fox's expression suddenly grew grave, as if facing a powerful enemy.