Crisis

Xiao Xiao's voice held a hint of amusement when he mentioned Yinzi, thinking it was a simple, crude name.

"No, you can stay seated," Xiao Xiao quickly stopped her when he saw the girl struggling to stand up.

The girl still stubbornly got to her feet.

"Hello, my name is Su Youjin."

Standing up, Su Youjin was quite tall for a girl, around 1.67 meters. Her figure was slender and a bit thin, but not to the point of being skeletal. She just looked like her appearance perfectly matched her cool and indifferent demeanor, giving her an ethereal, otherworldly feeling.

However, at this moment, Xiao Xiao felt more strongly: she was a stubborn girl.

Perhaps it was this personality that allowed her to stand on equal footing with a fox demon as an ordinary person?

Xiao Xiao smiled helplessly and decided to get straight to the point, "Do you know what's happening to you?"

Since Su Youjin could see the Ear Mouse, Xiao Xiao had fewer reservations. Moreover, with the cooperation of the person involved, things would be much easier.

Xiao Xiao was much calmer now about encountering people who could see monsters like him.

After all, the world was so big, how could he be the only one who could see monsters? Besides, not everyone who could see monsters would share the same interests or become friends.

Su Youjin's eyes suddenly widened, and she looked at Xiao Xiao with a mixture of surprise and uncertainty.

She was naturally aware of her own condition.

However, she had never even told her parents or other family members about such a bizarre thing.

Otherwise, how could she tell them that a monster wanted to possess her?

If she hadn't experienced it herself, she would definitely have thought the other person was joking or suspected them of being mentally unstable.

Moreover, her relationship with her always busy parents had always been distant, and she couldn't bear to worry her doting grandparents.

After all, in her opinion, even if they believed her, they would be powerless. Since that was the case, why let them know and worry about her?

She believed she could handle it herself.

Even though she was truly exhausted, she had never considered giving up.

Her pride and dignity wouldn't allow her to admit defeat, and she didn't want her grandparents to bear the consequences of her failure.

How could she let a monster occupy her body and stay by her grandparents' side?

So she had been working hard alone. No, there was also Yinzi; Yinzi had been with her all along.

When she first opened her eyes in the flower room where she usually rested and saw a stranger, how could she not be surprised? But with Yinzi by her side, she wasn't afraid.

Even if she didn't know at first, she gradually understood later that Yinzi was likely a legendary monster.

Now, this person could see Yinzi and even said Yinzi brought him here.

Based on this alone, she believed Xiao Xiao.

Of course, it was less that she believed Xiao Xiao and more that she believed Yinzi.

She believed Yinzi wouldn't harm her.

He actually asked if she knew what was happening to her? How could she not know?

But, had he seen something?

Could he... help her?

Su Youjin, who was naturally quiet and had even fewer emotional fluctuations after fighting monsters, was rarely so agitated, her heart pounding like a drum.

In just this past month, she felt like it had been an eternity.

She had even thought that if she really couldn't hold on any longer, she would fight the monster to the death.

If she died, would the monster still want her body?

But, as long as there was a glimmer of hope, who would give up their life?

Su Youjin's amber eyes seemed to hold faint starlight, flickering dimly, not dazzling, but captivating.

Looking at Su Youjin's eyes, which flickered like stars, Xiao Xiao saw her wavering heart, wanting to believe but afraid to.

What beautiful eyes, Xiao Xiao suddenly felt immense pressure. If such beautiful eyes showed disappointment, he would feel deeply guilty.

"Do you know what's happening to me?" Su Youjin hugged the Ear Mouse that had leaped into her arms, tightening her grip. Her fingertips turned white, but she didn't flinch, her eyes fixed directly on Xiao Xiao.

"You're possessed by a fox demon," Xiao Xiao said very frankly. He felt that being open and honest was the best approach.

"A fox demon...?" Su Youjin was stunned. "I only knew it was a monster, but I didn't know it was a fox demon."

"Ah~" Su Youjin released her hands, her legs stumbled, and she fell back onto the lounge chair, her head bowed low, her expression hidden. Her hands, resting at her sides, were clenched tightly, pale and bloodless, with fine blue veins crisscrossing her hands.

As if unable to bear it any longer, Su Youjin raised her hands to cover her head, occasionally tapping it.

The dull thuds indicated the force of her blows.

The Ear Mouse landed lightly, its paws scratching the ground restlessly, showing obvious anxiety.

Xiao Xiao was startled, then realized it must be the fox demon causing trouble.

Aside from the initial scream, Su Youjin had been quiet. If Xiao Xiao hadn't known beforehand, if it weren't for her slightly trembling shoulders revealing the slightest hint, who would have known she was fighting a monster for control of her body?

Who would have known she was on the brink of death?

"Mmm~ mmm~" The Ear Mouse turned its head and snarled at Xiao Xiao, its body tense. Deep claw marks scarred the ground beneath it. For the first time, its crimson, vertical pupils revealed anxiety and worry to Xiao Xiao without any pretense.

Xiao Xiao frowned, ignoring the Ear Mouse's cries. His gaze remained fixed on Su Youjin with a heavy expression.

Su Youjin could no longer control herself and collapsed onto the lounge chair. Her slender, thin body was curled up. Xiao Xiao could clearly make out the girl's distinct ribs even through her not-so-thin clothing.

Su Youjin buried her head deep into her chest, trembling violently. No, it should be said her entire body was convulsing.

Clearly, her struggle with the fox demon was intense.

Although he wasn't sure what he should do, the situation was urgent. He decided to try something first.

Xiao Xiao took a few steps forward. "Pardon me," he said, reaching out to grasp Su Youjin's wrist. The overly slender and delicate feel of her wrist surprised him. He quickly collected himself and attempted to mobilize the energy within his body.

He didn't know what exactly was inside him; it was some kind of energy, so he decided to call it that for now.

Fortunately, Xiao Xiao had tried to mobilize this energy before. After all, anyone who suddenly had a mysterious energy appear inside them would try their best to understand it.

At the very least, he needed to be able to control it, lest he be harmed by it in the future.

Xiao Xiao drew his energy from his lower dantian, passed it through his middle dantian, and channeled it along his arm into Su Youjin's body. It flowed straight up towards Su Youjin's upper dantian, the Mud Pill Palace.