The Unexpected Bond

“Beep beep… beep beep….”

In a brief moment of respite, Mo Bai’s phone, as expected, rang with a call from his father. Glancing at the small maid beside him, already drowsy and on the verge of sleep, Mo Bai gently rested Bai Xia’s head on the couch cushion before slowly standing up to take the call on the balcony.

“Mm… Mo-bro,” the girl murmured, her voice thick with sleep as she reached out to grasp the corner of Mo Bai’s shirt. Her snow-white hair tumbled across her cheeks, and her ruby-red eyes fluttered open, heavy with drowsiness. At school, Bai Xia always took an afternoon nap.

The sight of the girl’s adorable, half-awake state made Mo Bai’s heart flutter, as if a feather had gently tickled it. He leaned down to cover her with a small blanket.

“Rest well, I’m just taking a call.”

Mo Bai gently patted Bai Xia’s soft hair. She unconsciously nuzzled the blanket, making a soft, kitten-like sound, before letting go of his shirt.

What harm could a little blood maiden want? She just wanted to be close to her master on a subconscious level.

Once he was on the balcony and sure his voice wouldn’t disturb Bai Xia, who was sleeping soundly in the living room, Mo Bai answered the phone: “Hello, Dad.”

“You should know about the Sword Mechanism by now, right?” His father’s voice turned serious, alerting Mo Bai that this call was about more than just a casual chat.

“I do. Chu Feng told me about it. They’re investigating who’s behind it.” Mo Bai paused, realizing the situation had escalated beyond his control, even with the Sword Mechanism’s headquarters under attack.

As expected, his father began to advise him against getting involved.

“Let Chu Feng handle it for now. It’s good to be ambitious, but this is too dangerous.” His father’s voice was stern yet carried an uncommon concern for his son.

“But…” Mo Bai started to remind his father about the safety of his classmate, but was cut off by his father’s next words: “You don’t need to worry about that. Just keep your classmate safe.”

“Dad, about Bai Xia’s identity…” Mo Bai hesitated, his fingers tapping on the balcony railing. He knew his father was well-informed, but it was surprising how quickly he knew about Bai Xia.

“She must have told you,” his father’s voice carried a teasing note, as if daring Mo Bai to deny it.

“Well, she did. She said she’s a blood maiden, not human.” Mo Bai paused before continuing: “So, Dad, do you know about blood maidens?”

“Yes, and I assume she’s already tasted your blood, right?”

“Umm, does licking a little count?”

Mo Bai was caught off guard by his father’s sudden question, unsure why the conversation had shifted to whether Bai Xia had tasted his blood.

Hearing this, the father chuckled: “Haha, it seems the little one is quite restrained. I didn’t misjudge her.”

“Dad, what do you mean by that?” Mo Bai frowned, confused by the cryptic response: “What do you mean she’s restrained?”

“You, my son, should have noticed the change in her attitude towards you,” his father said with a mix of exasperation and affection. “Blood maidens have a unique trait: once they taste someone’s blood, they automatically form a bond with that person. We call it bonding.”

“Bonding…?” Mo Bai was stunned, his mind struggling to process this revelation. Bonding… was it what he thought it was? No way.

In that moment, he couldn’t help but feel a thrill, but he knew he couldn’t show it in front of his father. He needed to understand what this bonding meant first.

“It’s not complicated. Essentially, the girl will naturally feel drawn to and dependent on you. The most important part is that after bonding, the blood maiden can only draw strength from her master’s blood.” His father’s voice carried a hint of amusement: “So, as a man, Mo Bai, protect that little girl. I have high hopes for you.”

“Dad, this is ridiculous…” Mo Bai rubbed his temples, feeling exasperated. “You’re making it sound like you’re handing over a future daughter-in-law.”

“I don’t care. I’ve told you everything you need to know about blood maidens. The rest is up to you.”

With that, the call ended, leaving Mo Bai alone on the balcony, gazing at the people below, lost in thought. Bonding…?

To be honest, this unexpected turn of events left Mo Bai feeling dazed. It turned out that on the day he rescued Bai Xia, this adorable girl with white hair had already become his dedicated blood maiden.

It was all so surreal, as if Bai Xia was destined to be his. Thinking about it, Mo Bai turned to look at the living room, where Bai Xia’s small figure was curled up under the blanket, only half of her sleeping face and her scattered white hair visible. She was even drooling in her sleep.

This scene reminded Mo Bai of the day Bai Xia had licked the blood from his wound…

For some reason, Mo Bai felt his cheeks grow warm, forcing him to stop the memory. He took a deep breath to calm his racing heart before returning to the room. Yet, his father’s words kept echoing in his mind.

“She will naturally feel drawn to and dependent on you… After bonding, the blood maiden can only draw strength from her master’s blood…”

So, does this mean not only is Bai Xia mine, but she can only draw strength from my blood?

Sitting next to the sleeping girl, Mo Bai studied Bai Xia’s peaceful face. Her long lashes cast shadows on her cheeks, and her soft lips parted slightly, revealing two small, sharp teeth.

Bai Xia slept deeply, like a small animal that had finally let go of its burdens and was able to rest peacefully. Even with Mo Bai sitting next to her, Bai Xia only unconsciously shifted closer, showing no sign of waking up.

“You’re lucky, you know,” Mo Bai whispered, gently brushing the white hair from Bai Xia’s forehead. His fingertips accidentally touched her cool skin: “Only you could have such good fortune, to have me as your classmate.”