Making Do

Flames ignited once more on Jiang Xun’s body, but it was futile. In the next second, he was pinned ruthlessly to the ground, and the newly sparked fire was instantly dispersed.

The terrifying force made the youth feel as if every bone in his body had been shattered into a thousand pieces. His vision went black, and the metallic sweetness in his throat could no longer be contained as he spat out a mouthful of blood.

“Captain!”

Old He’s voice came from behind. Clearly, he had not followed orders to take the others and leave.

Taking three steps in two, the bald man approached, his eyes narrowing instantly as invisible power surged toward the girl’s mind.

And then…

“Ugh, aahhh!”

The girl looked up. The moment He Chengye locked eyes with those blood-red pupils, his mind went blank, followed by agony so intense it was unbearable.

It felt as if a sledgehammer had completely crushed his skull. He let out a tragic wail, barely steadying himself to avoid collapsing outright.

But the danger was not over. As Old He fell into extreme pain from the psychic backlash, the crimson aura around the girl spread instantly due to the provocation. In the blink of an eye, it was about to sever his body!

How could a mere human body withstand a blood-light that could shred an Elite demon like scrap paper?

“—!”

Jiang Xun, pinned beneath her, witnessed this. His pupils shrank to tiny points. He no longer hesitated, but just as his eyes were shifting into golden vertical slits, the girl pressing down on him and the turbulent blood-light froze simultaneously.

The crimson stopped less than five centimeters from Old He’s face, then suddenly dissipated.

In the next second, the girl’s black hair turned silver-white from the roots at a speed visible to the naked eye. Her hazy eyes regained their vivid brightness.

“That’s enough.”

Jiang Xun initially thought the succubus was talking to him and stared blankly. Then he realized she was clearly talking to herself.

She continued, addressing her inner self, “I know you’re starving, but eating just anything will only harm you!”

With that, the silver-haired girl released the dazed Jiang Xun. She stood up and tugged at her maid outfit, which had become loose and baggy due to her shrinking stature, before looking back at the young man.

“Forgive the fright, little brother with the delicious blood. This child hasn’t fully woken up yet, so her head is a bit muddled. She wanted to take a bite of whatever she saw.”

“…”

Jiang Xun didn’t know what to say. Or rather, he hadn’t figured out what was happening at all. However, once the succubus let go of him, the dangerous blood-light vanished, and the hostility truly disappeared.

The youth took a deep breath and struggled to climb up from the ground. He first glanced at Old He, who, though not shredded, was still rolling on the ground in pain from the psychic backlash.

He wanted to go over and check on him, but ultimately didn’t move. Instead, he looked at the smiling girl nearby who stood with her hands behind her back. He frowned deeply. “You…”

“Don’t you recognize me? We were literally working together upstairs just now.”

The succubus smiled happily, but Jiang Xun grew even more vigilant. This succubus was abnormal no matter how you looked at it!

When they first met, when they were acting together upstairs, and just now when she tore that Elite demon apart—it was clearly the same entity, yet the feeling she gave him was entirely different each time.

Combining that with the words she had just muttered to herself…

Jiang Xun’s frown deepened. He realized the situation was far more complex than he had imagined.

But now was not the time to ponder such things.

“What do you want?”

The man looked up again at the silver-haired, blood-eyed girl. Facing that same face now, he actually felt a faint sense of dizziness. He had a strong feeling that if he kept looking, his mind would eventually hold nothing but that face.

After one glance, he quickly averted his gaze.

It was definitely the succubus from before!

Then Jiang Xun heard footsteps. The girl with fluttering silver hair walked slowly until she stood before him. At her current height, she had to tilt her head slightly to meet the man’s eyes.

“What do you mean, ‘what do I want’?”

Jiang Xun backed away decisively, tilting his head to the other side to minimize the girl’s influence. With a stiff face, he spoke, “You let us go, but you didn’t leave. You stayed behind for a reason. Surely it wasn’t just to have a few more words with me?”

“Why couldn’t it be?”

That wonderful, sweet fragrance wafted over him again. The youth wanted to retreat further, but he almost tripped over Old He, who was still clutching his head and shivering on the ground. Helpless, he had to turn back. “Stop joking. Just say what you have to say!”

The succubus hadn’t killed them and had even stopped her “black-haired” self. Combined with their previous contact, it could be inferred that she was clearly more well-intentioned—or at least, lacked malicious intent.

That was enough.

Jiang Xun had no time to waste. Aside from Kite, who was still unconscious, and Old He, who was withered from the backlash, his own condition was anything but optimistic.

The piercing wound in his abdomen was still bleeding, the power in his body was nearly bone-dry, and his physical and mental energy were severely depleted. He was currently dealing with the succubus entirely through sheer willpower.

The silver-haired girl seemed to see that he truly lacked the strength for much talk. She smiled and said in a gentle tone, “Fine, I’ll be direct then. How about we make another deal?”

“…A deal?”

Jiang Xun was stunned. To avoid trouble during their first encounter, he had said something very similar.

Now, she was the one suggesting it first.

Wasn’t this a reversal of roles?

He was slightly hesitant, but his reaction was quick.

“Same as last time?”

“Yes.”

The succubus nodded gently, her smile growing more radiant. She licked her pink lips with the tip of her tongue and winked playfully. “Your blood in exchange for your chance to leave. But since you’re so badly hurt, I’ll allow you a smaller portion this time~”

It sounded like a bargain, but Jiang Xun truly didn’t know if his current body could hold out. After a brief silence, he still nodded and extended his arm.

“Go ahead.”

But after waiting a while, nothing happened.

He looked over in confusion, only to see the succubus pressing a fair finger to her lips, smiling. “You actually expect my lips to touch your arm, which is covered in dust and bloodstains?”

“…”

Jiang Xun looked at his hand. It was indeed covered in dust and blood. After all, he had just fought for his life against an Elite demon. To be honest, it was a blessing he wasn’t missing any limbs.

Normally this wouldn’t matter, but looking at himself and then at the pristine girl opposite him, he fell into a long silence.

After another moment.

“Then… should I go take a shower first?”

“I wouldn’t mind, but unfortunately your colleagues are coming soon. Even I would feel shy being watched by a crowd.”

The succubus smiled and stepped forward. Under the man’s gaze, she transformed in an instant into her tall, womanly form. “So let’s save that for next time. This time… let’s just make do.”

As she spoke.

While Jiang Xun stood frozen in a stiff posture, she wound her arms around his neck.