Transforming into a stunningly beautiful fox spirit, leaving a scar on the heart of a prodigy.

As soon as Bai Yin breathed a sigh of relief, he collapsed to the ground like a mountain that had just crumbled.

With quick reflexes, Su Xiaojiu grabbed the heavy tiger, almost causing it to tumble over.

"Hey! Don't fall asleep!" Su Xiaojiu patted the blood-stained face. "The woods are just ahead, can you hold on for a couple more steps?"

There was no movement.

This guy completely passed out.

Su Xiaojiu checked his breath; it was barely a whisper, like a kite with a broken string, as if he might stop breathing at any moment.

[Warning! Target's health is below 10%. Please provide immediate medical assistance.]

"Okay, okay, are you trying to kill me?"

Su Xiaojiu sighed resignedly and hoisted the burly man, who was two heads taller than her, onto her back.

Really heavy.

This isn't just carrying a person, it's carrying a mountain of flesh.

She gritted her teeth, mustered the meager spiritual power within her, and with a swift movement, disappeared into the dense thicket.

The mountain path was incredibly slippery after the rain, covered in mud and dead leaves, making each step a huge effort.

Su Xiaojiu trudged through the mud, her steps uneven, while constantly on guard against the Taoist priests who might return from the sky.

"Stupid tiger," she cursed between breaths. "You seem so shrewd usually, but why are you so stubborn at crucial moments? I told you to run, but you wouldn't; you insisted on turning back and getting yourself killed."

The person on her back didn't react; only scalding breath sprayed onto her neck, frighteningly hot.

[Ding! Detected that the host risked their life to save you; target's favorability +10. Current favorability: 60 (Deeply in love).]

[Congratulations, host, you've completed more than half of the strategy.]

Su Xiaojiu slipped and almost fell flat on her face.

That's 60?

How much love does this tiger crave?

If you treat him even slightly well, his favorability rating skyrockets.

"Fine, since you're so easy to fool, I'll go through the trouble one more time."

Su Xiaojiu bounced Bai Yin up a bit, identified a direction, and plunged into the deepest part of Yunmengze without looking back.

The place is shrouded in mist all year round, so thick that even divine sense cannot penetrate it; it is a natural refuge.

……

Two days later.

Inside a hidden cave.

The rain outside is still falling, a steady drizzle that seems endless.

Su Xiaojiu sat on a pile of dry grass, holding a twig in her hand, idly poking at the fire in front of her.

The firelight reflected off her face, flickering on and off.

Bai Yin lay on the stone bed inside, wrapped in Su Xiaojiu's outer robe. His wounds had been treated, and although they still looked frightening, at least the bleeding had stopped.

Su Xiaojiu has barely slept these past two days.

The tiger was badly injured and had a high fever, like a furnace, and kept talking nonsense.

One moment he was shouting "Kill!", the next "Mother!", and then "Jiu'er!"

The most frequent calls were for "Jiu'er".

Every time he called this name, his good left hand would flailing wildly in the air until Su Xiaojiu offered him her hand to hold, at which point he would quiet down.

"I really owe you one."

Su Xiaojiu looked at that pale face and felt a little uneasy.

She was just trying to gain some favor and then run away.

But this tiger was too sincere.

His sincerity made even this con artist hesitant to take advantage of him.

"Leaving behind the withered lotus leaves to listen to the sound of rain."

Looking at the curtain of rain at the cave entrance, Su Xiaojiu casually recited a sentimental poem she had picked up from somewhere.

Given the bleak and rainy atmosphere, it really does give off the vibe of a pair of lovers in distress.

Just then.

A very faint sound came from the stone bed.

Su Xiaojiu's ears twitched, but she didn't turn around, continuing to pok at the fire with the branch in her hand.

Woke up?

Bai Yin did indeed wake up.

He felt pain all over his body, as if his bones had been broken and then put back together.

But he didn't say anything.

He opened his eyes, stared at the dark cave ceiling for a long while, and then slowly turned his head.

Beside the fire, the small figure was hugging his knees, staring blankly at the rain outside.

The firelight bathed her in a warm glow, making her appear so delicate and serene.

Bai Yin's heart skipped a beat.

He still remembers the scene before he fell into a coma.

The enormous nine-tailed white fox stood in front of him, shielding him from a deadly trap.

That's her.

That little girl, who wouldn't even dare to watch a chicken being killed, actually dared to fight to the death with a cultivator at the Casting Cauldron Realm just to save him.

Why?

Because you like it?

Bai Yin wanted to laugh, but the movement pulled at the wound on the corner of his mouth, causing him to gasp in pain.

Who does he think he is?

A beast that crawled out of a pile of corpses, its hands covered in blood, knows nothing but killing.

If it weren't for her, he would have been a pile of mud long ago.

weak.

too weak.

This feeling of powerlessness gnawed at his heart like a venomous snake.

He remembered what the slovenly Taoist priest had said.

"The path of cultivating immortality is destined to be lonely."

"To reach the summit, you must sever all ties."

"Women will only hinder you from drawing your sword."

He didn't believe it before.

Now he believes it.

If it weren't for protecting him, she wouldn't have had to expose her identity, let alone suffer with him in this dark and damp cave.

He is a burden.

As long as he is alive, she will be in danger.

The people of the Supreme Forgetfulness Sect will not let him go, nor will they let go of the accomplices who saved him.

The only way is to leave her.

Only by becoming stronger, strong enough to tear a hole in the sky, strong enough that no one dares to lay a finger on her again.

Only then would he be qualified to stand beside her.

Bai Yin closed his eyes, forcefully nipping his budding romantic thoughts in the bud.

As the storyteller Wu Laotou once said, "A true man should wield a three-foot sword and achieve unparalleled feats."

Romantic feelings are something only a useless person would do.

He took a deep breath, suppressed the surging blood in his chest, and sat up silently.

The movements were very gentle.

Even the dry grass beneath him didn't make a sound.

He glanced at the figure with its back to him, a resolute glint flashing in its golden eyes.

Goodbye, Jiu'er.

Wait for me to come back.

If I can come back alive.

Bai Yin gritted his teeth, enduring the excruciating pain, and slowly stood up, supporting himself against the stone wall.

step.

Two steps.

He moved toward the hole like a thief.

Just as he was about to step out of the cave.

"Where to?"

A lazy voice came from behind me.

Bai Yin froze.

He remained in that stepping posture, unsure whether to advance or retreat.

Su Xiaojiu turned around, still holding the fire poker in her hand, and looked at him with a half-smile.

"What? Your injury is healed? You can run now?"

She stood up, dusted herself off, and slowly walked behind Bai Yin.

"Or perhaps our Tiger King feels this dilapidated cave is unworthy of your status and wishes to move to a different dwelling?"

Bai Yin didn't dare to turn around.

He was afraid that if he turned around and saw those eyes, the psychological defenses he had just built would collapse.

"I... am hungry."

He racked his brains for a long time before coming up with this lame excuse.

"Let's go find something to eat."

"oh--"

Su Xiaojiu drew out her words, walked around to his side, and blocked his way.

"Do I need to bring a sword when looking for food?"

She pointed to the broken sword that Bai Yin was clutching tightly in his hand.

That was the first thing he touched when he woke up.

Bai Yin was speechless.

He lowered his head, not daring to look at Su Xiaojiu.

"Get out of the way."

He forced out two words.

"No."

Su Xiaojiu crossed her arms and blocked the cave entrance with her whole body, saying, "If you're so capable, step over me."

Bai Yin's hand trembled slightly.

Step over it?

He would rather break his own leg than touch her.

"Jiu'er".

Bai Yin's voice was terribly hoarse, "Stop fooling around."

"I'm not making a scene."

Su Xiaojiu dropped her playful demeanor and stared intently at him. "You want to leave, don't you?"

"You want to go and die alone, instead of dragging me down with you, right?"

Bai Yin swayed slightly after his thoughts were exposed.

He finally raised his head and looked directly at Su Xiaojiu.

Those golden eyes were filled with pain and struggle.

"What else can I do if I don't leave?!"

He suddenly roared, his voice echoing through the narrow cave.

"You saw it too! How strong those people are!"

"I can't protect you! I can't even protect myself!"

"Following me will only bring you bad luck! It will only lead to your death!"

"I'm a jinx! A scourge! A monster that only brings misfortune!"

He was panting heavily, his chest heaving violently, his wound reopening, and blood seeping out, staining the gauze red.

I can't give you a future.

"I can't give you peace of mind either."

"They can't even give you a decent home."

"Me like this..."

Bai Yin gave a self-deprecating smirk, "What makes me think I'm qualified to let you follow me?"

The air suddenly became quiet.

Only the sound of rain outside, pouring down.

Su Xiaojiu looked at the hysterical man in front of her.

It was clearly a ferocious beast that could shatter rocks with a single slap, yet at this moment it was as vulnerable as an unwanted stray dog.

Su Xiaojiu rolled her eyes inwardly, but on her face she showed an expression of "heartache".

She took a step forward.

Bai Yin instinctively stepped back.

"If you retreat any further, you'll be back inside," Su Xiaojiu reminded her.

Bai Yin stopped in his tracks, leaning against the cold stone wall, with nowhere left to retreat.

Su Xiaojiu walked up to him, reached out, and grabbed the hand that was gripping the sword.

That hand was cold and trembling slightly.

"Who said I wanted a future?"

Su Xiaojiu raised her head, looked into his eyes, and said, word by word.

"I want the present."

Bai Yin was stunned.

"What...does that mean?"

"It means..."

Su Xiaojiu suddenly stood on tiptoe, grabbed Bai Yin's collar, and forced him to lower his head.

The distance between the two instantly closed.

So close you could hear their breathing.

"I want to be with you, whether we eat meat or bran, whether we live in a cave or sleep on the street."

"As long as it's you, that's fine."

"As for the future..."

Su Xiaojiu chuckled softly, a sly glint in her azure eyes. "We'll talk about the future later."

"Now, I'll only ask you one question."

"Do you want me?"

This is practically a death trap.

This is also an easy question.

Looking at that face so close to his, Bai Yin's sense of reason snapped.

What is this "path to immortality"?

What is this talk of immortality and longevity?

What kind of unparalleled achievement?

At this moment, all of you, get out of here.

All he knew was that if he pushed her away now, he would regret it for the rest of his life.

The sword in his hand clattered to the ground.

Bai Yin stretched out his intact left hand and suddenly pulled Su Xiaojiu into his arms.

His strength was so great it felt like he wanted to knead her into his very bones.

"want."

He growled in her ear, his voice trembling uncontrollably.

"I want."

"Even if it kills me."

Su Xiaojiu was so choked she could barely breathe.

She rested her chin on Bai Yin's broad shoulder, a knowing smile spreading across her face.

That's right.

Why put on such a melodramatic show?

In my mother's fishpond, no fish can swim out.

[Ding! The target's defenses have completely collapsed.]

[Affection +20. Current Affection: 80 (Unwavering until death).]

[Congratulations, host! You have unlocked the hidden achievement "Beast Tamer".]

Su Xiaojiu patted Bai Yin on the back, as if soothing a big cat with its fur standing on end.

"Alright, alright, you're strangling me."

She nudged Bai Yin, "Since you're not leaving, then go back and lie down obediently."

"Your injury isn't fully healed yet, why are you showing off?"

Bai Yin loosened his grip, but didn't move.

He looked at Su Xiaojiu with a gaze so sticky it could stretch into silk.

"Jiu'er".

"Um?"

I'm hungry.

"..." Su Xiaojiu was speechless. "Didn't we just say we were going to find something to eat?"

"That was a lie."

Baek In has actually learned to talk back, "I'm really hungry now."

"Okay, okay, I'll go catch some fish for you."

Su Xiaojiu turned to leave.

But someone tugged at the hem of her clothes.

Bai Yin stood there, a strange blush on his face.

"No need to catch fish."

"What should we eat?"

Bai Yin pointed to himself, then to Su Xiaojiu.

"I want to eat..."

"The roast chicken you made."

Su Xiaojiu: "..."

That heavy breathing scared Dad to death.

I thought this silly tiger had suddenly become smart and wanted to drive.

"Wait."

Su Xiaojiu rolled her eyes at him, picked up the oil-paper umbrella from the ground, and walked into the rain.

I watched that figure disappear into the cave entrance.

Bai Yin's silly grin gradually faded.

He bent down and picked up the broken sword from the ground, his fingers gently tracing the blade.

Since you're going to come with me...

Then I'll risk my life.

He will kill any god or Buddha who stands in his way.

No one can take you away from me.

Even the Heavenly King himself wouldn't do it.

Deep within the cave, those golden pupils shone in the darkness, more ferocious and resolute than ever before.