Married the Second Generation Fox Demon with a Baby in a Flash Marriage - Chapter 18

The wind had a sharp chill to it. The gray river water lapped rhythmically against the stone steps that descended into the depths. Ye Xinyu, dressed in a black tactical outfit, walked slowly down the stairs, allowing the water to soak her sneakers. She appeared to be taking a leisurely stroll, but in reality, she had suppressed her aura entirely, using herself as live bait to lure out the demon lurking in the river.

Binhe Avenue had seen several bizarre deaths recently. Ye Xinyu had been investigating for days, but the demon was elusive, hidden by the water which dulled her senses. After failing to draw it out with other methods, she had decided to act as the lure; she had been “fishing” like this for two days.

As she focused on the movements beneath the surface, she sensed someone approaching. Turning her head, she saw a girl with long curly hair in a soft pink outfit walking down the steps toward her. The girl’s face was a mix of shyness and nervousness—it was Lin Yuanya.

“Sister Ye!” Lin Yuanya murmured, her hands clenching her skirt as she looked at her idol.

Ye Xinyu frowned. The area had been cordoned off with caution tape. She hadn’t stationed guards nearby specifically to avoid alerting the demon, yet this girl had crossed the line.

Today’s “fishing” is over, Ye Xinyu thought. She stopped and signaled for Lin Yuanya to stop, pointing upward to tell her to go back.

Lin Yuanya, overcome with excitement, waved her hand. Before she could obey, she felt something cold wrap around her ankle.

“Ah!” Lin Yuanya screamed as the thing yanked her hard. She slammed onto the stone steps, the impact jarring her whole body. The cold, slimy sensation on her ankle sent her into a panic. She shrieked as she was dragged toward the water at a visible speed.

Ye Xinyu’s heart skipped a beat. She sprinted toward the girl. As she accelerated, a sudden sharp pain shot through her abdomen, causing her to stagger. But with a life on the line, she ignored the discomfort. She tried to circulate her spiritual energy to form a hand seal while running, but the action made her stomach hurt even more. Her energy drained rapidly, and her legs gave way, causing her to collapse onto the wet steps.

On the riverbank above, Hu Mengmeng had watched Lin Yuanya disappear down the steps. Just as she was debating whether to follow, she felt a surge in the water. The aura was familiar—it was a demon.

Then came Lin Yuanya’s scream. Knowing her friend was in danger, Hu Mengmeng abandoned her electric scooter and charged forward. As she ran, her fox spirit bloodline unsealed, surging through her body.

On the steps, half of Lin Yuanya’s body was already submerged. Hu Mengmeng leaped forward and caught her. Her fingernails grew into long, lethal claws, and she slashed at the tentacle coiled around Lin Yuanya’s ankle.

The tentacle was sliced open and instantly retracted into the depths. Hu Mengmeng scooped Lin Yuanya up and leaped back, clearing several steps in a single bound. Lin Yuanya, terrified, clung to her tightly with her eyes shut.

As they retreated, Hu Mengmeng noticed another figure on the riverbank. A woman in black was slumped on the soaked steps, her head bowed and her long hair trailing in the water. It was unclear if she was injured or unconscious.

Hu Mengmeng placed Lin Yuanya behind the safety railing at the top of the stairs. Several people were running toward them—one was Lin Yuanya’s follower, Gu Mingzhen, and others she didn’t recognize.

Lin Yuanya opened her eyes and stared at the woman before her, stunned. She had never seen a woman so bewitchingly beautiful.

“Xiaoya, don’t be afraid! It’s safe now!” Hu Mengmeng said. The demonic aura had reappeared. She turned and vaulted over the railing, heading back down to the riverbank. She couldn’t leave the other girl to die.

By the time Hu Mengmeng reached the water’s edge, the tentacle that had grabbed Lin Yuanya was now coiled around the woman in black. The woman was struggling weakly to reach the shore. Black mist swirled in the water; Hu Mengmeng could sense the demon’s excitement—it seemed to think it had caught a gourmet meal.

Hu Mengmeng lunged forward and grabbed the woman’s arm, pulling her close. She prepared to shred the tentacle with her claws, but suddenly, several more tentacles erupted from the water. They lashed out, entangling both of them. Before she could react, a massive force yanked them both into the cold river.

The late-October water was freezing. As it soaked through her clothes, Hu Mengmeng felt a bone-deep chill. She drove her claws into the tentacles, trying to tear them off, but the creature seemed indifferent to the pain. The coils tightened, dragging them toward the center of the river.

Hu Mengmeng caught a glimpse of the water demon—it was the size of a water buffalo, shaped like an octopus with a maw full of several layers of needle-sharp teeth. It was dripping with slime and surrounded by black mist, waiting to swallow them.

Feeling her scalp go numb, Hu Mengmeng held her breath and struggled. Suddenly, a flexible body wrapped around her waist and neck—it was the black-clad woman. The woman, who had been bowed over, was now face-to-face with her.

Hu Mengmeng’s eyes bulged, and she accidentally choked on a mouthful of water. Despite the murky conditions, she recognized those features instantly. The exquisite, cold, and peerless face… the distant and aloof gaze that showed no panic even under the water…

Wasn’t this the demon hunter who tried to skewer her with a sword but got “charmed” instead?!

“Holy crap, is this woman doing this on purpose?!” Hu Mengmeng thought in shock. She hadn’t sensed her aura earlier, which meant the woman had concealed it perfectly! She was a hunter baiting a trap!

It was too late for regrets. The woman holding her was indeed Ye Xinyu.

Ye Xinyu’s stomach had truly been hurting, but as she collapsed, she had sensed Hu Mengmeng’s aura. Hu Mengmeng, in her haste to save Lin Yuanya, hadn’t bothered to hide her scent. Seeing Hu Mengmeng save the girl, Ye Xinyu had felt a weight lift, but then the demon had grabbed her.

Ye Xinyu’s plan was to let the demon grab her so she could kill it with her hidden weapons. However, her physical condition was poor, and she was about to cut the tentacle with her hidden dagger when Hu Mengmeng returned. Hu Mengmeng’s attempt to save her interrupted her plan.

Strangely, the moment Hu Mengmeng touched her, the mysterious pain in Ye Xinyu’s abdomen vanished, replaced by an inexplicable sense of comfort. Before she could process this, they were dragged underwater.

The cold water made Ye Xinyu shiver, but the heat radiating from Hu Mengmeng—pressed tight against her by the tentacles—offered warmth. As Hu Mengmeng struggled with the tentacles, Ye Xinyu took action. She hugged Hu Mengmeng from the front, reached down to the holster on her calf, and drew a dagger. Simultaneously, she pulled an underwater breathing mask from her other leg.

As Hu Mengmeng choked on the water, Ye Xinyu pressed the mask over the girl’s face. Hu Mengmeng finally managed a breath of oxygen.

She stared at Ye Xinyu in disbelief. Ye Xinyu’s arm was around Hu Mengmeng’s back. She thumbed a switch on the hilt of the dagger, and a line of golden seal-script characters glowed along the blade.

Hu Mengmeng felt a chill of instinctive fear. Is she going to kill me?!

As she struggled, she felt Ye Xinyu pull her even tighter. Then, a surge of heat erupted behind her, and the water turned red. Ye Xinyu’s dagger had sliced through the water demon like a hot knife through butter. The small blade, glowing with golden light, had cleaved the buffalo-sized monster in half.

The tentacles loosened. Hu Mengmeng sensed that the demon’s life force was gone. Ye Xinyu patted her and pulled on her arm, signaling them to go up. Shaking off her shock, Hu Mengmeng kicked her legs and swam toward the surface, carrying Ye Xinyu with her.

When they broke the surface, they were in the middle of the river. Ye Xinyu clung to Hu Mengmeng, her head resting on the girl’s shoulder. The exhaustion of the struggle and the drain on her energy left her limp and unable to speak.

Hu Mengmeng heard a loud drone. Looking up, she saw a helicopter approaching, and several boats were converging on their position. Her heart sank. Am I being caught? I can’t be caught!

She scanned the shore. The nearest embankment was high and deserted. If she swam there and ran, she could suppress her aura and bloodline before they found her.

But what about the woman in her arms?

Hu Mengmeng reached out to push Ye Xinyu away, expecting a struggle. To her surprise, Ye Xinyu offered no resistance. Her arms, which had been holding Hu Mengmeng so tightly, fell away. As she was pushed back, Ye Xinyu’s head lolled back and she began to sink. Her eyes were half-closed, and her brow was furrowed in clear distress.

An inexplicable pang of worry hit Hu Mengmeng. She lunged forward, grabbing Ye Xinyu’s waist and pulling her back out of the water. Ye Xinyu’s body was soft and freezing cold, slumping obediently against her.