Married the Second Generation Fox Demon with a Baby in a Flash Marriage - Chapter 40

“Some talismans require Righteous Qi to be activated, while others do not; pure spiritual energy is enough, such as these…”

“The difference between active and passive triggering is right here. You can see how many times a talisman can be used and how much energy remains from this mark; this is basic knowledge of the Talisman Sect.”

Ye Xinyu took out all the talismans she had on her person to show Hu Mengmeng, introducing the specific usage and function of every single one.

“Additionally, the Ye family’s Demon-Slaying Sword is best suited to unleash the power of Righteous Qi. If you don’t have that, it still makes for an excellent weapon if you simply input spiritual energy. Since you haven’t learned swordplay yet and there isn’t time for it today, using it as a simple blade for now is fine. Its hardness is comparable to diamond, yet it possesses a certain degree of structural flexibility. Starting tomorrow, we’ll begin your comprehensive training; I’ll draft a formal cultivation plan for you.”

Ye Xinyu introduced everything with extreme patience, and Hu Mengmeng listened with rapt attention.

Seeing Hu Mengmeng injured made Ye Xinyu feel uneasy. Her cultivation had always been high; since her teens, regardless of what she was doing, she was always the one protecting others. The only time she had ever been protected by someone else was when she met Hu Mengmeng.

Despite some unpleasant interactions between them previously, Ye Xinyu had to admit that whenever a dangerous situation arose, Hu Mengmeng never hesitated to put herself first to protect her. This held true even before Hu Mengmeng knew she was the “Sister” from her childhood; even back at Binjiang Avenue, when Hu Mengmeng first encountered her and didn’t recognize her, she still jumped down to save her.

As Ye Xinyu spoke to Hu Mengmeng, she noticed the girl was constantly rubbing her eyes. She knew Hu Mengmeng was injured and under the influence of the snake venom, causing her energy and focus to flag. Ye Xinyu herself couldn’t handle an all-nighter in her current state; by 9:00 PM, she was reaching her limit. Continuing any further would lead to low efficiency.

“We’ll stop here for today. Before you go to sleep, check the perimeter protection formation and reinforce it once. This formation can’t filter out poisonous gas, but you can add some talismans to it,” Ye Xinyu said to Hu Mengmeng.

To do this, Hu Mengmeng required Ye Xinyu’s direct guidance. Ye Xinyu had taught many talented students before, but someone like Hu Mengmeng—who understood techniques and cultivation the moment they were explained—was truly one of a kind. They successfully added a toxic gas shielding layer to the surrounding protection formation.

Ye Xinyu then handed over all the talismans that Hu Mengmeng might be able to use.

Both were exhausted. After showering, Ye Xinyu went to bed. Hu Mengmeng cultivated for a while to recover from her injuries. The toxin in her body would take some time to fully expel; it wasn’t something that could be finished in one breath. She eventually went to sleep as well, but her sleep was shallow as she remained alert and vigilant.

At around 2:00 AM, the area outside Ye Xinyu’s villa was eerily silent. The gates and the roads—everywhere equipped with surveillance cameras—were suddenly coiled and obstructed by small, patterned snakes. A tall, thin figure drifted toward the house slowly, looking as if he were standing on a hoverboard, gliding across the ground. Following him were four or five larger snakes like the ones that had attacked during the day—humanoid upper bodies with extremely short hands and snake tails below.

Dark green poisonous gas erupted from the tall man’s mouth. As if possessing a mind of its own, the gas drifted toward the villa. When the spiritual energy shield touched the gas, it reacted like it had been hit by a highly corrosive chemical like sulfuric acid, beginning to “melt” away.

Inside her room, Hu Mengmeng bolted upright. Without even stopping for shoes, her body shifted as she ran out of the room, heading straight to the bedroom next door to check on Ye Xinyu.

“Demons are here! It’s a Viper Great Demon—stronger than the ones from the afternoon. The poison is extremely potent; it’s already breached the formation!” Ye Xinyu had also sensed it and emerged from her room at the same time.

“Sister, stay in the room with my mom. Lock the door and add several talismans. I’ll handle the rest!” Hu Mengmeng said quickly.

“You must be careful! If you can’t win, just stall for time! Take the detoxification pills and the Demon-Slaying Sword. I’m calling for backup,” Ye Xinyu said, handing the sword to Hu Mengmeng. Now was not the time to be stubborn. Hu Mengmeng had struggled with those mid-tier demons for a long time during the day; for Ye Xinyu to fight now would require techniques that would expose her to poison. In her peak state, she could handle a Great Demon, but with the little one in her belly and her strength at 70%, she knew she was no match. Hu Mengmeng alone would find it difficult to cope; they needed more helpers.

Aside from Gu Yiying of the Talisman Sect, Ye Xinyu knew others, but they were all too far away. Gu Yiying could bring her family and a surplus of talismans, which would be a massive help, though her services were notoriously expensive. Ye Xinyu usually avoided calling her unless absolutely necessary.

She hadn’t expected the mastermind to send more demons so soon, clearly intent on wiping them out in one stroke. Sensing the chilling aura outside, Ye Xinyu already guessed who was responsible. Minor vipers were common, but a Viper Great Demon… she had only heard of the Ou family possessing one.

“I know, Sister. Sorry!” Hu Mengmeng took the items, blurted out an apology, and suddenly scooped Ye Xinyu up, running to Su Mingli’s room. She threw the door open, set Ye Xinyu down, and shut it.

“Don’t come out no matter what happens!” Hu Mengmeng said, closing the door and sticking several of Ye Xinyu’s talismans onto it for extra protection.

“Xinyu, what’s happening?” Su Mingli woke up in a daze, confused to see Ye Xinyu in her room.

“More demons are here,” Ye Xinyu whispered.

The previous times, Hu Mengmeng had solved the threats quickly because they were minor, but this was a Great Demon! Though Hu Mengmeng was also at the Great Demon level, she lacked experience and relied entirely on instinct. Ye Xinyu had a bad feeling; she began calling for help while watching the situation through the window.

Su Mingli stood up and peeked out the window. It was dark, but she could see several black shadows surrounding the villa.

Hu Mengmeng ran downstairs, already hearing a rustling sound. Outside, she saw the snake demons. In her hybrid form—ears and tails out but not yet a full fox—she felt a wave of dizziness from just a whiff of the released dark green gas. The detoxification pill couldn’t stop her from breathing it in; it only mitigated the harm. She held her breath and charged with the sword.

The Demon-Slaying Sword was naturally harder than Hu Mengmeng’s own claws. She lunged and pierced one snake, which hissed in agony and tried to coil around her. The others surrounded her, heedless of the swinging blade. Hu Mengmeng dodged with agile movements.

Outside the circle of combat, the Viper Great Demon sneered. His body shifted into a massive, dark green serpent, larger than all the rest. Its tongue flicked as it watched Hu Mengmeng’s movements. In a flash—so fast it was almost invisible—its head struck toward her before returning to its original still state.

Hu Mengmeng originally had the protective charm from Ye Xinyu’s grandfather, but during the afternoon fight, the three charges had been used up. She felt a piercing, burning pain in her back. Her body went numb, and she could no longer command her muscles. In just a few seconds, her limbs were seized by four mid-tier snakes, pulling her in different directions like she was being drawn and quartered in mid-air.

Against one mid-tier snake, Hu Mengmeng’s strength was superior. But against four, while poisoned by a Great Demon, she was helpless. Her eyes turned blood-red. She wanted to transform into the full fox state from the afternoon—her peak power—but the poison seemed to be blocking the transition.

In the bedroom, Ye Xinyu watched the scene. Hu Mengmeng had been suppressed before she could even exert her strength. Ye Xinyu clenched her fists.

“Auntie, I’m going out to help Mengmeng! Stay here, don’t come out!”

“Xinyu, how can you help? You’re pregnant! If anyone is going, it’s me!” Su Mingli cried.

“Auntie, I am a Demon Hunter!” Ye Xinyu said. She slapped a talisman onto Su Mingli. A golden halo of Righteous Qi enveloped the woman, and Su Mingli found she temporarily couldn’t move.

Su Mingli’s eyes widened as she watched Ye Xinyu turn and walk out. Hu Mengmeng and the others had hidden this from her, but now that Hu Mengmeng was in danger, Ye Xinyu didn’t care about the secret anymore.

Ye Xinyu stepped out and closed the door, her hand resting over her belly. Her eyes were filled with a mixture of reluctance and heartache.

“I’m sorry!” she whispered softly. No matter what, Ye Xinyu could not just watch Hu Mengmeng come to harm while trying to protect her. If she went out and fought, she feared she wouldn’t be able to keep the child, but she had no choice.

As Ye Xinyu stepped out of the villa, the Great Demon immediately turned its head toward her. To this Great Demon, Ye Xinyu was the main prize; she was the most difficult one to deal with.

However, seeing her up close, the demon noticed that Ye Xinyu’s cultivation was significantly lower than when they had met before. More importantly, the aura on her body had changed. It couldn’t put its finger on exactly what had changed, but she was definitely weaker.

Hu Mengmeng saw Ye Xinyu come out, and the red light in her eyes flared even brighter.

“Go back! Go back!” Hu Mengmeng roared. Ye Xinyu ignored her completely. She activated the talismans in her hand, which erupted into golden light as she threw them. They homed in on the mid-tier snakes coiling around Hu Mengmeng like they had eyes of their own. Righteous Qi has a powerful deterrent effect on demons; much like how the poisonous gas corroded the spiritual shield, Righteous Qi corrodes the bodies of demons.

As Ye Xinyu activated the talismans, she immediately felt a sharp discomfort in her abdomen.

The surroundings were thick with poisonous gas, and a more formidable Great Demon was present. Ye Xinyu knew that using techniques while pregnant was harmful to both her body and the child. Hu Mengmeng, having been bitten by the snake herself, knew exactly how lethal this venom was.

Hu Mengmeng let out several frantic, beastly cries. She could not allow anything to happen to Ye Xinyu!

Hu Mengmeng struggled with all her might, a red light flickering intermittently over her body. Just as the Great Demon slithered toward Ye Xinyu, Hu Mengmeng’s body underwent a transformation, exploding into her massive, full fox form. The sheer force of the transformation shredded her clothes and sent the snakes coiling around her flying.

The Great Demon had been sneering at Ye Xinyu, its attention entirely focused on subduing her. It never expected Hu Mengmeng to suddenly erupt from behind. Before it could pounce on Ye Xinyu, Hu Mengmeng was already on top of it, her claws pinning its spine and head. One of her claws drove directly into its eyeball.

The Great Demon thrashed and rolled, trying to wrap itself around Hu Mengmeng. Hu Mengmeng’s claws tore at its head, and as she lowered her snout, she drove her fangs into its neck, ripping away a large chunk of flesh.

Ye Xinyu paused for a moment, seeing Hu Mengmeng’s strength increase so drastically in this form. Seeing the other mid-tier snakes recover from the talisman’s shock and slither toward them, Ye Xinyu prepared to activate more charms. But before she could move, she felt a large, fluffy tail wrap around her waist. She was hoisted into the air and placed gently onto the second-floor balcony.

“Go inside, don’t come out!” Hu Mengmeng’s voice reached her, carrying a low, sand-papery beastly growl that sounded terrifyingly fierce.

Ye Xinyu took a few steps back, opened the balcony door, and went into the room, watching through the glass.

Compared to her previous state, Hu Mengmeng in this form was brutal. The baleful aura was even heavier than it had been during the day. Her claws were long and razor-sharp, her fangs were fully exposed, and her movements were incredibly fast.

The mid-tier snakes lunging at her were caught by her multiple tails. They tried to bite the tails, but Hu Mengmeng slammed them repeatedly against the ground with such force that they couldn’t land a single bite.

The Great Demon was in a much worse state. It had been shredded by Hu Mengmeng’s claws and was drenched in blood. It tried to flee, but it was too late. Hu Mengmeng pinned it down ruthlessly. Its eyes were gone, its jaws were torn open and broken. That wasn’t all—at roughly the halfway point of its upper body, it felt a sudden, agonizing pain as its Snake Gall was ripped out.

When Gu Yiying arrived with two members of the Gu family, she saw Hu Mengmeng holding the snake gall and swallowing it in one gulp. Sensing their arrival, Hu Mengmeng turned her head, her eyes filled with a bloodthirsty red light.

Gu Yiying was startled and recoiled instinctively. She wondered if Ye Xinyu had already been surrounded and devoured by this monster! This was a level of power she couldn’t handle.

Hu Mengmeng pinned down the dying snake demon, which was clinging to its last breath, and let out a low growl toward Gu Yiying.

“Hu Mengmeng, that’s enough! It’s over, these are our allies!” Ye Xinyu shouted as she opened the balcony door. She was afraid Hu Mengmeng might harm Gu Yiying and the others. Hu Mengmeng in this state even made Ye Xinyu feel a trace of fear. Even in her peak state with full equipment, Ye Xinyu admitted she likely couldn’t beat Hu Mengmeng; it was a matter of pure, overwhelming physical suppression.

Hu Mengmeng turned back to look at Ye Xinyu. The red light in her eyes extinguished like a dying fire. Her body shrank instantly until she was the size of a cat. The mid-tier snakes she had been crushing with her tails were already dead, dropping to the ground as she shrank.

Gu Yiying, who had been about to run for her life, heard Ye Xinyu’s shout and realized the situation. Seeing the demon shrink, she breathed a sigh of relief. It turned out the terrifying beast was actually that little vixen. She was incredible!

What kind of luck does Xinyu have? Such a powerful demon is practically begging to be her contracted servant and she still says no!

“Go inside!” Gu Yiying told her men. They followed Ye Xinyu into the villa. The battle was essentially over, and Gu Yiying’s arrival was more about cleaning up the mess than fighting. She delivered the finishing blows to the dying snakes and drove away or killed the smaller snakes lingering around.

Ye Xinyu took a detoxification pill and headed down from the second floor. The stench of blood outside was overwhelming, making her feel nauseous. She forced herself to walk toward Hu Mengmeng.

The shrunken Hu Mengmeng felt that she had maintained the large form for much longer this time. Every part of her body ached as if she were falling apart. Her spiritual energy felt completely drained, as if she couldn’t squeeze out a single drop more. She was profoundly exhausted.

Hu Mengmeng’s short legs took one step forward, but even that seemed a struggle.

“Hey, are you Hu Mengmeng? Whoa, aren’t you just too cute!” Gu Yiying walked over and circled Hu Mengmeng, looking at her with amazement. She reached out, wanting to pet her.

Hu Mengmeng lowered her body and growled at Gu Yiying, her fur standing on end.

“The fierce look of a baby fox—it’s so different from just now! Impressive!” Gu Yiying laughed.

Ye Xinyu held her breath as she approached. Hu Mengmeng instinctively huddled toward her. Ye Xinyu noticed that Hu Mengmeng was even smaller than the last time she had shrunk, and her movements were sluggish. She was worried.

“Mengmeng, how are you?” Ye Xinyu asked, reaching her side.

“Sister, I’m so tired… I want to sleep…” Hu Mengmeng said as she walked toward Ye Xinyu. By the time she reached Ye Xinyu’s feet, she collapsed.

Hearing those words, Ye Xinyu felt a pang of heartache. She bent down and scooped Hu Mengmeng up.

“Gu Yiying, I’ll leave the cleanup to you. It’s best to hand this Great Demon over to the government; the rest you can handle as you wish—take them as materials.” Ye Xinyu said to her before heading inside with Hu Mengmeng.

Gu Yiying wanted to say something more, but seeing that the timing was truly inappropriate, she kept her mouth shut and directed her two assistants to begin the cleanup. Ye Xinyu cradled Hu Mengmeng in her arms, quickening her pace. Hu Mengmeng’s body was naturally covered in the metallic scent of blood, and Ye Xinyu was forced to hold her breath the entire way.

The villa’s lights were all turned on. Ye Xinyu placed Hu Mengmeng onto a soft blanket and carefully inspected her injuries. Aside from the wounds from earlier that afternoon, Hu Mengmeng had several new ones; the most significant was a small gash on her back where the seeping blood was a worrying purple-black.

Ye Xinyu brought over the medical kit and treated the wounds. She applied a topical detoxification ointment and fed her a high-grade detoxification pill. Because Ye Xinyu’s own spiritual energy contained Righteous Qi, it was unsuitable for probing deep into a demon’s body to check for internal damage. After finishing the initial treatment, she immediately called the Taoist doctor, Shen Qingyi.

“Dr. Shen, I am sorry to disturb you so late, but it is an urgent matter. My… my person has been poisoned by a Viper Great Demon…”

To have Shen Qingyi make a house call in the dead of night required a staggering fee. Hu Mengmeng had been bitten by a Great Demon; that specific venom was not something a standard pill could fully neutralize.

Ye Xinyu picked Hu Mengmeng up, blanket and all, and brought her into her own bedroom. She then remembered that Su Mingli was still immobilized in the other room, so she went over to release the seal.

“Auntie, I am sorry. The situation was desperate just now,” Ye Xinyu said as she undid the talisman’s effect.

“Xinyu! Where is Mengmeng? Is she alright?!” Su Mingli asked in a panic the moment she could move.

“She is injured. I have already called a doctor, who will arrive shortly. I will take you to see her, but… please do not be too shocked when you see her current form.” Ye Xinyu tried her best to keep her voice calm and steady.

Su Mingli followed Ye Xinyu into the bedroom with a heavy heart. When she saw the creature lying on the bed—a fox no larger than a house cat, smelling of blood—Su Mingli couldn’t hold back her tears. They fell instantly. She reached out a trembling hand, letting her fingers hover over Hu Mengmeng’s fur, not even daring to press down.

Su Mingli recalled the first time she had met her “troublemaker” husband; it had been a similar scene. He was injured, tiny, and looking utterly pitiable. He had told her later that demons only revert to such a small size when they are extremely weak or injured and lack the spiritual energy to maintain their true form. She never imagined her daughter would one day end up in the same state.

“Auntie, I have suppressed the poison for now, and the best Taoist doctor is on her way,” Ye Xinyu comforted her.

“Those demons… they weren’t enemies she made while hunting, were they? You are a Demon Hunter… are you leading her into this life?” Su Mingli turned her gaze toward Ye Xinyu.

“Yes. I’m sorry. These demons were all coming for me. I hid the truth from you from the very beginning. I apologize,” Ye Xinyu admitted. Seeing the look in Su Mingli’s eyes, Ye Xinyu felt a wave of apprehension.

“It is all a cycle of karma!” Su Mingli shook her head. Back then, she had warned Hu Mengmeng a thousand times: If you see a demon hunter, run. She never expected her daughter to find a hunter for a partner.

When Ye Xinyu had gone out to save Hu Mengmeng just now, Su Mingli realized that Ye Xinyu had risked both her own life and the life of the child. Knowing Ye Xinyu was a hunter made her feel conflicted, and knowing the demons were here because of Ye Xinyu made her angry—but she also saw that this was a girl her daughter was willing to risk everything for, and a girl who, in turn, was willing to sacrifice herself for her daughter. Su Mingli truly did not know what attitude to adopt anymore.

“Auntie, you… you won’t oppose us being together, will you?” Ye Xinyu asked softly.

“Are you and the child alright?” Su Mingli took a breath and asked after a pause.

“I inhaled some toxic gas, but I’ve taken the antidote. I will be fine after a little rest.”

“Then you go rest and recover. I will be the one to look after Mengmeng,” Su Mingli said. She realized she couldn’t tear them apart even if she wanted to. “You are pregnant; rest is vital. Having poison in your system is bad for the baby. Mengmeng is already hurt; we can’t let anything happen to you as well.”

Outside, Gu Yiying had finished loading several “materials” into her car and came back to see Ye Xinyu.

“Xinyu, I’ve basically been your cleaning lady tonight! The toxic gas has been cleared, and the snakes are all sorted. I’m taking them all with me—don’t you dare regret it! These five mid-tier snakes are mine; at market price, that’s 150,000 each, but I’ll keep one as my service fee. As for the Great Demon, I’ll have someone hand it over to the government as a ‘threat to public safety.’ Its snake gall was ripped out, so it will only fetch about 200,000 to 300,000. I’ll wire the money to you once it’s settled.”

“Thank you for coming tonight,” Ye Xinyu said.

“It’s a mutual thing. Next time I call you, you better show up too. By the way, that Mengmeng… if you really don’t want her, just give her to me! A demon that powerful, a whole tier above a Great Demon—her potential is massive.” Gu Yiying rubbed her hands together.

“She is mine. Do not even think about it,” Ye Xinyu said firmly.

“Yours? Then why haven’t you signed the contract yet? If you haven’t pressed the seal, how can you prove she’s yours?”

“I will sign with her the moment she wakes up,” Ye Xinyu said, looking toward the room.

“Suit yourself. I’m leaving!” As Gu Yiying turned to walk away, Ye Xinyu called out, “Cousin…”

Gu Yiying stumbled slightly and looked back. “You only call me that when something’s wrong! Just say it.”

“That Great Demon was a Viper. It is very likely the contracted demon of Ou Shixing. I have officially made an enemy of the Ou family. The Ye family is short on hands, and Mengmeng is currently unconscious. Can you stay here for a few days?”

Gu Yiying rolled her eyes. “Fine. I’ll drop these off and bring my luggage back. But I’m warning you, my fee will be high—and I’m the one setting the price!”

Two hours later, Dr. Shen Qingyi arrived, followed by Huo Zhilan. Ye Xinyu led the doctor to examine Hu Mengmeng.

“You said she was bitten by a Viper Great Demon. At what time?” Shen Qingyi asked during the checkup.

“Around 2:30 AM.”

“She swallowed that Great Demon’s inner alchemy, didn’t she? The poison in her system is already weakening because her body is focused on absorbing that alchemy. She is in a deep sleep primarily to process that energy,” the doctor explained.

“Is she out of danger?” Ye Xinyu asked.

“She’s fine. In fact, there are benefits to this. Look, her wounds are already healing on their own. You, however—let me check you. The snake venom isn’t a major threat to your body, but it is a different story for the little one.”

Once Hu Mengmeng was confirmed safe, Ye Xinyu and Su Mingli both breathed a sigh of relief. Dr. Shen examined Ye Xinyu, prescribed some medicine, and pulled her aside to speak privately.

“Regarding your pregnancy, you should keep it a secret as much as possible. You are carrying a half-demon; in the eyes of some people, that is simply another type of demon. Its other mother’s bloodline seems quite impressive. There’s no guarantee that someone won’t get the idea to steal the child to make a contracted demon, or that some practitioner of dark arts won’t try to use a demon fetus to boost their own power.”

“Thank you for the warning, Dr. Shen. I will be extremely careful.” Ye Xinyu nodded. She had heard of such things before. The little one was, after all, a demon; it would face the same dangers all demons face.

Because the child required massive amounts of spiritual energy to develop, it would likely possess significant strength the moment it was born. Ye Xinyu had always tried to keep the pregnancy a secret, usually masking her abdomen with a layer of spiritual energy. Even when she went home, her grandfather only realized her “Primal Yin” was gone, but not that she was pregnant. After Dr. Shen’s reminder, Ye Xinyu took the matter even more seriously.

Shen Qingyi left shortly after, refusing any monetary payment but asking Ye Xinyu to owe her a personal favor instead.

By the time the doctor left, the sun was already rising. Su Mingli went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast while Ye Xinyu stayed in the room, watching over Hu Mengmeng.

Hu Mengmeng was still in her small fox form, her large eyes closed tight. Her long lashes were curled, her tiny nose was black, and her body looked plump and soft. Ye Xinyu carefully avoided the healing wounds and used a warm towel to gently clean the blood from the fox’s fur. She then used a silent hair dryer to dry her, finally reaching out to stroke the soft, silky fur.

She could finally pet her without any reservations, but the girl was fast asleep. Dr. Shen said she would likely wake in a day or two once the alchemy was processed.

At the same time, in a private residence near Fengcheng University, Gu Mingzhen arrived in a state of excitement to speak with Lin Yuanya. Lin Yuanya was wearing a pink doll-collared nightgown, her curly hair draped over her shoulders. She looked very youthful and cute, but her eyes were full of impatience.

“What are you talking about? I’m exhausted. Coming here this early… are you crazy?” Lin Yuanya hadn’t heard her clearly. She shuffled back toward the bedroom in her slippers. Gu Mingzhen trotted after her, and as Lin Yuanya lay back down, Gu Mingzhen knelt by the bed.

“Xiaoya, I’m sorry. I just have good news. Don’t be mad, just close your eyes and listen.” Gu Mingzhen watched her with unabashed adoration and obsession.

“Speak,” Lin Yuanya muttered.

“A few strange things happened at school recently, so I pinned them on Hu Mengmeng. When people went to investigate, she panicked and ran away on the spot! My cousin says a warrant has been issued for her, and the school is already preparing to expel her!”

“I see. Hu Mengmeng… it’s her own fault for being so ungrateful,” Lin Yuanya grumbled as she rolled over to go back to sleep.

“It really is her fault. This will teach her a lesson. Xiaoya, you need to cover up with the blanket or you’ll catch a cold. Move a bit, you’re sitting on it.” Gu Mingzhen reached out to pull the blanket over her.

“You’re like an old nag! I’m not moving!”

Gu Mingzhen reached out and hugged Lin Yuanya briefly to lift her, pulling the blanket from under her and tucking her in. Lin Yuanya stayed asleep, unaware that every time Gu Mingzhen touched her, the other girl’s hands shook with excitement. After tucking her in, Gu Mingzhen’s chest heaved as she struggled to control her breathing, eventually forcing herself to stop touching her.

Ye Xinyu had just finished tending to Hu Mengmeng when there was a knock at the door. It was Su Mingli.

“Xinyu, Mengmeng’s school called me. They said she’s in trouble. I don’t know what she did, but they asked if she was with me and said they were going to arrest her! They said if I don’t talk, I’m an accomplice!” Su Mingli looked frantic.

“Auntie, don’t panic. Let me see the number.” Ye Xinyu stood up. It was indeed a school number. She used her own phone to call the Principal directly.

“Hello, Principal Gao? This is Ye Xinyu. Yes, Hu Mengmeng is with me. What exactly happened?”

Ye Xinyu was famous at the school; her family had donated several buildings, and she had a direct line to the Principal. The Principal was also one of the few who knew her identity, as she had handled several “demon incidents” on campus before. He explained the situation to her.

“The incident with the other girls has nothing to do with Hu Mengmeng. She was framed yesterday. The reason she left in such a hurry was because I called her for an emergency. As for those girls, I will investigate the matter personally.”

“If you say so, Xinyu, I believe you. I’ll wait for your news. But please, as quickly as possible—if more incidents happen, the school can’t take the responsibility,” the Principal said.

Ye Xinyu hung up and asked him to send over the details.

“What is going on?” Su Mingli asked.

“Someone is framing Mengmeng. It’s not a big deal; I will clear it up. Don’t worry,” Ye Xinyu said, her eyes narrowing. Who is so blind as to look for trouble by framing Hu Mengmeng?

After breakfast, Ye Xinyu had Huo Zhilan hire a private investigator. “Find the person who planted the drugs in her bag. Ordinary surveillance should suffice. Also, gather evidence that Mengmeng had no contact with the victims.”

Aside from clearing Hu Mengmeng, Ye Xinyu had to handle the “strange incidents.” She contacted a friend at the university, Tong Qiao, the Vice President of the Martial Arts Club.

“Xinyu, I heard. It’s very eerie. All girls. People say they did drugs because of their behavior—staggering around like they were drunk—but the next morning they fall into a coma. Their bodies look completely drained. One is in the hospital now like a vegetable; doctors can’t do anything but give her an IV.”

Tong Qiao was also a cultivator from the Array Sect (Liu family). Ye Xinyu asked her to find commonalities among the victims and a list of people they met before the incidents.

Ye Xinyu felt a headache coming on. With Hu Mengmeng unconscious, investigating while the Ou family was still lurking was a major hassle. She could only hope Hu Mengmeng would wake up soon so they could go together.

The Ou family had always coveted the Ye family’s legacy and Ye Xinyu’s Primal Yin. They didn’t know the Yin was already gone, and she wouldn’t tell them. Until her pregnancy became visible, she wanted to keep it a secret.

As the sun began to set, Gu Yiying arrived with Tao Tao and her luggage. Tao Tao went to see the sleeping fox and was shocked, but after her own ordeal, she accepted it quickly. She was worried about her friend not eating or drinking.

“Master, how can we make her wake up faster?” Tao Tao asked Gu Yiying.

“She’s just absorbing energy. We can only wait.”

“But Master, you said talismans can do anything! Isn’t there one to speed up her absorption?”

“Well… there is one,” Gu Yiying admitted, “but it’s incredibly difficult to draw. I have the diagram, but I’ve never made a successful one. Why don’t you practice it? If you can memorize the strokes and the pressure perfectly, I’ll give you the materials to try for real.”

Gu Yiying gave her a complex line drawing, thinking it would take weeks. To her shock, Tao Tao came to her that evening with a perfect replica.

“Master, is something wrong? I’ve liked drawing since I was a kid, but my teachers always said I had no talent…”

Gu Yiying looked at the drawing, which was pulsing with spiritual energy despite being on plain paper. I’ve definitely picked up a treasure!