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墨書 Inktalez
I spent a long time digesting this matter.
When the myths I had heard since childhood shone into reality, everything felt like a dream.
If it weren't for the lingering sensation in my body last night, where my soul seemed to occupy my body, I would have thought this claim was nonsense.
Jiang Yu remained silent, waiting for me to process this information.
After a long while, I looked up and asked him, "So, why me?"
I was just an orphan, picked up by Hu Ci on the street, with no parents.
Why was it specifically me?
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yu said seriously, "It may sound a bit absurd, but a thousand years ago, Daji died, and her soul was suppressed and reincarnated. As for you..."
I furrowed my brows and picked up on this incredible topic. "So, I am Daji's reincarnation?"
Jiang Yu nodded slowly.
"Not exactly. Rather than saying you are her reincarnation, it's more accurate to say that her soul is suppressed within you. You share one body; however, her soul remains sealed. But when you turn 20 years old, the Fox Clan will use secret methods to sacrifice you in order to resurrect Daji."
I fell silent.
How profoundly complicated.
Jiang Yu was staying in my original room. There was a dressing table by the bed. I got up and stood in front of the mirror, slowly examining the face reflected back at me.
To be fair, I considered myself fairly good-looking, but...
I was nowhere near the level of Daji from the myths, who brought disaster to nations.
At most, I was just an ordinary girl who might be complimented as a little beauty in everyday life.
Thinking back to what Jiang Yu said about me being the reincarnation of Daji, I didn't feel honored at all; I just wanted to curse.
After a moment of silence, Jiang Yu suddenly asked me, "Do you know why Hu Ci brought you home back then?"
I was taken aback.
Although I had a vague suspicion in my heart, I still stubbornly replied, "He happened to run into me on the street and saw that I was pitiful, so he picked me up."
Jiang Yu didn't directly deny it; he just looked at me quietly.
"Lin Yi, Hu Ci is also a member of the Fox Clan. Do you really believe it was just a coincidence that he found you?"
To be honest... I didn't believe it.
Since the Fox Demon clan was determined to resurrect Daji and I was a crucial part of that plan, how could it have been mere chance that Hu Ci encountered me?
I looked around the room where I had lived for many years and couldn't help but feel a chill run down my spine.
What chilled me even more was the thought: Did Hu Ci want to kill me too?
For so many years, I had always thought of Hu Ci as a light in my life.
He appeared when I was at my most helpless and vulnerable.
That night many years ago is still fresh in my memory.
My parents had passed away unexpectedly, and the little inheritance we had was snatched away by those malicious relatives. The lease on the house expired, and I was kicked out by the landlord.
For two whole days, I stole buns from a breakfast shop, drank half a bottle of water I found in a trash can, and even scavenged leftover food from others at street stalls.
The nights at the end of autumn and beginning of winter were bone-chillingly cold.
That night, I had no watch and couldn't remember the time; I only knew that it was completely dark, the moonlight was cold, and I was stranded on the street, dressed in thin clothes, nearly fainting from the cold.
I was thirteen that year.
No relatives were willing to take me in, and no shops would let me work. When I could walk no more, I leaned against a bench by the roadside and curled up into a ball.
I thought I resembled the little match girl, but in reality, I didn't even have matches to bring me a bit of warmth.
Until Hu Ci appeared.
He stood in front of the bench, wearing a brown long coat, looking down at me with beautiful brown eyes.
With one hand in his pocket, his shadow stretched long under the light of the streetlamp above.
In the cold wind and moonlight, he reached out to me and asked, "Are you homeless?"
"Come home with me, little one."
In my memory, at that moment, Hu Ci seemed like a deity.
As I pulled myself back from that memory, I realized with a start that my back was already damp with cold sweat.
In front of me, Jiang Yu was quietly watching me, his brow slightly furrowed.
Overwhelmed by too much information all at once, I found it hard to process.
A sense of inexplicable fear washed over me.
Not because those Fox Demon wanted to sacrifice me, but because among those who wished to sacrifice me was Hu Ci.
After seven years together, I didn't believe he didn't understand my feelings for him.
At this moment, Jiang Yu spoke up, "But don't worry; Hu Ci has imprisoned you here not for sacrifice."
"This place has been enchanted by him; no one else can enter. To protect you, he stands against the entire Fox Clan.
The reversal came too quickly, leaving me somewhat dazed.
I initially thought that Hu Ci trapped me here out of fear that I would escape.
"But," Jiang Yu said seriously, "remember, don't trust him completely. After all, he is a demon of the Fox Clan; humans and demons are on different paths."
"You never know when he might change his mind, so don't fully trust anyone."
Jiang Yu looked at me quietly, his gaze deep, "Including me."
After saying that, he patted my shoulder and turned to leave the room.
"Take a break. I'll go heat up a cup of milk for you."
I didn't respond and sat on the edge of the bed in a daze.
A few minutes later, Jiang Yu came in with a cup of hot milk and handed it to me.
"You've been feeling weak lately; drink some milk."
I slowly took it, feeling its warmth in my hands.
Honestly, I didn't have much of an appetite, but thinking about the possibility of being captured for sacrifice at any moment made me finish the milk. I couldn't just collapse from weakness without even trying to escape.
After drinking, I handed the empty cup back to Jiang Yu, but saw him looking down at me with a furrowed brow and an unclear expression.
"What's wrong?"
He shook his head, his gaze tightening as it fell on the empty cup in my hand.
"Nothing."
Jiang Yu's voice sounded strangely hoarse as he took the cup and turned to leave.
With no place to run and no desire to binge-watch shows or play games, I leaned against the headboard in a daze.
In my mind, I casually recall all the details of my time with Hu Ci.
For example.
When he first brought me home, I was trembling with fear, anxious every day, trying hard to please him, afraid that if he were ever unhappy, he would simply throw me away.
Later on, I discovered that this man who always wore a cold expression wasn't so terrifying after all.
He is a neat freak and never allows anyone to touch his belongings.
So, even though he seemed quite wealthy, there was still no housekeeper in this villa.
It was just the two of us.
Every meal I had was cooked by him; he was a great cook and remembered all my preferences.
However, he would eat the leftovers I left behind, and he would naturally take the cup I had used to drink water and drink from it himself.
But when guests came over, any cups they had used were thrown directly into the trash afterward.
As time went on and we spent more time together, I began to rely on him. Hu Ci's presence gradually filled the void of security in my heart.
I started to act cute around him and would tell him jokes, watching as a hint of a smile appeared on his usually indifferent face.
Eventually.
I realized that I had fallen in love with him.
I had grown up, shedding my youthful innocence, and my figure had gradually become fuller.
I even tried to seduce him once; there was a fleeting spark of emotion in his brown eyes, but in the end, he simply told me to go to bed.
Yet, Hu Ci also had his warm moments.
For instance, when we ran out of sanitary pads at home, he would personally go out to buy them for me so that I wouldn't have to face the cold wind.
When I returned, the black bag was filled with various styles. When this person handed it to me, there was a hint of a suspicious blush at his ears.
For example...
When I forget to bring a towel while taking a shower, I would breathe heavily and shout for him.
Every time, he would crack the door open just a bit and quickly shove the towel inside.
Another time, while I was showering, I accidentally stepped on some shower gel that had spilled on the floor and slipped.
After my scream, he instantly appeared outside the door, came in, picked me up, and threw me onto the bed, wrapping me in a blanket.
At that moment, I felt like his speed was inhuman, suspecting he had been peeking at me while I bathed.
Now that I think about it, it turns out he really wasn't human.
Seven years.
The memories stretch endlessly; he occupied the most important seven years of my life and became the most significant person in my existence.
No exceptions.
I wonder, if...
If Hu Ci changed his mind and wanted to sacrifice me to resurrect Daji, what would I do?
After pondering, I found my answer: surrender.
Surrender to the struggle and comply with his wishes.
Just as I was lost in thought, a sudden sound of hurried footsteps broke through the silence in the courtyard.
My thoughts interrupted, I ran barefoot to the window to take a look.
It was Hu Ci.
He was very fast; in just a few breaths, he appeared at the door of the room.
“Hu Ci…”
I didn’t call him Uncle anymore but softly spoke his name.
Hu Ci frowned at me, quickly walked over, and pulled me downstairs.
As we got closer, I suddenly smelled a faint metallic scent of blood. Barefoot on the stairs, I felt something sticky under my feet.
Looking down…
It was blood.
The blood was dripping from Hu Ci.
“Are you hurt?”
I exclaimed, intending to stop and check his injuries, but he pulled me along again.
“It’s nothing.”
His voice was low and cold, his tone hurried.
Then he took me to the study on the first floor, closed the door, and walked to the bookshelf. He pressed something, and surprisingly, the bookshelf turned open, revealing a long staircase inside.
Having lived in this house for seven years, I had no idea there was a secret door here.
He held my hand and led me down the stairs.
It was a bit dark inside, and I felt scared. Halfway down, I quietly asked him:
“Hu Ci, are you going to sacrifice me?”
Hu Ci paused for a moment.
Coming back to his senses, he continued to lead me down.
"Do you trust me?" he asked in return without answering.
Without hesitation, I replied, "I do."
Hu Ci seemed to smile, his laughter soft.
"Then you can wait here peacefully. When it's safe, I will let you out."
As he spoke, we finished descending the stairs and entered the basement.
Hu Ci turned to look at me, his palm resting on my head as he gently rubbed it. "Wait for me here. No matter what happens outside, don't go out."
I nodded.
I thought he would say something more, but he turned to leave.
"Hu Ci!"
I quickly called out to him, my voice trembling unconsciously.
He turned his head.
Even though I knew it wasn't the right moment, I couldn't help but ask him softly, "Have you ever had feelings for me?"
Hu Ci did not answer me.
But he responded to the question with his actions.
He stepped in front of me, his fingertips gripping my chin as he leaned down and kissed me.
His lips were soft and warm to the touch.
I froze for a moment, and by the time I came to my senses, the kiss, which was brief and fleeting, had already ended.
He ruffled my hair and smiled.
For the first time in my life, I saw him with a gentle expression; his previously cold and harsh gaze was now soft enough to almost melt away.
"Yes, always."
That was his answer to me.
But after that sentence, he left without looking back.
I was locked in the basement, with lights, water, and food.
I was all alone.
I didn't even know what was happening outside.
I began to regret it.
Why did I let Hu Ci leave? What if he was in danger?
I tried to get out, but the door at the top of the stairs felt as heavy as a thousand pounds; no matter how much I pushed and shoved, it wouldn't budge.
I walked down the steps in despair, my unease growing stronger.
I worried about Hu Ci.
Worried that he might encounter danger, and about Jiang Yu; he was innocent and shouldn't have been dragged into this.
I was desperate to know what was happening outside.
Just then, a familiar voice suddenly echoed in my mind.
"Do you want to know what has happened outside?"
She asked softly, her tone seductive and alluring.
It was her again... Daji...
I knew she was not someone to be trifled with, and I was about to refuse, but it seemed she didn't need my answer.
Suddenly.
A scene appeared before me, showing the villa courtyard at that moment.
Many people stood in the courtyard, roughly divided into two factions. On one side were Hu Ci, Jiang Yu, and the Fox Demoness who had nearly killed me in the grove.
Wait...
Hu Ci was holding a woman in his arms, and her figure from behind looked strikingly similar to mine.
I frowned, just as I was about to observe closely, the woman slowly raised her head, revealing a face that looked exactly like mine!
Is it... me?
No, wait.
I suddenly remembered that night when Hu Ci forced me to stab a woman with a dagger, and that face was identical to mine.
Is it her?
In that moment of distraction, the scene before me changed.
The two groups began to fight. Hu Ci protected "me" while engaging in combat with the person opposite him.
Everything felt like it had been fast-forwarded; scenes of what was happening outside flashed before my eyes.
To protect "me," Hu Ci, already injured, was unable to resist and was stabbed in the shoulder, falling heavily to the ground.
As for "me," I was captured by the person opposite.
Seeing Hu Ci fall, Jiang Yu gasped in surprise. When he saw everyone rushing towards him, he decided to abandon me and flee.
The scene shifted.
On the other side, the group had taken control of Hu Ci, while "I" was carried into a room by them.
It was at the end of the corridor, the room that had been locked for many years.
Only then did I realize how unusually large that room was; it even contained a massive sacrificial altar.
I understood what they were planning to do.
I also understood Hu Ci's intentions.
The Fox Clan was about to take action and sacrifice me.
Hu Ci had hidden me away and sent a woman who looked exactly like me, Substitution of the Crown Prince, to the sacrificial altar.
I began to worry, my body trembling uncontrollably.
What if they discovered something was wrong with him? If they found out everything was Hu Ci's scheme, would they kill him?
Despite my overwhelming concern, I watched as they began the sacrifice.
The ritual was complex and appeared quite terrifying.
Hu Ci acted very well; his performance was incredibly natural. He neither screamed nor cried out in an unusual manner, nor did he seem particularly indifferent.
Held firmly by several Fox Demons, his eyes were bloodshot, fixed intently on the sacrificial altar, his body trembling slightly.
Perhaps his performance was too convincing, or maybe Hu Ci had disguised that version of me too perfectly.
Until the ceremony ended, the spellcasters collapsed in exhaustion, only to realize something was wrong.
Because—
There was a sudden stillness in the room; their clan leader, Daji, showed no signs of revival at all.
Daji certainly wouldn't revive, because she was still within me.
I could feel her trying to seize control of my body once again.
I didn't know how to respond; I could only rely on instinct and do my best to maintain control over my own body.
At that moment, Jiang Yu suddenly appeared.
He, who had originally fled, suddenly reappeared at the doorway and activated a formation he had set up at some unknown time.
The group of Fox Demons, weakened by the sacrifice, had almost no ability to resist and were completely suppressed by the formation.
The situation seemed overwhelmingly one-sided.
I finally let out a sigh of relief.
However, in the next moment, Daji's laughter echoed in my mind once more, "Look closely; did they really win?"
For some reason, my heart tightened.
Looking up again, the scene before me shifted dramatically!
After the enemy Fox Demons were all suppressed by the formation, on the other side, Jiang Yu, who had been standing beside Hu Ci, suddenly turned against him.
His attack was swift and without warning; a long sword that had appeared in his hand pierced through Hu Ci's chest in an instant.
Blood flowed down in a winding stream.
"Don't!!"
I gasped, my entire body freezing in an instant.
How... could this happen?
In my line of sight, I saw Jiang Yu say something to Hu Ci. I couldn't hear the words, but from his lips, I could vaguely make out what he said:
"I'm sorry, humans and demons are on different paths; demons must be eradicated."
A chill ran through me as I reached for the sword in front of Hu Ci—
But I grasped at nothing.
Everything was an illusion; I could see it, but I couldn't touch it.
However, by the time I realized what was happening, it was too late.
My emotions had fluctuated too wildly just now, and Daji took advantage of that moment. I could feel her soul gradually occupying my body.
I was terrified and wanted to resist, but there was nowhere to exert my strength.
I could only watch helplessly as another soul within me completely took over my body.
Gradually, I realized that my limbs seemed no longer under my control.
I... had failed.
Daji had completely mastered my body.
I could see everything happening outside, but I couldn't speak or control this body.
I—no, to be precise, the one who was slowly walking up the steps at this moment should be Daji.
She walked to the door of the basement.
That door, which I had tried with all my might to budge even a little, she simply pushed with her hand and it instantly turned to ashes.
I was taken aback.
The distinction between demons and humans was vividly manifested at this moment.
Daji walked out slowly and headed straight to the second floor.
I saw the room at the end of the corridor, and I saw the person inside.
What shocked me was that everything Daji had just shown me was not an illusion.
It was all real.
Including the final moment when Jiang Yu suddenly plunged a sword into Hu Ci's chest.
"Hu Ci!"
Looking at Hu Ci sitting on the ground, I couldn't help but exclaim.
However, my voice echoed in my heart, unable to escape even a little.
Hu Ci was injured, and it was serious.
Blood soaked his clothes, a glaring red.
In the entire room, those who were dead were dead, and those who were injured were injured, while the remaining ones were suppressed in a weakened state by the formation.
The only one standing straight was Jiang Yu.
Hu Ci and Jiang Yu both almost simultaneously turned their gazes toward me.
The expressions on their faces were remarkably similar, with their brows tightly furrowed.
They looked at me as if facing a great enemy.
Finally, it was Jiang Yu who spoke first, "Daji?"
From beginning to end, Hu Ci remained silent, staring intently in my direction.
Daji walked over slowly. Although she was using my body, it seemed as if a different person had appeared in the mirror.
Her figure was enchanting, her expression seductive, as she approached Hu Ci and leaned down.
Her fingers traced along his cool jawline.
"Hu Ci, is it worth giving up the entire Fox Clan for this woman?"
In the next moment, Hu Ci staggeringly pushed her hand away.
He stood up and said only one word:
"Get lost."
At that moment, Jiang Yu suddenly spoke up.
He took a deep breath, his hands clenched tightly at his sides, even trembling slightly.
"Lin Yi."
He called my name softly, "I'm sorry. I put a curse in your milk."
I was stunned.
Suddenly, I remembered earlier today when Jiang Yu handed me a cup of hot milk in my room.
Moreover, I recalled that before he went downstairs to heat the milk for me, he had said something.
He told me not to trust anyone, including him.
At that time, I was in a daze and didn't understand the meaning behind those words, but now, perhaps I do.
Beside me, Hu Ci covered his wound with one hand, stood up, and glared at him angrily, "Are you out of your mind?"
"Didn't you say you liked her?" Hu Ci shouted.
This was the first time I had seen him lose control.
In the past, Hu Ci was always calm and indifferent, as if nothing could stir his emotions.
But Jiang Yu did not look at him.
He stared straight at me, his eyes bloodshot.
"Lin Yi, I'm sorry. I am a Taoist. My master died at the hands of the Fox Clan while trying to stop Daji from being resurrected. I must... I must prevent Daji from coming back to life, no matter what the cost..."
So, when he handed me the milk in the room, he had already thought that something unexpected might happen, which is why he had poisoned the milk in advance.
I found it amusing.
The person I had never doubted from beginning to end was actually the one who dealt me a fatal blow.
My mind went blank; I couldn't say I was particularly scared or particularly angry—more so, I felt helpless.
Because no matter how things developed, they were far beyond my control.
I could only leave it to fate.
However, I seemed to sense that Daji was somewhat afraid.
It seemed... that the poison was meant to prevent Daji's resurrection and take me down with her.
Daji tried to tempt Jiang Yu, but before she could speak, Jiang Yu raised his hand and made a gesture I couldn't understand.
I didn't know what he had done; I could only feel that almost in that instant, it felt like something was gnawing and pulling inside me.
It hurt.
The extreme pain nearly made me faint.
But in the next moment, I saw Hu Ci slowly rise, and then—
He transformed into a fox right before my eyes.
It was still that snow-white fox under the moonlight from that day.
The only difference was—
There were many tails behind it.
At the same time, the pain within me suddenly dissipated. Opposite me, Jiang Yu seemed to stop the devouring of the parasitic insects. He stared blankly at Hu Ci, "Eight tails..."
As the pain faded, I let out a sigh of relief and counted.
Indeed, there were eight tails behind Hu Ci.
In this world, there are many legends about the Fox Demon. For instance, a highly skilled Fox Demon has more than one tail, with nine tails being the ultimate.
Hu Ci actually had eight tails.
Daji also seemed stunned.
But in the next moment, she sneered, "Just eight tails; in this palace's soul state, you can't do anything to me."
"Wrong."
Hu Ci spoke calmly, "To save her back then, I severed one of my own tails."
I was taken aback and suddenly recalled that two years ago, I had a very serious car accident. At that time, the hospital had issued a critical condition notice and even declared my medical death.
But Hu Ci rushed into the operating room despite the obstacles. No one knew what he did; they only knew that after he left, I miraculously woke up.
Moreover, after that incident, my body recovered exceptionally quickly. Every time the doctors made their rounds, they would exclaim about "a miracle in medical history."
I once foolishly thought it was a miracle.
Compared to me, Jiang Yu and Daji were much more shocked.
Perhaps because I shared a body with Daji, I could feel her emotional changes.
At this moment, she finally put away her disdain and retracted her smile.
I stared blankly at Hu Ci, wondering why I wasn't afraid of him at all, even though he was clearly a white Fox Demon with eight tails.
I just felt a bit like crying.
Having had a crush on him for many years, I never expected to receive anything in return from him. I also never imagined that he had done so much for me without my knowledge.
Just now in the basement, Daji had casually mentioned that the woman who looked exactly like me was brought by Hu Ci—a woman with the same fate as mine. He used a special dagger to draw a part of my soul into her body, defying fate and "creating" another version of me.
Such a secret method must have come at a great cost to him.
In my line of sight, Hu Ci spoke coldly.
"Daji, your time has long passed; everything should have settled."
As soon as he finished speaking, Hu Ci suddenly disappeared. In the next moment, his fox form appeared right in front of me.
Then my vision darkened, and I completely lost consciousness.
When I woke up, I found myself lying on the lawn in the courtyard.
Beside me, the villa where Hu Ci and I had lived for seven years had collapsed.
Everything seemed to have settled.
I propped myself up on the grass and realized that I had regained possession of my body.
I was extremely excited and wanted to share this news with Hu Ci, but as I looked around, I couldn't see him anywhere.
All I saw was Jiang Yu standing not far away.
He noticed that I had woken up, hesitated for a moment, and then slowly walked over.
Suddenly, I had a bad feeling.
"Where is Hu Ci?"
Enduring the soreness all over my body, I stepped forward.
Jiang Yu fell silent for a moment and said softly, "He perished along with Daji..."
Perished together...
I had never felt that these four words could be so cruel.
My legs went weak, and I collapsed onto the ground.
My heart felt like it was being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, making it hard to breathe.
"Where... is he?"
I didn't know how long it took before I managed to speak, my voice hoarse and terrifying.
To be alive is to see someone; to be dead... one must see the body.
Jiang Yu came over and squatted in front of me. His eyes were red, filled with regret:
"He perished along with Daji to save you; his soul... has been extinguished."
I stared blankly at the grass in front of me, taking a long time to barely digest this sentence.
"So..."
"Did he leave nothing behind?"
Jiang Yu nodded slowly, "He only left one sentence: as long as you think of him, he will appear."
"But Lin Yi," he said softly, "I watched him perish completely, choosing to go down with Daji. He... will not appear again."
I stumbled to my feet, and Jiang Yu reached out to support me, but I pushed him away.
His expression darkened as he spoke quietly.
"Lin Yi, it wasn't until today that I understood why you liked Hu Ci."
"I thought that in order to stop Daji from resurrecting, to eradicate evil, and to maintain peace, I had no choice but to give you up. I believed I bore a heavy responsibility and had to pay any price for it, including my life and yours."
"But it was only after meeting Hu Ci that I realized his love might be selfish, but it is also pure. All he wants is for you to be well; he cares about nothing else. He doesn't care about the Fox Clan's plans or whether Daji is his leader; he doesn't even care about his own life or death. All he wants is for you to live well."
As Jiang Yu spoke, I had slowly walked up to the ruins.
Behind me, Jiang Yu said softly, "I'm sorry."
I didn't respond; there was nothing to say.
I had no right to question him about why he didn't save me, nor could I address the curse he placed within me that aimed to bring me down with Daji.
I couldn't fight him, and at this moment, I had no mood to argue further.
The only regret I had was that I would rather let Daji devour my soul.
I was just as selfish as Hu Ci.
I would rather see Daji resurrected than let Hu Ci lose his soul.
All I wanted was for him to live well.
Whether he remained aloof like before or ignored me, even if he lived on to love someone else, that would be enough.
As long as he is alive.
Footsteps echoed behind me, and Jiang Yu left.
I stood atop the ruins, reflecting on what Jiang Yu had just conveyed to me.
As long as I think of him, Hu Ci will appear...
Hu Ci would not lie to me.
I believe that he has not lost his soul.
It’s hard to tell whether it’s trust in him or a form of self-deception, but I suddenly recalled that Hu Ci once gave me a small bell.
He usually worked on the first floor and wouldn’t allow me to disturb him. However, if I had an urgent matter, all I had to do was shake the bell, and he would appear immediately.
Memories flooded my mind, and I became increasingly convinced that as long as I rang the bell, Hu Ci would surely reappear.
He would never... lie to me.
In the ruins.
I dug with my hands, laboriously moving and excavating.
Until my fingers were bloodied.
Yet I was numb, barely feeling any pain. Fortunately, Hu Ci preferred silence and had many secrets. This villa we bought was situated halfway up a mountain, with no neighbors around and almost no passing vehicles.
I don’t know how much time passed, from bright sunlight to the onset of nightfall.
Finally.
After moving a stone slab, I saw the familiar bell.
I couldn’t tell if it was because the bell was too small or if there was something magical about it; being buried under the ruins, it remained intact.
I wiped away the ashes above, holding back tears in my nose, and with devotion and seriousness, I gently shook the bell.
A cold wind swept by.
Before me was still empty.
My heart instantly felt half cold, but perhaps I had just shaken it too lightly?
It must be so.
It must be that the sound was too soft, and Hu Ci didn't hear it.
So, I tightened my grip on the bell and shook it vigorously—
The sound of the bell rang out in the night, particularly pleasant. I held my breath in anticipation and even quietly closed my eyes.
I hoped that when I opened my eyes, I would see Hu Ci's face.
That cold, indifferent yet beautiful face.
However, as the ringing faded, I slowly opened my eyes, and before me was still nothingness.
There was nothing...
"How could this be..."
Hu Ci clearly said that as long as I thought of him, he would definitely appear.
I shook the bell desperately, the urgent ringing echoing across the land, sounding somewhat desolate.
"Hu Ci, are you not appearing because I don't think of you enough...?"
I choked up, unable to speak several times.
I remembered that fleeting kiss in the basement today.
I remember him gently stroking my hair and answering me, "Yes, always."
In the past, I always thought he was cold and indifferent, that nothing in this world could stir even a hint of emotion in his heart.
But only today did I understand.
He loved deeply and passionately; his love was restrained, it was enduring, it was like seven years of unwavering protection over me.
I have no father, no mother, no particularly close friends, and no one who loves me dearly.
Just like Jiang Yu, who repeatedly said he loved me but unhesitatingly abandoned me between justice and myself.
Except for Hu Ci.
I once thought he was the most aloof and emotionally detached person, yet he turned out to be the only one in this world who truly loved me.
I squatted on the ground, wanting to cry, wanting to scream, wanting to be hysterical.
But in reality, my heart felt nearly suffocated, yet I couldn't even cry.
I stared blankly at the bell, my heart aching like a knife.
At that moment, I realized that some people reach a point of pain where they truly cannot cry anymore.
The cold wind howled.
I held the bell in my hands and unwillingly tried again.
Gently shaking it, the sound of the bell was pleasant.
Then, a figure appeared before me.
It was a white-furred fox, and behind it was only one tail.
It was... Hu Ci.
I recognize its eyes.
It stepped forward and stopped just a step away from me.
Slowly, it spoke, "Don't cry."
"I'm back."
As I touched my face, I realized that the moment I saw it appear, the tension that had been building inside me instantly crumbled, and tears flowed freely.
Hu Ci really didn't deceive me.
No matter when or what form it takes, as long as I think of it, it will appear by my side.
Epilogue
It took another step forward, raised its paw, and gently rubbed my head, its tone habitually cold.
"Don't cry; it's too ugly."
...I silently pushed its paw away and cautiously asked, "Can you touch my hair with your hand? It's too strange."
"No."
It answered without hesitation, "It's too ethereal; it can't go back."
It nudged the bell in my hand with its paw. "If it weren't for this thing protecting my original spirit, I wouldn't even be able to turn into a fox right now."
My heart trembled for a moment, then I pretended to be nonchalant and asked, "Then what would you turn into?"
"A wisp of breeze, perhaps, or a star in the sky."
It said this casually, but I felt a heaviness in my heart.
A breeze and a star sound beautiful, but in reality, it means turning to ashes.
I couldn't help but feel a wave of fear.
Just a little more, just a little more, and I would have lost him forever.
I mustered my courage and gently touched his fox head, softly asking, "How... can you turn back?"
Hu Ci gave me a meaningful glance.
Though he was a fox at that moment, his gaze was very human-like.
"Marry me, not in name only."
I silently mulled over this statement and seemed to understand.
But the problem was...
If it were in the past, when Hu Ci said this, I would have been overjoyed, surely taking my Snoopy pillow and diving into his room.
But now...
I looked at the snow-white fox in front of me and thought it would be better if I were killed.
That night.
Hu Ci and I lay on the bed in another house of his in the suburbs.
Hu Ci placed his hand on my waist, his palm warm.
Yes, it was a hand.
He had turned back into human form, though he was still somewhat weak.
It was only at this moment that I understood what he meant by those words—
It was just a kiss.
He asked me to kiss him and absorb a tiny bit of my energy, and then he could transform.
Upon learning the truth, I suddenly realized that my native language was speechless.
It was just a kiss, but the way he described it was simply unbearable.
Nestled in his arms, for the first time I felt his body heat so unabashedly, and I suddenly remembered something:
"That night, I accidentally caught you in the small room worshipping the moon through the window. What were you doing?"
Hu Ci replied casually, "The fox worships the moon to absorb its essence and attain immortality."
Hearing those words, I instantly became interested. "So, one day you can become immortal? Can you take me with you?"
"No."
He rejected me quite decisively.
Before my disappointment set in, he turned to look at me.
"Now, even worshipping won't make you immortal."
"Why not?"
Hu Ci's hand rested on my waist, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Are you still bold enough to ask?"
...I guess I seemed a bit shy to ask now.
Feeling guilty, I buried my face in his chest. "Well... not becoming immortal isn't so bad. Let's enjoy life together on Earth. You have your company and villa, plus my two thousand monthly salary. Can't we live a prosperous life?"
I heard Hu Ci chuckle above me.
"Yeah, that's true."
"Then let's stay together and enjoy life on Earth."
(End of text)
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