Chapter 21
When Xing Xu arrived downstairs, the surveillance footage suddenly went black. He couldn’t tell if the power in Ye Xiyao’s apartment had been cut, or if the roly-poly doll had finally met its end.
Without wasting a second, Xing Xu rushed up and kicked open Ye Xiyao’s door.
He had to admit, his actions were not entirely rational.
Xing Xu knew full well that the most likely scene behind the door would be that the demon had already devoured the human, and the room would be drenched in blood, with Ye Xiyao in his true form before him.
Yet, he still kicked the door down, worried about a far less likely possibility.
The apartment was pitch-black.
“Ye Xiyao?” Xing Xu called his name as he entered.
He flipped on the light, walked past the small living room partition, and reached the spot he had seen in the surveillance footage.
When he saw a person lying on the floor, condition unknown, and a small lump under the blanket on the bed, Xing Xu couldn’t deny the wave of relief that washed over him.
He nudged the person on the floor with his foot, turning him over. Bending down to check for vital signs, his left hand’s magic-detecting formation, separated only by a thin layer of fabric, sensed that this person had been injured by magic. But that wasn’t surprising. With Ye Xiyao’s small frame, without using magic, he wouldn’t have had the strength to defend himself.
Xing Xu felt the man’s limbs and abdomen.
This guy probably didn’t have a single intact bone left. Though he seemed peaceful in his unconscious state, he was on the verge of death. If Ye Xiyao had attacked even once more, the man would’ve exploded on the spot.
Serves him right.
Who would dare provoke a demon?
Xing Xu figured the man wasn’t going to die right away, so he kicked him toward the entryway, notifying the security bureau to come “pick him up.” Then, he stepped toward the bedside.
He thought for a moment about what he should say to comfort Ye Xiyao in this situation. In the end, all he managed to mumble, through the blanket, was, “Don’t worry, everything’s fine now.”
That was about the most pointless thing he could have said.
Even if Xing Xu hadn’t shown up today, Ye Xiyao would’ve been perfectly fine.
On the contrary, Xing Xu should probably be explaining why he had suddenly appeared here and kicked down the door.
He waited for a long time, but Ye Xiyao didn’t respond. His heart tightened, fearing something had happened. He bent down, grabbed the edge of the blanket, and pulled it back.
When he saw Ye Xiyao’s face, it felt like something had squeezed Xing Xu’s heart tightly.
His eyes were red, as if he had cried or was still crying. His lips were pale, and his body was clearly trembling. When Xing Xu moved closer, Ye Xiyao instinctively shrank toward the corner of the bed, his already frail figure curling up, making him look even more pitiful.
“Did he hurt you?”
Xing Xu’s voice was more panicked than ever before. He half-kneeled on the bed, leaning in to get a better look at Ye Xiyao.
But Ye Xiyao had already wrapped himself tightly in the blanket again.
Xing Xu frowned, forcefully pulling him out of the blanket. After confirming that Ye Xiyao was fully dressed and showed no signs of physical injury, he pulled him into his arms. “Are you hurt?”
Ye Xiyao finally gave some response, shrinking his shoulders as he shook his head in Xing Xu’s embrace.
Xing Xu could tell something was off about him, and his body temperature was unnaturally high. He reached out to feel Ye Xiyao’s forehead, but the moment he touched a bit of skin, Ye Xiyao reacted violently, pushing him away.
“Don’t…!”
Ye Xiyao’s lips instantly lost all color, and he looked at Xing Xu with pure terror in his eyes. “Don’t come near me… not now.”
Xing Xu’s expression darkened. If this had been a normal person, his reaction would have led Xing Xu to think the worst. But he could feel that Ye Xiyao truly wasn’t physically harmed.
“What happened?” Xing Xu asked again.
But Ye Xiyao stayed silent.
Xing Xu knew he should be thinking from the perspective that Ye Xiyao might be pretending, but in this moment, Xing Xu chose to believe his reaction was real.
Because, rather than suspecting Ye Xiyao of faking weakness, Xing Xu was more concerned with why Ye Xiyao was so resistant to him being close.
“Xiao Bao,” Xing Xu called him by this somewhat cute nickname, but his tone was very serious. “If you won’t tell me, do I need to check for myself?”
“Don’t… don’t,” Ye Xiyao kept shaking his head, trying to push him away but was unable to.
“Then tell me, what’s wrong?” Xing Xu pulled him closer, gently patting his back. “Were you scared? Or do you feel unwell?”
“I…” Ye Xiyao’s trembling intensified, and after a long while, he struggled to say, “Hungry… so hungry…”
Xing Xu thought he was just brushing him off with that comment and sighed. But since Ye Xiyao was willing to talk, Xing Xu didn’t press him further. Instead, he said, “What do you have to eat here? I’ll get it for you.”
He let go of Ye Xiyao, but as soon as he stood up, he felt Ye Xiyao grab the corner of his shirt. Turning back, Xing Xu softly asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Mmm…” Ye Xiyao seemed to realize what he was doing and immediately pulled his hand back, biting his restless fingers.
Xing Xu gently touched his hair while observing Ye Xiyao’s expression. He had a feeling that Ye Xiyao didn’t seem scared or resistant but rather… like he was holding something back.
Xing Xu withdrew his hand. “I’ll get you something to eat.”
Then, he headed to the kitchen.
The security bureau responded quickly after receiving the message. Just as Xing Xu opened the fridge, he heard movement at the door. Glancing at Ye Xiyao, he saw him wrap himself tightly in the blanket again, turning into a small, impenetrable lump.
Xing Xu couldn’t help but smile at the sight. It also gave him the chance to stage a little act with the security bureau personnel—pretending to be police officers here to take away the stalker and insisting that Ye Xiyao accompany them for questioning.
Xing Xu coughed twice, raising his voice deliberately for Ye Xiyao to hear: “Officers, it’s really late, and he’s been through a shock. I don’t think it’s convenient for him to go with you right now.”
The “officers” were very accommodating, replying, “We understand. Just take care of your friend, and we’ll stay in touch if anything comes up.”
In just a few minutes, Xing Xu handed the unconscious man, whom Ye Xiyao had knocked out, over to the security bureau. The main goal was to assess the man’s injuries and the lingering traces of demonic energy to gauge Ye Xiyao’s level of aggressiveness.
When Luo Yiji received the report, he simply assumed that Xing Xu, ever dedicated to his mission, was working late into the night.
What Xing Xu didn’t tell Luo Yiji was that he had contacted the security bureau mostly out of convenience. If the real police had shown up, Ye Xiyao would have had to go make a statement tonight.
Xing Xu glanced at the lump under the blanket on the bed, feeling somewhat helpless. He genuinely wanted to let Ye Xiyao rest.
There was no ready-made food in the fridge, just some fresh vegetables and meat that had only been in there for a couple of days, likely Ye Xiyao’s weekend meal prep.
Xing Xu thought about it and decided to cook some congee, along with a few dishes, so Ye Xiyao could eat and sleep well.
Many people didn’t know that Xing Xu could cook. Due to the nature of his exorcism work, he was often on the move and had no fixed residence, making it impossible to hire a cook. Sometimes, after exhausting battles, he’d come home and order takeout, but after a while, the taste began to nauseate him. Eventually, he got fed up and started cooking for himself.
Surprisingly, his cooking turned out quite well.
However, he kept this skill a secret, even from Xue Qiao. Not for any particular reason—he just felt that cooking didn’t quite fit with his tough, bloodthirsty image.
But today, all it took was Ye Xiyao saying, “I’m hungry,” and Xing Xu didn’t think twice.
Ye Xiyao remained very quiet the whole time, so Xing Xu left him to rest and recover.
When Xing Xu began cutting the tomatoes, he never expected Ye Xiyao’s knife to be so dull. It couldn’t even slice through the tomato skin. Applying a bit more force, the blade slipped and cut into his own hand.
Oddly enough, though the knife was dull for everything else, it cut through his finger quickly.
A gash opened, and blood instantly flowed from his fingertip.
Such a small wound didn’t bother Xing Xu in the least. He was more curious about how Ye Xiyao’s knife had gone so dull—it hadn’t even been sharpened. The only reason his hand got cut was that Xing Xu used too much strength.
He turned on the faucet to rinse it off, but the bleeding wouldn’t stop. The food would probably taste bloody at this rate. As Xing Xu wondered where to find a bandage, suddenly, a hand reached over and turned off the water.
“…” Xing Xu paused, slightly surprised. “When did you come over?”
Ye Xiyao didn’t say anything. His eyes were fixated on the blood seeping from Xing Xu’s finger.
Xing Xu assumed Ye Xiyao was worried about him and said, “It’s fine, just go sit and wait for me.”
“I’m hungry,” Ye Xiyao whispered suddenly.
Xing Xu replied, “Then have a little snack for now. I’ll be done soon…”
The next moment, Xing Xu was stunned.
He saw Ye Xiyao hold his finger with both hands, lower his head, press his lips to the wound, and gently flick his tongue, licking away a drop of blood.
Xing Xu didn’t move.
He realized he might have just uncovered some crucial information.
That single drop of blood clearly wasn’t enough for Ye Xiyao. Soon, he opened his mouth and took Xing Xu’s entire finger in, the warmth of his mouth enveloping the wound, his soft tongue curling around it, gently sucking.
There was a slight sting, but mostly a tingling, numbing sensation. Xing Xu didn’t pull his hand back; he simply watched him.
Ye Xiyao seemed completely absorbed, cautious at first but growing more and more unsatisfied, as if the more he drank, the thirstier he became, like it wasn’t enough. He even started using his teeth, trying to widen the wound.
Xing Xu hissed, curling his knuckle to press down on Ye Xiyao’s tongue inside his mouth. With his other hand, he gripped Ye Xiyao’s cheeks, forcing him to let go.
For a succubus, the energy in blood was insignificant, but Ye Xiyao was too hungry, and Xing Xu’s soul energy was far too powerful and tempting.
Even though Ye Xiyao knew the blood wouldn’t satisfy his hunger, he still wanted it.
His amber-clear eyes revealed a longing as he looked up at Xing Xu, saying, “I’m still hungry…”
“And so?” Xing Xu lowered his head, his voice deep. “Am I your midnight snack?”
Having tasted the sweetness of the blood, Ye Xiyao became a bit excited and wanted more. Naturally, he didn’t answer Xing Xu’s question. He moved closer, sniffing the scent of Xing Xu and locking his gaze on his lips.
Without further hesitation, Ye Xiyao stood on tiptoe, trying to kiss him.
Xing Xu remained calm, turning his face to the side, gently covering Ye Xiyao’s mouth with his palm.
But in the next moment, Ye Xiyao swiftly dodged the block, and in his desperation, bit down on Xing Xu’s neck.
Xing Xu felt like laughing in frustration. “You’re doing this again? Just like that day…”
That day, after Ye Xiyao finished his live stream, Xing Xu had carried him back to the office. He assumed Ye Xiyao was just tired and was about to place him on the bed in the resting room when Ye Xiyao wrapped his arms around his neck, rubbing up against him.
Xing Xu’s first reaction at that time was caution.
Because a major way for demons to consume human souls is to devour them whole. Naturally, he thought Ye Xiyao was revealing his true nature and was about to eat him.
But to his surprise, Ye Xiyao’s target was his lips.
When Xing Xu realized this, he hesitated for a moment.
He wondered if letting the demon kiss him again would help him understand how demons gained their strength.
But in the end, he dodged.
At that time, Xing Xu’s anti-demon array had already stabilized, and there was no need to take such a risk.
But when he dodged, the sleeping Ye Xiyao wasn’t satisfied and directly bit down on Xing Xu’s collarbone. If not for Xing Xu’s tough skin, that bite might have drawn blood.
Now, thinking back, Xing Xu still found it amusing and couldn’t resist making a sarcastic comment: “Can’t get a kiss, so you’re trying to eat me? Isn’t that a bit extreme?”
“I didn’t…” Ye Xiyao lowered his head in grievance, giving up on Xing Xu’s lips and settling for his hand, gently sucking on his finger in small sips.
But it wasn’t enough.
It really wasn’t enough.
He wanted more.
Ye Xiyao felt so uncomfortable he wanted to cry, and soon, tears welled up, falling onto the back of Xing Xu’s hand.
Xing Xu paused, then cupped Ye Xiyao’s chin, forcing him to look up. “You’re the one who bit me, drank my blood, and now you’re the one crying. Ye Xiaobao, what are you so upset about?”
“I can’t eat…” Ye Xiyao sobbed, hiccupping as he cried, “You won’t give me a single bite.”
For a moment, Xing Xu was at a loss for words. He simply scooped him up, carrying him effortlessly to the bed. With a few long strides, he reached the bed and tossed Ye Xiyao onto it, where he landed in a heap.
Standing over him, Xing Xu looked down. “Do you have any conscience?”
The wound on his finger had been thoroughly licked by Ye Xiyao, with no blood left, only glistening saliva. It was clear how much Ye Xiyao had enjoyed himself.
And yet, Ye Xiyao still felt miserable.
Ordinary demons indeed love human blood, as it contains anger, fear, and life force.
But he’s a succubus.
There’s no excitement or desire in blood, and drinking it only left him feeling empty.
Ye Xiyao propped himself up from the bed, reaching for Xing Xu’s hand. Xing Xu pulled away.
Ye Xiyao whimpered, crying, “I’ll die… If I can’t get enough to eat, I’ll die…”
Xing Xu couldn’t stand seeing him cry, his brow furrowing tightly. He held out for a long time, but finally stretched out his hand to him. “Hurry up and drink, then sleep.”
At this point, Ye Xiyao was so hungry he had lost all reason, driven only by an instinctive need to fill himself. But the more he drank, the weaker Xing Xu’s blood became. Soon, the wound stopped producing fresh blood.
Ye Xiyao, desperate, hatched a bold idea.
His eyes darted mischievously, and while Xing Xu was massaging his temples, Ye Xiyao suddenly pounced.
“You…”
Xing Xu was already resigned, not even bothering to dodge. Instead, he wrapped his large arms around Ye Xiyao.
As Ye Xiyao struggled, Xing Xu leaned down, pressing him tightly into his embrace on the small single bed, restraining his restless hands. “Stop fooling around. Just tell me what else you want, and I’ll consider it.”
Ye Xiyao stuck his head out from Xing Xu’s arms, greedily sniffing the scent of his soul, then suddenly propped himself up by pushing against Xing Xu’s chest.
Xing Xu asked, “What now… Mmph…”
Ye Xiyao pried open his mouth.
Xing Xu: “?”
Then Ye Xiyao boldly said, “Let me… lick…”
Xing Xu’s brow twitched. “Have you completely given up on your pure image?”
“I want… to taste you,” Ye Xiyao said, paying no attention to his words, opening his mouth, “Awoo.”
After that “awoo,” Xing Xu finally lost all patience. He flipped over, pinning Ye Xiyao down firmly and fiercely kissed his lips.
Soft, warm, just as he imagined. Sweet and overwhelming, with each lick causing his heart to tremble and his bones to melt.
By this point, Xing Xu no longer cared about putting on airs with the demon. He fully gave in to the desire he had long restrained. He admitted that he had been tempted and bewitched, and he also admitted that he had wanted to kiss Ye Xiyao for a long time.
Humans couldn’t resist such temptation, and even though Xing Xu was the strongest among them, he had to concede defeat.
Ye Xiyao wanted to taste him, but little did he know that Xing Xu also wanted to devour him whole.
His tongue aggressively forced its way past Ye Xiyao’s teeth, entangling them both in an intense battle. In the midst of this satisfaction and pleasure, Ye Xiyao felt breathless, a bit overwhelmed, and tried to push back, but Xing Xu didn’t give him the chance, sealing their lips together and stealing his breath away.
One was seeking, the other was conquering—one gasping for air, the other consumed by desire. Who knows how long it lasted before they finally separated for a brief moment, both sighing in satisfaction.
Ye Xiyao finally felt full, humming softly in Xing Xu’s arms. “Mmm…”
“Is this enough?” Xing Xu’s voice was hoarse, laced with unsatisfied desire. His hand slipped under Ye Xiyao’s loose, soft shorts, giving a squeeze, and he whispered, “Shall I continue… hmm?”
Ye Xiyao didn’t respond, his breathing slowly becoming steady.
Xing Xu looked down and found that Ye Xiyao had closed his eyes, as if… he had fallen asleep.
“No more kisses, baby?”
Xing Xu tried to call Ye Xiyao’s attention with an affectionate term, hoping to awaken his conscience. But the one who had eaten his fill had nothing more to say.
Xing Xu was dumbfounded.
He had been ready to risk everything in a battle with this demon, and now Ye Xiyao just… fell asleep?
Feeling a bit unsatisfied, Xing Xu pressed his warm body against Ye Xiyao, trying to wake him up with heat.
But Ye Xiyao only turned over from the warmth.
Xing Xu: “…”
He was so angry.
Angry enough to want to execute this damnable demon right then and there!
A few minutes later, Xing Xu sighed heavily, gently cradled Ye Xiyao’s face, and kissed him again. This time it wasn’t deep, just a bit of a vengeful nibble on those jelly-like lips, before he got up and headed to the bathroom to cool off.
Before leaving, still unable to hold back his frustration, Xing Xu rubbed Ye Xiyao’s lips with his fingertip, turning their color so red it looked like they might bleed. Gritting his teeth in resentment, he said, “Next time, dare to say you haven’t kissed anyone? Little liar.”
