Is a Succubus Considered a Demon? – CH5

Chapter 5

When Ye Xiyao woke up, he found himself lying in the entryway, with his keys and instant noodles scattered on the floor.

He blinked groggily, trying to recall how he had made it home.

It was a bit fuzzy.

In fact, he had already felt something was wrong when he left the convenience store. The depletion of his strength showed in every aspect—not just hunger, but also physical exhaustion, mental fog, sensory disorientation, and other aftereffects.

By the time he reached the entrance to his apartment complex, his vision went black, and he collapsed flat on the ground.

Just making it back home was the last bit of stubbornness Ye Xiyao could muster.

In the final second before losing consciousness, only one thought remained in his mind: Don’t collapse in front of the door!

Logically, he shouldn’t have had enough strength left to turn the key, walk through the entryway, and even close the door properly…

But it just goes to show—human willpower can conquer anything!

Not passing out outside the door? Excellent!

Ye Xiyao happily patted himself down and got back on his feet.

At that moment, he suddenly noticed a faint sweet taste of orange candy in his mouth.

Strange, he hadn’t eaten any candy.

Smacking his lips, Ye Xiyao was about to savor this sweetness when his eyes suddenly widened—

Wait, why did it feel like he wasn’t hungry anymore?

To make sure he wasn’t imagining things, Ye Xiyao tore open a pack of instant noodles on the spot, staring blankly at the seasoning packet for half a minute with no desire to open it.

He was certain.

He wasn’t hungry anymore.

Not only did he have no craving for instant noodles, but he also didn’t feel the need to drain anyone’s energy.

This was great!

Ye Xiyao didn’t dwell on why he wasn’t hungry anymore after fainting.

After all, the two powerful forces within his body had always been unusual. Whether they suddenly flared up or calmed down, Ye Xiyao found it all perfectly normal.

In any case, nothing could be more abnormal than his very existence.

The outcome was good—he didn’t have to worry about losing his humanity by morning and running out to gnaw on random passersby.

He let out a big sigh of relief.

Happily, Ye Xiyao ran into his room, hugged a stuffed animal, and rolled around on the bed twice, feeling comforted that he had made it through another crisis.

He completely forgot to question where the orange candy flavor in his mouth had come from.

Meanwhile, Luo Yiji, Director of the Bureau of Supernatural Forces Security, was having a sleepless night.

He had received a phone call not long ago.

The voice on the other end was hoarse, the tone cold and stern, full of menace. Six words were spoken with unmistakable gravity:

“Find someone for me.”

Luo Yiji, intimidated by the sharp tone, forgot to question the rudeness and instinctively asked, “Who?”

“Ye Xiyao.”

“Ye Xiao?”

“Ye. Xi. Yao.” Xing Xu enunciated each character slowly, biting down hard on the “Xi” and “Yao,” as if harboring a grudge against the name.

Luo Yiji was utterly baffled, thinking, Isn’t ‘X-iao’ the same as ‘Xiao’? Is this a test of my elementary school pinyin skills?

Also, if he wasn’t mistaken, the target the Bureau had requested his assistance with was supposed to be the suspect in a string of disappearances.

So why was he suddenly being asked to investigate someone else…?

A flood of questions rushed through Luo Yiji’s mind, but he didn’t dare voice any of them. Even if he asked, Xing Xu probably wouldn’t bother answering.

So, Luo Yiji simply played along, saying, “Ye, Xi, Yao. Got it. But it’d be helpful if you could also give me a rough description of his age and appearance—”

Before he could finish his sentence, Xing Xu had already hung up.

Luo Yiji gritted his teeth in frustration: “…That brat!”

But he cursed too soon, because half a minute later, Xing Xu sent over a photo of Ye Xiyao’s ID.

Luo Yiji finally realized that it wasn’t “Ye Xiao” but “Ye Xiyao.”

A young man, not yet 22 years old, whose delicate and handsome features were apparent even in the plain, unflattering ID photo. 

Luo Yiji didn’t have the mood to admire this stunning appearance, because he quickly noticed that the person in the ID photo was lying curled up on the floor, his body forming the backdrop of the picture.

And Xing Xu’s latest message read: “I’ll be there in half an hour.”

Where?

Of course, the Security Bureau!

For what?

It didn’t matter anymore!

Luo Yiji immediately grabbed his internal communicator, opened all department channels, and sternly announced:

“Attention everyone, Xing Xu will arrive at the Security Bureau in 30 minutes. All departments must evacuate immediately. On-duty personnel are advised to avoid direct confrontation and ensure their own safety!”

Xing Xu arrived on time, stepping through the doors of the Security Bureau exactly half an hour later.

The guard on duty instinctively stepped back half a step, not daring to stop him.

— Who was Xing Xu?

The strongest exorcist of the century.

A special operative for the Security Bureau.

A man who was terrifyingly powerful in every way.

And also, a universally acknowledged jerk.

His reputation preceded him—brutal, violent, domineering, arrogant. These were just a few of the words used to describe him. Wielding the title of the strongest exorcist of the century and unmatched skills, Xing Xu had long moved through the exorcist community with an air of superiority and disregard for others.

People respected his strength, but they also feared his temper.

As the usually mild-mannered Security Bureau Director Luo Yiji once put it: “He’s incredibly capable, but his manners could use some improvement.”

Despite knowing that Xing Xu was not an ideal partner, the Bureau still had to treat him like royalty.

Why? Because he was simply too strong.

To this day, there had never been a demon he couldn’t kill.

Xing Xu was undeniably the strongest exorcist of this century—a man so terrifying that even demons would hold their breath in his presence.

When he arrived, he had changed out of his police uniform, dressed all in black, almost blending into the darkness before stepping into the light. His combat boots looked well-worn, but there was no need to worry—they wouldn’t wear out until the next demon was crushed underfoot.

Thanks to Luo Yiji’s prior instructions, Xing Xu made it through the Bureau unhindered, entering the director’s private elevator.

No one came to greet him, and no one dared to meet his eyes.

He exuded an invisible pressure wherever he went.

Sometimes, people thought that when he stood next to a demon, it was hard to tell which one was scarier.

Yet, for someone so fearsome, Xing Xu was shockingly handsome.

It wasn’t fair!

That chiseled face, as if sculpted by a master, often made people wonder if he had struck a deal with the devil—trading his morals and decency for such striking features.

He also had pure black hair, slightly long at the front with natural waves, resting casually over his sharp, prominent brows. Beneath them, a pair of deep, unreadable dark eyes peeked out. When he looked at people coldly, he exuded an aura so fierce that no one within an 800-meter radius would dare provoke him. Yet when his thin lips curved into a smile, he appeared somewhat gentler.

Unfortunately, no one liked his smile.

If he was smiling, it meant he was pleased.

And if he was pleased, it meant someone was in trouble.

Today, the ones in trouble were the hardworking researchers at the Security Bureau’s Demon Species Research Laboratory.

Even though all departments had been instructed to evacuate urgently, if Xing Xu wanted to cause trouble, there was no avoiding it.

At the time, these researchers were preparing their findings, which they planned to present at the Exorcism Technology Conference in a month.

While Xing Xu was on his way to the conference room, he passed by their lab and suddenly sensed a leak of demonic energy. So, he strolled in and promptly exorcised the artificial demon species they had painstakingly cultivated.

By the time Luo Yiji rushed over after receiving the news, the researchers were already sobbing uncontrollably.

Xing Xu, the culprit, leaned against the wall, smiling as if it had nothing to do with him.

Exorcists, for generations, have made it their mission to exorcise demons, and especially Xing Xu, who couldn’t tolerate any evil. He lived by a strict principle: kill all demons on sight, with no hesitation.

It was said that Xing Xu’s father was once possessed by a demon, and he personally killed him.

He was only fifteen years old at the time.

This single story of righteous patricide was enough to prove how cold and ruthless Xing Xu was.

To him, there was no such thing as “experimental results”—there were only demons waiting to be eradicated.

So, when faced with the resentment of the researchers, he naturally felt no guilt and instead retorted, “Are you accusing an exorcist of not exorcising demons?”

The researchers, sobbing uncontrollably, replied, “We created it ourselves! It’s not a bad creature!”

Xing Xu laughed, “That’s new—demons classified as good or bad.”

The researchers were taken aback but tried to explain, “This is part of our research. We already have data showing that demons can evolve a sense of morality, especially higher-level ones, which can demonstrate self-control. Maybe one day humans and advanced demons can coexist peacefully.”

“Great.” Xing Xu clapped.

He wore a special black glove on his left hand, and the sound of his clapping was dull and heavy. “So moving that I want to send you to meet some demons right now, so you can talk to them about world peace.”

The researcher jumped in fright, shaking his head and shrinking back. “I… I didn’t mean that. Of course, demons need to be exorcised at this stage. Our experiments are just…”

Xing Xu didn’t bother to listen, straightening up and sweeping his gaze over the group. “Let me remind everyone here: the premise of peaceful coexistence with your enemy is that you’ve already defeated and conquered them.”

He paused deliberately and said, “Anyone confident in that, step forward.”

Everyone instinctively fell silent, and the researchers cautiously stepped back a half-step. 

Who would dare claim they could defeat every demon?

Xing Xu’s question was enough to make everyone break out in a cold sweat.

Unable to refute his point, the researchers shifted their argument, saying, “Let’s put the experiment aside for now. But earlier, you kicked open the lab door, which counts as damaging public property. The Security Bureau does not endorse such barbaric behavior!”

Xing Xu seriously pondered for a moment before saying, “Then why don’t you kill me?”

Researcher: “…”

Scoundrel! 

Thug! 

The worst exorcist of the century!

But no matter how much they wanted to complain, no one could voice it out loud. They had to swallow their frustration as they watched Luo Yiji lead Xing Xu into the conference room.

“Next time, give me a heads-up before you make a move. Stop coming here just to pick on people. After all, that experiment is… never mind. Let’s talk about the person you asked me to investigate. All of Ye Xiyao’s files are here.”

Luo Yiji had long given up expecting any self-reflection from Xing Xu, who had never once apologized to anyone in his life.

It wasn’t just because of his arrogance; more importantly, he had never wronged anyone.

Everything Xing Xu did, if you had to argue, was justified.

At this moment, the large conference room was empty except for Luo Yiji and Xing Xu. Luo handed over the folder of documents.

Thinking about Ye Xiyao, who had been lying unconscious in the photo, Luo cautiously asked, “Didn’t you already knock him out? Why didn’t you just eliminate him?”

Xing Xu casually replied, “The Demon Slayer Array backfired.”

Those simple words caused Luo Yiji to turn pale instantly, his eyelids twitching wildly. He instinctively reached for Xing Xu’s hand.

Xing Xu didn’t resist, allowing him to remove the glove and examine his hand closely.

But after Luo frowned and examined Xing Xu’s palm for a long time, checking from his arm to his shoulder, he found nothing wrong. He looked up, staring intently at Xing Xu’s face, scrutinizing his eyes, nose, mouth, and neck.

“That’s enough.” Xing Xu pulled his hand back, disapproving. “Don’t look at me so affectionately.”

Luo Yiji knew he was joking but couldn’t bring himself to laugh. “Are you sure about the backfire? It seems like everything is stable. You don’t show any signs of demonic energy intrusion.”

Although Luo Yiji was more than ten years older than Xing Xu, in the world of exorcism, they were considered fellow disciples—Luo Yiji’s exorcism skills were taught by Xing Xu’s mother, Xue Min.

Luo Yiji knew the truth about Xue Min’s suicide, so he also understood what it meant for the Demon Slayer Array to backfire.

But he couldn’t see any sign of demonic backlash on Xing Xu.

“That’s the problem,” Xing Xu said slowly as he calmly put his gloves back on, covering the Demon Slayer Array in his palm. He leaned against the conference table, lifting his long leg and resting it on the edge of a chair.

The movement was so smooth and effortless, but it pained Luo Yiji—those chairs cost over twenty thousand each! And he just stepped on one like that!

Xing Xu was oblivious as he placed Ye Xiyao’s file on his knee. “Before tonight, the backlash had indeed started, until I encountered that demon.”

He paused at this point.

His fingers unconsciously tapped on the folder, making several heavy, rapid sounds, in sync with his heartbeat.

Luo Yiji was waiting for him to continue, but after a long silence, he noticed that Xing Xu’s ears were turning red. Concerned, he asked, “What kind of unspeakable thing did that demon do to you? Made your ears flush with anger?”

Xing Xu: “…”

Ha.

Not much, really.

It only kissed him.

Xing Xu gritted his teeth for a long moment, unable to bring himself to say it.

… Seriously, what kind of demon fights like that?

Without any warning, it just kissed him. What kind of twisted technique was that?!

In the end, Xing Xu changed the phrasing, saying, “During the fight, the demon… used some method to take away part of the demonic energy in my body.”

Luo Yiji hadn’t seen Xing Xu’s blood-red eyes or the black, vein-like lines that had covered him earlier, because the Demon Slayer Array had stabilized.

With the excess demonic energy taken away, Xing Xu’s body naturally returned to normal.

“How is that even possible?!” Luo Yiji was shocked, breaking out into a cold sweat. His mind instantly painted a picture of a brutal, evil, and murderous demon.

—Being able to easily steal power from others was terrifying!

Luo Yiji glanced down at Ye Xiyao’s photo again and couldn’t help but marvel, “This demon is incredibly cunning, obviously powerful but deliberately disguising itself as a weak and harmless figure to lower everyone’s guard.”

Xing Xu scratched his forehead without expression.

He thought: Exactly, that demon is too cunning.

“But based on your current condition, the demon taking away your demonic energy seems to have stopped the backlash. Is there a possibility that we could use this demon to remove the remaining demonic energy in your body?”

As soon as Luo Yiji said this, he realized he had misspoken.

But Xing Xu had already started clapping sarcastically beside him.

Luo Yiji: “…?”

“Why didn’t they let you write ‘The 36 Stratagems’? Your first strategy would be mutual destruction—brilliant.” Xing Xu gave him a thumbs-up. “Using your own demonic energy to nourish a demon, only to figure out how to suppress the demon afterward? Why didn’t I just hug the demon and die on the spot today?”

Luo Yiji, of course, realized the absurdity of the plan but was still left speechless by Xing Xu’s mockery. “I really want to punch you.”

“A lot of people do, but sadly, none of them have the skill,” Xing Xu said as he turned his attention back to Ye Xiyao’s file.

Maybe it was Xing Xu’s carefree attitude that somehow calmed Luo Yiji down as well. He leaned against the conference table and sighed.

“I know this idea is no better than drinking poison to quench thirst. I’m just anxious. The Demon Slayer Array is a deadlock—you’ll have to face the backlash someday. If this demon hadn’t taken the demonic energy from you tonight, you know very well what would’ve happened to you.”

He paused for a moment, glancing at Xing Xu with a hint of hesitation. “Maybe this is fate, giving you another chance to choose. Xing Xu, maybe you should take this opportunity to retire.”

If he stopped being an exorcist, he wouldn’t have to face certain death.

“Alright.” Xing Xu didn’t even lift his head as he agreed decisively.

In that instant, Luo Yiji felt a flood of mixed emotions.

There was surprise because he hadn’t expected Xing Xu to agree so easily.

There was relief because finally, Xing Xu wouldn’t follow in the footsteps of their master, Xue Min.

But at the same time, there was unease.

Luo Yiji understood that the reason demons didn’t openly harm humans was thanks to exorcists silently sacrificing themselves. And among them, Xing Xu was the backbone.

With him around, even the most difficult cases often seemed manageable. Whenever they couldn’t eliminate a demon or clear out lingering threats, Xing Xu was the one who had their backs.

Like Xue Qiao, Luo Yiji wanted Xing Xu to live a long and peaceful life. 

But unlike Xue Qiao, he was not only Xing Xu’s senior brother—he was also the head of the Security Bureau. And neither the bureau nor the entire alliance was ready for Xing Xu’s retirement.

Out of reflex, Luo Yiji asked, “Have you really decided?”

Xing Xu: “No, I haven’t.”

Luo Yiji: “…”

So all that inner turmoil he just went through was for nothing? Xing Xu had just been messing with him.

Xing Xu had been carefully going through Ye Xiyao’s file. At this point, he pulled out a resume and asked, “What’s this?”

Luo Yiji: “It’s a resume.”

Xing Xu shot him a look. “Try giving me another useless answer.”

Forcing himself to push aside his earlier emotional moment, Luo Yiji adjusted to Xing Xu’s pace and analyzed, “He just graduated from university this year and is looking for a job. This resume was posted on a job-hunting platform. While I can’t understand why a demon would need a job, it’s possible he’s using it as a cover to find high-quality souls to devour.”

“I thoroughly investigated all his records and found that this demon, Ye Xiyao, has lived in human society for over twenty years without ever committing any crime—not even littering or jaywalking. Either he’s been pretending to be a good person for twenty-one years, or…”

Luo Yiji trailed off.

Xing Xu picked up on the hint. “Or it means he’s really good at hiding and you’ve never caught any slip-ups.”

“Exactly.”

Luo Yiji nodded. “But either way, a demon this powerful lying low in human society for over two decades means there’s a reason he doesn’t want to be exposed. That’s a good thing—it gives us time to plan and lets other exorcists prepare.”

“Other exorcists?” Xing Xu zeroed in on the phrase, looking at Luo Yiji with some confusion.

Luo Yiji explained, “It’s better if you don’t use the Demon Slayer Array for now. Leave the initial investigation to someone else.”

Xing Xu gave him a look like he was talking to an idiot.

Luo Yiji: “Why do you look like you’re calling me stupid?”

Propping his chin on his hand, Xing Xu reminded him, “Even without the Demon Slayer Array, I’m still the strongest.”

Luo Yiji didn’t argue, “Of course you are.”

But he quickly added, “Still, to buy us more time to prepare, I plan to assign people to monitor the demon 24/7. Until we find a way to eliminate him without the Demon Slayer Array, we can’t risk alerting him, can’t raise suspicion, and definitely can’t provoke him.”

As he said this, he looked at Xing Xu, not saying anything more, but his expression spoke volumes—

Xing Xu had the kind of presence that would terrify people the moment they saw him. His mere glance was filled with killing intent. If he just stood somewhere, everyone within a hundred meters would feel like they were about to die.

Seeing Xing Xu remain silent, Luo Yiji thought he understood his hint perfectly.

He started flipping through the list of top-tier exorcists in the Security Bureau, mumbling to himself, “Since Ye Xiyao is looking for a job, we’ll give him one. That way, we can openly place people around him to keep an eye on him. You can’t handle this, so I’ll—”

“Why can’t I handle it?” Xing Xu suddenly asked.

Luo Yiji froze. “…?”

Xing Xu lowered his gaze, staring intently at the printed resume in his hand. A color photo of Ye Xiyao was even printed on it.

“This demon is very skilled at disguise. Xing Shu thought that he only appeared to be innocently naive and unaware of the world, but in reality, his tongue was incredibly sly; as soon as it touched his lips, it would immediately try to worm its way in, catching people off guard.

And aside from himself, no one has experienced the demon’s cruelty.

So he was, of course, the best candidate to monitor the demon.

Xing Shu looked into the innocent and pure round eyes frozen in the frame for a moment and said in a deep voice, “I want to keep an eye on him myself.”