How to Handle a Sickly Yandere Demon God - Chapter 35

Xiao Ran was an exceptionally rare, high-grade spiritual beast with pure bloodline and profound spiritual power. He had never truly feared anyone before, even when trapped in the blood pool, his anger outweighed his fear.

Yet when he met those deep, emotionless eyes, his fingers trembled involuntarily.

The tremor was slight, but it was enough to wake Xu Xingxing, who had just fallen asleep.

“What’s wrong, Ah Ran?” Xu Xingxing’s voice was soft and nasal, almost like a whimper. “Why aren’t you sleeping? What are you busy with?”

Xiao Ran had already regained his composure and smiled gently. “I was worried you might get cold, so I covered you with a robe.”

“Haha,” she laughed.

Having reached the Unity Stage, how could she easily feel cold? Still, she pulled the robe tighter around herself and said, “Thank you, Ah Ran.”

Suddenly, the atmosphere around them grew chilly. Xu Xingxing felt a piercing gaze as if trying to see right through her, and only then did she sense something amiss.

Following the direction of the gaze, she met a pair of icy black eyes.

Her breath hitched. Overwhelming joy surged within her, and her eyes uncontrollably welled up with tears. She immediately grabbed Xiao Hei’s sleeve and exclaimed excitedly, “You’re awake!”

Xiao Hei looked at her but didn’t respond, only pursing his lips slightly.

Seeing the coldness in his eyes, Xu Xingxing thought he might be unwell and reached out to touch his forehead. “What’s wrong? You look so pale. Are you feeling sick?”

The moment his forehead met her warm palm, the irritation and discomfort he had felt moments earlier vanished without a trace. As if guided by some unseen force, he clasped her soft hand tightly and said, “My head hurts.”

It wasn’t a lie. He had been dreaming, dreams of visiting many places, as though countless foreign thoughts had flooded his mind, making his head ache even in his sleep.

“A headache?”

Xu Xingxing felt her heart flutter as her hand was held firmly. Though she wanted to check his temperature again, she couldn’t bring herself to pull away.

Instead, she guided his hand, using her free fingers to touch his forehead again, while her other hand felt her own, trying to compare their temperatures. “Could it be a fever?”

But she couldn’t discern any difference.

She then leaned forward, pressing her forehead directly against his.

The warmth of her skin against his brow made Xiao Hei’s heart skip a beat. He recalled the last time she had guided him into her spiritual sea and felt a surge of embarrassment. He was about to pull away when he caught a glimpse of the green-robed man’s cold, reptilian eyes by the bedside.

For some reason, he immediately froze, even muttering, “Pressing like this… it helps a little.”

Xu Xingxing made a soft sound of surprise and pulled back slightly. Her sparkling eyes gazed at him as she smiled and said, “Really? Not only is my spiritual energy your medicine, but my forehead is too? If it makes you feel better, should I keep it there a little longer?”

Xiao Hei didn’t confirm or deny it, though his ears began to burn. Still, he couldn’t resist teasing her, “What? If I say it feels good, will you keep it there forever?”

His heart tightened uncontrollably, unable to comprehend why he had uttered such an inappropriate remark. Yet, watching the green-robed man’s expression darken further, he felt an inexplicable surge of satisfaction.

“Of course, I’ll press close! You’re my savior now, and such a simple request from my benefactor is one I must honor.” Just as he was about to lean in, he suddenly remembered Xiao Ran standing nearby.

Xu Xingxing’s face flushed with embarrassment, and he sought to send the other away. “A-Ran, it’s late. Why don’t you go sleep in my room? Xiao Hei and I still have matters to discuss. I wouldn’t want to disturb your rest.”

“How could it be a disturbance? I can rest just fine here.” Xiao Ran maintained his considerate demeanor, though a hint of panic flickered in his eyes. “Am I in the way? I’ll leave immediately.”

You are somewhat in the way.

The thought surfaced instinctively, and Xu Xingxing froze, feeling like a lecherous old man shooing away an innocent child. Seeing Xiao Ran’s flustered expression, a wave of guilt washed over him. He carefully weighed his words before replying, “No, A-Ran, how could you possibly be, ”

“It seems you have some self-awareness, brother. In that case, Xingxing and I won’t see you out.”

His words were abruptly cut off by the man on the bed. The tone was far from pleasant, and Xu Xingxing turned to glare at him.

Xiao Hei’s lips were pale, lending him a fragile, sickly appearance. Yet his eyes gleamed with a cold light, intermingling with the golden reflections from the bell at his neck. A faint, almost imperceptible smile curled his lips, making him appear both captivating and dangerous.

“Speak properly,” Xu Xingxing chided, assuming Xiao Hei’s hostility stemmed from a dislike of strangers. He patted his hand reassuringly before enthusiastically introducing the other. “Xiao Ran is the Nine Nether Serpent we rescued. He’s also your fellow patient. You two should get along.”

“Oh? Is that so? Then of course we must.”

Xiao Hei let out a derisive snort and repeated, “Xiao Ran, it seems you do have some self-awareness. We won’t see you out, then. Take care.”

Xu Xingxing: “…”

A flash of malice crossed Xiao Ran’s eyes, vanishing as quickly as it appeared, replaced by reverence. “Brother Xiao Hei is right. I’ll take my leave now. But Xingxing told me earlier that if not for you, neither of us would have made it out alive. No matter what, thank you for saving us from certain peril. Such a life-saving grace is beyond repayment. From now on, like Xingxing, I will always remember your kindness and follow your lead.”

Xingxing, Xingxing, Xingxing.

The two of us, Xingxing and I, me and Xingxing.

Hah?

A nameless fury surged in Xiao Hei’s chest. He narrowed his eyes slightly, concealing the overwhelming killing intent within. He had seen the hostility in Xiao Ran’s gaze clearly, and now the other deliberately repeated that name again and again…

Hmph.

Trying to show how close you are?

He licked his lips and tightened his grip on Xu Xingxing’s hand. “Well then, your savior would like to ask you to leave now. Would you mind hurrying up?”

Without waiting for Xiao Ran’s response, he called out softly:

“Xingxing.”

Xu Xingxing was already uneasy in the tense atmosphere, about to say something to ease the situation, when he heard Xiao Hei call his name.

Before he could even turn to look, he felt a warmth on the back of his head. In the next moment, Xiao Hei’s hand guided his head forward, pressing his forehead against Xiao Hei’s once more.

Xu Xingxing: “…”

His heartbeat suddenly quickened.

Perhaps he had watched too many idol dramas, because his first thought was of a kiss.

The delicate features so close to her face showed a trace of impatience as he complained, “Didn’t you say you’d stick to me for as long as I allowed? My head is killing me, and this is how you follow orders?”

Xu Xingxing’s chest felt like it held a live rabbit, thumping even more wildly than a startled deer. How could she resist any longer? She merely whispered, “Does it really work? You’re teasing me, aren’t you…”

He seemed genuinely more comfortable, closing his eyes peacefully, yet his mouth kept going: “What’s wrong, Fellow Patient Xiao Ran? I’m not feeling well today. How about we get along properly tomorrow?”

Xiao Ran, witnessing the scene before her, was already burning with frustration. Her mouth opened and closed, but in the end, she could only force out the words, “I’m leaving.”

“…”

Xu Xingxing felt unbearably awkward. Staying put felt wrong, leaving felt wrong too. In her panic, she wanted to say something more, but then she felt the claw on the back of her head shift to the nape of her neck, squeezing threateningly a couple of times. Her voice caught in her throat, and she stayed silent.

Sorry, Ah Ran! Forgive me for abandoning friendship for a pretty face! Tomorrow, I’ll personally mix you a special eyewash!

The door opened and closed, and the room returned to silence, filled only with the sound of their close breathing and a wildly pounding heartbeat.

Heartbeat…

Uh…

Seemed like it was only hers…

Xu Xingxing’s toes curled with embarrassment.

Since surviving the lightning tribulation, her senses had become immensely sharper. From the drop of a servant’s sweat to the roaring winds high above the clouds, if she wanted to hear it, she could experience it as if she were right there.

But she didn’t like this feeling, it was too noisy.

So, unless she was eavesdropping on gossip, she manually blocked her senses.

And now, even though she had opened her senses fully, she could hear Fang Zhiming’s adrenaline-fueled heartbeat when he was with Lin Yue from several courtyards away, yet she couldn’t detect the slightest fluctuation in Xiao Hei’s heartbeat.

In fact, perhaps because his body hadn’t fully recovered, his heartbeat seemed even weaker than usual.

Her enthusiasm deflated.

Two people’s heartbeats together were ambiguous, but one person’s heartbeat alone was… a crush?

A crush?!

She wilted completely…

Xu Xingxing would rather grow old alone than suffer the humiliation of a pathetic one-sided crush!

So, she directly reached out and pressed her hand against Xiao Hei’s chest, asking mysteriously, “Is it okay for your heartbeat to be so weak? Should I call Yue Baiyin over?”

…

Was this seduction or concern??

Xu Xingxing, are you even capable??

She really wasn’t.

So she gave up immediately.

Whatever, she didn’t want to maintain this position any longer! Her back was aching!!

Xiao Hei suddenly opened his eyes to look at her, his lips curling into a smile like a smug child: “Xingxing’s heartbeat is quite fast, though.”

Struck where it hurt, Xu Xingxing: …

Trying desperately to save face, Xu Xingxing said, “Really? Haha, it must be because of our position. After all, men and women shouldn’t be too intimate. Even if I were like this with Ah Ran, my heartbeat would be this fast too.”

Yes, don’t you misunderstand.

Even if it’s not a misunderstanding, don’t expect to extract any useful information from me!

Xu Xingxing’s gaze was as firm as someone taking a party oath.

Xiao Hei’s smile vanished instantly, his eyes turning icy. The hand gripping the nape of her neck loosened, and Xu Xingxing immediately pulled away and sat up straight, secretly rubbing her sore back.

Watching her leave so quickly, Xiao Hei’s expression darkened even further, his heart sinking. He withdrew the spell he had just used to conceal himself and sneered, “Ah Ran, Ah Ran, this Nine Underworld Serpent is truly endearing. If I had woken a few days later, I fear your life-bound spirit beast might have been replaced.”

Xu Xingxing, puzzled by his sudden shift in mood, replied earnestly, “How could that be? The beast contract cannot be broken unless one dies.”

“Unless one dies”? But what if it wasn’t necessarily tied to death?

Xiao Hei felt his heart grow colder. “Cannot be broken unless one dies? Is there any point in saying such lies now? Yue Baiyin clearly stated that this contract isn’t entirely unbreakable. What? Did you forget what he told you just a few days ago?”