How to Handle a Sickly Yandere Demon God - Chapter 36

Xu Xingxing froze for a moment, her first thought being:

How did you know?

Then, feeling a pang of guilt, she asked nervously, “Weren’t you unconscious? How could you still hear?”

But that wasn’t what she felt guilty about.

Earlier, while chatting idly with Yue Baiyin, he had joked that since Xiao Ran was so well-behaved and adorable, she might as well take her in as well.

She had casually asked, “Isn’t it true that a beast contract can only be broken by death?”

Yue Baiyin’s expression at that moment had resembled that of a matchmaker trying to persuade Xu Xingxing to take a concubine. He explained that powerful cultivators could tame multiple non-bonded spirit beasts without needing to break existing contracts.

He then added mysteriously that beast contracts weren’t entirely unbreakable, it was just that doing so would cause significant harm to the cultivator. He had made up the “death-only” rule earlier to deceive Gu Nuo, who had privately approached him, asking him to break Xu Xingxing’s beast contract. Since this technique was a secret method recorded in ancient Beast Taming Sect texts, very few people knew about it anyway.

Xu Xingxing hadn’t been interested and had brushed it off with a laugh, quickly changing the subject.

So even if Xiao Hei had overheard this, it wouldn’t have mattered.

What made her feel guilty was that she had asked Yue Baiyin about the past of a bonded spirit beast.

Yue Baiyin had said that if she wanted to know about Xiao Hei’s past, she could explore it at any time.

He also mentioned that if she didn’t actively seek it out, fragments of that past would occasionally appear in her dreams.

So why hadn’t she dreamed about Xiao Hei’s close ties with the demon race?

Of course, she hadn’t told Yue Baiyin this.

She had only asked, “Would a master dream of every part of their bonded spirit beast’s past? Could anything be missed?”

Yue Baiyin had looked at her strangely and said, “How could that be? If you dreamed of every little detail, you’d never get anything done, you’d be asleep all the time and still not have enough hours in the day.”

He went on to explain that she would only dream of key turning points in the spirit beast’s life, events that had a profound impact on it.

Hearing this had put her somewhat at ease. Did that mean Xiao Hei’s connection to the demon race might not have been very deep?

Thinking it over, it made sense. If the ties had been significant, how could Yue Baiyin, Fang Zhiming, and the others have failed to recognize such a powerful Houdu?

So what was the explanation? Had some demon kept Xiao Hei as a pet away from the front lines?

An image of Xiao Hei eating dog food and acting cute popped into her mind. She shuddered, wrestled with the thought for a moment, and reluctantly accepted this possibility.

What if Xiao Hei was only hostile toward humans and cultivators but had a natural affinity for demons?

…Even though she couldn’t quite picture it… she firmly believed it was due to her own lack of imagination…

She shook her head and continued asking how she could learn the entirety of her bonded spirit beast’s past.

Yue Baiyin pulled an ancient-looking book from his Qiankun pouch and tossed it to her. It contained methods for delving into a spirit beast’s past.

Over the next few days, while Xiao Hei was unconscious, she tried repeatedly to explore his memories. But aside from what she had already dreamed of, she gained no new insights.

Just as the ancient text had stated, she couldn’t access memories the spirit beast itself had lost. So why had that earlier, tragic part of his past appeared so vividly to her?

The image of him trembling on the verge of death after being skinned, the bloody foam bubbling from his mouth, the filthy mud stained with his flesh and blood, the horrifying empty sockets where his eyes had been gouged out, and the dark chamber where he had been imprisoned for over a century,

All of it had left her in a deep gloom for more than half a month before she could finally process it.

Of course, she didn’t seek further answers from Yue Baiyin.

After all, asking him would be equivalent to telling him that Xiao Hei’s memories were damaged.

Although it wouldn’t matter much if he knew, Yue Baiyin and others who had experienced the Demon-Slaying War would turn pale at the mention of demons, their hearts still trembling with lingering fear. It was better for her to be more cautious.

Moreover, after she had digested the information, her curiosity had vanished along with it.

The child was pitiable enough, what did it matter if he had ties to the demon race?

He had already joined Kunlun and become a certified cultivation dog, couldn’t they just forgive him?

She thought she had handled it seamlessly, but now, as she watched Xiao Hei’s increasingly gloomy expression, she began to grow uneasy.

If he found out that she actually knew part of his past, would it count as deceiving him?

He was already a prickly, aloof person, covered in thorns. Now that he had finally started to integrate with others a little, wouldn’t it be better for him to live carefree and happy?

If Xiao Hei pressed her for answers later, how should she respond?

If she were forced to tell him, would he be unable to bear it, become overwhelmed with anger, and undergo a drastic change in personality?

Thinking this, Xu Xingxing, though maintaining a calm facade on the surface, grew increasingly restless inside.

But in Xiao Hei’s eyes, Xu Xingxing’s guilt carried an entirely different meaning.

So he grew even angrier, his gaze turning icy cold, his heart chilled to the core. He even let out a cold laugh: “So? When are you going to break the beast contract? I can’t wait to regain my freedom. Tomorrow? Or how about now, to avoid complications? Call that green snake back, let’s break the contract now, and you two can form one right away. How about that?”

????

Xu Xingxing was momentarily stunned by this barrage of words and furrowed her brows: “What on earth are you talking about? When did I ever say I wanted to break the contract with you? Are you awake or sleepwalking? Practicing crosstalk in your dreams?”

Xiao Hei stared at Xu Xingxing’s bewildered expression, slightly taken aback, and his anger unexpectedly subsided a little.

Truth be told, he hadn’t overheard much, only that one sentence before they switched topics, and then he uncontrollably slipped back into his dreams.

So, at first, he thought it was just part of his dream. He had tried to bluff his way into confirmation, never expecting it to be real.

Even though he now knew Xu Xingxing had no intention of breaking the contract with him, he still felt uncomfortable, as if a stone were grinding against his heart, making him terribly anxious: “If you hadn’t asked, why would Yue Baiyin say such a thing to you out of the blue? Do you think I’m as foolish as you? Of course, I’m not as considerate as that green snake, who even covers you with clothes. I’d say it’s pretty good that I haven’t kicked you to the footrest.”

Xu Xingxing studied his expression, feeling that something was off, but she instinctively retorted: “Footrest? After all the times I’ve slept with you, when have I ever had the honor of sleeping on the footrest? Wasn’t it always me panting and puffing, laying out my own bedding on the floor? And you have the nerve to bring that up?”

“…”

Is that the point? Is that really the point?!

Then what is the point?

He didn’t seem to know himself.

Xiao Hei, born in the cultivation world, had no concept of high blood pressure. He only felt a surge of blood rushing from his heart to his head, making it ache even more: “If you’ve loathed me this much all along, why not just break the beast contract and go find that green snake? Why are you still standing here?”

Xu Xingxing was about to snap back when a sudden realization dawned on her. She finally grasped what was wrong. Staring at Xiao Hei’s frowning, accusatory expression, she blinked once, then twice.

Huh?

Huh????

Has he mentioned Ah Ran a bit too often?

Him???

Could it be…

Is he jealous???!

A seedling of joy seemed to sprout in her heart, and she instantly felt elated. She just stared at him for a long while, unable to come up with her next line.

On one hand, she considered deliberately provoking him a few more times to further confirm her conclusion.

On the other hand, she felt that since he hadn’t fully recovered yet, it would be too cruel to upset him so soon after he woke up.

Most importantly, she was never one to hold back her emotions. From the moment the thought occurred to her, she was already struggling to keep her grin from stretching ear to ear.

So she abandoned her teasing intentions, leaned in closer to Xiao Hei with a playful smile, and asked directly, “Xiao Hei, are you jealous?”

Xiao Hei instinctively flinched at her sudden closeness. When he processed her words, he found her utterly unreasonable. Furious, he let out a bitter laugh, his expression growing increasingly impatient. For once, he raised his voice:

“Jealous? What jealousy? Jealous of what? I’m talking about breaking the contract, and you’re talking about eating? Which part of what I said made you think of dumplings? Xu Xing’er, can your thoughts be any more scattered?”

“HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!” Xu Xing’er burst into laughter, pounding the bed in amusement.

What an innocent little puppy! Back in Xuan City, when they ate dumplings, she was the one who taught him to dip them in vinegar.

Though, he never did like sour flavors.

Seeing Xiao Hei’s expression darken further, she wiped away her tears of laughter, cleared her throat, and explained, “What I meant by ‘jealous’ is, are you upset because you don’t want me to form a contract with Ah Ran? Did you think I asked our master because I wanted to break my contract with you to make room for Ah Ran?”

Xiao Hei froze. Was that what he meant?

For some reason, seeing her straightforward expression made him feel somewhat embarrassed, so he retorted, “What does your contract with him have to do with me? I just, ”

Afraid he might say something that would make her want to hit him, Xu Xing’er cut him off and went straight to the point: “I won’t.”

Xiao Hei was taken aback again.

“I won’t. Yue Baiyin said even without breaking my contract with you, I could still take Ah Ran as a non-primary spirit beast, I could even take several. But I won’t.”

“Unless you want to leave me, I will never take the initiative to break our contract.”

“Because in my heart, you and him are different. No one can compare to you.”

“You’re the only one. Having just you is enough for me.”

You’re the only one. Having just you is enough for me.

I only want you.

Just you.

That’s enough.

The man’s eyes widened to their fullest, his gaze turning clear and bright. Though it lasted only a moment, Xu Xing’er accurately caught the sudden acceleration of his heartbeat. She grew even happier, absolutely overjoyed, and even laughed out loud. Before Xiao Hei could hide his reaction, she pinched his cheek and said, “You’re really so adorable.”

The gloominess completely dissipated from him, replaced by a hint of fluster in his dark eyes. The pebble that had been weighing on his heart suddenly turned into a soft cloud, making him feel tender and relaxed all over.

This was so unusual. The sensation was entirely unfamiliar to him, stirring up a wave of panic alongside it.

Xiao Hei suppressed the turmoil rising within him, steadied himself, and was about to push her hand away and mock her when the woman suddenly leaned even closer to him.

Her deer-like eyes seemed to shine brighter than the lightning that night. Gazing at him with a gentle, smiling warmth, she added, word by deliberate word, “I have never seen you as my spirit beast. I have always regarded you as my family.”

His body stiffened, and the sarcastic remark he had been about to utter vanished completely.

Family?

What did that mean?

As if sensing his confusion, the girl patiently explained, “Whether you believe it or not, in this world, the person I trust the most and feel closest to is you, only you.”

Xu Yi and Gu Nuo were Xu Xing’er’s relatives, and although Yue Baiyin was her master, they had never faced life and death together.

Only he accepted her entirely, always staying by her side. Though their relationship had started off rocky, he had saved her time and again, catching her in her moments of greatest fear.

He understood what made her laugh and embraced her fears.

Like a close friend, yet more like family.

Suddenly, the tune of “Brothers, Give Me a Hug” popped into her head, turning the tender moment into something comical.

Xu Xingxing shook her head to dispel the music and noticed Xiao Hei staring at her in a daze. It was the first time she had seen him so stunned. Just as she was about to wave a hand in front of his eyes, a sudden weight pressed down on her, and darkness enveloped her vision.

She was buried under a quilt.

“…”

Annoyed, she was about to push the quilt aside when Xiao Hei’s voice sounded:

“Don’t move.”

His usually jade-like voice now carried a hint of hoarseness and a tremor. So she stopped, obediently staying still.

Then, she felt his hand press against the back of her head, applying a gentle force that drew her into his embrace.

His arms tightened, wrapping her securely. Through the quilt, she could hear his heartbeat, steady, deep, and resonant.

She lay quietly against his chest, feeling content and at peace.

After a long while, Xiao Hei’s heartbeat and breathing gradually steadied.

Feeling stifled, she slowly pushed the quilt aside, revealing her face.

She tilted her head up, meeting the man’s gaze.

He was leaning lightly against the bedpost, his eyelashes lowered, the golden bell silent, looking utterly serene in his sleep.

It was the first time she had examined his face so closely.

His brows were like ink-drawn elegance, his lashes thick and dark, his nose straight and proud, his lips like peach blossoms. Xu Xingxing felt a little dazed, thinking to herself that this face must be the most exquisite masterpiece of the Creator.

She pursed her lips, thinking this distance was perfect for a sneak attack. Staring at his slightly parted lips, she swallowed and licked her own.

Admittedly, in this situation, she really did seem like a creep. Sighing, she straightened up.

After gently laying Xiao Hei down, she stared at his sleeping face a while longer, then took off her shoes and rolled to the inner side of the bed, closing her eyes to sleep.

Because she didn’t open her eyes again, she didn’t see the faint, subtle smile that bloomed at the corner of the man’s lips.

Truly exhausted, she fell asleep quickly, unaware that he had shifted closer to her twice, watching her for a long while before finally drifting off to sleep as well.

The lamp extinguished early, the night settled deep;
By the small window, a gentle breeze whispered.
In the stillness of the late hours, a night of serene dreams unfolded.