Transforming into a stunningly beautiful fox spirit, leaving a scar on the heart of a prodigy.

The water in Yunmengze is always cold.

The mist swirled on the water's surface, like a layer of unyielding sorrow.

Su Xiaojiu stepped barefoot onto the moss-covered round stones, her toes curling slightly, her rounded nails tinged with a faint pink.

Bai Yin stood three steps away from the shore, his back ramrod straight, still holding the rabbit lantern he hadn't given away. His gaze was fixed on Su Xiaojiu, his muscles taut like a fully drawn bow.

If Su Xiaojiu shows even the slightest sign of distress, this bow will be shot out immediately.

Su Xiaojiu turned around and glanced at him, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

She knows this tiger too well.

Bai Yin is like a rubber band stretched to its limit right now; even a cough from her can make his already battered heart tremble.

This tense state won't do; we need to loosen him up.

Su Xiaojiu's body tilted slightly, and the moss under her feet slid down as if to cooperate.

"ah."

She let out a short gasp, then fell backward, plummeting straight into the bottomless, icy pool.

Without any hesitation.

Even before Su Xiaojiu made a sound, the dark figure on the shore had already moved.

"Thump!"

A huge splash of water erupted.

Bai Yin even forgot to use the water-avoidance incantation and directly smashed the water surface with his physical body.

The instant he entered the water, he precisely caught Su Xiaojiu's waist, and with his other hand he protected the back of her head, holding her tightly in his arms.

The icy pool water instantly submerged the two of them.

The underwater world was shrouded in darkness.

Bai Yin's eyes gleamed crimson in the water, a reaction to extreme terror. He stared intently at the person in his arms, his grip on Su Xiaojiu's arm tightening painfully, as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones.

Su Xiaojiu opened her eyes in the water.

She looked at the panicked face so close to her and sighed inwardly.

What an idiot.

She is a nine-tailed celestial fox, a quasi-emperor's soul. How could a mere pool in Yunmengze possibly drown her?

But instead of struggling, she stretched out her arms and wrapped them around Bai Yin's neck.

Two bodies are pressed tightly together in the water.

Through Bai Yin's soaked clothes, Su Xiaojiu could clearly feel the scorching heat emanating from his body, and the sound of his heart pounding wildly against his ribs.

Boom, boom, boom.

It was so fast it looked like it was about to explode.

Su Xiaojiu leaned over, opened her mouth, and bit Bai Yin's earlobe without any hesitation.

The sharp canine teeth pierced the skin a little, bringing a slightly fishy and sweet taste.

Bai Yin shuddered violently, and his movement to lift her to the surface froze instantly.

He dared not open his mouth underwater, only letting out muffled whimpers. His bloodshot eyes were filled with confusion and helplessness. His original world-destroying aura vanished in the face of this sudden bite.

Su Xiaojiu loosened her teeth and gently swept her tongue across the tooth mark.

A divine thought directly entered Bai Yin's mind, domineering and unreasonable.

"From now on, for the rest of your life, you can only listen to me, understand?"

Bai Yin was stunned.

He blinked in the water, and the fierce, demonic aura faded, replaced by an almost devout submission.

He nodded slowly.

Even if it meant taking his life, taking his demon core, or even tearing his bones apart to build a bridge for her, he wouldn't flinch.

Su Xiaojiu narrowed her eyes in satisfaction.

next moment.

Nine large, snow-white tails suddenly burst open in the water.

The previously dark underwater world was instantly illuminated by white light. The nine tails did not appear heavy in the water; instead, they resembled nine agile dragons that instantly coiled around Bai Yin, enveloping him completely.

The fuzzy texture becomes somewhat strange in the water.

It is both soft and possesses an inescapable resilience.

Su Xiaojiu's fingers slid down Bai Yin's spine.

She was stroking his fur.

The dark, demonic energy accumulated within Bai Yin from years of killing was now restlessly surging through his meridians. It was the source of his power, and also the root of his torment, preventing him from finding peace day and night.

Su Xiaojiu's fingertips carried a cool, demonic power as she precisely pressed several acupoints on his back.

That force drilled into my spine, like a clear spring poured onto a red-hot iron.

Nourishes—

Bai Yin was so comfortable he almost cried out in the water.

The anxiety deep within his soul was gradually soothed, replaced by an unprecedented peace. He subconsciously wanted to rub against Su Xiaojiu's palm, like a big cat whose itch had been scratched.

Su Xiaojiu's tail tip quietly crept up to Bai Yin's hand.

It was the fluffiest tuft of white fur, swaying gently in the water with the ripples, brushing against Bai Yin's palm again and again.

itch.

An excruciating itch.

Baek In's Adam's apple bobbed up and down.

That's the instinct of the demon race.

No tiger could resist something so furry and soft.

What's more, this is Xiao Jiu's tail.

He cautiously reached out, his fingertips trembling, trying to grab the tip of the tail.

Nearly.

closer.

Just as his fingertips were about to touch that soft mass, a sly glint flashed in Su Xiaojiu's eyes.

"Whoosh!"

The tail suddenly lashed out, kicking up a string of bubbles, and slapped hard on the back of his hand.

It didn't hurt, but it carried a strong sense of teasing.

Bai Yin grabbed at empty air, staring blankly at his bare palm, looking aggrieved.

Su Xiaojiu pushed him in the water, and using the reaction force, she darted towards the surface like a white fish.

With a whoosh.

She burst out of the water and lay on the rocks on the bank, soaking wet, her nine tails splashing water droplets behind her. She turned back to look at Bai Yin, who was still standing there dumbfounded in the water, and smiled with her eyes crinkling.

"Stupid tiger, you can't catch it."

After saying that, she turned and ran, her bare feet leaving a trail of wet footprints on the grass.

"Little Nine!"

Bai Yin snapped out of his daze, watching the departing figure, feeling an emptiness in his heart, yet also filled with a tremendous sweetness.

He looked down at his empty palms.

A faint scent of gardenias still lingers there.

He chuckled foolishly.

He raised his hand and touched the earlobe that had been bitten; it still seemed to retain a bit of its damp warmth.

Does it hurt?

It doesn't hurt.

It itched to the core.

Bai Yin stood up from the water, his soaked clothes clinging to his body, making him look somewhat disheveled, but he didn't care at all.

He looked in the direction where Su Xiaojiu disappeared, the crimson in his eyes completely fading, leaving only a gentle, deep sea.

run.

Yunmeng Marsh is so big, you can go wherever you want.

Anyway, in this life, the next life, and all the lifetimes to come, I'm determined to pursue you.

Bai Yin strode forward and caught up with him.

His steps were light and quick, showing no trace of the heaviness of a demon god; he was clearly just a young man eager to please his wife.

……

When they returned to the cave, Su Xiaojiu had changed into dry clothes and was sitting in front of the blue stone platform combing her hair.

Bai Yin stood at the cave entrance, not daring to go in.

He was still dripping wet, afraid of wetting the dry grass laid out in the cave.

"What are you standing there for?"

Su Xiaojiu glanced at him in the mirror. "Come in and start the fire. I want to eat grilled fish."

Bai Yin sighed and quickly circulated his demonic power.

A cloud of white mist rose from his body, instantly drying his soaked clothes.

He straightened his slightly disheveled collar before striding into the cave.

Light a fire and set up a fish grill.

Their movements were so practiced it was heartbreaking.

Su Xiaojiu put down the comb, rested her chin on her hand, and watched him busy himself.

The firelight shone on Bai Yin's face, giving his resolute features a warm glow.

He stared intently at the fish in his hand, turning it over every now and then and sprinkling some salt on it.

"noob."

Su Xiaojiu suddenly shouted.

Bai Yin's hand trembled, and he almost dropped the fish into the fire.

He looked up at Su Xiaojiu with some anxiety: "What's wrong? Are you hungry? It'll be ready soon."

"no."

Su Xiaojiu shook her head.

She stood up, walked behind Bai Yin, reached out and wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her face against his broad back.

"I just feel..."

Her voice was very soft, almost like a dream, "It's so good to have you here."

Bai Yin's body stiffened.

The grilled fish in my hand is sizzling with oil and has a wonderful aroma.

He didn't turn around, but his hands, gripping the branch, looked somewhat white from the force he was using.

A long time passed.

So long that Su Xiaojiu thought he had forgotten how to speak.

Then she heard the man reply in a low, husky voice, "Yes. I'm here."

Whenever you need it.

I will always be here.

Even if it's hell, I'll go with you.

Even if it's divine retribution, I'll bear it for you.

This is Bai Yin's way.

That was the whole meaning of his life.

The wind outside the cave picked up again, rustling the reeds.

But inside this small cave, it was so warm it brought tears to your eyes.

Su Xiaojiu closed her eyes, listening to the man's steady and powerful heartbeat, and a satisfied smile appeared on her lips.

This silly tiger.

I'm completely doomed in her hands for life.

but……

It was planted well.

Of all the things Su Xiaojiu truly wanted to protect, this tiger was the only one she genuinely wanted to protect.