Chapter 6: You Bit Me

“Better just give my daughter a hug full of love!” Huo Zhi thought to herself. She gathered Linlang’s clothes, trembling as she wrapped her arms around Linlang’s body. She patted her back lightly, feeling the alarmingly high temperature of Linlang’s body, which stirred a thought within her.

The instant Linlang was embraced by Huo Zhi, a surge of murderous intent swelled within her, Nether Soul Threads poised to strike. She suddenly felt a wave of coldness on her body—a stream of Ice-Type Spiritual Qi was being channeled into her.

Simultaneously, another layer of clothing was added to her. This layer wasn’t properly worn; Huo Zhi had simply wrapped it around her, crossing the two sleeves so that Linlang’s arms were bundled inside. Her body was now cocooned by the oversized garment. She couldn’t embrace Huo Zhi back, nor could she precisely target Huo Zhi with her Nether Soul Threads.

Linlang was momentarily stunned.

Huo Zhi was still unaware that her “hug full of love” had just pulled her back from the gates of death.

After holding Linlang for a moment, it struck her that she possessed an Ice Attribute. If she channeled Ice-Type Spiritual Qi into Linlang, it might help her calm down.

Knowing the Ice-Type Spiritual Qi could be very cold, the thoughtful Huo Zhi even took another piece of clothing from her Storage Bag to drape over Linlang.

Linlang was indeed cooled. Her burning body felt as if ice had been applied, finally offering some relief. The intense urges from before also faded slightly.

“Ding! Linlang’s Happiness Value -8800. Host, it went up!” 006 reported excitedly.

“Does this seem to be working? Do you think her heat cycle will just pass like this?” Huo Zhi breathed a sigh of relief. While continuing to channel more Ice-Type Spiritual Qi into Linlang, she asked 006.

“Host, channeling Ice-Type Spiritual Qi only treats the symptoms, not the root cause. It suppresses it temporarily, but it will recur soon. The key is still whether she can endure it,” 006 explained.

“Linlang, I know none of that was your true intention. You’re going through a special time right now. Don’t be afraid. This spiritual qi can help suppress it and make you clearer-headed. If you can’t bear it, just tell me,” Huo Zhi said gently, concern for Linlang weighing on her heart as she tightened the clothes wrapped around her.

As Huo Zhi spoke, Linlang frowned.

Huo Zhi’s eyes and actions were gentle and natural, full of goodwill, as if she was completely devoted to her. It reminded Linlang of her family again…

Linlang clenched her hand, a slight sting coming from her palm. The Love Poison Talisman was already destroyed, yet its misleading influence was still so strong!

It was truly terrifying!

Linlang’s gaze fell again on the bite mark on Huo Zhi’s body. A thread of clarity surfaced, but simultaneously, a desire to destroy that expanse of creamy white arose once more…

“Ding! Linlang’s Happiness Value -8840. Host, it dropped again!” 006 was far from calm.

“Huh?” Huo Zhi stopped channeling spiritual qi and looked at Linlang. She found Linlang’s gaze fixed on her chest, dark and hungry, as if wanting to devour someone.

Huo Zhi looked down and saw the bite mark on her chest. She quickly covered it with her clothing, her face feeling inexplicably hot.

“You bit me, remember? No, I’m not blaming you. It’s just a small wound. Oh, right, rinse your mouth out. I’ll find you something to eat.” Seeing Linlang’s expression, Huo Zhi felt a bit flushed. Remembering that Linlang had bitten her while unconscious earlier, there might be a bloody taste in her mouth. She took a bowl-shaped container from her Storage Bag, poured some Spirit Spring Water into it, and offered it to Linlang to rinse her mouth.

Linlang, who had been wearing a gloomy expression, was suddenly stunned.

What did Huo Zhi mean?

She had bitten that herself?

Prompted by Huo Zhi’s reminder, Linlang truly registered the bloody taste in her mouth, mixed with a hint of milky sweetness…

Linlang was still frozen, not taking the bowl Huo Zhi offered, so Huo Zhi simply set it aside.

Huo Zhi sensed that Linlang seemed to dislike her. The clinging from before had been driven by instinct. Linlang was likely feeling very humiliated inside, which explained the continuous drop in Happiness Value.

Every time Huo Zhi spoke a sentence, Linlang’s Happiness Value would drop a little.

Huo Zhi reflected on this. Linlang possessed a secret treasure, coveted by so many, and had been tormented to this state. She must be very guarded towards Huo Zhi, a stranger.

The Love Poison Talisman doesn’t induce reliance or trust until the target’s Primordial Yin is taken.

Huo Zhi realized her earlier foolishness—rushing in so enthusiastically, wanting Linlang to feel her good intentions, making all those promises. It could very easily have caused aversion and resistance in Linlang.

How could Linlang know if Huo Zhi’s words were sincere or false?

Most people have a safe distance with strangers. Crossing it will definitely cause discomfort, let alone in Linlang’s current situation.

So, the drop in Linlang’s Happiness Value might also include suspicion and dislike towards her, along with her own sense of humiliation.

Clearly unwilling, yet unable to resist the instinctual urge to get close to a stranger, to engage in intimate actions.

Huo Zhi felt she had gained enlightenment. She decided to stop talking, retreating several steps and putting distance between herself and Linlang.

Linlang was reclining on the cushion. The outer robe Huo Zhi had wrapped around her earlier had fallen open. Her arms supported her body as she looked at Huo Zhi. Her alluring face showed a fragile and weak expression, dazed and blank. No matter how you looked at it, Huo Zhi found her utterly pitiable.

Huo Zhi resisted the urge to look further.

Linlang was currently injured, which might be weakening her willpower. Perhaps she was also hungry. Huo Zhi resolved to find a way to treat her wounds and prepare some food. Making her comfortable in every aspect should bring the Happiness Value back up.

Just as Huo Zhi was pondering this, Zhu Cui’s voice came from outside. Zhu Cui had returned from her shopping trip.

Huo Zhi glanced at Linlang, who hadn’t moved and whose Happiness Value hadn’t dropped further, then turned and left the room.

As Huo Zhi left the room, Linlang’s gaze shifted. She lifted her arm and bit it.

A bite mark quickly appeared on her arm. Its size, shape, and the arrangement of the teeth were exactly the same as the bite mark she had just seen on Huo Zhi’s body!

That bite mark truly had been made by her!

Linlang vaguely remembered. In her dazed state, she had fallen into a fragrant and soft embrace. Following a sharp pain in her back, she had bitten into something soft and bouncy…

For some reason, Linlang’s face flushed a little deeper.

Her earlier assumptions based on the bite mark were now invalid, shaking her previous conjectures.

Huo Zhi could have easily done as she pleased with Linlang just now, yet she did nothing. She even used Ice-Type Spiritual Qi to help suppress her urges and deliberately distanced herself, avoiding further intimacy.

Perhaps she had ulterior motives, but she was not interested in that aspect, and did not understand the meaning of the Love Poison Talisman?

Linlang lowered her eyes to the exquisitely made Talisman Robe she wore. She stared at it for a moment. The Nether Soul Threads that had been hovering at her fingertips, draining significant mental power, vanished from her fingertips.

Then, Linlang reached for the bowl, drank some of the water, and rinsed her mouth.

Meanwhile, Huo Zhi had reached the cave abode’s entrance.

“Fairy, the items you requested have been purchased. I’ve put them in the Storage Bag,” Zhu Cui said from outside.

“Host, you need to go get the items. This cave abode has a Protective Talisman Array. You can throw things out from inside, but if you try to throw things in from outside, they’ll be blocked,” 006 informed Huo Zhi.

“Alright, give me the items. Also, do you have any edible Spirit Plants? Give me some; I have a use for them,” Huo Zhi told Zhu Cui. She was only wearing one piece of clothing now and didn’t want to waste time dressing properly. Using her technique to suppress her tail and ears, she went to the cave abode entrance, opened the door a crack, and extended a hand.

“I have some Spiritual Rice. If the Fairy wants it, I will place it in the Storage Bag as well.” Zhu Cui, seeing the jade-white, slender-fingered hand extended from within the cave abode, paused for a moment, then hurriedly took a bag of Spiritual Rice from another Storage Bag and placed it into Huo Zhi’s Storage Bag along with the other items.

Edible Spirit Plants contain very little spiritual qi. They are of little use to cultivators who can practice Inedia, primarily serving low-level cultivators, and are relatively cheap.

“Thank you for your trouble. Many thanks. I’ll give you two more Spirit Stones. Please help me purchase some other Spirit Plants.” Huo Zhi grabbed the items and withdrew her hand, then extended it again to pass Zhu Cui two Spirit Stones.

Zhu Cui glanced at the half-closed cave abode door, paused briefly, then saluted Huo Zhi and took her leave.

After Huo Zhi returned to the room where Linlang was, she took the Spiritual Rice from the Storage Bag, found a bowl, and washed the rice with Spirit Spring Water.

Would Linlang eat it cooked or raw?

Uncertain, Huo Zhi first used a Rice-Cooking Talisman to prepare a bowl of cooked rice. She also filled a bowl with raw rice and placed both bowls beside Linlang.

Huo Zhi quickly put the bowls down and retreated. She then found another bowl, filled it with Spirit Spring Water, and placed it alongside the others before retreating to a counter at the side of the room.

“Ding! Linlang’s Happiness Value -8820. It’s risen, Host!” After Huo Zhi’s series of actions, Linlang’s Happiness Value finally saw a small increase.

Linlang watched Huo Zhi’s cautious yet swift movements, as if Huo Zhi was afraid that getting too close would anger her.

At this moment, Huo Zhi was still the same Huo Zhi. But because Linlang now knew she had made the bite mark herself, a layer of disgust towards Huo Zhi was removed, replaced by a tiny hint of endearment.

Linlang attributed this only to the effects of the Love Poison Talisman and lowered her eyes, no longer looking in Huo Zhi’s direction.

The Spiritual Rice continuously emitted the aroma of food, stimulating Linlang’s appetite. Although Spiritual Rice wasn’t a Cinnabar Bird’s favorite food, it was still edible.

Linlang’s body had reached the state of Inedia, but after so many days of torment and spiritual qi depletion, she hadn’t replenished much energy. Her stomach was empty. The scent of food wafted over. Linlang checked it with her perception, found nothing unusual, and after a moment of hesitation, chose the familiar raw rice. She lowered her head, pecking at the rice. After taking a few mouthfuls, she went to drink the Spirit Spring Water.

Huo Zhi secretly watched Linlang’s actions. She saw her hesitation, and then Linlang finally ate the rice, pecking it into her mouth bit by bit in human form. It looked a bit clumsy, yet incredibly adorable!

It was then that Huo Zhi remembered. Little cute Linlang, though she looked like a stunning, mature beauty, had grown up deep in the mountains, inexperienced in the ways of the world. She had never entered the Human World and was still very innocent.

Even her way of eating was like a bird pecking at rice. She probably hadn’t ever eaten cooked rice and wouldn’t dare to try it.

“How can she be so pitiful, yet so cute!” Huo Zhi cried out internally, practically seeing star-shaped sparkles in her eyes, desperately wanting to hug Linlang.

“Host, restrain yourself. Linlang’s Happiness Value has risen, currently at -8740,” 006 said.

“Sigh, it seems keeping distance is the right call. Poor daughter, she must be suffering and feeling so ashamed right now,” Huo Zhi muttered to 006, propping her chin on one hand as she secretly watched Linlang eat rice and drink water, a doting, aunt-like smile slowly spreading across her face.

After eating and drinking a little, Linlang stopped. Her body trembled slightly—the Ice-Type Spiritual Qi Huo Zhi had channeled into her earlier was depleted, and the heat was returning.

Linlang’s temperature steadily climbed. Her face reddened at a visible rate, her body in great discomfort.

At this moment, she desperately wanted the Ice-Type Spiritual Qi from Huo Zhi again. She wanted her scent, her touch.

Having tested the situation sufficiently, Linlang did not want to touch Huo Zhi again and lose control.

As Linlang bit her lip in forbearance, she felt Huo Zhi approaching.

Huo Zhi had been observing Linlang constantly and naturally sensed something was wrong. Seeing Linlang’s lip, bitten and bleeding, filled her with heartache.

“Daughter, bite me! Don’t bite yourself!” Huo Zhi thought. She walked over to Linlang, afraid that saying too much or the wrong thing would make it worse. She said nothing, just grasped Linlang’s wrist and channeled Ice-Type Spiritual Qi into her.

Earlier, Huo Zhi hadn’t known the appropriate measure. Now, seeing how quickly that bit of Ice-Type Spiritual Qi had been exhausted, she channeled more, continuing until the temperature of Linlang’s wrist decreased somewhat.

“Ding! Linlang’s Happiness Value -8700. Host, it went up!” 006 reported.

Huo Zhi stopped channeling and quickly retreated.

Linlang felt some relief. Seeing Huo Zhi retreat again, not even speaking—as if she knew Linlang disliked her—she helped solve the problem and immediately moved away.

Was she doing this for Linlang’s sake, to make her more comfortable?

Linlang’s eyes flickered, a complex expression appearing on her face.

Why was she doing this?

Rescuing her, and now treating her so carefully… What was she after?

The doubt in Linlang’s heart deepened.

Huo Zhi wasn’t her family.

Was there anyone in this world who would be so kind to an unrelated stranger for no reason?