Chapter 36: Possessed by Demons

Chapter 36: Possessed by Demons

Before Li Fan responded, I still held onto a sliver of hope. But after his answer, all hope vanished.

Suddenly, my chest felt suffocated, and I almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

Regaining my composure, I took a deep breath and asked, "Then what was the relationship between that fox my father killed before I was born and you?"

"It has nothing to do with me. It was just an ordinary fox that had grown larger than usual," Li Fan replied in a whisper, barely audible.

I understood now. I finally grasped the truth.

My family never owed him anything; it was all a lie he fabricated to make me accumulate merit for his deceased wife.

As Ren Ming had predicted, Li Fan's visit and his willingness to share his lifespan with me were motivated solely by his greed for my blood.

"I still can't believe it. What's so special about my blood? Why would it be worth so much to you, and why would many others desire it?" I asked, still in disbelief.

No wonder I attract mosquitoes more easily than others... But if everyone wanted to drink my blood, wasn't I then no different from the legendary Tang Sanzang, whose flesh was sought after?

"Put simply, you can liken your blood to gold, something everyone desires. Though the wealthy may not necessarily need it, they wouldn't refuse it either," Li Fan responded promptly this time.

I stared at him intently. His eye color was captivating, and his eyes were pure and clear, yet my heart felt cluttered with confusion.

I couldn't quite grasp the emotions I was experiencing now.

I should have been relieved that Li Fan never had a wife – at least, I wouldn't bear guilt for my past misguided intentions.

Yet, I found no joy in this revelation. The thought that he had approached me solely for exploitation left me feeling betrayed.

Eventually, all these emotions transformed into grievance. My nose turned sour, and tears began to fall like tiny pearls.

Seeing me cry, Li Fan appeared at a loss. Stretching out his long arms, he pulled me into his embrace.

"Please don't cry anymore. I apologize. Although your blood is indeed useful, trust me, I would never consider you as a blood bank!" Li Fan patted my back soothingly while speaking gently.

I was in the midst of a crying fit and couldn't hear a word he said. Instead, my snot and tears stained his clothes.

Li Fan wasn't skilled in comforting others. At this moment, he was utterly helpless. My cries seemed to tear his heart apart, leaving him utterly clueless on how to console me.

In the end, he was at a loss for words, seemingly pulling out a fragrant handkerchief from thin air to silently wipe away my tears.

Lying on his shoulder, I gazed at his slender and fair neck, tempted to sink my teeth into him!

"Remember this, Bai Ci," Li Fan said earnestly, "Even if I were to go mad, I would never harm you, nor let anyone else do so. So... please don't be angry, alright?"

"But you just admitted that your oaths mean nothing, wuwuwu..."

"They do! Of course they do!" Li Fan stroked my hair soothingly. "With Ren Ming, it was just a joke. With you, it's for real... Trust me, they really mean something!"

After staring at him for a while, I reluctantly nodded.

While I was crying, I had already come to terms with Li Fan's motive for finding me. Although difficult to accept, it was indeed his willingness to share his lifespan that gave me the chance to live on.

Otherwise, I would have died shortly after birth and never known the life of Bai Ci.

As for being a mobile blood bank, I had also come to accept it. Although it might stem from treating me as his personal property, it undeniably protected me.

It's better to be the blood bank for one person than for many.

Seeing my nod, Li Fan let out a long sigh of relief and comforted me in his embrace for a while.

"I guess we don't need to accumulate merit anymore, right?" I asked him.

Now that everything was clear, wouldn't the need to accumulate merit vanish?

"Still, it's good to have more," Li Fan whispered. "Let nature take its course. Sometimes, merit finds you instead of the other way around."

I hummed in response, though I didn't really understand his words.

But at the moment, I wasn't in the mood to dwell on it. Struggling free from his arms, I started walking towards the village on my own.

"What did I say wrong now? Where are you going?" Li Fan asked from behind.

"Didn't you want to find your sword? I can't be much help, so I'll just wait for you back in the village. Just let me know when you get it," I replied.

However, before I could take a few steps, he pulled me back. I tried to break free, but he quickly caught me again, his wrist exerting force to pull me back to his side.

"Sigh, a girl with a temper is harder to catch than a pig during the New Year," Li Fan sighed lightly.

I was utterly speechless.

Where on earth did he learn such unique metaphors?

"Come with me, I'll protect you," Li Fan said, lowering his head to inhale the scent of my hair. "And I've seen that place before – it's breathtaking. I want to show it to you."

I couldn't help but remark, "Isn't that area shrouded in some demonic aura? It doesn't sound like the kind of place with beautiful scenery."

"You'll see for yourself when we get there," Li Fan scooped me up in one arm, as if holding a child, and I instinctively clung onto him tightly.

Li Fan seemed content with my current actions. I felt a sudden gust of wind lift me, and before I knew it, I was soaring through the air.

The aerial view was excellent. In no time, I spotted an area not far away, enveloped by a faint red aura.

"We're here." Li Fan located a small cliff and gently set me down.

Below the cliff lay a vast expanse of bright red flowers. Their leaves were so dark green they appeared almost black, creating a striking contrast with the petals.

Those red demonic auras seemed to emanate precisely from these blossoms.

"These flowers are called Netherworld Roses, typically found in the Realm of the Dead, with a few rare occurrences on Earth. The vapor they emit can drive humans mad or cause celestial creatures to go berserk," Li Fan explained.

"These flowers often indicate the presence of a possessed spirit or an evil entity. When a spirit becomes possessed, its eyes turn crimson and it loses all rationality. So, if I'm not around, you should stay away from these flowers promptly."

I nodded, acknowledging the danger despite their sweet fragrance. Curiously, the scent seemed to resemble something about Li Fan.

Li Fan turned to me with a smile. "Do you find the scent on me similar to that of the Netherworld Rose?"

I nodded, just as I was about to ask him about it, he casually added, "I wish it weren't so, but there's nothing I can do about it. It's rather unlucky."

Unlucky?

So, Li Fan didn't actually like his own scent?

After a moment's thought, I understood. The term 'possession' held negative connotations, so it made sense that he would associate the flower's scent with misfortune.

But then again, how could Li Fan have the scent of Netherworld Roses on him?

Adhering to the principle of asking when in doubt, I turned to Li Fan, only to find his irises eerily crimson and menacing! Veins darkened with red even seemed to creep towards the corners of his eyes.

Startled, I involuntarily took a few steps back.

Was he slapping himself in the face? Right after warning about the crimson eyes of one possessed, his own had turned red first!