Shu Ci snatched the round piece of gold from Baili An’s hand, her brows furrowing with three vertical lines, exuding overwhelming hostility:

"Whether I’m useful or not, I’m afraid it’s not up to you to comment on, is it? Who I associate with, what food I eat, is none of your business."

"Remember, your life is in my hands at this moment."

"If you behave sensibly, I can turn a blind eye to you communicating with your mother."

"Don’t think that just because you know some demon exorcism tricks, I should bow to you and listen to your preaching! You’re not allowed to act wild in front of me!"

The discussion between them completely broke down.

Baili An spoke straightforwardly, while Shu Ci’s words were even harsher and very unpleasant.

Compared to Baili An’s previously enraged demeanor, his face now grew progressively colder, his eyes filled with disappointment towards Shu Ci’s irreparable demeanor.

He slowly withdrew his gaze, and his demeanor gradually returned to calm.

Without any expression, he brushed away the remaining porridge grains on the back of his hand and adjusted his clothes before silently turning back to his room.

Perhaps it was that final cold gaze, or perhaps it was because the chicken egg soup he promised to make upon return had spilled all over the table and was now inedible.

For some reason, Shu Ci felt as if her fox heart had been kicked, feeling blocked and uncomfortable.

She didn’t understand what she had done wrong to make him so furious.

In all her life, this was the first serious argument she’d had with someone.

Although she technically won the argument without resorting to violence, it didn’t feel satisfying.

In this hostile atmosphere, Shu Ci felt uncomfortable sharing the same space with him.

Yet, with only one room available, should she intentionally avoid him?

Shu Ci refused to back down, convinced she did nothing wrong, and coldly snorted.

If he was determined to drive her away, she would retrieve her custom-made iron pot from the blacksmith tonight. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

No matter what, she planned to stew and eat well before discussing anything further.

With such venomous thoughts, Shu Ci timidly took a broom and dustpan to clean up the remnants on the table.

Standing tall, with her little face still cold, she strode into the room.

Upon entering, she noticed Baili An giving her only a distant, cold back, facing the earthen wall, seemingly asleep.

But Shu Ci knew that corpse demons don’t need to sleep.

Furthermore, the angle and posture he slept in clearly left most of the bed space for her.

The fire under the old brick bed burned fiercely, and though there was no chicken egg porridge on the low table, some soft, white buns were left there under a bowl.

For some reason, seeing this scene, Shu Ci’s heart softened like the buns in the bowl, and she suddenly felt no desire to continue blaming him.

A moment ago, she was unyielding, refusing anything but the delicious meat of Baili An.

Now she tiptoed to the bedside, leaning against the fire and tea to eat the two soft buns, wiping her mouth, climbing into bed without even removing her shoes.

Baili An, still burning with anger, heard the movement behind him as someone snuggled against him.

Baili An turned his head angrily, shouting, "Are you a child? On the bed without taking off your shoes, covered in mud! It’s filthy!"

Shu Ci was startled and quickly kicked off her shoes, instinctively replied softly, "Move over, I can’t fit my tails."

As the words slipped out, Shu Ci realized she should be arguing and giving him the cold shoulder, wondering why she spoke so coyly?

She had lost all her aura!

Instantly her little face turned cold, crumbs of buns on her lips, and she snorted heavily.

Before she could speak, a warm hand reached behind her, gently wrapping and pulling her tails tightly into a warm embrace.

Baili An flicked his fingers, extinguishing the candlelight in the room.

In the dark, Shu Ci blinked, the bitter feeling she felt earlier at the sight of the spilled porridge gone.

This feeling was strange.

As she was lost in thought, her lips suddenly itched, a slender finger gently brushing away the bun crumbs from her mouth.

Then she heard a heavy turning sound, and the room fell into a dead silence.

Gazing at the enticing neck in front of her, Shu Ci burped, rubbed her eyes, thinking it would be hard to sleep after arguing with someone, but she quickly drifted into dreams.

That night, Shu Ci had a strange dream.

The dream was filled with misty desolate seas.

At the end of the desolate sea was a palace, covered in white snow, deserted, with broken monuments standing.

Before the snowy palace knelt a man bound with cold iron chains.

In the chilling snow, the man looked slender and tall, wearing only thin clothing, with crimson blood slowly soaking through his frail back, almost flooding sight with red.

The man’s hair was disheveled, his face indistinct.

Only through the dark strands, a fleeting pale chin was visible.

On the high cold steps, stood a solitary and cold figure of a woman, filled with hostility, in a blood-red gown, murderous crimson.

Under the blood-red gown were enormous wings obscuring the sky, beneath the wings, holy golden flames burned fiercely.

Shu Ci recognized those iconic wings belonging only to the King of the Demon World, a truly twisted and frenzied Demon Lord, Arao.

With a flick of her fingers, a crimson poison needle pierced through the man’s body, blood pearls scattered on the snow.

Shu Ci’s eyes widened in shock, the scent of blood filled her nostrils.

The blizzard swept through the man’s hair, the black strands dancing wildly, and a familiar face was etched into her eyes.

"Don’t touch my meat!"

Shu Ci jolted awake!