"Hey, I’m saying—will those so-called hidden world guys really come after me?" Bai Xin walked down the chilly street, hands tucked in her hoodie pockets. She was chatting with Cold Night Feather through the mental mark he’d planted.

"Ugh, how many times have you asked that? I already told you—I specially enhanced your Mystic Necklace. Right now, to them, you’re like a meat bun to a starving stray dog!" Cold Night Feather’s lazy, indifferent voice echoed in Bai Xin’s mind.

Remembering his smug face before she left, Bai Xin’s lips twitched slightly.

"Hey, aren’t you coming with me?" Bai Xin shot a deadpan look at Cold Night Feather sprawled on the couch.

Cold Night Feather lay like a lazy cat, eyes half-closed. "Ah, I’ve got a condition—my head pounds whenever I act. And as an old man, do you really want me doing heavy labor? Waaah…" He feigned tears, wearing an expression of "How could I have such an unfilial daughter?" White Feather, curled up on the sofa, joined in with noisy protests, stirring chaos.

"Fine, fine! I’m going out!" Bai Xin covered her face, thinking, *Is this really the strongest from another world? Is that place even stable?*

"Oh, and how can you be sure I’ll run into those ‘dirty things’ you mentioned?" Bai Xin asked, puzzled.

"Ahhh~ Because you’re a pure virgin! And decent-looking too." Cold Night Feather scratched his smooth, flat stomach casually.

His offhand remark struck Bai Xin like thunder.

"B-because I’m a virgin? And decent-looking? Do those monsters attack humans just to… you know? If I lose, won’t I…?" Lost in wild fantasies, Bai Xin paled. "C-can I just not go?"

Cold Night Feather, about to sip his cola, choked and spat it out—he’d realized Bai Xin had twisted his words from China to Argentina. White Feather, nearly drenched, hissed in protest.

Ignoring the flustered White Feather, Cold Night Feather gave Bai Xin a "are you an idiot?" look. "Kid, can your thoughts be a little purer? I meant the city’s recent awakenings seem vampiric—I smell that bat stench. Last night, two hooded figures tried to grab us for sacrifice. Vampires crave beautiful virgins’ blood—that’s what I meant, you pervert!"

Even thick-skinned Bai Xin flushed under his mockery. Cold Night Feather sat up, patting her shoulder earnestly. "Cut back on that stuff. It’s bad for your growth."

He referred to the lewd items in Bai Xin’s backpack during the "Heavenly Mandate" incident—so varied and extreme they’d stunned Cold Night Feather, who’d only seen crude erotic art back on the Freya Continent. Among them were rape fantasies, beastiality, and Tentacles.

Yep, Cold Night Feather genuinely cared for Bai Xin’s well-being! Though he’d been more fascinated by that stash than she was—he shamelessly claimed adulthood as his excuse.

Sadly, Bai Xin didn’t appreciate his concern. Overwhelmed by shame, she bit his chest again.

"Holy crap! Can’t you pick another spot, you little brat?!"

"Bai Xin? Bai Xin?" Cold Night Feather’s mental shout snapped her back. "What?" she replied instantly.

"Phew… don’t zone out like that," he sighed in relief. "Remember, hidden world beings naturally repel ordinary people. When you notice crowds thinning around you—that’s their signal."

Bai Xin glanced at the still-busy street. "Well, they haven’t found me yet. Why are they so cautious?"

"Duh. This city’s humanity’s turf. Only fools act openly. Random attacks make it hard for Wang Jun’s crew to root them out. Plus, the hidden and surface worlds barely overlap. Even without that repelling power, ordinary fear keeps people away instinctively." Bai Xin could almost see him rolling his eyes.

"Wait—if a horde of monsters swarms me, what then?" Bai Xin realized a terrifying flaw. Cold Night Feather claimed this city teemed with weirdness.

"Think I’d miss something you noticed? The specifics’d confuse you. Just know: once one hostile monster targets you, others can’t interfere."

Bai Xin scratched her head awkwardly, changing the subject. "Oh, why didn’t I notice all this weirdness before?" She scanned her surroundings—people were thinning fast.

"Hmph. Secrets hide in plain sight. They’ve always been here—you just didn’t see. Though they’re more active now. Maybe our last clash with Heavenly Mandate woke someone up? Or their hibernation ended? Who knows." Cold Night Feather’s tone stayed flat.

"Ah, guess I’ve got one last question." Bai Xin eyed the few remaining pedestrians. "Are all cities like this, hiding strange stuff?"

"Probably just your unlucky city. It’s… odd. I don’t know other places, but this one feels like it exists to seal something."

Bai Xin stopped. Ahead, a man stared at her with hungry eyes. "End call. Trouble’s here."

"Got it! Shout if you need me. Signing off—good luck."

Silence filled Bai Xin’s mind. She sized up the "man" before her. His clothes screamed ordinary office worker—but since when did office workers have glowing crimson slit-pupiled eyes? Or a beastly growl and sharp fangs peeking from parted lips?

"This bait’s too strong… he’s lost all reason." Bai Xin shifted into a defensive stance, muttering to herself.

She knew the feral creature hadn’t pounced yet because instinct held it back—even beasts study prey before attacking.

As Bai Xin watched the monster, it watched her. Convinced its target was just a frail girl, the creature roared, overwhelmed by a soul-deep lure, and lunged.

Bai Xin dodged sideways as asphalt shattered under its leap. A heavy thud echoed—the monster landed where she’d stood, cratering the ground. Bai Xin focused; a blade of light formed in her hand.

"ROAR!" The monster’s crimson eyes blazed fiercer. Its human form was gone—clothes ripped by rock-hard muscles, jagged spines crisscrossed its spine, and human hands twisted into massive, vicious claws. Bai Xin had no doubt they could shred her easily.

It charged on all fours like a hunting leopard. Light blade clashed with claws—its raw power numbed Bai Xin’s palms. But black smoke rose from its scorched claws; it wasn’t enjoying this either.

"Phew. Lucky it’s a low-tier vampire… where’s the elegant noble gentleman trope?" Bai Xin dodged another pounce, still cracking jokes. "Thank goodness it’s low-tier—no energy blasts, just brute force."

As if hearing her taunt, the monster howled. Its claws glowed crimson, beautiful yet deadly. Bai Xin thought she saw a flicker of disdain on its distorted face.

"Crap. My mouth’s cursed!" After being swatted away by the glowing claws, Bai Xin decided brains over brawn.

She focused on defense and evasion. Her slender frame wobbled under the crimson-clawed onslaught, but her mind stayed ice-cold.

"Got it!" Her eyes locked onto a giant billboard in the distance. A plan clicked.