After several minutes of breakdown, Teacher Yang fell into an eerie silence.

My danger radar screamed: *Don’t touch her. Not now.*

So I crept backward, silent as a shadow… just slip out of the library…

*Screech!*

Her chair shot back. Teacher Yang yanked me close by my collar.

"You—you!"

"Uh… Teacher?"

Her face loomed inches from mine—*way* too close! Her chest pressed against me!

But she was too frantic to care. Crimson eyes blazing, she roared: "Spill it! How did you break my illusion?! Everyone else sees a hideous hag! Why did you see *me*?!"

"I-I don’t know!"

Seriously, I just chanted that long name, and *poof*—you transformed! Is your name some kind of magic trigger?!

"Don’t dodge me! Tell me how you did it!"

My innocent act didn’t sway her. She shook me, wild-eyed.

"Look, I just… suddenly saw weird words floating over everyone’s heads! Like yours: *Lilith Succubus Inno—*"

"STOP! Don’t say—!"

Her face paled. She lunged to clamp my mouth shut—but I’d already blurted the last two syllables.

Too late.

"*—cent?*"

White light erupted—not just from her, but from *me* too. Heat surged from my toes, through my gut, up to my skull. My forehead throbbed like brain freeze on steroids.

"GYAH! What is this?!"

*Agony!*

*Pure agony!*

Worse than yesterday’s UFO head-bonk! *Please*, let me pass out! Why won’t I black out *now*?!

Her grip vanished. I crumpled to the floor, clutching my head, teeth gritted.

Pain really does stretch time… How long until this ends?

Sweat soaked my forehead and back. The splitting headache finally eased. I blinked open watery eyes, vision still swimming.

I hauled myself up using a bookshelf. Teacher Yang lay sprawled across her desk, papers scattered everywhere.

She looked worse off than me. What *was* that? A psychic blast?

"Teacher…?"

Her upper body twitched. *Bad sign.* Should I bolt?

Before I could move, she lifted her head. Hair tangled, eyes bloodshot—her natural red irises now fused with veins, terrifying.

Such a waste of a gorgeous face… Wait, no—even like this, she’s stunning. Unreal beauty.

"You… just spoke my *True Name*… in front of me?"

"Uh…"

True Name? That long string of words? So that *was* her real name…

"…You… *dared*…"

*Danger alert!*

Killing intent radiated from her—same vibe as when Ji Lianbing snapped at lunch!

And her name turned *red* in my vision!

She looked utterly broken. "I’LL KILL YOU!"

She vaulted over the desk, leaping at me. Her skirt flipped up—revealing polka-dot panties. *Pink ones?!* So… childish. *Focus, Juncheng!*

She was already airborne!

"NO! STAY BACK!"

Dizzy and weak-kneed, I couldn’t run. I dropped, covered my head, and screamed.

…One second. Two. Three. Nothing?

*THUD!*

I peeked through my fingers. Teacher Yang had slammed face-first into a bookshelf. The metal buckled inward. Blood trickled down her forehead.

"…Teacher…?"

She staggered back, trembling—then collapsed like a bursting volcano.

*WAILING.*

Sobs ripped from her throat. Tears streamed down her face, endless as broken beads. She sat in a "duck pose"—knees bent outward, head tilted up—rubbing her eyes childishly with her fists. The contrast between her mature beauty and this raw, fragile breakdown was heart-wrenching.

I couldn’t just watch a woman cry. Every man’s instinct kicked in. I stepped closer, ready to comfort her.

*Communication solves everything!*

As I reached to pat her shoulder—

She grabbed my collar, snot and tears smearing my shirt. "I’M RUINED! You’ll make me do *everything*! Pose shamefully… my purity’s GONE!"

"W-Wait! Teacher, calm down!"

"Huh…? That reaction… WAAAAH! I *knew* it! You—!"

*Whoa!* Her strength was monstrous! My head spun—*stop shaking me!*

*Riiip!*

My uniform tore clean from shoulder to sleeve—jacket *and* shirt.

Seriously?! Cheap school uniforms! Or… why are you *this* strong?!

Even with my shirt shredded, she ranted on:

"Why… why *you*?! My own student…! I’ll become your toy… used daily… *thrust thrust thrust*…"

Look, I get the urge—but I’m *not* that guy! I’m An Juncheng! I have standards!

She needed to understand. I shouted with all my conviction:

"I WOULDN’T DO THAT TO YOU!"

Silence.

The evening bell rang.

"…"

She stared blankly until the chime faded. Then, tiny and trembling:

"…You… truly wouldn’t…?"

"YES! Absolutely!"

"You won’t make me wake you with bites? Or train me as a… *sex toy*? Or… sell my body to burly strangers?"

*PFFT!*

What kind of pornos is she watching?! That’s not "pure-hearted" at all!

(…Don’t ask how *I* know about pornos. Maid games teach… *extra* things. Ahem.)

"NO! NEVER! Why would you even *think* that?!"

"Men only think with their lower halves! They use women up, then toss them away—like buses! Public toilets! Public—"

"That’s insane! Yeah, some guys are shallow—but not *me*!"

"…Really?"

"YES! Truer than fungus! Truer than truth! Truer than *halal*!"

"Halal’s often fake…"

"Gah—just trust me!"

Since when did I become a therapist? Today’s my cursed day. Should’ve stayed home sick…

"Have you *ever* seen me lie? I’m An Juncheng—the man who *never* breaks his word!"

True. I guard promises like treasure. I weigh every vow carefully before speaking it.

"Ugh…"

She still looked doubtful. Time for drastic measures.

"Fine! I swear—if I ever treat you like trash, I’ll explode on the spot!"

As the words left my lips, a *thrum* vibrated in my skull—like an invisible chain snapping tight.

Teacher Yang let out a soft, breathy whimper.

"*Mmm~… mmm~…*"

Why’s she acting coy all of a sudden? Her cheeks flushed crimson…

*Whoa.* This feels… *yellow*. With that look, she’s a natural-born siren. A nation-toppling fox spirit.

Good thing I can switch to "Sage Mode" anytime. Beauty’s just bones and dust. Fleeting as morning dew.

She studied me with unreadable eyes. Then, slowly, she smoothed her rumpled clothes. Standing stiffly, she muttered words that froze my blood:

"…Fine. I’ll trust you… *Master*."

"Yeah, exactly—wait."

*Master?*

Did… Teacher Yang… just call me…

*Master?*