Qin Ling stared in terror at the woman walking toward him.

They were in the apartment stairwell. Under the eerie green glow flickering nearby, something terrifying seemed to trail behind her.

“You’re this strong already—why play with my heart!”

Qin Ling looked up at the woman crouching before him, his face twisted in disbelief. His beautiful almond-shaped eyes brimmed with fear.

“Hehe~ It’s ’cause you’re just too handsome, little brother~” The woman lifted his smooth chin, her voice dripping sweetness.

“If not for your looks, I’d have fed you to my familiar ages ago. No time for games.”

“Roar!”

As she spoke, a hulking shadow over two meters tall materialized behind her. Shrouded in inky mist, it reeked of rot and radiated faint pressure.

“Well? Submit to me, little brother? Or I won’t mind feeding you to my pet~”

“Familiar!? What horror is that!?” Qin Ling kept his terrified gaze locked on the monster.

The woman licked her lips, smiling slyly. “Nothing special. It almost lost a mere Half Step Yellow Rank like you. Pathetic!”

“Roar...” The creature whimpered like it understood, sounding deeply wronged.

“But here’s a secret, little brother—my familiar was badly hurt by your country’s agents. You’re one of them, right? We both need healing badly now.”

“So, little brother—which will it be? Me eating you... or my familiar?”

She sniffed near Qin Ling’s ear, sighing. “Mmm~ You smell divine. If even my familiar insists you’re a boy, I’d almost think you were cross-dressing.”

“....” Qin Ling rolled his eyes.

She caught it, eyes widening slightly. “Huh? Not scared anymore? Did your friends come to save you?”

Her gaze swept the stairs. She signaled her familiar to check downstairs. It returned empty-pawed, leaving her puzzled.

“Relax, no one’s here.” Qin Ling sighed, exasperated. “Everyone but me got reassigned. Only a fat guy’s left guarding the shop.”

“Fat guy?” She tilted her head, curious.

Qin Ling nodded. “Yeah. Probably the one who gave your pet those wounds.”

“....” Her eyes narrowed. For the first time, she took him seriously. She shifted back warily. “You can see my familiar’s true form?”

“Huh? Sure. Why? Didn’t your pet show itself?” Qin Ling tilted his head, confused.

She glanced back. Her hellhound familiar stared back, equally puzzled. The black mist around it thinned, revealing a humanoid dog head baring bloody fangs. A gaping wound split its belly—crimson intestines writhed with each breath.

“...” She fell silent.

Her gaze snapped back to Qin Ling. She motioned her familiar forward.

“Wait! Wait! I accept your offer! I’d rather be eaten by you than that thing!”

“...” Her lips twitched at his desperate cry. She studied him, hesitant.

This guy wasn’t just a Half Step Yellow Rank. His escape, his calm now—it all felt off.

“At worst, just give me more of that tea. It’s tasty, just... heady.” His cheeky tone made her eyes flicker.

“Master! Let me kill him! He’s trouble!” Her hellhound familiar growled, speaking clearly.

She frowned, shaking her head. “No. He’s suspicious, but fun. I want to see his tricks.”

“A mere Half Step Yellow Rank escaped you and diluted your demonic aura. How?”

“Plus—he knows the fat guy who hurt you. If they’re connected, he’ll make a perfect hostage.”

She shrouded her familiar in black mist again. Then she crouched before Qin Ling, smiling seductively.

“Little brother, I won’t kill you now. But you’ll serve me well.”

Qin Ling nodded instantly. “Absolutely! No problem!”

“Right here... or the rooftop?”

“...”