"Qiuyuchen, snap out of it! Wake up now!"

I slapped Qiuyuchen’s face several times, but he remained unconscious. His yang energy was fading fast—I’d never seen anything like this. What should I do?

"Hey! Brother Moyan, get over here now! Emergency… Yeah, XX residential complex." I called Brother Moyan, but time was running out. Qiuyuchen wouldn’t last two hours.

I eyed the painting clutched tightly in his hand. It pulsed with demonic energy—this was the culprit. I tried prying it loose, but his grip was ironclad.

This guy really was a walking disaster. How did he get tangled with a *Painting Spirit*? I barely understood him anymore.

Modern-day Painting Spirits were rare—I’d only read about them in Grandma’s ancient texts. They’d lure travelers with beautiful painted forms, drain their yang energy, and leave them as withered corpses. The only cure was freeing their trapped soul…

All I could do was wait for Brother Moyan. Helpless, I revealed my true form: raven-black hair turned silver-white, human ears vanished, replaced by fluffy fox ears, and snowy tails unfurled behind me. I channeled my inner power to stabilize his fading yang energy.

"Hah~ I’ve done my part. Your survival’s up to you now."

*Jingle jingle…*

"Xia Bing, rush hour’s brutal. Stuck on the highway—might be late."

"*What?!* Brother Moyan, this is life or death! What do I do now?"

"Don’t panic. If he resurrected a dead man, he’s no ordinary human. If he kicks the bucket… well, we tried."

*Like hell we did!* Getting stuck in traffic while someone dies? The fox demon clan’s reputation would be ruined!

"Just hurry. I’ll try the Li Hun Shu ritual to pull him out."

"*What?!* Are you insane? Who is he to you?! Do you know the risks of soul separation? One mistake and you might—"

I hung up. Danger? I knew it. We weren’t close. But he’d been kind to me in this human world. Without him and Cute Teacher, I’d still be a stray little fox. I couldn’t just watch him die.

The Li Hun Shu ritual let my soul enter another’s mind. Since his was trapped in the painting, I had to follow.

I lay atop his sleeping body—awkward, but necessary. *The great fox clan’s young lady, reduced to a living blanket? Absolutely not. Must. Not. Tell.*

"*Fox Clan Secret Art: Li Hun Shu. Two souls, six spirits, roaming beyond the flesh.*"

My body grew weightless. When I opened my eyes, I stood deep in a forest thick with peach blossom fragrance—the *Lost Mind Incense*. Ordinary humans would lose their wits, drowning in drunken dreams until death.

The scent was overpowering. It barely affected me, but Qiuyuchen? I prayed he hadn’t turned into a vegetable by the time I found him.

Beyond a bamboo grove stood an ancient courtyard. The incense grew stronger, laced with a woman’s laughter, guqin melodies, and heavy demonic aura.

I pushed open the door and climbed to the second floor. Two child attendants in classical robes blocked my path.

"Master is occupied today. Please return another time to Peach Blossom Pavilion."

"*Hmph!* A mere Painting Spirit dares refuse a fox demon? Our visit is an honor. Summon your master *now*."

"Guest, please calm yourself. Master sees no one today—"

"*Step aside!* Paper dolls think they can stop me? One flick of my foxfire, and you’ll be ashes."

"*My, my~* Such a fiery guest?"

A scantily clad woman descended the stairs, robes disheveled. Ink and peach blossoms clung to her—a nauseating mix. I covered my nose. *Too keen a sense of smell really is a curse sometimes.*

"Where is he?"

"‘He’? Which guest?"

"Don’t play dumb. You know who I mean."

"Peach Blossom Pavilion hosts many… Ah, but business is slow lately. Only one young guest arrived. Sadly, he turned to dust moments ago. Are you here to claim his corpse? Or scavenge leftovers?"

*Qiuyuchen’s dead? Impossible.* I’d only been inside minutes. He should last another hour. This demon dared lie to *me*? The *queen* of deception—the great Fox Demon?

"Fine. I *am* here for the corpse. Hand it over."

The demoness giggled behind her sleeve. "*Heh heh~* When did the mighty fox clan become grave robbers?"

"Just answer: yes or no?"

"And if I refuse? This is *my* painting. Here, I reign supreme!" Her face twisted viciously. The child attendants morphed into paper dolls lunging at me.

*Pathetic.* Demons half my strength, thinking paper dolls could win? Two blue foxfire orbs reduced them to cinders.

"Your turn, hag. Release him. You’ve stolen enough yang energy to last decades."

"*Fool!* His yang is endless! With it, I’ll not only survive—I’ll break free soon. Such a treasure? I’d never surrender him. Not even to a fox demon!"

*Desperate, huh?* Her territory or not, I was no novice. But—*why can’t I move?!*

"*Giggles~* Realizing too late? Because you’re a fox demon, you grew careless. I laced the incense burner with *Peach Blossom Intoxication*. Humans freeze… and demons weaken with prolonged exposure. Once I escape, I’ll skin you for a fur collar."

Panic seized me. My first real battle—and I’d already lost. *Brother Moyan, hurry! I don’t want to become a fur coat!*

"*Mmm~* Slept wonderfully. Would’ve stayed longer, but it got too noisy… *Whoa!* Who’re you? You look like Xia Bing—wait, you *are* Xia Bing! Wow, you’re gorgeous! …No, this is a dream. All fake. Why are you two staring like I’m a ghost? Is my shirt on wrong?"

*No way.* Even I was paralyzed by the incense. How could a yang-drained human move freely after breathing so much? Worse—my true form was exposed!

"Guest~ Why leave your bed? Come, let’s drink, listen to music, and watch the stars upstairs."

*Qiuyuchen… RUN! Don’t let her drain you—* My warning died in my throat. Paralyzed, I could only lie there, humiliated.

Just as I braced for his capture, Qiuyuchen grabbed the demoness by the throat and lifted her effortlessly.

"Enough playing. I knew you weren’t real. Just humoring you to pass time. Besides that decent guqin tune? You’re as dull as an inflatable doll." He flashed a devilish smirk—I’d never seen this side of him. *Was this really Qiuyuchen?*

"G-Guest! We were having fun—"

"*Yeah.* Call me when you’ve got better scenery. This place is stale. *Goodbye.*"

Black flames erupted over the demoness. She vanished without a scream. Qiuyuchen turned toward me. I tried retreating, but the *Peach Blossom Intoxication* still held me frozen.

He cupped my chin, lifting my face.