Split Personality Disorder—typically manifests as chaotic thoughts, emotional instability, and zero impulse control…

*Sigh.* In the end, I still couldn’t figure out what was really going on with Xiao Zi.

I snapped my laptop shut and rubbed my sore eyes. Online info was a total mess, and Baidu’s answers were way too technical. Unless you were a med student, those jargon terms would leave you completely lost.

Hours earlier, after Xiao Zi and I finished cleaning our new clubroom, we walked home together. I’d bombarded her with questions, but her answers were useless—just a chorus of "I don’t know," "I forgot," and "No idea." Might as well have said nothing at all.

*"I want to break free from this system. Please! If you know any way to erase my superpowers, you have to help me!"*

And just like that, I’d gotten roped into this weird mission. *Break free?* I’m a Doom Dragon, not the alien from *Child of the Storm*. She didn’t even understand her own condition—how could I, an underclassman she’d known less than two hours, possibly know?

But I couldn’t refuse her hopeful eyes. She’d joined our shady-sounding club on a whim. If I’d told her it was literally the "Loaf Around and Wait to Die Club," her disappointment would’ve crushed me. When I accepted her into the club, her smile nearly healed my soul—I almost forgot she’d stabbed me with a compass minutes earlier.

*Women really are red beauties who bring trouble.* But with zero clues… what now? I couldn’t just bluff because she seemed cute and clueless. That wasn’t me.

Even now, remembering Xiao Zi’s crimson eyes and fiery red hair sent chills down my spine. Maybe Shen Yufeng knew something…

"Split personality disorder? Why ask *me* that? Seriously, I’m just a regular guy who knows basic martial arts. Yeah, I’m better than those scammy street ‘masters,’ but I’m no Liu Bowen—I don’t know everything."

"Tch. Weren’t you bragging about being the Taoist Path’s big boss? Scared now?"

Shen Yufeng hurled a dictionary from his desk at me, muttering curses.

"Carry it on your back? I’m the boss, not some barefoot miracle doctor! Split personality? I’ll beat you till *you* develop multiple personalities!"

We wrestled on the floor. Bystanders didn’t even blink—no blood, no problem. We fought hard, but our bond was unbreakable. (*Ugh. Who’s bonded to this idiot? Scratch that last thought!*)

"So you must’ve hit a wall to ask me this. Spill it—I wanna laugh."

"Just… casual curiosity."

Post-lunch drowsiness hit hard. I slumped onto my desk, letting Shen Yufeng mess my hair into a bird’s nest. Payback would come later—I’d shear off his precious bangs after class.

"I’m no street-corner healer, and I know squat about Western medicine. But my old man taught me a few things about this stuff when I was little."

*Old man?* Who was Shen Yufeng talking about?

I blinked up at him, confused.

"Oh—my grandpa. He’s retired deep in the mountains. Haven’t seen him in years. If I hadn’t lived with him as a kid, I wouldn’t know any of this."

I nodded for him to continue.

"Ahem… Taoist teachings say humans have three souls and seven spirits, governing emotions and memories. Lose one, and you’re broken—either sickly body or a chaotic, mad mind. What Western medicine calls split personality? Taoists call it *wrong spirit alignment*—two souls mismatched in one body, memories locked away from each other."

*Yes!* Xiao Zi’s condition fit perfectly. My sleepiness vanished as I leaned in.

"What happens to them later?"

"Dunno. Western docs think pills can ‘fix’ it—they just drug the other personality into silence. Truth is, only the patient knows."

"Any success stories?"

"You’re weirdly invested today. I’ve forgotten most of that dusty book stuff. Told you all I know. Oh—class bell’s ringing."

*Hate that sound.* Probably the most annoying noise in this world… *Auntie Mengmeng’s literature class? Perfect. Back to sleep.*

Crimson sunset light stung my eyes. The empty classroom glittered, only the day’s duty student wiping the blackboard. *After school already?* Shen Yufeng hadn’t woken me. Neither had Xia Bing… *Gotta run—dinner time!* (When did I become this lazy? Eat, sleep, repeat.)

I grabbed my backpack, ignoring scattered textbooks. Homework? What’s that? Edible?

***BAM!*** ***"OW!"*** x2

I rubbed my jaw—teeth still intact.

"President?"

"Xiao Zi? What are you doing here? You hurt?" My hand instinctively patted her head. (*Pure reflex! Not because she’s… well-endowed.*)

She didn’t flinch. Her expression stayed calm. (*Weirdly nice scalp texture though.*)

"Ahem… locking up now!" the duty student called.

I pulled my hand back. "Let’s talk outside."

Xiao Zi nodded, gathering fallen books. We walked down the deserted hallway toward the gates. She kept her head down, silent. Unbelievable—the girl who’d chattered about "bloodletting" and "dissection" yesterday was now a quiet lamb.

When a girl won’t talk, you crack the ice.

"Where’s your place? I’ll walk you home."

"Ah… not really convenient."

I scratched my neck, embarrassed. Who’d tell a near-stranger their address? Especially a girl—her parents might freak.

"I didn’t mean it like that! My parents… they panic if I’m near strangers. I don’t know why. Sorry—I don’t want to upset them."

*Her parents fear strangers near Xiao Zi.* Not for *her* safety—for *theirs*. They knew about her strange condition.

"No worries. But about those superpowers you mentioned yesterday—when did they start?"

"Hmm… can’t recall. Had them since I was little. I bragged to friends once, but they didn’t believe me. After that… they just avoided me."

*So it’s innate. So much still unknown.*

"Can I really break free? High school just started… I don’t want to be alone again."

"Not sure. But I’ve got leads. If possible, I’d like to talk to your parents later…" *Sorry—phone call.*

I pulled out my phone. Single Weihao’s name flashed.

"Yo, Master. You were right—Uncle De gifted my dad a pair of jade lions today. What’s next?"

"Hold position. I’ll come tonight."

*That guy’s definitely shady.* Another sleepless night ahead.