"Hello? Who is it?" Shen Yufeng’s sleep-slurred voice drifted through the phone. He’d just gotten into bed.

"It’s me! Yuchen! Qiuyuchen!"

A lazy chuckle came from the other end. "Whoa~~ What’s so urgent you’re calling in the dead of night?"

"I’m being hunted by Jade Tigers! How do I stop them?"

"What? Jade Tigers? Bro, are you seriously asking for trouble? Those things ruin feng shui—they’re evil artifacts. Normal people run from them, so how did you—”

"Damn it! Cut the lecture. Just tell me—is there another way?"

"Sure. Counter vicious energy with something equally fierce but righteous. Got any guardian stone lions nearby?"

*Stone lions? Where would I find those out here?*

"Are you kidding? Those aren’t exactly lying around!"

"Of course there are! What about the two outside the Bank of China?"

………… *B-bank?* I nearly slapped myself. Xia Bing and I had fled toward the deserted back mountain—I’d chosen the wrong path from the start. Turning back was impossible now.

"Any other options?"

"Nope."

"Don’t shut it down so fast! Think harder. You’re still half-asleep."

"Honestly, bro, messing with someone’s feng shui is rare nowadays. Only blood feuds would make someone use a Jade Tiger."

*Game over.* As a Doom Dragon, I wasn’t scared of palm-sized trinkets—but like stench bombs, one touch meant disaster. A walking bad-luck charm.

"Hey! Don’t hang up yet! They’re troublesome, but not unstoppable. Find something fiercer than a tiger to suppress them."

"Like what?"

"No idea. Worst case? Keep hiding till dawn. They’ll retreat on their own."

*Great. Where do you hide in the wilderness? Play hide-and-seek with these things? One wrong step, and everything collapses.*

After hanging up, Xia Bing and I ducked behind a giant banyan tree. Its thick trunk shielded us both. The two palm-sized creatures prowled nearby, letting out bone-chilling tiger roars.

"Shh—stay quiet. They’ll leave at sunrise."

Xia Bing nodded tightly gripping my arm. Her subtle fragrance flooded my senses, sharpening my focus instead of calming me.

Though the Jade Tigers hadn’t spotted us, they circled the tree relentlessly. Could they smell us?

Suddenly, one let out a roar. For the first time, they split up—one circling clockwise, the other counterclockwise.

*Bad news. They’ll find us like this.* They were after me. I shouldn’t drag Xia Bing down. I’d lure them away and let her escape.

I stepped forward—but Xia Bing yanked me back. Behind us gaped a larger hollow in the banyan tree. I landed on top of her, my mind oddly calm despite the danger. Her softness, her scent… it felt almost pleasant.

"Get up! Block the hole with something!"

Miraculously, the blind-seeming creatures didn’t notice the rocks and dead leaves we piled at the entrance. Xia Bing pressed a finger to her lips, her other hand resting on the foliage. A mirage-like shimmer flickered before my eyes.

I pressed my ear to the tree bark.

The Jade Tigers’ footsteps were nearly silent—only the rustle of leaves gave them away. Gradually, the sounds faded. They’d left.

"Phew… They’re gone. Are we safe?"

"Seems so. Didn’t expect the fox clan’s illusion arts to work on them. If I were at full strength—"

"Fox clan’s illusion arts?"

Xia Bing clapped a hand over her mouth, feigning innocence.

"Let’s go."

"What did you mean by ‘fox clan’s illusion arts’?"

"Ugh! Stop asking! I’m never saving you again."

"Watch out!"

The moment Xia Bing stepped out of the hollow, two emerald shapes dropped from the branches. I swatted them away. My Doom Dragon scales were unbreakable, but my human flesh still jarred painfully. My arm went numb.

"Qiuyuchen! Hang in there!"

"I’m fine. Probably a fracture. Run—they’re after me. Split up—"

Xia Bing covered my mouth before I could finish. Her long bangs hid her face as she leaned close.

"Enough. I’m tired of running."

*Xia Bing? What’s she planning?*

"Thanks for taking that hit. I hate owing debts… so… close your eyes? Just ten seconds."

I trusted her. Nodding, I shut my eyes and counted silently.

*Ten… nine… eight…*

Why weren’t the Jade Tigers attacking? Had they glitched?

"Xia Bing? Can I open my eyes?"

No reply. Worried, I peeked.

A giant Snowy Fox stood before me—our second meeting. (The first was on the school rooftop.) Six tails blotted out the moonlight. Beneath her paws lay the two Jade Tigers, crushed like prey. Yet I knew it was Xia Bing. Her scent gave her away.

I reached out, stroking her snow-white fur. Just as soft as that afternoon nap on the rooftop. So this was the fox who’d shared that quiet moment with me.

"*Chirp!*"

The fox snarled, mismatched blue-and-gold Pupils glaring as if to scare me off.

I grinned. "Don’t bother. I know it’s you, Xia Bing. Heh… you’re actually kinda adorable like this—hey! Don’t bite my shirt! This is expensive! Mending it’s a pain!"

*Crack.*

The Jade Tigers under her paws began shattering. Black mist seeped into the fox’s body, staining her white fur from the feet upward…

"Xia Bing, what are you—?"

She ignored me, grinding the tigers harder under her weight.

I lunged, shoving her legs aside. She was trying to absorb all that evil energy alone! The tigers rolled free.

"*Chirp!*"

"What are you doing? Sacrificing yourself for me? I don’t know if this energy can kill you—but I won’t let you hurt yourself. Rest."

Rage boiled in my chest. *A Doom Dragon, afraid of palm-sized trinkets? Evil energy? You think you can match me?!*

"*ROAR!*"

A dragon’s roar burst from my throat. Trees bent under the sonic wave. Black horns sprouted from my head; wings unfurled behind me.

*Fifty percent power restored? Anger did this? Doesn’t matter. I’ll crush these things. Burn every trace of their filth.*

"Come on! Try me. I won’t let you destroy what matters."

Golden Dragon Pupils locked onto the emerald figures. Their arrogance vanished—they shrank back like frightened kittens. My dragon aura pinned them to the ground.

"*Awooo!*"

Their howls screamed surrender: *One step closer, and we detonate!* I didn’t flinch. Black Dragon Flame gathered in my palm as I advanced.

"Heh… hah… HAHA! Burn to ashes!"

"*Mew…*"

"What was that? Say it again."

"*Mew…*"

"Hah! Jade Tigers begging like house cats? Pathetic. But—"

I seized one tiger. Black flames consumed it utterly—spirit, malice, everything.

"Want revenge for your friend? This is your fate too."

The other tiger shook its head wildly, utterly subdued. *Out-evil me? I’m a Doom Dragon.*

I tossed it into the Dragon Treasury. *Might make a decent pet someday.*

"All done. Let’s head back—SORRY! I SAW NOTHING!"

"TURN AROUND!"

I spun back. Xia Bing had reverted to human form—but her clothes had torn off during the transformation. Moonlight bathed her bare skin, glowing peach-soft and flushed. Her face burned crimson; fox ears stood rigid with shame. Only six fluffy tails shielded her modesty. (*Why does this feel even more scandalous?*) Even Venus from the paintings would pale beside her.

"Can you conjure clothes?"

"I’m not a god! Don’t you dare peek! I’ll find something to cover up."

*Cover up? Weaving a leaf skirt? …Actually, that sounds kinda hot.*

"*Heh—OW!*"

A rock smacked my head.

"Stop those filthy thoughts!"

*Tch. Like you can control my imagination. I’ll think what I want.*

I opened the Dragon Treasury, pulling out a purple gown collected during a princess-kidnapping gig. I tossed it to her.

"This is…"

"Just put it on."

She didn’t refuse. The thin silk clung to her curves under the moonlight, revealing more than it hid. My pulse spiked. *Nosebleed incoming. Way too tempting.*

"*Hmph!*"

Even dressed, she coiled her tails around herself like a cocoon. *Sigh… the view’s gone. What a waste.*

She stomped over, scowling. "Turn around."

"Huh? You’re dressed already. Why?"

"Just turn! So many questions!"

The second I obeyed, she leaped onto my back, grabbing my dragon horns.

"Not fake… I thought you were a Taoist Priest or sorcerer. So you’re a monster too? With weird antlers… Are you a four-legged lizard? The legendary Lizard King?"

*I nearly choked. A Doom Dragon—called a LIZARD? I’m Endsinger—Mordred! Not some reptile!*

"But you have no demon aura… How’d you hide it?"

"Let's talk about this later. For now, I'll take you home."

I scooped up Xia Bing, her slender, pale thighs exposed, and headed down the mountain.

"Hey! Put me down! This lady can walk just fine!"

"Don't yank my horns! Your foot's injured—no stubbornness. Just stay put on my back."

I checked the time: 1 AM. If cops spotted me carrying a curvy teenage girl now, I'd end up at the station for 'questioning'.

"Oh, Xia Bing, did you bring your house key?"

"Shh~~"

Asleep already? No choice—I'll have to let her crash at my place tonight.