Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Zhou Bai cheerfully returned to the old manâs home.
Jing Xiu followed him like a lackey the entire way.
Christina looked at Jing Xiu, who watched Zhou Bai with admiration, and said, âZhou Bai, youâre just going to let this woman of dubious background follow us home?â
Zhou Bai said carelessly, âShe admires me and appreciates my talents. Is there anything wrong with her wanting to follow me around?â
âYou canât judge a book by its cover,â Christina said. âThis woman doesnât look so honest. You have so many secretsâdonât get too close to her.â
âSecrets? What secrets do I have?â Zhou Bai exclaimed. âMy biggest secret is my outstanding talent. Iâve only practiced for less than ten days, and I got first place in Donghua Tao Academyâs entrance exam. Even I admire myselfâ¦â
Christina gritted her teeth furiously. âThis guy is bursting with arrogance.â
Soon after, Jing Xiu followed Zhou Bai to the old manâs door.
Jing Xiu said with a grin, âBrother Zhou, Iâll come here tomorrow and wait for you so we can enter school together.â
âHuh?â Zhou Bai said with some embarrassment. âYou donât need to do that. Thatâs too much trouble.â
âNot at all, not at all,â said Jing Xiu. âMy mom told me to make lots of friends once I got into Tao academy, especially with people who have good grades. Brother Zhou, you have an iron will and the best comprehension capacity in this yearâs class, plus you got first place, and youâre so amiable and so hardworking. If my mom knew, she would definitely tell me to be friends with you.â
Zhou Bai was a little embarrassed by her compliments. He shook his head and said, âWhat your mom said is reasonable. Rest assured, after we go to school, you can ask me about anything you donât know.â
After waving goodbye to Jing Xiu, Zhou Bai knocked on the door and gleefully entered the house.
He found that the door to the old manâs house was open. The house was dim, and there seemed to be no lights on.
âWhat the hell! He didnât even turn the lights on?â Zhou Bai walked in and shouted, âI got first place in this yearâs Donghua Tao Academy entrance exam. Old man! Come, come, come! Let us celebrate togetherâ¦â
As he spoke, Zhou Bai sensed something was off.
He walked into the house. The clamor and noise of the outside world seemed to grow distant and fade gradually. The entire room was as quiet as a mourning hall.
Farther inside the house, he heard the old man coughing continuously. The coughing got louder and louder, as if he was about to cough his lungs out.
Zhou Bai furrowed his brows. Christina said, âSomethingâs wrong. Be careful; donât get me into trouble.â
The rooms seemed to get dimmer and dimmer. Only a faint flame burned in the heart of the house, flickering as the old man coughed.
Zhou Bai called quietly in the direction of the firelight. âOld man, is it you?â
Zhang Aidaoâs father said, âOh, itâs Zhou Bai? You passed the exam?â
âYeah.â Zhou Bai directed his primordial spirit power to extend out from his consciousness. âWhy did you turn off all the lights?â
âOh, Iâm getting old. The lights are too bright. They make my eyes uncomfortable.â He started speaking faster. âZhou Bai, come over here. I have something to tell you.â
Zhou Bai asked, âWhereâs my dog? Elsa! Elsa, where are you?â His ears twitched, hearing a chewing sound coming from near him.
He turned to look and saw Elsa eating something in the dark.
âElsa! Elsa, stop eating. Come here!â
Elsa whined. After Zhou Bai repeatedly urged her, she jogged over unwillingly.
Zhou Bai stroked her body. He felt something wet around her mouth. âWhat did you eat? You got it all over your mouth.â
Elsaâs mouth widened, she stuck her tongue out and tried to lick Zhou Bai.
But Zhou Bai smelled something bloody from her mouth. He was taken aback. âF*ck, Elsa, what did you eat?â
He held down her head. Elsa had a hurt expression, and she didnât understand why Zhou Bai didnât let her lick him.
At that moment, the old manâs urging came again from the fire. âZhou Bai, come let me take a look at you. I have something good to give you.â
Hearing the old manâs voice grow colder and sharper, Zhou Bai retreated toward the door, step by step.
The old manâs voice came again. It was cold and eerie, but also filled with a hint of impatience. âZhou Bai, why are you walking out? Wonât you come and see me?â
Zhou Bai went blank for a second. He deepened his voice and said, âSorry, I walked into the wrong house. My name is not Zhou Bai. You have the wrong person!â
The man suddenly became silent.
Zhou Bai grabbed Elsaâs head and walked out faster.
But the next moment, Zhou Bai heard a thump behind him. The door slammed shut.
Zhou Bai immediately used his primordial spirit power, but only felt his power hit something furry. It couldnât break open the door at all.
âWhat is that?â Zhou Bai asked.
âZhou Baiâ¦â Inside the room, the elder slowly poked out the right half of his face. He looked at Zhou Bai in the dark with one eye. He said with a cold voice, âWhy arenât you coming over?
âWhy wonât you come over?
âCome over here!
âCome over here!
âCome over here! Come over here!â
The elderâs voice got more and more urgent; he spoke faster and faster.
Zhou Baiâs primordial spirit power felt around in every direction. He felt nine long furry strands on the door. No matter how hard he tried, he couldnât open the door.
Hearing the elderâs urgent voice, Zhou Bai shouted, âShut up! Iâm coming.â
âTake my talisman!â
The half-face behind the wall froze for a moment. The next instant, it sensed a ball of fur flying at it, hitting his face.
Christina, who was thrown at the elder, screamed, âZhou Bai!! I #ï¿¥%â¦â
And when she approached the elder, she saw the elderâs entire body clearly.
The half-face revealed was not a face. There were only eyes, nose, and mouth growing on a back. The elderâs original head had turned into a lambâs head. Nine tails extended out from his butt, blocking the door.
Seeing Christina fly at him, his nine tails instantly shot up, curling toward the cat in mid-air.
At the same time, Zhou Bai took this chance to use his primordial spirit power to break open the door. He charged out with Elsa in his hands.
Inside the room, just as Christina was about to be caught by the nine tails, her body lightened, and she turned into a puff of smoke, disappearing into Zhou Baiâs forehead. He retrieved her into his consciousness.
The instant he charged out of the house, Zhou Bai screamed at the top of his lungs, âHelp!â
âMurderââ
A few seconds later, flying blades shot past them, rushing into the elderâs home.
He heard growling and crashing. Zhou Bai fell to the ground, dumbfoundedly looking at the house that was in battle, gasping for air.