Feeling myself fall over, an arm suddenly reached out wrapped itself around my waist, catching me.
"W-what?"
Before I could even anticipate what would happen next, Zhu Na Ran suddenly pushed me up against the wall. Holding me in place, she kept one hand on my wrist and the other at my waist as she wedged her leg between my thighs, preventing me from going forward.
"A-ah, Zhu Na Ran, what are you doing?!" My heart started to pound in my ear at our closeness as her breasts pushed up against mine. "I-I'm fine, I, I just need some space…."
"You're really pretty; you know that, Ye Lian Hua?" Pinning me to the wall, Zhu Na Ran tucked her head in the space between my neck and shoulder. "You're so pretty that this sister is very envious~.
Hmm~." Inhaling, she let out a satisfied sigh. "Makes me just want to eat you up and not leave behind a single thing~."
"W-what, what is the meaning of this?!" I could barely formulate proper sentences as Zhu Na Ran started to nuzzle her nose and run it up the length of my neck.
H-hah, what is she doing!?
Biting my lip, I tried to resist letting a single sound from coming out.
As I stood there at Zhu Na Ran's mercy, I felt her slowly run her hands up and down my body.
"Y-you, you!" Flames engulfed my face as I felt myself becoming faint and heady. "W-what are you doing!?"
Even though I wanted to push her off, I couldn't find the strength in my arms or legs to move.
As I struggled to no avail, I felt a smile at the side of my neck.
"Hmm~.
Just relax, Ye Lian Hua.
I'm not going to do anything to you yet~." 'Zhu Na Ran' hummed as her hands started to run themselves down the sides of my body, causing an odd shiver to run down my spine.
"W-who, who are you?!"
"Hmmm~." 'Zhu Na Ran' pulled back from my neck with a strange smile on her face.
"You're asking the wrong question, Ye Lian Hua~." 'Zhu Na Ran' giggled as her voice started to distort into one that I didn't recognize.
"What are you, and how dare you use her face in such a disgusting manner!"
'Zhu Na Ran' merely smiled at me as she tilted her head in amusement. "Really?
Don't you like this? This sister guessed that this form would appeal to you the most, and it seems that I was right~."
"…" As much as I hated to admit it, this demon was right. I let my guard down because of her appearance.
"Hahaha!
You know, you have some exquisite taste~." 'Zhu Na Ran' giggled. "Even though this sister doesn't prefer women, even I must admit the one you desire is very good looking."
I could only glare at her, as I couldn't even muster up the strength to speak as 'Zhu Na Ran' kept grinning like she won a prize.
"Long golden brown locks, sharp amber eyes, and quite the body, I might mention~.
If I didn't already have my darling, I would've gone for this girl instead.
With her charisma and her looks, who wouldn't want to cling to her thigh, hmm?"
"…"
"Hmm? Can't talk?" 'Zhu Na Ran' cackled in glee, distorting my junior sister's charming face into something that I couldn't recognize.
"Good, good~.
It seems like the poison is kicking right in, hehe~.
I wondered if such a petty trick would work on someone like you, considering your supposed reputable strength; however…
It seems like you are the same as everyone else I found.
So weak to your desires~."
"..." I tried to move my arms to rip off Zhu Na Ran's face from this demon, but it was as if my arms had turned to stone and my legs into jelly. If this monster weren't holding me up, I would've collapsed to the ground by now.
"Aww~. Don't look at me like that, Ye Lian Hua." The demon pouted. "Don't worry, before I devour your blood and flesh, I'll make sure to savor every moment with you~.
After all, it's been so long since I've tasted the flesh of someone with a Pure Yin constitution[1].
They're so rare nowadays, you know~?
But who would've guessed that this realm is so generous, hmm? Sending such a lovely treat my way, hehe~.
It must be heaven's will for this sister to ascend to being a true immortal!" The demon cackled in glee and self-satisfaction. "Ahh, but don't worry, Ye Lian Hua~.
This sister will make the experience as painless as possible~.
I'll even use this face that you love so much so that you may see the one you love one last time before I swallow you whole~!
Just one quick bite, and you'll be dead before you know it~!
Consider it my little parting gift to you, my prey~." Suddenly, I felt the demon's hand's grip onto my waist as the corners of the demon's mouth widened, revealing a massive set of small and sharp teeth.
N-no! Get away from me!
Mustering as much strength, I tried to press myself against the wall and away from this demon's despicable claws and fangs.
"Hahaha, struggling will do nothing, Ye Lian Hua~." The demon taunted with a cruel grin as her claws dug into my flesh, drawing blood. "No one will come for you, and no one would even know where to find you~.
Plus, cultivators come and go here, so who will ever look for you, hmm~.
So many 'great ones' have fallen prey to me, so do you really think you can escape?
You're better off accepting your fate while this sister is still patient with you-"
"GET AWAY FROM MY SENIOR SISTER!"
Suddenly, a hand grabbed the side of the demon's face and threw them across the room as the demon shrieked in surprise and fury!
Zhu Na Ran?!
Standing over me, Zhu Na Ran looked furious. More so than I've ever seen before.
Her eyes narrowed at the demon, her jaw remained tightly shut, and her fists were curled into such tight balls that they began to bleed.
I don't think Zhu Na Ran has ever been this angry, ever.
"Y-yang driven[2]!" The demon let out a shrill scream as she held her face. The demon gripped their face as if burned; however, it was too dark to see if any scars remained.
"Why are you using my face…." Zhu Na Ran squinted her eyes in disbelief before noticing my presence.
"Oh, gods!
Senior Sister, are you okay?!
Senior Sister, what did that thing do to you?!" Zhu Na Ran asked frantically as she gathered me into her arms.
Ah, s-she, she came for me.
I tried closing and opening my eyes to see if my eyes were deceiving me; however, her image remained.
She's really here!
I tried to open my mouth to speak; however, my mouth felt too heavy, and I couldn't let out a single word. It seems that the poison the demon spoke off has yet to wear off.
"You, you won't get away with this!" The demon shrieked as she lunged towards us!
"Whoa!" Narrowly dodging, Zhu Na Ran barely managed to escape the demon's large and sharp claws.
This isn't good. This cave is too small, and with Zhu Na Ran holding me, I'll only weigh her down.
Using the best of my abilities, I tried to nudge Zhu Na Ran's arm.
"What's wrong, Senior Sister?! Are you hurt anywhere?!"
"...no…" Feeling some sensation in my tongue return, I tried to see if my strength had been restored. "Put me down… I'll be fine…."
Zhu Na Ran looked hesitant to let me go; however, seeing that the demon was circling back for revenge, she was given little choice.
"Okay, but be safe, Senior Sister!"
"Eh. I will." I smiled weakly.
Zhu Na Ran looked back at me one more time before charging headfirst into tackling down the demon.
Slumping against the wall, I could only helplessly watch as Zhu Na Ran fought off the vicious demon.
"You! What did you do to my senior sister?!
And why are you using my face!" Zhu Na Ran questioned as she slashed at the demon in a fury.
"Heh, wouldn't you like to know~!" The demon laughed as she easily dodged Zhu Na Ran's emotion-filled attack.
This isn't good. Even after all of Master's training, it seems that Zhu Na Ran still attacks based on her emotions.
The two continued to parry attacks as the clanging sound of Zhu Na Ran's sword against the demon's razor-sharp claws filled the cave.
Slowly but surely, I felt my hands once more, and I could flex my hands. Reaching for my sword, I slowly pulled out the heavy blade.
Focusing to the best of my abilities, I slowly made the sword hover above the ground and aimed at the battling pair.
However, the issue was, I couldn't tell which one was my junior sister!
After fighting for so long, they had started to resort to fist fighting, and both girls looked equally scuffed. In addition, the dimness of this room didn't help at all in distinguishing the two!
"Ahh, Senior Sister, help me kill this demon!" One Zhu Na Ran yelled as she shoved down the head of the other one to the ground.
"No! Senior Sister, she's the demon!
Kill her!" The other one yelled as she kicked the top one off of her. "Now, Senior Sister!"
"Senior Sister, don't listen to her!
She's deceiving you! I'm the real one, not her!"
"She's wrong, Senior Sister!
I'm the real one! I'm your real junior sister!"
Seeing the two trying to convince me while trying to gain the upper hand of the battle. I can't bear the thought of possibly killing the real Zhu Na Ran, so there's only one thing that I could do.
"No! Senior Sister!"
"Senior Sister, what are you doing!?"
Turning the sword on myself, I smiled at Zhu Na Ran. Oh, how many words there were that I wished to tell her.
Alas, time wasn't on our side. Perhaps in our next life, things wouldn't be so complicated.
"Noo! Senior Sister!" One Zhu Na Ran lunged for me, while the one stayed behind.
I smiled.
There we go.
Instantaneously, the sword in my hand flipped around and shot towards the one in the back.
"Ahh!" The demon shrieked as her disguise dropped instantly, revealing a stunning beauty with a voluptuous figure with white fox ears and nine white foxtails. "You! You b*tch!" The demon seethed in rage as she held her stabbed shoulder.
"You'll pay for this!
Just you wait!" She screamed before disappearing in a puff of smoke.
Sigh, finally she's gone-
Suddenly, I felt myself being pulled into a tight embrace and my face buried into their shoulders.
"Zhu Na Ran?"
"D-don't, don't ever do that again…" Zhu Na Ran sobbed as I felt fat wet tears soak my shoulder.
Was she… was she crying?
Feeling her body tremble as she cried, guilt flooded me.
Oh, my poor A-Ran…
Lifting my arms, I wrapped them around her and rubbed soothing circles on her back. "I'm sorry, Zhu Na Ran…
I didn't mean to scare you so." I tucked myself onto her shoulder as I deepened our hug. "It's alright now, Zhu Na Ran… I'm still here.
I'm safe now, aren't I?"
"Sniff…" I felt Zhu Na Ran nuzzle herself deeper into the crook of my neck. "If I hadn't come sooner…
If I was a moment too late, t-then, then…
Wahhh!
I-I don't know what I'd do without you, Senior Sister." Zhu Na Ran crying only seemed to intensify as she thought of the possibilities that might've occurred.
Hah, poor girl… scaring herself silly like this…
I suppose I am to blame for all of this. After seeing everything that has happened, I wouldn't be surprised if this whole ordeal has shaken my junior up.
"I know, I know… I'm so sorry, Zhu Na Ran.
I promise I won't scare you like that again."
"Wahhh! Senior Sister!" Zhu Na Ran cried even harder as she hugged me tighter.
Oh, my poor Zhu Na Ran.
"Umm…" An unfamiliar voice disrupted the intimate moment as a young man stood at the cave's entrance. He peered over at us, perplexed. "Am I interrupting something?"
[1] Pure Yin body - Pure Yin bodies can only occur in women. Their bodies can perfectly synthesize with spiritual qi more fluidly, and they are usually rare cultivation geniuses. Pure Yin bodies also have different grades. The purer the body is, the higher the cultivation talent. They also happen to be demons' favorite snack.
[2] Yang driven (female) - In essence, a masculine female who exudes extraordinary amounts of masculine (yang) energy. This usually has to do with having strong connections with males. They can be aggressive, competitive, and passionate and, at times, can be downright intimidating without meaning to. When they set a goal, they will do whatever it takes within ethical reasons to achieve that goal, and they don't give up. I'd imagine that since demons rely on Yin energy (qi) to survive, Yang energy (qi) can counteract their existence and serve as their natural kryptonite. Thus, the adverse reaction the fox demon displayed when coming into contact with ZNR.