Wrapped in a bath towel, Kelly stood utterly stunned—everything before her had completely exceeded her wildest imagination.
Xiao Feng had just reached the door and was about to open it when Kerry, clad in a sleek black suit, suddenly burst into the room. He froze upon seeing Xiao Feng, then turned to Kelly, still swathed in a towel. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of the stark red stain on the snow-white sheets.
Kerry's handsome face twisted with fury, a murderous chill rising in his eyes."You b*st*rd! I'm going to kill you!" he roared, hurling a punch directly at Xiao Feng's face.
Xiao Feng raised his right hand in a loose gesture. Just as Kerry's fist was about to land, a sharp burst of electric light surged forth violently.
"Argh!" Kerry cried out in pain.
His body, coursing with crackling electric currents, was thrown back, crashing hard into the wall outside the room. He slumped to the ground, twitching uncontrollably.
Xiao Feng made a casual farewell gesture toward Kelly, then hoisted the Blood Ghost onto his back and disappeared from her sight.
Only then did Kelly come to her senses. She rushed out the door and knelt beside Kerry, who was slumped against the wall."Kerry! Kerry! Are you alright?!"
It took several minutes before Kerry could speak, his voice weak and breathless."I'm sorry, sister… I failed to protect you."
Kelly helped him to his feet and guided him back into the room. Her expression was distant and cold."It's not your fault. It's mine. I should never have provoked that monster."
"Sister… why does he have electric powers too?"
"Enough," Kelly snapped. "We're leaving at dawn. We're no match for Xiao Feng anymore."
"What? We're just going to run? That b*st*rd hurt you!"
Tears welled in Kelly's beautiful eyes as she whispered,"We're powerless against him. What else can we do?"
"We'll find a way. One day, I'll kill him," Kerry growled through clenched teeth.
Kelly pulled him into her arms, tears streaming down her face."No, brother… Stay out of this. Let it go."
—
The following morning, though the sun was already high, Xiao Feng lay fast asleep in his bed. It was past nine, yet he remained lost in a strange, unsettling dream.
In it, he was strapped to a cold operating table. Figures in hazmat suits moved back and forth before him. Blinding surgical lights gleamed off sharp instruments, and an unfamiliar language was spoken in broken, fragmented syllables.
Suddenly, one of the figures approached, holding an enormous syringe. As it neared his skin, Xiao Feng jolted awake, gasping for breath, drenched in cold sweat.
The dream had felt too real, as though it were a memory rather than a nightmare.
He glanced at his arm, eyes fixed on the black barcode etched into his skin."Who… am I really?"
As he panted in confusion, Ivy walked in, cradling the little white wolf in her arms. The creature had grown considerably in the past few days, now nearly half a meter long.
With a cheerful smile, Ivy sat beside him on the bed."You lazybones! Still in bed? The sunshine's beautiful today. Let's go out and bask in it!"
Approaching him, she noticed the beads of sweat glistening on his forehead."Xiao Feng, are you alright? Are you sick?" She touched his forehead gently. "Your temperature's normal…"
Xiao Feng offered her a faint smile and gently brushed her hand aside."I'm fine. Just exhausted from last night."
At his words, Ivy leaned in and sniffed him closely. Her brows furrowed."There's a woman's scent on you… What did you do last night?"
Xiao Feng's expression froze."What scent? I don't smell anything."In truth, he could still detect the lingering trace of Kelly's fragrance on himself.
Ivy's tone sharpened."Tell me—did you sneak into the city to see a woman? Did you go to a brothel?! Tell me!"
Xiao Feng chuckled lightly."Why are you getting so worked up?"
Ivy seized his collar with her right hand."Am I not enough for you? Do you really need to seek out filthy women like them?"
The smile faded from Xiao Feng's face."Ivy, what are you implying?"
A flush crept up her cheeks."I'm saying… if you truly desire it, I can give myself to you."The pale-skinned girl spoke without reserve, her openness stark.
Xiao Feng slapped his forehead and laughed awkwardly."What nonsense are you talking about? Your brother would never agree to you being with me."
"He has no right to meddle in our affairs."
Just as Ivy finished speaking, a voice called out from beyond the door."Ivy, we're heading out to hunt. Are you coming?"
It was Turner. He had seen Ivy enter Xiao Feng's room and had followed, intent on cutting their time short. His eyes were cold, his stare hostile toward Xiao Feng.
Ivy shot him a glare."Hunting? I'm not in the mood today!"
"You're coming whether you want to or not," Turner ordered, his tone firm and unyielding.
Ivy looked at Xiao Feng, then back at Turner. With a huff, she stood, cradled the white wolf, and walked out.
Turner turned a steely gaze toward Xiao Feng."I'm warning you—stay away from Ivy."
Xiao Feng chuckled lazily."And if I don't?"
A flicker of murderous intent flashed in Turner's eyes."Then I'll kill you."
"Ooh, I'm trembling," Xiao Feng mocked as he climbed out of bed and began dressing."Brother Turner, if I really wanted to be with Ivy, there's nothing you could do to stop it. But I don't have time for this. I'm going into the city to check on Alice. Coming?"
With that, he strode out of the room.
Turner remained behind, glaring at Xiao Feng's back, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles whitened.