Reborn as a succubus - Chapter 13

Chu Yan did not immediately realize that Xi Che had any connection to the former Asa. After all, the White Tiger had become so weak that no one could recognize it at first glance.

He only thought Xi Che was suspicious. That little black cat was clearly his primordial spirit, but aside from the gods and a few of the strongest demons, no one could possibly possess a primordial spirit with such a tangible form.

He had also heard just now—these were incubi. But in this world there was no such thing as an incubus strong enough to have a primordial spirit. So what was going on?

When Xi Che revealed a spell in front of Yuan Ting and Zhan Yujin, he actually regretted it a little. Spells learned through incantations and hand seals didn’t require one’s own spiritual power; even powerless humans could use them. But if one had no innate power, then the strength of the spell depended solely on the user’s familiarity and mental force. For Xi Che to unleash something that powerful… anyone who thought about it carefully would know he was no beginner.

Not wanting the two to grow suspicious, Xi Che grinned and said, “I just got lucky. I still need to practice a lot more… Oh, by the way, you mentioned earlier that accidents happen often during demon hunts? What kind of accidents?”

He only meant to change the subject, but as soon as he brought it up, Yuan Ting and Zhan Yujin’s expressions turned serious.

Yuan Ting said: “We were just about to tell you. To academy students, demon hunts are more like training—also a way to spread the influence of serving the gods. The academies organize them regularly to exterminate demons and recruit more believers. So these missions are supposed to be relatively safe. But strangely, starting three years ago, more and more students have been dying on hunts. Every team loses at least thirty to fifty people. And yet the survivors report nothing unusual—saying everything felt just like a normal hunt. The academy still doesn’t know the truth. Yujin and I investigated in secret, but found nothing. That’s why we met you before the hunt: one, to teach you a few survival techniques; and two, to ask you to help us find out what’s really going on.”

When he finished, Zhan Yujin added: “If you can’t find anything, it’s fine. Your life is what matters most.”

Xi Che listened, then said thoughtfully: “That is strange. So in other words, those who actually encountered danger all died, and nobody alive knows what really happened.”

Yuan Ting nodded: “More than that—most of the dead left no bodies behind. To be precise, they didn’t just die. They disappeared.”

“Disappeared?”

Xi Che frowned deeply. This was worse than he thought. In his old materialist world, corpses were only useful for medical teaching. But here, with so many sinister spells, corpses could be extremely valuable. Worse still, if even the souls were taken…

And what if Bi Yuan, the one he was searching for, had vanished during one of these hunts?

Either way, even without their request, he would have to investigate.

“I’ll do my best to uncover the truth. Do you have a list of missing students? I could keep an eye out for clues.”

A list would make things much easier. If Bi Yuan’s name was there, his search could narrow quickly.

“There is one. Yujin, give it to him.”

Chu Yan overheard everything. Doubt stirred in his heart as well—he hadn’t expected something like this to be happening inside his own academy. As the God of Light, he felt this was in part his own negligence.

He decided he must join this demon hunt too.

With that resolve, he silently turned to leave. At that moment the barrier wavered, and Xi Che, thoughtful, glanced toward the door.

But he saw nothing.

“…Strange. Could it be my instincts are off?”

Zhan Yujin and Yuan Ting were not as sharp as him, but with their combat experience they noticed his change of expression. Yuan Ting asked: “What is it?”

Xi Che had no evidence, so he shook his head: “If there’s nothing else, I’ll head back. You two shouldn’t come often either—after all, the academy is Rong Jiudao’s turf.”

Yuan Ting snorted: “No need to remind us. Just remember what we said today. Yujin will give you a copy of the spell manual—practice well.”

Zhan Yujin handed him a handwritten book along with the roster, smiling as he did. Xi Che accepted it with mixed feelings—he might already know all of these incantations by heart, but to these two, this book was like a priceless martial arts manual. To give it to him so freely… they truly did trust him.

Xi Che was someone who valued loyalty and held grudges. To those who wronged him, he struck back; to those who treated him well, he remembered it always.

Taking that manual, he finally regarded Yuan Ting and Zhan Yujin as his own allies.

“Rest assured—I won’t let you down.”

The hunt came quickly.

Xi Che stood near the back of the marching line, overhearing two students ahead chatter excitedly:

“Did you hear? This hunt is actually a trial. If we perform well, we might be chosen as candidates to inherit the God of light’s mantle.”

“That’s practically an open secret. Every year, the candidates are picked from the top performers in the hunt.”

Xi Che raised his brows. No wonder the students showed no fear despite so many deaths in recent years. To become the God of light’s successor—even just a candidate—meant fame in the academy. And fame among believers could bring prosperity not only to oneself, but to generations of one’s family. The benefits were more than enough to risk one’s life.

In the crowd, Xi Che spotted Luo Qing and Rong Shi. Since the last time he lost his temper in front of Luo Qing, the scumbag hadn’t bothered him again. But Xi Che noticed something odd about his and Rong Shi’s relationship.

They didn’t seem like lovers.

And Rong Shi bore a tattoo of Da Chi. All the more reason to keep an eye on those two during the hunt.

Just then, Xi Che felt a piercing gaze on him. He quickly turned—and this time, unlike before, he actually saw the person staring.

A student. Xi Che sighed in relief. At least it wasn’t one of those invisible stares again.

The boy didn’t even look away when caught.

How bold.

Xi Che didn’t recall seeing him before. Curious, he walked straight over.

“You were staring at me just now?”

The student was plain-looking, his expressionless face icy and still. But he did react—when asked, he gave a small nod.

Xi Che smiled: “Why were you looking at me?”

Instead of answering, the boy asked: “You’re joining this hunt too? What’s your name?”

“Xi Che. And you?”

The boy hesitated, then said: “Chu… Qi.”

Xi Che nodded: “Seventh son of the Chu family, eh?”

The boy’s face didn’t change at the joke.

Of course, this was Chu Yan in disguise. To follow the expedition without drawing notice, he had taken on an utterly plain human form. He couldn’t use his real name, so he blurted one out.

Lately his mood had been dark—not because of worldly events, but because of the Dreamstone.

That night, after using it to do unspeakable things with Asa in a dream, his heart had been in turmoil. At first, joy and satisfaction. Then, regret. Shame. He could hardly face himself.

He knew the Dreamstone shaped dreams from his desires. The “Asa” in the dream, no matter how lifelike, was only a phantom created to satisfy him. It wasn’t real.

The real Asa would never yield to him like that.

Realizing this, he not only regretted it but felt it was despicable—a desecration of them both.

He thought he should be grateful that Langfeng Pavilion was destroyed. If it still stood, he would deserve to be struck by lightning for punishment.

He swore not to use the stone again.

But only after making that vow did he understand what the dream master meant: once used, it could never truly be quit…

He didn’t even have the willpower to destroy it.

Fortunately, he was busy now. He buried himself in his duties as a god, leaving no time to dwell on it. Disguised as a student, he joined the hunt to uncover the truth.

Xi Che, amused by his cold, black-pool eyes, found him interesting.

They reminded him of a former colleague.

Another person in this world with eyes like that—and a perpetual iceberg face.

Oh, and his surname was Chu too. Maybe all the Chus were like this?

Xi Che nearly laughed at his own thought. Still, because of this faint resemblance to Chu Yan, he felt drawn to him.

Remembering Yuan Ting and Zhan Yujin’s request, he said: “I heard these hunts are dangerous. Why don’t we travel together, watch each other’s backs?”

Chu Yan had already planned to investigate him closely. This was perfect. He nodded readily: “Alright.”

Xi Che smiled, unguarded, and stood beside him.

“This one isn’t right.”

Suddenly, the White Tiger spoke in his mind: “He carries a scent I don’t like.”

Xi Che frowned. “What scent?”

The White Tiger paused, as if uncertain: “I can’t say yet. But I dislike it. Stay away from him.”

Xi Che sighed inwardly: Since my rebirth you’ve grown so weak. Last time you even said you disliked my own scent. If you and I are one, and you dislike my scent, doesn’t that mean you dislike your own? Maybe your nose is broken.

The White Tiger was struck speechless. After a long pause, it finally protested: “And you say you’re not a love-struck fool! Just because he resembles Chu Yan a little, you doubt me? Would I ever harm you? When you suffer for it, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

As if he could suffer any loss.

“Alright, alright, stop nagging. It’s time to head out.”

Everyone has their soft spots. Xi Che wasn’t lustful, wasn’t a gambler. The only thing he couldn’t let go of—was that one person. And now, faced with someone who bore even a faint resemblance, of course he would treat him more kindly.