Heroines, I'm Really not the Devourer
Chapter 43: Change of personality?

Chapter 43: Change of personality?

Without hesitation, she forced the pill between his lips. The contact with his tongue instantly dissolved it, releasing a soothing flow of energy that spread through his blood and meridians. Gradually, the storm ravaging his Qi began to calm.

Zhulan scrutinized his face intently, observing the subtle changes taking place.

BaiShe finally opened his eyes and, without delay, struggled to sit up in a meditative position. He inhaled deeply, ignoring the pain tearing through every muscle. He had to regain control.

Zhulan’s voice faded into the background, becoming a mere whisper.

He exhaled.

His Qi gradually returned to its normal flow.

’I almost died... twice in a few hours.’

His thoughts were lucid, though weighed down by exhaustion. But he had understood several things during this ordeal.

He calmed the Devourer’s foul aura, pushing it deep within himself. The atmosphere shifted instantly, the air becoming more breathable, less oppressive. But this new Qi, the burning flow seeping into his meridians, was another matter.

His jaws clenched as he gritted his teeth, trying to lessen its impact.

’It’s the nature of the Qilins...’

He inhaled slowly, seeking to understand this new influx of energy. He had to find a way to control it.

Little by little, his wounds began to heal, except for the one on his bandaged arm. He felt an unusual warmth in his palm, gentle at first, then increasingly scorching, almost unbearable.

*Ba-doom*

His heart beat forcefully.

*Ba-doom*

A shiver ran up his spine.

He exhaled sharply and opened his eyes. A golden glow flashed in his gaze before vanishing instantly.

"BaiShe, are you okay?"

He blinked, finally detaching his mind from the strange sensation.

"BaiShe?!"

He slowly got up, assessing the state of his torn, blood- and dust-covered clothes.

"What a disgraceful appearance..."

He ran a hand through his disheveled hair, pushing it back with a sigh.

Zhulan watched him, her gaze shifting between skepticism and relief.

"BaiShe?"

He finally looked at her, narrowing his eyes slightly as he noticed her condition.

"Hmm, so you survived, woman~."

A smile brushed his lips as he approached her with a fluid step, though slightly unsteady.

"But aren’t you a bit too comfortable with this young master? Still, I thank you for saving me, young creature."

He reached out and gently grasped her chin between his fingers. Zhulan raised an eyebrow, fixing her gaze on his hand with a mix of annoyance and perplexity.

"Huh? What happened? You were in such bad shape, and then that aura..."

BaiShe looked away for a moment.

"The Devourer attacked us... and trapped me in his inner world."

He paused, lowering his eyes slightly to his bandaged arm.

"See this wound? He inflicted it on me five years ago. That’s why I’ve been hunting him so relentlessly."

Zhulan observed him intently, her dark eyes betraying a glimmer of thought.

"The monk’s pearls help me keep control..."

"Ah..."

She finally sighed, as if a weight had lifted from her shoulders.

"I was afraid he’d completely devoured your essence."

A slight smile stretched beneath her mask.

BaiShe fixed her with a gaze for a few moments before looking away.

"He would’ve been incapable."

Not for a single second had she believed BaiShe was the Devourer. Not because she blindly trusted him, but because he’d been alone with her for days, with countless opportunities to kill her. And yet, it was only with the appearance of that man that the Devourer’s aura had emerged. With BaiShe’s explanations, even the shadowy parts of the story had dissipated.

"More importantly..."

Zhulan paid attention to BaiShe, but her gaze turned strange as she heard his words.

"Woman, I’d love to see your face. I’m sure you’re a beautiful creature.~"

"You think that’s the most important thing?" she asked sarcastically.

"To each their own. I also see you’re injured."

BaiShe took her hand in his and caressed it gently.

"I apologize, woman. I didn’t play my role as a gentleman perfectly."

"..."

’Is he weird... Did he take a hard blow to the head?’ She frowned.

He finally calmed down and adopted a relaxed posture, hands behind his back.

"As you said, there are other, more important things, like..."

’Freeing the Qilins?’ The thought brushed BaiShe’s mind, and he suddenly realized something was off.

’Why am I thinking about them? I don’t even know them... I should’ve been indifferent...’

*Ba-doom*

*Ba-doom*

A silver glow flashed in his eyes before his heartbeat slowed. His thoughts cleared.

’Huh!?’

He fixed his gaze on Zhulan.

"Sorry about earlier. My thoughts were confused."

She nodded without replying.

BaiShe regained his cold expression.

"The Devourer must still be nearby. You can go scout while I meditate."

"Do you take me for one of your underlings? A few seconds ago, you were completely bizarre... Anyway, I’m just returning the favor. But when I come back, we’ll finish this conversation."

"Conversation?"

"Yeah, you know..." She looked away slightly, visibly embarrassed.

"Ah, that. Alright." BaiShe nodded.

She leaped onto a tree branch and disappeared into the shadows.

BaiShe made sure she was far enough away before whispering:

"Come out."

A figure slowly emerged from his inner world.

Hu Fei appeared before him, his skin cracked with reddish fissures, his dark appearance surrounded by a foul aura. Yet, he still resembled an ordinary human.

"What did you do to me!?" He tried to shout, but...

"Shut up."

His mouth closed instantly.

BaiShe slowly approached and tore the ring from his finger.

"I control your every move, no need to act stupid. And right now, you’re the Devourer, far more than I am. Besides, you’ll play this role... until I find a more suitable scapegoat."

Hu Fei clenched his teeth, powerless against this absolute domination.

Without even searching the ring, BaiShe pulled out a silver robe with golden patterns and calmly put it on.

"Next, I have some questions for you."

"..."

"How does your Law work?"

"Tss... I guess you have it now, since you devoured me. But even I never fully understood it. Go fuck yourself, you piece of shit."

BaiShe paid no attention to his insolence. His gaze fell on his palm, which had been burning since he woke up. There, a seven-pointed star had formed, its center marked by a pattern resembling a vertical pupil.

’It looks like Omnis... who merged with the Qilin’s light?’

He activated his pupil.