Chapter 21: Who Can Withstand This?!

Chu Huaizhou could clearly feel Bai Li, perched on his back, wrapping herself around him with her nine fluffy tails.
“Meow… Human, have you forgotten? You insisted I transform, meow!”

Bai Li racked her brain for an excuse, suddenly recalling it was his idea, not hers. Emboldened, she stomped on his back with a puff of her paw.
“That’s right, it’s all your fault, meow! If you hadn’t made me transform, how would… how would…”
Her voice trailed off, her nine tail tips curling guiltily into little hooks.

Chu Huaizhou’s lips curved slightly as he tossed out his trump card.
“Oh, is that so? Then when Qingqiu returns, I’ll tell her—”
He dragged out his tone deliberately.
“—that a certain fox used a charm spell to seduce me. Guess who she’ll believe, me or you?”

“W-Woow, meow?!”
His words sent Bai Li reeling, her fur puffing up like a startled cat.
“Human, how can you be so shameless, meow…”

Oh, silly Bai Li, you’re Great Vehicle now, but your little brain’s still as dim as ever.
If he actually did that, it’d give Leng Qingqiu an excuse to sideline Bai Li.
And what he’d face then? Unimaginable.
It’d be like hurting the enemy for 100 damage while taking 1,000 himself.
Only Bai Li’s naivety let him pull this off.

Unaware he was bluffing, Bai Li’s “smart” brain quickly reached a decision.
Slide and kneel! Must slide and kneel, meow!
Puff—
She nimbly hopped off his back, landing lightly on the bed.
Standing on her hind legs, her front paws bent, she executed a flawless dogeza, her nine tails splaying pitifully across the bed.
“Sorry, meow! I swear I won’t do it again, meow! Punish me however you want, just don’t tell Qingqiu, meow!”

Seeing her tremble, ears flattened, clearly terrified of Leng Qingqiu, Chu Huaizhou felt a pang of guilt.
He’d gone too far teasing the simple-minded fox.
Sigh, enough teasing.
“Alright, alright, I’m not some demon. No need to be so scared.”

He reached out to pat her head, reassuring her, then thought for a moment.
“How about this: wash my feet, and I’ll forgive you. Deal?”

Bai Li’s ears twitched, her face scrunching like a steamed bun.
“W-What, meow…?”
But the thought of Leng Qingqiu’s icy face and what she’d do if she learned of the charm spell made Bai Li nod frantically.
“F-Fine, meow!”

“Oh, one more thing.”
As Chu Huaizhou sat up, he added casually, “Transform into human form.”

Bai Li: “?!”
Her ears flushed red down to her neck, her nine tails exploding into a dandelion puff.
But fearing Leng Qingqiu’s wrath, she bit her lip, spiritual power rippling around her…

The majestic nine-tailed celestial fox had one thought:
This absolutely, ABSOLUTELY cannot reach Leng Qingqiu, or I’m dead, meow!

Poof—
A soft sound, and misty fog filled the room. Chu Huaizhou, curious, tried probing with his divine sense but found the fog blocked it completely.
As the mist cleared, a breathtaking figure appeared on the bed.

Bai Li sat amid the silk bedding, her snow-white fox ears trembling with embarrassment, a flush spreading from her cheeks to her ear tips.
One hand braced on the bed, the other nervously clutching her chest’s neckline.
Her ornate pomegranate-red palace dress, meant to be elegant, was stretched to its limits, the fabric taut as if it might tear any second.

“W-Woo…”
As she fully transformed, the bed noticeably tilted toward her side.
Beneath the loose skirt, two slender, jade-like legs extended, their tips brushing Chu Huaizhou’s thigh.
Bare of any socks, her delicate ankles gleamed like pearls in the candlelight.

Chu Huaizhou swallowed hard.
Who can withstand this?!

Truthfully, Bai Li didn’t mind transforming—actually, she enjoyed it.
She’d often “accidentally” transform to snuggle with him, though it never quite worked out.
Back then, she just wanted him to like her. Now, she wasn’t sure why she felt so shy.
Her mind drifted to that afternoon, sitting on him post-transformation, his gaze on her.
Knowing he was a bit smitten, unable to resist her charm, and recalling the warmth of his solid chest during their contact…
Ahhh, even more embarrassing, meow!

In the demon realm’s assemblies, countless eyes on her never fazed her.
But now, with Chu Huaizhou’s intense stare and his throat bobbing, her blush deepened.

Chu Huaizhou wasn’t faring much better.
This is bad.
He’d thought Leng Qingqiu’s anti-charm necklace would keep him clear-headed, letting him safely admire Bai Li’s cat-eared human form.
But he’d underestimated her allure. Even without a charm spell, she obliterated his defenses.
His face burned, and he quickly closed his eyes, reciting the Heavenly Origin Clear Heart Mantra while gripping the necklace.
A cool sensation surged from his palm, clearing his mind.

Opening his eyes, he was met with Bai Li’s dazzling legs, then her shy expression.
His throat went dry.
She was like a ripe peach, ready to burst with sweet juice at the slightest touch.
The dress’s waistband cinched a stark contrast between her slim waist and ample curves.
With each breath, the strained fabric creaked faintly.
The neckline revealed a swan-like neck, her collarbone and snowy skin flickering in and out of view.
Worse, as she fidgeted, the skirt shifted, exposing more creamy thigh, blindingly white against the red silk.

Done. One second, and I’m toast.
Chu Huaizhou hunched over, vowing never to let Bai Li transform again unless absolutely necessary.
Sure, he might get used to it eventually, but he wasn’t sure he’d survive the process without falling first.
That wouldn’t do—not now, at least.

“Human, d-don’t keep staring at me, meow…”
Bai Li sighed in relief when he closed his eyes, only for him to open them again, staring even harder.
She was both shy and secretly pleased.
Trying to cover her legs with her tails, their excited wagging only made things worse, refusing to stay put.
Her dress’s neckline slipped further, baring a rounded shoulder.
Frustrated to tears by her own tails, she thought, Fine, let him pounce. It’s what I want anyway.