Chapter 16: Moonlit Shadows and Hidden Desires

A full moon hung like a cold silver coin in the night sky over N City.

The dimly lit alleyway in the heart of the city contrasted sharply with the bustling commercial street nearby, creating two distinct worlds.

A man with bleached blond hair and a leering gaze was devouring with his eyes the stunning beauty and slender legs of a girl standing before him, her skirt riding high.

‘You’re even hotter than your photos online!’ the blond man chuckled, his hands rubbing together as he grinned lecherously. ‘I’ve already booked a five-star hotel room for us! Tonight, I’ll make sure you forget your own name!’

The girl, Shen Zhixia, wore a smile that was a stark contrast to her usually innocent demeanor, tinged with an alluring and enigmatic quality.

Beneath the surface, however, her eyes flickered with a look of pure disgust, as if she were gazing upon trash.

She reached out with her delicate fingers and tapped his chest lightly, her voice laced with a coquettish tone.

‘Why so eager, darling? I just… I want to get to know you a little better right here first, so we can understand each other more intimately…’

The blond man’s mind was already reeling from the sudden ‘affection,’ his grin widening with a lecherous gleam. ‘Hey, I never would’ve guessed you were so… adventurous!

You’re even more exciting than I imagined!’ He reached out to wrap his arms around her slender waist, eager to pull her close.

But Shen Zhixia was as slippery as an eel, gracefully spinning away from his grasp. ‘It’s so embarrassing with people around,’ she pouted, her fingers pointing deeper into the shadows of the alley. ‘Let’s go a little further, okay?’

Dazzled by her beauty, the blond man lost all reason, nodding enthusiastically and following her into the darkest part of the alley.

About ten minutes later.

Shen Zhixia stood motionless at the end of the alley, her once vibrant eyes now a haunting crimson. She cast a cold glance at the lifeless body of the blond man, now nothing more than a desiccated corpse.

With elegant precision, she pulled out a tissue and carefully wiped the corner of her lip, where a dark red stain remained.

‘How does it feel, your first time hunting and drinking human blood?’ A raspy, low voice, like a venomous snake’s hiss, echoed from the shadows behind her.

A blurry dark figure slowly materialized, its features indistinct, save for a pair of inhuman eyes that glowed in the darkness.

Shen Zhixia’s body tensed for a moment before relaxing, her voice tinged with disdain. ‘The power feels good… but the quality of this prey was so poor. His blood is thick with the stench of smoke, alcohol, and lust—it’s revolting.’

‘You’ll get used to it. Pure souls are rare in this world,’ the shadow chuckled, suddenly moving close, its icy breath brushing her neck.

The next instant, a sharp pain pierced her as the shadow sank its teeth into her pale throat. Shen Zhixia gasped, her body first stiffening, then trembling as if her bones had melted, a mix of agony and ecstasy distorting her features.

After a moment, the shadow released her, its tongue flicking with disgust. ‘The taste is indeed unpleasant, tainted by the filth of the human world.

Remember to choose younger, healthier prey with pure auras next time.’ The voice turned commanding, leaving no room for argument.

‘Starting next month, you will deliver the required amount of blood here on every full moon night.’

Shen Zhixia’s pupils constricted, a flicker of resistance crossing her face. ‘Every month?’

‘Not willing?’ The shadow’s voice turned cold, exerting an invisible pressure.

‘Don’t forget, you chose to abandon your human identity and embrace immortality. There are no free lunches. To gain superhuman power and longevity, you must pay the price.’

Its gaze seemed to penetrate her very soul: ‘Even if you don’t offer it to me, your new body will require fresh blood at regular intervals to maintain vitality and beauty. Otherwise… you’ll suffer a fate worse than death.’

‘Learn to control yourself, little girl, or you’ll keep making a mess like this.’

Shen Zhixia fell silent. The moonlight washed over her exquisite, bloodless face, casting an eerie, haunting glow.

The path to immortality was her own choice, and now there was no turning back. She could only walk this dark path, one step at a time.

She nodded, and the shadow, satisfied, melted back into the darkness, as if it had never been there.

***

Over the next few days, Su Mian continued to use his class time to secretly observe and mimic Shen Zhixia’s mannerisms. However, he noticed that something about his childhood friend had changed.

Previously, Shen Zhixia’s ‘sweetness’ was natural and pure, with a hint of girlish charm. But now, a natural allure seemed to radiate from her every expression.

Her eyes, when they met yours, seemed to hold a subtle invitation, and the sway of her hips was more tantalizing than ever.

The change was so subtle that if Su Mian hadn’t been studying her so closely, he might not have noticed it at all. What bothered him even more was that Xiao Moyuan seemed to be responding to this new side of Shen Zhixia.

He no longer ignored her as he used to, and sometimes, when she approached, he would pause, his gaze lingering on her a little longer. Although his expression remained the same, Su Mian saw this as a dangerous sign!

What Su Mian didn’t know was that Xiao Moyuan was growing increasingly suspicious.

During one of Shen Zhixia’s ‘requests’ for help, she leaned in close, and a faint, almost imperceptible sweet and metallic scent wafted towards him, barely masked by an expensive perfume.

It was the scent of blood! Although faint, and seemingly altered by some force, Xiao Moyuan could detect it.

His eyes sharpened like those of an eagle. He was almost certain that Shen Zhixia was connected to the ‘special demon’ he was hunting!

Her change in demeanor was likely a sign of her demonic powers awakening or deepening. His prey was finally starting to show its true form.

Meanwhile, Su Mian, in his relentless practice of mimicking Shen Zhixia, began to exhibit some ‘side effects’ of his own.

His intense practice had ingrained certain gestures deep into his muscle memory, causing them to surface unconsciously.

For instance, when he was engrossed in a book at his desk, he would unconsciously cross his legs and point his toes inward, creating a distinctly feminine posture.

When he picked up a water cup, his long, slender fingers held the handle with his pinky delicately raised, and when pondering a complex problem, he would rest his chin on his hand, his fingertips gently tapping his cheek, his eyes distant, and his expression soft and gentle, in stark contrast to his usual ‘nerdy’ appearance, hidden behind his bangs and glasses.

One evening, Lu Yang returned from his workout, drenched in sweat, and called out, ‘I’m parched! Ellop, do you have any cold water in your thermos? Can you spare some?’

Su Mian was absorbed in a makeup tutorial, taking meticulous notes, and without looking up, he casually replied, ‘Sure, just help yourself,’ his voice soft and sweet, unaware of the change.

He continued to watch the screen, absently playing with a strand of his slightly longer bangs, his eyes focused, and his lips curled into a gentle smile of appreciation.

Lu Yang, without hesitation, gulped down half the cup, sighing with relief. He leaned against the desk, his gaze falling on Su Mian, taking in his crossed legs, raised pinky, and the delicate lines of his profile.

With his straightforward nature, Lu Yang didn’t overthink it, but the image seemed a bit off to him.

He scratched his damp, spiky hair and bluntly remarked, ‘Hey, Ellop, your posture just now… it’s kind of sweet, you know? All girly and shy. Someone might mistake our room for a girls’ dorm!’ He laughed heartily.

Su Mian: ‘……’