Based on my recent interactions with Lin Feng, I’m starting to think he’s a moody maniac.
One moment, he’s threatening to kill me, and the next, he’s holding me in his arms like I’m some precious treasure.
Honestly, it’s kind of thrilling!
“Since things have already turned out this way… just settle down and be my demon. I’ll treat you well,” he said softly.
“And as for what just happened, I can let it go.”
I looked up and met Lin Feng’s eyes. For a split second, I caught a flicker of emotion I couldn’t quite read.
“Hmph.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked, confused.
Lin Feng let go of me and headed toward the cave entrance.
I hurried after him, only then realizing we were in a mountain cave.
At some point, Lin Feng had retracted his snake tail and now walked on long, slender human legs.
He moved so quickly that I struggled to keep up.
I mustered all my energy and grabbed his hand. “Wait for me!”
“My name’s Mei Chen… I still don’t know what to call you.”
He paused, his steps slowing.
“Lin Feng.”
He didn’t say another word the whole way, but he didn’t pull his hand away from mine either.
“So, your name is Lin Feng… Is it because you’re a green snake? Your tail looked green to me.”
He ignored me.
“Why were you lying on that rock? Where’s your home? Are your family members green snakes too?”
“Tsk!” Lin Feng shot me a glare.
“I just want to talk! You’re the first demon I’ve ever caught—I want to get to know you.”
“No need for that.”
Annoyed, I let go of his hand.
Lin Feng glanced at my hand and frowned.
“I’m not a green snake. I used to be yellow.”
“I was sunbathing on the rock for calcium.”
“My home is somewhere high up.”
“I have no family.”
It took me a moment to realize he was actually answering my questions.
“Well… you didn’t have to say so much.”
Lin Feng reached out his hand to me.
“W-what?”
“Can I hold your hand again now?”
Carefully, I placed my hand in his. Even though snake demons are supposed to be cold-blooded, Lin Feng’s hand was surprisingly warm.
I brought Lin Feng home with me.
Both my parents are beast tamers, but they’re the lowest rank, so they don’t make much money from it. Instead, they run a small convenience store.
When they saw me bring Lin Feng home, they couldn’t stop smiling.
My dad circled Lin Feng, beaming. “Wow! My girl, you actually caught a thousand-year-old snake demon! Our family finally has a real talent!”
My mom grabbed Lin Feng’s fair hand and wouldn’t stop touching it. “He’s just so handsome…”
Lin Feng’s face turned stormy. He shot me a threatening look, and I immediately understood.
I quickly stepped in front of Lin Feng. “Mom, Dad, Lin Feng’s a bit shy. I’ll just take him upstairs to my room.”
I dragged Lin Feng up to my room on the second floor.
Lin Feng sat on my bed, eyeing the little peach prints on my sheets, and suddenly burst out laughing.
“What’s so funny?”
He pointed at the peaches. “You like peaches?”
“Who doesn’t? They’re delicious!”
Lin Feng looked around my room. Thankfully, it wasn’t too messy, or I’d have died of embarrassment.
Suddenly, he sniffed the air.
“This whole place smells like you.”
“Well, of course. I’ve lived here since I was a kid.”
Lin Feng slowly leaned closer, giving me a flirty wink. “Smells nice.”
The atmosphere was getting a little too charged, and I nervously swallowed before making my request.
“So, now that I’m technically your master, does that mean you’ll do whatever I ask?”
Lin Feng gave a lazy smile. “Oh? Tell me, and I’ll consider it.”
“Let me see your mark again.”
Lin Feng began to unbutton his shirt, taking his sweet time.
Knock, knock, knock!
A knock at the door interrupted my moment.
My mom was at the door, sneaking glances at Lin Feng behind me.
“Mom… what brings you here?” I asked, quickly shutting the door behind me.
She pulled me aside, her eyes full of hope and pride.
“My little Mei, you’ve really grown up. You can catch demons all by yourself now!”
“Tell me, how did you catch him?”
How was I supposed to explain? I tried to catch him, tripped on a rock, accidentally stole his first kiss, and now we’re marked for life?
“I just… caught him, that’s all.”
Mom stroked my cheek proudly. “But I do worry about one thing…”
“Demons and humans are different, you know. They’ve lived for thousands of years and seen so much. Some demons hate weak humans, and even more hate being controlled by them. There are even demons who get stronger by absorbing human energy through… relationships…”
I understood what she meant—she was afraid Lin Feng would hurt me. But I remembered the life-bond mark between us.
“Don’t worry, Mom. I know what I’m doing. Lin Feng isn’t like that.”
She sighed and nodded. “Alright. Oh, don’t forget you’re meeting Qi Liao tomorrow.”
I stared at her. “Qi Liao?!”
Qi Liao was my childhood playmate, but we lost touch as we grew up. I never liked him much—he always teased me at the Beast Tamer Academy.
But since our families are close, I couldn’t just cut him off. Honestly, I’d gone out to catch a demon just to avoid this meeting.
“Qi Liao keeps saying he wants to see you. Just meet him once. You two used to be such good friends! And I heard he’s grown up to be quite the handsome young man, and a talented beast tamer too.”
“Mom! I really don’t want to see him.”
“Just go! He’s famous now, and you can talk about beast taming together.”
I had no way out, so I reluctantly agreed.
Chapter 03
*