Lin En struggled to tear his gaze away from the three heads she was holding, his expression growing serious as he exhaled and said, "I''ve indeed run into some trouble, and it''s quite significant. I tried to handle it myself, but as you can see..."


    He spread his arms, looking innocent. "I''ve at least lost a pint of blood."


    The Blood-Clad Wraith chuckled, "It seems our notorious apothecary owner has encountered something he can''t solve?"


    Lin En adjusted the snake within his glasses and replied earnestly, "Yes, so let''s make a deal. I know you''re incredibly powerful. If you can help me get rid of the monster hunting me, how about I waive your bill for five months?"


    "A bargain, just this once, don''t miss out on this opportunity~"


    The Blood-Clad Wraith continued to smile without moving. "Since you said you''re being hunted, yet you''re calmly standing here chatting with me, aren''t you worried at all?"


    Lin En rubbed his temples and said seriously, "Does worrying solve anything?"


    The Blood-Clad Wraith''s smile grew even brighter.


    Behind them, a rolling crimson mist surged towards them.


    Boom—


    Boom—


    The ground-shaking roars echoed like an earthquake.


    [Warning! Warning! A crisis is rapidly approaching!]


    [Warning! Warning! A crisis is rapidly approaching!]


    Yet Lin En remained still, looking into her smiling eyes, finally exhaling, "Then name your price, state your conditions, is that enough? I don''t think you really want to see me die, do you?"


    The Blood-Clad Wraith chuckled, "Seems like you''ve got me figured out."


    "But since you asked me to name my terms, I won''t hold back."


    She lightly licked the corner of her mouth, then leaned forward slightly, her alluring red lips brushing against his cheek.


    A heady scent of blood wafted from her, filling Lin En''s nostrils.


    "You."Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    "You haven''t really submitted to me, have you?"


    The voice whispered like a devil''s murmur in his ear.


    "Then beg me."


    "Kneel before me, lick my toes, tell me you''re willing to submit, and I''ll help you."


    The corner of her mouth, pressed against Lin En''s face, curled up playfully.


    A brief silence.


    The air seemed to freeze.


    "Is this flirting?" Lin En tilted his head, smiling at her.


    "No." The Blood-Clad Wraith maintained her smile, "I don''t like flirting at times like this."


    Silence.


    Rumbling spread around them.


    The next moment.


    Lin En''s lips curled.


    "Let''s go."


    He patted her shoulder and swiftly moved past her.


    Donning the hood of his blood-red cloak, he darted into the depths of the street''s black mist like a night prowler.


    "If the shop can still open normally tomorrow morning, I''ll help lift your curse. Of course, I can give you a discount."


    "See you next time!"


    Lin En raised his chin, giving a thumbs-up to the curious doll peeking from her arms, a bright smile on his lips.


    The next moment, his figure vanished into the distant black mist.


    No explanations.


    No responses.


    As if the question needed no answer.


    In place.


    The Blood-Clad Wraith stood there, staring into the distance where Lin En had disappeared.


    She seemed a bit taken aback, a bit amused, a bit...


    Impressed.


    "This guy..."


    She rubbed her forehead, a slight helplessness on her face.


    "Really is..."


    Whoosh—


    A tentacle shot into the black mist, instantly pulling the retreating Lin En back.


    Before he could react, he was enveloped in the Blood-Clad Wraith''s affectionate embrace, her ample bosom smothering him.


    "Too cute!!"


    [Ding! Blood-Clad Wraith''s favorability towards you +10]


    [Ding! Blood-Clad Wraith''s favorability towards you +10]


    "Just kidding! Just kidding! No wonder you''re the boy who can lift my curse. When you act manly, it''s really quite charming~"


    "And that smile earlier was super handsome. I love boys who can stay strong in critical moments. It really brings out my maternal instincts! ☆(≧?≦*)?"


    "Love it! Love it!"


    "Oda Oda!!" The doll waved its straw enthusiastically.


    The Blood-Clad Wraith held Lin En''s head with a face full of happiness and affection, swaying like she was holding a doll.


    Lin En struggled like a small boat in a storm, unable to escape the wicked embrace.


    The ample bosom was like a raging sea, tossing Lin En up and down.


    Finally, he managed to catch his breath.


    "What do you mean by this?!"


    "It means..."


    [Crisis Level 90%]


    [Crisis Level 100%]


    Lin En finally struggled to poke his head out from the suffocating embrace, and at that moment, he saw the face, split open with sharp barbs and tentacles, close at hand.


    The cheeks hanging on either side wore a split smile.


    "Helped you, didn''t I?"


    Whoosh—


    In an instant.


    Countless sinister, black tentacles shot out from her body.


    They pierced the ground like vines, cracking the earth into massive stones, easily wrapped by the tentacles, occupying the entire street like vines.


    Boom—


    A violent sound of breaking air.


    Dozens of loud crashes.


    The flying stones instantly halted the monster''s steps in the blood mist.


    As the blood mist dispersed, the twisted flesh puppet slowly came into view, its massive vertical pupil staring at Lin En and the Blood-Clad Wraith.


    "Target confirmed... Initiating hunt..."


    "High-intensity secondary target interference detected... Analyzing information..."


    "Race... Wraith conglomerate... Devour priority... High... Intensity analysis... High..."


    Lin En stared in shock at the scene.


    The Blood-Clad Wraith smiled, handing the doll to Lin En, elegantly stepping forward.


    She walked towards the flesh puppet, her long, white fingers growing nearly half a meter of black, blood-dripping nails.


    Her frenzied hair transformed into countless venomous snakes with human faces.


    Snap—


    When she raised her head again, she had become a demon with eyes filled with chaotic joy and madness.


    "Lin En, you''ve really provoked a tough monster this time, hehehe."


    Her mouth split to her ears, long nails dangling in front, swaying as she walked, a disturbingly manic laughter echoing from her throat.


    "......"


    Lin En, wide-eyed, holding the doll, quickly retreated, "Be careful, this guy isn''t easy to deal with, don''t underestimate it!"


    Lin En quickly relayed all the information he knew to the Blood-Clad Wraith, detailing the traits and tactics he had tested.


    "Not easy to deal with... hehehe... not easy to deal with..."


    The Blood-Clad Wraith''s smile grew more manic.


    She swayed her body slowly.


    The frenzied curse on her body rose almost tangibly, even Lin En standing behind her felt the immense chill and chaos.