Perhaps even Hiratsuka Shizuka had never imagined.
That her desolate apartment would one day become so lively.
Night fell.
The rich aroma of red wine beef stew wafted from the kitchen.
In the living room.
Lu Ren played the guitar, and Hiratsuka Shizuka leaned on his shoulder.
"You're too fake like this."
"Only beginners hold a guitar like that."
"Goto-san will see through it immediately."
"Here! A real guitarist should hold it like this."
Hiratsuka Shizuka held the young man's hand, correcting his incorrect posture.
Lu Ren's back was broad, and to hold his hands, Hiratsuka Shizuka's cheek was almost touching Lu Ren's ear.
Thump!
Thump!
Lu Ren's heart started to pound faster again.
Compared to Jing Ke'ai (Cute Shizu) who acted cute and threw tantrums, she, as a teacher, was more charming.
Hiratsuka Shizuka's guidance was very professional.
Lu Ren also learned very seriously.
Time passed quickly… "Master, dinner is ready~!"
It wasn't until Tamamo-no-Mae poked her head out of the kitchen and called them for dinner.
Lu Ren, who had just learned chords, stopped practicing and turned to look at Hiratsuka Shizuka.
"You have a lot of talent."
"If you keep this up, you'll Master the techniques very quickly."
"One day, you'll become an excellent guitarist."
Hiratsuka Shizuka patted Lu Ren's shoulder, giving him encouraging praise.
"I don't want to be a guitarist."
"My dream is…"
"To find a rich older woman and live happily ever after."
Lu Ren smiled, shook his head, and teased Hiratsuka Shizuka behind him.
"A rich older woman…?"
"Eh—?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka sensed something, and a tempting blush appeared on her delicate cheeks!
Although she usually appeared very composed.
In matters of love, however, she was completely naive.
In fact… just a few jokes would make her drop her pretense and reveal her clumsy side.
"Xiao Lu!"
"You… what are you… talking about!"
"I… I am… I am your teacher!"
Hiratsuka Shizuka hastily stated her identity.
She pretended to adjust her hair, trying to cover her blushing cheeks with her bangs.
She was completely flustered, and her accelerating heartbeat was clearly audible to Lu Ren.
Perhaps… influenced by Yakumo Yukari and Tamamo-no-Mae… Lu Ren's personality also acquired a touch of mischief… He got up and first put the guitar back in its case.
Then… he leaned down and whispered mischievously into Hiratsuka Shizuka's ear… "Then…"
"What about three years from now…"
…Hiratsuka Shizuka was stunned once again.
She sat on the sofa, not recovering for a long time.
Tamamo-no-Mae covered her mouth and chuckled, coming to Lu Ren's side.
She mischievously sized up this ordinary human who knew nothing about love.
The prank was over.
Lu Ren turned and left.
Tamamo-no-Mae wanted to follow, but he stopped her with a raised hand.
"Tamamo, I need to go out for a bit."
"You stay home and protect Sister Shizuka."
Lu Ren instructed Tamamo-no-Mae, his voice lacking its usual casualness.
Instead, there was authority and the coldness of an almost judgmental figure.
"As you command, Master…"
Tamamo-no-Mae also set aside her playful attitude, showing a more composed side.
After receiving Tamamo-no-Mae's response, Lu Ren looked at Hiratsuka Shizuka again.
"Sister Shizuka, I'm going to see a friend."
"I'll be back soon."
Lu Ren casually made up an excuse and, under Hiratsuka Shizuka's gaze, left the apartment alone.
... The back mountain... a place sparsely populated since ancient times, was the dwelling place of Yokai.
Now, night had fallen.
In the depths of the forest, where absolutely no human would ever set foot.
Lights were blazing, and sounds of revelry echoed.
A stooped, scrawny, green-skinned Yokai was raising a cup of fine wine, pouring it into the bowl of a white-clothed woman.
"Hahaha! Truly worthy of being our Big Sister!"
"You leave us in the dust."
A red-skinned, one-eyed Yokai over three meters tall, bowed obsequiously, flattering the white-clothed woman opposite her.
In a clearing less than ten square meters, more than a dozen small Yokai of different appearances gathered.
Apparently... these Yokai belonged to the same faction.
Their chosen leader was a Yokai named Yao Ying (Demon Shadow).
The so-called Yao Ying (Demon Shadow) was born from urban legends.
She was also often called: The Woman in the Alley.
She would deploy avatars everywhere, like bait for fishing.
Once someone spoke to her, they would be afflicted with her curse.
The avatar would follow the person, gradually closing in on the prey!
On the street... outside the apartment... in the living room... by the bed... she would emit sounds like grinding teeth.
From a psychological level, she would break down the prey's defenses!
When the prey's fear reached its peak!
On the fifth day, she would reveal her true form and cruelly devour the prey!
...Even among Yokai, her type belonged to the most vicious!
As a new generation Yokai, she looked down on those past Yokai seniors.
She believed those great Yokai had been corrupted by comfort, long losing their former glory.
They were nothing but old-fashioned things, not worth mentioning at all!
And precisely because of this!
Even sensing Tamamo-no-Mae's aura, she still refused to give up!
She even wanted to challenge this legendary great Yokai!
...Hearing their leader's declaration... the surrounding small Yokai also chimed in with flattery.
"Second Brother is right!"
"Mere humans are nothing but livestock to be raised!"
"Their fear is our best nourishment!"
The cunning small Yokai cleverly flattered and fawned over their leader.
For a moment.
The female monster named Yao Ying (Demon Shadow) was so flattered she forgot herself!
"Hahaha!"
"Come! Drink!"
She excitedly raised her wine bowl, signaling her subordinates to drink this cup with her!
One by one, the small Yokai insincerely raised their cups, scrambling to offer toasts.
But at this moment... the space around the Yokai seemed to be smashed by an angry god's punch!
It shattered into an irregular space rift, over ten meters long and wide!
That invisible impact instantly shattered the Yokai into bloody pulp!
The splashing blood stained Yao Ying (Demon Shadow)'s white clothes.
Even the cloudy wine in her bowl turned blood-red!
The terrified Yao Ying (Demon Shadow) could no longer hold the bloody wine steady.
Crack!
The wine bowl fell to the ground, shattering into irregular ceramic pieces.
And at this moment... a gentle voice sounded from the depths of the space rift.
"Finally..."
"I've found you..."