I Went Crazy Killing in the World of Gods and Demons - Chapter 60

Chapter 60

Xie Qingling’s footsteps faltered.

Xia Ke’er… was she human, or a demon?

She had seen Xia Ke’er perform, had seen her face, even spoken with her face-to-face.

Back then, Xia Ke’er had been completely normal, with no visible abnormalities about her appearance.

In such a short time, a perfectly fine person had suddenly become like this. Xie Qingling’s emotions were too complex to put into words.

Yet unexpectedly, Xia Ke’er was even more shocked and terrified than they were.

“Ah” Xia Ke’er let out a scream that was neither human nor beast, resembling both an infant’s wail and a fox’s cry, utterly bizarre.

Panic-stricken, she randomly threw away the half-eaten chicken in her hand. The bleeding chicken traced an arc through the air, blood splattering chaotically across the floor, some staining the walls, leaving the bathroom in complete disarray.

Xia Ke’er raised her hands, stained with chicken blood and feathers, and covered her own face, shouting incoherently: “Go… go away… Don’t… don’t look… Don’t look at me!!”

Xie Qingling saw that the hands covering her cheeks were growing a thin layer of white fur, faintly quivering.

Like a fox, yet not quite. Human, yet not human.

Xia Ke’er twisted her body, trying to shake off Xie Qingling’s grip on her shoulder, but couldn’t break free.

Growing increasingly agitated, Xia Ke’er lowered her hands from her face, her expression turning ferocious. Then, her pale face faintly began to resemble that of a fox.

“Xia Ke’er?” Xie Qingling drew a knife with one hand, hesitated for a moment, then put it away.

Because under Xie Qingling’s palm, she could feel Xia Ke’er trembling.

She was scared, evasive, but showed no intent to attack.

These reactions were more akin to human emotions than bestial instincts.

Just then, Xia Ke’er’s body suddenly stiffened. She turned her head toward Xie Qingling, opened her mouth, and exhaled sharply.

When her mouth opened, it revealed sharp fangs still stained with blood.

From the side, Shen Huaizhou said gravely: “She’s transforming into a demon, Xie Qingling, step away from her!”

A light “clink” sound came from the bedroom window as something landed on the windowsill. As if summoned, Xia Ke’er erupted with unexpected strength, shoving Xie Qingling away violently, then crawled on all fours like a wild beast, charging swiftly toward the window.

Shen Huaizhou immediately drew a throwing knife and hurled it.

Just as the knife was about to strike Xia Ke’er’s ankle, it met some invisible obstruction mid-air, halting its flight and hanging suspended.

Moments later, a deep sigh echoed through the air. Starting from where the knife hung, Xia Tian’s figure gradually materialized.

Within moments, his form became fully visible.

It was Xia Tian, kneeling on one knee, holding Shen Huaizhou’s throwing knife between two fingers.

“Enough.” Xia Tian tossed Shen Huaizhou’s knife aside.

Frowning, Xie Qingling remained extremely wary of this fox. She immediately drew Blood Oath, watching him with a guarded expression.

However, Xia Tian paid no attention to her actions, not even glancing her way. He gently stroked Xia Ke’er’s tear-and-blood-streaked face and said softly, “Don’t be afraid. You’re humanthey won’t harm you.”

But Xia Ke’er remained completely unsoothed, still staring at Xie Qingling and the others with terror-stricken eyes before burying her face deeply in Xia Tian’s embrace.

Xia Tian sighed again, patted Xia Ke’er’s head, and then the panicked girl closed her eyes and fell into slumber.

Only after doing all this did Xia Tian look up at Xie Qingling and say, “You came for me. None of this has anything to do with her. She’s human, not a monster.”

Shen Huaizhou glanced at the white fuzz on Xia Ke’er’s arm and snorted coldly, “Is that so?” His disbelief was evident. Simultaneously, he tightened his grip on another throwing knife, poised for battle at any moment.

Having already lost one tail, Xia Tian stood at a clear disadvantage against a Devotee of the Tushan clan. He showed no intention of fighting, his face turning ashen. After a dazed pause, he finally said slowly, “This is all my fault. Because Ke’er made offerings to me, she suffered backlash. She’s been affected by me, which is why she’s become this half-human, half-monster form.”

This time, Xia Tian’s expression appeared much more sincere as he continued, “Just… just a little Human Qi, only a tiny bit, and she can regain human form and control herself properly. She won’t harm othersshe’s been hiding all this time to avoid being seen. She only hurts herself.”

At that moment, another heavy snort echoed through the room, this time from Xie Qingling.

“A little Human Qi? Just a little? Are you planning to absorb it from the housekeeper? Or from the live audience?”

“You’ve been doing this all along, haven’t you? Stealing others’ Human Qi to maintain her human form?” Xie Qingling said. “What a touching display of offering borrowed flowers to Buddha.”

Hearing Xie Qingling’s sarcastic remarks, Xia Tian grew agitated and retorted loudly, “I haven’t harmed anyone! I only take a little each time! Really, just a tiny amount!”

“Is that so?” Xie Qingling remained unmoved. “If it really only required a little, then why has she transformed into this monstrous state? Why can’t you help her maintain human form anymore?”

These words made Xia Tian’s face turn deathly pale. His lips trembled, but no words came out.

“Besides, no one else is obligated to be your blood bags. A little today, a bit tomorrowsoon it won’t be just small amounts anymore. Stolen goods remain stolen. Do you think taking just a little means it’s not theft? That’s someone else’s possessionit doesn’t belong to you. Recently, more and more audience members have been falling ill. Doesn’t that prove the situation is slipping beyond your control? You’re taking more and more while becoming increasingly powerless, aren’t you?”

“Xia Tian, you can’t even control yourself anymore. Stop deceiving yourself,” Xie Qingling stated.

“Stop being so stubborn. If you truly want to save Xia Ke’er, honestly tell us how to end all this, then obediently surrender without wasting our time.”

Xie Qingling meaningfully glanced at the unconscious Xia Ke’er, “Judging by her condition, time seems to be running out.”

Loss of reason, consuming raw flesh and blood, devouring live chickens, crawling on all fours.

Was this still human?

Xia Tian trembled all over, indeed showing a pained expression.

It looked at Xie Qingling and suddenly smiled, though the smile appeared quite sorrowful. It said: “I sought you out from the beginning precisely for this.”

“As long as the worship stops and the contract between her and me ends, I will leave forever, and Xia Ke’er will cease her demonic transformation. Everything will return to normal. But I no longer have the power to end it myself – I can only rely on you now.”

Xie Qingling touched the hilt of Blood Oath, unable to detect any other clues from its expression and movements, momentarily hesitant.

This fox had a criminal record, so Xie Qingling didn’t trust it at all.

Cunning foxes deceive people, they’re experts at playing with human hearts.

Xie Qingling said: “Are you begging us? When begging someone, you need to show your sincerity. Where is your sincerity? I don’t see it.”

Xia Tian nodded and said: “When I cultivated in the mountains before, I learned many human etiquettes.”

It put down Xia Ke’er, adjusted its posture, then knelt before Xie Qingling.

“Is this correct?” Xia Tian murmured, “Perhaps I should also kowtow.”

While speaking, it formally performed the grand ceremony of three kneelings and nine prostrations.

“Please, save her. I beg you.”

A fox, imitating human appearance, learning human etiquette, bowing its head, bending its waist, adopting a respectful and humble posture while making its plea.

Xie Qingling and Shen Huaizhou exchanged glances.

Xia Ke’er was human – protecting her was their duty, they would definitely save her.

It was just this fox that posed some difficulty.

Then, Shen Huaizhou took out the Shrine from the silver case and said: “Please enter and come with us.”

Use banners to capture ghosts, use shrines to invite spirits.

Once entering the specially made Shrine, it would be like becoming fish on the chopping block.

Xia Tian probably understood what entering the Shrine meant for it.

It took a deep look at the Shrine, then picked up Xia Ke’er from the ground, its body trembling slightly.

It slowly walked up to Xie Qingling and whispered: “Then I’ll leave it to you.”

After handing Xia Ke’er over to Xie Qingling, Xia Tian transformed into a wisp of blue smoke and disappeared.

Afterwards, the previously empty Shrine now contained a fox statue.

The fox incarnation sat crouched on a rock, its tail half-wrapped around its body, looking back to reveal its fox face. The statue’s material resembled neither stone nor iron, with something like patina crawling over it, giving off an ancient and rustic aura.

Xie Qingling glanced down at Xia Ke’er, whose body was now covered in fine fur, then looked at the statue in the shrine, and finally at Shen Huaizhou. She frowned in dilemma and asked, “How does the department usually handle situations like this?”

Shen Huaizhou replied, “I don’t know. This is the first time the department has encountered such a case. There’s no precedent to followwe’ll have to figure it out ourselves.”

Xie Qingling fell silent.

“Well… you take the fox back to the office first, then report to the director and seek his instructions,” Xie Qingling said. “In Xia Ke’er’s current state, she definitely can’t leave this place anytime soon. I need to stay here to keep watch and prevent any further incidents. After you leave, have Ye Anran come over. We’ll need her assistance here.”

“Alright.” Shen Huaizhou had no objections to this arrangement. He packed the shrine back into its box and left.

As Shen Huaizhou carried the box downstairs, he encountered the timid yet curiously peeking housemaid at the stairwell corner. Her face was pale with fear, but she couldn’t resist testing the dangerous boundaries of her curiosity.

Seeing Shen Huaizhou descend, the housemaid visibly relaxed and immediately said, “I… I heard noises from the second floor but didn’t dare go up! Wait, didn’t you all leave earlier? Why are you coming from upstairs? What happened up there?”

Looking at this tall, strikingly beautiful girl, the housemaid felt an inexplicable sense of security.

Then she heard a deep male voice utter: “Mirage…”

And then… then she knew nothing more.

Before she could even process her shock at Shen Huaizhou’s voice, she had already fallen into the Illusionary Realm he woven for her.

Shen Huaizhou activated his earpiece. “Director, the situation is mostly resolved.”

“Though Xia Ke’er’s condition remains complicated.”

“I’m bringing the Fox immortal back to the office now. Have Ye Anran provide support at the scene.”

“We can wrap up the operation.”

…

Evening.

The sunset glow streamed through the wide-open window, casting a thin layer of gold across the floor.

The master bedroom remained unlit. In the dim, ambiguous light, a white fox with human-like limbs lay sprawled across the bed. Its limbs were arranged in a casually elegant posture, carrying a strange beauty reminiscent of a graceful human restingyet it was unmistakably a fox.

The fox possessed brilliantly shining eyes, gem-like and exceptionally beautiful.

At this moment, the fox was speaking in human tongue, its voice equally captivating.

It said, “It’s you. I remember you.”

“I remember you too,” Xie Qingling responded. “When we first met, you were on stage as a human. But now… you’ve become a fox.”

“Xia Ke’er, do you regret it? Taking crooked paths, straying from the right way, bringing this ruin upon yourself. Neither human nor ghost.”

Xia Ke’er remained silent, quietly lying there while gazing at the fading sunlight, lost in unknowable thoughts.

Ye Anran stood to the side, pacing back and forth, her high ponytail swaying with each step. Seeing Xia Ke’er like this, she said with some irritation, “Don’t you dare remain deluded! Let me tell you, if it weren’t for me using the Yin-Yang Exterior-Interior Needle to regulate the chaotic demonic energy raging inside your body, you’d still be a bloodthirsty monster! How could you be chatting with us so leisurely now?”

“You should obediently listen to us and tell us how to break the contract with the foxthat’s the real priority,” Ye Anran said. “Don’t waste all our efforts, and don’t waste any more time.”

Xia Ke’er remained silent about breaking the contract. Slowly turning her fox head, she asked in a low voice, “Where is Xia Tian? Is it… still alive?”

Hearing this, Ye Anran couldn’t help but roll her eyes and said, “It brought you to such a miserable state, and even now, you still care whether it’s dead or alive? You really are kind-hearted to a fault.”

Ye Anran’s tone carried a biting, almost exasperated sharpness, as if she were gritting her teeth.

“But sorry, we can’t tell youthat’s none of your business.”

Xia Ke’er’s fox face showed no clear expression.

She simply shook her head and said, “No, that’s not it.”

“I became like this because of myself.”

“It was meI turned myself into a monster.”