Unaware of Tang Sui's inner monologue, Tang Hao and Tang San perceived that Tang Sui, for some unknown reason, had undergone a martial soul mutation, affecting her as well. She was now looking at them with hostility, as if contemplating where to strike, sending chills down their spines.
"Sui Sui?"
Tang San looked up at his sister from the ground, his voice hoarse and filled with uncertainty.
Her face was still familiar, her small frame the same, but her eyes, tinged with a trace of scarlet, were like a placid lake undisturbed by the wind.
Tang Sui's expression was one of blank coldness. Even when she turned to look at Tang San's call, it failed to stir any emotion.
As her gaze fell upon him, she clearly saw his current disheveled state reflected within her eyes, yet it was as if nothing was truly entering or being retained, possessing an air of haughty indifference.
"Sui Sui?"
Was this still Sui Sui?
Had her personality changed due to the martial soul's mutation?
Tang San's peripheral vision caught sight of the fox mask circling Tang Sui. He pushed himself up from the ground with his palm, which was scraped raw by the gravel, and looked with a wary gaze at the third party positioned between him and his sister—the black-robed Tang Hao.
Tang Hao: "..."
He met his son's cautious gaze, rubbed the back of the Clear Sky Hammer with his fingertip, then glanced at the two tense figures, and also fell silent.
If the enemy doesn't move, I don't move.
But... not only were these two not enemies, why were both her father and brother looking at her with such cautious, appraising eyes?
Tang Sui, her face expressionless, continued to mentally poke the system: *'Why did my brother ask a question just now? Could it be that my appearance has mutated in my black-faced state?'*
System: [The host has not changed. What has changed is your aura.]
[In your attacking state, you will be influenced by your black-faced state, appearing like a true demon. Do you understand what I mean?]
Tang Sui: Understood. I need to put on an act this time, maintain my image as a good girl, and not let anything slip.
Thus, Tang Sui remained silent for two seconds. She slightly raised her small hand, and the fox mask hovering beside her, as if pulled by an unseen force, flew towards the Bloodthirsty Demonic Wolf on the ground, which was now barely clinging to life.
Not good!
From Tang Hao's perspective, it looked as if Tang Sui, her aura drastically altered, was controlling her mask martial soul to target Tang San. Without further hesitation, he immediately flashed to Tang San's side. Just as Tang San's eyes widened and he was about to dodge, Tang Hao swiftly grabbed him by the back of his collar and pulled him aside.
"You..." The familiar smell of alcohol assaulted Tang San's nostrils. Having only smelled it at dinner, Tang San's eyes widened slightly. He ceased resisting or attempting to escape from the black-robed figure, staring intently at him, his heart churning with a tempest.
This smell of alcohol... In the entire village, only his father drank so heavily, and only this specific type of liquor.
It couldn't be wrong...
This person... it's Father!
Seeing the father and son recoil as if from an aversion, Tang Sui, who had merely set her sights on the Bloodthirsty Demonic Wolf: "..."
Fine, she'd become the villain.
She made a downward gesture with her hand raised in mid-air. A tide of ominous black and red mist surged from the fox mask, like an overflowing vessel, directly enveloping the Bloodthirsty Demonic Wolf, which now wore a terrified expression on the ground, transforming it into a black and red cocoon of light.
[Beep— 678-year-old soul beast, Bloodthirsty Demonic Wolf, has been converted. Demonic power is increasing.]
[Conversion complete. Congratulations on your soul power breaking through its shackles. Your first soul ring will now be generated. Please prepare yourself.]
What?
Tang Sui froze. The next moment, her soul trembled violently. A powerful tearing sensation, as if her very soul was being ripped in half, surged through her. The pain was like a tidal wave, causing Tang Sui to curl up in mid-air, her hands trembling as she clutched her throbbing head and let out a muffled groan of pain.
"Pain... So much pain..."
— Author's Notes —
Double updates are early! Starting tomorrow, there will be one update at noon and one at night.
From the day after tomorrow, there will be three updates daily. Mwah!