The way back felt the same as the way they had come, only in a reverse direction. Rufeng thought it was easier than riding a horse since horses were harder to keep under control. All of a sudden, a ringing sound came from her waist.

She peered down at her waist as the bell secured to her belt jiggled. The magical demon slayer's bell played the part of sensing demonic energy. A demon had to be lurking around in the area. She needed to be at arms, even if she had no sword!

"Stop, Nan Xi!" she yelled, and leapt off the motorcycle, charging like a madman towards a corner in the darkness. Nan Xi's motorcycle had just passed through a dark street, and she was confident that a demon was around.

She isn't pretending, Nan Xi thought. Should he come clean to Rufeng as to who they were? The question popped up in his mind. But, if she knew their actual identities, would it shock her?\

"Rufeng, wait!" he shouted, and she turned around as he came to view. She didn't know how he had managed to catch up with her. Nevertheless, he had sped towards her and was already standing behind her in just a matter of seconds. For someone slow in pursuing relationships, he was fast.

"Take this," Nan Xi handed her a short dagger that he had just taken from a compartment box in his motorcycle. Inscribed with the Chinese characters 'Nan' in gold, it was a family heirloom that Nan Xi had inherited. The dagger gleamed under the moonlight, and while its power was unknown to Rufeng, it would assist her in conquering evil. Thanking him abruptly, she dashed further into oblivion. She had just assumed a fighting stance and had yet to summon her ancestors. Summoning was a process she would follow while calling upon their powers in demon-slaying, when she realized the demon she was defending the world from, was no other than.. an adorable cat!

She picked up the cat, and it purred in her grasp. How could she believe that this cat was a demon that was capable of threatening humanity with its adorable existence?

"What do you want, woman?" The cat opened its eyes and spoke, giving her the shock of her life. Sure, it was a demon, but it was cuteness overload for her! She undid the magic-infused scarf around her neck and wrapped the creature in it so that it would not be able to escape.

Minutes later, Nan Xi almost burst out laughing when she emerged with the puss in her arms. "You ran like crazy...to catch a cat?" he poked at her. She tossed his dagger at her, and he replaced it in the compartment at the back of his motorbike.

"Let's go back. I'm bringing the cat with us," Rufeng told Nan Xi determinedly.

"Just make sure you take care of it and change the litter," he chuckled. "But mind you, someone in the flat is afraid of cats, and make sure it doesn't get into his way."

She huffed. Was it Shaojun who was afraid of cats? That point was genuinely laughable. Good luck, Yang Shaojun.

...................................................................................

In the morning, the cat was lounging on a rug in the living room as Shaojun cautiously approached. His nervousness invoked Rufeng's laughter. Shaojun heaved a breath as he passed the cat hurriedly, and cast a glare at Rufeng.

The cat ignored him and continued grooming itself.

"Gerald says you are silly," Rufeng told Shaojun with a persistent look on her face.

"Don't you need to have your hair cut or something?" he retorted, and she picked up the cat and headed towards her room. Nan Xi had called in a locksmith first thing in the morning to repair the door and had the doorknob replaced.

"She wasn't joking when she said she was a demon-slayer," Nan Xi told Shaojun in a loud whisper once they were alone. "I saw it for myself last night when she detected demonic energy on the street."

"Uh? Did she find out your identity, then?"

"No, she was distracted." Nan Xi recalled how she hadn't suspected him when he had used his powers to blink towards her to give her the dagger.

"We have to send her away before she finds out," Shaojun declared. "We promised that nobody should know our identity. Remember that, Bro."

"She won't find out," Nan Xi said, and the conversation promptly ended.

After two hours, Nan Xi called out Rufeng and Gerald for lunch. Gerald received a bowl of cat kibble and an additional serving of sardines from a can, while the adults had spaghetti bolognese prepared by no other than the chef-in-the-making Nan Xi himself. His culinary skills were yet another of his abilities.

She realized the men were eyeing the dress which she had torn during the 'brawl' with the cat, and that was the last of the clothes she had. She had run through uncountable accidents with the clothing that Nan Xi had procured for her through thrift shops and what remained of Clares' preloved clothes. She needed new clothes, some that would not tear or wear out so quickly, especially given her rough and unladylike tendencies.

"Rufeng, a friend of mine will accompany you for your hairdresser appointment and some clothes shopping," Nan Xi explained.

"Which friend are you talking about that I don't know of?" Shaojun taunted him.

"Xin Li," Nan Xi smiled shyly, and Shaojun rolled his eyes at his friend.

"Well, if you want to make a go at her, I have no comment."

"Will you help me, Rufeng?" Nan Xi pleaded with his eyes.

Rufeng nodded, but on the other hand, she was glad that Nan Xi was not interested in her. Since he was into Xin Li, which was already evident from the hints he had given, then it was highly unlikely he would have carried a torch for her. He didn't appear to be the Casanova sort, although he looked playful.

"She's here!" Nan Xi exclaimed excitedly as the doorbell rang, and rushed to open it.

"Tell her I'm taking a nap," Shaojun said and disappeared into his room. As much as Xin Li worshipped Shaojun, he didn't want her to get the wrong idea. They were friends and would stay like that in his mind.

Rufeng allowed Gerald to climb on her lap as she watched Nan Xi persuade Xin Li to accompany Rufeng, insisting that he knew nought about clothing and hairstyle choices. A wave of disappointment washed over Xin Li's pretty face to tell that Shaojun was napping in his room, and Rufeng suspected this was the 'feelings of love' that she had seen portrayed in the dramas that often broadcasted on television. It had taken her some time to get accustomed to those floating faces and sometimes complete with bodies in a box, but the men had told her they were just video recordings of people, like how Shaojun had demonstrated the other day.

She thought Xin Li a little chubbier than the women back then during her time and owned bigger feet. Plus, she was a little more talkative than the women back then. During her era, women of noble families had bound feet, but even those who did not bind their feet had much smaller feet than Xin Li, and they had been skinny. Women were not in the least expected to voice their opinions as well, unlike how Xin Li was chatting with Nan Xi right now. However, she was an exception as she did not belong to a noble family, but judging how Xin Li dressed, she had to be from a family of good standing.

If Nan Xi liked Xin Li, how should she help him? Rufeng wondered. She racked her brains and thought of a solution. Maybe she could create an 'accident', and Nan Xi could save her?

She was then aware that the duo was now staring at her like she was an alien.

"When are you going to make a move?" Nan Xi asked. "Your appointment is at one o'clock, and it's already half-past twelve!" "What are those numbers again?" Rufeng responded queerly, and the cat jumped her lap playfully, falling to the ground with a soft thud. Nan Xi hit the side of his head with a loud sigh.