The hallway was quiet. Too quiet.
Kenny slowly pushed open Shen Seizan's bedroom door.
A soft murmur was coming from inside.
His heart skipped a beat when he saw his elder brother Shen lying on the bed, eyes half-closed—yet whispering… to someone.
But… there was no one there.
"Brother Shen…?" Kenny's voice trembled.
At once, Shen turned his head toward Kenny—and smiled.
But it wasn't his usual gentle smile.
It was twisted. Wide. Demonic.
Terrified, Kenny turned and ran straight to Vixen.
"Brother Vixen … something's wrong with Brother Shen," Kenny gasped, clutching Vixen's sleeve.
Kin immediately stepped closer, concern in his eyes.
"What happened, little Kenny?"
Kenny's voice was still shaking. "Brother Shen… he was smiling at me in a strange, scary way… like he was talking to someone. But there was no one else in the room…"
Kin's expression darkened.
"Brother Shen is… not well right now," Kin replied softly. "Give him some time. Talk to him again later—when he's better."
To calm Kenny down, Vixen and Kin spent the evening talking about school and science, filling the room with laughter and warmth.
Later, Vixen offered to walk Kenny home.
But just as Vixen was returning, he noticed a group of men moving in the direction of the jungle—quiet, swift, in a line.
Frowning, Vixen stopped them. "Excuse me, where are you going? That way leads into the jungle."
The men ignored him, walking faster.
"I said—where are you going?" Vixen demanded again, stepping forward.
One of them turned—and attacked.
Vixen's instincts kicked in. Without hesitation, he released his pheromones, forming a shimmering barrier of protective force. The attacker's movement froze mid-air, repelled violently.
As the rest of the men tried to lunge, Vixen's body pulsed with energy.
A wave of pheromones burst out—rendering all of them unconscious in seconds.
Panting, he hurried home and immediately searched for Kin.
When he saw Kin safe, sitting and reading a book in the living room, he exhaled in relief.
But Kin's eyes widened in alarm.
"Vixen! Your lip—it's bleeding! What happened?"
"Don't ask…" Vixen said, wiping away the blood. "Some strangers tried to attack me when I stopped them from going into the jungle."
Kin's expression hardened. He grabbed Vixen's hands.
"Whatever you do… next time, don't face them alone. I don't want to lose you."
Then, gently, he applied antiseptic to Vixen's wounded lip and softly kissed his cheek.
Night fell.
Vixen and Kin were just about to go to bed when Shen suddenly burst into their room.
"There are bugs in my room," Shen said in a frightened voice. "Lots of them. Kin, please come help me—they're not going away."
Kin raised an eyebrow, laughing.
"You're the police inspector here, and you're scared of little insects?"
Shen didn't smile.
"I swear… they'll eat me if you don't help. Please."
Sighing, Vixen stood up. "I'll go check."
But when he entered Shen's room, there was nothing. No bugs. No spiders. Nothing strange.
He returned to tell Shen, but Shen shook his head violently.
"They're there. I saw them! Kin—please, check again. Please…"
Kin chuckled and reluctantly went to check.
He crouched down, looking beneath the bed—just to prove Shen wrong.
And then he froze.
Under the bed…
Two glowing eyes stared back at him—eyes that gleamed like wet obsidian.
A black, shadowy figure was curled beneath the frame, its eyes locked onto his.
It didn't move.
Kin screamed.
Vixen rushed in, grabbing Kin by the arm. "What happened?!"
Kin was shaking.
"Something's under the bed. Something black—it was staring at me!"
Vixen took a deep breath and said quietly, "Tomorrow… let's take Shen to the old Buddha temple just outside the village."
Kin looked into Vixen's eyes and nodded.
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Continue.....