Chapter Twelve: The Wish of the White Shadow

“Come here, you rascal, your mother wants to talk to you,” Su Su pulled Qin Xiaochuan into the living room after leading Xia Dan into the dining room. She grabbed Xiaochuan’s arm and spoke quietly to him, “What’s going on with this Xia Dan girl? I saw you two chatting so intimately. If you dare to two-time Fan Fan behind her back, I’ll be the first to deal with you, you little scoundrel. Remember that!” As she spoke, Su Su jabbed Xiaochuan’s forehead firmly, her tone full of warning. It was clear that Fan Fan, her soon-to-be daughter-in-law, had long been on Su Su’s mind.

“Mom, what are you talking about? It’s nothing like that at all, you’ve misunderstood me, really… How do I explain…”

At that moment, not far from the brightly lit Qin family home, Bai Ying was standing on a rooftop railing, watching everything unfolding inside from afar. It seemed he wanted to know more about Qin Xiaochuan as well.

Three days later, while wandering aimlessly around the school, Qin Xiaochuan was called from behind by a fellow student.

“Qin Xiaochuan, someone’s looking for you at the school gate.”

“Heh, it’s been a while since anyone dared to come looking for trouble. Let’s see who’s so bold.” Hearing there might be a fight, Qin Xiaochuan dashed downstairs at lightning speed. Clearly, fighting was his favorite way to kill time.

“Huh, it’s you, Bai Ying?” Seeing Bai Ying, who had arranged to meet him three days earlier, standing at the gate, Qin Xiaochuan ran over and stopped in front of him.

“Today’s the day we agreed to return the treasure, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, never thought you’d come to school to find me. I was wondering where I’d find you.” Qin Xiaochuan scratched his head, truthfully, he’d completely forgotten about their agreement.

“Actually, before returning it, I want to take you to meet someone.”

“You want to take me… to meet someone?” Bai Ying’s words surprised Qin Xiaochuan. Who?

“Come with me. I promise you won’t be hurt.” Without waiting for Qin Xiaochuan’s reply, Bai Ying turned and walked across the street. Watching him cross, Qin Xiaochuan hesitated briefly before following.

“This is… a hospital…” Staring at the inpatient building, Qin Xiaochuan felt a little uneasy. What was this guy up to? Planning to kill him here? No, there were so many people around.

Watching Bai Ying walk into the inpatient building, Qin Xiaochuan followed closely. Determined to get to the bottom of it, he went with Bai Ying up the elevator. In a room on the fifth floor, a woman in her thirties was resting in bed. Seeing Bai Ying bring a friend in, she struggled to sit up.

“Oh… how rare, you actually brought a friend.” Bai Ying hurried forward to support her. “Mom, you can stay lying down, don’t get up. How are you feeling today?”

“Much better today, and this is…?”

“This is my classmate, Qin Xiaochuan.”

“So you’re Xiaochuan. Come, have some fruit.” She handed him an apple from the table.

“Thank you, Auntie.” As he reached for the fruit, Xiaochuan noticed a large patch of scar tissue on her arm, the remnants of some old injury. They looked as if they had been cut by something sharp, but since this was his first meeting with her, he felt awkward asking. After taking the apple, he found a stool and sat beside the bed.

“Mom, let me peel some fruit for you, just lie down…” Bai Ying tugged the blanket over his mother and picked up a fruit to peel.

“No need, Luffy, you eat it. I don’t have much appetite these days…”

“That won’t do. You need to eat more fruit to regain your strength.”

“All right, all right, my Luffy is so strict…” After his mother finished the apple and lay down to rest, Bai Ying tucked her in and took Qin Xiaochuan up to the hospital rooftop.

“You must be wondering why I brought you to meet this woman.” Leaning against the rooftop railing, Bai Ying spoke to the bewildered Qin Xiaochuan. “My name among humans is Luffy, and this woman is my mother here. My father passed away not long ago. I’ve hidden my true nature from them for fifteen years.

“My true form is a demon fox. I possess the ability to break powerful seals and decipher secret codes, which allowed me to steal treasures and weapons. But fifteen years ago, during one such operation, I was gravely injured by a pursuer with strong spiritual powers. I escaped to the human world as a spirit, and then attached myself to a fertilized egg in this woman’s womb. After about ten years of recuperation, my demonic powers would return, and my body would transform fully into a demon. I planned to disappear from this family after that.

Hearing this, Qin Xiaochuan pressed, “But why…?”

“You saw the scars on her arm, didn’t you?”

“Yes, they look like old wounds.”

“That’s right. Six years ago, I was standing on a chair, reaching for something in a cupboard—probably because I was short, I accidentally knocked a stack of plates to the ground. Startled, I slipped and was about to fall. Just then, this woman—my mother—rushed in from somewhere and caught me from behind. Her arms were slashed by the shards of glass all over the floor. Every time I think about leaving, her injured arms and her smiling face despite the pain appear in my mind, and I can’t bring myself to go. I never imagined that, as a monster, I would develop these feelings. Only when she fell ill did I realize I regarded her with the same reverence as a mother. But judging by her condition now, she may not last another month.” Bai Ying took out the Dark Mirror from his pocket and continued, “Only this mirror can fulfill my wish. If it happens, I’ll return the treasure and turn myself in.”

“If you turn yourself in, your mother will be left alone, won’t she?”

“It doesn’t matter.” Bai Ying looked up at the clouds and went on, “She has someone she likes—a man she met while working, a manager of a small business. If she recovers, they’ll be happier without me.”

“…” Qin Xiaochuan stared at Bai Ying and asked, “Why are you telling me all this?”

“Perhaps I needed someone to confess to. More importantly, you believe me, don’t you?”

“There you are, Luffy,” a middle-aged man with glasses hurried over. “Finally found you. Your mother’s condition has suddenly worsened, she’s in emergency care now. Surgery is needed, and only direct family can sign the consent. The nurse sent me to find you. Come quickly.” He dragged Luffy off to the doctor’s office. After signing the consent form, the doctor explained that tonight, post-surgery, would be critical—if she didn’t pull through, it could be very dangerous.

Leaving his mother in the care of the middle-aged man, Bai Ying and Qin Xiaochuan went to a secluded spot in the city, waiting for the moon to rise so they could use the Dark Mirror to save Bai Ying’s mother.

Watching the moon climb higher in the sky, Qin Xiaochuan suddenly asked, “To make a wish with that mirror, you have to offer something. Do you know what it is?”

“Yes. Life.”

“What?!” Qin Xiaochuan was stunned by Bai Ying’s calm reply. He hadn’t expected that fulfilling a wish would cost one’s life.

“This is the magic mirror that grants wishes by taking the wisher’s life.” Seeing Qin Xiaochuan’s astonishment, Bai Ying placed the mirror under the moonlight and explained, “That’s why the mirror’s owner keeps changing. All right, the moon is up.”

As the full moon rose and its light spilled over the mirror, Bai Ying set the Dark Mirror in place and began to chant: “Dark Mirror, awaken under the moon’s radiance, show my wish upon your surface!”

As the incantation rang out, the Dark Mirror hummed, shimmering violently. Soon, an image appeared on its surface—a vision of Bai Ying’s mother and the bespectacled man embracing happily.

“This woman’s happy life is your wish?” A hoarse voice emerged from within the mirror, surely the spirit of the Dark Mirror.

“Yes,” Bai Ying affirmed.

“Wait, Bai Ying, are you serious? If you do this, your mother will be saved, but you’ll die! It’s not worth it. Think carefully!” Seeing Bai Ying about to offer his life, Qin Xiaochuan rushed forward to stop him.

“There’s no other way…” Bai Ying glanced at Qin Xiaochuan, unwavering. “If I can give my life for my mother’s happiness, I’ll do it, as repayment for fifteen years of care.”

“Are you truly willing to sacrifice your life for someone else’s happiness? Is that acceptable?” The ancient voice of the mirror spirit spoke again.

“Yes. Please grant my wish. I beg you.”

“Very well. As you wish. Place your hand upon the mirror.”

Following the spirit’s instructions, Bai Ying placed his right hand on the mirror. Instantly, countless black sparks erupted from the mirror’s edge, swirling around Bai Ying’s body. His mouth twisted in pain, clearly suffering as the mirror began to drain his life force. Bai Ying’s sacrifice was underway.

Just as Bai Ying’s fate was sealed, Qin Xiaochuan placed his right hand on the mirror too. Sensing a new participant, the mirror’s dark sparks quickly enveloped Qin Xiaochuan as well. It was clear he intended to risk his life alongside Bai Ying to fulfill the wish.