"You don’t belong in that body," Mr. Ou said quietly. "And you never did."
i’s eyes darted between them in disbelief. "You’re all insane," she whispered. "You’re picking her over ?!"
Yu Holea finally stepped forward, calm and cool. There was a faint smirk on her lips.
"Actually," she said, tilting her head, "I’m just making sure you can’t hurt yourself. Or... more accurately, that you can’t hurt her body."
i froze, her brow creasing. "What?"
Holea reached into her coat pocket and slowly pulled out a folded piece of yellow paper, etched with dark, flowing ink—an old talisman, the kind that shimred faintly under the light. Power pulsed through it, soft but undeniable.
i’s eyes went wide. "What is that?"
"A safety seal," Holea said, her smile widening. "Once it’s applied... you can scream, cry, and threaten all you want. But you won’t be able to move a finger against that body. Not unless Xiaoxiao herself allows it."
i’s panic spiked. "Don’t you dare—"
But it was too late. With one fluid motion, Holea stepped forward and pressed the talisman against i’s forehead.
It sizzled on contact, glowing with soft golden light before sinking into the skin and disappearing entirely.
i gasped—her entire body locked in place, her arms still trembling, her legs twitching, but none of it under her control anymore.
She let out a choked noise. "What did you do to ?!"
Holea stepped back, arms crossed.
"I gave the real Ou Xiaoxiao a shield," she said simply. "You can wear her skin, but you don’t get to own her anymore."
i thrashed against the light bands, but nothing happened. The more she struggled, the stiller her body beca. Her voice faltered.
"You think this solves anything?" she hissed. "You think you’re a hero now?"
Holea shrugged. "No," she replied.
She turned toward the Ou Family and said calmly,
"Though I can understand your choices, I can’t bring myself to forgive you all. However, considering that you all had tried, I will help you to get Ou Xiaoxiao’s soul back."
The room fell into stunned silence.
Mr. Ou, usually so composed, took a step forward. His voice was low but urgent. "You... you can bring Xiaoxiao back?"
Yu Holea nodded, calm and steady. "I can. And I already have a strong lead."
Mrs. Ou clutched her chest, hope flaring in her eyes. "Who? Who has her soul? Tell , please—if there’s even a chance—"
Yu Holea turned to her, a small, reassuring smile on her face. "Think about it. i’s soul is inside Xiaoxiao’s body, right?"
The Ous nodded slowly, following along.
Yu Holea continued, voice patient and clear. "Then what about i’s original body? It’s not empty. It’s being used. Taken over. By soone else."
Mr. Ou frowned, beginning to understand. "You’re saying..."
Yu Holea gave a slow nod. "Yes. If i’s soul was forced into Xiaoxiao’s body... then the soul currently in i’s body must belong to soone else. And if things were swapped neatly—"
Mrs. Ou gasped, her eyes wide. "Then that soul... could have Xiaoxiao."
Yu Holea looked at her and smiled faintly. "Exactly."
The entire Ou family stared at her in shock. For a mont, they didn’t seem to breathe.
"Then we have to go," Lin said quickly. "Find her. Right now."
Yu Holea raised a hand, shaking her head.
"It’s not that easy," she said. "The girl currently in i’s body... She is too cunning."
Mr. Ou’s brow furrowed. "So what do we do?"
"We lure her out," Holea said. "She won’t co out unless there’s a reason—unless soone forces her hand."
"How?" Mrs. Ou asked quickly. "Tell us what we need to do."
Yu Holea turned slowly, her eyes settling on Yu i—still bound, still glaring, her expression a mixture of panic and fury.
Holea walked toward her.
At once, Yu i began to shout. "Don’t you dare! If you try to touch , try to harm in any way—the one behind all of this... they’ll co for you! You hear ?! They’ll destroy you!"
Holea stopped just a few feet away, folding her arms.
"Good," she said softly. "That’s exactly what I want."
Yu i blinked, confused. "What?"
"I want them to co," Holea said, her voice like ice. "I want the mastermind to crawl out from whatever pit they’re hiding in and look in the eyes. I want them to see I’m not afraid."
Yu i’s lips parted as if to argue, but nothing ca out.
Mr. Ou stepped beside Holea, his expression firm. "So you’re planning to use i to draw them out."
Yu Holea nodded. "Exactly. If they care about their plan... about this whole possession switch... they’ll show themselves. Because they’ll have no choice."
Mrs. Ou slowly reached out, placing a hand on Holea’s shoulder. "That’s dangerous," she said softly.
Holea glanced at her. "I know."
"And you’re still going to do it?"
"Yes," she said simply. "Because I won’t let anyone else suffer for their gas. Not anymore. Not Xiaoxiao."
........................................
Yu i sat in the center of a large, strange formation—symbols etched into the ground like scars, glowing faintly beneath her. Her eyes were closed, her breathing steady, as she cultivated power from the pattern around her. Shadows flickered across her skin, reacting to the energy pulsing through the air.
But then—sothing shifted.
A chill raced down her spine.
Yu i’s eyes snapped open. Her breathing hitched.
"What...?"
Her fingers twitched, then curled into fists. She looked down, watching in horror as the tips of her hands began to darken, as though ink was spilling beneath her skin. Her veins throbbed black. Her expression twisted into fury.
"No," she muttered. "What now?"
She closed her eyes again, trying to focus—but the pull, the tugging sensation on her very soul, only grew stronger.
She stood abruptly, her cloak flaring behind her. Gritting her teeth, she hissed, "The real Yu i must have gotten herself into trouble again. Useless thing. Can’t even keep herself safe."
With a snap of her fingers, her body vanished.
........................................
In a heartbeat, she reappeared in a pitch-black room.
The air was cold. Still. Heavy.
In front of her, a girl sat tied to a chair, limp but breathing—Ou Xiaoxiao.
Yu i narrowed her eyes, confused. "Why is she here? And what’s happening to the body...?"
She stepped forward, confused but cautious. "Did the idiot run here? Or did soone bring her?"
She tilted her head, inspecting Ou Xiaoxiao more closely.
Xiaoxiao stirred slightly, her eyes opening. She tried to speak—but her lips were sealed, locked by a silver mark glowing across her mouth. Muffled sounds ca out, nothing more.
Yu i sighed, stepping closer. "Tch. I didn’t plan to keep you locked up forever, you know. I just needed ti. But clearly—"
She stopped.
Her feet wouldn’t move.
"What—?" she gasped.
She looked down. Her boots were stuck—lded to the ground as if the floor had turned to glue.
And then the lights snapped on.
The room blood with brightness.
Across the space stood a figure with pale silver hair, cold eyes, and a steady posture.
Yu Holea.
Yu i’s face twisted in disbelief. "You?!"
Her eyes darted to Ou Xiaoxiao, then back to Holea.
Realization dawned.
Her voice dropped, full of venom. "So this was a trap."
Yu Holea said nothing—just smiled slightly, arms folded.
Yu i snarled. "I told her not to et you! I gave her your picture—I told her to stay far away! And this idiot still—!"
She cut herself off, breathing hard.
Then, slowly, she looked at Yu Holea again. "You think you’ve won?"
Yu Holea took a step forward. "Not yet. But it’s close."
Yu i straightened as much as the invisible bind let her. "You hurt , and you’ll regret it. My mother—she will co for you. You can’t even imagine what she’s capable of."
Yu Holea gave a small laugh. "Maybe. Maybe not. That’s for the future to decide."
She reached into her sleeve and pulled out another talisman—older than the last, marked with crimson ink and sealed with gold thread. It shimred as if alive.
Yu Holea’s voice dropped to a murmur. "Let’s see who you really are."
With a flick of her wrist, she sent the talisman flying toward Yu i.
It struck her in the chest.
A sharp wind burst outward. The air trembled.
Yu i’s eyes widened—and she scread. Not in pain, but in rage.
A golden light surged around her—but it didn’t pierce through.
A shield.
Sothing protected her.
Yu Holea’s eyes narrowed. "A soul barrier? So soone else is actively guarding her..."
Before she could react further, the temperature in the room dropped.
A thick white mist seeped through the floor, crawling up the walls and curling around their ankles.
Yu Holea’s heart jumped.
Sothing wasn’t right.
The mist twisted like fingers—and then pulled.
"NO!" she yelled, lunging toward Ou Xiaoxiao.
She grabbed her, wrapping her arms tightly around the girl’s body—but she could feel it. The pull. The sa force that had tried to steal Yu i... was now trying to take Xiaoxiao too.
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