Chapter 55: Chapter 54 Diagnosis
Ji Ma had a nightmare filled with elements of horror, action, bloodshed, and disgust.
In her dream, she found herself in a world that was boring from every angle, a place devoid of slave contracts, beautiful yet weak elves, or grand slave auctions featuring beauties from various races.
After her transition, she opened her eyes and found herself in a gladiatorial arena as a pitiful captive. The arena was dedicated to the Blood God, pleasing Him with bloody combats.
At that time, she was still a cowardly office worker. Over the course of a day, she witnessed the gruesome fate of failed gladiators being devoured by demonized war hounds, and in the dungeon, had food snatched from her mouth because she was too weak to defend herself.
It was then she encountered a personal system, which unfortunately resembled an attribute panel and provided no direct aid.
Sadly, she had to enter the arena, injured and holding a rusty sword, with no armor, to face off against a muscular man towering at nearly two meters while wielding a massive axe.
Fortunately, the spectators deemed her too weak and threw several bottles of mixed potions at her, forcing her to make a choice:
Either drink them and risk becoming a deformed monster, which would at least provide a thrilling fight; or be killed like a chicken by her opponent.
She chose to drink the potions, tasting them one by one, and with the aid of the personal system, managed to mix them into a barely drinkable concoction, serendipitously mutating into something manageable. In the end, she fought fiercely and killed her opponent.
According to custom, she was supposed to sever the head of the loser as an offering to the Blood God.
Still adjusting to the bloody and brutal customs, she hesitated before dragging herself to decapitate her opponent, presenting the head to the Blood God. Fortunately, He cast a glance at her and, appreciating her victory against a stronger foe, bestowed a blessing upon her.
Amidst the cheers, she was astonished to find her wounds healing, her height increasing, and her muscles becoming more robust. She began to feel shame and anger for her earlier hesitation.
In that moment, she felt her past life was like an ugly caterpillar, and now, she had transformed and sublimated, killing her former cowardly self to become something stronger.
Things were supposed to develop that way.
But she dreamt that just as she reveled in the audience’s cheers, a bright light flashed before her, and George, clad in heavy armor and wielding a massive sword, appeared before her, saying, “Ji Ma, you shouldn’t be alive.”
With that, he charged toward her sword raised.
Terrified, Ji Ma dropped her axe and turned to flee, running and climbing over a doomsday volcano, crossing a river of lava, traversing an endless battlefield, and storming into a brass fortress. Looking back, she saw George still chasing her with his sword raised.
In desperation, Ji Ma jumped from the demon realm to Earth, racing through a bustling pedestrian street, sprinting across a highway, jumping onto a plane, flying to the stratosphere, and finally escaping to a space station. Looking back, she gasped as George followed her through the air, silently fuming, holding his golden sword aloft.
Ji Ma nearly died of fear when an idea struck her. What if I could time travel? Could you still catch up to me?
Thus, she fled into a work cubicle of the infamous 996 work schedule, retreating to a university dormitory, darting into a high school where tests were always written, and finally, finding herself in front of a middle school restroom. The county restroom reeked, and she was bullied by a few kids in front of it. The leader pushed her hard in the chest, their faces nearly touching, spitting on her.
She felt enraged—how could a few kids dare to hit her? So, while pretending to apologize to catch them off guard, she picked up a rock, charged at the leader from behind, and slammed it onto their head.
Her strength was insufficient to knock him down; he covered his head, and no one reacted quickly enough to what’s happening. Ji Ma intended to kill, hitting hard with the rock.
Raising the rock again, she struck down; the leader cursed and turned around with a furious face, but he didn’t frighten Ji Ma. She aimed straight for his forehead, striking him down, then without a word, mounted him and relentlessly brought down the rock onto his head.
The leader gradually became still, while his companions kicked and hit her from all sides. Ji Ma threw the rock at them and pulled a horn knife from the leader’s pocket, pursuing the others to stab, killing one, but the others couldn’t keep up. She wanted to decapitate two of them but found her strength lacking.
So, wiping the blood from her body, she leaped the wall to skip school, knife in hand, waiting at the door of their house, prepared to strike.
Just then.
She heard footsteps approaching, suddenly awakening from the dream, sitting up all at once, the blanket slipping off, a cold wind hitting her body. George crouched in front of her, causing Ji Ma to grip tightly onto the “branch axe gun” lying beside her.
The familiar grip, the cold wind, and the concern on George’s face made Ji Ma realize that everything moments ago had been a dream and had passed.
She recalled the bullying in middle school and the ex-girlfriend who swindled all her money. She also thought, no matter how strong she was now, able to soar to the heavens or create chaos in the city, or curse others from afar, there was no way to achieve revenge.
With that thought, her chest tightened painfully.
George asked, “Are you okay? I saw you running continuously—”
“I’m fine.”
She tried to portray an appearance of psychological and physical wellness.
Unfortunately, even if she was a succubus, naturally skilled at acting, the pain of the soul wound shattered her facade. Her smile twisted as she couldn’t help clutching her chest, brows furrowing, cold sweat streaming down her forehead and dripping down her cheeks.
George supported her, turning to shout, “Jenna! Jenna! Come here to heal her.”
Ji Ma asked, “What was I like just now?” hoping she hadn’t spoken anything in her sleep.
George replied, “You were running, kicking off the blanket, and your hands seemed to be holding a rock, fiercely smashing at something, with a twisted expression.”
“Was it very unappealing?”
George didn’t answer but asked, “Did you dream of dark memories?”
“Yes.” Ji Ma replied, “I really want to go back and fix the regrets of that time. Please don’t tell me to let go and forgive myself; I’ve never been an magnanimous person.”
“If you need anything, remember to call me.” Saying that, George naturally picked Ji Ma up, and she realized he wasn’t wearing his usual cold and hard armor.
Yet, facing George’s embrace, she felt somewhat embarrassed deep down. Her chaotic mind cleared up a bit as she realized George was now her partner.
Her hands fell, stiff for a moment, but finally, she chose to hold George tightly.
As they embraced, she felt the intensity of the soul wound lessening.
After George released her, Ji Ma stood up, her body feeling weak, and she noticed Jenna sitting quietly beside her.
Was this woman jealous? Even if she was, she wouldn’t show it; she was merely George’s sidekick, like a follower of the school bully, a pathetic woman. George pointed, she struck without hesitation.
Ji Ma was somewhat in a sour mood because of her nightmare, internally berating her.
Jenna approached, took her hand, and asked, “How’s the soul damage?”
Ji Ma gazed at Jenna’s glowing oval face; her eyes and subtle expressions showed genuine concern for her.
A warm surge rushed through Ji Ma’s heart as she replied, “It flared up again.”
“Sit down quickly.” Jenna said, “George should have prepared you psychologically instead of bluntly writing that scoundrel’s news on paper.”
George replied, “I’ll improve next time.”
Jenna began to treat Ji Ma—or rather, to suppress the soul wound. Ji Ma unfastened her belt and removed her top while George turned away, keeping watch with Eve Frostleaf in the distance.
Ji Ma quietly asked, “Was I really ugly when I was having that nightmare?”
Jenna said, “It was alright.”
Of course, the queen was now looking cute and beautiful.
“Did I scream or foam at the mouth?”
“No.”
Ji Ma sighed in relief.
“But…”
Her heart sank.
“You were lying on your side in bed, running vigorously. The night watch, Eve Frostleaf, covered you with a blanket five times.”
Ji Ma couldn’t resist glancing toward Eve Frostleaf, who stood a hundred meters away, looking like a white egret perched on a barren branch with all its leaves fallen.
What had she thought yesterday, suspecting that she was a spy probing into her?
Ji Ma relaxed completely and casually said, “That sounds fine; it was just a super nightmare.”
“You kicked the campfire and slammed your hands on something, waving your right hand.” Jenna said. “We guessed what you were dreaming about. George thought you were crushing the head of an enemy, while Eve Frostleaf guessed you were stranded on a deserted island, smashing a giant turtle to prepare it for dinner.”
George guessed quite accurately; he truly is my rival. But Frostleaf’s guess made logical sense; it sounded like a tale of a great demon’s drift.
Ji Ma wanted to test Jenna’s imagination, asking, “What about you?”
“I guess you might have developed a psychotic condition due to soul damage.” Jenna said in a professional tone, pressing down on Ji Ma’s chest: “I’m pleased to inform you that you’re only on the brink of developing a psychotic condition. Your will is very strong.”
Ji Ma: “….”
After a moment of silence, Ji Ma asked, “So, I don’t have to worry too much about becoming insane?”
Jenna’s chest hung above Ji Ma’s, her big ball occasionally brushing against Ji Ma’s little ball. She continued speaking in a professional and undeniable tone: “Those with strong willpower find it harder to recover from mental illness.”
“Just say I’m insane already.”
Jenna lit some incense, saying, “Ji Ma, the truth can often be hurtful.”
“Is there a more hurtful truth?”
“You won’t want to hear it.”
“Sis Jenna, I have a strong will; go ahead and say it.”
“You already have a mental illness.”
“Ah?” Ji Ma could hardly believe her ears, beginning to doubt Jenna’s professionalism. “How is that possible? I’m clear-minded and ready to fight at any moment.”
“But that doesn’t prove you lack a mental condition.” Jenna’s emerald eyes sparkled: “My diagnosis is beyond doubt.”
“Can you prove it to me?”
“To prevent your soul damage from worsening, I advise you to let go of the extraordinary material of Demon King Ji Ma.”
Ji Ma, who had been feeling weak, suddenly burst forth with great strength and freed herself from Eve Frostleaf’s grip, standing and exclaiming: “Impossible!”
“A typical symptom of paranoia.” Jenna patted the blanket on the floor: “Lie down, I’m just saying this because I know it will only worsen your condition.”
Reluctantly, Ji Ma lay back down, quietly saying, “It’s impossible; how could I have a mental illness?”
Without saying a word, Jenna took Ji Ma’s soft, pale yellow right hand, applied glowing essential oil, and pressed down on Ji Ma’s muscles.
With every firm press from Jenna, warmth seeped into Ji Ma’s muscles. The incense released a light smoke, and every breath filled her lungs with medicinal fragrance, her eyes drawn to Jenna’s securely wrapped chest shifting in various poses.
At the same time, the intense pain from her soul wound began to diminish.
The succubus felt comfortable, her tail twitching, her body relaxing.
If Jenna and the others truly wanted to harm her, why would they make her feel so good?
The tension in Ji Ma’s mind eased, and she gradually blurred before drifting off to sleep.
Uncertain how long passed, she vaguely opened her eyes, realizing she had just woken up, and her heart sank.
Oh no, I’ve been lazy again; now I don’t know how long it will take to catch up.
Although Ji Ma enjoyed pleasure, she didn’t want to be a burden on others.
She opened her eyes to see the sky still bright, which barely counted as morning; she eased up, realizing she had only slept for about an hour.
At this time, she overheard the others discussing.
“George, you’re too impatient; Ji Ma’s condition is serious. Once she wakes up, we should give her a day off; we can keep her company.”
Frostleaf’s icy voice echoed: “I agree.”
At this point, Ji Ma remembered she was part of the good camp and wouldn’t be looked down upon as a burden.
She wiped the corners of her eyes and decided no matter what, she would decline the day off request to enhance her reputation within the team.
After a moment of silence, George finally replied: “Okay.”
Hmph, what a bad man; it’s just one day wasted, like a miser in this world.
She stood up and said, “Hey, good morning everyone! How long did I sleep? I feel great right now.”
George replied, “Three days.”
“Ahahaha, looks like I’m recovering pretty fast…what? Three days?” Ji Ma jumped up: “A day off? No way! We need to hurry on our journey.”
“No,” George said. “For your mental health, we’ve decided to give you a day off today. You can do whatever you want.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really.”
Jenna added, “Ji Ma, you need to rest well.”
“Then can I invite my cat over to serve me?”
“Sure,” George said. “I also want to apologize; currently, the magical winds are quite strong, and you’re recovering your magical ability fast. Keeping a regular cat maid shouldn’t be a big burden. But I was anxious; I’m sorry.”
Ji Ma initially thought George’s ban on inviting Liyansi the cat was reasonable, or else she wouldn’t be so stubborn. But since he had apologized.
Ji Ma cheerfully replied: “Hey, it’s okay; sometimes I’m quite magnanimous.”
“Since we can do anything, how about…” Ji Ma stuck out her tongue, pointing to her creamy chest, “I’m hungry; shall we have a feast in the wild?”
Jenna’s face flushed, and she turned away; George awkwardly cleared his throat, while Eve Frostleaf seemed to turn even colder.
But no one objected.
The next day, Ji Ma held her warm belly and flew into the sky, albeit with a somewhat awkward flying posture.
