Qarinah

There was no use talking any further...

After leaving the place, I got out of sight by using Azure Water in what was a pretty interesting way.

It looked like Wang Bingfei was more than just a hardheaded idiot. She kept her arsenal diverse.

Azure Water was turned into a coat that altered the trajectory of light to create an 'invisibility' effect.

My body vanished as soon as I left.

My 'Master' was going to pick me up at nightfall. I had nothing to do in the meantime before leaving.

It was at that moment I felt my vision blur. My body started tingling with pain. A sudden one at that.

This feeling almost made me throw up...

The only good thing was that only someone with a Perception Type Combat Gift could find me now.

That's what made me shift my thoughts...

As expected, 'Frozen Heart' kept me from panicking. My mind only went to the next plan.

Since I was ill, I needed a doctor... right?

Should I go back 'home'? No, dealing with that family wasn't worth the benefits whatsoever.

As I was walking the city around randomly, I found the next best thing in a rundown building.

Even though there was no sign for it to be a doctor or alchemist, a patient came in and out with a better complexion. It was a shady place, but that was completely fine with my current physical state.

I'd rather no one I knew figured anything out...

"Hey." When I called out, the goggled figure in a white coat almost dropped the vials he carried.

This place definitely belonged to an alchemist...!

"Ahem... Don't scare me like that... girl? I can barely see you with that weird fog covering your body."

"Help me figure out my current condition."

"Are you a criminal? I hope you're not going to threaten me to help. Those kind of guys come here all the time." Even though the white coat didn't take a stance, I could tell that he was on full alert.

"I'm not."

"Then how are you going to pay?" He asked me suspiciously. Of course, I had some money on me.

Nothing cheap. Just gold when I needed it.

"You can take how much you want." Since there was no reason to be cheap, I threw him my pouch.

"I like your straightforwardness. Now what seems to be the problem?" He acted like a good ol' doc.

I revealed myself in all my glory, but he didn't seem impressed. Was he not into beautiful girls...?

"Anyway, my entire body is in pain. Maybe something's wrong with my Qi or something."

"I'll check. Sit there. Oh and by the way, it's not that your not hot. I just don't like people much."

"That so...?" He and Wang Bingfei had that in common. I watched him closely as he came close.

He only needed to grab my wrist for a short moment before signing, then gave the pouch back.

"You're not hurt or anything. Don't you know what happens after mastering a Breathing Technique?"

"Huh...?" I knew what he was getting at.

However, what he said also didn't make sense to me. I hadn't really mastered anything recently.

The only thing I had done was sever the karma Wang Bingfei had in this city... to a certain extent.

Was that what caused this...?

"I have a room at the side if you want some privacy." The doc led me without formalities.

"What's your name anyway?"

"Dao Ling."

"I'll try remembering that." I'll try...

After seeing the small room that was neither dirty nor incredibly clean, I rested while meditating.

I could feel one of those 'Gifts' that bastard gave me awakening. Something started to flow out.

It was an ethereal and smokeless flame...

The crimson fire turned into the shape of a humanoid figure before me. I've heard of this.

I just never thought I'd ever see it in my lifetime.

The flame started to materialise the body parts of a demonic yet seductive creature I've known about.

Funnily enough, this 'Demon' was from Earth's folklore. It was a more Middle Eastern myth.

Among the types of myths regarding Demons all over the world, there were spirits called 'Jinns'.

Those spiritual entities of smokeless fire...

And among the Jinns, what appeared before me was a low-ranking demon known as 'Qarinah'.

This being was the lowest among devils...

It's said that because of this, they were easiest to be called out by feelings of longing and desire.

Her looks were exactly as I've heard...

Horns, shark-like teeth, a large and thick tail of a Demon, and beauty belonging to a type of Succubi.

She didn't seem to be able to interact with me...

However, I was somehow able to understand this spiritual creature as it's hands touched my face.

It was trying to seduce me with petty tricks...

A long tongue wrapped around me neck, which I grabbed to cause the 'male' version of it pain.

The creature stood down immediately.

As expected from a Middle Eastern version of a Succubus. It was oddly sexy regardless of gender.

The Qarinah hissed and changed genders again...

Of course, whatever gender it was had no affect thanks to my Frozen Heart. It's features didn't change much regardless of which sex it tried seducing me with. I clenched it's tongue tighter.

The creature begged for mercy in response.

My killing intent had already leaked out, so it seemed to want to have my favour instead.

It was at this point her appearance changed...

The demonic traits of the demon's body were hidden, leaving behind a horned Succubus.

She looked more like a 'traditional' Seductress.

This caused my hand holding onto her long tongue to suddenly change to hold a normal sized one.

...She looked sexier than before.

"What are you to me?" I asked, and the creature communicated its feelings directly into me.

The sensation of 'hearing' her was a weird one.

But from what I could make out, she seemed to be my 'spiritual companion' born out of my Innate Gift.

It seemed my knowledge, feelings, and personality decided what kind of Demon she would be born as.

This made a little embarrassed...

Qareen were also a type of Jinn. It's name literally meant 'Constant Companion', and was born within.

Mythology stated that human had a 'Qareen' inside them that whispered evil intentions into their ears.

They were your typical satanic entities...

The only difference being that Qareen's changed depending on how their possessor raised them.

Some could even become purified by good actions.

Either way, this succubus was my spiritual body double born from my heart. The demon on my left.

This made me feel some mercy towards her.

"So you only exist to tempt me to do evil." It made a wicked smile, then started sucking on my fingers.

I let go of the corrupted creature instantly.

Regardless if it could become good or not, I wondered how I was going to use this Demon.

I also didn't like that it was a low-ranking devil...

"Have you finished awakening?" Dao Ling barged in, but didn't seem to see my new pet Succubus.

"Done, so... What do you want?"

"I was just curious about your Gift. I could dissect you to find out more if you want~" He smiled.

"...No thanks." I responded while holding my pet demon by the horn to stop her from attacking him.

Qarinah had a special trait in Arabic Mythology.

It's said that they tend to become attached to their victims and fall into an obsessive, manic love for them. Though this 'love' also drove them to harm their victims more due to the twisted nature of it.

I had no idea what to do with her...

She couldn't be seen with the naked eye, was supernaturally beautiful, was loyal to me (for now at least)... This all added up into being a troublesome existence I needed to keep an eye on.

"Return." The redhead Qarinah pouted, but obediently returned as a red flame within me.

Then I left to follow the doctor I'd found.

"Miss, umm..."

"Just call me Bing."

"Miss Bing, are you familiar with 'Divine Physiques'?" I shook my head at his question.

He seemed to be curiously looking at my body.

"Dao Physiques are intimately connected to a naturally or unnaturally formed Combat Gift.

However, Divine Physiques only altered the nature of one aspect of the body to a certain extent.

I'd wanted to research all kinds of Physiques to create the most ultimate creation among them.

So... Is it possible for me to dissect you?" His last words were something I'd never allow him to do.

"I have a Dao Physique."

"Tch!" He clicked his tongue in disappointment without hiding his feelings. It was like we're close.

"Which one?" The white coat moved on to ask.

"Ice Immortal Dao Physique."

"Never heard of it."

"That's because not many see it often." There's too many conditions needed for it manifest in them.

On top of that: Most weren't able to survive the influx of pure Ice Qi that arose every full moon.

"...And here I thought I'd have something." It was at that point I got an idea on how to use my Qareen.

"Is there anyone you suspect to have the good qualities of a Divine Physique?" I asked in interest.

"There's the Young Miss of the Mu Clan, but there's no way for me to get her consent to dissect her."

"What if I secretly brought her here for you?" A wicked smile formed on my face offering this.

"...That would be great, but what do you want?" He was speaking my language. This helped me a lot.

"I want to cause a stir in this world."

"You want to be a hero of the martial society?"

"Maybe... Maybe not... I feel the worst right now and just want to make others feel as bad as I do."

"...What?"

"I just want the world to burn."

"That's kinda..."

"Are you in or out?"

"I'm in! Divine Physiques are the only thing important to me anyway. You do what you want."

"Good. Then we're partners-in-crime from this day forth." We finally shook hands on the matter.

A big smile formed on my face...