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Evan had never exorcised a demon before, so he wasn’t ready for the sudden charge of demonic energy that flowed into his body and slightly staggered. But the strong hand on his shoulder steadied him, absorbing the overflowing demonic energy that couldn’t be absorbed by Evan’s core.

Oh, so this is what he meant by “we” and “absorb.”

When all of the demon’s light had been drained, it turned into a ball of black smoke before scattering away in the wind.

The girl’s arms slowly shrunk to their usual size and shape, and the burning of her skin ceased. She swayed, then tumbled forward, and Evan caught her limp body. After feeling her pulse, he let out a breath and collapsed back himself.

Annoyingly, he couldn’t feel the comforting dust and rubble beneath his back. Instead, he felt Xen’s boulder of a chest. Slumping against the warm headrest, Evan caught his breath, unaware of the small smile flashing his way.

Evan pressed a hand to the girl’s shoulder, supplying spiritual energy into her body to heal the burns.

After a moment, he spoke in an exhausted tone. “You were late.”

“Was I?” Xen mused. “I came as soon as you called my name.”

Evan scowled. He was certain Xen had been lurking close by, watching Evan get wrecked until he was forced to call him for help. He just felt like that kind of character.

Despite this mental impression, when Xen lightly brushed his shoulder and said, “You did good.”

Evan froze.

It was the first time someone had said that to him, someone who wasn’t paying him or someone who wasn’t Aaron. Getting acknowledged for your labor could be so rewarding, but also absolutely mortifying to someone unused to it.

Evan brushed off the warm hand. “Get lost.”

The air in the room slowly cleared of the demon’s residual energy. It was only then that they heard Aaron’s shouts from the other side of the closed door.

Bang!“Evan?”Bang!“Are you still alive?”Bang!

With much effort, Evan picked the girl up and headed towards the door, which was rattling with Aaron’s kicks but not breaking. Weird, since the demon who’d pulled the stunt was dead, so should be its magic.

Another force was keeping the exit sealed.

Slowly, Evan turned to Xen, who was staring at the girl in Evan’s arms with a frigid look.

“Open the door."

Xen’s focus shifted to him. His gaze softened. With a smirk, he crooked a finger, pulling the invisible thread of his dark magic.

Evan waited for the door to drop like earlier, but instead, a foot jammed right through the wood.

Not just a foot, a whole freaking leg.

When the magic over the door had suddenly lifted, Aaron didn’t have time to adjust the strength of his kick, and his leg had gone through the door.

He stumbled forward on one leg, the other stuck in the unhinged door. After struggling for a while and hopping on one leg, he jumped and hung from the doorframe and used his other foot to shove the doorframe off his leg.

Throughout the entire commotion, Evan had waited patiently, holding the girl. And as soon as he saw the entrance clear, he strode out. Behind him, Aaron and Mrs. Simone were gaping at the room—or, precisely, the missing half of it.

Laying the girl on the couch, Evan felt for her pulse again and found it steady. But to his surprise, when he flipped her around, the burns on her back had vanished. Not even a scar remained behind.

His brows furrowed. Had he supplied her withthatmuch spiritual energy?

“What happened? Is she alright?” Aaron and Mrs. Simone rushed in after Evan. The mother carefully brushed greasy strands of hair from the girl’s face, and upon realizing she was back to normal, she cried out, engulfing her daughter in a tight embrace.

A little confused and very short of air, Evan went on and ripped open the windows, then tore off the obstructions over the ventilations. Light and fresh air streamed into the house. The place was actually pretty decent if the clawed wallpapers and destructed bedroom half were excluded. It could probably be considered a happy home.

When Evan turned around, the girl’s eyes fluttered open and her mother’s teary eyes turned to him, brimming with gratitude.