What would be your reaction upon seeing two blood-covered figures in the middle of the night?
Naturally, you’d think you’d encountered ghosts and be utterly terrified!
Yu Sanniang’s hands trembled, her voice shaking as well. “Are you two… Ninth and Miss Chu’he? What on earth happened to you?”
The people in the inn were all trained in martial arts, their senses sharp. The overwhelming stench of blood had roused them from sleep, and they gathered in the main hall, wary and on guard.
They suspected this Miaojiang man had gone on a killing spree outside.
Indeed, Ninth and Chu’he were drenched in blood, their beautiful faces smeared with gore, some of it dried to a dark purple.
They looked like a pair of demonic lovers emerging from a murder scene, reeking of malice—so much so that one might believe they were ready to slaughter again.
Unease settled over the crowd as they discreetly reached for their weapons.
Just as tension peaked, Chu’he spoke hoarsely, “We encountered someone from the Eternal City of Yunhuang. Ninth killed him, but I’m not sure if he had allies. Also, in the woods, I saw a woman holding a child.”
Jia Yi and Zhou Xian’s expressions shifted. With their subordinates, they rushed out.
Both hailed from the Lord’s Manor of Canghaizhou, yet they seemed to belong to different factions—less like colleagues and more like rivals.
Zhou Xian moved swiftly, but Jia Yi was no slower. The two groups darted through the forest, their lightness skills evenly matched.
Zhou Xian called out, “Our mission is to find the Lady and the Young Master, Jia Yi. Yours is to investigate the evil from the Eternal City of Yunhuang. There’s no need for you here.”
Jia Yi sneered. “Zhou Xian, you jest. The Lady and the Young Master are vital to Canghaizhou. As a member of the Manor, protecting them is my duty as well.”
Suddenly, Jia Yi struck. Zhou Xian dodged back, watching as Jia Yi vanished into the night, his expression darkening.
A subordinate whispered, “Boss, their disappearance might be linked to them. Jia Yi is surely acting on his orders—”
Zhou Xian cut him off. “No baseless speculation. After them!”
The three Knife brothers, hearing of the Eternal City’s presence, grabbed their weapons and strode out.
Left-hand Knife declared, “If the fiends of Yunhuang show themselves, I’ll cut them down one by one!”
Hailing from the remote Phoenix Fortress beyond the frontier, they bore deep grudges against Yunhuang, whose strongholds had once slaughtered countless innocents in the barren lands.
“Young Master, the Tower Master said you’re still growing and need proper rest.”
Su Lingxi’s guard reminded him, clearly discouraging involvement in the chaos.
The Red Tower had always remained aloof from worldly conflicts, with no reason to wade into bloodshed.
Su Lingxi glanced at the two blood-soaked figures, perhaps finding them distasteful, and followed his guard back to his room without protest.
The elderly woman and her young grandson, too timid for trouble, peeked out before retreating behind closed doors.
Jin Yuyuan, already fearful and burdened with a child, didn’t even dare open her door.
Chu’he turned to Yu Sanniang. “We need hot water for a bath.”
Snapping out of her daze, Yu Sanniang hurriedly ordered the attendant to prepare it.
Chu’he and Ninth’s fingers intertwined, their bloodied hands indistinguishable from one another.
She looked up with a smile. “Let’s go back to our room.”
Ninth’s jade-like face was filthy, yet his damp eyes remained startlingly clear, his gaze clinging to her with an almost animalistic devotion—like a creature eager to bare its belly for her touch.
Together, they ascended the stairs and disappeared from sight.
Only then did Murong Meixin slump, collapsing weakly into Murong Meifei’s arms.
“Senior Brother, what’s wrong?”
Murong Meixin shuddered. “They… were so filthy.”
Murong Meifei: “…”
The attendant changed the bathwater multiple times before Chu’he finally scrubbed away the stench of blood. Dressed in fresh clothes, she sat before the mirror, combing her hair. As she studied her reflection, her fingers drifted to her neck.
The memory of her neck being crushed—bones snapping, the sound echoing in her ears—lingered vividly.
It should have been fatal.
Yet she felt no pain, and here she was, unharmed and alive.
Her fingers kneaded the skin of her throat as the moment she regained consciousness flashed before her eyes—Ninth’s face, watching her.
Ding-ling—
The chime of a bell sounded behind her.
A weight settled on her shoulder.
The young man bent down, resting his chin there. Freshly bathed, his long hair loose, his beauty restored, he blinked at her reflection, his fingers idly tracing circles at her waist.
Chu’he squirmed at the ticklish sensation and turned to face him, her fingertip brushing the wound at the corner of his lips. “Don’t your injuries heal quickly? Why is this one still here?”
“You gave me this one, Chu’he. I don’t want it to fade yet.”
Earlier, in a moment of losing control, she had pinned him down, kissing him fiercely. Lost in the heat, neither had minded the scrapes—including the split on his lip from her teeth.
Now, freshly cleaned, Ninth had rushed to her side, draped only in a loosely tied red robe. As he leaned in, the garment gaped open, baring his chest shamelessly.
Chu’he’s thoughts scattered. Clearing her throat, she tugged his collar closed like a prim moralist.
But Ninth found it stifling and pulled it open again, his immodesty downright scandalous!
She averted her eyes.
Uncomprehending, he circled to face her.
She turned away again.
He shifted once more.
Determined to play the role of a male deity, he seemed intent on letting her feast her eyes on his flawless form.
Exasperated, Chu’he seized his nearly floor-length hair and yanked. His head dipped with an exaggerated, “Ow!”
As if it hurt—though she’d barely used any force.
Yet not long ago, this same boy had smiled while ripping his own heart from his chest!
That grotesque, impossible sight still made her scalp prickle.
She glared up at him. “Ninth.”
Hearing her tone, he knew a scolding was coming. He hunched slightly, murmuring, “I’m here.”
Chu’he dragged him down until he knelt before her. Seated on the chair, she was finally at eye level.
She simply stared, silent and still.
Ninth fidgeted under her gaze, his own scalp now tingling with nerves.
