A slow smile tugged at Jin Yu’s lips. He didn’t flinch, didn’t blink, just stared right back at her with that same unblinking, manic glint in his eyes.
“And what,” he asked smoothly, “could you possibly offer… that might pique my interest?”
She chuckled, the sound light and melodic, yet laced with something calculated.
Their faces were close now, too close, but she only moved closer still, her movements slow, feline and confident.
Her breath brushed against his lips, warm and deliberate.
“Let me show you,” she whispered, her voice like silk drawn across steel.
Her fingers slid up, featherlight, brushing past the fabric of his robe near his collarbone, Like a performer setting her stage.
Her eyes never left his, even as her body leaned in, letting the curve of her form speak the words she didn’t say.
She tilted her head slightly, letting her hair fall across her face like a curtain drawn half open, revealing just enough, veiling just enough.
Still, Jin Yu didn’t move.
He stood there, calm and collected, watching her like a curious god peering down at a daring mortal.
That smile of his?
It hadn’t faded. If anything, it had grown colder. Wider.
Madness danced behind it like a phantom flickering behind glass.
He said nothing.
But he didn’t stop her either.
She leaned in—closer, closer—her breath hot on his skin, her fingers skimming the hem of his robe, slow and deliberate, like she was tracing temptation itself.
Her eyes gleamed, half-lidded and dark with intent, lips parting slightly as if to speak, or maybe kiss.
Jin Yu’s eyes never left hers.
Not even for a blink.
And just as her hand slipped to his waist, and her lips ghosted near his neck, he sighed.
A quiet, bored sound.
His gaze dropped to her face, and for the first time, there was a flicker, something mournful, hollow.
"No matter what angle I look," he murmured, "you look nothing like her."
She blinked, confused. "What are you—"
Schlk.
The sound was almost gentle.
Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.
His sword slid into her abdomen, soft and slick, like a whisper through silk.
Her lips parted in shock, not for a kiss this time, but to gasp. No words came out. Only blood.
Jin Yu’s hand didn’t tremble.
His smile remained.
Cruel. Distant. Unchanged.
Her fingers clutched at him, trembling, confused, trying to pull away, or maybe pull him closer.
Too late.
He leaned in, lips brushing her ear.
"You should’ve picked a better role to play."
And then he twisted the blade.
Slow.
Her knees gave out.
Her body slumped forward.
He let her fall.
Thud.
Another corpse. Another breath.
And Jin Yu stood in the moonlight, his blade slick with warmth, yet his heart colder than ever.
He looked at the girl next, and smiled. A warm, innocent smile.
"You" he pointed his sword at her and walked towards her, slowly, like a predator walking towards it's prey.
She moved back in caution, fear lingering in her steps.
"What did you call me earlier?, Yours?" He asked as he stopped in front of her, his towering figure looming over her small frame.
"Haha" he gave a broken laughter. "so funny, too bad I'm taken."
Tears streamed down the girl's cheeks like a broken dam as she glared at him, her lips trembling, a cold dread spreading through her chest like frostbite.
Her voice cracked, raw and shivering.
"You… killed… hic… Mo… Qing… ah… ah…"
Then came the sob—silent at first. Her shoulders shook violently, but her gaze never left him. She stared at Jin Yu through a blur of tears, fury and grief tangled in her eyes.
Jin Yu pouted dramatically, pulling a face of exaggerated sorrow.
"Oh no," he gasped in mock horror, bottom lip jutting out. "So tragic! How could I?! I didn’t know I was the one who sent that soul attack! I really didn’t!"
He dabbed at the corner of his eye as if wiping a tear, his voice pitching into a mocking imitation of hers.
"I was just crying so loud, his soul died of frustration! Oh, poor me!"
A single tear traced down his cheek, fake and theatrical.
Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
She broke.
A piercing, wailing sob ripped from her throat as she collapsed onto her knees with a loud thud, face buried in her hands, her entire body wracked with shaking.
There were no words left. Only grief. Only rage. Only ruin.
Jin Yu expression turned blank, he gave her a disinterested look, then turned and walked away, his voice dropping behind him
"Thank your stars... you didn't make a move"
The girl only cried more louder.
Just before Jin Yu took his seat, an unknown voice rang out, devoid of emotions.
"Despicable." It sounded more of a random word than a condemnation.
Jin Yu paused for a beat, ignored it then took his seat.
He crossed his arms, stretched his legs on the table and closed his eyes in a completely relaxed manner.
A moment later, Two men and a woman appeared in the clearing, a man stood at the front, while the other two flanked his sides.
They were dressed entirely in black, with dark veil hiding their faces.
A dark aura one can only find in unholy Cultivator was exuding quietly from them.
A chair appeared at Jin Yu's table, with incomparable ease, the man took a seat, and spoke.
"How could you leave an heartbroken girl to her misery"
He gazed at Jin Yu's face before continuing. "You should have ended it once and for all"
Bitch!.
Jin Yu cursed in his mind but didn't open his eyes nor reply.
The girl suddenly stopped crying and raised her head, slowly, her bloodshot eyes glaring at the man angrily as though she wants to tear him to pieces, but she didn't say a word.
Instead, she went towards Mo Qing's body, knelt beside it and placed her palm on his, her eyes filled with pain, misery and reminiscence.
After a moment, the body disappeared in a flash of light.
A tear rolled down her face as she clenched her hands, a quiet determination burning in her eyes.
The injured scholar and the rugged man sat to a side in silence, looking at Jin Yu and the new group with caution.
For a long moment, silence reigned. Each person lost in their own thoughts, until—
A sudden burst of Red light flared from the cave, casting long shadows across the clearing. Heat surged with it, washing over them like a furnace blast and sweeping away the chill of night.
Jin Yu’s eyes snapped open, catching the glow just as it withdrew back into the cave’s darkness.
Looks like it's time.
He rose to his feet without sparing the trio a glance.
“We arrived just in time,” the man said, standing up as well, voice as flat and unreadable as ever.
The girl followed, standing quietly as her gaze fixed on the dying embers of Red flickering in the cave mouth.
The rugged man made to rise too, but the scholarly one held him back with a firm grip and a shake of the head in silent disapproval.
The rest stepped forward, closing the distance to the cave until only a few meters remained. Yet none cross the threshold.
The man cast a sideways glance at Jin Yu. Just a flick. Then he turned to the girl, who returned his gaze without flinching, eyes blazing with anger and something fiercer.
He gave her a ghost of a smile. Then, without hesitation, he and his companions strode into the cave.
The girl lingered only a heartbeat longer before throwing one last glare at Jin Yu, and stepping in after them.
Jin Yu didn’t react. His eyes briefly drifted over his shoulder, toward the still, silent forest. Then back to the cave.
Just as he lifted his foot to take another step, he felt a presence appear beside him.
He didn’t look.
With the same aloof calm, he entered the cave.
Seer glared at his back, irritation twitching in his features. He flipped his pale hair with a huff and followed.
The moment Jin Yu crossed the threshold
A wave of alerts crashed into his mind like thunder.
Ding!
Ice toxins rejected!
Ding!
Fire toxins rejected!
Ding!
Poison mist rejected!
Ding!
Hostile energy detected!
Absorbing....
