Chapter 54

Chapter 54

As Huo Wuyan's words fell, Lu Yuanyin couldn't help but go quiet for a second. She blinked, and the smile on her face froze.

Even though she and Huo Wuyan were no strangers to each other, sometimes he was still frighteningly blunt, leaving her speechless.

Lu Yuanyin's hands holding the tray froze. She blinked guiltily—this time, Huo Wuyan had guessed right.

She did want to steal some of his cultivation through dual cultivation...

Secret techniques that could rapidly boost one's cultivation in a short time did exist in the Hehuan Sect. In fact, as a former outstanding disciple of the Hehuan Sect, Lu Yuanyin had also learned these methods and had mastered the complete set of techniques. This morning, as she gazed at the light outside her window, a crazy idea hit her. Although she didn't want to drag Huo Wuyan into trouble, she could still use that secret technique to skim some of his cultivation.

If she happened to kill Lu Sisi and Gu Lingqiu in the process, that'd be a huge win. Even if she failed, it would buy her more time and perhaps even grant her a slim chance of survival.

As long as there was any possibility, Lu Yuanyin didn't want to die.

Her slim, pale fingers unconsciously tightened around the tray in her hands. She tilted her chin up, looking at him all innocent. She set down the tray and explained in a soft voice, "You misunderstood me. This is just a tonic to nourish your body. You gave me your dragon pearl a few days ago, and I was worried you might be drained..."

Huo Wuyan sneered in response. He casually pulled his robe on and stood up, his expression cold. He walked slowly toward Lu Yuanyin, his crimson eyes locked onto her delicate face.

As he approached, the surrounding light dimmed. His tall figure completely enveloped her, and the thick scent of dragon musk hit her like a wave. His face was half-hidden in the shadows, making his already sharp features appear even more pronounced. Lu Yuanyin's breath caught. Perhaps it was the overwhelming pressure of Huo Wuyan at this moment, but she instinctively wanted to back away.

Lu Yuanyin stepped back a couple of paces until she bumped into a round wooden table. She paused. Huo Wuyan casually picked up the small bowl from her hand. As his robe fell, faint red demonic markings could be seen on his skin. He asked nonchalantly, "Is that so?"

Lu Yuanyin thought about how she might have been a bit too blatant earlier. She couldn't help but fall silent again. If she were Huo Wuyan, she might also suspect that the tonic had some issues.

Huo Wuyan lowered his gaze slightly, looking down at Lu Yuanyin before him. He noticed her red lips pressed tightly together, her gaze flickering, and her long eyelashes trembling incessantly. Even a blind man could tell she had something on her mind.

Given her past actions, whenever Lu Yuanyin took the initiative to be attentive, Huo Wuyan now sensed trouble. Every time she came to him of her own accord, she always had some scheme. He had long seen through her opportunistic nature.

His long fingers curled around the small bowl. Huo Wuyan coolly extended his hand, glancing at her long, fluttery lashes, and said casually, "You need this more than me. Drink up."

Lu Yuanyin froze. She suddenly lifted her face. The bowl fit perfectly in her hand, but in Huo Wuyan's grasp, it looked exceptionally small. She looked at him pitifully, tugged at the storage pouch at her waist, and said softly, "I still have some leftover tonic. I made a lot. I don't have to drink this, right?"

Huo Wuyan leaned casually against the wall. His pure white hair fell messily in front of him. Without changing his expression, he silently pushed the bowl closer.

The meaning was clear.

Seeing him like that, her eyes darted away. She pouted a little. "Fine, I'll drink it. You just don't trust me at all..."

With that, she took the bowl and chugged the tonic in one go, not leaving a drop.

Huo Wuyan paused.

He didn't expect her to actually drink it. Was it really just a regular tonic?

Huo Wuyan frowned subtly.

But after drinking it, Lu Yuanyin just stood there, tilting her fair face up at him with an innocent expression. Her eyes sparkled, as if bits of starlight had fallen into them.

Huo Wuyan couldn't help but fall silent again, suddenly at a loss for what to say.

He'd hardly ever dealt with a girl like her. He preferred peace and quiet, always traveling alone. In the past, if someone pestered him, he would simply ignore them and leave. If they became too annoying, He'd just have them kicked out without a care. He treated Qing Nong and the others similarly.

But Lu Yuanyin was different somehow.

If asked to explain, though, Huo Wuyan couldn't pinpoint exactly how she was different.

Looking at her bright eyes, he felt a weird, suffocating heat in the room. His throat was dry.

He instinctively averted his gaze.

Turning around, Huo Wuyan pushed open the window. A cool morning breeze blew in, softly brushing his hair, but it didn't shake that restless feeling inside him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her following him like a little shadow.

Huo Wuyan paused. His fingertips resting on the windowsill unconsciously tightened. Seeing that Lu Yuanyin had also come to the window, she leaned forward, her gaze sweeping past the crowd and landing on the distant mountain ranges beyond the city.

Cultivators had far sharper vision than ordinary people. Lu Yuanyin could almost see the misty clouds swirling between the mountain valleys and the majestic Chongyao Sect towering within those clouds. Waterfalls cascaded down steep cliffs, and from time to time, streaks of sword light cut through the void, soaring into the sky.

She looked at that familiar mountain range—this so-called holy land of immortals was really just a nest of snakes and rats in her view, utterly disgusting. She turned her gaze away in disgust and looked down at the bustling crowd below. A young couple carrying a little girl walked past beneath them, laughing and chatting, a picture of harmony.

Lu Yuanyin watched the couple, tilted her head, and asked softly, "Huo Wuyan, have you ever been threatened by anyone?"

Huo Wuyan glanced down at her and replied in a low voice, "Mm."

Lu Yuanyin picked at her fingernails, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "What happened to that person afterward?"

"He died."

His deep voice sounded beside her. Lu Yuanyin couldn't help feeling jealous. She wished one day she could say something that cocky as calmly as he did and personally rip those bastards apart.

Lu Yuanyin blinked. She could feel her vision gradually blurring.

True to her carefully brewed tonic, within just a few minutes, she felt an uncontrollable heat spreading through her body. A wave of heat rushed from her core, flowing violently through the meridians of her limbs. The scent of dragon musk beside her seemed even stronger now, but it also carried a different quality than usual. Lu Yuanyin unconsciously took a deep breath, finding the fragrance strangely pleasant.

Her head started spinning. Lu Yuanyin dug her nails into her palm and asked again, "Have you ever seen the sun over Ayi Mountain?"

Before Huo Wuyan could answer, she couldn't help but smile faintly. She said softly, "If possible, take the kid there someday. I've heard it's beautiful."

Huo Wuyan gave Lu Yuanyin a cool look, feeling her words had a weird, ominous vibe.

Then his gaze froze. He saw that Lu Yuanyin's face was flushed. A thin layer of sweat had broken out on her forehead, and her eyes looked glazed over. Her hazy eyes stared at him, unfocused.

Huo Wuyan frowned at her reddened cheeks. "What's wrong with you?"

Lu Yuanyin shook her head. Her vision grew fuzzier, and even her hearing seemed to weaken. But the presence beside her became increasingly intense, making her instinctively want to get closer. In that moment, she couldn't help thinking to herself how amazing she was.

It was just like her—Lu Yuanyin—to casually concoct such a potent tonic.

Seeing Lu Yuanyin sway unsteadily, Huo Wuyan instinctively wrapped his arm around her slender waist and lifted her up. As he held her, he felt her skin burning hot. The thin fabric of her clothes couldn't contain the heat radiating from her body. Huo Wuyan's face darkened.

Looking down at her as she leaned meekly against him, his eyes grew even darker. He suddenly looked at the empty jade bowl on the table and said coldly, "There's something in that tonic."

Sensing his hand tightening around her waist, Lu Yuanyin silently nodded. She whispered, "I lied again. I drugged the tonic."

Huo Wuyan's breath caught. Looking at her dazed eyes, he felt a strange, indescribable irritation well up, along with a weird frustration. His face went cold, and his eyes darkened.

He said in a low voice, "You knew there was something in it, and you still drank it?"

Huo Wuyan placed her onto the soft bed. He turned to leave the room, but Lu Yuanyin struggled to sit up, trying to grab the hem of his robe. With a crisp sound, the jade bowl on the small bedside table fell to the floor, shattering into pieces.

Seeing she was about to step on the pieces, Huo Wuyan quickly grabbed her. He said coldly, "Stay still."

Soon, hurried footsteps sounded from outside the door. A figure appeared behind the door, its shadow stretching long on the thin paper screen. Qing Nong's voice came from outside, asking anxiously, "What's going on? Huo Wuyan, what happened?"

Just as Qing Nong was about to push the door open, Huo Wuyan shouted coldly, "Get out."

Qing Nong was startled. After glancing at the empty adjacent room and hearing Huo Wuyan's hoarse voice, he instantly knew what was going on inside. He looked away and said awkwardly, "Sorry to disturb! Haha, I'm leaving now..."

The footsteps outside quickly retreated. From time to time, crisp bird calls came from outside the window. A dark gleam flickered in Huo Wuyan's eyes. With a dull thud, the wide-open windows banged shut, and the light in the room gradually dimmed.

Huo Wuyan looked down at Lu Yuanyin, who was leaning against the bed, her consciousness already hazy. Her small face was bright red, a fine layer of cold sweat on her forehead, her black hair sticking damply to her pale cheeks. She seemed uncomfortable, taking shallow breaths, her slender fingers unconsciously tugging at her loose robe.

Huo Wuyan’s body stiffened, the frustration in his heart growing heavier. He couldn’t understand why she was so eager to absorb his energy—or even drink that drugged soup.

He should have just thrown Lu Yuanyin out, or dunked her in a pool of water to sober her up, and warned her outright not to waste her time on such foolish things.

Her body hadn’t fully recovered yet. If she left a lasting ailment, she’d regret it later.

Yet, looking at the fluffy little head before him, watching her lean trustingly into his embrace, rubbing against him unconsciously, he felt as though a small beast’s claw had gently scratched his chest—not painful, but unbearably ticklish.

He saw that her clothes were already tangled by her own hands, loosely slipping off her slender shoulders, revealing expanses of snow-white skin, with hints of a lotus-pink undergarment and soft curves beneath.

As time passed, patches of light pink spread across her fair skin, like delicate camellia petals dotted with dewdrops. She furrowed her brow in discomfort.

Huo Wuyan took a deep breath, leaned down slightly, and said in a deep voice, “Can you handle this?”

A few strands of hair brushed her pale cheek, tickling faintly. Lu Yuanyin opened her eyes, staring dazedly at the person before her. Her eyes were misty and glistening, and the rich scent of ambergris filled her nostrils.

Lu Yuanyin sat up, tugging at his loose hair, lifted her head, and gently kissed the soft corner of his lips. Her breath came in ragged gasps.

A moment later, she leaned quietly against his sturdy shoulder and whispered, “I’m fine now.”

“Huo Wuyan, don’t be angry.”

She knew she had gone too far this time. She had hesitated at first, but the moment she saw Huo Wuyan, she suddenly remembered—since they met, he had always indulged her every move, whether it was her unspoken little desires or her presumptuous actions.

She drank the drugged soup simply as a gamble—that Huo Wuyan wouldn’t refuse her this time, either.

If it weren’t for Lu Sisi, Chang Ye, and the others, she might have returned to the dragon clan with Huo Wuyan, gained their protection, and lived a smooth life. But those people still refused to let her go.

Lu Yuanyin looked at the blurry figure beside her. In the dim light, the tassel dangling beneath his ear stood out starkly—the only color in her eyes. She kissed his bobbing Adam’s apple once more, feeling his breathing grow heavier, and a sudden pang of guilt washed over her.

She lifted her head once more, fumbling to kiss his rolling Adam’s apple, forcing her tone to sound cheerful: “I just like you too much… I’m sorry…”

“Please let me absorb your essence, okay?”

Huo Wuyan’s gaze darkened. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he silently stared at the expanse of snow-white skin before him. Beneath her collarbone lay a crimson mole, like a fleck of blood on jade. His breathing grew heavy.

Countless dark thoughts sprouted in the shadows, accompanied by blazing desires that quickly took root and grew, wildly howling in his veins.

His rough fingers slowly traced that blood-red mole. The rich fragrance filled his senses. With a crisp sound, Huo Wuyan silently unfastened his belt.

Scorching kisses slowly traced down her neck, leaving intimate marks on her fair skin.

*

□*□

She couldn’t help but cry out in pain, clutching Huo Wuyan’s muscular arms tightly. Tears glistened in her eyes. “It hurts…”

Huo Wuyan’s back tensed. He let out a low grunt, the muscles across his body tensing instantly. A hint of red crept into his eyes.

He kissed her blood-stained lips and said hoarsely, “Open up a bit.”

Sensing the terrifying thing, Lu Yuanyin instinctively tried to shrink back, only to feel a thick dragon tail tightly coiled around her slender calf, dragging her back beneath him.

Behind her was the cold wall. There was no escape.

*

The sharp golden scales slowly scraped against her tender skin, both itchy and tingly. Lu Yuanyin couldn’t help but tremble slightly, feeling the hand on her waist tighten further.

Huo Wuyan let out a low grunt beside her, burying his face in her white neck. His rough dragon horns brushed faintly past her cheek.

He gently gnawed at her delicate collarbone. Amid her soft sobs, he almost vengefully bit down harder, his sharp teeth piercing her tender skin. The metallic taste of blood spread across his lips.

Lu Yuanyin furrowed her delicate brow. She was about to speak when the person before her pressed down heavily. Her breath caught.

…

Outside the window, voices gradually faded, and the night deepened, but the sounds inside the room still hadn’t stopped.

Accompanied by the woman’s helpless sobs, the candlelight flickered within the room. The dim yellow light fell on the wall, vaguely casting their intertwined shadows.

In the end, Lu Yuanyin couldn’t help but wonder—who had actually drunk that potion?

□*□

Lu Yuanyin’s thoughts grew fuzzy.

Her slender fingers clutched tightly at his hair. Just as she was about to faint, a surge of spiritual energy, along with a wave of heat, rushed violently into her body. She couldn’t help but let out a soft cry, and the tears that had been hanging on her lashes finally fell.

She rested in his embrace, gasping for breath, too exhausted to move even a finger. She wanted to refine the absorbed energy, but before she could rest for even a moment, the man behind her pulled her back into his embrace.

The scorching heat approached again. She sensed the change in him.

Lu Yuanyin furrowed her brow and whispered, “No more… I’m so tired…”

Huo Wuyan let out a cold laugh. “Too late.”

Author's note:

None