The cold, bleak wind whipped snowflakes against Ye Luan’s face.
She watched the two figures not far away, listening to their conversation, her eyes suddenly misting over.
Ridiculous!
It was truly too ridiculous!
How could she have been so foolish as to believe this madman would change, so foolish as to delusionally think of letting go of the bloody past.
Ye Luan, oh Ye Luan, were you mad?
If he could secretly give you Buddha Heart Powder today, would he give you Love Flower tomorrow?
He was simply a madman, and he had never changed.
A facade.
All a facade.
At his core, he was a cruel, capricious beast. The outward pretense was merely a skin he put on to cope with her threats.
A madman was always a madman!
When would you ever stop being so foolish?!
Ye Luan sneered and leaned against the cold wall behind her, closing her eyes.
“Xiao Chizhan, I will never love you. We shall never see each other again in this lifetime!”
“I do not love you, I will never love you.”
Scenes from the cliff edge, the city walls, flashed through her mind. She couldn't help but bend slightly, clutching her chest.
“Go.”
Suddenly, an icy hand reached for her. Ye Luan immediately snapped back to attention, reflexively slashing back.
“Shush, don’t move, they’ll find us.”
Her body was suddenly pinned, and she was embraced from behind by Xie Beihan.
Ye Luan, enraged, stomped on his black boots, growling low, “Let go.”
“Little girl, you heard him. He pretends to be pure and innocent with you, but in private, he is cold-blooded, obsessive, capricious, and ruthless. He secretly gives you Buddha Heart Powder. How long do you think he can keep up the pretense for you?”
“Perhaps, one day, when he tires of pretending, what will your fate be?”
Hearing his words, Ye Luan’s eyes turned cold, her expression growing somber.
“Your Highness, you need not sow discord. My matters with him are none of your concern.”
Xie Beihan smiled faintly, “He is a madman, his methods have always been cruel. When you left before, the Bai family was tormented, and you were captured and imprisoned.”
“Now, he feigns obedience, yet secretly gives you Buddha Heart Powder. Does the thought of being around such a madman not fill you with dread?”
The young woman in his arms looked terrifyingly indifferent.
He continued to tempt her, “You cannot defeat him. How about coming to Northern Qi with me?”
Ye Luan drew her blade and placed it against his abdomen, sneering.
“Do you wish to use me to threaten him into withdrawing from Yuehan Pass?”
“This prince never uses women.”
His sinister face held a faint smile.
Ye Luan sneered, pressing the blade closer, “Then does Your Highness wish to sleep with me?”
“I’ve already said, I want you.”
“But I detest studs the most.”
Her face displayed undisguised disgust.
Although Xie Beihan didn't understand her words, he knew she was insulting him.
He smiled wickedly, “This prince will take you to the Eastern Palace and bestow upon you the highest favor. You will be the most honored woman in this land. Why are you unwilling?”
Exiting one cage only to enter another – what was the difference?
“If you don’t let go soon, I’ll start shouting for help.”
“Who are you shouting for?”
Not far away, Xiao Chizhan turned sharply, the hidden weapon in his hand whistling through the cold air and embedding itself into a red pillar.
Xie Beihan immediately pulled her back, dodging the projectile.
“Think about it. Come find me if you decide.”
Ye Luan ignored him, straightened up, sheathed her blade, and calmly looked at the two approaching figures.
“Ye Luan!”
Li Qiongyu exclaimed in surprise, nudging the person beside him with his elbow.
Xiao Chizhan’s bloodthirsty expression slightly stiffened when he saw it was her. He retrieved his hidden weapon and strode over.
“When did you arrive?”
Ye Luan replied, “Just now.”
Hearing this, he narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing her expression. Seeing nothing unusual, he reached out to take her hand.
“The snow is too heavy, the road down the mountain is blocked. We’ll have to stay at this temple for a few days.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Ye Luan dodged his hand and turned to walk back.
Xiao Chizhan lowered his gaze to his empty hand and rubbed it slightly.
He turned and signaled to Li Qiongyu.
“Alright, you go ahead.”
Xiao Chizhan said no more, turning and chasing after her.
“Luan Luan.”
The familiar voice from behind made Ye Luan’s suppressed anger flare uncontrollably.
She desperately wanted to turn back and question him.
“What is Buddha Heart Powder?”
“Why did you give her Buddha Heart Powder?”
But she held back, forcefully suppressing her rage and calming herself.
He was a madman, a complete and utter madman, he would never change. If she provoked him and he knew she harbored other thoughts, he would control and imprison her.
She would be unable to save herself.
Ye Luan pushed down the surging bitterness in her heart and allowed him to take her hand.
“It’s so cold, why aren’t you wearing a cloak?”
Xiao Chizhan said, taking off his white fox fur cloak and draping it over her.
A wave of warmth spread from her body. The cold wind blew through the fur on the cloak, brushing against her fair, clean face, tickling her slightly.
Ye Luan’s pale lips trembled.
“Hm?”
His tone lifted slightly as he looked down at her.
“I forgot.”
Her voice was very cold.
Xiao Chizhan keenly sensed something was wrong. He narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing her. After a moment, the corner of his lips curved into a chilling arc.
She heard it!
She knew he had given her Buddha Heart Powder.
So, she wanted to run again? To leave him again?
A dark emotion began to grow uncontrollably in Xiao Chizhan’s heart. He struggled to restrain himself.
“Luan Luan, kiss me.”
Suddenly, he stopped, pulling her forcefully into his embrace.
Ye Luan was startled and was about to push him away when he directly grabbed her hands and locked them in his embrace, kissing her fiercely, lips and teeth entwining.
She tried to pull away, but he pressed her lips, kissing her deeper and deeper. The arm around her waist held her so tightly she couldn’t break free.
Damn madman!
‘Say you love me.’
His voice was deep and hoarse, pressing down on her lips, ravaging them repeatedly.
Ye Luan couldn’t hold back anymore and bit his lip hard. As he loosened his grip, she angrily shouted, “Love my ass! Get the hell away from me!”
Xiao Chizhan’s eyes darkened. He immediately pushed her against the wall behind her, grabbed her by the back of her neck, lowered his head, and savagely entered her mouth, taking his fill.
His right hand brazenly caressed her waist.
Ye Luan’s eyes reddened with anger. She struggled, but he pressed her even harder against the wall.
Snowflakes swirled outside the corridor. Occasionally, a passerby would glance over.
She scratched his back, pinched his waist, only to be met with more ferocious possession, gnawing and biting like a mad dog.
Ye Luan was gasping for breath and craned her neck to avoid him.
He tilted his head, lightly licking the blood from his lips where she had bitten him. He looked down at her heavy panting, his eyes filled with a pathological madness.
“Luan Luan, say you love me.”
Ye Luan desperately wanted to slap this mad dog, but her hands were still locked by him, unable to move.
She rolled her eyes at him, “Let go.”
“Say you love me.”
He repeated, his deep red eyes fixed on her face, utterly pathologically stubborn.