In the private hot spring cubicles, faint white mist sometimes billowed, sometimes the water shimmered, and at other times a fierce autumn wind swept through, the maple trees casting fleeting shadows. Crows cawed mournfully, lending an air of desolation and grimness.
"Ren Yuanhao, do you know that women from our two clans rarely get to marry for love? Although everyone dreams of it, in the end, aren't we still marrying and having children with men of good breeding?"
As Ji Fu spoke, her expression was obscured by a veil of mist. Ren Yuanhao could only discern a hint of helplessness and a touch of fear in her tone.
Perhaps for ordinary men and women, pursuing their love seemed like an easy matter. But due to family reasons, this "easy matter" became a mere fantasy.
Or perhaps, Ji Fu saw herself as nothing more than a pawn, nothing more.
Thinking this, Ren Yuanhao felt a pang of disappointment.
"Alright, now that the kill list is completely clear, Ren Yuanhao, I'd like to hear your thoughts."
Ji Fu's question was tentative, like a gambler awaiting the lottery results.
"If I say no, not only will this meal be impossible to finish, but this friendship will likely be over, and I'll be discreetly eliminated on some dark and windy night by assassins dispatched by your two families, right?"
Ren Yuanhao popped the wasabi-dipped sashimi into his mouth. The texture was smooth and tender, momentarily transporting him to a Japanese island. It was a shame he couldn't see Ji Fu's expression through the thickening mist.
"You're rejecting me already? Aren't you afraid I'll kill you in a fit of rage? After all, a woman whose pride is wounded is quite terrifying."
Ji Fu stirred the water in front of her, her tone devoid of any dejection.
"You won't, at least not now. After all, the Dongfang family hasn't made any moves yet. If you kill me, you'll be breaking the rules."
Ji Fu suddenly let out a silver-bell-like laugh. "Ren Yuanhao, you're very smart, and in the Xia family incident, you displayed rare chivalry. Your performance has indeed earned high praise from both our families."
"Then, I'd like to know, where do I rank on the list now?"
Ren Yuanhao was suddenly very curious.
"Fourth. However, after tonight, you should be able to make it into the top three."
"Is that because I refused Miss Ji?"
Ji Fu chuckled again. "Ren Yuanhao, I'm liking you more and more. Don't worry, I won't give up just because of your words. Even if it means a fight to the death with the Dongfang family, I will have you."
"Is it because of my good breeding? Or because you genuinely mean it?" Ren Yuanhao asked jokingly, unaware of how much this question would impact him in the future.
"Guess?" Ji Fu stepped out of the pool barefoot. Her skin, like that of a porcelain doll, seemed even more delicate than the sashimi they had eaten. She suddenly turned back and smiled, "Ren Yuanhao, we'll part ways here. Goodbye."
"Goodbye."
Ren Yuanhao watched her slow departure until her figure gradually disappeared. A sense of loss washed over him. He then raised his hand and slapped himself hard across the face, thinking, Ren Yuanhao, are you even a man? Don't you know your mission and your responsibilities? You're supposed to save countless girls in the world. How can you be swayed by a woman who seems so special, extending her leash and eagerly jumping into it? Where are your principles?
"Go home, sleep."
Ren Yuanhao muttered. He knew that only by cultivating or sleeping could he find some semblance of peace to prepare for tomorrow's mission.
He firmly believed there would be a mission tomorrow, but he had no idea what awaited him.
...
At this moment, in a gloomy and dark house with red tiles on the roof, a slaughter had just begun.
The windows surrounding the hall were tightly shut. Various ribbons hung from the ceiling, like a streak of crimson across the sky. In the center was a red carpet about 3 meters wide. Two rows of red candles flickered in the wildly dancing wind, their shadows swaying with the light.
A woman sat on the steps of the hall, or rather, was bound there. At the entrance of the hall stood a man and a woman, both wearing blood-red wedding gowns. The woman's eyes held a hint of daze, while the man exuded an otherworldly aura.
"Aunt Zhou, your daughter has agreed to marry me. What are your thoughts, elder?"
The man's voice was devoid of emotion, like a synthesized electronic sound.
"You damn brat surnamed Jiang, didn't you already know the answer at noon? What are you up to now?" The person speaking had her head drooping, as if under the influence of some drug, her body limp.
This person was Ouyang Rui's mother, Zhou Qingfang.
"Rui'er was momentarily foolish, and I've been remiss in accompanying her these years. You know this, don't you? Do you really wish to see the Ouyang family's assets fall into the hands of an outsider?"
The man speaking was Jiang Li. His current predicament began that afternoon when he encountered Ouyang Rui on the street.
In fact, Jiang Li had not left after escaping the family banquet. After all, he was the third son of the Jiang family, a veritable young master. From childhood, he had been like a cheat code, the backbone of his class, consistently winning awards. Even abroad, he was outstanding to the point of being called monstrous.
In short, setbacks were an alien concept to him.
However, when he returned to China with high hopes and immense pride, to propose marriage, he was met with strong resistance from a man who didn't seem very accomplished, and he even lost the childhood sweetheart whom he thought he would marry and who was designated by the family to be won.
How could Jiang Li tolerate this? He couldn't. Therefore, he had been tailing Ouyang Rui. The more he saw her intimate with Ren Yuanhao, the more his anger felt like it would incinerate his reason.
Thus, he seized the opportunity, using the family's secret 'Soul-Scattering Incense' to incapacitate them, and then abducted Zhou Qingfang and Ouyang Rui, covertly bringing them to a heavily guarded family stronghold.
"Brother, a melon twisted like this isn't sweet. Sister Rui's heart has already changed. How about we dig out her heart and see? If it still contains you, we'll try again. If not, we'll kill them, what do you say? What do you say?"
Jiang Ling'er held a dagger and sat on the steps, speaking with a blank expression about something seemingly unrelated. She repeatedly plunged the dagger into the body of a rabbit, blood splattering everywhere, staining her pure white dress a deep crimson.
"Ling, Ling'er, are you truly my pure and innocent Ling'er?"