Under the night sky, he took her back to the separate courtyard to sleep.
The youth's emotions gradually returned to normal. He walked ahead of her, bloodstains on his clothes. He was silent for a moment, wanting to wash them clean with water.
The pool water was clear and cold; the youth's eyebrows and eyes were like a clear pool, like the bright moon.
The little system sighed.
"Perhaps what he wants is very little."
"Indeed, from birth, he was not expected. He only had the name of a prince; others detested him, feared him, but besides his deceased mother, no one would like him."
"Others have seen him in his madness; even the palace maids avoided him."
"Host, he can only shut himself away."
Lin Muci looked at his profile and slowly replied to her little system.
"But, haven't I come?"
"Am I not here to heal him?"
She was quite confident. In the distance, the youth stood up and waved at her.
"It's time to sleep—tomorrow, someone will likely come to our door."
...
Cao Yan was killed by Ling Qianhe. No matter what, the news would leak out.
The youth was open and honest, never intending to hide it. He was getting revenge, so why would he conceal it?
But Lin Muci wondered if he could defeat those people.
Should she—run away first?
But she had said before that she wouldn't leave him. Running away now would be too disloyal.
She was very troubled.
Why set herself up with an image of loyalty? Now she couldn't escape even if she wanted to. If she ran, the youth would be left bewildered, having said they would never part, not even in death.
She pondered whether she should find some reinforcements.
"Where is Helian Lanyan? Has he really left?"
The little system also felt regret.
"Yes, his green sparrow is almost fully healed, just needing the final push. He will surely be guarding that green sparrow to feel at ease."
This news sounded truly disheartening.
"Feng Yuting... pfft, Xuanyuan Yuting is still in seclusion? Didn't you say I have a lot of senior brothers and I'm everyone's favorite, that no one cares about me, the junior sister who descended to save the devil?"
"Come help me?"
The system said righteously.
"Of course not, that would be equivalent to cheating—Host, such actions are not allowed!"
She tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
She felt she might be killed by someone sent by the Empress in the middle of the night. Dying at Ling Qianhe's hands would at least be for the sake of advancing the plot. Dying at the hands of a few minor soldiers would cause the entire plot to collapse.
She thought for a moment, then got up and walked out.
The youth was still in the lake—under the moonlight, streams of black energy coiled around his body. Yet his skin was extremely white, like jade, exuding an inexplicable beauty.
She watched quietly as the black energy enveloped him. He suddenly opened his eyes.
His eyes were clear black and white, without a trace of blood, but they held little emotion. He walked out step by step, water flowing from his body, down his chest muscles, his abs—
downwards.
Lin Muci dared not look further. The youth chuckled softly. He walked to her side and reached out to cover her eyes.
"Don't watch me kill this time."
The rustling sound reached her ears; he was dressing.
A strawberry snowflake crisp was placed in her palm. The youth's fingertips played on her palm. His fingertips were slightly cool. He paused and said,
"After you finish the candy, I'll be back."
...
She sat by the lake waiting for him.
He kept his word; by the time she finished the candy, he had indeed returned.
He was covered in the smell of blood, the scent of blood assailing her. The depths of the youth's eyes were still clear, yet he looked at her empty palm with some astonishment.
"You didn't leave even one for me?"
The young girl stuck out her tongue.
"You want to eat it? I'll remember next time."
He said nothing further, silently watching her opposite him. After a while, he muttered,
"You give me the beast meat, but keep the candy for yourself. So, you don't want to leave the things you like for me?"
Lin Muci felt a headache.
Ling Qianhe needed to be appeased; why did this devil in front of her also need appeasing?
She didn't have that much patience, but the youth opposite her looked at her, then took her fingers.
She trembled slightly. He opened his mouth and his lips and teeth gently licked her fingertips—a tingling sensation.
Her fingertips still had a hint of the candy's sweetness, which he tasted.
He only took a light sip.
Yet he seemed troubled.
"Still not enough..."
Her heart skipped a beat.
"Not enough... what?"
She quickly regretted the question.
The youth's clear black and white eyes gazed into hers, then shifted slightly downward, settling on her lips. Her lips were a vibrant red. He stared intently, then said,
"It should... be sweet, right?"
As he spoke, Lin Muci felt something was wrong—she swallowed and prepared to retreat, but the youth's other hand wrapped around her waist.
Her waist was slender, fragile enough to be held in a single grip.
The youth gripped her waist, seemingly quite satisfied.
He curved his lips.
He smiled.
"Why run?"
She still felt danger. Alarms blared in her mind—on one hand, she felt she wasn't that familiar with this brat.
He shouldn't be so bold. On the other hand, her instincts screamed, and her voice became tense.
"You... you..."
She suddenly realized that the other party had already broken through to the Nascent Soul stage?
This was too fast... even with the effective Jade Bone Lotus and ample fierce beast demon cores, his talent still astonished Lin Muci.
"You've broken through to Nascent Soul?"
The youth grunted. His voice held a hint of pleasure.
"But that's not important right now."
This... not... important?
The youth leaned closer to her lips and said,
"Now, I want to eat that candy."
"I know, you didn't eat it all. You left one for me, just like before."
She left one...?
No, she had eaten it all.
But the next moment, Lin Muci's eyes widened abruptly. Beside the shimmering lake surface, the youth's lips had pursued hers, exploring into her mouth. The pliant touch, his breath overwhelming her.
It was instinct.
A familiar sensation struck her—she could see his fluffy eyelashes, see the inexplicable longing surging in the depths of his dark eyes, like the sunset clouds in the sky.
Such a beautiful youth kissed her fiercely, forcefully.
He searched for that candy bit by bit.
None.
She had finished it—but she herself, to him, was a candy.
He touched her lips bit by bit, breath surging. He brushed against her hair and said,
"We agreed."
"Won't leave."
"So, I am yours."
"Then, you are mine too."
He was very certain, while Lin Muci suddenly realized and abruptly pushed him away.
He thought she was shy, unaware that only one thought occupied her mind.
It's over, it's over! Even in the acting space, if Ling Qianhe, that little brat, found out, she would be finished!
Sob, sob, sob!
She was kissed by another yandere!
How could someone be as shamelessly thick-skinned as Ling Qianhe!
Sob, sob, sob, even in the acting space, she felt—that youth would still be jealous!