In the farthest corners of the Golden Dragon Dynasty, away from the grandeur of the palace, where the high walls basked in the glow of the setting sun, stood a place few were permitted to visit—the dungeon.
The dungeon was an intricate network of labyrinthine passageways and small cells, each carved into the rocky walls of the mountain. The ceilings were high, the walls damp and lined with moss. The air was heavy with a sense of dread, the dimly flickering torches casting long, eerie shadows on the stone floor. The dungeon smelled of damp earth and old, musty stone—a scent that pervaded the entirety of the dank underground complex, sticking to the lungs of its unfortunate inhabitants.
In the depths of this hellish place, the mysterious servant—now known as Ming—was thrown into a cell. He grunted as his body collided with the cold stone floor. The door slammed shut behind him, leaving him in the oppressive darkness.
Through the heavy iron bars of his cell, Ming could make out the silhouettes of two guards—a man and a woman. The man was burly, his bulky frame filling the narrow hallway. He wore dark armor, the symbol of the Golden Dragon Dynasty emblazoned on his chest. His eyes glinted in the torchlight, a cruel smile playing on his lips.
But it was the woman who caught Ming's attention. Lian, as the man had called her, was of average height, with a slender figure that belied her strength. Her dark hair was pulled back in a strict bun, revealing her sharp, angular face. Her dark eyes were narrowed as she studied Ming, her expression thoughtful.
Lian couldn't help but notice Ming's physique. Despite his ragged appearance and the chains that bound him, his body was powerfully built—muscular arms, broad shoulders, and a strong chest. She found herself blushing, an unusual reaction for her. Shaking her head, she tried to dismiss the strange feeling that was stirring within her.
Opening the door of the cell, the male guard, known as Huo, strode in, his heavy boots echoing ominously in the small cell. Huo's cruel smile widened as he saw Ming rise to his feet, defiance sparking in his blue eyes. He was clearly amused by Ming's futile resistance, relishing in the power he held over him.
"Enjoying your new home, Ming?" Huo taunted, his voice filled with sadistic glee. He forcefully grabbed Ming's chin, his grip strong enough to draw a wince from the chained man.
Huo pulled out a small vial from his belt. A golden liquid shimmered within, the same color as the dragon insignia of the Golden Dragon Dynasty. With his free hand, he uncorked the vial and tipped it to Ming's lips.
"Drink up. This will ensure you don't step out of line," he sneered.
Ming struggled against the guard's grip, trying to evade the forced intake of the liquid. But Huo was relentless. He stepped on Ming's shackled leg, driving a scream out of Ming as the sharp pain surged through his body. The cruel guard took advantage of the momentary lapse in Ming's resistance, and he poured the golden liquid into Ming's open mouth.
Almost immediately, a warm sensation spread through Ming's body. It seeped into his veins, spreading through his limbs like wildfire. He felt his body grow heavy, his strength rapidly waning.
"Huo, you brute!" Lian exclaimed, momentarily forgetting her place and stepping forward in Ming's defense. She was quickly pulled back by her sense of duty, however, as she remembered the potential threat Ming posed. Huo ignored her outburst, his attention solely focused on Ming who was growing weaker by the second.
A few moments later, a faint, golden glow began to emerge from Ming's chest, forming the unmistakable shape of a dragon—the insignia of the Golden Dragon Dynasty. Huo withdrew, standing back with a satisfied grin plastered across his face.
"Ming," he said, his voice echoing ominously in the dungeon, "this insignia now binds you to the Dynasty. You won't be able to use your cultivation power within these walls. So don't even think about escaping."
He chuckled darkly, watching as Ming crumpled onto the cold stone floor, his strength completely drained. Ming's breaths came in ragged gasps, the pain from his leg and the draining of his power almost unbearable.
The male guard then produced a fiery red chain from his belt, the metal links glowing with a magical energy that matched the glow of the insignia on Ming's chest. With a swift movement, Huo fastened one end of the chain to Ming's shackles and the other to the wall, ensuring Ming couldn't move much in his cell.
Outside the cell, Lian watched as Huo exited, leaving Ming bound and helpless. She felt a strange urge to help Ming but suppressed it quickly. She was a guard, after all. It was her duty to ensure that Ming didn't escape, not comfort him.
"Keep an eye out for this one," Huo pointed at Ming, "I need to report to the Imperial Guard Commander."
With that, he turned to leave, and Lian was alone with Ming.
Ming, however, wasn't done yet. He lifted his head, struggling to meet Lian's gaze. There was a charming glint in his eyes that made her heart flutter. He offered her a weak smile, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards despite the pain he was in.
Lian's heart skipped a beat as she locked eyes with Ming. His smile, though weak, held an irresistible charm that seemed to pull her towards him. The pain and exhaustion in his eyes only added to his vulnerability, stirring something deep within her.
"What... What are you smiling about?" Lian stammered, trying to mask her growing infatuation with a hint of annoyance. She couldn't let her emotions cloud her judgment. Ming was dangerous, and she had a duty to protect the dynasty.
Ming's voice was barely a whisper as he responded, his words laced with a seductive undertone while looking at his growing erection and then back at her. "Lian, my dear guard, can't you feel it? The connection between us... the undeniable spark. We were meant to meet in this dark and twisted place."
Lian's cheeks flushed as she stared at his erection, and she shook her head to clear her thoughts. "You're mistaken, Ming. There's nothing between us. You're just a prisoner here, and I'm tasked with keeping you in check."
Ming's eyes bore into her, his gaze intense and penetrating. "You can deny it all you want, Lian, but deep down, you know the truth. I can offer you pleasures beyond your wildest dreams, a passion that will consume you. Release me from these chains, and I will show you a world of ecstasy you've never known."
Her mind filled with visions of their impending coupling: his firm body pressed against hers, his thick shaft buried deep within her...
She shook her head again to clear her thoughts before she lost herself in a world of lust and pleasure. His words sent shivers down Lian's spine, stirring desires she had long suppressed. The allure of mingling with such a dangerous yet captivating man was a temptation she couldn't easily resist. And the mention of a child, something she had always yearned for, added fuel to the fire of her desires.
"I... I can't," Lian murmured, her voice barely audible even to her own ears. She took a step closer to the cell, the forbidden thoughts swirling in her mind.
Ming's eyes narrowed with a mischievous glint. "You can, Lian. Embrace the desires that have been locked away within you. Free yourself from the constraints of duty and let me fulfill your deepest fantasies. Remove this chain, and I'll be yours to command."
Lian's heart pounded in her chest as she stood before the cell, her mind a battlefield between duty and desire. The words that Ming spoke awakened a yearning she had never known, a thirst for pleasure and fulfillment that threatened to consume her. She reached out a trembling hand, her fingertips grazing the cold metal of the chain that bound Ming.
But just as her resolve wavered, a voice echoed from the darkness of the dungeon, cutting through the haze of desire. "Lian! Stop!"
It was Huo, returning sooner than expected. Panic surged through Lian's veins, and she quickly withdrew her hand, distancing herself from Ming's cell. The chains that held him clinked with the sudden movement, a harsh reminder of the reality they were both trapped in.
Huo emerged from the shadows, his eyes narrowing as he took in the scene before him. "What were you doing, Lian? I left for just a few minutes and you were getting too close to him, allowing his charms to cloud your judgment!"
Lian averted her gaze, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. "I... I was just... I lost focus for a moment, but I didn't do anything."
Huo's stern expression softened slightly, though a hint of concern still lingered. "Be careful, Lian. That man possesses cultivation abilities that even the measures we've taken might not have fully dampened. His charm is potent, and it can easily manipulate the minds of those who succumb to it."
Lian nodded, her heart heavy with the knowledge of her vulnerability. She had come dangerously close to falling under Ming's spell, and she knew she couldn't allow it to happen again.
As Huo led her away from the dungeon, Lian glanced back at Ming, who now wore a wicked grin on his face. There was a split personality within him, a darkness lurking beneath the surface. She couldn't help but shudder as she caught fragments of his mutterings—words like "full moon" and laughter that echoed with a maniacal tone.
Unbeknownst to Lian, Ming's wicked grin widened as he reveled in the chaos he would soon unleash upon the Golden Dragon Dynasty. The dormant darkness within him was awakening, and with the approaching full moon, his sinister plans would come to fruition.
*****
Author's Note
~ What's your guess on who Ming is?
If you've read this far, please give a review, I'm currently low on this part of the ratings.
400 power stones=3 bonus chapters, if I get a huge turn up, I can dish out more chapters (aside the usual 2-3) in a day.