RUAN YANJUN
"Come with me," I ordered Luo Fan, pulling him along as I stepped into the mansion's shadowy interior. The walls were draped with macabre curtains of hair, their lengths swaying like sinister vines. The room reeked of decay, the essence of countless lives drained and woven into this grotesque lair.
Xie Lianyu's anguished cries echoed behind me as I summoned a wave of fire. The flames roared to life, racing across the walls and igniting the hanging strands. Smoke filled the air as the cursed hair burned, releasing its trapped energy in bursts of light.
"No!" Xie Lianyu screamed, dragging himself toward the inferno. "You can't—this is all I have!"
"Then you have nothing," I said coldly, watching as the flames consumed his sanctuary.
Defeated, he collapsed to the floor, his screams turning to sobs. "I'll kill you for this, Ruan Yanjun... I'll kill you!"
I smirked, unbothered by his threats. With a swift motion, I scooped Luo Fan into my arms and leapt out of the burning mansion. The cool night air greeted us as the structure behind us crumbled into a smoldering ruin.
"Put me down," Luo Fan demanded, his tone indignant even as he flushed a brilliant shade of red.
Ignoring him, I tightened my hold and leapt toward the spot where I had left the horse earlier. "Just enjoy the romantic ride, A-Fan," I teased, enjoying the way his expression twisted in both embarrassment and exasperation.
"You're impossible," he muttered, but he didn't struggle further.
Once we reached the horse, I felt it—a familiar, unwelcome churning deep within me. The ancient demonic core stirred, its energy rising like a black tide. My vision blurred, and for a moment, I blacked out.
When I came to, I was on my knees, leaning heavily against Luo Fan. He was holding me up, his hands firm on my shoulders.
"Lord Ruan, tell me what's happening?" he asked, his voice low with concern.
I shook my head, willing the core's influence to subside. "It's nothing," I said, brushing him off as I forced myself to stand.
He didn't press further, though his worry was written plainly on his face. That alone made me smile.
"I'll take the reins," he said, guiding me toward the horse.
He mounted the horse first, his movements fluid and practiced, like someone born to the saddle. When he turned to help me up, his expression softened. "Come," he urged, his tone gentle now.
With a quiet sigh, I accepted his hand. As I swung myself up, I allowed my weight to lean against him, letting my arms rest naturally around his waist. He stilled for a moment, likely unprepared for the intimacy of the position.
"You're warmer than I expected," I said, my voice low and teasing, close enough for him to hear over the stillness of the night.
"Lord Ruan, stop saying such things," he muttered, his ears visibly red even in the moonlight.
I smirked. His flustered state was a rare delight, and I couldn't resist leaning in just a little closer, letting my chest press against his back. His frame was slight but firm, his heartbeat steady beneath my touch.
"Are you comfortable?" he asked, trying to sound unaffected, though his voice betrayed a hint of nervousness.
"Very," I murmured. "I could stay like this all night."
He stiffened, his hands tightening on the reins. "You shouldn't push yourself, Lord Ruan. Rest if you must."
"Oh, I'm resting just fine," I replied, my lips brushing against his shoulder as I spoke. His scent, clean and faintly herbal, was intoxicating, and I let myself sink into it, savoring the rare closeness.
Luo Fan urged the horse forward, his movements deliberate, as though focusing on the ride could distract him from my presence pressed so intimately against him.
As the horse galloped through the quiet forest, the moonlight filtered through the canopy, casting dappled silver patterns over the path. The rhythm of the ride, the gentle sway of the horse beneath us, felt almost hypnotic.
"Are you alright?" he asked suddenly, his voice soft, his concern genuine. He turned his head slightly, enough for me to catch the faintest glimpse of his profile.
The truth was, my strength was already returning. But something about this moment, about him, made me want to linger. "I'll survive," I replied, letting my voice carry a touch of weariness.
"Hold tighter," he instructed, a little too quickly, as if to end the conversation.
"As you wish," I whispered, tightening my arms around his waist. His sharp intake of breath didn't escape me, and it brought a slow, satisfied smile to my lips.
The ride continued, the silence between us broken only by the steady thrum of hooves and the occasional rustle of leaves. Luo Fan remained focused ahead, his back stiff against my chest. But the tension only made the moment sweeter, each subtle shift of his body a reminder of how close we were.
The forest began to thin, the city lights faintly visible in the distance. As much as I cherished the ride, I knew it wouldn't last much longer. Still, I allowed myself one final indulgence, resting my head lightly against his shoulder and closing my eyes.
For now, I could pretend, if only for a moment, that this was something more than duty—a fleeting illusion of peace, warmth, and connection that I would carry long after the night ended.