As Fu Rong stepped out through the doorway of the private residence, she couldn't help but be amazed by the luxury offered in the surroundings. This was an area that was very clear, even for the naked eye, and the type of area that only the rich and powerful would buy property here.
The internal and external parts of this place was filled with tall iron gates, paved stone driveways, and huge houses. She inwardly groaned. From the looks of it, the obvious downside was, this was not the kind of place where one could just step out and hail a taxi. Great. Just Great. Qi Hai had brought her to this place, and now, left her to find her own way out.
The sun was already setting, and the undisturbed street was overrun by creeping shadows. It was getting darker. Fu Rong risked a look towards the darkening heavens above. I should have come out here by myself, she thought, not wishing to put the kids in any danger by requesting that they come for her assistance. With a sigh, she turned, and began walking.
Yet, every step she took felt as if they were laden with more and more weights. The exorcism earlier had taken out much more of her yang energy than she had cared to gauge. The depleted energy was evident; her complexion diminishing with each passing second. Her legs became unresponsive, her body swayed off balance, and then steadily everything began to go dark. Fu Rong understood that her fainting spell was imminent.
Just as she felt herself getting unconscious, the things around her began to swirl and the ground began to pull away to the sides, a sturdy hand was in the nick of time around her waist before she fell. That sudden heat that engulfed her was clear – an arm had secured her in position most probably to prevent her from falling.
The warmth made her feel good, and she found herself relaxing into the hold. It was an odd feeling, like she was taking energy from the person behind her. Her instincts told her to pull away but she found herself gripping tighter, until the smell – a man's sharp cologne – caused her to stop. It was then that she figured it out.
Mu Ling.
She tensed up, and her senses kicked into overdrive. Of all the people, this was the last person with whom she would want to be vulnerable. She tried to break the hold, but her body seemed to have a mind of its own, still leaning into him. Mu Ling, the enigmatic and dangerous Fifth Master, was holding her.
"You..." Fu Rong muttered, trying to summon the strength to move. Her voice was weak, even to her own ears.
A light laugh slipped Mu Ling's lips as her back felt the rumpling vibrations from his chest. "No need to be so on your toes, Miss Fu. I am not a specter."
Fu Rong's face flushed with embarrassment. She finally managed to push herself away, but not before a soft, unintentional moan escaped her lips. Both of them froze at the sound. Fu Rong's eyes widened in horror as the implications sank in. Oh no. Not this. Not with him.
Mu Ling let go of her and took a step back, albeit his gaze remained locked on her. The corners of his mouth uplifted in a provocative smirk, and his eyes twinkled with mischief. "Miss Fu," he started, "I see that you rather… fancy me."
Fu Rong blushed so hard that her reddened cheeks could be easily noticed, even under her foundation. "What? No! That's not—" she spluttered, searching for a better response. In a panic, she shoved him back, her hands quaking, "Fifth Master, do not get carried away."
Mu Ling, despite being pushed, easily steadied himself, his smile never faltering. "Miss Fu, you're truly heartless. Pushing me away after using me?" His words were meant to tease, but they hung in the air, ambiguous, causing Fu Rong's embarrassment to deepen.
"I… I didn't use you!" Fu Rong retorted raising her voice a little. She did not meet his gaze and felt bad and annoyed at the same time. What's wrong with this guy, why can't he just let it be?
Seeing her discomfort, Mu Ling's smirk widened. "You didn't? Then why cling to me so tightly, hmm? It felt as though you didn't want to let go."
"That's enough!" Fu Rong interrupted sharply, her voice cold. "Fifth Master, mind your words. Don't damage my reputation casually."
Mu Ling raised his brow, the anger in her voice stirring curiosity in him. He softened his gaze for a second and laughed once more. "I shall do as you say, Miss Fu."
With that, she turned on her heel and started walking away, her steps faster now, trying to escape the weight of the moment. Her heart was still racing from the unexpected encounter, and she hoped the darkness would hide the flush still burning on her face.
Mu Ling watched her retreating figure, his expression darkening. "You know, Miss Fu," he called after her, his voice casual but laced with something deeper, "if you're planning to catch a cab in this area, it's impossible."
Fu Rong froze mid-step, her back still to him. Of course, he's right. This isn't the place for cabs. She closed her eyes for a brief moment, gathering her composure. Before she could respond, she felt a firm hand clasp around her wrist.
"Let go of me," she said, glaring at him as she spun around.