Chapter 6: Xiao Jiu, I Gave You a Chance

His sword brows slanted into his temples, his eyes narrow and deep; those amber pupils were actually vertical slits, now slightly narrowed, like a deep pool in a cold night, bottomless.

Below his tall, straight nose bridge, his thin lips lightly pressed, the corners of his mouth seeming to bear a mocking smile; his long, strong fingers pinched the pawn ticket previously pressed under the black coffin, swaying intermittently.

Is he angry?

Angry that I just chose the cyan sedan chair, almost leaving with the Fox Lord?

That's right.

He protected me with his own merit for twelve years; if tonight I were to leave without looking back, following the Fox Lord, wouldn't I truly become an ungrateful white-eyed wolf?

"Seventh Lord..."

I struggled to prop myself up, then hurriedly took two steps forward, wanting to explain something.

But my feet had long gone numb, not feeling like my own; I staggered, my body uncontrollably pitching forward to the ground.

Only the expected pain didn't come; a large hand suddenly appeared on my waist, firmly lifting me up.

A cool, refreshing bead was immediately stuffed into my mouth, instantly permeating my limbs, dispelling the Yin Cold Qi that had enveloped my body, making me feel as if I had come back to life in an instant.

But before I could catch my breath, the heat inside my body, no longer restrained by the Yin Cold Qi, raged like wildfire, scorching my body.

My blood all over seemed to boil instantly, waves of bloody smell surging up to my throat.

At that moment, the ancient-yellow-tinged pawn ticket was thrust into my hand; the man's icy voice sounded: "The grudges of Wufu Town have nothing to do with you; you are of age, the pawn ticket is returned to you—while there's still time, flee for your life."

Having said that, he turned and walked toward the black coffin.

One hand pressed against my churning chest, the other held the pawn ticket; I was completely dazed.

He… he returned the pawn ticket to me—what does that mean?

Return my freedom?

But someone like me, bound from birth by a great misfortune's fate, harmful to others and myself… can I truly have a free life?

For a moment, my heart was a tangle of five flavors; I didn't know whether to rejoice or grieve.

I long for freedom, longing to live an ordinary, normal life like my classmates.

I have just turned eighteen, with a wonderful life awaiting me.

But… uh…

Scarlet blood suddenly spurted out in a mouthful, staining the pawn ticket in my hand red.

I lowered my head, staring at the pawn ticket in my hand, but my eyes burned and ached, filled with blood-red, seeing nothing clearly.

The spot between my shoulder blades felt as if a knife were incessantly gouging and cutting; the pain made my whole body tremble, I collapsed uncontrollably, half-prostrate on the ground, continuously vomiting blood.

At that moment, I clearly felt my life continuously ebbing away.

The man, one foot already stepped into the black coffin, jerked his head back; seeing the faint blood glow shimmering on my back, his pupils contracted sharply.

He strode toward me, yanking open the collar of my great red wedding dress, exposing a broad expanse of snowy-white skin on my back.

I don't know what he saw, but I could feel his icy fingertips wandering over my back, as if tracing something.

His fingertips trembled as his voice did: "Little fire fox, it's really you."

"Back then… what exactly happened to you? Who did this to you?!"

I looked at him, bewildered, blood still trickling from the corner of my mouth.

He simply stared at me, his eyes extremely complex—joy, heartache, scrutiny, entanglement…

I don't know what he's thinking, but I understand that leaving the pawn shop, leaving him, I have at most a one in ten chance of surviving.

He… has always been the sole lifeline I could cling to.

I shoved the pawn ticket back into his hand: "Seventh Lord, I'm not leaving… I… I am yours; you can't abandon me."

The man's pupils instantly deepened; one arm wrapped around my waist to prop me up, the other wiped the blood from my lip corner, his vertical pupils locked on me as he asked, "Who are you?"

"Xiao Jiu," I replied instinctively, then recalling the name on the pawn ticket, I answered, "Jiang Wantaong."

The man asked again: "Then who am I?"

I answered: "Seventh Lord."

The man was not satisfied: "Who is Seventh Lord?"

I hesitated a moment, then mustered courage and replied: "Liu… Liu Junyan."

As the words fell, the man lowered his head and lightly bit my lips.

A light bite, then he released.

But the large hand on my waist did not loosen; he lowered his head, forehead touching mine, breaths intertwining, his gaze deepening: "Xiao Jiu, this time you provoked me first; I gave you a chance, and you refused."

"Tonight is supposed to be our bridal night."

With those words, he bent and scooped me up horizontally, lifting his leg toward the East House.

The East House door latch fell with a click; this room I had never entered was spotless, as if someone cleaned it often.

The East House consists of inner and outer chambers, divided by a carved lattice screen; a quick glance showed only uniform redwood furniture, antique and fragrant.

In a daze, I was already carried into the inner chamber and placed on the wide four-poster bed; instantly nervous, my toes curled, I instinctively turned to face inward.

Liu Junyan waved his hand; the door shut, the ever‑lamp's weak light blocked outside, the room instantly plunged into darkness.

I clearly felt him approach, layer by layer stripping off my heavy red wedding dress; his cool lips pressed, kissing inch by inch over my aching back.

In the darkness, unable to see, my senses grew sharper.

My whole body trembled, both hands gripping the sheets beneath me, yet I couldn't hold back a choked sob.

"Afraid of me?"

His broad chest withdrew slightly; the man loosened his hold, as if pondering something.

I blinked slightly, realizing Liu Junyan might regret keeping me; my mind heated, I already sat up, actively nestling my whole body into his embrace.

A soft laugh; the man obviously pleased with my reaction.

The white hair at his temples was lifted, dense kisses rained down again: "Don't be afraid, Xiao Jiu; with me here, you won't die."

That night I drifted up and down, feeling as if I were in a dream; I only felt streams of overbearing qi flow seep into my blood as Liu Junyan drew near, soothing the scorching heat and pain in my body that felt like it was about to burst.

In the latter half of the night, Liu Junyan showed no fatigue.

It lasted until the cockcrow, when rain began to fall outside.

The raindrops were large, pattering against the rear window; Liu Junyan's kiss on my already sweat-dampened temples paused.

At that moment, I was so exhausted I couldn't even lift my eyelids, and I heard the man's hoarse voice say something in my ear.

"A downpour has started, Xiao Jiu."

"Hmm..."

I responded in a daze, feeling the room temperature drop considerably, and instinctively snuggled into his arms.

"The once-in-thirty-years sacrifice has been broken; what must come will come, Xiao Jiu—I have to leave."

I was startled; before I could react, I felt his finger point at my brow, and then I fell asleep.

But I hadn't slept long before I heard a familiar voice calling me.

"Xiao Jiu, Xiao Jiu, wake up..."

I flung my eyes open to see a phantom wreathed in a circle of Golden Light hovering at my bedside, gazing at me earnestly.

It was Grandmother.