Susu cradled Yinuo, the girl's skin a sickly purple, her eyebrows furrowed in agonizing pain. The sight of Yinuo, the sister Zhang Li loved so fiercely, in such distress was a contrast to the man's image she held in her mind. "How could he do this?" she whispered, in disbelief. "He killed countless people to save her, yet now he would cast a curse on her?"
Li Yang, echoed her sentiments. "Why would he be so cruel to his own blood?" She glanced at Susu who was staring at Bai Lin, the man's face obscured by the shadows of the night. "He's a monster", he said, voice low. "But I saw him love Yinuo. He must be plotting something."
Susu's eyes flicked towards Su Ning, hidden in the corner. "To control her," he said, his voice almost a whisper. "He wants to control her."
Susu felt a cold knot of understanding tighten in her chest. Yes, Zhang Li loved Yinuo, but his love was a possessive one, fueled by ambition. He wanted Yinuo and the world, and to achieve his goals, he needed her power. The curse was a cruel, calculated act. He cast it to avoid Yinuo's emotions getting in the way of his plans.
She looked at Yinuo, her gaze lingering on the twitching of her fingers, the subtle tremors that wracked her body. The pain wouldn't be indiscriminate, Susu realized. Zhang Li wouldn't inflict it randomly. He would use it as a weapon, a punishment for disobedience. But why was it happening now?
Susu remembered Su Nings words about his sister, a sister who had also been cursed by Zhang Li. The pain, the sudden death chill, it all seemed familiar. Susu looked at Su Ning, "Zhang Li won't inflict pain on Yinuo unless he wants to. You know this curse, tell me...why is it attacking her? What's triggering it?" a question burning in her eyes.
"Her emotions," Su Ning said, his voice barely a murmur. "Zhang Li put it on her to avoid her emotions getting in the way. He wanted her to be a tool, not a person."
Susu's heart sank. It was a curse that would only activate when Yinuo felt the most, when emotions threatened to sway her actions. It was a truly horrifying level of power, a power that she feared would ultimately lead to Yinuo's destruction.
"I'll pass some of my qi to her," Su Ning announced, his voice weak but determined. "You guys should sleep now."
Susu, clutching Yinuo close, nodded silently. Li Yang and Bai Lin exchanged a glance before stepping out of the tent, leaving Su Ning and the unconscious Yinuo alone. Li Yang looked back, a sad smile gracing her lips. Barely a whisper she said, "I really hope you get better, Yinou. Let him rest, alright?"
Susu, noticing the unspoken emotion in Li Yang's words, understood. She knew the depth of Li Yang's affection for Su Ning, a silent longing that tugged at her heart.
"I'll pass some of my Qi to her," Su Ning said, his voice low but resolute. "You guys should sleep now."
Susu, holding Yinuo close, nodded silently. Li Yang and Bai Lin exchanged a glance before stepping out, leaving Su Ning alone with Yinuo.
He knelt beside her trembling form. Her chest rose and fell in ragged, uneven bursts, fingers twitching against the blanket. The storm inside her hadn't eased—it roared, wild and chaotic, and every fiber of her being fought against him.
Su Ning exhaled, jaw tightening. This won't work if she resists.
Before she could even register his movement, he pressed his hands against her shoulders and eased her gently down onto the mattress, anchoring her trembling body with careful pressure. His touch was firm enough to hold her, soft enough not to bruise, steadying the flailing energy she radiated.
Then, without hesitation, he leaned down. His lips met hers, cold and quivering beneath his warmth—a shocking contrast that made her gasp. Her lips were icy, almost brittle in the winter-like chill of her fevered body, and the contact sent a shiver straight through him.
The kiss wasn't gentle. It was rough—urgent, commanding—but not careless. His hands shifted to cradle her sides, steadying her, keeping her from thrashing, yet never letting go of the tenderness buried beneath the need. He pressed his mouth deeper, his lips sliding past hers, finding purchase and creating a bridge for his Qi to surge into her chaotic body.
Her eyes fluttered open, wild and disoriented, but she couldn't pull away. The storm inside her screamed, and yet the kiss tethered her, forcing the chaos to bend to his control. She trembled against him, shivering from the cold of her own lips and the fire of his energy, a violent contrast that left her breathless.
Su Ning's mouth lingered, teeth brushing softly at the edges as he pushed just enough, deep enough, to ensure the Qi flowed freely. He whispered against her lips, voice steady, commanding, "Hold on… let it through."
The energy moved, intertwining with her own, pulsing violently and then slowly harmonizing. Her ragged breathing eased slightly. The trembling subsided. For a heartbeat, they existed only in that violent, urgent connection—body to body, Qi to Qi, lips to lips—everything else gone.
Finally, he pulled back. His hands lingered at her shoulders, still steadying, still gentle despite the roughness of the kiss. Her lips were cold against his fingers when he brushed them aside. Her eyes, still wide, met his, and a flicker of clarity shone through the chaos.
"Stay with me," he murmured, voice low but firm. "Don't let it take you."
Yinuo gasped, chest heaving, body still trembling—but anchored, tethered by the rough, soft, and forceful kiss that had carried his Qi straight into her.
As the girls made their way to their tent, a heavy silence settled over them. Susu, her heart aching for Yinou, muttered softly, "I'll do anything I can to help you," her eyes welling up with tears. She cried, but her sobs were muffled, her grief bottled inside.
Back in her room, Li Yang's tears mirrored Susu's sorrow. Later, unable to sleep, Susu rose and went to check on Yinuo. A fruit basket sat on the bedside table, a clear sign of Li Yang's quiet generosity. Susu smiled, understanding the unspoken apology. It was a gesture of goodwill, a compensation for Susu's 'theft' of Li Yang's food earlier. Taking a bunch of grapes, Susu went to Yinuo's tent, tucking the fruit beside the sleeping Yinuo.
As dawn broke, Susu found herself drawn to the lake. "Oh, Li Yang, you're here?" she said, surprised.
"No, I'm not here. I'm Li Yang's ghost," Li Yang replied with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Susu chuckled, knowing it was a joke. "Oh my!" she exclaimed, pretending to shiver.
Li Yang howled playfully, charging towards her.
"Ahh!" Susu screamed, her laughter echoing across the lake.
Bai Lin, watching from the corner, rolled his eyes. "What a Deadly Combination," he muttered.
Li Yang's laughter filled the air, infectious and genuine. Susu smiled, a real smile, the first since the previous night. She saw Li Yang's joy, her genuine affection for Su Ning, and a wave of relief washed over her. She wouldn't have to worry about an evil comrade, about jealousy or bitterness. Li Yang was kind, and her heart was pure.
"Why are you smiling?" Li Yang asked, tilting her head. "You must have seen the fruit basket, tasty right?"
Susu nodded, her smile widening. "In that case," Li Yang said, "will you cook that chocolate fudge again? I like it."
Susu felt a surge of warmth. "Really?" she asked.
Li Yang nodded, her face turning a little red. "I didn't mean to steal those," she explained. "I thought no one wanted it, so..."
Susu chuckled, her heart light. "Alright. But you get me more of these grapes," she said. "We got a deal then."
Yinuo stirred, the scent of grapes filling her nostrils. She blinked, her gaze falling on the plump fruit beside her. A whisper escaped her lips, barely audible. "Thanks. Thank Susu."
She nibbled on a grape, the sweet juice a contrast to the bitterness that bloomed in her heart. Susu, her loyal sword, her closest companion. The only one who had been there for her through it all.
Her mind drifted back to the three important people in her life. Master Xinyue, not the Zhang Li today but yesterday. The name stung, an unwelcome reminder of the betrayal, the schemes hidden behind a mask of kindness. Yinuo longed to forget, to return to the days when Master Xinyue had been her guiding light, before the truth shattered her world.
Then there was Susu. Yinuo had known, all those years ago, that Susu would eventually cultivate into a human form. Seventeen years she had waited, and Susu had never failed her. Even as a sword, Susu had been her unwavering confidante, her voice of reason.
Lastly, Lin Jian. Not Su Ning. Yinuo missed that version of Su Ning, the one who had shown her kindness. But Lin Jian, he was a phantom, a cruel mockery of the man she had once loved. The realization brought a fresh wave of anguish, a suffocating tightness in her chest.
Anger and rage boiled within her. What had she done to deserve this? This excruciating pain, this constant reminder of loss and betrayal. Why?
In the corner, Su Ning watched Yinuo, his eyebrows furrowed. He recognized that ominous aura, the one that always accompanied her demonic core's surge. He saw her body flicker, the edges of her immortal form dissolving into dust.
His heart ached. Her demonic core was slowly consuming her, her immortal body crumbling under its imbalanced power.
He walked towards her, his footsteps silent. "You're up?" his voice was soft, laced with concern. Yinuo's gaze met his, and she felt a flicker of calm wash over her. It was a familiar comfort, the touch of his hand as he gathered her hair, the gentle strokes of his fingers as he began to braid it.
The rage subsided, replaced by a wave of weary exhaustion.