Ling'er poked her head out of the side room, saw the scene in the main room, and flushed crimson.
She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but finally withdrew and shut the door tightly.
Xiao Yun drew a deep breath and slowly closed his eyes.
He gave up resisting.
The night breeze slipped through the window cracks, making the candle flame on the table flicker.
The branches and leaves of the old tree in the courtyard rustled in the wind, like quiet sighs.
Deep in the alley, passing Slaughter Guards were dragging away the five corpses.
Beneath the blood-red sky, it was as though nothing had ever happened.
The blood-red light of morning filtered through the window paper, casting a soft, dark red glow inside the room.
Hu Liena's eyelashes trembled slightly as her consciousness rose, little by little, from profound darkness.
The instant she opened her eyes, her body instinctively tensed-an unfamiliar bed, an unfamiliar room, an unfamiliar presence.
She sat up abruptly. The quilt slipped from her shoulders, exposing broad swaths of fair skin, and the chill brought her fully awake.
She lowered her head.
She was wearing nothing.
Red marks from the night before still lingered on her skin. The soreness, weakness, and unfamiliar sensations in her body told her clearly what had happened.
Hu Liena's pupils abruptly contracted, and killing intent surged in her scarlet eyes.
With a thought, she circulated her soul power, and a sharp dagger appeared in her hand, its blade gleaming with an eerie blue chill.
Her movements were lightning-fast. The dagger spun in her palm, then stabbed toward the person beside her-
Then she saw his face clearly.
The dagger hung in midair, just an inch from his throat.
It was a young face, exceptionally handsome, one that only grew