The Eve of Departure

Red, a peculiar color. It can evoke warmth and vitality, like flowers and flames, but also blood and terror, like... mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

As if the concept of death itself had materialized, thousands of bodies were piled into a small mountain, the flowing blood dyeing the earth red. Limbs and shredded flesh were splattered everywhere, and even the sky was overcast, as if mourning this hell on earth. And I—or rather, the person sharing my vision—simply stood by, watching the carnage she had wrought with her own hands.

"I told you it was a dead end... Why did you still insist on trying to defeat me..."

That voice sounded like mine, just lacking a bit of its melodiousness and possessing a more mature huskiness.

"But since you're all dead anyway, let's not waste it..."

As "I" spoke, scarlet blood-light rose from every corpse in the mountain of bodies. Together with the blood spilled across the ground, it formed a massive torrent of crimson that surged into "my" body, vanishing in an instant. The earth revealed its original color, the corpses dry as deadwood. The blood stench that had filled the world was gone, leaving only a field of desiccated corpses, silently testifying to the tragedy that had unfolded.

"I" sighed and was about to leave when suddenly, "I thought it would be a waste of time, but I didn't expect to actually run into someone halfway decent."

Without any warning, a man's voice came from behind, laced with contempt and impatience.

"From now on, you're my subordinate. Come with me, don't waste my time."

The speaker appeared to be a tall, slender man, standing in the shadow of the corpse pile, his face obscured.

"...What do you think you are?" "I" asked coldly.

"Watch your tone, woman," the man said, slowly stepping out of the shadows.

"It seems I need to brand fear into your heart. Hmm... If I were to crush the parts below your neck, would you be more obedient?"

—The dream was interrupted here.

Another memory of that Blood Mist?

I rubbed my throbbing head and sat up in bed. The argument with Si Nan Ying over my refusal to wear the lingerie last night had gone on late, and we didn't fall asleep until past midnight. Speaking of which, where was Si Nan Ying?

"Mmm... Xiao Ye, just a little longer..." A soft murmur came from beside me. I lifted the covers to see—

Si Nan Ying, wearing cat pajamas, was curled into a ball. Her usually wide-open eyes were shut, her long lashes fluttering slightly with her breaths. Her skin, so delicate it seemed like it could be squeezed for water, was soft and supple, and her rosy lips parted slightly, her sweet breath fanning onto me...

"..."

When girls are playing around, kissing is also pretty normal... So, just a little peck shouldn't be a problem, right...?

Just as I, unable to resist the temptation of Si Nan Ying's sleeping face, leaned down—

"Anyone who dares to commit indecent acts against Miss will be killed!"

"Uwaa!"

Si Nan Yuan appeared beside me like a ghost, her icy eyes filled with murderous intent.

"When did you get here!?"

"All night, I was guarding in the shadows. Did you think I would leave Miss alone with you?"

"Uh... I was just momentarily confused..."

"And," she interrupted me, her gaze shifting away as if she were blushing—was I imagining it?—"I hope you understand how alluring you are in that outfit. You should change back into your usual clothes."

I looked down and saw the red and white lace clinging to my body... As expected of the highest-grade lingerie, it brought out the sexiness of this body completely, without reservation.

"Wh-Why did you put this on meeeeeeeeeee!" I shrieked like a maiden, desperately covering myself with the blanket. Damn it! The lust that I had quelled with self-gratification last night flared up again!

"It seems you still have some shame. Hurry and get dressed!" Si Nan Yuan stopped looking at me and turned towards the door.

"Hey, wait!" I couldn't help but call out to her.

"What?"

"When I was sleeping last night, you didn't take advantage of me, did you..."

Si Nan Yuan's body trembled violently, and after a long pause, she replied, "Don't think of me as lewd as you! I didn't touch you!"

"You didn't touch me... meaning you were watching the whole time?"

"Go to hell!"

Blood seeped from my fingertips, not forming whips or blades, but condensing into pellets the size of bullets, hovering before my fingers. I held my breath, my five senses sharpened to the extreme.

Rustle... A light breeze blew, scattering a few leaves. In that instant—

Whoosh— Accompanied by the sound of wind breaking, the blood pellets shot out, instantly piercing the first leaf, then turning sharply. They drew complex red trajectories, puncturing the remaining leaves one by one! All of this took less than half a second!

"Hoo, testing a new skill, successful." I shook my hand. I was currently in the hotel garden. After having that dream last night, my mind had gained some information about using this Supernatural Ability. The knowledge and memories of that Blood Mist were being increasingly inherited by me. I really didn't know if it was a good thing or a bad thing.

However, while the knowledge of how to use the Supernatural Ability had become richer, it didn't mean I had become stronger. I had only mastered the method of use; putting it into practice would require constant training.

A few more leaves drifted down. This time, I'd try a new move!

Large masses of blood surged out, stretching into several blood ropes that swept towards the falling leaves. The blood ropes intertwined and coiled, instantly forming a blood net that trapped the falling leaves without a single escape. Then, the blood ropes immediately changed from rope-like to blade-like, tightening abruptly and slicing the leaves into fragments in an instant!

Clap, clap, clap. Applause came from behind me. I turned my head and saw Rui Feng.

"A truly beautiful technique. If you had used it in our fight, I fear I would have lost even faster." Rui Feng still had his usual stoic expression, but a hint of admiration showed in his eyes. "Seeing as you're still adapting to your Supernatural Ability, have you only recently awakened it?"

"Uh, you could say that."

"Amazing. To be able to defeat me with a recently awakened Supernatural Ability and decent reaction speed, you must be a genius!"

His words carried no hint of jealousy or mockery, only pure admiration. I couldn't help but feel a sense of goodwill towards him.

"Thank you for the compliment, but I guess I'm a suspicious person right now. Is it really okay to approach me like this?" I couldn't help but remind him.

"It's fine. I'm good at discerning someone's character through combat. Even though you have many secrets, I believe you aren't a person of ill character."

"Just because of that… Well, whatever. I'm happy you trust me, thank you!" I said sincerely.

"No need to be so formal. Speaking of which, there's an open space in the middle of the inn that's a dedicated training ground. Why don't you go there?"

"Well… To be honest, it's full of Si Nan clan members. It would be pretty awkward for an outsider like me to go there, and I'd also have to consider Miss Si Nan Yuan…"

"You don't need to worry about that. The captain instructed us not to engage you unless you do something out of line. Besides, she's in a meeting right now and won't be at the training ground."

"I see… Wait, a meeting? Is it about wha-… Ah, sorry, I shouldn't be asking about that, should I?"

"It's fine to say. It's not exactly a secret. We're conducting the final investigation of the Winter Mountains tomorrow. After searching the last area in the center of the mountains, we'll be heading back."

The final investigation…

"In that case, I'll head back to my room first to prepare for tomorrow." He waved his hand and turned to leave.

"Hey!" I called out to him. "What do you mean by preparation?"

"Checking equipment and rations, but mainly warming up. I need to get my body into the best condition for combat tomorrow."

"Then," I couldn't help but smile, "are you interested in sparring a few more rounds with me? You can warm up, and I can gain combat experience. It's a win-win."

He looked at me for a moment, then smiled too.

"That's exactly what I wanted!"