Inside the cultivation room atop Digu Pass Peak, high-grade second tier Dragon's Saliva Incense rose from a gilded censer, its fragrance curling through the surrounding air.
Gu Zhiruo stood before the cold jade bed with her head lowered, gently straightening her robes.
Her fingers unconsciously stroked the crimson-gold belt at her waist-though this Spirit Artifact shimmered with pale golden spiritual light, it bore the marks of last night.
Bitterness surged within her. As she stood lost in thought, she suddenly heard the rustle of clothing behind her.
That faint sound struck her heart like a heavy hammer.
Instinctively, Gu Zhiruo clenched the hem of her skirt.
"Turn around." Qing Chen's languid, teasing voice drifted from behind her. "What, aren't you happy?"
Gu Zhiruo's shoulders trembled slightly, and she slowly turned around.
From the corner of her eye, she glimpsed the tangled brocade quilt on the bed, its scattered dark red bloodstains shocking to behold.
Qing Chen reclined against a jade pillow, his robe half open, exposing his chest.
He toyed with a green jade hairpin between his fingers-the very one Gu Zhiruo had snapped during her struggles last night.
"Your Magic Power is profound, True Person. Having received your favor, how could Zhiruo be unhappy?" Gu Zhiruo forcibly suppressed the sweet, bloody taste rising in her throat.
When she raised her eyes, they already held pools of autumn water. Seeming both reproachful and resentful, she said in a soft, sweet voice, "Naturally, I'm delighted."
Before her words had faded, a sharp pain suddenly shot through her wrist.
Qing Chen's fingers clamped around her pulse point like iron pincers. He yanked hard, and Gu Zhiruo felt the world spin as she stumbled onto the bed.
The fragrance of Dragon's Saliva Incense mingled with Qing Chen's masculine scent and washed over her