The air in the chamber hung thick and heavy, a silent testament to the battle that had raged just the day before. Su Ning entered, his presence a contrast to the lingering chaos within her. He moved with a controlled grace, each step deliberate, his face an impassive mask. Yinou sat cross-legged on the floor, her gaze fixed on him, holding a storm of emotions behind her eyes.
Without a word, Su Ning approached her. He knelt before her, his movements slow and deliberate, retrieving a small vial of pale, luminescent liquid from his inner robe. He held it out to her, a healing water imbued with ancient magic. Yinou's arm, still bearing the shallow, red gash from yesterday's fight, lay on the floor between them. He took her hand, his touch delicate, a strange counterpoint to his earlier ferocity. He began to carefully wash the wound, the water shimmering like trapped moonlight, soothing the angry flesh.
Yinou watched him, studying his face, the gentle concentration on his features. His fingers moved with patient precision, his touch surprisingly tender. Then, her gaze locked with his, she finally broke the silence, her voice quiet, yet laced with a poignant sadness. "If I were not Yinou... if we weren't...us… could we have really hit it off?"
Su Ning finished washing the wound, the glow of the healing water fading as it was absorbed into her skin. He finally raised his head to look at her, his features remaining impassive, yet somewhere behind his eyes, she thought she saw the ghost of an emotion. "That's a possibility that will never happen," he said, his tone flat. "And even if we were to have another life, I wouldn't want to be associated with you."
Yinou's eyes flickered, a pain so raw it almost took her breath away. He didn't need to say it, she knew their history was a tapestry woven with betrayal and destruction, she knew she was his enemy, she was his nemesis, she was the one who had taken everything from him. Yet, to hear him speak the words, so final, so absolute, cut deeper than any blade. She lowered her head for a second, then looked at him again, her gaze now a mask of bitter resignation. "That's fair," she said, her voice barely a breath. "My sins today are unpayable. Even in my next life."
Su Ning paused, his hand still holding hers, the rhythm of his movements disrupted for a fleeting second. He stared down at the wound he had healed, his expression unreadable, then continued to rub the lingering residue with a clean cloth. He said nothing, but Yinou saw it - a flicker of something in his eyes, a hint of regret, perhaps.
Her voice, when she spoke again, was soft, almost pleading. "Can I… can I not be Yinou?"
The question hung in the air, thick with unspoken desires. Su Ning scoffed, a sad, bitter sound. "You are Yinou," he said, his voice laced with a mocking tone that belied the pain he tried to hide. "You are, and you will forever bear the sins of being you."
Yinou smiled then, a fragile, bitter twist of her lips. She knew he was right. She was beyond redemption, a creature forged in darkness, destined to carry the weight of her choices throughout eternity. She met his gaze, a silent communication passing between them, a shared understanding of the tragic impossibility of their existence. For a beat, their eyes held, tears threatening to spill over, both lost in the labyrinth of their entangled destinies.
The moment Su Ning's words left his lips, something inside Yinuo broke.
Her breath caught. The room seemed to tilt.
"They traded lives for you, Yinuo. Your brothers… he offered everything. Hundreds died to bring you back."
And suddenly—she couldn't breathe.
The grief didn't crash like a wave. It crept in slowly, staining her soul like ink in water.
She stood up without speaking. Numb. Mechanical.
"I need to bathe," she whispered, her voice flat, too soft to echo.
The water steamed softly in the stone tub as she stepped in, the world a blur behind her. The scent of lavender filled the air, but she didn't smell it.
She sank down until the water reached her shoulders, staring at the surface—still, clear, unbroken.
Unlike her.
She sat still for a long moment. Then, slowly, she reached for the washcloth.
At first, she washed like anyone else would. Neck. Arms. Hands.
But then—something shifted.
A flicker of a child's scream in her memory. The look on Lin Jian's face. The weight of Zhang Li's sacrifice.
Her fingers tightened around the cloth. She dragged it across her skin—harder now.
Redness bloomed. But it didn't feel like enough.
Again. Harder.
The cloth scraped her shoulders, her collarbone, her arms, until the skin turned raw, burning. The water around her began to change color—first pink, then a deeper crimson, swirling like the memories she couldn't forget.
Her chest tightened. Her breath hitched.
"Why me?"
Another stroke. Blood beaded along her elbow. Her palm. Her wrists.
"Why did I survive?"
She scrubbed harder, as if pain could erase the shame. The unchosen debt. The blood that was never meant to be hers.
"I didn't ask for this," she whispered, voice trembling. "I didn't ask to be the one they saved."
The words cracked against the still air, sharp and fragile.
Tears blurred her vision, but she didn't stop. She couldn't.
The tub filled with red.
Not because she wanted to die. Not because she felt pain.
But because she couldn't carry it anymore. The lives lost for her sake felt heavier than death.
Her hand slipped. The cloth sank beneath the surface. Her arms trembled, too weak to lift again.
"I'm sorry," she said to no one.
And then, gently, as if sleep had taken her hand, Yinuo's body slumped forward. Her head leaned against the edge of the tub, eyes closed—not unconscious from wounds, but from sorrow.
The blood didn't kill her.
The grief did.
Later that day, she was summoned to Su Ning's camp. She walked with a measured grace, her earlier vulnerability hidden beneath a veil of carefully composed authority. Su Ning stood before her, the battlefield replaced with the stark austerity of his military headquarters. He looked at her, the same impassive mask covering his face, but this time, there was something different, something subtle, a flicker of calculation behind the coldness.
"Yinou," he said, his voice echoing in the tents. He paused, and then he finally offered the position. "I want you to be my right woman."
Yinou's gaze never faltered, holding his intently. A soft smile played on her lips, a complex mixture of amusement, calculation, and perhaps, a sliver of genuine hope. With a slight bow of her head, she uttered, "Alright." Her words carried an ambiguous undertone, leaving it uncertain whether her intentions were genuine or insidious.
Suddenly, a servant's voice pierced the air, "General Su Ning, Master Xiao Li and Shen Dao have arrived!"
"Let them in," Su Ning commanded, before turning to Yinuo and saying, "You may leave."
Yinuo nodded obediently and exited the tent. Once outside, she paused and gazed back at the slightly open entrance. She met Su Ning's eyes, hers filled with a cold stare. He merely smiled in response. As the curtains fell shut, Yinuo flicked her wrist, sending a tiny device soaring into the tent, its purpose to eavesdrop on their conversation.
Inside the tent, Yinuo eavesdropped on the conversation between Shen Dao, the Azure Sect's Leader, and Xiao Li, the elder disciple of the Dao of Shadow Sect. She had a faint recollection of seeing Xiao Li at the Jade Dragon Sect, where he had discussed his arranged marriage to Yu Zhao with Zhang Li.
Their voices filled the air, revealing that Zhang Li was conspiring with their nemesis and planning to collaborate with the Xin Kingdom, a kingdom inhabited by human-spirits. They discussed their intention to dissuade King Xin from allying with Zhang Li, fearing the consequences of his increased power.
Yinuo's mind raced as she pieced together the information she had gathered. She realized that Xiao Li and Shen Dao were allies of Dongying Country, the men from her own homeland.
That evening, Xiao Li approached Su Ning after a small dinner and requested a private audience with her. Su Ning obliged, and Xiao Li spoke to Yinuo about Zhang Li's treacherous actions and offered her a choice: to either join their alliance or not.
The imperial edict arrived at their camp, a parchment bearing the Emperor's seal. It was a response to Su Ning's letter, a testament to the urgency of their situation. That night, under the flickering light of campfires, Su Ning addressed his men.
"Half of you will accompany me to Xin Kingdom," he declared, his voice firm. "I will represent the Emperor in this matter." His gaze swept over his soldiers, meeting each of their eyes. "The other half will remain with Yinuo, along with Xiao Li and Shen Dao. You will pursue Zhang Li and apprehend him in the village where he has taken refuge. Be wary, though. Despite his seeming isolation, he has many hidden allies."
The dawn broke, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink. Yinuo awoke to an empty tent. Stepping out, she saw Su Ning already on his journey, a cloud of dust swirling behind him. With a sigh, she turned to her own mission. They rode through the night, the moon casting long shadows as they approached the village. Surrounding the mountain, they set up a perimeter, their presence a silent threat.
Hours bled into the night. Just as a weary exhaustion began to settle over them, a signal flared in the distance - a desperate plea for backup. Master Shen Dao, ever the strategist, quickly assembled a team and rode towards the signal. Master Xiao Li, a stoic figure, remained behind, guarding around the village.
Meanwhile, Su Ning found himself surrounded by men in white, their faces masked, their movements swift and deadly. It was an ambush. He fought back, his sword a blur, but the assailants were skilled, relentless. One of his lieutenants, fighting bravely, triggered a signal flare, calling for reinforcements.
Minutes later, Shen Dao arrived, leading his men into the fray. Together, they fought back, their swords clashing against the attackers, pushing them back. They used the mountain terrain to their advantage, maneuvering through the darkness. But the man in black, the leader of the assassins, was relentless. He cornered them, and once again, they were surrounded.
Just as hope seemed to dwindle, a new force appeared. Yinuo, her face smeared with blood, wiped it away with her slender fingers, a chilling smile playing on her lips. Her sword, a gleaming blade, was held in two hands, her posture radiating a fierce grace. Resting her chin at the handle of her sword and kneeling before Su Ning, who was wounded and recuperating, she mocked, "You have great luck,". Rising, she stood before him, her robes billowing in the moonlight as she joined the fight. She became a whirlwind of fury, a storm unleashed, defending Su Ning from the assailants.
"Su Ning, they're quite skilled," Yinuo chuckled despite uncertainties, "How many minutes will I have to hold this for you?" she followed, her sword clashing with others.
"Shut it," he announced, indifferent to the situation. A faint gush of flesh from a stab nearby he had heard, just then his face was spattered with blood.
Its metallic scent stinging his nose.
What a noob! He thought. It was Yinuo, who just got stabbed.
"Hold them for 2 minutes." he added to his previous remark.
"Alright," barely a whisper. Her sword whooshed in the air.
In a swift motion Wang Su Ning leaped in the air, "Back off Zhang Yinuo," he demanded, his sword aiming front as he bulged towards the enemy ahead.
The people they were facing weren't just normal assailants, they were exceptional. They can't fight them off themselves; they either fight with unlikely winning chances or die here today.
Damn it.
Xiao Li was caught along with several men. Upon seeing his companion in such a situation, Su Ning strategically made a plan with Shen Dao.
Yinuo took advantage of the commotion and fled away in the darkness. Her jewelry shining and sleeves danced as she dissipated.
Yinuo stumbled through the darkness, the pain a searing fire in her wounded body.
Reaching the rocky overhang of the mountain, she collapsed against the cold stone. Her breath came in ragged gasps as she fumbled for the cloth she had torn from her sleeve, pressing it against the gash in her side. Her hands trembled, the raw pain a constant tremor.
Just as she was about to pass out, a hand, strong and familiar, caught her head, gently easing it against the rough bark of a tree. "Brother is here, I'm taking you back." The voice, a gentle balm on her fractured spirit, was choked with emotion.
Yinuo's eyes fluttered open, meeting Zhang Li's gaze. His smile was bittersweet, tinged with the sorrow of a man who had witnessed too much pain.
At that moment all she wanted to know was why? In her rage she spared hand on hand with him. "It's me, "he said, his voice a comforting tremor. "I know!" she screamed.
She pushed herself up, her arms weak and trembling, and her voice came out a ragged whisper. "You...you did this for me? All this...Didn't you consider what I will have to endure?" Her gaze swept over his face, searching for answers. "Why?"
"When you love something, you'll do anything to protect it," Zhang Li's voice was firm, but his eyes held a heartbreaking vulnerability. "You're the only family I have left. I can't lose you."
"Me and you, we'll eventually meet heaven's wrath! Don't you know that!" she said, her voice choked with tears. "I should have been dead two thousand years ago!"
"You remember," he said, a flicker of hope in his eyes. "Your old life?"
"Yes," she whispered, a wave of despair washing over her. "Just today…this morning."
I'm a serpent demon, I died and am now trapped in an immortal's body. It's devouring me, that's why you're trying to open that immortal craft, to cleanse my past life's energy, right?" She looked at him, her eyes pleading, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Enough. Let's stop this bloodshed here, alright brother?"
Zhang Li's face hardened, the love in his eyes replaced by a chilling intensity. "No," he said, his voice a growl, a dark force now claiming him. "I will get it."
He pressed something into her back, a cold object that seemed to hum with a sinister power. "What is this?" she gasped, her voice weak, her senses fading. Three seconds later, her eyes rolled back, and she lost consciousness.
Zhang Li, his face marred with a strange, twisted grin as he wiped away the memory of their encounter and watched her fall into unconsciousness. He looked out over the moonlit mountains, his voice a chilling whisper. "Sorry, little sis, I need to protect you." He used witchcraft to take a hold of Yinuo.
He fled, his figure disappearing into the shadows, leaving Yinuo behind, a mere puppet in his ruthless game of love and obsession.