The attic plunged into a deep hush. Outside, the blood moon hung motionless in the frosted heavens.
Though it was a summer night, a palpable chill filled the air.
As Ye Feng approached, Cangxuan felt as though her very blood was turning to ice, a frigid dread creeping through her.
A dreadful feeling washed over her—that from the very beginning, she had been dancing in the palm of his hand.
Ye Feng waved dismissively at Ji Lin. "You may go. You will be rewarded later."
Ji Lin's lips parted, words dying before they could form.
In this scene, at this moment, what explanation could she offer?
All words had become pale and meaningless.
No matter what she said, Cangxuan would never trust her again.
Worse, there was the risk of exposing her true identity.
It was a small mercy that her Master was letting her leave, rather than forcing her to stay and 'play the vertical flute' for him, as he had with Chiyuan Kiana.
Her Master was aware of her relationship with Cangxuan and Danzhu. For once, he had refrained from indulging his cruel sense of humor.
Instead, he was allowing her to withdraw from this place of conflict.
Ji Lin breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
As she looked at Ye Feng, he suddenly seemed just a little less detestable.
It wasn't that Ji Lin didn't want to help Cangxuan; it was that she was truly powerless to do anything.
More importantly, Ji Lin had discovered a horrifying truth: the more fiercely one resisted, the more excited her Master became.
Her presence here would be useless, serving only as an additive for his "amusement."
Ji Lin cast one last, deep look at Cangxuan, her heart aching with a silent apology. I'm sorry, Cangxuan. This is a path you must walk alone.
"Yes, Master."
Ji Lin curtsied slightly to Ye Feng and fled the attic as if escaping a nightmare.
Cangxuan watched the retreating back—that bizarre silhouette of a naked body with a stocking over its head—but her ice-blue eyes held no anger.
She only wondered if this girl, whose appearance so flagrantly violated human decency, even possessed a soul of her own.
If she were something akin to a "Shell Maiden," a mindless Nuru Miko, it might be one thing. But if she was a person with free will... Cangxuan couldn't help but shudder.
She could not begin to imagine what kind of hellish tutelage one must endure from the Evil God to be broken into such a state.
But now was not the time to dwell on that.
Cangxuan fixed her gaze on Ye Feng, her eyes like chips of ice.
"Not running?"
Ye Feng turned sideways, clearing the path to the door.
Cangxuan's eyes fell upon her sister and Kiana, collapsed on the floor.
She had run when she was first in the attic.
She had run when she was in the Restricted Section.
Now, Cangxuan did not want to run anymore.
She would not abandon her sister and Kiana again.
No matter what great horror lay ahead, she had to face it. There could be no more evasion.
Crimson moonlight spilled into the attic. In her feathered robe, Cangxuan exuded a transcendental, otherworldly aura, yet the form-fitting black unitard stockings clinging to her skin lent her a captivating, seductive charm.
Despite this, she did not appear vulgar.
Cangxuan remained the picture of cold composure as she spoke, her voice level.
"What did you do to them?"
"Since you're not running, I'll close the door. No objections, I presume."
It wasn't a question. It was a declaration.
Screech~
The sound of the attic's old door hinges turning was unnervingly loud in the library's silence.
It was deeply unsettling.
Cangxuan's expression didn't change, but the slender hand hidden in her wide sleeve tightened into a fist.
Now, this place was a sealed room.
Her ice-blue eyes met Ye Feng's. "What in the world are you... Ngh!?"
Though he had been several feet away, as Ye Feng turned, he was suddenly before her, his palm pressed against her left breast.
"Mm, your heart is beating much faster."
"You—"
Cangxuan scrambled back in alarm, pulling away from his touch.
But the spot he had touched burned as if seared by fire.
Shame and fury roiled within her, but her expression remained impassive and cold.
Ye Feng smiled. "It seems everyone from your Taixuan Mountain lineage is so exquisitely petite."
"..."
There was no response to that.
Cangxuan had noticed it herself.
But it was merely a coincidence.
It just so happened that they were all built that way.
"However, Cangxuan, you need not feel inadequate. I felt them, and you're a bit larger than in your official art. Like a small soup dumpling—delicate, exquisite, a perfect handful. Yes, one of my favorite types. In truth, small is also very cute."
Who asked what you like?
She couldn't take it anymore.
A faint expression of disgust flickered across Cangxuan's face.
Ye Feng continued, "What's that saying? A small chest is a rare resource. Of course, the key is having a chest at all; a complete washboard like Hua is no good. But you two sisters are fantastic. Natural, top-grade specimens."
Cangxuan had no desire to hear any more of his critique.
"Evil God, what is your intention?"
"To fuck you, of course."
"!!"
Though she had suspected this would be the outcome, her heart still hammered against her ribs when he said the words aloud.
Ye Feng walked over and flipped Kiana's unconscious body onto its stomach, positioning her rear upwards.
Kiana's beauty wasn't limited to her waist; it was her buttocks, or more accurately, the divine curve from her waist to her hips.
Her waist was slender, while her rear was full and plump without being excessive, the two combining in a masterful display of anatomy—a classic fertile figure.
The fine flesh of her buttocks was both firm and incredibly elastic.
Ye Feng sat directly upon her. No cushion could ever compare.
Seated on Kiana's backside with his legs spread forward, Ye Feng smiled. "Do you wish to save them?"
From Cangxuan's perspective, Ye Feng had vanished again, and when she followed his voice, she saw he was now using Kiana as a chair.
He said, "Let me give you a little lesson. Do you know why they fainted? Because both of them came into contact with my [Bleep]. When they awaken, they might gradually transform into 'Nuru Miko,' or perhaps something far more entertaining will unfold."
Cangxuan's shoulders trembled.
Miss Ye Mei had said something similar.
The Evil God's organ was toxic. Contact with it would lead to a horrifying transformation.
Wait!
Cangxuan's mind flashed back to the girl in the stocking mask. Had she, too, become that way because of this poison?
A cold dread shot up her spine and exploded in her skull.
On a warm summer night, her limbs were like ice.
To become like that... she would rather die a thousand deaths!
"But you... you can be the one to save them."
Ye Feng raised his hand. Between his index and middle fingers, he held a small glass vial. Inside, a crystalline blue liquid swirled.
Cangxuan's pupils contracted. When did he...?
To her horror, she realized the antidote she had been carrying was gone.
Ye Feng swirled the liquid in the vial. "Cangxuan, it seems you had an antidote. But only one vial. Who will you save?"
Cangxuan clenched her fists, staring at him in dead silence.
"Rest assured, I am a man of my word. Name one, and I will give her the antidote. The clock is ticking. You have five minutes to consider."
Five minutes?
In five minutes, would Danzhu and Kiana become like that girl?
Panic clawed at Cangxuan's heart.
But who to save...
Her gaze fell to Kiana, who was pinned beneath Ye Feng.
She had only known the girl for a short time, but Kiana's pure and selfless heart had moved her deeply.
Cangxuan knew she would never forget the image of Kiana throwing herself forward to save her.
Then, she looked at her own sister.
From the Previous Era to the present day.
The two of them had always been inseparable, relying solely on each other to survive.
Their bond was deeper than any words could describe.
It was an agonizing choice.
If it were only one of them, Cangxuan would give her own life without hesitation.
Ye Feng spoke again. "I have a splendid idea. A way to save them both."
He unfastened his pants, revealing his forearm.
Then, he poured the blue liquid over it.
The sensation was cool and rather pleasant.
"What are you doing!" Cangxuan cried out, a mix of anger and alarm in her voice.
"Don't go thinking that 'rectal absorption is twice as effective as oral'."
"I... I wasn't..."
"Then why did you look away?"
"..."
Cangxuan was speechless.
It wasn't that she was flustered.
If she didn't look away, was she supposed to stare at his veiny, throbbing forearm?
Ye Feng sat brazenly upon Kiana, his forearm held aloft, proud and vigorous. The blue liquid coating its surface seemed bound by a strange force field, not a single drop falling.
"Cangxuan," he said, "I am helping you. If one dose of the antidote isn't enough, then we simply have to make it into two."
"?"
"Come here. I'll show you how."
He beckoned to her.
Cangxuan remained frozen in place, motionless.
"Only four minutes left."
Ye Feng's face wore a kind expression, but to Cangxuan, it was no different from the smile of a demon.
"..."
"I don't mind if you delay. But as for what becomes of your sister and Kiana... I really couldn't say."
Defeated, Cangxuan took a deep breath. Her exquisitely stockinged feet carried her slowly toward Ye Feng.
Her legs were long and slender, her feet a picture of delicate beauty.
The whisper of her stockings against the wooden floor was a soft, sibilant sound, intensely provocative.
Her eyes flickered to Ye Feng's raised forearm. A palpable repulsive force seemed to radiate from it, making each step an immense struggle.
Finally, Cangxuan stood before him.
The short journey felt as though it had drained all the spirit from her.
"There you go. A little closer," Ye Feng urged.
"Do not go too far."
"You've already come this far. It's quite impressive. Just one more step, and you'll have the answer you seek."
Ye Feng's words were a sweet poison, the whispers of a devil tempting a soul into the abyss.
Light glinted in Cangxuan's ice-blue eyes as she clenched her fists.
Even in this seemingly hopeless trap, she had not given up. She was analyzing, desperately seeking a single sliver of hope, a way out.
"I know what you're thinking," Ye Feng said with a lazy smile. "It's quite difficult, you know."
Then, he yanked her into his lap.
The beautiful woman fell against his chest at an angle, like a delicate lute.
She had just begun to struggle when he seized her wrists.
His grip was like a steel clamp, welding her in place.
Cangxuan abandoned the resistance. "What is this method you mentioned for saving them both?" she asked coldly.
"Since I mentioned it, it exists. Be patient. Let me explain."
Ye Feng leaned in close to her ear.
The heat of his breath made her skin crawl, and she squirmed uncomfortably.
He then began to explain his method.
As she listened, Cangxuan's stockinged feet twisted on the floor, writhing like serpents.
"—You depraved god!" Cangxuan's ice-blue gaze stabbed at him.
"This is the method. Licking the antidote from my forearm will indeed cause the dosage to double."
"..."
"Don't believe me? Try it and see. It's not difficult."
Ye Feng moved his forearm, rubbing it against the smooth fabric of her black unitard.
"You..."
Cangxuan raised her eyes, her gaze shimmering with grief and indignation.
"Only three minutes left," Ye Feng reminded her helpfully.
"If you insist on refusing, I won't force you. It's just... you wouldn't want an accident to befall your sister, now would you?"
"..."
Cangxuan lowered her head, her gaze falling once more upon his forearm.
The crystalline blue liquid coated the powerful, intimidating muscles.
"Two and a half minutes."
At his reminder, Cangxuan took one last, pained look at her unconscious sister and Kiana. At last, she made her decision.
"I hope you are not lying to me." If you are, I will never forgive you.
She did not speak the last words aloud.
Intelligent as she was, she knew that a threat without power was nothing more than the pathetic whimper of a beaten dog.
Cangxuan leaned down.
As she did, the crystalline blue liquid on his forearm began to roil and expand.
It was truly increasing!
What principle was at work here?
Cangxuan could not fathom it. Perhaps it was some manner of 'Rule.'
But that was irrelevant now.
The Evil God had not lied.
With this method, she could truly save them both.
"Only two minutes left."
Ye Feng's voice was a catalyst. Cangxuan forced herself to lower her head completely.
In the silent, moonlit attic, the only sound was that of wet slurping.
Before the five minutes had passed, Cangxuan had finally gathered enough of the "antidote" for two people. She administered it to Kiana and Danzhu in turn.
But...
It felt so utterly wrong.
Could this truly be called medicine anymore?
It was contaminated with a considerable amount of other... fluids.
And even if it cured the poison... what would happen when they woke up?
In this space, where they were powerless against the Evil God, the three of them would become his playthings.
If that was the case... was saving them truly the right choice?
Doubt flooded Cangxuan's mind.
But Ye Feng spoke. "Don't trouble yourself with such thoughts. I will not touch them tonight."
"Eh? Why?" The question escaped her lips before she could stop it.
She immediately realized how foolish it sounded.
"Because, at this very moment, the one I desire most is you, Cangxuan."
"?"
Cangxuan froze for a second before replying, "Hearing the word 'desire' from your lips brings me no pleasure whatsoever."
"Come now, let's find another room."
"..."
"Or would you prefer we mate here, in front of your sister?"
"..."
"This is what happens when you are caught by me. It is the rule of this place. Don't look so sorrowful. If you're unwilling, I won't force you. Your sister can take your place just as well."
"—Then would you be willing to take me instead?"
At that moment, a new, charmingly seductive voice intervened.
Cangxuan looked up. The room was dark, but in the moonlight, she could make out a voluptuous figure gliding toward them.
"Ye Mei?" Cangxuan whispered.
Mebius paid her former assistant no mind. Her serpentine, vertical pupils were locked onto Ye Feng.
She could not simply pretend she hadn't heard him say, "The one I desire most is you, Cangxuan."
The Snake, who had been enjoying the sight of Cangxuan's predicament from the shadows, decided she would no longer remain a spectator.