The group had settled in a narrow ravine three days north of the sect — a forgotten pocket of the wilds where a weak spirit vein bubbled up from cracked black stone.
It wasn't much: a trickle of qi that could support a small cave abode, a few fire-lotus plants, and enough natural concealment to hide from casual patrols
They had claimed it without resistance
The only living thing they disturbed was a single low-grade spirit beast — a flame-tailed fox that hissed once before fleeing into the mist
Now, on the fourth night, they sat around a low fire inside the shallow cave
The flames were Huo Lanyue's — crimson, steady, giving no smoke
Xiao Yang leaned against the wall, knees bent, eyes half-closed in meditation
Su Qingxue sat cross-legged nearby, slowly circulating her ice phoenix qi to stabilize the new environment
Ling Xue'er rested her head on Su Qingxue's shoulder — quiet, almost asleep
Huo Lanyue sat apart from the others, knees drawn up, arms wrapped loosely around them
Her crimson robe was loosely tied tonight — one side slipped off her shoulder again, exposing the curve of her breast to the firelight
She stared into the flames as though reading a story only she could see
Xiao Yang opened his eyes
"You've been quiet since we left," he said
Huo Lanyue didn't look at him
"I'm thinking.
"About?
She exhaled slowly — a sound like wind through hot coals
"About why I followed you.
Su Qingxue lifted her head slightly
"You followed because you were bored.
Huo Lanyue's lips curved — not quite a smile
"Boredom is only part of it
The rest… is uglier.
She finally looked up — golden eyes reflecting the fire like twin suns
"You want the story
Fine
I'll give it to you
But don't expect poetry.
She unfolded her legs and leaned forward, elbows on knees
"I was born Huo Lanyue — daughter of a minor fire-attribute clan in the southern volcanic wastes
No great talent
No bloodline
Just a pretty face and a temper hot enough to melt jade
When I was sixteen, the Crimson Flame Sect sent recruiters
They saw potential in my flame qi
They also saw potential in my body
The elder who chose me — Huo Zhan — was already middle Golden Core
Old enough to be my father
He took me as a concubine first, then as dao companion when I reached Foundation Establishment.
She paused — fingers tracing idle patterns in the dust
"He was… kind, at first
Taught me techniques
Gave me resources
But kindness is a currency with men like him
When the resources ran low, so did the kindness
He wanted a breakthrough to Nascent Soul
He needed my yin to balance his yang
I refused
Not because I hated him
Because I hated the idea of being reduced to a furnace.
Her voice dropped lower
"He tried persuasion
Then coercion
Then force
One night he forced a pill down my throat — a yang-explosive that would have shattered my meridians if I resisted
I resisted anyway
I burned the pill from the inside out
The backlash hit him instead
He choked on his own blood
I watched
I didn't cry
I didn't help
I just… watched.
Ling Xue'er shifted — small movement, but audible
Huo Lanyue looked at her
"You think I'm a monster.
Ling Xue'er shook her head slowly
"I think you survived.
Huo Lanyue's smile was thin
"Survival isn't noble, little saintess
It's ugly
After he died, the sect elders investigated
They found no proof of murder — only a 'tragic cultivation deviation.
They gave me his peak
His title
His resources
And they never asked me to dual cultivate again
So I stayed
Two centuries
Alone
Untouched
Until you walked in.
She looked at Xiao Yang
"You didn't seduce me
You didn't charm me
You just… existed
A man who took what he wanted without apology
A man who didn't beg for my yin
You demanded it
And I gave it
Because for the first time in two hundred years… I wanted to give it.
Xiao Yang met her gaze
"And now?
Huo Lanyue leaned back — robe slipping further, exposing more skin
"Now I'm here
In the wilds
With three sinners who ruined a sect without even trying
And I'm not sure if I'm the predator or the prey.
Su Qingxue spoke softly
"You're neither
You're one of us now.
Huo Lanyue laughed — quiet, almost sad
"Then God help us all.
She rose — robe falling open completely
Naked, unashamed, she walked to Xiao Yang
She straddled his lap — not seductive this time, but seeking
"Hold me," she whispered
He did
She buried her face in his neck
For the first time since they met, she trembled — not from pleasure, but from something older
Grief
Regret
Relief
The fire crackled
Outside the ravine, the wilds whispered
And somewhere deep inside Xiao Yang, the system remained silent
As though even it understood
some things cannot be rewarded. :.......".".."....".".....".....'....".".."......"......."......."..?."..".".""........ere deep inside Xiao Yang, the system remained silent.
As though even it understood:
some things cannot be rewarded.