CHAPTER 70

Darkness Unleashed

LUO FAN

When I opened my eyes, the unfamiliar sight of a dimly lit room greeted me. The soft rustling of fabric caught my attention, and I turned my head slightly to see a young servant carefully wringing out a damp cloth. He was tending to me, his movements efficient but surprisingly gentle. His presence felt oddly comforting in this hellish situation.

"You’re awake," he said, his voice soft but carrying a hint of relief. "I’m Shufen. His Excellency ordered me to take care of you."

"Where am I?" My voice came out hoarse, the aftereffects of the drug still evident in my system.

"You’re in the northeastern district of Donghai," Shufen replied. "This is the household of Marquis Kong Mingli."

The name sent a shiver down my spine. I had heard of the Marquis before, though only in hushed whispers among light cultivators. His reputation was one of unparalleled depravity. Unlike the emperor, who seemed content with decadence and indulgence, the Marquis thrived on cruelty. Stories spoke of how he derived pleasure from breaking people both physically and emotionally.

I swallowed hard, my body trembling under the crushing weight of my predicament.

Attempting to sit up, I quickly realized my wrists had been bound. The restraints bit into my skin, leaving me helpless. Shufen stepped forward and helped me upright.

"Why am I here?" I asked, my voice unsteady.

Shufen hesitated, his gaze darting away as if searching for the right words.

"I’ve heard rumors about the Marquis of Donghai," I pressed, my voice taut with unease. "Are they true?"

His eyes flicked back to me, cautious. "Priest Luo, what rumors are you referring to?"

"That the Marquis takes pleasure in inflicting pain," I said, the words tasting bitter on my tongue.

Shufen's expression darkened, and he glanced nervously at the door, lowering his voice to a whisper. "That is true," he admitted. "But that’s not all." His voice wavered, and he leaned closer, his tone filled with dread. "He… has a preference for men, especially beautiful ones like you. His favorite tool is a leather whip, and he delights in drawing blood before… taking his pleasure from them."

I froze, his words sinking in like icy daggers. A wave of nausea churned in my stomach, disgust and fear twisting into an unbearable knot.

Was this Ruan Yanjun's plan all along? To hand me over like some object to a monster so vile? The thought left me cold, my breath shallow as panic threatened to overwhelm me.

After a moment, I straightened weakly. “Shufen, can you bring me my belongings?”

Shufen’s eyes flickered nervously toward the door. He hesitated, clearly weighing his options, before finally nodding. "I’ll see what I can do," he said softly, then quickly exited the room.

Alone, I tried to push myself upright, but my body refused to cooperate. My limbs were heavy, my head pounding from whatever drug they had forced on me. A deep frustration settled in my chest as I realized just how powerless I was.

Shufen returned some time later, holding a small bag. “They allowed me to retrieve this for you,” he said, placing it beside me.

Weak and bound as I was, I directed him, “Can you look inside for a jar of medicines? There should be something in there to counteract the drug they gave me.”

He rummaged through the bag, but after a while, he shook his head. “There’s nothing like that here. Maybe they inspected your things and discarded anything that might seem useful.”

My heart sank. My last hope dashed so easily. “Are you sure there’s nothing left?” I asked, desperate.

Shufen’s face lit up. “Oh, wait. There’s something else here.” He pulled out a small vial and handed it to me.

My breath caught when I recognized it—it was the elixir Ruan Yanjun had refined from the Pale Revenant, the one meant to nourish my dark core. I clenched it tightly in my hand, conflicted.

“There’s another,” Shufen said, handing me another vial. This one contained the elixir from the Dual Bloom, meant to balance my cores.

I stared at the two vials in my hands, my mind spinning. They had taken the jar of common pills I always carried, medicines that could be bought from any alchemist. Yet, these far more precious elixirs had been left untouched. Their radiant, glowing essence should have been enough to draw attention, even if their true purpose was unknown. Could it be that whoever inspected my belongings had overlooked them entirely?

Should I use them? Could I trust something given to me by Ruan Yanjun after what he had done? Yet, without them, I had no chance of regaining even a fraction of my strength.

“Is that all?” I asked Shufen, holding onto a thread of hope.

He shook his head. “There’s nothing else.”

I sighed, a wave of frustration and helplessness washing over me. “Thank you, Shufen,” I said softly. “You’ve done enough. Could you… put these back in the bag?”

He nodded, taking the vials from my hands. With care, he tucked them back into the bag before turning to me, his expression tinged with hesitation. “If I may ask… what will you do now?”

I glanced at the walls surrounding me, their rough limestone surface confirming that this room was likely underground. Escape was out of the question. “I don’t know,” I murmured.

Shufen sat on the edge of the bed, lowering his voice. “You’re not the first person the Marquis has brought here. Few survive his games. I… I wish I could do more for you.”

“Why do you work for him?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.

He hesitated but then sighed. “I didn’t have a choice. My daughter fell ill, and I borrowed money from the Marquis to try to save her. She… she died anyway, but the debt remained. When I couldn’t pay it, he forced me to work for him. The agreement was five years, but it’s been seven. He won’t let me leave. He’s afraid I’ll reveal the secrets of this place.”

My chest tightened at his words. “Do you still have your family?”

He nodded. “I left my wife and my son behind. He was just an infant when I came here. Seven years… I’ve heard nothing from them.” His voice cracked with emotion, but he quickly composed himself.

A surge of sympathy welled within me. This man was as much a prisoner as I was. “Thank you for helping me, Shufen. I’ll try to think of something.”

He smiled weakly. “Don’t worry about me. Just focus on surviving. If you don’t, the Marquis will—” He stopped himself, his face pale. “Never mind. I’ll go get you something to eat.”

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I watched him go, his shoulders hunched with defeat. Alone again, I looked down at the vials in my hand. If I was to survive whatever lay ahead, I would need strength. But at what cost?

Shufen returned with a tray of food, his expression calm yet tinged with underlying concern. I managed a weak smile in gratitude, still holding onto some semblance of composure despite the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me.

“Here’s your meal,” he said softly, placing the tray on the small table beside me. “Eat while it’s still warm.”

Before I could reply, the door slammed open, and the tray clattered to the floor. Shufen stumbled back as the Marquis Kong Mingli stormed in, his steps deliberate and heavy with authority. His eyes gleamed with malice, and the air in the room grew suffocating.

"Out," the Marquis barked, glaring at Shufen as if he were nothing more than dirt beneath his boots. Shufen hesitated, his eyes flickering to me in concern, but a sharp shove from the Marquis sent him stumbling toward the door.

"Go," I whispered to Shufen, not wanting him to suffer further.

The door closed, and I was left alone with the Marquis. He took slow, deliberate steps toward me, his gaze sweeping over my body like a predator assessing its prey. His lips curled into a smile so vile it made my skin crawl.

"You’re even more exquisite up close," he said, his voice dripping with lust. "A rare treasure, indeed."

I clenched my fists, my heart pounding in my chest. The air in the room felt charged, as if my dark core were already stirring in response to the threat before me.

The Marquis stopped in front of me, tilting his head as he continued to leer. "Do you know how much I paid for you? Enough to buy a fleet of ships. And yet, here you are, worth every coin."

His fingers reached out, brushing against my cheek. I flinched, my entire body recoiling at his touch.

“Don’t worry,” he said, his tone mocking. “You’ll get used to it. You’ll learn to derive pleasure from pain.”

My anger boiled beneath the surface, but I forced my voice to remain steady. “His Majesty said he lost a bet with you.”

The Marquis chuckled darkly, his smirk widening. “That’s true. But don’t let that fool you. His Majesty wanted you for himself first. I had to offer him my most prized possession just to win the pleasure of being the first to taint you.”

My teeth clenched as his words hit me like a blow. The depravity of this man was beyond comprehension.

He smirked again, his eyes glittering with satisfaction. “Seeing you now, I feel no regret.”

Before I could summon a reply, he began untying the belt of his robe, his intent chillingly clear. The fabric slipped from his shoulders, revealing his bare torso.

My breath hitched as revulsion overtook me. Even Ruan Yanjun, with all his teasing and provocations, had never dared to go this far.

The Marquis grinned, clearly enjoying my discomfort. "Don’t look so appalled. You’ll learn to enjoy this." He turned away briefly and picked up something from a nearby table. My heart sank as I saw what it was—my bamboo stick, wrapped in the silk scarf Jinjing had given me.

"This is yours, isn’t it?" he said, holding it up mockingly. "Ruan Yanjun said it was precious to you. Don’t worry, I’ll find a way to make it… memorable for you. Soon, you’ll see just how much pleasure something as simple as a stick can bring."

A surge of rage erupted within me, far greater than anything I had ever felt before. The dark core inside me roared to life, feeding off my fury and disgust. My vision blurred, and my body trembled as the dark energy coursed through me, threatening to consume everything.

Before I knew it, the ropes binding my wrists disintegrated into ash. The Marquis turned back to me, his smug expression quickly replaced with one of shock.

"What—"

His words were cut off as I lunged at him, my movements faster than I’d ever thought possible. My hand clamped around his throat, slamming him to the ground with a force that left him gasping for air. The dark energy within me swirled, wild and uncontrollable, and for a moment, I feared I had completely lost myself.

The marquis’s eyes widened in terror. “Mercy… please…” he croaked.

His pleas only fueled the storm inside me. I reached for the bamboo stick he had dropped, intending to beat him senseless, but as my fingers closed around it, a memory of Jinjing’s gentle smile flashed through my mind. I hesitated.

No. I would not stain this gift with his blood.

I reached for my bag. Grabbing the marquis by the collar, I dragged him toward the door. His cries for mercy fell on deaf ears as I yanked the door open, startling Shufen, who was standing just outside.

“Shufen,” I barked. “We’re leaving.”

Shufen’s eyes widened in shock, taking in the scene before him—the trembling Marquis, naked and pleading, and my expression, likely darker and more menacing than he had ever seen. He hesitated, but I grabbed his arm and pulled him along.

"Take me to the carriage," I ordered.

We made our way through the mansion, my grip on the Marquis ensuring that no one dared to stop us. The guards stationed near the entrance froze in confusion and fear as they saw me dragging their master. I glared at them, my voice cold and commanding. “Step aside, or I’ll kill him.”

They hesitated but ultimately complied, parting to let us pass. Once we reached the carriage, I shoved the Marquis inside and ordered Shufen to take the reins.

As the carriage sped away from the mansion, the Marquis whimpered at my feet, his arrogance and cruelty replaced by pathetic sobs. I stared down at him, my dark energy still simmering beneath the surface.

When we were far enough from the mansion, I ordered Shufen to stop. I hauled the Marquis out of the carriage and threw him onto the ground. He scrambled to his knees, still begging for mercy.

“You deserve none,” I said, my voice devoid of emotion.

With one swift motion, I mutilated him, severing the very part of him that had driven his vile desires. His scream echoed through the mountains, a haunting sound that would likely linger in the minds of anyone who heard it.

I picked up the mutilated part and shoved it into his mouth. "Choke on your own filth," I spat, disgusted by the sight of him.

Turning away, I climbed into the front seat of the carriage and sat beside Shufen, who was gripping the reins tightly. His hands trembled, his face a mixture of fear and uncertainty.

“This is your chance to escape,” I told him, my voice steady despite the turmoil within me. “Where do you wish to go?”

He looked at me, startled. “B-but… they’ll come after you,” he stammered.

I exhaled. “Either take this opportunity to see your family again or risk being dragged back as a slave to that mansion. You choose.”

He hesitated for a long moment, then finally took a deep breath. “Alright,” he said, determination flashing briefly in his eyes. “The moment we reach an intersection, drop me there.”

We traveled in tense silence until, not long after, I spotted a narrow path veering off to the right. It was barely wide enough for a person to walk comfortably, but it led into the dense woods where no carriage could follow.

“Stop here,” I said.

Shufen pulled the reins, and the horses slowed to a halt.

“That path should keep you hidden,” I said, pointing to the trail. “Don’t stop running, and don’t look back. They won’t waste their time chasing after you—not with me as a distraction. I’ll make sure to put enough distance between them and this spot before they catch up with me.”

His eyes filled with gratitude, but his hesitation lingered. “Thank you, Priest Luo. I… I hope to see you again someday.”

I forced a small smile. “I hope so too. Now go.”

Shufen handed me the reins, jumped down from the carriage, and paused only to bow his head deeply. “May the heavens watch over you,” he said before running into the woods, vanishing into the shadowed path.

As soon as he disappeared, I snapped the reins, urging the horses forward. The carriage sped down the road, the rattling wheels the only sound breaking the eerie silence.

I hadn’t gone far when trouble found me. A group of armed men blocked the road ahead, their swords glinting under the midday sun. Before I could react, a sharp whistle pierced the air, followed by the deadly hiss of arrows. A rain of them descended upon the carriage.

The horses reared, but they kept moving, the momentum saving me as the arrows missed by mere inches. Clutching my bamboo stick, I realized I had no chance in a direct confrontation. Without hesitation, I leapt from the carriage, letting the horses continue barreling forward as a distraction.

Hitting the ground hard, I scrambled to my feet and darted into the woods. The thick underbrush tugged at my robes as I ran, and every heartbeat thundered in my ears. But to my horror, the forest offered little cover. The trees were sparse, and their bare trunks left me dangerously exposed.

Glancing over my shoulder, I saw the men gaining on me, their shouts growing louder. Desperation clawed at my throat.

I pushed myself harder, not knowing where I was heading, until suddenly, the ground fell away before me.

I skidded to a halt at the edge of a cliff. Below lay a dry riverbed littered with jagged rocks, their sharp edges gleaming like teeth. A fall from this height would guarantee death.

The sound of pursuit snapped me out of my daze. The men were closing in, their shadows flickering through the sparse trees. I gripped my bamboo stick tightly, its familiar weight grounding me.

I thought of Jinjing, her smile vivid in my mind despite the chaos surrounding me.

“Meet me along the way,” I whispered, stepping to the very edge of the cliff.

The men stopped, their breathing ragged as they took in my precarious position. For a brief moment, silence enveloped us all, the tension thick enough to cut with a blade.

I closed my eyes and let myself fall.

The rush of air tore past me, and my heart pounded like a war drum. Midair, I clutched my bamboo stick close to my chest, the only thing left connecting me to Jinjing. I braced for the impact, for the pain that would surely come before death took me.

But the collision never happened. Instead, strong arms caught me, halting my descent with a jarring force. My eyes fluttered open briefly, catching the faint outline of a hooded figure against the sun. The grip holding me was firm yet gentle, and I felt a faint sense of familiarity.

“Ruan Yanjun?” I murmured, though my voice was barely a whisper.

The figure didn’t respond, but the warmth of his energy seeped into me, calming the storm raging within my dark core. My body, however, was too spent to process anything more. Exhaustion swept over me like a tide, and my eyes closed, pulling me into unconsciousness.