His cheek was suddenly pinched, and the man's low laughter rumbled from his chest, carrying an inexplicable hint of indulgence.
Ye Luan slapped his hand away. "Are you trying to crush me to death?"
Xiao Chizhan's lips curved into a smile. Abruptly, he swept her into his arms and strode to place her on the sacrificial altar.
He braced his hands on either side of her, leaning down to press over her.
"You cry out in pain every day, so delicate?"
A powerful and terrifying sense of pressure washed over her. His deep red pupils glinted with a chilling smile. In this bizarre and silent tomb, a deep chill permeated her back.
Ye Luan felt as though she could stab him to death.
She quickly reached out to push against his chest, glaring at him. "Hurry and put me down."
The coffin of his mother's consort was behind her. She felt that everything was wrong, and she was extremely uncomfortable.
Moreover, sitting on someone's sacrificial altar, she feared being claimed by a vengeful spirit in the middle of the night.
"Quickly."
Her limbs were pinned by him, so she could only kick him with her legs.
Xiao Chizhan clicked his tongue, held her down, and took her hands. The small wound had stopped bleeding, leaving only a faint mark.
"Isn't it better now? Does it still hurt?"
Ye Luan nodded her head haphazardly. "Uh, it doesn't hurt anymore."
He raised his eyebrows, his deep pupils holding an emotion she couldn't discern.
His rough fingertip brushed across her eyelashes. In a daze, she thought he had become considerably gentler.
She felt extremely uncomfortable and pushed him.
"This is your mother's sacrificial altar. What we're doing is very disrespectful."
He seemed not to understand, his brow furrowing slightly.
"If you wish, this King can place you on that moon platform."
Sitting on the coffin, she wasn't as mad as he was.
She was utterly vexed. She couldn't reason with him, nor could she teach him anything, like trying to play music for a cow.
"We've finished the worship. Can we leave now?"
She really didn't want to sit there.
Upon hearing her words, Xiao Chizhan said, "I used to stay for a whole day."
This...
Ye Luan wanted to leave, but hearing him say this, and knowing he intended to stay for a whole day, she didn't dare to suggest leaving.
"If you stay for a day, don't you bring any food?"
Was she expected to starve with him for a day?
Her question made Xiao Chizhan pause, his gaze falling on the bowl of blood behind them. He remained silent.
If she knew, she would say he was bloodthirsty again.
But how could Ye Luan not tell? She glanced back casually, a shiver of revulsion running through her.
Did this madman used to drink blood?
She took a deep breath and looked at him powerlessly. "Put me down first."
She truly resisted.
Xiao Chizhan released her, carrying her down.
Ye Luan's gaze subtly darkened as she inadvertently glimpsed blood seeping from his palm.
The atmosphere fell silent.
She stood quietly, bored, and her eyes involuntarily scanned the tomb.
At this moment, she discovered that all four walls were carved with numerous murals. Upon closer inspection, a chilling dread settled in her heart.
"Do you like them? I carved them myself."
The man's presence suddenly intruded as he embraced her from behind.
Ye Luan stared at the murals on the wall, speechless.
They were filled with scenes of people dying in various ways.
Some were burned alive, others had their limbs chopped off, some were gnawed to death by foxes, and others were suffocated to death in coffins. The more brutal scenes, she simply couldn't bear to look at.
Sensing the girl in his arms trembling.
Xiao Chizhan's gaze turned somber, his voice inexplicably tinged with a hint of grievance. "What are you afraid of? I wouldn't do this to you."
"---"
'Besides, this King is merely retaliating. What I suffered before, I am returning it to them one by one.'
Hearing his words, Ye Luan's heart trembled.
She stopped looking, suppressed the surging emotions in her heart, and withdrew her gaze.
"I carved one for you too. I'll give it to you when we get back."
What had he carved for her?
Ye Luan was inexplicably alarmed and pushed him away.
Held by him, she felt as though she were being embraced by death itself, yet she was also somewhat accustomed to it.
Xiao Chizhan was displeased by her pushing him, his eyes darkening slightly. He took her hand again and said, "Let's go."
"Didn't you want to stay for a day?"
He didn't look back, pulling her along as they walked out. "I don't want to stay anymore."
After exiting the underground palace, the sky outside was already beginning to darken.
Xiao Chizhan slung an arm around her waist and lifted her onto the horse.
The bright moon hung in the night sky.
The cold silver light sprinkled through the forest, falling upon the two of them.
Ye Luan acutely sensed the man's presence behind her suddenly turn dangerous. She turned back. "What's wrong?"
"Someone's here!"
His voice was cold and deep, laced with a hidden bloodlust.
Ye Luan carefully scanned their surroundings but found nothing unusual. However, she knew that hidden within the dark forest were many assassins.
They were coming for Xiao Chizhan!
The galloping steed suddenly accelerated, its hooves churning the soft earth as it shot forward like an arrow. Several exceptionally sharp hidden weapons whizzed past her sides.
Piercing screams rang out, and blood spread.
From the shadows amidst the overgrown weeds, several bodies of men in black fell from the trees.
Ye Luan was held tightly in his embrace, sensing a bloodthirsty killing intent emanating from all directions.
The biting cold wind brushed against her cheeks, and the scent of blood filled her nostrils.
She could feel the man behind her growing more excited.
At this moment, a sinister, chilling laughter suddenly echoed from ahead, eerily eerie and terrifying in the cold,肅杀 forest!
Hundreds of hidden guards instantly swarmed from all directions, a vast black expanse, charging towards them.
Ye Luan quickly craned her neck, her brows leaping as she looked at the man emerging from the darkness.
Xie Beihan!
The man, clad in purple robes and a sable fur coat, rode his horse out slowly. His phoenix eyes held a chilling smile, and the curve of his red lips was bone-chilling.
"Little girl, we meet again."
Damn it.
He's causing trouble for her again!
Ye Luan's heart leaped in alarm. Sensing the man's gaze on her from behind, she immediately turned and whispered an explanation.
"I saw this man at the beast-taming ground last time. He recognized me."
Xiao Chizhan's crimson eyes deepened. He didn't question her, merely tightened his grip on her.
It hurt so much she gasped.
Damn it, he never learned to be gentle.
"The King of Dingbei's martial prowess is as formidable as ever."
He was laughing, his laughter extremely eerie.
Xiao Chizhan let out a cold laugh. "According to this King, you don't wish to return to Bei Qi?"
"Hahaha---"
Unbridled laughter mixed with the pungent smell of fresh blood echoed through the forest.
"After the battle at Qu River, has His Highness recovered?"
The presence behind her turned terrifyingly potent. Ye Luan, feeling the verbal duel between them, slightly shrunk her head.
This is madness.
He came for worship without bringing any guards, and now so many people are attacking. Can they still leave?
"That your leg can still stand is because this King showed mercy."
Xie Beihan chuckled ominously and then, with a provocative smile, looked at Ye Luan.
"Little girl, why don't you greet me?"
Damn it, I don't know you, alright?