**Capital City, North Office West Street, Second Residence**
Two stone lions, fierce as mythical guardians, flanked the grand entrance, watching over a solemn courtyard coated in dark lacquer. A golden plaque above the gate shone brightly, proclaiming the residence as Martial Proclamation Manor.
Inside, servants and maids moved with crisp, disciplined precision, their eyes sharp with a military edge. The front courtyard was hushed, breaths barely audible, faces shadowed with quiet sorrow, as still as statues. A pin dropping would have rung loud and clear.
Past artificial hills and trees, through vibrant flowerbeds and lush greenery, a gentle stream led to the serene rear courtyard. Here, the air grew quieter, filled with bamboo groves and the soft murmur of water. A faint herbal scent drifted from a small garden overflowing with rare medicinal plants.
The atmosphere felt heavy, steeped in the lingering aroma of herbs and the sweet fragrance of elixirs.
In the courtyard stood a young woman in a green robe, draped in fox fur, her delicate frame betraying fragility. Suya Jun's refined brows hinted at a faint sickly pallor, her eyes clouded with persistent worry. Her pale face, small enough to cradle in one hand, was framed by neatly tied hair, revealing slightly reddened ears that echoed the flush of illness on her cheeks. Her clear, deer-like eyes, bright as wildflowers, carried weary exhaustion.
Though wrapped in a long robe, she seemed frail in the cool spring breeze, like a delicate blossom trembling in the wind.
Suya watched the shifting energy within the courtyard, her concern strong enough to urge her to open the door. Yet she held back, waiting quietly outside.
After a long pause, a strong hand pushed the door open, revealing Feng Wei's tired but striking face.
"Task completed," Feng said, letting out a soft breath.
Relief swept over Suya's face, easing her worry with a glimmer of joy. Her pale features brightened, like a fresh sprout in spring.
"Feng, you've done well," came a voice from inside, weary and rough with age.
Marshal Jun emerged, clad in black fur, his silver hair framing a still-commanding face. Wrinkles carved deeper lines, and his once-vibrant energy had dulled, his strength faded by age and declining vigor.
Commanding the Four Symbols God-Slaying Array alone was a monumental task for a martial warrior, not an immortal cultivator. At his age, with vitality waning, the effort took a heavy toll. Old injuries from his youth, worsened by recent exertions, were only eased by Feng's elixirs, temporary relief, not a cure.
"Grandfather," Suya, a skilled healer, saw the cost of his recent efforts. Her voice quivered with concern.
"I'm alright," Marshal Jun said with a warm smile, his face showing signs of wear but his eyes kind as he patted his granddaughter's head. "These old bones can still serve. I haven't failed His Majesty."
His loyalty to Prince Ren, now Emperor Ren, had secured his family's wealth. Yet, as a remnant of the previous emperor's era, he felt out of place. The new emperor, in his prime, trusted him but carried the same suspicions as his predecessor. Such was the nature of power.
Marshal Jun sighed inwardly, accepting the political game. He'd outlasted the late emperor's reign by understanding these dynamics better than most soldiers. Death loomed, but he kept it unspoken, hiding his feelings.
Then he caught Feng and Suya sharing a look, their eyes locked, sparking with quiet connection. His mood darkened. Feng, once acceptable, now seemed entirely irritating.
"Ahem!" Marshal Jun coughed sharply, breaking their moment.
Suya quickly masked her expression, but her flickering eyes gave her away.
"Uh," Feng, more thick-skinned, shook off a trace of guilt and asked innocently, "Marshal, how's your injury?"
"Yes, yes!" Suya added, as if just remembering. "Grandfather, are you feeling better?"
Marshal Jun stayed silent, annoyance brewing. He didn't object to their growing affection, but this boy hadn't even proposed, and Suya was already enchanted. What would come of this?
Still, he couldn't bring himself to meddle. With a sour look, he waved them off. "Go on, get out. I need to rest."
Without waiting for a response, he retreated inside, shutting the door with a firm thud.
The two outside shared awkward glances, silent for a beat.
"Let's take a walk," Feng said, easing the tension as if nothing had happened.
"Mm," Suya replied, her cheeks reddening from her grandfather's reaction. She didn't refuse, dipping her head with a soft nod.
They strolled through a side courtyard lush with bamboo and herbs. Winter had faded, and spring brought new life. Trees shook off their snowy veils, revealing green buds. Bamboo tips sprouted fresh leaves, and shoots poked through the damp earth.
They walked side by side on a stone path. Feng, young and vigorous, exuded energy; Suya, delicate and graceful, seemed fragile enough to be swept away, her slender waist swaying like a willow.
They were a stunning pair, one any passerby would call perfectly matched.
"These past few days," Feng started, carefully opening the conversation.
Suya listened quietly, nodding at times, her face brightening with surprise or a gentle laugh, each response warming Feng's heart.
Among his close companions, each was unique. Qing Jiang's cool grace hid a proud, moonlit spirit. Lian Zhen's bold warmth concealed a possessive edge. Mira Rain's frail appearance masked a complex soul. Even Li Jiang, playful and charming, hid a mischievous curiosity.
But with Suya, Feng found calm. She wasn't the strongest, but her gentle empathy and quiet kindness were unmatched. Her clear, spiritual heart could see through falsehoods, yet she chose healing, saving lives in silence.
When troubled or lost, Feng turned to Suya. She was always a patient listener. If Qing was his distant starlight, Suya was his warm haven in a stormy world.
As Feng recounted his recent adventures, Suya listened closely. When he mentioned dangers in the immortal ruins, her delicate brows knit, her hands tightening. "That was too risky. Why push yourself so hard?"
"Maybe trouble follows me," Feng said with a wry smile, taking her clenched hand and gently intertwining their fingers. "But with you here, I dream of peaceful days, growing old together."
"Mm," Suya murmured, her heart skipping at his rare tender words. Blushing, she pressed her face to his chest, her fair neck and ears flushing red, as if brushed with ink.
Feng quietly noted how her face nestled against him, her frail frame hiding a surprising softness. His thoughts drifted briefly, but he held back from mentioning his tense run-ins with Qing, Mira, and Lian in the ruins. Instinct warned that even gentle Suya might not take kindly to such news.
The bamboo rustled in the spring breeze, new leaves swaying. They stood in silence, eyes locked, hearts beating closer, faces inching nearer, breaths nearly touching.
"Miss!" A sudden shout broke the moment.
Startled, Suya pulled back, her reserved nature making her blush deeply as she smoothed her rumpled clothes.
A maid rushed over, breathless. "Miss, I found you!"
"What's wrong?" Suya asked, adjusting her collar to regain composure.
"A young lord from High Sun Manor is here, calling himself the young marquis. He says you invited him to visit," the maid said.
Both paused. A young lord? Visiting Suya?
Feng felt a pang of discomfort. High Sun Manor?
Suya, recalling a moment, nodded. "I did say he could come by."
She glanced at Feng, seeing his unease. "He's a child from High Sun Manor. We've met twice."
"Suya, sister!" a child's voice rang out. A boy, about six or seven, appeared in fine silk robes. His delicate, porcelain-like face was almost girlish, with bright, lively eyes and a rosy glow.
Despite his boyish clothes and the maid's address, his beauty was striking. Feng's discomfort deepened, his eyes narrowing.
"You're, Wu Xie, right?" Suya said, her smile warm as the boy hurried toward her.
"Yes!" Wu Xie beamed, blinking playfully. "I told you before, sister."
Feng rubbed his chin, eyeing the boy's effortless charm. Something felt wrong, but he couldn't place it. Surely this kid wasn't some cunning schemer?
He pushed down his doubts, watching Wu Xie and Suya talk cheerfully. He tried to join in but felt brushed aside, his attempts to speak met with quick sidesteps, leaving him irritated.
This was meant to be their time. How did this kid intrude?
Another maid approached, bowing to Feng. "Young Master Feng, the Marshal needs you. He has matters to discuss."
Relieved for an excuse, Feng nodded but paused, glancing at Suya.
"Go," she said, catching his unease. She understood his frustration at Wu Xie's interruption and his silent apology. Their eyes met, sharing a soft smile.
After Feng left, Wu Xie watched Suya's lingering gaze. "You really like him, don't you?"
"Mm," Suya answered instinctively, then blushed, waving her hands. "No, I mean, Feng and I."
"It's okay," Wu Xie said calmly, his tone oddly grown-up. "But from now on, you'll only like me. You'll be my servant."
"What?!" Suya stared, shocked by the boy's cold, serious expression.
His bright eyes, now stripped of innocence, gleamed with mockery and desire, a chilling possessiveness. A shiver ran through her. This was no child's look.
"Who are you?" she started, but his eyes, like swirling voids, gripped her mind. The dormant "demon poison" inside her, long tamed by Onyx Elixir Clan methods, flared to life, eroding her will.
"Evil Heart Sect!" Suya realized, her sharp mind connecting the dots. Only they could wield such a poison, capable of bending minds, reviving the dead, or turning the living into puppets.
"You're," Her voice faltered as the poison overwhelmed her.
"First meeting, Sister Suya," Wu Xie said, his angelic face twisting into a wicked grin. "I'm Wu Xie, young lord of High Sun Manor, your master. And you can call me, Evil King."
The name hit like a thunderclap, draining Suya's face of color. The Evil King, a near-thousand-year-old demonic legend, had lifted the Evil Heart Sect to rival ancient sects like the Demon Sect. How could this lively, youthful boy be him?
His energy showed no decay, his soul flawless and untouched, not like someone who'd taken over a body. Yet his presence was a threat, especially to her grandfather.
"Help," Suya's cry faded as her strength vanished, her body no longer hers.
"Don't worry, I won't hurt you," Wu Xie said, his voice softening. "I really like you, Sister Suya."
His grin turned lustful, eyes blazing. "I'll marry you. You'll bear my children, ten, twenty, more!"
Suya's eyes widened in terror, unable to speak. His gaze, echoing a love lost centuries ago, recalled another kind healer he'd failed to keep.
"She was like you," he whispered, clutching her hand. "I respected her, and I lost her. I won't repeat that mistake."
Suya's skin crawled, but the poison left her powerless. "No," she gasped weakly.
Wu Xie laughed. "Fate gave me this chance. My powers are gone, but the 'Soul-Devouring Heart Poison' remains. It's destiny."
Suya's mind screamed for her grandfather, her father, Feng, anyone to save her. But darkness swallowed her, her thoughts fading.
In reality, Wu Xie gazed at her still form, her beautiful face blank, eyes empty, a soulless shell under his control.
"Sister Suya, take me to your room," he ordered.
Numbly, she obeyed, leading him through the herb garden to her simple quarters. Her room was modest, filled with jars of herbs, cauldrons, and shelves of medical books, split into a pharmacy, a reception area, and her bedroom.
The faint scent of herbs blended with her natural fragrance. Wu Xie inhaled deeply, his eyes burning with desire. "Sit on the bed. Take off your pants," he commanded, his voice low and commanding.
Like a puppet, Suya obeyed, settling on the soft bed, her movements slow and mechanical. Wu Xie stepped closer, his small frame radiating a sinister intensity. He reached for her skirt, his fingers brushing the fabric as he lifted it, helping her slide off her outer pants. Her slender legs appeared, pale and smooth. Her waist was slim, her thighs full and soft under his touch.
"You look delicate, but these legs are something else," he murmured, his voice thick with admiration, his gaze fixed on her hips.
Suya, expressionless under the poison's control, slid her white silk underwear down slowly, revealing a neat triangle of sparse pubic hair. Her pink pussy was full, framing a tight opening with a small, sensitive spot glistening faintly. Her smooth ass was clear and flawless, her round buttocks pressing into the bed.
"Gorgeous," Wu Xie breathed, his childlike body showing adult lust as his cock strained against his pants. His fingers traced her pussy, soft and wet, disturbing the tidy pubic hair. Her pussy quivered, tightening briefly around his finger before releasing it, leaving a damp trail.
"So sensitive," he whispered, his voice low, noting her body's response. "Stand up," he ordered, his tone firm.
Suya rose slowly, her skirt falling to cover her hips and legs. "Lift your skirt," Wu Xie commanded, eyes locked on her. She complied, hands trembling as she pulled the fabric up, exposing her hips and thighs again.
*Slap!* His small hand struck her ass, the sound sharp, sending ripples through her flesh. "Perfect balance, slim where it needs to be, full where it counts," he said, voice thick with desire.
Another *slap* left a red mark, her curves trembling. Her pussy tightened with each strike, like a flower closing. *Slap! Slap! Slap!* He struck deliberately, her ass quivering, red handprints overlapping, her pussy growing wetter with each hit.
"Pure outside, wild inside," Wu Xie mused, fingers sliding into her wetness, exploring her warmth slowly. A sound approached, footsteps perhaps, and he snapped his fingers.
Suya's eyes flickered, regaining clarity. "Suya!" Feng's voice called from outside.
"Come in," she replied, voice flat, holding a medical book as she sat beside Wu Xie, her skirt smoothed over her legs.
Feng entered, his mood darkening at their closeness. "You're back," Suya said, eyes brightening briefly. "Done with Grandfather?"
"Yes, just discussing healing elixirs. Nothing big," Feng said, glancing at Wu Xie. "And this is?"
"Wu Xie, from High Sun Manor," Suya said, smiling faintly. "My new student."
"Student?" Feng said, caught off guard.
Suya patted Wu Xie's head. "He's gifted in medicine. He recognized every herb I showed him."
Wu Xie nodded eagerly. "I love healing!"
Feng's unease grew. A student meant constant time with Suya. He forced a smile. "That's hard work. Keep it up."
"Definitely!" Wu Xie said proudly, his hand secretly slipping under Suya's skirt, fingers brushing her sensitive pussy, now damp from her body's response.