Chapter 7 – Kiss of the Assassin
The lantern light flame flickered over the glint of the knife in Mei Ling's hand as she spun it idly around her fingers.
"So dainty shackles," she breathed, eyes pointed and hungry. "One slash, and I might have killed you before anyone even knew."
Li Xian leaned forward, permitting the crimson glint in his eyes to hold hers captive. His grin was wicked, unbroken.
"Then why hesitate?" His voice was low, taunting. "If killing me were truly your mission… my corpse would already be cooling."
The blade hovered at his throat, so close the steel kissed his skin. But Mei Ling didn't strike. Instead, her lips curled into a slow, dangerous smirk.
"You're clever," she murmured, her voice like velvet over steel. "But clever men usually die faster."
She stepped closer, stooping so her lips were inches from his. Iron and orchids filled the air. The tip of her sword pressed lightly against his chest, cutting through his robe to slide along the muscle below.
"Perhaps…," she breathed, ".I should play with you first."
The system hummed:
> [Target Mei Ling: Intrigue is strengthened.]
[Affinity +10%. Hidden Emotion: Lust.]
Li Xian's smile expanded. "You came to kill me. But instead. you're trembling."
Her eyes narrowed, but her fingers faltered—just a little. He noticed.
"Am I wrong?" he prodded, his voice smooth, tinged with evil mirth. "Or do you crave what the saintess pretends to scorn?"
Mei Ling's breathing became more labored, her sword still pressed against his flesh for just a moment too long. And then she pulled it back, her eyes flashing with a fierce light.
"Mind your manners, cripple," she spat. "Push me too far, and I won't go easy on you."
Li Xian laughed softly, chains clinking as he leaned back. "Then I'll keep pushing."
The assassin's smile trembled, one splinter in her veneer. She melted away into the shadows as suddenly as she'd come, her farewell echoing like a warning:
"We'll meet again soon, Li Xian. And next time, I won't know whether to kiss you… or kill you."
The lantern faded, leaving him alone once again. But his smile stayed.
> [New Seduction Progress: Mei Ling – 50%.]
[Time Remaining: 3 days.]
---
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In the outer hall of the sect, meanwhile, Zhao Feng knelt in front of three elders. His face contorted with malice, his fists balled.
"Why wait to kill him? He's a devil in disguise! If we don't do anything, he'll become stronger and stronger!"
One of the elders stroked his beard. "The Sect Master needs proof, Zhao Feng. Saintess Su Yao's testimony complicates matters."
At the mention of her name, Zhao Feng's eyes went cloudy. "She—she's been deceived! That devil is tricking her! Elders, if the Sect Master doesn't act, then we will ourselves. For the sake of the sect."
The elders exchanged glances. Silent, stern.
Zhao Feng's voice dropped to a deadly whisper, venom infusing every word. "Grant me permission. I will finish him myself. Quietly. Before his corruption spreads."
There was a painful silence before one elder finally nodded. "Very well. But be warned—if you succeed, but die in attempting it, the fault will rest on your shoulders alone."
Zhao Feng's sneer came back, full of malice.
"I won't fail."
---
In the cell, Li Xian sat in stoic silence, but the grin never wavered.
Two women now went around him—one between duty and memory, the other between bloodlust and desire. And beyond, Zhao Feng honed his blade, blind with fear and jealousy.
The heavens growled faintly above, reminding him of the clock ticking.
Three days left, he thought, red light flickering in his eyes. Ample time to turn enemies into lovers… and cowards into dead men.
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Chapter 7 – Kiss of the Assassin
The lantern's dim light cast a dance of shadows across the flashing edge of Mei Ling's knife as she spun it idly between her fingers.
"Pretty little chains," she drew breath, her eyes cold and hungry. "With a stroke, I could kill you before even you knew."
Li Xian leaned forward, allowing the scarlet fire in his eyes to meet hers. His grin was wicked and unforgiving.
"So what are you waiting for?" He spoke low and taunting. "If you are here to kill me… my dead body would already be lifeless."
The knife rested at his throat, mere inches from his skin. The metal was pressed against his skin, but Mei Ling didn't drive it into his throat. Instead, a low, menacing smile spread across her face.
"You're intelligent," she replied, her tone smooth as silk over iron. "But those who are smart typically meet their end more swiftly."
She moved closer, crouching until her face was mere inches from his. The mingling scents of iron and orchids filled the air. The tip of her blade lightly traced down his chest, slicing open his robe just enough to reveal the muscle underneath.
"Perhaps… " she panted, ".I should play with you first."
The system vibrated:
> [Target Mei Ling: Intrigue escalates. ]
[Affinity +10%. Hidden Emotion: Desire.]
Li Xian's smile broadened. "You came to kill me. But now… you're trembling."
Her eyes narrowed, but her fingers lingered—barely. He noticed it.
"Am I mistaken?" he jeered, voice smooth and heavy with dark mirth. "Or do you desire what the saintess is pretending to reject?
Mei Ling's breathing quickened, her knife rasping against his skin longer than necessary. Then she pulled back, the glint in her eyes a sign of a killing fury.
"Be careful, cripple," she warned in a quiet rasp. "Push me too far, and I might not be able to hold myself in check."
Li Xian smiled gently, the clinking of chains echoing as he leaned against his bonds. "Then I'll keep pushing at your limits.".
The killer's smile hesitated for a moment, and he saw a crack in her facade. She melted into the shadows as fast as she appeared, her parting words hanging like a threat:
"We'll meet again soon, Li Xian. And next time, I won't know whether to kiss you… or kill you."
The lantern expired, leaving him once more alone. But his smile remained.
> [New Seduction Progress: Mei Ling – 50%.]
[3 days remain.]
---
Meanwhile, inside the outer hall of the sect, Zhao Feng was kneeling in front of three elders. His face contorted with rage, fists bunched up.
"Why put off his execution? He's a monster in sheep's clothing! If we do that, he'll be even more powerful!"
One of the elder stroked his beard meditatively. "The Sect Master seeks evidence, Zhao Feng. Saintess Su Yao's words make it complicated.".
Zhao Feng's eyes went dark at the sound of her name. "She—she's been manipulated! That demon is possessed of her! Elders, if the Sect Master falters, we'll have to do it ourselves. For the future of the sect."
The elders exchanged silent, grim looks.
Zhao Feng's voice dropped, venom creeping into each syllable. "Let me. I'll do it myself. Quietly. Before his corruption infects."
And after long silence, one of the elders at last nodded assent. "Very well. But I warn you—if you fail, the blame will be solely on your shoulders."
Zhao Feng's sneer once more flashed in his mind, full of ill will.
"I won't fail."
---
Li Xian sat in the cell, but the smile never wavered.
Two women then circled him—one divided between duty and memories, the other divided between passion and bloodlust. And beyond, Zhao Feng practiced his sword, blinded by envy and terror.
The heavens grumbled softly above, reminding him of the elapsing time.
Three days remaining, he thought, red light dancing within his eyes. Plenty of time enough to turn enemies into lovers… and cowards into corpses.