After finishing the cooking, Xuxu carefully packed the food she had just prepared.
She placed rice, meat, and several vegetables into a small wooden lunch box.
Her movements were gentle and meticulous.
Yet occasionally, a cold glint flashed in her eyes.
"If I deliver this myself…" she murmured softly,
"Brother Yun will definitely be touched."
A small smile appeared on her lips.
She carried the lunch box out of the house.
Her destination was obvious—
the outskirts of the city, where Yun Wu was helping build the defensive wall.
However, Xuxu had barely reached the main city gate when her steps suddenly stopped.
Several tall, well-built men stood blocking her path.
Their auras were powerful.
They were clearly not ordinary people.
Standing among them was a young woman with reddish-brown hair and sharp, tiger-like eyes.
It was Bai Ling.
The daughter of the Wulong City Lord.
Bai Ling crossed her arms.
Her gaze swept over Xuxu from head to toe, evaluating her.
"So… you're the little slut who dared to seduce my Yun Wu?" she said mockingly.
Xuxu looked back at her without retreating even a step.
Bai Ling studied the girl before her carefully.
Xuxu was indeed quite beautiful.
Her figure was full and alluring.
Her skin was as pale as jade.
Her lips were red like cherries.
If she were being honest—
this girl might even be slightly prettier than herself.
The thought only made Bai Ling more irritated.
But Xuxu merely smiled faintly.
"What do you mean?" she asked calmly.
"Don't you know that I'm Yun Wu's childhood sweetheart?"
A mocking smile appeared on her face.
Bai Ling's eyes immediately flared with anger.
"In that case…" she said coldly,
"I'll just tear your face apart."
"And we'll see if Yun Wu is still interested in you."
Her claws sharpened instantly.
They gleamed under the light of the setting sun.
Yet Xuxu only smiled even wider.
"Even if you ruin my face," she said softly,
"you still won't be able to get Yun Wu."
"He is my destined partner."
She looked at Bai Ling with a disdainful gaze.
"Did you even look in the mirror this morning?"
"Your ugly face hurts my eyes."
"What did you say!?"
Bai Ling's anger exploded.
Slap!
A loud slap landed on Xuxu's face.
Her head snapped to the side as she fell to the ground.
Her cheek turned red instantly.
Three claw marks were clearly visible, with a little blood seeping out.
But at that exact moment—
a voice sounded from behind them.
"Bai Ling!"
Everyone turned around.
Yun Wu had just arrived.
Of course—
Xuxu had already noticed his arrival earlier.
She immediately lowered her head.
Tears instantly began flowing from her eyes.
"I'm sorry… Princess…" she said in a trembling voice.
"I'm only an ordinary woman…"
"I only wanted to deliver lunch to Brother Yun."
She lifted the lunch box with trembling hands.
"I owe him so much…"
"So please let me repay him a little…"
"I won't interfere with your relationship…"
Tears fell onto her reddened cheek.
The scene looked truly pitiful.
"Bai Ling! What are you doing!?"
Yun Wu hurried over.
His gaze fell on Xuxu's face.
The slap mark and claw scratches were clearly visible.
Yun Wu's brows immediately furrowed.
Bai Ling instantly realized something.
This girl… she provoked me on purpose!
"I didn't—"
But Yun Wu interrupted her.
"What's the point of denying it?" Yun Wu said coldly.
"I saw you hit her myself."
He helped Xuxu stand up.
Xuxu lowered her head weakly.
"It's alright, Brother Yun…"
"This is all my fault…"
She looked fragile and pitiful.
Yun Wu took a deep breath.
Then he looked at Bai Ling with a firm gaze.
"I'll pretend this never happened."
"But I'll only tolerate you this once."
"There won't be a next time."
Bai Ling's face immediately turned pale.
She clenched her teeth.
Anger boiled inside her chest.
That girl had to be eliminated soon.
Meanwhile—
from behind Yun Wu's shoulder—
Xuxu slightly lifted her head.
And gave Bai Ling a cunning smile.
Yun Wu then led Xuxu away from that place.
Bai Ling's expression became extremely ugly.
She realized that she had been played by that girl.
-------
However, that incident did not escape the eyes of others.
Not far from there—on top of a tall stone building—
two figures stood silently, observing everything.
Lu Xiao and Lin Yuan.
Lin Yuan crossed his arms.
His blue eyes narrowed slightly.
"This girl is truly cunning," he said.
"I remember clearly…"
"That rebel officer had no intention of releasing her."
"Yet now she suddenly appears here."
Lu Xiao also watched Xuxu walking beside Yun Wu.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"I also feel that something is wrong."
"We should keep an eye on her."
"We can't let her cause trouble for my little Xue'er."
Lin Yuan snorted softly.
"Tch."
He glanced at Lu Xiao.
"Do you really like Xue'er that much?"
Lu Xiao smiled faintly.
The kind of vampire smile that was impossible to read.
"Hmm…"
"In that case…"
"I'll help Yun Wu reunite with his childhood sweetheart."
If that happened—
Lu Xiao would lose one rival in the competition for Xue Yunxue's heart.
Beside him, Lin Yuan simply rolled his eyes.
Completely ridiculous.
What exactly was so special about that girl that nearly every man around her seemed to lose his mind?
From his perspective, Xue Yunxue was indeed different from ordinary women.
She was strong.
Intelligent.
Brave—sometimes even recklessly so.
A few times, she had even impressed him.
But still—
to Lin Yuan, that was not enough reason to become obsessed like the other men in that house.
He looked down at his own hand.
His fingers were long and pale, typical of the merfolk race.
But in his mind, an old memory slowly resurfaced.
These very hands had once nearly killed Xue Yunxue.
When his claws pierced her chest and took her heart blood core.
And all of it…
had been for that damned vampire now standing beside him.
Lu Xiao.
The man who had been on the verge of death because of Gu poison.
Lin Yuan frowned slightly.
As if he could still feel something lingering in his palm.
The smell of blood.
Xue Yunxue's blood.
Warm.
Powerful.
And strangely…
impossible to forget.
He slowly closed his hand.
His blue eyes darkened slightly.
"Truly troublesome…" he murmured softly.
Yet somehow—
every time he tried to convince himself that the girl was unimportant…
his thoughts always returned to that single moment.
The moment Yunxue's blood flowed across his hands.
The moment she was almost dead—
yet still looked at him without the slightest trace of fear.
--------
Yun Wu brought Xuxu to a small, quiet park at the edge of the city.
Only a few beastmen were there, sitting leisurely on stone benches or walking slowly beneath the trees.
The evening wind blew gently, rustling the green leaves above their heads.
Yun Wu stopped near a bench.
He looked at Xuxu's still-reddened face.
"Does your face hurt?"
His hand lifted slightly, almost touching Xuxu's injured cheek.
But in the next moment—
his hand stopped in midair.
Then slowly lowered again.
For some reason, Xue Yunxue's face suddenly flashed through his mind.
The way Yunxue had looked at him last night—calm and distant.
His heart felt a faint ache.
Xuxu saw that movement clearly.
The hand that almost touched her—
but didn't.
Her eyes darkened slightly.
"Actually… my face does hurt a little," Xuxu said softly.
She touched her cheek.
The mark from Bai Ling's slap was still red, even slightly bleeding.
Yun Wu took out a military ointment from his pocket.
A small silver bottle.
"Apply this," he said as he handed it to her.
"So it won't leave a scar."
Xuxu accepted the bottle.
Her eyes studied it briefly.
This ointment was clearly high quality.
Usually something only used by military officers.
"Brother Yun…" Xuxu said gently.
"I brought food for you today."
She lifted the lunch box she had been carrying.
Yun Wu looked at the box for a moment.
"Thank you," he said.
"But Luo Shixin just sent a message."
"Yunxue already cooked dinner."
"So you should keep this for your own dinner later."
Xuxu's fingers gripping the lunch box tightened instantly.
They nearly turned white.
Since when had Yun Wu become this cold toward her?
This must all be because of that girl named Xue Yunxue.
That girl must have changed Yun Wu's heart.
"Brother Yun…" Xuxu's voice softened further.
"Do you not like me anymore?"
Tears began gathering at the corners of her eyes.
But Yun Wu only looked at her calmly.
"Xuxu."
His tone became serious.
"You've misunderstood all this time."
"I have never considered you as more than a sister."
The words fell plainly.
Without hesitation.
Without the slightest doubt.
"I felt guilty for bringing you to the rebel fortress," Yun Wu continued.
"And then leaving you there."
"That's why I worked hard to gather money to redeem you."
"After all, because of my mistake you ended up in that cursed place."
Xuxu's eyes widened instantly.
He had never had feelings for her?
Impossible.
All this time, she had believed Yun Wu must have feelings for her.
"You're free now," Yun Wu said again.
"You can choose your own path in life."
"You don't need to keep depending on me."
Xuxu unconsciously clenched her teeth.
"Is all of this because of Yunxue?" she suddenly asked.
Her eyes stared sharply at Yun Wu.
"If she had never entered your life…"
"you would have chosen me, right?"
Yun Wu's brows immediately furrowed.
Why was Xuxu thinking so narrowly?
Why was she blaming Yunxue instead?
"Whether Yunxue exists or not," Yun Wu said firmly,
"I still would not have those feelings for you."
The sentence was spoken with clear emphasis.
Xuxu felt something explode inside her chest.
A surge of intense anger.
But she forced herself to keep smiling.
Her face still looked sad.
Tears still lingered in her eyes.
But deep inside—
anger and hatred began growing rapidly.
And all of it was directed toward Xue Yunxue.
-------
Bai Ling threw herself onto the large bed in her room in frustration.
The soft mattress creaked slightly as her body fell onto it.
Her face was still filled with anger.
"That cunning girl…!"
Her hand clenched the silk sheets beneath her.
She truly hadn't expected Xuxu to dare trap her in front of Yun Wu.
The more she remembered how Yun Wu defended that girl, the hotter the anger in her chest burned.
The bedroom door slowly opened.
Eyen walked in calmly.
The white crocodile man approached the bed and stood beside Bai Ling.
Seeing the woman so furious, he did not show the slightest sign of worry.
"Calm down," he said quietly.
"I'll teach that girl a lesson tonight."
Bai Ling lifted her head slightly.
"How will you teach her a lesson?" she asked.
Her eyes were still burning with anger.
Eyen crossed his arms over his chest.
"I'll send Gang Zhu."
His tone was casual.
But the name made Bai Ling sit up straight immediately.
"Gang Zhu?" she repeated.
The anger on her face slowly changed.
The corner of her lips lifted.
"It seems… that's a very interesting method."
Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
She knew very well who Gang Zhu was.
And she knew exactly what usually happened to people who crossed paths with him.
Bai Ling leaned back onto the bed again.
Her smile widened.
"This time… that girl will pay dearly."
She had humiliated her—
so Bai Ling would repay her a hundred times over.
------------
That night, Yun Wu escorted Xuxu back to her old residence.
The house was located in a quiet corner of the city.
Street lamps illuminated the yard with a dim yellow glow.
"Get some rest," Yun Wu said briefly.
Xuxu only nodded with her usual gentle expression.
As soon as the door closed—
Yun Wu's footsteps faded away without him looking back.
Moments later, the sound of his anti-gravity vehicle disappeared into the distance.
Silence filled the house.
Several seconds passed.
The soft expression on Xuxu's face slowly…
disappeared.
Her eyes turned cold.
She walked upstairs toward her bedroom.
Every step carried restrained anger.
"Xue Yunxue…"
The name left her mouth with deep hatred.
All of this happened because of that girl.
If Yunxue didn't exist—
Yun Wu would never treat her so coldly.
Xuxu took a deep breath.
She walked toward the bathroom.
"I need to calm down…"she murmured.
She began removing her outer clothes.
But when she saw her reflection in the mirror—
her hand suddenly stopped.
The mark from Bai Ling's slap was still clearly visible on her cheek.
Xuxu narrowed her eyes.
Slowly—
she raised her hand.
Then pulled at the skin on her cheek.
The skin lifted.
As if peeling away.
A thin, transparent layer slowly detached from her face.
Underneath—
a new layer of skin appeared, flawless and perfect.
There were no wounds.
No scratches.
Her face returned to its smooth, unblemished state.
Xuxu looked calmly at herself in the mirror.
She had always hidden her true identity.
Because in truth—
she was a chameleon beastman.
A beast capable of perfectly mimicking the faces and bodies of other beastmen.
Height.
Body shape.
Even eye color.
All of it could be copied.
But there was one thing she could never change.
Scent.
Beastmen with sharp senses of smell—like Yun Wu—could still distinguish her.
No matter how perfectly she imitated someone's face, her true scent could never be faked.
That was why…
Xuxu had never tried disguising herself in front of Yun Wu.
She knew it would be pointless.
Xuxu touched her now flawless face.
Her eyes slowly turned cold.
---------------
Xuxu was still soaking in the warm bath.
Thin steam filled the bathroom, making the room feel humid and quiet.
The warm water slowly eased the tension in her body.
She leaned her head against the edge of the tub, her eyes half closed.
But without her noticing—
near the bathroom window, the wall slowly developed a small hole.
A thin metal pipe slipped through a crack in the wall.
From the tip of the pipe—
a faint stream of smoke slowly began to flow out.
An anesthetic gas.
The smoke spread silently, mixing with the steam in the bathroom.
Xuxu noticed nothing.
A few seconds later, her eyelids began to feel heavy.
"Hm…?"
She frowned.
A sudden wave of drowsiness hit her.
Her hand tried to move, but her body felt weaker and weaker.
Her vision grew blurry.
Her body slowly lost its strength.
Moments later—
Xuxu fainted inside the bathtub.
The warm water rippled gently.
Not long after—
the bathroom window slowly opened.
Someone climbed inside carefully.
The figure was large and tall.
His skin was dark and rough like stone.
His eyes swept across the room cautiously.
When he saw Xuxu unconscious in the tub—
a wicked smile slowly appeared on his face.
He quickly lifted the woman's naked body out of the bathtub.
His movements were fast and practiced.
Xuxu's body was wrapped in a rough cloth he had brought.
A few seconds later—
the large figure jumped out through the window.
Night had already fallen.
Under the dark sky, the shadow moved swiftly through the trees.
Before long—
he disappeared deep into the dense forest.
-----------------
Xuxu slowly woke up.
Her head felt heavy, as if it had been struck by something blunt.
As her consciousness returned completely, she immediately realized something was wrong.
Her body felt hot.
The heat spread from her stomach all the way to her fingertips.
Her breathing grew heavier.
That sensation… was very familiar.
Xuxu's eyes narrowed instantly.
An aphrodisiac…?
Had someone drugged her with something like that?
Who would dare do such a thing to her?
She tried to move.
Only then did she realize—
her hands and feet were tied with rough ropes.
Xuxu turned her head to look around.
She was inside a shabby hut.
The walls were made of damp, rotting wood.
The bed she lay on was rough and foul-smelling.
The room was dark, with only a small candle in the corner providing dim light.
Her heart began to beat faster.
At that moment, the hut's door opened.
A man walked in.
His body was large and tall.
His skin was dark and rough.
His facial hair was thick and unkempt.
When the man saw that Xuxu was awake, a wicked smile appeared on his face.
"You're quite pretty," he said as he walked closer.
"Tonight I'll give you some satisfaction."
Xuxu's eyes widened immediately.
This man was enormous.
His appearance was crude and frightening.
"Who are you!?" Xuxu shouted.
"Let me go or you'll regret it!"
Even though she tried to sound brave, fear was still visible on her face.
How could her delicate body be touched by the rough hands of such a man?
The man let out a low laugh.
"I'm Gang Zhu," he said.
"A beastman with the form of a wild boar."
He began removing his upper clothing.
Across his chest was a large scar shaped like an X.
The wound was deep and terrifying.
Xuxu trembled when she saw it.
Yet her body was also growing hotter under the effect of the drug.
Her cheeks flushed red.
"Are you scared of my scar?" Gang Zhu mocked.
He pointed at the wound on his chest.
"Yun Wu did this."
His gaze filled with hatred.
"Aren't you Yun Wu's girl?"
"In that case, I'll take revenge on him."
"By making his woman cry on my bed!"
"No—no!" Xuxu shook her head quickly.
"You're wrong!"
"Yun Wu's partner is Xue Yunxue!"
"I'm nothing to him!"
"You captured the wrong person!"
But Gang Zhu only sneered.
"Heh. Do you think I'm stupid?"
"The City Lord's daughter herself told me you're Yun Wu's childhood sweetheart."
Xuxu's eyes darkened instantly.
Bai Ling…
So this was all that girl's doing.
Anger flared in her chest.
If she succeeded in her mission later—
she swore she would ask Noctar to kill that girl.
If necessary, she would even bring the rebel army to destroy this small city.
But right now—
her body was still tied.
And the drug's effects made her thoughts grow more chaotic.
"Just stay quiet," Gang Zhu said roughly.
"Don't struggle."
That night became a terrible one for Xuxu.
Gang Zhu was rough and merciless.
Her entire body ended up bruised and aching.
She had once lived inside the rebel fortress and been with many officers and commanders.
But they were all men of high status.
Not crude brutes like Gang Zhu.
Humiliation and rage mixed inside her heart.
There was only one thought in her mind.
Bai Ling must pay for this.
Gang Zhu lay on the damp wooden bed.
His chest rose and fell heavily after satisfying himself.
His huge body now looked relaxed—almost careless.
Beside him—
Xuxu slowly opened her eyes.
Her consciousness had fully returned.
But the expression on her face was not fear.
It was cold disgust.
She turned her head slightly.
Looking at Gang Zhu's massive body lying next to her.
The smell of sweat, blood, and his rough body nearly made her stomach churn.
Her eyes grew extremely dark.
Disgusting animal.
Yet her face remained calm.
Very calm.
Slowly, without making a sound—
her hand moved.
A small storage ring on her finger flashed faintly.
From it, a thin dagger appeared in her hand.
Its blade was blackish-green.
Xuxu stared at Gang Zhu.
Her eyes narrowed.
Without hesitation—
Slash!
The dagger stabbed straight into Gang Zhu's throat.
"Ghh—!!"
Blood immediately burst out, splashing onto Xuxu's face.
But the girl's expression did not change.
Instead—
she smiled.
A mad, cold smile.
Gang Zhu's eyes widened in shock.
He had never expected this girl to still have a hidden weapon.
With his remaining strength—
he shoved Xuxu away.
"You… damned little slut!"
His hand clutched his torn throat.
Blood kept pouring through his fingers.
But Xuxu simply stood before him.
Her face and hands covered in blood.
She looked like a small demon crawling out of hell.
Her eyes glittered with hatred.
"You're going to die."
Her voice was quiet.
But cold as ice.
"This dagger is poisoned."
A cruel smile formed on her lips.
Gang Zhu tried to stand.
But his body was already trembling.
The skin on his face slowly changed color.
Black.
Dark veins spread from the wound on his throat.
His eyes grew wider and wider.
Then his body collapsed heavily onto the floor.
A few seconds later—
there was no movement at all.
Gang Zhu died with his face twisted and blackened in horror.
The small hut fell silent again.
Only Xuxu's breathing could be heard.
She stared at the corpse with disgust.
Then spat on Gang Zhu's face.
"Filthy animal."
She wiped the blood from her face with the back of her hand.
But her eyes still burned with hatred.
Bai Ling.
That name surfaced in her mind.
Her teeth clenched.
"I'll make you pay more than this."
Then her eyes narrowed.
"And after that…"
Her gaze grew deeper.
"…I'll take everything that belongs to Xue Yunxue."
--------------------
That night, Xue Yunxue was already lying in her bed. Her body felt exhausted.
She pulled the blanket up to her shoulders and stared at the ceiling.
After such a long day—and an even longer night before—she truly only wanted to sleep peacefully.
Just as her eyes were about to close—
knock… knock…
Someone knocked on her door.
Xue Yunxue immediately frowned.
She could already guess who was outside.
The men in this house seemed to possess a special radar designed to interrupt her rest.
No. This time I won't serve anyone.
She quickly closed her eyes, pulled the blanket higher, and pretended to be asleep.
A few seconds later—
the bedroom door opened.
Without waiting for permission.
Light footsteps entered the room.
Xue Yunxue became even more certain who it was.
Lu Xiao.
That damned vampire. Even if he was the reincarnation of Jun Hao, she didn't care right now.
Tonight she just wanted to sleep.
Under the blanket, Yunxue's brows tightened.
Did he come to demand his turn to sleep with me tonight?
She really couldn't handle that.
Her body still ached from Luo Shixin the night before.
However, Lu Xiao didn't speak immediately.
He stood beside the bed.
Looking down at Yunxue's "sleeping" face.
"Xue'er?"
Lu Xiao's voice was gentle.
No answer.
Lu Xiao narrowed his eyes slightly.
Of course he knew.
This girl was only pretending to sleep.
He looked at Yunxue with an amused expression.
The corner of his lips curved slightly.
But he didn't expose her.
Instead, he said casually,
"What a pity…"
"I just received some information from one of my informants in the Kingdom of Shelua."
"About Xiang Shuai."
The sentence was only half finished—
when suddenly a hand shot out from under the blanket.
Lu Xiao's wrist was instantly grabbed.
Xue Yunxue's eyes flew open.
"Tell me everything you know."
Lu Xiao looked at her.
His expression became even more amused.
"I thought you were sleeping," he said calmly.
"Were you deliberately avoiding me?"
Yunxue's face stiffened slightly.
She cleared her throat.
"No."
"I'm just a little tired."
"I want to sleep alone tonight."
Her tone sounded slightly awkward.
Lu Xiao raised an eyebrow.
The vampire was extremely good at reading expressions.
Especially Xue Yunxue's.
He leaned slightly closer.
His face was now quite close to hers.
"Really?" he murmured softly.
His eyes glowed dim red under the bedroom light.
Yunxue's gaze dropped to her own hand still gripping Lu Xiao's wrist.
She quickly released it.
Lu Xiao chuckled softly.
"Relax."
"I didn't come to demand my turn tonight."
He sat casually on the edge of Yunxue's bed.
"Besides…"
"It seems Luo Shixin already drained almost all of your energy yesterday."
Yunxue's face immediately flushed red.
"So what information did you get?" Xue Yunxue asked seriously.
She was sitting up in bed now, the blanket still wrapped around her body.
Her eyes focused intently on Lu Xiao.
Lu Xiao leaned against the edge of the bed.
But this time his expression was no longer teasing.
"The situation in the Shelua Kingdom is extremely unstable right now," he said slowly.
"My informant reported that a power struggle has erupted inside the palace."
Yunxue's brows immediately furrowed.
Lu Xiao continued calmly.
"The Third Prince has launched a coup."
"He has captured the emperor and the empress."
"They are now imprisoned in the palace dungeon."
The room fell silent.
"The Crown Prince has been killed," Lu Xiao continued.
"And the situation there is now completely chaotic."
Yunxue's eyes widened.
"What about Xiang Shuai?"
Her voice became urgent.
"Is he safe?"
Concern was clearly visible on her face.
Without realizing it, her fingers rose to touch her forehead.
Right where the peony-shaped soul bond mark was.
Lu Xiao noticed the movement.
His red eyes dimmed slightly.
"Unfortunately…" he finally said,
"after he returned to the Shelua Kingdom…"
"no one knows his whereabouts."
The room fell silent again.
Xue Yunxue lowered her gaze.
In her mind appeared the image of that talkative snake.
The man who always spoke arrogantly.
His sharp tongue.
His annoying personality.
But…
he had always treated her rather well.
And since the soul bond had appeared on her body—
she could feel something strange.
As if a thin thread connected her with her five husbands.
She closed her eyes briefly.
Then touched her forehead again.
The peony mark was still faintly pulsing.
"He's still alive," Yunxue murmured softly.
Lu Xiao watched her silently.
After thinking for a moment—
Xue Yunxue finally lifted her head.
Her gaze had become firm.
"I'm going to the Shelua Kingdom."
Lu Xiao raised an eyebrow slightly.
"To bring Xiang Shuai back," Yunxue replied without hesitation.
"I'm certain that annoying snake is still alive."
Her eyes sharpened.
"Do you know that the Shelua Empire is extremely closed to outsiders?" Lu Xiao said.
"It's very difficult to enter their territory without being detected."
"No," Xue Yunxue replied.
"There is one way."
A mischievous glint flashed in her eyes.
Lu Xiao raised his eyebrow.
Did his little girl just come up with another dangerous idea?