Seizing the key
Qiao Wei felt her body being controlled by a powerful force, compelling her toward Luo Chen. In her mind, a terrifying voice kept repeating, “Kill him! Kill him!” She gripped her sword tightly and plunged it fiercely toward Luo Chen.
Luo Chen swiftly dodged the tip of Qiao Wei’s blade, then circled behind her, intending to knock her unconscious and carry her out. But to his surprise, Qiao Wei spun around abruptly and stabbed her sword straight through Luo Chen’s heart.
Qiao Wei watched as Luo Chen’s blood dripped down the blade, her eyes suddenly clearing as the dark haze faded, vitality returning to her gaze. She rushed to Luo Chen’s fallen side, tears streaming down her face. “Luo Chen, I… I didn’t mean to… I…”
With great effort, Luo Chen pulled the sword from his chest and dragged Qiao Wei to the entrance of the cave, only to find it blocked by a transparent barrier, glasslike and impenetrable.
Exhausted, Luo Chen slumped to the ground and spoke weakly, “At least it’s not a wooden stake. This is it, then—there’s no way out. Hey, girl, stop crying and give me a bag of blood.”
Sniffling, Qiao Wei wiped her tears. “Luo Chen, there’s no blood bag. It’s outside. I can’t get it… What should we do? If Salak comes out, we’ll… we’ll die…”
Luo Chen’s wound slowly began to heal. He propped himself up and said to Qiao Wei, his voice frail but resolute, “Enough. Don’t cry anymore! I’ll protect you. Nothing will happen to us!”
Seeing the steadfast determination on Luo Chen’s pale face calmed Qiao Wei. Suddenly, she remembered something and offered her wrist to Luo Chen’s lips. “Drink.”
Luo Chen saw Qiao Wei gradually regain her composure. He took hold of her wrist and gently bit, breaking the skin with his fangs. Gradually, his pallor faded. He released her wrist, took a handkerchief from his pocket, and wrapped it around her wound.
Suddenly, Qiao Wei’s eyes became hollow and black once more. Salak emerged from the depths of the cave, charging at Luo Chen. Dodging Salak’s attacks, Luo Chen shouted to Qiao Wei, “Qiao Wei, be strong! Don’t let it control your mind—drive it out of your soul!”
Qiao Wei’s soul struggled fiercely, the pendant on her chest glowing a vivid red. In a flash, she seemed to be infused with immense power, her eyes transforming into amber. She picked up the sword from the ground, rushed at Salak with astonishing speed, and swung the blade, severing the horn from Salak’s head.
Salak let out a low, agonized growl, then slowly dissolved into a pool of blood. Watching Qiao Wei’s amber gaze, Luo Chen asked, “Su Mo, is that you?”
Qiao Wei—no, Su Mo—picked up the fallen key and handed it to Luo Chen, speaking softly, “Chen, you can leave the cave now… You promised to save me. I’m unwilling to go; I don’t want to leave you… I won’t last long… I have to go…” As she finished, her eyes slowly darkened, and she collapsed.
Luo Chen caught her, gazing at her tightly shut eyes, and declared with determination, “Su Mo, I will save you…”
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From now on, Su Mo will often make surprise appearances, thoroughly confusing everyone’s minds~ Haha! Dear friends, please send flowers and add to your collections~