Chapter 55: The Devil’s Sacrifice (05)
Though he spoke such seemingly affectionate words, Yu Fenghe still had a cold, hard, and unromantic demeanor.
His hands were tucked into his wide sleeves, and he sat high and mighty, his clothes hanging down, untouched by dust or water, like a deity in a temple.
He was unmoved by the sensual scene before him.
Yu Jiao was forced to open her body, her hands bound by the vines and held high above her head. Because of the position, her long, slender legs were completely exposed from the slit of her cheongsam.
Thick, long vines, like snakes, wound around her arms, ankles, and abdomen. A few vines slipped in through her collar, cuffs, and hem, and as they slowly climbed, they pushed the form-fitting black cheongsam out in a series of bumps.
The texture was that of a plant, rough and cold.
The dangerous, tight feeling made Yu Jiao arch her back in a cold shiver. All her struggles were annihilated by the tight bonds.
She gritted her teeth and glared at Yu Fenghe.
Unable to make any large movements, she dug her nails into the hateful vines.
—But she couldn’t even leave a scratch. Instead, she had angered them.
The vines stood up, and their thin tips immediately tore her clothes, revealing one strip of pale white skin after another. Like the flesh of a peeled lychee, soft, smooth, sweet, and fragrant.
However, the perpetrator was unmoved.
Yu Fenghe didn’t even blink, as if he were completing a mission, forced to watch some boring play.
The downturned corners of his eyes revealed a dark, killing intent.
—From their first meeting, he had not hidden his malice. Yet in this environment, so suitable for murder, he had instead said, ‘I will not kill you’.
Though Yu Jiao didn’t know what had made him change his mind, she knew that he was now deliberately humiliating her.
Then, the best way to solve this predicament was—
—Not to show the shame he expected.
Having thought this through, Yu Jiao sneered inwardly, let go of her shame, and relaxed her tense body, her soft, pliant form yielding to the vines’ embrace. She panted softly and even moaned when a vine brushed past her, her eyes flowing, full of a seductive charm.
She was deliberately acting as if she were enjoying it.
Just as she’d expected, his thick, black eyebrows slowly furrowed.
It’s working!
He was clearly not doing anything, but her miming grew more and more convincing, almost like she was framing him, slinging mud. At this moment, her glistening, tear-filled eyes were half-closed, fixed on him. Between her parted lips, she uttered:
“Husband…”
The word was so coquettish, so melodious.
It made Yu Fenghe’s face darken.
Though they were a legal couple, their relationship could not be said to be like fire and water, but more like mortal enemies. For her to call him that was truly disgusting.
His cold, handsome face was already like a heavy ink painting. Now, his face was so dark it was like a stone in a cesspool, both smelly and hard.
His dark lips were pressed into a firm line, and his dead-fish-like eyes were looking at her coldly, as if she were something dirty.
Yu Jiao had turned the tables. Pressing her advantage, she said a few more lewd words, such as “Husband, you’re so amazing~”, deliberately disgusting him.
Yu Fenghe: “…”
Looking at his sour face, Yu Jiao was triumphant!
This person was clearly just putting on a show, not doing anything substantial. He must be filled with disgust. Even so, she could see that his skills were terrible, without a shred of fun or technique. He was just dryly manipulating the vines to coil and crawl like snakes, like the worst kind of snake charmer.
But it didn’t matter. Even with such a boring and fake snake-charming performance, Yu Jiao could still act as if she were climbing to the heavens, her moans lingering in the air.
“Husband, use— Mmph!”
A vine suddenly shot into her mouth, pressing down on her tongue, cutting off her lewd words.
“Shameless.”
Yu Fenghe reprimanded her coldly.
…Shameless?
“Mmph mmph mmph mmph mmph! Mmph mmph mmph mmph mmph mmph! Mmph mmph!!”
You’re so noble, you’re so amazing! If you have the guts, then don’t deliberately humiliate me! You beast in human form!!
Yu Jiao gritted her teeth in anger, but she couldn’t even cause him any real harm, let alone the vines.
Wait.
Her teeth-grinding stopped, and she narrowed her eyes.
Since he could control the vines, then he most likely had some kind of shared sensation with them…
At that thought, she immediately began to entangle the vine in her mouth with her soft tongue. With great skill, she pleased it, licking, sucking, and lightly biting.
After this quick combo, she saw his jaw tighten for a moment.
The next second, the vine, as if it had seen a snake or a scorpion, suddenly disappeared. Freed from her bonds, Yu Jiao fell into the water with a splash.
“Don’t think that I wouldn’t dare to kill you,” Yu Fenghe said through gritted teeth.
Still putting on a tough front.
If you wanted to kill me, you would have done it long ago. Would you still be here, making threats?
Yu Jiao sneered inwardly and wiped the water from her lips with the back of her hand, but on her face, she wore a look of terror.
“Hus—”
In his dark gaze, she obediently changed her words. “My dear, are you really going to kill me?”
Her voice was sorrowful. As she spoke, she slowly approached the man on the high seat.
After the ordeal just now, her elegant bun was gone. Now, her long hair was loose, and the water made it look even shinier and straighter. A few strands of hair clung to her pale white cheeks, making her look beautiful and alluring.
As she crawled in the water, she did not look lowly or pathetic at all. Instead, she was like a beautiful water ghost, her slender figure swaying, slowly and gently approaching.
It was as if the one in the high seat had become the prey in her hands.
Yu Fenghe lowered his eyes and looked at her coldly.
She was half-kneeling in the water, looking up at him pitifully. The water was sparkling, and her eyes were also glistening. She gently tugged at the corner of his robe.
“Would you have the heart?”
Yu Fenghe paused.
—He had actually let her get so close. He should have chased her away.
Her wet fingertips soaked his spotless black robe.
“My dear, before you kill me, I have a question I’d like you to answer.”
His ears twitched. He was still looking down at her with a blank face, letting her push her advantage, climbing up him bit by bit.
“A person’s body becomes so cold and hard after they die—”
Her soft, warm body was pressed against his cold, stiff leg. She was resting on his lap, her head slightly tilted as she looked at him.
She had the air of a little wife.
If one only looked at this scene, the two of them really did look like a loving old husband and young wife.
Though Yu Fenghe had none of the grace of an elder, and she was no pushover, and more importantly: they were not in love.
Yu Jiao said affectionately:
“It seems to be true, husband. Your body and your face are both so cold and hard. Then—”
She deliberately paused for two seconds and gave a radiant smile.
“—Is it the same down there, cold and hard?”
She deliberately drew out the four words, her voice light and seductive. At the end, she gave an ambiguous glance at the corresponding location, her meaning clear.
“I really~ want~ to~ try~”
“…”
“…”
The next moment, Yu Jiao was thrown out.
He avoided her as if she were a hungry ghost of lust.
Yu Jiao burst out laughing.
A feeling of falling washed over her. When she opened her eyes again, she was back in the coffin. In the pitch-black darkness, Yu Jiao caught a glimpse of a red, glowing object in the corner.
She fumbled closer and saw that it was a plant.
It was the same kind of vine that had just bound her, but it was several times smaller, with a few scattered branches, and it had turned red.
The ‘seed of life’ had really sprouted*.
Her mission here… was it complete?
Staring at the motionless, seemingly normal blood vine, Yu Jiao let out a soft scoff.
“…”
Suppressing the strange feeling in her heart, she was about to report her success when she suddenly realized that her current appearance was not suitable for being seen by others.
Not only was she soaking wet, but her clothes were also torn in several places. It was a very suggestive sight.
Her gaze fell on the ubiquitous black fabric in the coffin, and then, on the black-robed Yu Fenghe.
“…”
She let out a strange “hehe” and then crawled towards Yu Fenghe’s body.
—Thanks to him, after this ordeal, she was not so afraid of ghosts anymore.
Swoosh!
The blood vine, which had been playing dead, suddenly wrapped around her ankle, firmly stopping her, a warning in its grip.
Yu Jiao was not surprised. She looked back, knowing, and began to add to the drama:
“Don’t be like that! Husband~”
She shot him a glance and said coquettishly, “I don’t have a necrophilia fetish.”
“…”
“I prefer bondage play~”
“…”
The blood vine shot back, as if in extreme disgust.
Yu Jiao let out a soft hum, crawled over to Yu Fenghe, and pulled off his outer robe.
Under the watchful eye of the blood vine, Yu Jiao regretfully gave up on the idea of putting her tattered cheongsam on him.
“…”
With her back to the blood vine, Yu Jiao took off her soaked cheongsam and gathered her long hair in front of her to dry it. In the dark coffin, her bare back seemed to glow with a glistening sheen. The secret hollows and rises of her back were completely covered by the black robe.
His robe.
The blood vine was motionless, its tail unconsciously twitching.
Yu Jiao had changed, she suddenly realized: Why haven’t I heard the followers chanting outside the coffin?
…
“It’s been five hours, and the Madam still hasn’t come out… Could the ceremony have failed?” a follower asked in a low voice in the hall.
“If it fails, the Lord will surely send down divine punishment.”
“Alas, it seems the Madam’s fate is sealed.”
“Hmph, I told you this woman was not the best choice for a vessel. Even the cult leader can make a mistake.”
“Watch your words! The cult leader is a man sent by God. How can we, his humble servants, dare to question him?”
“…”
The followers were whispering, and the hall was filled with a sense of unease.
“Priest, should we open the coffin to check?” a deacon asked, bowing.
Helan Duo looked up at the dark, lightless coffin for a long moment.
“Open it.”
As his words fell, before the deacon could act, a low rumble was heard—
The coffin opened.
Everyone looked up and saw a figure step out.
Her long hair was loose, her eyes lowered. She stood alone on the high platform.
It was the ‘doomed’ Madam.
The black veil that had covered her face was gone, and even her clothes had been completely changed.
The magnificent, complicated black robe was as wide as a boundless dark cloud. As she walked down the steps, barefoot, the hem of her robe continuously pulled out from the coffin.
The restless hall was now silent, as if they were witnessing a divine descent.
“The seed of life!?”
It was unclear who had cried out, but only then did everyone notice that the woman was holding a blood-red vine in her pale white hands.
The dead silent hall was once again in an uproar. The followers’ faces were filled with a fanatical devotion as they watched the ‘miracle’. They fell to their knees and cried out, “My Lord has shown his spirit!”, while bowing and chanting hymns.
Amidst the various crazed gazes and cheers, Yu Jiao was silent.
Her raven-black hair and black robe were as one, making her lowered, rich, beautiful face look solemn and pure.
But, through the overly wide collar and hem, a few scattered, ambiguous red marks could be vaguely seen, adding a touch of seductive charm to this ‘divine descent’.
Swoosh—
An agile figure leaped over the excited followers. Like a hunting beast, it struck its target and carried it away.
—Yu Jiao was unexpectedly lifted by her knees and let out a low cry.
“You!”
She angrily pounded the newcomer’s chest.
“Don’t move.”
His black-sclera, white-pupil eyes shifted slightly and looked down at her. His voice was rough. “Mother, I need to check your body now, to see if there’s anything dirty left.”
As he spoke, he curled his lip, but there was not much of a smile, which only made his shark-like teeth look sharp and terrifying.
Yu Jiao didn’t know what was wrong with this guy. She was a wise person who knew when to yield. She just secretly pinched his bulging pectoral muscle to vent her anger.
“…”
The tall man, holding the ‘miracle’, strode away without looking back, leaving the entire hall of followers and guests to look at each other.
“This…”
“Everyone.”
A clear, pleasant voice sounded.
Helan Duo had a perfect smile on his face. As he inwardly cursed Yuan Cang for being an idiot, he was spouting nonsense to clean up his mess.
“Please understand a child’s sincere filial piety, worrying about his mother’s physical condition.”
The guests’ expressions were strange.
Uh, Young Master Yuan and his stepmother have a really good relationship…?
Helan Duo’s expression didn’t change, his thin lips curved.
“It’s getting late. You’ve all worked hard. I’ve ordered a banquet and prepared the holy spring. Tonight, you can all rest well in my church.”
Holy spring!?
Not only did the followers’ eyes light up with a fanatical devotion, but all the guests’ faces also brightened.
The Apocalypse Cult is really generous! To be able to enjoy the priceless holy spring just by attending a memorial service. This trip was more than worth it!
Facing the surprised and delighted idiots, Helan Duo smiled and nodded, then instructed the AI butler to lead them to their guest rooms to rest.
When he turned around, the gentle, considerate expression on his face was completely gone, replaced by an inorganic coldness.
—The others didn’t know what that idiot Yuan Cang had said at the end, but he had heard it clearly.
He’d see just how he planned to “check” and how he planned to “clean” the dirty things.
…
Thump!
Yu Jiao was thrown onto the bed.
Just as she was about to struggle to her feet, a young, hot body pressed down on her.
Yuan Cang’s legs were spread apart, his knees on the bed. His entire body was half-pressed on her thighs, making it impossible for her to struggle. She could only push against his hard abdomen with her hands.
“Where did he touch you?”
Yuan Cang’s back was to the light, and his beautiful, vibrant face was as if brushed with a dark color.
“Here?”
His rough voice rose slightly. The next moment, his long, sharp claws opened her collar.
The crimson color on her pale white skin was like a red plum in the snow, piercing and vibrant. It was the marks left by the coiling vines. Her skin was so delicate that even a slightly heavy movement would leave a mark that would not fade for a long time.
It was a very suggestive sight.
“…”
The culprit had just rolled onto the floor. With a glance, she could see the blood-red vines, which gave her the strange feeling of cheating on her husband with her stepson.
Not to mention, right across from the bed was a black and white portrait—which had been defaced by him with a black pen.
…Yu Fenghe, don’t you like to haunt people? Why are you playing dead at a time like this!
“Mmph—”
She opened her eyes wide.
A cold claw landed on the side of her neck, and, like playing a stringed instrument, it slowly traced over the red marks, sometimes rubbing with its rough surface, sometimes lightly scratching with its sharp, curved claws.
Soon, the new marks had covered the old ones.
“I don’t like that old guy.”
He ground his sharp teeth and frowned. “So, you’re not allowed to like him either.”
He spoke childishly, but his actions were not for children.
…It was unclear if this guy was gifted, or if it was just a lucky coincidence. That strange claw was extremely nimble, as if it knew exactly where to scratch.
She bit her lip, and a seductive red rose on her glistening white face.
She shot a cold glance at the motionless vine on the floor, then suddenly gave a radiant smile, her voice sweet. “Of course. How could I like him? Your skills are much better than that old guy’s.”
“…”
Yuan Cang, who had been focused on “cleaning,” paused. His penetrating eyes lit up, like a praised dog, as if an invisible tail were wagging behind him.
“Really?” he asked, feigning calmness, his eyes fixed on her.
“Really.”
Her voice was laced with desire. Her small, soft hands climbed his strong, vigorous chest and offered herself to him. Her robe was loose, revealing the mottled bruises in a secret place.
His eyes were dark, as if a fire had been lit.
…Not a fire of desire, but a fire of comparison.
He scratched even more vigorously, with the energy of someone training in micro-operations, like a kneading kitten.
She also put on the same act as when she had called Yu Fenghe ‘husband’ not long ago.
Though their goals were different, it was a strange, two-way rush.
“…”
Seeing that things were about to spiral out of control, the blood vine twitched and, as if it could not bear it any longer, stretched towards the “shameless” couple on the bed, silently approaching Yuan Cang, who had his back to it…
Ding!
The locked door suddenly slid open.
The electronic voice announced, “Welcome, Dr. Helan.”
“…”
The blood vine silently and swiftly retracted.
The two of them, and the ghost, all looked at the uninvited guest at the door.
Helan Duo stood tall and jade-like. In just a short time, he had already changed his clothes, a white coat, a white shirt, a white pair of trousers, and a medical kit.
The words on his ID tag were also matching:
Apocalypse Cult
Name: Helan Duo
Position: Doctor
“Ah, the Madam is injured.”
He put on a standard surprised expression.
—Yuan Cang’s nails were too sharp, and her skin was too delicate. Even though he had held back, he had still drawn a few scattered beads of blood.
Though the pain was not deep, it was particularly… inviting to be tormented.
Helan Duo’s pale green eyes shifted, like two clumps of sticky, wet seaweed.
He broke into an elegant smile.
“Checking the body… that seems to be the family doctor’s job, doesn’t it?”