Wolf stood in the dimly lit room, a tense atmosphere filling the air.
He looked around carefully, making sure the doors and windows were tightly closed, before slowly extending his slightly trembling hand to open the mysterious box.
The peony flowers carved on the box seem to possess a strange, magical power.
The petals were so lifelike that their delicate veins were faintly visible in the dim light.
The red color seemed to seep from the flower, transforming into a faint, ethereal gas that rose gently upwards.
The red aura made Wolf's heart beat faster involuntarily, and his gaze was fixed on the peony, as if he were attracted by it.
After calming himself down, Wolf carefully took out the painting from the box.
Holding the drawing paper in his hand, the smooth and delicate texture gave him a slight jolt.
He gently stroked the drawing paper, feeling its unique texture.
Then, he slowly unfurled the painting, revealing a scene of a beautiful woman admiring peonies.
The beautiful woman in the painting stands gracefully, wearing an elegant long dress, with her long, black hair cascading down her shoulders like a waterfall.
Her face was exquisitely beautiful, with eyebrows like distant mountains, eyes like autumn water, and lips slightly upturned, carrying a gentle smile.
The beauty's gaze was fixed intently on the peony in front of her. The peony was delicate and beautiful, with layers of petals and bright, eye-catching colors.
The red petals, like burning flames, radiate a captivating glow. The beauty and the peony complement each other, creating a breathtaking scene.
The wolf seemed to hear the beauty's soft sighs and smell the fragrance of peonies.
He was so engrossed in the painting that he couldn't tear himself away for a long time.
Suddenly, the woman in the painting raised her head. She stopped admiring the flowers and stared at the wolf with affection.
"Husband, is it you?"
A crisp, melodious, and very pleasant sound reached the wolf's ears.
Wolf stared at the woman with fascination; she was so beautiful, he had never seen such a beautiful woman in his life.
Of course, the three women at the inn were also beautiful, but... they were too damn scary. So, the woman in the painting, with her gentle and affectionate demeanor, was someone he could hardly forget.
"Yes, I am your husband."
Wolf replied calmly.
"My lord, did you pass the imperial examination? You said you would come to my house to propose marriage when you passed with flying colors. Wanwan has never forgotten you... You left for three years. They say you married the daughter of a high-ranking official, but I don't believe it."
As she spoke, she lifted Yu Lihua up, looking pitiful and heartbreaking.
"Hey! Don't... don't cry, don't cry, I'm back now! Don't worry, I won't leave again, I'll marry you."
Wolf said with a pained expression.
He held the woman in his arms tightly, and the fragrance of the flowers grew stronger, gradually blurring his consciousness.
In a daze, he felt as if he were in a sea of flowers, surrounded by beautiful peonies, as red as blood, swaying gracefully.
However, as the fragrance of flowers gradually dissipated, a chill crept up the wolf's back.
He shifted slightly, trying to adjust his posture, but suddenly sensed something was amiss with the woman in his arms.
Her body was cold and stiff, as if it had no warmth at all. Wolf was startled and slowly lowered his head, only to meet the woman's gloomy face.
The woman's face was as pale as paper, her eyes were empty and lifeless, and her pitiful appearance had long since disappeared.
A sinister smile played on her lips, a smile that seemed to emanate from the depths of hell, sending chills down one's spine.
The wolf cub tried to push the woman away in terror, but found that his body was frozen in place and he could not move an inch.
The woman slowly raised her head, her empty eyes fixed on the wolf.
Her voice turned sinister and terrifying, like a ghost whispering in the wolf's ear: "Husband, you promised to marry me, so why did you lie to me? Do you know I waited for you for three years, longing for your return day and night, but you betrayed me. Now, you will come to hell with me!"
As the woman spoke, the atmosphere in the room grew increasingly terrifying.
The box, which was originally carved with peonies, suddenly emitted a thick red mist that quickly spread and enveloped the entire room.
Wolf looked around in terror. He wanted to call for help, but found that his throat was blocked by something and he couldn't make a sound.
Within the red mist, some twisted figures vaguely appeared, baring their fangs and claws as they pounced on the wolves.
Wolf closed his eyes in despair, his heart filled with regret. He shouldn't have been deceived by the woman's beauty, and he shouldn't have trusted her so easily.
Now, he is trapped in this terrifying snare, and he may never be able to escape.
Just as those twisted figures were about to pounce on the wolf cub, a dazzling light suddenly shone in from outside the window.
The light dispelled the red mist and caused the distorted figures to vanish without a trace.
Wolf slowly opened his eyes and found himself still standing in the room, but the woman in his arms was nowhere to be seen.
The painting lay quietly on the ground, the beauty in it still admiring the peonies, as if everything that had just happened was just a nightmare.
The wolf cub, his legs trembling, slowly walked to the painting and picked it up.
He looked at the beautiful woman in the painting, his heart filled with fear and doubt.
Who exactly is this woman?
Why did she step out of the painting?
What exactly happened?
Wolf decided to leave this place as soon as possible and go to the capital to find a wealthy family and sell the painting.
Otherwise, this female ghost would never have let him go. After all, this is a painting of a beautiful woman appreciating flowers, drawn on human skin. Its value goes without saying, and many talented people would want it.
When he rolled up the painting, the woman in it moved her eyes briefly, then quickly returned to normal, like a fleeting moment.
The moonlight gently spilled across the river, like a soft layer of silver gauze. The night wind howled, causing the boat to rock violently and waking many from their sleep.
The wolf cub was already exhausted, and it couldn't withstand the shaking any longer, so it fell into a deep sleep.
Suddenly, the ship was struck by a large wave, making a dull thud.
The box that the wolf had placed under the pillow rolled out and tumbled a few times on the ground.
Immediately afterwards, a thick plume of red smoke drifted out of the box, rising in wisps, appearing particularly eerie under the moonlight.
At this moment, the moonlight shone like water onto the window, and a graceful and elegant figure quietly appeared in the window's reflection.
Her figure was like a fairy stepping out of a painting, graceful and with exquisite curves.
She stood quietly by the bed, gazing at the wolf cub.
The moonlight outlined her silhouette, and the wind blew in through the cracks in the window, causing her long hair to sway gently in the breeze, exuding a mysterious and captivating aura.
Her skirt swayed slightly, like a blooming flower, beautiful yet with a hint of dangerous allure.
The red smoke swirling around her added to her mysterious aura, making people both fearful and irresistibly drawn to her.
The wolf seemed to sense something in its sleep; its eyelids twitched slightly, as if it were about to wake up, but then it fell into an even deeper sleep.
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