prey
Gu Jinghong lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes casting a small shadow beneath them, concealing her turbulent thoughts—but just now, Xie Yan's murderous intent, which she felt was so strong that Gu Jinghong even thought for a moment that if things really developed from the purge list, letting Xie Yan die like that might not be a bad choice.
The poster noticed her silence, leaned forward slightly, and spoke in a softer yet more penetrating voice: "Take that fight between the two of you in the Jingzhao Prefecture's water dungeon, for example. It was quite intense, wasn't it? With his abilities, if he really wanted to take your life, you wouldn't be standing here alive if you could have injured him. But he didn't; instead... you injured his shoulder? And it wasn't a serious injury, was it?"
The poster's eyes sharpened, revealing a penetrating glint. "Xie Yan has always been 'soft-hearted' towards you, but why was he so uncontrollably murderous just now? Jinghong, did something happen between you that crossed the line?"
Something that crossed the line?
Gu Jinghong's heart sank, and countless fragments flashed through his mind—the murderous intent in Xie Yan's eyes, the unfathomable scrutiny of the Lord of the Tower, and that purge list with Xie Yan's name on it... Madman! What's wrong with him?!
The time in the water dungeon? No, that was just another ordinary one in their countless battles. He hurt her, and she crippled him for over a month. Given his vengeful and twistedly pleasure-seeking nature, it was at most another "exhilarating" confrontation, something he should even "reminisce about."
Unless… he sensed something? The existence of the South Wind Box? The list? Or… the connection between her and the King of Ashes that even she herself hadn't yet figured out?
A chill ran up my spine.
That's it! Xie Yan's killing intent was never truly about wanting her dead—at least not to die at someone else's hands, or in an "unexplained" way. He was declaring in the most extreme way: 'Gu Jinghong is my prey! Her life and death can only be decided by me, Xie Yan! Anyone who wants to interfere must first get past me!'
He forcefully dragged this deadly crisis concerning the secret box back into the bloody and familiar arena between the two of them. He was upholding his twisted "ownership," and also enjoying the thrill of pushing her into a corner once again and watching her struggle desperately!
Having grasped this, Gu Jinghong felt no gratitude whatsoever; instead, a deeper sense of disgust and chilling vigilance welled up within her. Xie Yan's actions, seemingly disruptive, had in fact dragged her even deeper into the mire, extinguishing any glimmer of hope she might have had to extricate herself. He wanted her to be trapped here forever, his eternal adversary and plaything!
In an instant, Gu Jinghong guessed Xie Yan's intention.
Gu Jinghong suppressed her realization and looked up at the building owner.
The poster seemed quite satisfied with Gu Jinghong's subtle and restrained emotional changes that didn't reveal anything—as the assistant manager of Zhuoyue Tower, she should naturally have the ability to detach herself from and even control her emotions.
Guoda leaned back in his chair, the warmth of reminiscence on his face completely vanished, leaving only the cold calculation of someone in a superior position.
He picked up the cup of tea, which had already cooled slightly, but didn't drink it. He just stared at the tea leaves floating in the cup, his tone calm, yet every word pierced the heart: "Xie Yan, that boy, has ability, and his ambition... is not small either. Recently, he has set his sights on that noble and precious eldest daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. He has made a brilliant move."
He raised his eyes, his gaze like a cold probe, piercing Gu Jinghong once more: "Jinghong, you are the youngest and most promising Grand Secretary of Zhuoyue Tower. My position as Tower Master... will eventually have to be taken over. If Xie Yan truly climbs the social ladder by marrying into the Duke's mansion, and has such powerful external support..."
The landlord's voice was extremely low, carrying a devilish seduction, "He will be the biggest and most dangerous stumbling block on your path to becoming the landlord. Jinghong, tell me, facing such a 'stumbling block' that will inevitably stand in your way in the future, and may even put you to death, have you never... even for a moment, had the slightest thought of eliminating him? Not even a fleeting thought?"
Silence, a deathly silence. Only the occasional soft crackling of the candlelight.
Gu Jinghong lowered her head, her long eyelashes drooping, obscuring all her expressions.
Xie Yan was indeed untrustworthy, but the imposing Lord of the Tower before him was no less so. His words, so piercingly scathing, were timed with such precision, right after the appearance of the Southern Wind Box and Xie Yan's name was prominently listed on the purge list! This was no coincidence.
Get rid of Xie Yan? This thought was indeed like a poisonous vine, which had lingered and grown in countless moments when Xie Yan angered me to the point of turmoil and hurt me with his harsh words.
However, the moment this thought crossed her mind, it was firmly suppressed by a colder, clearer understanding in her heart—Xie Yan cannot die! At least, he absolutely cannot die in this way, without knowing why, right now!
He lived, and they were like ferocious beasts tearing at each other in this dark swamp, yet also invisibly relying on one another. His existence was like a mirror, reflecting his own dangers and boundaries; more like a barrier, sharing the invisible and deadly gaze from the highest point.
This twisted balance was the crack in her heart that allowed her to breathe in this hellish ordeal. If Xie Yan fell, she would inevitably be the next prey, completely locked onto by that superior gaze, with no room for maneuver. Besides, since Xie Yan was on the list, from another perspective, didn't he also have some kind of connection to this secret box?
Time flowed silently in the deathly stillness, each breath heavy as lead.
Finally, her drooping eyelashes suddenly lifted!
She stared directly into the unfathomable eyes of the landlord, her voice trembling slightly with suppressed humiliation and anger, yet each word was clear, like shattering ice.
"Master, you are truly insightful! Jinghong... Jinghong has something on her mind that she must speak out!"
She took a deep breath, as if using all her strength to utter the unspeakable words, "Xie Yan... he actually... in the water dungeon of the Jingzhao Prefecture, taking advantage of Jinghong's serious injuries and exhaustion, he... he committed a lewd act, forcibly kissing Jinghong! Such humiliation, Jinghong... Jinghong wishes she could tear him to pieces! I beg Master to do justice for her disciple! If Master also thinks this is a small matter, Jinghong will risk her life to personally end this scoundrel and avenge this shame!"
The poster's gaze froze at the very beginning of her accusation; in those deep, still eyes, countless tiny ice crystals seemed to be silently colliding, shattering, and reforming. As her words fell, a strange and knowing undercurrent suddenly surged beneath that frozen layer of ice.
Yes.
The girl Jinghong was so beautiful that her radiance was like the moon shining on a cold river; even the deathly atmosphere in this building could not conceal her beauty.
Xie Yan, that brat, was inherently rebellious and willful, possessing a reckless and arrogant nature from a young age. Having grown up together, it would be entirely understandable if that scoundrel harbored some filthy and unsavory desires for Jinghong.
What's even more ingenious is that Jinghong is inherently aloof and fiercely independent, regarding Xie Yan as filth and never showing him any courtesy. Such a temperament, when encountering a reckless and unrestrained scoundrel like Xie Yan, is like fire and water, irreconcilable enemies—isn't that perfect? This is also one of the reasons why he tacitly approved, and even secretly indulged, Xie Yan's repeated approach to Jinghong.
Thinking back to Xie Yan's childhood rivalry with Jinghong, which always seemed like a life-or-death struggle, yet always strangely left room for maneuver at the last moment... it turns out that the root of this inexplicable "mercy" lies here! This game of chess that has been going on for many years suddenly became clearer because of Gu Jinghong's earth-shattering accusation.
A faint, yet profoundly meaningful curve slowly crept up the well-maintained corners of the poster's mouth.
The poster stared at Gu Jinghong for a long time. In the depths of his eyes, the whirlpool first froze, then a strange understanding surged, and finally settled into a playful scrutiny. The indifference on his face melted away like ice and snow, and a layer of elusive smile slowly rose. That smile did not reach his eyes, but instead revealed a chilling interest.
"Heh..." The host chuckled softly, tapping the table lightly with his fingertips. His voice carried the indulgent air of an elder seeing through a junior's tricks, yet it also concealed a cold calculation. "So that's how it is. With such a beautiful face, that kid must have been...heh, it's not surprising that he's developed some inappropriate thoughts since childhood."
His gaze lingered for a moment on the bright red mole at the corner of Gu Jinghong's eye, which was as red as dripping blood. The mole, which was slightly reddened by anger and humiliation, was like a peach blossom blooming in the snow, dazzling and eye-catching, adding a touch of breathtaking fragility and beauty.
Its sharp beauty is both breathtaking and awe-inspiring.
The host withdrew his gaze, his smile deepening, but his tone carried an undeniable finality: "Enough! These petty squabbles and romantic entanglements between young people are none of my business, and I, an old man with one foot in the grave, can understand them! You can face your own tribulations!"
He waved his hand, as if brushing away a piece of insignificant dust, "You must be tired today, go and get some rest. You don't need to worry about the secret box anymore."
Gu Jinghong suppressed the nausea and growing chill surging within her, and stood up as instructed, her movements still respectful, her back straight as a pine tree, though her lowered eyelashes concealed the icy coldness surging in her eyes. She bowed, her voice calm and even: "Yes, Master. This disciple takes her leave."
She turned, her steps perfectly steady, and walked straight towards the heavy wooden door. Each step on the polished floor felt like walking on a frozen river; only she knew the turbulent undercurrents and biting cold beneath the surface. The landlord's laughter, that lewd scrutiny, clung to her like a leech, chilling her to the bone. That hypocritical, repulsive mask shattered within her, revealing a far more grotesque and terrifying truth beneath.
The heavy wooden door closed silently behind her, completely shutting out the suffocating sandalwood incense, the dim light, and the pair of eyes behind the desk that were as sticky as venomous snakes, full of calculation and a desire for control.
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