Chapter 9:Castle Past 9 Active

“But this morning, you didn’t push me away…” Or rather, she never truly had.

There were countless chances to reject her.

The Young Lady’s eyes burned with intense possessiveness, reaching to brush Xu Nian’s messy bangs, but her hand paused and fell.

“Are you rejecting me because of her?”

Her?

The Young Lady’s gaze drifted to the floor bed Xu Nian had made for Fu Ruxue.

Xu Nian answered calmly, “No.”

Unlike the last dream where she was powerless, Xu Nian felt her strength intact this time.

The woman lowered her head, exposing a vulnerable neck, golden hair cascading along her cheeks, defenseless, making Xu Nian’s heart skip.

Her hand reached for the knife hidden in her sleeve—it was still there.

If… Her gaze lingered on the Young Lady’s pale neck, her heartbeat quickening.

Struggling internally, she gripped the knife tightly.

Without warning, the Young Lady leaned toward her.

Xu Nian’s heart raced, expecting another kiss, eyes squeezing shut, hand flashing the knife behind the Young Lady’s back.

The expected kiss didn’t come, only a slight weight on her shoulder.

Surprised, she opened her eyes. The Young Lady rested cautiously on her shoulder, barely moving, breathing so lightly it was almost imperceptible.

The knife hovered less than two centimeters from her fragile neck, a Damocles’ sword ready to judge her fate.

It hung on a single choice.

Xu Nian’s eyes flickered with conflict, but she lowered the knife.

Her logic told her this was a dream—harming the Young Lady would do nothing, cause no injury, no loss—so she didn’t act.

But she’d softened.

A small voice inside admitted she couldn’t do it because she’d softened.

Had she softened for that face?

She tucked the knife back into her sleeve, saying stiffly, “Get off.”

“Sorry.”

The Young Lady lifted her head, stepping back a meter, her lonely eyes piercing Xu Nian’s heart.

Why did this woman’s every move tug at her?

Xu Nian kept telling herself, She’s not her. She’s not that person.

Just an imposter with a three or four-point resemblance.

Looking up, the pain in her eyes vanished, replaced by cold detachment. “Where’s the key?”

At the word “key,” the Young Lady’s expression chilled, her eyes narrowing.

“You want to leave?”

Her once-clear gaze darkened, unraveling. Black tendrils sprouted in the air around her, mindlessly reaching for Xu Nian. Her lifeless red eyes, devoid of light, sent chills with a glance.

“Why… leave…”

The Young Lady seemed to lose reason, the black tendrils ensnaring Xu Nian’s legs, creeping up her body, aiming to envelop her entirely.

Xu Nian stabbed a tendril, the knife piercing her own leg, pain making her tremble.

The dream was the Young Lady’s domain; fighting her here was futile.

As the tendrils reached her abdomen, Xu Nian lunged for the bed, grabbing the sinister teddy bear.

If she remembered right, last time she escaped the dream after touching something furry.

Still trapped, the tendrils now half-covered her arms, the situation spiraling.

What was missing?

She recalled touching the furry object while… with the Young Lady…

With half an arm still free, the tendrils pulled her toward the Young Lady, who stared blankly, rasping, “You can’t leave.”

Xu Nian grabbed her collar with her free hand, closed her eyes, and leaned in.

Their lips met, breaths intertwining. The Young Lady’s eyes cleared instantly, stunned.

Xu Nian kissed her clumsily, stirring her thoughts into chaos, willingly sinking with her.

Meanwhile, her other hand clutched the teddy bear tightly.

The world pulled away. The Young Lady grabbed her hand, reluctant to let go, her pinky hooking Xu Nian’s with lingering attachment before releasing as Xu Nian drifted further.

Xu Nian’s consciousness plunged into the abyss.

Swish—

Curtains opened, blinding light pouring in, making Xu Nian squint.

The figure at the window stood bathed in sunlight, smiling brightly. “Morning.”

Fu Ruxue looked refreshed, as radiant as the light outside.

“The maid’s obsessed with her head. Should we look for it?”

“Sure.”

Xu Nian rubbed her sleepy eyes, feeling tired but mentally sharp.

“Judging by the size and depth of their neck cuts, it was likely a large, specialized cutting tool.”

A tool that big couldn’t vanish without a trace.

Where was it hidden?