Chapter 23:Castle Stories 23 Battle

He had no choice but to throw the vial in a last-ditch effort.

The room dimmed for a moment as the pale yellow liquid arced through the air.

The Duke snorted, flicking his sleeve. The corrosive chemicals splashed onto the intricate silk, sizzling with white smoke, burning black holes.

Veins bulged on his arm, morphing into sharp claws aimed at Li Hua’s chest.

Time seemed to freeze, the claws a blur.

Li Hua, a mere human, couldn’t react fast enough, facing the fatal strike head-on.

Terror of death enveloped him, blood seeping from his mouth, eyes filled with despair.

The Duke sneered, “Pathetic.”

He stepped forward, shaking his hand, neck cracking ominously, ready to finish the nuisance.

Dark red claws glinted eerily in the dim light, targeting the weakened man’s heart.

They plunged.

Thud—

The sound of a blade piercing flesh. The claws stopped mid-air.

An ornate knife stabbed through the Duke’s back, piercing his heart, oozing viscous black ichor.

Fu Ruxue, behind him, twisted the blade with all her strength. Murky black liquid gushed from the wound, trickling down his clothes.

The Duke’s neck creaked, slowly turning, bloodshot red eyes glaring unblinkingly at Fu Ruxue, voice like gravel on glass.

Instinct screamed danger. Fu Ruxue stomped, retreating swiftly to the table.

Instantly, the Duke’s neck stretched, mouth widening to his ears, bloodied fangs elongating, lunging like a wraith.

Sweat beaded on Fu Ruxue’s forehead. She flipped the table, smashing it toward him.

His neck snaked around it, stretched with deep red rings, crimson eyes flashing, head tilting as he charged.

Her knife was still lodged in his body.

She reached for her sleeve—her last trump card, her lifeline.

No time to hesitate.

Her hand grasped the object.

Chaos erupted!

A knife stabbed into the Duke’s foot. Li Hua, supposedly dying, lay unscathed at his feet.

He stabbed one foot, then the other, pulling and thrusting repeatedly—clean blade in, bloody out, gleefully relentless.

Blood poured from the soles. The Duke’s face twisted further, emitting a buzzing scream, eyes rolling wildly. He snapped at Li Hua’s head, missing.

Fu Ruxue seized the moment, grabbing a prepared saw and thrusting it into his eye.

“Aaah——”

A piercing shriek tore from his throat, sound waves shredding eardrums.

Blood-averse, Fu Ruxue covered her ears, hiding behind the bed, sticking out her tongue in a mocking grimace. “Feels great getting sawed by your own tool, huh?”

The Duke’s head flailed like a deflating balloon, retracting to normal in moments.

His remaining eye rolled white, the other a bloody socket, the saw shattering him.

“Heh, pathetic.”

Li Hua stood, spitting blood.

The Duke’s downfall was his arrogant refusal to look down and his baseless confidence. A glance would’ve shown Li Hua’s flaws—no blood from a chest wound.

Li Hua pulled a pierced iron plate from his pocket, then a damaged goldfish pendant with a hole from his lining.

Blood filled his mouth, pain surging like waves.

To deceive the proud Duke, he’d scraped his mouth to bleed convincingly.

He poured a vial over the Duke’s head.

The skull sizzled, black char revealing white brain matter, blood stench filling the room.

The fighters’ chaos contrasted sharply with the tender scene in the Young Lady’s room.

Xu Nian leaned in her arms, toying with the repaired bear.

Sensing something, her expression darkened. She set it down, joking, “Can I deal with the butler? He’s an eyesore.”

“Yes,” the Young Lady tightened her embrace, voice low. “You could even kill me.”

Cool golden hair brushed Xu Nian’s collarbone, tickling like a feather. She chuckled sweetly, “Sure.”

Her slender fingers tightened on the Young Lady’s neck.

Unfazed, the Young Lady gazed down tenderly.

Boring.

No threat at all.

Xu Nian let go, chatting idly. “What happens after seven days?”

“You stay here forever, with me.”

“…”

Dull.

Xu Nian’s face cooled. “Dream on.”

“This already feels like a dream.”

The Young Lady’s cryptic words hung in the air.

What?

Xu Nian didn’t understand, nor could she fathom the Young Lady’s obsession.

After a pause, she decided.

“I’ll stay,” she said, rising from the cold embrace, meeting those captivating red eyes. “But I want to say goodbye to my friends. Can I?”

The Young Lady frowned, reluctant.

Time for a bolder move.

Warm fingers lifted her chin, lips meeting hers. Xu Nian’s soft lips, warm and sweet, pried gently, exploring with raw emotion, sending shivers through the Young Lady.

She sighed contentedly, eyes half-closed.

After the kiss, Xu Nian, flushed, asked again, “Can I?”

The Young Lady, still savoring, cheeks pink, murmured, “Again?”

Xu Nian’s dark eyes dimmed. “Guess you don’t want me here.”

“Yes!”

She agreed instantly, clinging. “I want more.”

“Business first.”

“Fine.”

Disappointed, the Young Lady touched her waist, producing a key.

The “key”?

Xu Nian’s eyes locked on it as it freed her cuffs.

A flicker of regret crossed her calm gaze.

If it was the escape key, she could’ve left.

She didn’t care about winning anymore, her mindset settled.

In the Young Lady’s domain, escape was near impossible without cunning, under constant watch.

She just didn’t want eternity here.

She wasn’t ready to live that long.

She needed to see the one she missed underground.

Her heart ached. Reality’s despair suffocated her—the hospital’s sterile stench choking her visits.

Maybe staying was best.

The Young Lady resembled her so much…

A three-point likeness shook her.

She was vile, tainting light. Spending eternity with someone from the shadows suited her—kindred spirits.

The Young Lady noticed her mood. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

Xu Nian steadied herself.

“Go say goodbye to your friends.”

Fu Ruxue wrapped the severed hand, taking it to the kitchen.

“Must we cut it on the board?”

Li Hua eyed the hand curiously.

Their teamwork had sparked more talk.

“Last time, I got pieces here. Ten fingers total—better play it safe.”

Fu Ruxue held her breath, aiming at the joint, chopping down.

The fingers fell, writhing into chess pieces, stumps like red worms merging into a bloody mass.

Even calm Li Hua recoiled, stepping back.

“We can’t stay in the kitchen long. Let’s go.”

Recalling that day’s fear, Fu Ruxue glanced at the locked cabinet, bundling the finger-pieces and leaving.

“Yeah.”

Li Hua followed, unaware of the kitchen’s dangers, trusting Fu Ruxue’s lead.

They met the maid.

“Hello…” The girl clutched a mop, shyly greeting.

Since her head was sewn, she’d seemed normal, her old timid self.

“Hello.”

They answered in unison.

“Need the kitchen?”

Li Hua stepped aside.

“Tch-thanks, no…”

Tense, the maid turned stiffly, mop in hand, to leave.

A hand stopped her, patting her shoulder. “You’re here. Got questions… about the Duchess.”

The maid’s face drained of color.