Chapter 29:Castle Past 29 Goodbye

The moment Xu Nian took the key, a familiar voice rang out nearby.

“What? Li Hua, you’re saying the butler is the Duke?!”

Fu Ruxue’s exaggerated, deliberate shout carried clearly across the trees.

Li Hua, confused, urged Xu Nian, “Hurry.”

“Let’s run…” Xu Nian’s gaze flicked past him, landing on something behind, stepping back.

Li Hua sensed danger, turning.

A grotesque figure in tattered butler clothes stood meters away, body marred with bloody burns, torn flesh stitched crudely, adding to its eeriness. Its face was a mangled mess, sunken eye sockets with blood-red eyes fixed on Li Hua.

A gaping hole—its mouth—gurgled incoherently, only a few words clear: “…give… me… death…”

The Young Lady’s skill was uncanny, stitching the Duke back to life with a few threads.

Before he finished, Xu Nian bolted. Li Hua chased, yelling, “Give me the key!”

Xu Nian sneered at his claim. Her key—how was it his?

“Xu Nian! Over here!” Fu Ruxue waved from the woods.

Xu Nian ran like never before, throat dry, lungs burning, gasping as she sprinted to Fu Ruxue.

She shoved the key into the bear’s hard slot, twisting hard.

Air froze. A suction force erupted, vibrant colors bursting around the bear.

Li Hua was tangled with the Duke, buying them time.

Xu Nian, clutching the bear, reached Fu Ruxue. “Nice work.”

Fu Ruxue smirked. “My idea—rule loophole.”

She’d risked exposing the Duke’s identity, triggering the seventh rule.

Ready with her lifesaving item, she didn’t expect the Duke to target Li Hua first.

The revived, damaged Duke was weaker but still outmatched humans.

His claws slashed swiftly, leaving trails, aiming for Li Hua.

Li Hua faltered, noticing Xu Nian’s actions, retreating toward her under the Duke’s assault.

Xu Nian caught it, tugging Fu Ruxue. “Get in.”

Li Hua’s odd behavior suggested he didn’t want Fu Ruxue escaping—likely because she knew something damning.

“How?” Fu Ruxue stared at the bear, clueless.

“Touch it. That should do it.”

Xu Nian felt a strong pull toward the swirling vortex, resistible with willpower, letting her linger.

She wanted a farewell.

Her gaze drifted to the second-floor balcony, empty, pristine.

“Xu Nian, I’m going? Want my number? I’ll find you—I’ve got skills…” Fu Ruxue rambled, reluctant.

Xu Nian sighed, spouting nonsense, “14345… phone number.”

She pushed Fu Ruxue.

“Hey! I didn’t catch it…”

Fu Ruxue’s voice cut off, light enveloping her, pulling her into the vortex.

Her figure vanished.

Half the weight off, Xu Nian relaxed.

Li Hua was closing in.

She hated teamwork—too much responsibility to get others out safely.

Li Hua and the Duke traded blows, the Duke driving him to the gate.

Wiping blood from his mouth, Li Hua glanced at Xu Nian, leaping through the light, disappearing.

The Duke, targetless, clutched his knife, dazed, then turned from Xu Nian and left.

The forest fell silent, leaving Xu Nian alone.

“Not showing yourself?”

She spoke to the air.

Black mist gathered, forming a figure. A blood-stained hand emerged.

Red eyes brimmed with sorrow, silently watching Xu Nian.

“You can’t touch the key, can you?”

Though a question, Xu Nian was certain.

The Young Lady stayed silent, eyes reddening.

“Your name’s Mortifera. Can I call you Fila?”

Mortifera looked up, puzzled, surprised.

“Fila, come closer. I’ve got something to tell you.”

Xu Nian beckoned.

Fila hesitated, as if stalling to keep Xu Nian longer.

“I’ll leave if you don’t.”

Xu Nian’s face was blank.

Reluctantly, Fila stepped closer, stopping a meter away.

“Closer.”

The usually commanding Young Lady shuffled nearer, hesitant.

“Want my secret?”

Fila stepped right to her side, feigning reluctance but standing an inch away.

Xu Nian rose on tiptoes, breath warm on Fila’s ear, turning it pink.

“The secret is…”

Fila leaned in, eager.

A soft touch grazed her cheek—fleeting, tender, leaving her face flushed.

Xu Nian stepped back, smiling. “Fila, your name’s beautiful.”

With that, she dissolved into light, vanishing.

Hit and run.

Classic heartbreaker move.

Fila glared, too late.

Thud.

The bear fell, unsupported.

Fila picked it up, lips curling. “You think I’d really let you go, Xu Nian?”

“You’re mine forever.”

Her pitiful act gone, icy eyes swept the castle.

She didn’t need it anymore.