Chapter 25:Castle Past 25 Before

“Tell me the rules.”

“The king moves one square horizontally, vertically, or diagonally…” Li Hua explained briefly.

“Got it.”

Xu Nian stepped to the chessboard, moving a white piece without hesitation.

“Xu Nian, you…” Li Hua’s pupils shook. He rushed in to stop her, but it was too late.

The board trembled violently, the room shaking with it. The floor quaked, nearly toppling them.

Fu Ruxue, prepared, braced against the wall.

A flash from the board—a black piece moved, capturing Xu Nian’s white one.

Xu Nian sensed something, pulling Fu Ruxue close. “Duck!”

Suddenly, black spikes pierced the walls from all directions.

Li Hua, too slow, took a spike in the leg, collapsing in pain, sweating.

“Let me…” He clutched his leg, face twisted. “I’ll do it.”

Another hit might kill him.

“No need.”

Xu Nian, undeterred, climbed up using the table leg, pondering, then moved another piece, capturing a black one.

All three watched warily, the room silent save for their panicked heartbeats.

Nothing happened.

A black piece moved under an unseen force.

Gurgle, gurgle…

What was that?

Blood-red water seeped through the room’s cracks, pooling, soaking their shoes.

Xu Nian ignored it, studying the board, calculating. She reached for another piece.

“Don’t play!”

Li Hua blocked her, leg bent, hair disheveled, shielding the board.

“Why?” Xu Nian frowned.

“You’ve never played chess. How do you know every move is right?”

Blood rose past their knees in seconds.

“I only move when I’m sure.”

Her calm voice was unshaken by the blood.

She reached again, but Li Hua guarded the board.

“I don’t want to die!”

Xu Nian’s anger flared. She grabbed his collar, ready to slap sense into him.

She paused, retracting her hand.

Li Hua glared, unyielding.

“What are you doing?! If you won’t play, move—I will!”

Fu Ruxue, panicked, shoved Li Hua, grabbing for the board.

Xu Nian glanced at her hand, sensing something off.

“Wake up, you’re both affected.”

She waved her fingers before them.

They snapped out of it, confused, adjusting their clothes.

Li Hua stepped back, embarrassed. “I didn’t mean to grab the board. This room messes with your mind.”

Blood surged past their thighs, soaking their pants, reaching the table. The board floated.

Xu Nian clutched it, sitting on the table, moving a piece.

Black responded instantly.

The blood’s rise accelerated, half-filling the room.

Fu Ruxue and Li Hua clung to a cabinet, floating, waiting.

Li Hua gripped tightly, worry creasing his face. Blood stung his wound, but he watched Xu Nian, doubting her yet knowing she was their only hope.

“Ah, what’s that?!”

Black waterweeds from the blood wrapped their ankles, pulling them down.

Fu Ruxue kicked, but they held fast.

The weeds, fueled by the blood, grew stronger, nearly dragging her under.

“Cough, urgh—Xu Nian, urgh—done yet?”

Choking on blood, she fought the weeds, glad her stomach was empty.

Li Hua’s leg throbbed, vision blurring.

Xu Nian and the black pieces moved faster, blood rising higher.

The table floated, her head nearly hitting the ceiling when—

A weightless drop. All three crashed to the floor.

The painting, soaked, stood pristine.

The Duchess’s smile grew kinder, like a gentle sister. Who’d think playing her was so deadly?

The child in her arms sneered at Xu Nian, rubbing her bear.

The Duchess’s cross necklace glinted, then materialized, falling.

Xu Nian caught it, noting its serrated edge—a key.

Li Hua’s eyes flicked to it. “The key?”

“Yes,” Xu Nian headed for the door. “Let’s move.”

No time—she’d be done for otherwise.

Fu Ruxue and Li Hua might survive, but not her.

“Where to?”

Fu Ruxue, clueless about the gate, followed.

Xu Nian opened the door.

A force enveloped her, the world spinning, black mist rushing in.

Clatter—

The key fell.

Young Lady’s room.

On the bed.

Xu Nian, limbs chained in a spread-eagle, lay like a delicate doll.

Back here.

Clank—

Her arm rattled thick, two-centimeter chains.

No escape.

Her eyes dulled, resigned, awaiting the Young Lady’s whims.

The Young Lady emerged from the bathroom, wiping damp hands, approaching slowly.

Xu Nian turned away, avoiding her clean, manicured hands.

Flashes of their nights together warmed her ears, lips trembling, bracing for tonight.

The Young Lady tied her hair, exposing her pale neck.

She leaned in, pinching Xu Nian’s chin, forcing eye contact.

Panic flashed in Xu Nian’s eyes. She shut them tight.