The sky was a deep blue as night arrived, casting the world into a half-light. In a secluded clearing far from the bustling markets, a small group of men huddled together, their eyes wide with fear. Their terror was well-deserved.

Xiuying stood at the centre of the clearing, her crimson robes splattered with the blood of those who had already met their end. Her eyes, once serene and calm, now fueled by a dangerous light as she stared down at the remaining bandits. They were the last of a group that had committed an unforgivable crime—they had captured and sold off someone very dear to her. 

She moved with deadly precision, her every strike swift. They barely had time to react before they were cut down, their screams echoing into the night.

As the last man fell, clutching his throat in an attempt to stop the flow of blood, Xiuying stood over him, her expression dark and menacing. She enjoyed the look of terror in his eyes.

Unbeknownst to Xiuying, Zhuang had been watching from the shadows. Draped in a robe that flowed from black to midnight blue, and then to a deep, almost otherworldly dark blue at the hem, she was nearly invisible against the night. Her lips, painted black on top and blue on the bottom, were set in a curious smile as she observed Xiuying’s brutal show.

She followed the rumours of a vengeful cultivator cutting a bloody path and she wasn’t surprised to find it was the same woman who had piqued her interest at the trading centre. But the serene, gentle figure she had seen feeding the beasts was nowhere to be found. In her place was a woman who bathed in violence, her expression twisted into something cruel.

As Xiuying delivered the final blow, Ye Zhuang felt a thrill of both fear and excitement. This woman was dangerous, far more than she had anticipated—she was drawn to that danger like a moth to a flame.

Once the last of the bandits lay dead at her feet, the clearing fell silent. Xiuying stood still, her chest rising and falling with the remnants of adrenaline. The menacing look on her face remained as she turned, her gaze sweeping the clearing.

“I know you’re there,” her voice cut through the silence, cold and sharp. “Come out.”

Zhuang stepped forward, her robes barely making a sound as they brushed against the ground. She emerged from the shadows with a smirk; her gaze locked on Xiuying.

“Impressive work,” she said, her voice low and smooth. “I almost didn’t recognize you.”

Xiuying’s eyes narrowed as she took in the dark cultivator’s appearance. The contrast of black and blue on Zhuang’s lips only highlighted the aura of danger that clung to her like a second skin.

“I didn’t realise I had an audience,” Xiuying replied, her voice devoid of the warmth she had shown at the trading centre.

“You didn’t seem to mind last time,” Zhuang countered, her smile widening. “But I suppose you were in a different mood then.”

Xiuying’s gaze was piercing as she stepped closer, her presence commanding. “If you’re here to cause trouble, you picked the wrong night.”

She chuckled softly, unfazed by the threat. “No trouble at all. In fact, I admire your work. There’s something quite... intoxicating about watching someone so skilled at what they do.”

“And what exactly do you want?” she asked, her tone still edged with suspicion.

Zhuang’s eyes glittered in the dim light. “Perhaps I want to get to know you better.”

She tilted her head slightly; her gaze never leaving Zhuang’s. “Is that so?”

Zhuang took a step closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Yes. I think we could be... beneficial to each other.”

Before Xiuying could respond, Zhuang’s hand moved in a blur, reaching out as if to touch her. But Xiuying was faster. In a flash, she grabbed Zhuang’s wrist, twisting it just enough to show she wasn’t to be underestimated.

Zhuang’s eyes widened in surprise, but she didn’t pull away. Instead, she smiled, her voice playful. “I knew you were strong, but I wanted to see it for myself.”

Xiuying’s grip tightened, her expression darkening. “What’s your game?”

“No game,” she purred. “I simply wanted to get closer to you... to taste your power.”

Xiuying’s eyes flickered with interest at the challenge. “Taste my power? You have no idea what you’re asking for.”

Zhuang leaned in slightly, her breath warm against Xiuying’s ear. “Oh, I think I do.”

For a brief moment, the air between them crackled with tension. Zhuang’s presence was intoxicating, her scent a mix of night-blooming flowers and danger. But Xiuying was not one to be easily swayed by temptation.

With a swift motion, Xiuying released her wrist and stepped back, her gaze cold. “You’re playing a dangerous game.”

She laughed, the sound a snort. “Dangerous games are the only ones worth playing.”

Xiuying’s eyes narrowed, her expression unreadable. “If you want to be close to me, you’ll have to earn it.”

Her smile widened, a glint of excitement in her eyes. “Challenge accepted.”

Xiuying’s gaze lingered on her for a moment longer before she turned away. The shadows seemed to cling to her as she walked off into the night. Zhuang watched her go, a slow smile spreading across her lips.

She had seen the darkness within Xiuying, and she was determined to explore it further.