Meanwhile, as the manor is thrown into chaos, Hongyue slowly stirred awake out from her dark place. Her eyelashes quivered, and she attempted to move her fingers to no avail. Her arms appeared to be like solid stone, unmovable. All the while, her chest continued stinging in pain.

Her heart shook. She lacked control.

Weak.

No!

She hated this same feeling of helplessness. This— this lack of control. It was like an awful wait for death, and she was tortuously unwilling.

She detested it profoundly to the core. Hongyue despised herself for not being more durable. As she forced herself to sit up, a chuckle could be heard sounding out into the room.

"Interesting. Truly interesting. I really didn't think this manor had so much to offer."

Hongyue snapped her eyes open, her mind became alert.

"Who?!"

"No need to get so defensive," A lethargic voice continued, "I'm merely here to see if I should make an investment."

A figure walked up to her bedside and stood in front of her, invading her line of sight. A hand reached out to touch her neck, lazy in its movement.

Hongyue's eyes darkened, and she concentrated hard.

Suddenly, her once immovable body smoothly avoided the reach of the hand. Hongyue's body twisted and landed painfully on the ground.

She winced.

The pain was better than death.

Hongyue peered up to see a familiar handsome youngster in front of her. Wasn't this the same man who asked stupid questions wasting her time, causing her to faint? She added another complaint to the list inside her head.

The man's eyes narrowed. That little thing shouldn't be able to move at all. How was she able to move about so swiftly even under his spell? He waved his hand and chanted something quietly. He looked on amazement as Hongyue continued to remain sitting upright even after a second spell was set on her.

Someone like her who didn't have any power shouldn't be able to fight back.

No, he studied her limbs, she wasn't fighting back his magic at all.

His eyes dilated in his surprise. Hongyue's limbs couldn't fight back at all, he could still see her arms shackled by his power. This little thing was using some other strange means to force her limbs to move about almost like a puppeteer with their puppet.

My, so capable.

Truly formidable.

"No," He threw head back in laughter, "You're even crazier than that. I don't know how you're doing it, but you're manipulating your own body by force, aren't you?"

Hongyue smiled weakly.

He was right on the mark.

She had been able to move each part of her body by controlling her own blood to force out each and every movement. But for it to be called crazy?

No, this was merely normal to her.

Anyone who wanted to live needed to be willing to make certain sacrifices. This was her style, her way of fighting for her own life, she was brutal even to herself.

The man looked amused and leaned forward.

"I really pity you. You don't love yourself at all, do you?"

Hongyue trembled, but she didn't reply.

Love? What is that? How can you get it? How can it do for her? Can it protect her or feed her?

She didn't understand. No, she never had to understand love. There was no love. There would never be any need for it.

She just knew she needed to live for the purpose of revenge. Revenge for the previous owner of this body— and for herself.

Seeing her lost in her thoughts, the man sighed. He tossed a pill to her. A grayish pearl-like ball landed on her lap. It sat neatly on the dip of her garment as it gave off a bitter smell.

"This prince wants to invest in advance, after all. That pill will be my investment. Take it as a gift from me," The man turned to leave.

Hongyue frowned, "I don't need your pity."

She flicked the medicine back at him.

The man frowned, catching the pill between his fingers. He scowled at the pill as if he was blaming the medicine for being rejected. A smirk crawled up his face, and he suddenly moved in front of her in a flash. Gently tilting her chin upwards, he poked the pill through her pale lips into her small mouth.

Hongyue widened her eyes in surprise. She had let her guard down, so she wasn't prepared. She tried to spit the pill back out, but the man covered her mouth, forcing it back in.

"Nothing I'll give you will be poison, just accept it. After all, I'm investing in you," He murmured lightly.

Hongyue narrowed her eyes, swallowing the pill. Almost instantly, she felt comfortable.

However, bothered by his close distance with her, she swiftly shoved towards her front only to find him gone.

She was left alone again.

Hongyue sighed. She felt her power slowly draining away. She had been trying her best putting up a strong front. However, she knew it wouldn't last long. All at once, her body fell limp, and she collapsed on the ground.

Her body shook in pain from the extra exertion, each nerve in her body felt like on icy fire.

Investment? Huh.

Bloody tears streamed down her cheeks, making her look so sinister, she looked like an evil enchantress. She let herself go as the world around her turn dark once again.