386. Pain

"Ah—!"

When the pitch-black crystal pierced her soft skin, Zhu Zhuyun’s tightly shut eyes suddenly widened, filled with terror. Bloodshot veins rapidly spread across them.

Her crimson lips parted as a scream of agony escaped.

Her once-weak body stiffened instantly under the intense pain. Her cat ears stood upright, and even her tail straightened completely.

Zhu Zhuyun's feline pupils were wide as she stared at the cold face before her.

Her twisted, delicate face reflected despair, her eyes pleading desperately for Qian Renjue to spare her.

"No... please, no..."

But Qian Renjue remained utterly calm, his expression unchanging as he methodically pushed the black crystal into her body.

The Mark of Darkness was not just a tool of physical domination. Enhanced by Qian Renjue, it now carried an invasive force that eroded the soul, embedding his will directly into her spirit.

The crystal forced its way into Zhu Zhuyun’s intact soul, tearing it apart.

"Ah—ahhhh!!!"

Zhu Zhuyun’s mouth gaped open as she screamed in silence, her voice hoarse with despair.

Her entire skeleton felt as though it was being scraped with knives, and a searing pain akin to needles pierced her brain.

Her eyes rolled back as her rigid body began to spasm uncontrollably.

Ling Yuan, standing nearby, watched with fear flickering in her eyes.

On Zhu Zhuyun’s trembling body and delicate face, dark-purple marks resembling blood vessels started to appear.

Ling Yuan lowered her gaze, a hint of pity flashing in her expression as her dark eyes dimmed slightly.

"Ahhhh—!"

Zhu Zhuyun threw her head back, her snowy neck stretched taut as she let out a final wail.

Her lips quivered, saliva spilling from the corners of her mouth. The glistening droplets fell onto her chin, some slipping into the abyss of her collar while others plummeted to the ground.

Her rolled-back eyes lost their light entirely.

Her clenched fists trembled as her taut body quivered slightly.

Drip, drip.

Her long, leather-clad legs trembled, and the surrounding air turned humid and warm.

At her ankles, a few shimmering droplets splashed onto the floor.

The black, diamond-shaped crystal had completely disappeared from Qian Renjue's hand.

Zhu Zhuyun’s trembling body slumped weakly to the ground.

Her clothes were half undone, her face streaked with tears, as she curled up in a shivering ball, her sobs hoarse and broken.

"Uhh..."

As spasms wracked her body, the dark-purple lines on her skin gradually began to fade.

At the same time, Qian Renjue’s six black wings slowly folded, the silver frost on them fading as his appearance reverted to golden hair and violet eyes.

"Your Highness."

Ling Yuan stepped forward immediately, looking at Zhu Zhuyun with a trace of unease.

"Your Highness, is she... going to be okay?"

"...”

Qian Renjue glanced down, his gaze falling on Zhu Zhuyun, who was curled up in a trembling ball.

His frown deepened as his eyes landed on the glistening stains near her ankles—an especially glaring sight.

He had anticipated the Mark of Darkness implantation to be painful, but he hadn’t expected it to reduce Zhu Zhuyun to such a fragile state.

She had been pushed to the point of losing control.

“She’s fine. She just hasn’t recovered from the pain yet,” Qian Renjue replied softly, shaking his head.

He stepped closer to Zhu Zhuyun and crouched down beside her, reaching out to adjust her disheveled clothing.

“No... don’t touch me!”

Zhu Zhuyun recoiled, trembling violently as she buried her head, her hoarse voice pleading desperately.

“I... I won’t do it again... I won’t try to have Zhuzhu assassinated anymore.”

“I just wanted her to leave the Zhu family... That’s all...”

Her voice trailed off, broken by sobs.



Zhu Zhuyun broke into sobs, her feline eyes filled with fear and panic.

The excruciating pain she had just endured had momentarily shattered her rationality.

Qian Renjue, unfazed, reached out to adjust her disheveled clothing, gently pulling it back over her trembling shoulders.

“Apologies. Though, I admit, it’s a bit insincere,” he said in a calm, warm voice.

As he placed his hand on her shoulder, he began channeling his Mysterous Heaven Technique energy into her body.

“As long as you behave, you won’t feel this pain again,” Qian Renjue said softly.

“This Mark of Darkness is unique. It carries my will within it. No matter what you try, you cannot escape my control. If you cooperate, I won’t harm you.”

Hearing his words, Ling Yuan seemed to understand the purpose of the black crystal.

Was His Highness preparing to infiltrate the Star Luo Empire?

After finishing his explanation, Qian Renjue retrieved a Focus Pill from his spatial system and brought it to Zhu Zhuyun’s lips.

“Take this. It will ease your mind.”

Zhu Zhuyun pressed her face against the ground, her teeth clenched, inching away from him.

Qian Renjue raised an eyebrow and reminded her, “I have no need to poison you. You cannot escape my grasp.”

Hearing this, Zhu Zhuyun felt a surge of grief and hatred. But the lingering pain in her body and spirit forced her to relent.

Hugging her head, she glanced at the pill in Qian Renjue’s hand. Her lips parted hesitantly.

Noticing her movement, Qian Renjue moved the pill to her mouth.

His fingertips brushed against her trembling, icy lips, coated with a faint sheen of moisture.

Overwhelmed with shame and fear, Zhu Zhuyun shrank her neck slightly.

Crunch!

She bit into the pill, which immediately dissolved into a cool, nectar-like liquid that flowed down her throat.

A refreshing sensation spread through her mind, clearing her fragmented consciousness.

Her gaze became sharp again as she became aware of her soaking wet leather pants and the saliva staining her collar.

Shame surged within her, mingling with her grief and rage.

Curled up on the ground, fresh tears welled in her eyes. She couldn’t believe she had been reduced to this state by that despicable man.

Her eyes landed on the shimmering Blue Silver Grass nearby—the same grass she had nurtured with her own hands.

Biting her lip, Zhu Zhuyun slowly closed her eyes.

Qian Renjue glanced at the mess around them, stood up, and calmly instructed, “Ah Yin, come out and clean her up.”

“I understand, Master,” replied Ah Yin, who appeared beside Zhu Zhuyun and knelt deferentially before Qian Renjue.

Zhu Zhuyun looked at the elegant, noble woman who had appeared, then glanced at Qian Renjue’s retreating figure.

Who were these people? What was their purpose in taking Zhu Qing as a disciple and controlling her family?

With a wave of his hand, Qian Renjue conjured a large bath filled with warm, clear water in the grass.

Ah Yin, experienced from tending to Zhu Zhuqing many times, began cleaning Zhu Zhuyun without hesitation.

When Ah Yin reached out, Zhu Zhuyun flinched away, prompting Ah Yin to smile coldly.

“I advise you not to resist needlessly,” Ah Yin said.

“You can’t even beat Zhuqing, so don’t ask for more trouble.”

“You...!” Zhu Zhuyun gritted her teeth in frustration but couldn’t argue back. At this moment, she finally realized where Zhuqing’s three soul rings had come from.

With a soft drip, Ah Yin lifted Zhu Zhuyun in her arms, a faint crystalline droplet falling from her pants to the ground.

Overcome with humiliation and fury, Zhu Zhuyun shut her eyes tightly.

Splash!

She was placed into the bath. As she soaked in the warm water, she stared at Qian Renjue’s golden-haired back in front of her, her eyes filled with resentment and fear.


---

Time passed slowly. After about fifteen minutes, the Evil God's Heart that had enveloped the clearing suddenly contracted and vanished.

Now, only Zhu Zhuyun remained in the clearing, standing alone.

Her ears echoed with Qian Renjue’s parting words, fading into the wind:

“You’d better not try anything unnecessary. Otherwise... it will hurt.”

“If I need you, you must come immediately.”