Heavy snow was falling, the swirl of snowflakes blurred one's vision. The chilly northern winds made countless people huddle in their homes, using the heavy walls as a barrier against the rampaging wind and snow.
At the same time, completely contrasting the freezing outside, an imposing yet intricate mansion was a haven of warmth. In the rosewood carved bed with red semi-transparent canopy, the enchanting scene was partially concealed, but the sweet, suggestive moans couldn’t be muted.
The woman’s murmurs carried a tone of complaint, enough to soften any man. The man, his fine silk underwear half-wrapped around his waist, exposed his robust chest and back, a thin layer of evenly distributed muscle covering his body, like a leopard ready to pounce, perfectly captivating.
His jet-black, long hair was as soft as silk, loosely scattered, complementing his perfect physique, a truly tempting image.
The erotic scene was enough to quicken the pulse.
"My lord, my lord, Mei'er is going to die..."
"Is that so? Would Mei'er willingly die for me?"
The man’s long, narrow eyes were fox-like, filled with charm and allure. His thin lips, curved in a seductive smile were like a night-blooming flower. However, his eyes lacked the gentle warmth and love.
"Yes, my lord, Mei'er is your woman."
"Haha, I do love that mouth of yours."
The man laughed, yet his eyes carried a trace of coldness which the woman, immersed in devotion, completely missed as she continued to display her seductive tricks.
"My lord, there is an important matter to report!" A stern voice came from outside, indicating something out of the ordinary.
The swaying bed finally came to a halt amidst the woman's heightened screams and the man's groans. Moments later, the man’s long, powerful fingers gently lifted the lightweight canopy. Nonchalantly, he pulled on his clothes, leaving his chest exposed, and sat on the bed.
His long eyes carried a hint of playful smile, but it was a cold enough to give shivers.
"My lord..." Mei'er got up, wrapped her arms around his waist, clinging to him like a siren, she let out a seductive laugh, following the man’s gaze towards the kneeling person in black.
"Tell me, what's the matter?"
The man, holding the woman closely, playfully runs his hand down her sleek back, yet his gaze is fixated on the man in black.
"My Lord, we lost track of the target. I've searched the place thoroughly but found nothing."
"What did you just say?"
The man, initially with a gentle smile, suddenly turns icy cold. He throws the woman beneath him abruptly to the side. The startled woman, Mei'er, tumbles and almost faints from the collision. However, sensing the ominous aura emanating from the man, she opts to cower in the corner, her face pale, dare not utter a word, looking nothing like the seductive beauty she was earlier.
"My Lord, we've lost the target, but he has been poisoned by us. Even if he manages to escape, he won't last till dawn."
The man in black speaks with utmost reverence, yet he doesn't dare to look up, as faltering in his duty is a fatal mistake that outweighs any excuses.
"Dawn... Do you have any idea how long till dawn, and how much can happen between then? Qin Wu, it seems I've been too lenient with you lately."
The man's words carry a lightness, but the cold undertones cause a shiver. Qin Wu can only lower his head further in submission, without any rebuttal.
"Find him! Your life is spared for now. Once this matter is settled, you can proceed to the punishment hall."
"Yes!"
When the man in black leaves, Mei'er, the woman curled up in the corner of the bed, slowly crawls out, forcing a smile on her face: "My Lord, don't be angry anymore, how can such trivial matters disturb your heart in this long night..."
"Ah..."
Before she can finish, her beautiful eyes widen in terror. She is unable to believe why the very man who was passionately entwined with her just a moment ago, is now choking her.
"My...My Lord... Mei'er...Mei'er did something wrong..." Mei'er tries to remove the hand tightening around her neck, but her frailty offers no strength to pry it loose. Her face turns beet red, with no doubt that her life could end at any moment.
"Hmph!"
Looking at her desperate struggles, a hint of mockery flickered in the ice-cold eyes of the man. He tossed her aside indifferently, devoid of any sentiment for the woman who seemed as poor and pathetic as a stray dog.
"Mei'er…"
"Master … cough…cough… Meir will listen to everything you say..." Mei'er crawled on the ground without caring about her unseemly appearance, wishing that she could rip out her own heart just to prove her sincerety.
The man let out a profoundly meaningful chuckle.
"That's good." He crouched down, stretching his hand out to pick up a strand of her hair, his voice smooth like lovers' whispers, yet it sent chilling shivers down the spine of the kneeling woman.
He slowly stood up, looked at the trembling woman on the ground for a while before finally speaking: "Mei'er, do something for me."
"Your wish is my command, Master."
"Very good, then go back to Prince Rui’s side, I believe that you will not disappoint me."
"Mas-…" Mei'er shuddered, but she didn’t dare to refuse. Gritting her teeth, she agreed at once, "Yes, Master. I will not disappoint you."
After the woman left, inside the luxurious room, the man stood by the window, lost in thought. His narrow eyes were filled with murderous intent.
"Damn!"
In anger, the man threw a punch and the exquisite incense burner on the bedside table shattered into pieces, bringing about its own end in shambles.
Meanwhile, somewhere around Bianliang city, a man clad in a green robe with embroidered bamboo motif, was stabbed in the chest with a long sword. The blood, as dark as a red rose, was soaking through his clothes. Under the soft, white light it looked even more tragic and pitiful.
Surrounding him were scattered pieces of wood which once seemed to form a wheelchair. It's a pity that it was now reduced to a sad and desolate state.
"Who are you to dare to assassinate this king?" The man's voice was ground from ice, intimidating the few cloaked figures advancing towards him.
"It seems they are unwilling to talk."
Unfortunately, the assassins were not in the mood for questioning and charged at him with their weapons.
He slowly picked up his weapon, and an ice storm spun out, creating blizzard-like swords that rushed towards his attackers. The flurry forced them to halt their advancement. In the ensuing chaos, he gathered all his internal strength and escaped through the deadly snowfall to the other side.
After a while, his strength finally gave out and he fell, rolling in the snow, looking pitiful.
Catching his breath, he slowly lifted his head and stared into the frosty distance, his brow furrowed, seemingly worried about something. He listened intently for a while and when he heard no movement, he fell to the ground limping.
Blood had darkened his chest, seeping from a sword wound. He didn’t need an explanation to know the blade carried poison. Looking up, anyone passing by would see an inordinately beautiful man; his features were like masterpieces of a painting, and a pair of detached, ice-cold eyes stared at the snow beneath him.
His attention-grabbing long hair was silver, reflecting the snow light, making him glow faintly, like a deity descended from the heavens.
"Cough, cough..."
The man covered his mouth and coughed a few times. His palm was filled with alarming black blood when he removed it. He tried to stand but found himself completely drained of strength, his internal power escaping from his wounded body like a broken dam.
Lying in the snow, he looked on with a cold yet desperate gaze. After a while, he finally managed to say with a barely recognizable smile, "Fate conspires against me...."
"I really can't accept this."
Imagining himself, the favored sixth prince, dying like a beggar in this wilderness was unbearable. Lying there, not even sure what would become of his body, the corners of his mouth twitched into a bitter smile.
Oh, how he detested, how he despaired. Why would the heavens bestow upon him this broken body that lacked even the strength to run? His legs, his body, this was the most he had despised them since his earliest recollections.
The man muttered quietly, although resentful, he was too enfeebled to act. He slowly closed his eyes and as his final moments arrived, a cold smile traced his lips. "If I...survive this...I must...seek retribution..."
"Cough, cough..."
His cyan robes, silver hair, and red blood contrasted with the white snow, painting a miserable and desperate picture of a dance between life and death. The relentless snow continued to fall on him, attempting to blanket all the vibrant colors into oblivion.
