FU JING STARED at the hand clamped around his arm. Then, his widened eyes slowly wandered up to meet Xuan Qi’s.

“That wasn’t part of the deal,” he said, his voice hoarse.

Xuan Qi cocked an eyebrow. “You would’ve taken me captive if you won, so the same naturally applies to me.”

“Your victory is to be right! I’m too…” Fu Jing bit his lip; he couldn’t bring himself to say the word weak. “…I can’t defeat you.”

“Being right isn’t much of a gain. How is that fair?”

Fu Jing snorted. A demon talking about ‘fair’? How ironic!

“Let go,” he said.

“No.”

Fury roiled in Fu Jing’s chest as he struggled against the demon’s iron grip, yanking and twisting in a desperate attempt to break free. But Xuan Qi used the momentum to pull him back—and right into his arms. He calmly placed a hand on Fu Jing’s armour and, with a small burst of energy, reduced it to dust.

Fu Jing’s heart plummeted.

This wasn’t happening. This absolutely could not be happening.

Now clad in a single layer of white robes, he stared in horror at the remains of his beloved armour as they fluttered to the ground. Before Fu Jing could fully process the loss, Xuan Qi slipped his free arm behind Fu Jing’s knees and hoisted him over his shoulder in one fell swoop.

“Huh?!” Fu Jing’s horror mingled with shock. It took him a moment to realise what was happening before blind rage took over.

“HEY! Let me down!!” he shouted, kicking and punching, but it was no use—Xuan Qi had him firmly pinned against his shoulder.

As Xuan Qi headed for his palace, he made sure to step on Fu Jing’s sword, leaving behind a shattered blade. Another wave of shock coursed through Fu Jing’s body, briefly interrupting his tantrum.

“You… How dare you?!” he demanded, hammering against the demon’s back. But Xuan Qi didn’t even flinch. His expression remained unfazed, as if he was being punched by an ant.

After a good ten minutes of relentless thrashing, Fu Jing finally gave up. Resigning himself to his fate, he pretended to be a corpse, his arms and legs dangling limply in the air.

It wasn’t until they walked past the first set of guards that a strong sense of shame filled him. Being carried like this was a huge embarrassment. He buried his bright red face in his hands, wishing to drop dead this instant. The more he interacted with this demonic beast, the more he resented him.

When they reached the inner courtyard of the palace, Xuan Qi set Fu Jing back down on his feet. Fu Jing stood motionless, scowling at the demon, who returned his sharp glare with an infuriatingly smug smile.

“Stop acting cute and look.” Xuan Qi grabbed Fu Jing by the shoulder and forcefully turned him around. “Your new home.”

The palace was built from dark wood and black marble, its roof tiles shimmering like the scales of a black dragon. Crimson banners, frayed at the edges and embroidered with black markings, draped from every high wall and tower. Rows of tall, twisting obsidian pillars lined the courtyards, their surfaces adorned with patterns of billowing mist. Flickering torches cast a warm, golden light across the courtyard, where dark, unfamiliar trees stood in full bloom.

But Fu Jing didn’t want to acknowledge the palace’s magnificence. After giving it a glance, he crossed his arms and pointedly looked away, his lips pulled into a frown.

Amused by Fu Jing’s reaction, Xuan Qi chuckled softly, then circled a firm, almost threatening arm around Fu Jing’s shoulders and pushed him forward. He dragged Fu Jing through the halls and straight into the dungeon, where he threw him into a tiny cell.

Fu Jing landed face-first on the cold, hard ground, but immediately jumped back to his feet and pounded his fists against the door.

“LET ME OUT!!”

“No can do,” Xuan Qi replied with a grin as he dramatically locked the cell. He then gave the door a couple of pats and left.

Fu Jing rattled the door a few more times, but soon realised it was pointless. The demon wasn’t coming back, and there was no one else around to hear him.

With a frustrated sigh, Fu Jing let himself drop onto the thin straw mat that covered his bed, his listless gaze drifting toward the small window. Beyond the iron bars, the moon shone brightly in the night sky. It was almost full.

As he pondered his situation, the realisation that he was truly trapped hit Fu Jing all at once, sinking deep within him like a stone plummeting into water. It drained him of any remaining vigour.

He curled into a ball, wrapping his arms around his legs and burying his face in his knees.

His heart was empty, his mind numb.

He had no energy left to cry.

A few nights later, Xuan Qi opened the cell door, carrying a tray with a bowl of rice and a cup of water, just like he’d done the days before.

And just like the days before, Fu Jing sat on the bed in his cell, his knees hugged tightly to his chest as he gazed out the window, not acknowledging the demon’s presence.

“You need to eat,” Xuan Qi said in a firm but low voice.

“I won’t.”

“Eat.”

Fu Jing’s eyes slowly drifted to Xuan Qi. Without a word, he languidly stood up, one unhurried leg after the other, and strolled over. With a cold smile, he pressed a finger to the bowl and pushed it. The bowl toppled off the tray, its contents spilling all over the floor.

“Or what?” Fu Jing asked, raising his eyebrows.

Xuan Qi’s face, which had already been devoid of his usual smugness when he entered, flickered with irritation. He took a deep breath, his chest deflating with a heavy sigh through his nose. Annoyed, he tossed the tray aside and grabbed Fu Jing by the wrist, hauling him out of the cell.

Xuan Qi’s long strides were brisk and fast, forcing Fu Jing to jog a little to keep up, lest he tumble.

“Where are we going?” he demanded. Being caged away for a few days wasn’t enough to break his spirit. He wasn’t afraid of the demon in the slightest.

Xuan Qi didn’t spare him a single glance as he relentlessly dragged him along.

“You’ll see.”

After leading him through a long, murky corridor and rounding several corners, Xuan Qi threw Fu Jing into a dark room, lit only by the moonlight filtering through a small window. The window was just slightly larger than the one in Fu Jing’s prison cell but was barred all the same.

There was strange furniture in the room, nothing Fu Jing had ever seen before. To his right was a weird wooden slab that was slightly tilted. It was neither a bed nor a table, instead it ominously resembled a torture rack.

Below the window was a bench to which chains and shackles were attached. On a table opposite the window, right next to where Fu Jing stood, were various metallic tools and instruments that didn’t look too promising either. There was also a basin with water and towels.

Beads of sweat formed on Fu Jing’s forehead. He swallowed hard.

“Is this a room for torture?” he asked, half-joking.

Xuan Qi closed the door. “You could say that.”

The smile on Fu Jing’s lips froze, and his blood ran cold. He looked at Xuan Qi in disbelief. “What would you torture me for? Not eating?!”

Xuan Qi’s lips curled into one of his devilish grins. “No.”

Without warning, he shoved Fu Jing against the weird wooden slab. The impact of Fu Jing’s back against the rack was so forceful that he had to cough. He was slightly bent forward as he gasped for air when the moonlight streaming through the window was suddenly blocked by Xuan Qi’s imposing figure.

Dread filled Fu Jing’s entire being, covering his back in a thin layer of cold sweat. He barely dared to raise his head, only letting his eyes wander up to look at the demonic beast before him.

Surely he wasn’t serious?

If Xuan Qi didn’t want to torture him for refusing to eat, then why? Was it revenge for the humiliation he’d suffered in the human realm?

Countless questions swirled through Fu Jing’s mind, but before he could pursue his train of thoughts any further, he felt two ropes wrapping themselves around his wrists. From one second to the next, both his arms were yanked over his head, straightening his back in the process.

He instinctively struggled against them, his upper back bumping against the wooden slab, but it was useless. His arms were bound tight, keeping him in place.

As if he’d read Fu Jing’s mind, Xuan Qi leaned forward to whisper in his ear, “I’m going to make you mine.”

Fu Jing’s brows knitted in confusion. That didn’t answer anything. “What–?”

The rest of the question died in his throat as his gaze landed on the dagger Xuan Qi had just drawn.

But instead of turning it on Fu Jing, the demon pressed the tip against his own skin and casually dragged it across the delicate web between his thumb and forefinger. The flesh split apart and dark crimson gushed forth, pooling in his palm before spilling down his hand.

Fu Jing’s stomach twisted with unease.

Demon blood acted as poison to humans. Just one sip too much meant certain death—and there was no antidote.

His breath hitched as cold sweat beaded along his back. Was the demon trying to kill him?!

He stared at Xuan Qi in dismay as the demon approached him with an impassive expression.

Fu Jing’s chest heaved, panic clawing at his throat. Beads of sweat rolled down his face, his composure starting to crack.

“What are you doing?” he asked in a hoarse voice.

Xuan Qi smirked. “That scared expression looks good on you.”

“I’m…” Fu Jing swallowed thickly, his throat completely dry. “I’m not scared.”

Xuan Qi smiled and said nothing. He firmly grasped Fu Jing’s chin, tilting his head upward.

Fu Jing’s heart slammed against his ribs. His entire body tensed, his pulse a frantic drum in his ears. He struggled harder against the ropes. “Stop this!”

“You brought this on yourself,” Xuan Qi said, his gaze cold and unforgiving.

Fu Jing clenched his jaw, fighting against that lump in his throat, against the burn in his eyes. He refused to show any signs of weakness. Instead, he scowled at Xuan Qi.

“I won’t beg,” he forced out in a hiss to conceal his shaky voice.

Xuan Qi chuckled lightly, his face drawing dangerously close. Fu Jing turned his head away, his breath coming in frantic bursts through his nose.

“Too bad.”

The words were a whisper against Fu Jing’s ear, the demon’s breath hot against his skin.

Fu Jing turned back to Xuan Qi and spat in his face.

The demon flinched, closing his eyes in reflex. Fu Jing had good aim.

With a slow, deliberate motion, Xuan Qi wiped the saliva off his right eye. He caught Fu Jing’s glare, his own face now dark as well.

“Ah,” was all he said before pressing his bloodied palm over Fu Jing’s mouth.

Fu Jing’s lips clamped shut like the shell of a mussel, his entire body recoiling. He turned his head, twisting every which way, smearing blood across his skin but refusing to open up.

Realising it was no use, Xuan Qi relented with a sigh and removed his hand.

Fu Jing panted heavily, glaring at him with candid hatred. Xuan Qi, however, remained unfazed. He raised his hand to his own lips and licked the excess blood from his palm.

Then he pulled out the dagger again and, without hesitation, dragged it across his wrist, opening a deeper wound.

Fu Jing watched him with a frown that only deepened as the demon tilted his head back and brought the bleeding wrist to his lips, drinking down his own blood.

His lips tightly pursed, he seized Fu Jing’s chin once more and pressed their mouths together.

Fu Jing froze. A rush of heat exploded in his head, his mind going blank.

He’d never been kissed before.

The realisation hadn’t fully settled yet, when a thick, warm liquid flooded his mouth, the metallic tang overwhelming his senses.

No…

Fu Jing choked as the bitter taste of demon blood coated his tongue. He thrashed, but Xuan Qi held firm, forcing the vile liquid down his throat.

It wasn’t until Xuan Qi’s tongue intruded Fu Jing’s mouth that a surge of fury snapped him back to his senses.

With all the strength he had left, he bit down. Hard.

Startled by the sudden sting, Xuan Qi shrank back, straightening his posture. With a slight frown, he brushed over his lips.

“Ow…” he said, sounding a little surprised. “I thought you humans liked to kiss.”

“We like to kiss other humans, not demonic degenerates like you!” Fu Jing spat through gritted teeth.

A flicker of malice danced behind Xuan Qi’s smiling eyes. He snorted a disdainful “Hah!” and stepped away from Fu Jing.

Before Fu Jing could say another word, an unnatural heat filled his stomach, astringent and searing, spreading through his veins like wildfire.

His insides felt like they were torn apart—ripped and shredded by an invisible force. He curled in on himself, his legs instinctively drawing up, his nails digging into his palms in a desperate attempt to ground himself.

He tightly pursed his lips to suppress the anguished moan that rose in his throat. The humiliation he was suffering was already great enough, he didn’t want to add to the demon’s satisfaction.

But the torment was relentless.

Agony tore through his skull, as if it were split in two, his thoughts thrown into complete disarray. His body convulsed violently, his back arching off the slab.

Tears blurred his vision, clinging to his lashes until the suffering became too unbearable. As sharp pain rippled through his body in fierce shudders, he could no longer hold them back. They spilled over, rolling down his face, ever so relentless.

Fu Jing bit down hard on his lip, desperate to stifle his sobs and groans—the only thing he could control. A vein bulged along his neck from the strain. And yet, whenever the agony was too intense, they still escaped his throat as a disgruntled growl.

Xuan Qi just stood by the table opposite the window and watched, casually wiping the blood from his hand and mouth.

Despite the dizziness washing over him, Fu Jing managed to lock eyes with the demon, ignoring the tears that stained his face. His gaze burned with nothing but raw contempt.

Xuan Qi leaned with his hip against the table, his arms crossed. When their eyes met, he grinned.

The audacity!

Another violent tremor wracked Fu Jing’s body, forcing him to squeeze his eyes shut, his teeth clenched so tightly his jaw ached.

He didn’t know how long the ordeal lasted, but at some point, his heart, mind and body were completely numb.

But he wasn’t going to die here. He had to live.

He had to kill this demon.