"I was born with this stubborn, unruly temper, I'm used to getting my own way. When you're alive, you've got to find some fun to play with, what else could it be for?" Her delicate lips curved softly, yet her long lashes drooped almost imperceptibly.

  Rezar studied her flippant, carefree look deeply, and after a long while he asked in a deep, harsh voice: "Just to find pleasure? Even if it means dragging innocent people into this, ruining their reputation, you don't care at all?"

  "Ruined reputation?"

  The woman's lowered lashes suddenly lifted gently, the curve of her lips growing deeper.

  "Lord Rezar, you're speaking up for Danhua! But in the eyes of this building master of mine, what value is a woman's reputation worth anyway? In this world, men can pick women, and women can just as well pick men. If a woman likes someone, she can go mix with whoever she wants. If she really takes a man as a plaything and toys with him between her fingers, that just means she's capable."

  The stern, manly face turned an ashen, darker hue, and Rezar tensed inwardly.

  That was right. He really had asked a stupid question.

  This woman before him, who had left him so tight with anger and stifling frustration, could not be measured by ordinary standards.

  From that first clash with her years ago until now, when has he ever seen her care about a woman's reputation and chastity? But even if she doesn't care about her own, that doesn't mean she can toy with another woman's chastity!

  He couldn't argue with her, couldn't outmatch her, and consumed by hate, blazing with rage, he simply punched the carved clothes rack beside him. The solid red sandalwood frame collapsed instantly.

  Hua Duomei's face paled slightly. She stood still, saying nothing, listening as his knuckles cracked from clenching so hard, growling low in hatred!

  "So that's why the building master picked me, fooled around with me, deliberately stirred up trouble and kept provoking me, made my heart twist at your whim, tossing me up and down leaving me unsettled. When it all comes down to it, it's just to use me as a plaything to toy with, to amuse yourself, to prove that you really are that capable, right?"

  She froze, her face growing even paler. She had never expected he would suddenly press her like this.

  He, he... he was anything but a plaything!

  If she hadn't met him, hadn't fallen into his trap, hadn't had the "Chunjiang Road" she'd yearned for for so long completely blocked off, how would she ever have become so uncertain, so addicted to him that she couldn't wake up?

  "I... it's not..." Her bloodless red lips tried to refute his words, but the words that slipped out were so faint they were barely audible.

  Is this self-inflicted misfortune? Self-inflicted misfortune cannot be survived. Is she going to play herself to death?

  This is a huge misunderstanding now. Does he really think she is capable of treating him as a plaything, toying with him between her fingers, standing aside watching coldly as he falls for her?

  Heartache. Heartache. Cannot be survived. It is my own doing. But she does not like to regret. The wrong I did must be cleaned up, it is only right to bear his anger.

  It's just that the heartache makes her gasp softly. Whether this heartache is for him or for herself, she can't sort it out right now, all she can do is smile, a bitter smile to herself.

  "Rezar, I'm not..."

  Faint, hurried footsteps outside the door disrupted everything. The person came so quickly, almost stumbling, and interrupted what Hua Duomei was about to explain.

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  "Building master... Lord... "

  Rezar, who had stood rooted like a tower, his gaze as if it would pierce through the woman's beautiful yet hateful face, only turned his head when Lu Danhua broke in uninvited, and caught sight of the faint change in the woman's face before him.

  As soon as Lu Danhua entered the door, she dropped to her knees, gasping for breath, kneeling straight there.

  Rezar's thick brows sank. "What are you doing this for?"

  "...Lord, Danhua has a favor to ask..."

  "Get up! Go back to your room and rest. Bring up whatever business you have tomorrow."

  The incense made from "Manluo root" is extraordinary. Even though Hua Duomei had measured the dosage just right, Lu Danhua still should have woken up but was not fully conscious, holding on only by willpower.

  The poor girl, who had suffered enough today, unusually did not obey her lord's order, and did not change her kneeling position. Her always gentle eyes actually showed stubbornness now.

  "Danhua wants to ask Lord to make the decision... let... let Baro be mine..."

  Lu Danhua bit her lip and said: "Baro and I actually... actually love each other. The building master has known about this for a long time, it's just that Baro has so many worries, he hasn't dared to reveal his feelings for a long time, I, I..."

  She still bit her lip, shook her head slightly in distress, and finally found her voice again. "...So, what happened in the stone house today, please don't blame the building master, Lord. I did it willingly. If Danhua can be with the person she loves, that... that's good, this is really good... please grant this, Lord..." After barely finishing the words, her vision blurred, and her frail body could no longer hold on.

  "Danhua!" Hua Duomei hurried over to catch Lu Danhua as she collapsed.

  Rezar moved even faster. In two long strides, he swept to the door in the blink of an eye, got to the fainted girl before her, held her in his arms and lifted her up by the waist.

  "Rezar, Danhua she!" Is she okay?

  Hua Duomei's throat felt dry, she couldn't get the last few words out.

  She had always done things as she pleased, never felt guilty even when she wronged people, but this time... this time... looking at the girl lying limp in his arm, thinking about the request the girl had just deliberately insisted on to protect her, the more she thought about it, the tighter her chest felt, fine sweat seeped out from her forehead and back.

  "Is the Tower Master worrying about Danhua?" Lei Salang's thin lips curled coldly, his smile never reaching his eyes. "Would you still care?"

  She shook all over.

  Would you still care?

  Hot blood rushed to her head, her ears burned, her whole body burned, even her eye sockets burned terrifyingly. She was dazed and disoriented, and in an instant, it was as if she was back that night he left years ago.

  What had she asked him back then? She asked... asked...

  "Lei Salang, where are you going?"

  Watching that tall figure carry the woman out the door, Hua Duomei instinctively chased two steps and blurted out the question. Suddenly it felt like a heavy blow to her heart, she trembled in pain, and finally remembered she had asked him the exact same question back then!

  Lei Salang did not answer, only paused almost imperceptibly, his steps as steady as ever as he walked on.

  "You said you would never leave me again!"

  She was panicking, too anxious to care about her proud dignity any longer.

  She had bound herself in her own cocoon, she deserved to suffer the hardship she had brought upon herself. She accepted all of this. She did not care if he gave her the cold shoulder, she did not care how long they fought. She only feared that he would just leave, leaving everything hanging in midair, inexplicable and unfinished, and her heart would hang with it too, never finding a place to rest.

  You clearly said it before!

  Don't leave me!

  She panted heavily, as if she had run a long way in a hurry. Her face was flushed, and fog gathered in the bottom of her eyes.

  Unfortunately, Lei Salang would not turn back. Even though he had stopped, he still stood with his back to her.

  He stood still, as if deliberating over something. When he spoke, his voice was low and slightly strained, and he asked slowly: "So your ultimate goal was to test me? No matter how angry I get, I have to keep my promise, right?"

  He did not ask her to reply, nor did he need her to explain anymore. After all, the answer to the question was clear as day. He had finally understood her hateful mind.

  Her chest heaved more violently, and Hua Duomei's breathing turned hurried. She could not speak a word for a moment.

  She heard him laugh lowly, the sound faintly tainted with weariness and mockery.

  "Rest assured, Tower Master, I will keep this promise to the end. I will not let you down, my lady."

  After saying that, he started walking again. His steady steps disappeared into the night. The cloak he had not taken off fluttered with the wild wind, billowing loudly behind him.

  Hua Duomei leaned against the door and stared fixedly. Suddenly she also laughed lowly.

  She laughed, shook her head with drooped neck. If she had anyone to blame, it was only her own temperament that was truly unbearable.

  The night on the island at this moment was covered in a thin layer of mist. Looking as far as the eye could see, there was no end in sight. The scent of prayer incense filled the air, thick and faint...