Su Yu sat by the stone bed, her fingers unconsciously stroking the cuff of her Warm Jade Silk sleeve. Over the past few days, the “nourishment” brought by You Li had become increasingly refined—broths and Medicinal Cuisine prepared in various ways, and even some mild, warming pastries had begun to appear.
Her cheeks had indeed filled out slightly, the gauntness fading away. Within her cold-jade-like pallor, a faint hint of color now emerged, and under the soft, cold glow of the Moonlit Moss, she possessed a breathtakingly fragile beauty. Yet, the dark red Blood Mark Pact patterns on her chest, collarbone, and arms remained like savage brands, constantly reminding her of her circumstances and how she had come to be here.
She lowered her head, gazing at the winding patterns on her wrist. They no longer glowed or caused stinging pain as they had initially, but whenever she experienced even slight emotional fluctuations or attempted to summon that faint light, they would grow subtly warm, like silent surveillance and warning.
Footsteps sounded—light and steady. You Li had arrived earlier than usual today, not carrying a tray but holding a blackwood dressing case adorned with gold tracery.
She wore a wide-sleeved, floor-length gown of ink-black with silver-edged trim, her long hair loosely tied up with a translucent blood-jade hairpin. A few stray strands fell beside her cheeks. As she entered the cell, her gaze fell upon Su Yu, immediately catching the flicker of disgust and humiliation in Su Yu’s eyes as she looked down at the Blood Mark Pact.
You Li’s footsteps paused almost imperceptibly. She walked to the small table, set down the dressing case, and opened it. Inside were not hairpins or jewelry, but several boxes of ointments in different colors, a few fine brushes, and a neatly folded set of clothing.
“Come here.”
Su Yu rose as instructed and walked over to stand before her, bare feet on the cold stone floor. She did not know what You Li intended to do, standing silently with lowered lashes.
You Li reached out and gently tapped the area on Su Yu’s chest where the Blood Mark Pact was most densely concentrated.
Su Yu stiffened, expecting to endure the familiar pain. But the anticipated agony did not come. Instead, a cool, gentle energy seeped from You Li’s fingertip into her skin, covering the dark red patterns.
Under the cool energy’s influence, those savage, raised dark red patterns began to slowly fade and lighten, eventually disappearing completely beneath the skin, as if they had never been there. Not only on her chest, but also on her collarbone, arms, and every other place where the Blood Mark Pact existed, they vanished like melting snow and ice, leaving only smooth, unblemished skin beneath the Warm Jade Silk.
Su Yu lifted her arm in astonishment to examine it, then looked down at her chest. Indeed, the patterns that had reminded her day and night of her humiliation and bondage were gone, as if they had never existed. The Warm Jade Silk still clung to her skin, but now it looked like nothing more than a slightly thin, moon-white inner garment.
“The Blood Mark Pact is still there, only its form is concealed. As long as you do not harbor improper thoughts or attempt to break free, it will not manifest, nor will it cause you pain.”
As she spoke, she took a box of ivory-white ointment from the dressing case, scooped a little with her fingertip, and dabbed it on Su Yu’s cheeks, forehead, and the tip of her nose, then spread it evenly with her palm. The ointment was slightly cool, carrying a light herbal fragrance, and quickly absorbed into the skin. Not only did it conceal the last traces of sickly pallor, but it also imparted a natural, healthy glow.
Next came a light dusting of rouge, brushed over her cheekbones and eyelids—a faint blush that instantly brought her entire face to life, subtly softening the weariness and exhaustion in her eyes.
You Li’s movements were focused, her brows slightly furrowed as her crimson eyes fixed intently on the skin beneath her fingertips, as if she were sculpting a peerless treasure. Her fingers occasionally brushed across Su Yu’s cheek, jawline, and neck, carrying the coolness of the ointment and a strange, delicate sensation.
Su Yu stood rigidly, allowing herself to be manipulated. She could smell the cold fragrance on You Li, feel the temperature of her fingertips, and see her focused profile so close it was almost within reach.
This distance was too close—close enough to see her long, dense eyelashes and sense the subtle airflow of her breathing. An indescribable emotion began to spread in Su Yu’s heart.
The makeup was soon completed. You Li took a step back, examining Su Yu. Without the ferocity of the Blood Mark Pact and with just the right touch of light makeup, Su Yu now appeared almost ethereally beautiful under the cold glow of the Moonlit Moss.
The pale fragility was replaced by a soft radiance, and the quiet weariness between her brows and eyes was transformed by a faint blush into a pitiable, delicate charm. The curves of the Warm Jade Silk, accentuated by her dark, flowing hair, made her resemble a white jade statue, meticulously polished to restore its brilliance.
You Li’s eyes darkened, something stirring deep within their crimson depths—perhaps admiration, or perhaps a deeper sense of possession. But she quickly averted her gaze, retrieving a neatly folded set of clothing from the bottom of the makeup box.
It was a set of light Smoke Purple garments, soft and flowing in texture, cool to the touch like some rare velvet. The design was simple yet elegant, with a crossed collar fastened to the right, wide sleeves, and a long skirt tied at the waist with a silk ribbon of the same color. The hem was embroidered with faint silver intertwining lotus patterns that shimmered subtly in the light. Though lacking excessive adornment, every detail spoke of careful craftsmanship.
“Change into this,” You Li said, placing the garments in Su Yu’s hands before turning her back to her.
Su Yu held the clothing, her fingertips sensing the softness and fineness of the fabric. This was no longer the nearly humiliating sheer gauze nor the simple, warm outer robe—it was a set of decent, even elegant attire she could wear outside. She looked up at You Li’s straight yet inexplicably lonely back, her heart beating uncontrollably faster.
A thought, like a spark in the darkness, suddenly ignited in her heart and rapidly spread into a blazing desire.
To leave this place. To leave this dungeon, this eternal gloom and the dripping water, even if only for a moment—to see the outside world, even if it was just the demon palace, even if the sky was crimson.
This desire was so intense it instantly overwhelmed her fear of You Li, her anxiety about the unknown, and even her remaining rationality.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the garments, her knuckles turning white. Then, taking a deep breath and mustering all her strength, she transformed the swirling desire in her heart into a faint yet clear voice, uttering the first true request since her imprisonment:
“You Li…”
Su Yu’s voice was dry with tension. “…I beg you, take me out… to see.”
The dungeon fell into dead silence. Even the faint glow of the Moonlit Moss seemed to freeze. Only the sound of Su Yu’s own rapid heartbeat thundered in her ears.
You Li slowly turned around. Her face showed no expression, her crimson eyes deep and unfathomable like an ancient well, fixed on Su Yu as if scrutinizing her.
For a long time, so long that Su Yu was nearly driven to despair, thinking she would once again invite punishment or mockery, You Li finally spoke.
“Go out?” You Li tilted her head slightly, her blood-red eyes flickering with an inscrutable light. “That can be arranged.”
Su Yu’s heart gave a violent leap, almost jumping out of her throat. The flame of hope had just ignited—
“But, I have a condition.”
She took a step forward, closing the distance between them. The cold fragrance enveloped Su Yu once more, carrying an intangible pressure.
“Change into this set of clothes you’re holding, properly.” You Li’s gaze swept over the smoke-purple dress in Su Yu’s hands, her meaning clear. “And then…”
She paused, reaching out a hand, her icy fingertips gently lifting Su Yu’s chin, forcing her to meet her eyes. The distance between them was so close they could feel each other’s breath.
You Li’s blood-red eyes locked onto Su Yu’s abruptly constricted pupils as she said clearly:
“Attend to me.”
“As long as you satisfy me, I will take you out, to see the ‘outside’ you wish to see.”
“How about it?”
The air in the dungeon seemed to be instantly sucked away. The pale blue-white cold light of the Moonlit Moss illuminated their faces—one cold and amused, the other pale and shocked.
Su Yu stood frozen in place, as if trapped by invisible ice. The dress in her hands suddenly felt scalding hot. You Li’s words exploded like thunder in her mind, leaving a blank void, followed by boundless shame, fear, and a trace of… utterly absurd humiliation.
Attend… how to attend? In what capacity? In what manner?
You Li’s fingers still held her chin, her cold gaze scrutinizing every subtle change in Su Yu’s expression—from shock, to fear, to humiliation, and finally to… a hollow struggle.
She was waiting. Waiting for Su Yu’s reply, waiting for her to choose between this extreme humiliation and the faint hope of freedom.
And Su Yu, clad in the Warm Jade Silk that concealed the Blood Mark Pact, holding the smoke-purple dress that could take her “outside,” stood in the cold dungeon, under You Li’s close, amused, and scrutinizing gaze.
Her world, in that moment, was silently shattered once more, then placed upon an even crueler, more naked scale.
A drop of cold sweat slowly trickled down from her temple, still faintly tinged with rouge.