37. The Violet Enchantress

“Let me go, let me go!” Yan’er struggled to break free from the man’s arms, pounding on his chest with all her might.

Disliking the shrillness of women, Guan Canghai swiftly pressed a point on Yan’er’s body, silencing her. She immediately fell limp and slipped into sleep.

Lowering his head, Guan Canghai regarded the peaceful woman in his embrace—truly a beauty! With a smug air, he entered the city flanked by his shadow guards. Almost at once, someone opened an oil-paper umbrella. He snatched the umbrella and held it over Yan’er, striding briskly to the palanquin, tossing the umbrella aside once they reached it.

Guan Canghai never left Yan’er’s side. Rain-soaked, the two clung tightly together through their drenched clothes. Yan’er’s delicate form pressed against him, her curves outlined before his eyes. He brushed her lower lip with his fingers, and in the next instant, unable to resist, sealed her mouth with his own—a taste so sweet.

“Senior brother!” Baili Mubai burst into the tent. “Yan’er’s been taken!”

“I know.” Pan Yueyang’s brows were knit in worry.

“What do we do? Let’s go into the city!” Baili Mubai, no braver than Pan Yueyang, was now desperate to storm Moon City and slay this Guan Canghai, to see for himself what kind of formidable man the soldiers spoke of.

“We mustn’t!” Pan Yueyang raised a hand to restrain Baili Mubai’s reckless impulse.

“Why not?” Baili Mubai stared at his senior brother. Yan’er was pregnant—did his brother care nothing for her, or at least for the child?

“We must put the greater good first!” Though Pan Yueyang cared for Yan’er, he was a man who weighed interests above all. Deep down, he worried for her, but for the sake of Moon City, he had to hold his ground until the floodwaters rose!

Baili Mubai glared at him in disbelief, suddenly finding his senior brother a stranger. Yan’er was carrying his child, yet he could stand by, watch Guan Canghai abduct her, and calmly wait for the floods? Even if they stormed the city later, what would become of Yan’er? Of the child?

“Mubai, I know what you’re thinking. I’ll save Yan’er—I promise you—but not yet.” Guan Canghai! You slip in and out of my camp at will, yet only guard the city without attacking and kidnap Yan’er—what is your true purpose? Pan Yueyang pounded the wooden table.

Baili Mubai ignored him. If his brother wouldn’t rescue Yan’er, he would!

As he exited the tent, Xueqing blocked his path. “You are not to act without orders.”

Exposed, Baili Mubai protested in confusion, “Senior sister!”

“Yueyang will not abandon Yan’er. Guan Canghai may not mean her harm. Isn’t it stranger that he only defends and does not attack? I’m sure Yan’er is unharmed for now. You can’t lose your head!” Xueqing had overheard the conversation from outside the tent.

Rain lashed down upon Baili Mubai. He no longer knew whether the wetness on his face was rain or tears.

“Go back! Clean yourself up and be ready for orders at any time!” Xueqing nodded at him with certainty.

...

“Awake?” Guan Canghai brushed a finger over Yan’er’s delicate cheek.

The moment she opened her eyes, Yan’er bolted upright in alarm, shrinking back against the bed and warily scanning her surroundings. The room... no, they were in a tent. The bed... no, they had slept on mats. “Who are you? Where is this?”

Guan Canghai gazed at Yan’er as if admiring a work of art, his eyes deepening with interest.

Seeing the shift in his gaze, Yan’er instinctively looked down at herself. Oh! Her heart raced in panic. She was utterly exposed before this man! Snatching the quilt, she wrapped herself up like a cocoon, her mind racing with frantic possibilities.

Annoyed that the woman had hidden her figure, transforming his artwork into a shapeless bundle, Guan Canghai scowled. “Are you afraid of me?” He leaned in, breathing in her faint floral scent.

“Who are you? Don’t come any closer!” Yan’er struck desperately at his head.

Unable to bear her flailing, Guan Canghai grabbed her wrist. “Woman, I warn you—don’t provoke me.” His face grew menacing as he felt her body shudder with fear.

Her bare shoulder was exposed, the slender line of her collarbone utterly enchanting.

“Are you Pan Yueyang’s woman?” Guan Canghai traced her collarbone with his other hand.

“Don’t...” Yan’er was so frightened she nearly lost control.

“All my life, I’ve loved nothing more than beauties...” He leaned in, about to kiss her.

Yan’er quickly turned her face away. “Don’t touch me! Get away!”

Her wrist was wrenched free. Guan Canghai seized her chin. “Don’t be ungrateful!”

Yan’er stared at him in terror, her mind whirling—rain—the sounds of fighting—peeking out—Guyin He collapsed before her—someone scooped her up—she’d been kidnapped!

Yueyang!

What should she do? What should she do?

As he watched Yan’er’s scattered gaze, Guan Canghai smiled wickedly. “Remember now?”

“Yes.” Yan’er replied in defeat, staring at the man before her.

“So, do you know where you are?”

Yan’er was silent.

“Who would’ve thought Panlong could produce such a beauty? Pan Yueyang is truly blessed.” Whenever he mentioned Pan Yueyang, Guan Canghai all but ground his teeth.

“What do you want? You didn’t bring me here just to chat, did you?” Yan’er told herself to stay calm—stay calm!

“Hahaha, chat? Not a bad idea.” Guan Canghai let out a low, strange laugh.

“You’re a strange one.” Yan’er feigned composure. “I still don’t know your name.”

“Guan Canghai.”

Guan Canghai? Yan’er had heard the name on occasion in camp—wasn’t he the enemy’s chief general? “Hmph, that name doesn’t suit you at all.” She lifted her head, scrutinizing him—a robe of deep violet, a devilish yet alluring face, narrow phoenix eyes, a high nose, thin lips. However she looked at him, he resembled a fox!

Realizing she was staring, Yan’er turned her head away, embarrassed.

“Fallen for me already?” Guan Canghai lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes.

“I just think you look exactly like a fox spirit.” Yan’er deliberately avoided his gaze.

Guan Canghai, long used to being called a fox, chuckled. “Ah, what sharp eyes you have, beauty.”

“Hey! Stop calling me beauty—I have a name!” Yan’er shot him a glare.

“Go on, then. What’s your name?” Guan Canghai suddenly thought that even doing nothing but talking with this woman was entertaining, overturning his usual beliefs about women.

“Yan’er.” Yan’er glared at him again.

“Yan’er, aren’t you afraid of me?” Guan Canghai watched this woman who had bantered with him at length. At first, she’d been terrified, but after a few words, she acted as though they were old friends, glaring at him with those big eyes.

The moment he spoke, Yan’er seemed to realize her situation. She shrank back under the quilt, leaving only her head poking out. “Don’t touch me, I’m warning you!”

This chain of reactions nearly made Guan Canghai burst out laughing. So she hadn’t truly forgotten her fear—she’d simply been distracted by their banter!

“You’re still laughing?” Yan’er looked as if she wanted to strangle him.

“What, should I be weeping at the sight of a beauty?” Tiring of the exchange, Guan Canghai rose from the bed. “No need to fear—I’ve left your bed.”

“Hmph!” Yan’er turned away.

“Well then, since the beauty has nothing more to say to me, I’ll leave you in peace.” Guan Canghai flashed a white grin. No wonder Pan Yueyang was so taken with her—she truly was a fascinating woman.

He left the room, even thoughtfully closing the door behind him. As soon as he was gone, Yan’er leapt up from the bed and made a face at the door.

It was a bit chilly... in fact, uncomfortably so!

“Hey, don’t leave—I have nothing to wear!” Yan’er cried out in dismay toward the door.

She had slept the entire day, and that scoundrel had left her alone and exposed—what on earth was he thinking!

Feeling her belly, Yan’er thought, I can go without food, but the child cannot! For now, it seemed the man had no intention of harming her, so perhaps she was safe. Yet, thinking of Yueyang, Yan’er steeled herself—he would surely come for her.

“Is anyone there? Anyone?” Yan’er called toward the door. She shouted every day, yet no one ever replied. Wrapped in the quilt, she cracked the door open a sliver, only to be met by the flash of two blades barring her way. How was she supposed to live like this?

Yan’er pouted. She could not sit and wait for doom! Back in Suhe, at her family home, she had never been an especially obedient or sensible young lady. Only after meeting Pan Yueyang had she grown gentle—and that was a softness only he inspired!

She scowled at the doorway. Hmph! With you lot, I’ll show no such gentleness.

With a flurry of motion, Yan’er began tearing at the bedding, muttering curses as she worked. “What shoddy stitching!”

At last, after much struggle and a mess of torn fabric, she began wrapping the sheets around herself, layer by layer. “Ugh, it’s a bit tight.” She wriggled and tugged at the makeshift robe, adjusting it so she could move more easily.

Yan’er paced back and forth atop the bed.

“That damned demon—how am I supposed to escape? He looks just like a fox! What kind of man walks around looking like that? Yueyang, do you know your child is hungry?” Yan’er spun around and around atop the mattress, racking her brains for a solution.

“Demon, if I knew martial arts—or better yet, magic—I’d subdue you first!” Yan’er sighed. It had rained for two days straight, making the tent damp and the makeshift robe uncomfortable.

“Demon! I’m starving!” Yan’er shouted at the doorway in exasperation.

Creak—

The door opened, and the man in violet regarded her with barely suppressed laughter. Yan’er, standing on the bed, was flushed with indignation.

The room was a complete mess. There she was, standing atop the bed, hair loose and wild, wrapped in what looked like bandages, resembling a grievously injured patient more than a beauty. The bed was a heap of ragged cloth—she looked like she’d been born from a pile of rags!

Yan’er glanced at the door.

“Demon!”