Passion Beneath the Cliff at Night

Pan Yueyang watched as the two leapt from the cliff. He lunged forward, trying to grab Yan’er, but grasped only empty air. A single thought flashed through his mind: Guan Canghai had done this on purpose!

With Guan Canghai’s skill, escaping Panlong Kingdom with Yan’er would not be difficult. Could it be that he truly cared for her? Pan Yueyang sat cross-legged by the precipice, feeling his internal energy surge out of control. He immediately began meditating, regulating his strength, his mind replaying each event that had transpired. Now, the best hope was for Mubai to arrive. It had been so long since he sent the letter, and Mubai had yet to appear. The only one capable of restraining Guan Canghai was Baili Mubai.

Guan Canghai pressed Yan’er into his arms. As they descended, the biting wind stabbed into their bodies like daggers. It was the depths of winter, the cold more intense than ever. Yan’er had already fainted in his embrace. Suddenly, Guan Canghai twisted, positioning himself beneath her as they plummeted further down.

Crash—

Guan Canghai grimaced as branches growing from the cliffside scraped painfully against him. Even with his martial prowess, such a fall would inevitably leave him injured. Still clutching Yan’er, he gathered his energy and crashed to the ground at the base of the cliff, his back slamming into a massive rock. The jolt made him grit his teeth in pain.

The impact roused Yan’er. She slowly opened her eyes, gasping in pain. Guan Canghai said nothing, holding her tightly, eyes closed. Though he was battered, holding this soft, warm beauty in his arms made it worthwhile.

“Let me go,” Yan’er murmured, struggling weakly against him.

He released her immediately, and Yan’er stretched out, seeking comfort.

“Where are we? Why did you jump off the cliff with me?” Yan’er sat beside Guan Canghai, unwilling to stray far. Hugging herself, she rubbed her arms, her breath turning to frosty clouds in the frigid air. She shivered violently.

Guan Canghai narrowed his eyes, watching her. Suddenly, he planted himself down and began meditating, drawing on his internal energy.

Startled, Yan’er watched him warily, nervous about what he might do. As he circulated his energy, faint white vapors began to rise from his body. When she reached out, she felt a wave of warmth enveloping him. She quickly withdrew her hand, continuing to rub her arms.

Under the cold night sky, Yan’er gazed up at the beautiful stars, but the chill left her no mind to appreciate them. Unable to bear the cold any longer, she glanced longingly at Guan Canghai, the heat swirling around him. Inch by inch, she edged closer, until she could finally feel some of his warmth.

“So warm,” Yan’er murmured contentedly, hugging her knees. Sitting on the hard ground, her belly felt uncomfortably cramped.

Eyes still closed, Guan Canghai suddenly chuckled and pulled Yan’er into his embrace.

“Are you cold?”

What a silly question! Yan’er lowered her head, smiling faintly.

“We should find shelter. We’ll have to spend the night here,” Guan Canghai said, pleased that his plan was succeeding when he saw her silent acquiescence.

He kept her in his arms as they moved through the pitch-black winter night. Guan Canghai felt his way forward, while Yan’er clung tightly to him, afraid he might stumble and drop her.

A deep howl echoed.

Green eyes glinted in the darkness. Guan Canghai stopped abruptly, and Yan’er sensed something strange in the air around them.

“Don’t be afraid—it’s only wolves,” Guan Canghai reassured her, giving her a pat.

“Wolves?” Yan’er looked around in panic.

He set her down. “Don’t move.”

Yan’er watched as Guan Canghai strode a few paces away and unleashed a palm strike. Instantly, silence fell all around.

“Is it over?” Yan’er had expected a heart-pounding battle with the wolves, but she hadn’t even glimpsed their shadows.

“These beasts fear humans. As long as their aggression is checked, they’ll slink away,” Guan Canghai explained little. In truth, his strike had likely struck several wolves with inner force.

“Oh.” Yan’er stumbled along as Guan Canghai led her by the hand.

“There’s a cave up ahead—let’s have a look.” He left Yan’er at the entrance and went in first to investigate.

“Well?” Yan’er called timidly from the entrance.

“It’s abandoned. Come in, it’s safe,” he said, carefully leading the way.

With Guan Canghai there, Yan’er felt reassured. Whether with Pan Yueyang or Guan Canghai, at least outdoors she would be safe—these two men were both top martial experts, and even someone as unversed in martial arts as herself knew it.

“I’ll start a fire. Where there’s light, wild beasts won’t dare approach,” Guan Canghai said, gathering some firewood from who knew where.

Yan’er watched silently as he busied himself.

Once the firewood was piled up, Guan Canghai spun two sticks rapidly with his inner force, coaxing a spark into a growing blaze. They sat around the fire, and Yan’er finally began to thaw.

“Achoo!” Yan’er sneezed.

Seeing her shiver, Guan Canghai laughed and took off his own outer garment. As a martial artist, he wore little even in winter. He stripped down to his muscular torso and wrapped his coat tightly around Yan’er.

“Why did you bring me down here?” she asked, getting to the heart of the matter.

“Because I like you,” Guan Canghai replied, as unorthodox as ever.

“Like me?” Yan’er gave a skeptical smile.

“I do things as I please. I felt like jumping, so I jumped. Tomorrow, I expect Pan Yueyang will come searching for you at the bottom of the cliff.”

“I’m hungry,” Yan’er said, eyeing the bare stone walls.

“So am I.” Guan Canghai’s gaze grew deep and intense.

As a woman, Yan’er instinctively understood that his hunger was not for food.

Guan Canghai gave an awkward laugh.

“I am not your woman. My heart belongs to Yueyang alone,” Yan’er said calmly. She was past the age of panic. In these months, her life had transformed: from a naïve girl to a woman, from a loving wife to someone forced into the shadows, and from that to a woman discarded by all. The changes had come too swiftly. Though she acted alive, countless nights she lay awake, eyes shut, pondering her fate.

Suddenly, Guan Canghai embraced her from behind, burying his face in her hair and inhaling her scent hungrily. “You smell so good.”

“Tonight, I am a bride,” Yan’er retorted, breaking free from his arms.

“Perfect. Let me consummate the marriage for you,” Guan Canghai said, taking her words as an invitation.

“I belong to Yueyang alone,” Yan’er said firmly, glaring at him. She could not betray Pan Yueyang.

“He doesn’t love you,” Guan Canghai said sadly.

“And you do?” Yan’er shot back.

“Yes,” he answered without hesitation.

Yan’er was at a loss for words. His blunt confession caught her off guard. “I am not... pure,” she said, uncertain.

“Hmph, women care too much about the world’s judgments. I don’t,” Guan Canghai replied, embracing her again.

Yan’er hesitated, wounded by Pan Yueyang’s repeated rejection, and began to waver.

Guan Canghai kissed her neck, the red bridal gown tempting his restraint. On this wedding night, he whispered, “I swear, when I achieve greatness, I will make you my empress.”

“I don’t care for wealth or status,” Yan’er replied, closing her eyes and breathing deeply.

“All of it will belong to you alone. No one can take it from you,” Guan Canghai murmured, caressing her as her garments loosened under his hands.

“Let me go!” Her reason returned in a flash.

Guan Canghai suddenly seized her chin. “Why are you so stubborn? Pan Yueyang is capable, but he is destined to serve. You... you are born to be a queen—do you understand?”

“You’re speaking nonsense!” Yan’er broke free, clutching her clothes tightly.

“Heh, I never told you—I can read bones,” Guan Canghai sneered quietly at the ignorance of others.

“Read bones?” Yan’er was genuinely surprised. She knew nothing of his past.

“I learned as a child from my master. But it takes talent, too,” Guan Canghai said, unwilling to elaborate.

“You’re still Mu Qianxue’s brother,” Yan’er scoffed.

“And of royal blood, yes,” he admitted. “But I’d rather not discuss it.”

“I love only Yueyang,” Yan’er insisted.

Guan Canghai stood, grinning wickedly. In a flash, he struck her, and Yan’er collapsed into unconsciousness. “I never told you—if I desire something, I will stop at nothing to obtain it. That includes women.”

He lifted Yan’er, spread his purple cloak beneath her, and slowly undid her disheveled red wedding dress. “Tonight, you are mine.”

Obsessed, Guan Canghai kissed her body. From the first moment he saw her, he’d felt an impulse he could not deny. He loathed all things ugly and adored perfection. At their first meeting, her beauty had stunned him. Yet every time she reappeared, hardship clung to her, marring his vision of perfection. Still, he was amazed to find himself drawn to her, compelled by her resilience, as if she waited for him to rescue her...

A sharp pain pierced Yan’er into a haze. She felt his weight upon her... Suddenly, her eyes flew open, a wave of agony...

“No, ah!” Yan’er tried to resist, but as a woman, she knew it was futile. She had betrayed Yueyang.

“Do you like it?” Guan Canghai whispered, caressing her.

“No! It hurts...” Yan’er was shocked to realize that, in this moment of violation, she was comparing these two men—Pan Yueyang and Guan Canghai—with her own body...