The Cost of Obsession

[Confirmed to contain otherworldly substances within the host’s body: Candle Dragon Powder and Illusory Light Fern Mushroom, in quantities reaching a critical threshold]

Before Mingqian could fully grasp the meaning of those words, Bai Wanting had already grabbed his arm.

For Bai Wanting, who had only ever been seen as a childhood sweetheart, her emotions had long since veered into disarray.

Despite being bruised and battered, she laughed with a dazed, almost senseless joy, as if pain no longer registered for her.

As she walked, she unbuttoned her top, and a black bra slipped from beneath clothes that seemed to reveal more than they concealed. The young woman, making no effort to hide her allure, moved closer to him.

She pressed her body against Mingqian’s, her tongue tracing the sweat on his neck as if savoring it. Clinging to him with a possessive tenderness, she whispered into his ear.

“Why do you run? Why do you leave me? Why, even after I’ve given you everything, do you still refuse to look at me?”

Her body was feverish, and her eyes, locked onto Mingqian, demanded, “Tell me why!”

Her erratic emotions truly terrified Mingqian, but what frightened him more was his current inability to escape.

Though her sword was sheathed, its lingering cold presence still sent shivers of fear down his spine.

“Hmm? Come on, Xiaoqian, touch my body, then stroke my head, and softly tell me you like me. I can give you anything you want, alright? And besides, weren’t you enjoying yourself back then? Or are you just going to pull up your pants and pretend you don’t know me?”

“Come on, say you like me.”

Seeing Mingqian clench his jaw, refusing to speak, her eyes gradually filled with resentment. Her soft whispers ceased, replaced by a furious roar.

She shook Mingqian’s body violently, causing his head to spin.

“Didn’t you hear me?! Speak, or don’t speak!”

“L-like.”

Upon hearing those words, Bai Wanting’s eyes instantly softened. She chuckled softly, then gently embraced Mingqian once more.

“I knew you liked me. In that case, let’s hurry home and complete our ritual of love, shall we? I promise you won’t be able to leave the bed.”

“No, absolutely not, impossible.” Mingqian pushed her away again, retreating two steps.

Mingqian felt she had completely lost touch with reality; a confession of ‘liking’ extracted under duress was, to her, an undeniable truth.

“Even if you forcibly take me there, I will not submit!”

“I’ve told you, you’re my childhood sweetheart, and that’s the extent of my affection.”

“I won’t listen to you anymore! All I want now is to savor Xiaoqian; sooner or later, you’ll end up like one of those captured female knights!”

Mingqian desperately wanted to retort that she had clearly consumed too many adult comics, but in the next instant, Bai Wanting tackled him to the ground, unreservedly ‘savoring’ his body. Despite his struggles, he ultimately couldn’t withstand the girl’s fervent passion. Just as her breath grew hot and her hand began to wander lower, she suddenly realized something.

The effects of the drug had, for some unknown reason, worn off.

“How is this possible! This was a dosage strong enough to incapacitate even a monstrous beast…”

Mingqian blinked, then flashed the most brilliant smile he’d worn all day.

“Guh! Kill me!”

‘Could this be delayed impotence?! Glorious impotence! Thank you, impotence! Wait… I’m not actually impotent, am I? No, please, no!’

“You…”

Bai Wanting narrowed her eyes, then offered a sudden, sweet smile. Yet, that expression slowly solidified into a mask of ice.

“I see. Xiaoqian has found someone new to like. This simply won’t do, it won’t do at all…”

The first time, when Xiaoqian got a girlfriend, she forgave him.

The second time, even though Xiaoqian wanted to leave her, she still considered giving him another chance.

Now, for the third time, he had someone new he liked. This time, she refused to forgive him again.

She felt something within her soul crumbling.

“Is that so? Very well.”

Her voice was unexpectedly cold. Just as Mingqian thought she had finally given up, he suddenly felt a chilling sensation.

Blood, slowly seeping from his chest.

Mingqian froze, utterly dumbfounded; he had never imagined Bai Wanting would actually kill him.

Bai Wanting’s sword had pierced directly into his chest. Immediately after, she conjured a barrier, preventing anyone nearby from perceiving what transpired within.

“If I cannot have you, then I will die with Xiaoqian.”

“At least this way, Xiaoqian’s purity will be preserved. Heh heh, don’t worry, I’ll go down below and wait for you first. After all, I couldn’t possibly die before you.”

A pain he hadn’t felt in a long time now surged through Mingqian’s body. Compared to the agony of having his heart pierced by a curse during the simulation, what was this physical pain?

‘I can’t die before you.’

‘Damn it, it hurts so much! Her scorching breath made his chest constrict. This world was simply too unfair! Why did he have to encounter such a situation?’

Yet, seeing Bai Wanting about to grasp the sword with a backhand grip and turn it on herself, he knew he absolutely could not let her die! Mingqian desperately clutched the sword in her hand, forcing out his last vestiges of magic to coat his own.

However, he had severely underestimated the act of catching a bare blade with his bare hands. Bai Wanting’s sword was imbued with true qi, and she was genuinely pouring all her energy into ending her life. Thus, when Mingqian’s hand touched the blade, a gruesome tragedy unfolded, as if slicing through tofu.

Blood spurted onto Bai Wanting’s pristine face, transforming her into a gruesome princess. Stunned for a moment, she abruptly released the sword.

Even stained with blood, she remained beautiful.

“You… you must live well. You can’t just keep trying to kill yourself at the slightest provocation, what kind of behavior is that?” Mingqian spoke with difficulty. “Why you like me, I don’t understand at all. But, you must not try to kill yourself again.”

“Xiaoqian! Why?! Don’t you not love me at all, don’t you dislike me?”

“It’s not like that. Even without romantic love, you’re still a very important person to me. Besides, I’m a shut-in, and I don’t really have any friends…” His breath was as faint as a wisp of silk.

“No! I won’t allow you to abandon me! This time, this time I’ll properly lock you away!”

‘She has absolutely no intention of changing, does she?!’

Bai Wanting lunged towards him, but halfway there, she suddenly collapsed to the ground as if her power had been cut.

Mingqian’s body began to emit a steady black glow. The next second, a pitch-black mist enveloped him. He felt only a warm sensation flowing through his body, then his vision went black, and he lost consciousness.

****

The moonlight poured like water, and the inky night sky seemed to hold a mesmerizing power.

By all accounts, it was an exceptionally tranquil night, one where even the stars seemed to hold their breath in silence.

A gentle breeze carried the scent of distant lands, as the stars twinkled, and the cool, clear moonlight spilled into the room.

Moonlight cascaded onto a cascade of golden hair, plating it with a lustrous, silvery-white sheen.

A graceful silhouette stood quietly by the bed, gently drawing the curtains for him.

“Teacher…”

She softly called his name, her voice faint but imbued with an immeasurable longing.

Soundlessly, she slipped off her shoes, then gently pulled back the covers, her gaze fixed on the spot that belonged solely to her.

Bending down, she swept her hair to one side, then gently traced his chest with a finger before curling up in his embrace.

She drew a deep breath, inhaling the scent of that chest she cherished so deeply and knew so intimately. That scent, that warmth—just being there made her feel as though she could die at any moment.

Teacher had returned, once again by her side.

The one who haunted her thoughts and dreams, the sole existence that belonged only to her, was now right beside her.

“Teacher, you have no idea how I’ve lived these past years. But, we’ll be together again soon.”