Darkness Unleashed (Part 1)

LUO FAN

When I opened my eyes, the unfamiliar sight of a dimly lit room greeted me. The soft rustling of fabric caught my attention, and I turned my head slightly to see a young servant carefully wringing out a damp cloth. He was tending to me, his movements efficient but surprisingly gentle. His presence felt oddly comforting in this hellish situation.

"You're awake," he said, his voice soft but carrying a hint of relief. "I'm Shufen. His Excellency ordered me to take care of you."

"Where am I?" My voice came out hoarse, the aftereffects of the drug still evident in my system.

"You're in the northeastern district of Donghai," Shufen replied. "This is the household of Marquis Kong Mingli."

The name sent a shiver down my spine. I had heard of the Marquis before, though only in hushed whispers among light cultivators. His reputation was one of unparalleled depravity. Unlike the emperor, who seemed content with decadence and indulgence, the Marquis thrived on cruelty. Stories spoke of how he derived pleasure from breaking people both physically and emotionally.

I swallowed hard, my body trembling under the crushing weight of my predicament.

Attempting to sit up, I quickly realized my wrists had been bound. The restraints bit into my skin, leaving me helpless. Shufen stepped forward and helped me upright.

"Why am I here?" I asked, my voice unsteady.

Shufen hesitated, his gaze darting away as if searching for the right words.

"I've heard rumors about the Marquis of Donghai," I pressed, my voice taut with unease. "Are they true?"

His eyes flicked back to me, cautious. "Priest Luo, what rumors are you referring to?"

"That the Marquis takes pleasure in inflicting pain," I said, the words tasting bitter on my tongue.

Shufen's expression darkened, and he glanced nervously at the door, lowering his voice to a whisper. "That is true," he admitted. "But that's not all." His voice wavered, and he leaned closer, his tone filled with dread. "He… has a preference for men, especially beautiful ones like you. His favorite tool is a leather whip, and he delights in drawing blood before… taking his pleasure from them."

I froze, his words sinking in like icy daggers. A wave of nausea churned in my stomach, disgust and fear twisting into an unbearable knot.

Was this Ruan Yanjun's plan all along? To hand me over like some object to a monster so vile? The thought left me cold, my breath shallow as panic threatened to overwhelm me.

After a moment, I straightened weakly. "Shufen, can you bring me my belongings?"

Shufen's eyes flickered nervously toward the door. He hesitated, clearly weighing his options, before finally nodding. "I'll see what I can do," he said softly, then quickly exited the room.

Alone, I tried to push myself upright, but my body refused to cooperate. My limbs were heavy, my head pounding from whatever drug they had forced on me. A deep frustration settled in my chest as I realized just how powerless I was.

Shufen returned some time later, holding a small bag. "They allowed me to retrieve this for you," he said, placing it beside me.

Weak and bound as I was, I directed him, "Can you look inside for a jar of medicines? There should be something in there to counteract the drug they gave me."

He rummaged through the bag, but after a while, he shook his head. "There's nothing like that here. Maybe they inspected your things and discarded anything that might seem useful."

My heart sank. My last hope dashed so easily. "Are you sure there's nothing left?" I asked, desperate.

Shufen's face lit up. "Oh, wait. There's something else here." He pulled out a small vial and handed it to me.

My breath caught when I recognized it—it was the elixir Ruan Yanjun had refined from the Pale Revenant, the one meant to nourish my dark core. I clenched it tightly in my hand, conflicted.

"There's another," Shufen said, handing me another vial. This one contained the elixir from the Dual Bloom, meant to balance my cores.

I stared at the two vials in my hands, my mind spinning. They had taken the jar of common pills I always carried, medicines that could be bought from any alchemist. Yet, these far more precious elixirs had been left untouched. Their radiant, glowing essence should have been enough to draw attention, even if their true purpose was unknown. Could it be that whoever inspected my belongings had overlooked them entirely?

Should I use them? Could I trust something given to me by Ruan Yanjun after what he had done? Yet, without them, I had no chance of regaining even a fraction of my strength.

"Is that all?" I asked Shufen, holding onto a thread of hope.

He shook his head. "There's nothing else."

I sighed, a wave of frustration and helplessness washing over me. "Thank you, Shufen," I said softly. "You've done enough. Could you… put these back in the bag?"

He nodded, taking the vials from my hands. With care, he tucked them back into the bag before turning to me, his expression tinged with hesitation. "If I may ask… what will you do now?"

I glanced at the walls surrounding me, their rough limestone surface confirming that this room was likely underground. Escape was out of the question. "I don't know," I murmured.

Shufen sat on the edge of the bed, lowering his voice. "You're not the first person the Marquis has brought here. Few survive his games. I… I wish I could do more for you."

"Why do you work for him?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

He hesitated but then sighed. "I didn't have a choice. My daughter fell ill, and I borrowed money from the Marquis to try to save her. She… she died anyway, but the debt remained. When I couldn't pay it, he forced me to work for him. The agreement was five years, but it's been seven. He won't let me leave. He's afraid I'll reveal the secrets of this place."

My chest tightened at his words. "Do you still have your family?"

He nodded. "I left my wife and my son behind. He was just an infant when I came here. Seven years… I've heard nothing from them." His voice cracked with emotion, but he quickly composed himself.

A surge of sympathy welled within me. This man was as much a prisoner as I was. "Thank you for helping me, Shufen. I'll try to think of something."