Darkness Unleashed (Part 3)

We made our way through the mansion, my grip on the Marquis ensuring that no one dared to stop us. The guards stationed near the entrance froze in confusion and fear as they saw me dragging their master. I glared at them, my voice cold and commanding. "Step aside, or I'll kill him."

They hesitated but ultimately complied, parting to let us pass. Once we reached the carriage, I shoved the Marquis inside and ordered Shufen to take the reins.

As the carriage sped away from the mansion, the Marquis whimpered at my feet, his arrogance and cruelty replaced by pathetic sobs. I stared down at him, my dark energy still simmering beneath the surface.

When we were far enough from the mansion, I ordered Shufen to stop. I hauled the Marquis out of the carriage and threw him onto the ground. He scrambled to his knees, still begging for mercy.

"You deserve none," I said, my voice devoid of emotion.

With one swift motion, I mutilated him, severing the very part of him that had driven his vile desires. His scream echoed through the mountains, a haunting sound that would likely linger in the minds of anyone who heard it.

I picked up the mutilated part and shoved it into his mouth. "Choke on your own filth," I spat, disgusted by the sight of him.

Turning away, I climbed into the front seat of the carriage and sat beside Shufen, who was gripping the reins tightly. His hands trembled, his face a mixture of fear and uncertainty.

"This is your chance to escape," I told him, my voice steady despite the turmoil within me. "Where do you wish to go?"

He looked at me, startled. "B-but… they'll come after you," he stammered.

I exhaled. "Either take this opportunity to see your family again or risk being dragged back as a slave to that mansion. You choose."

He hesitated for a long moment, then finally took a deep breath. "Alright," he said, determination flashing briefly in his eyes. "The moment we reach an intersection, drop me there."

We traveled in tense silence until, not long after, I spotted a narrow path veering off to the right. It was barely wide enough for a person to walk comfortably, but it led into the dense woods where no carriage could follow.

"Stop here," I said.

Shufen pulled the reins, and the horses slowed to a halt.

"That path should keep you hidden," I said, pointing to the trail. "Don't stop running, and don't look back. They won't waste their time chasing after you—not with me as a distraction. I'll make sure to put enough distance between them and this spot before they catch up with me."

His eyes filled with gratitude, but his hesitation lingered. "Thank you, Priest Luo. I… I hope to see you again someday."

I forced a small smile. "I hope so too. Now go."

Shufen handed me the reins, jumped down from the carriage, and paused only to bow his head deeply. "May the heavens watch over you," he said before running into the woods, vanishing into the shadowed path.

As soon as he disappeared, I snapped the reins, urging the horses forward. The carriage sped down the road, the rattling wheels the only sound breaking the eerie silence.

I hadn't gone far when trouble found me. A group of armed men blocked the road ahead, their swords glinting under the midday sun. Before I could react, a sharp whistle pierced the air, followed by the deadly hiss of arrows. A rain of them descended upon the carriage.

The horses reared, but they kept moving, the momentum saving me as the arrows missed by mere inches. Clutching my bamboo stick, I realized I had no chance in a direct confrontation. Without hesitation, I leapt from the carriage, letting the horses continue barreling forward as a distraction.

Hitting the ground hard, I scrambled to my feet and darted into the woods. The thick underbrush tugged at my robes as I ran, and every heartbeat thundered in my ears. But to my horror, the forest offered little cover. The trees were sparse, and their bare trunks left me dangerously exposed.

Glancing over my shoulder, I saw the men gaining on me, their shouts growing louder. Desperation clawed at my throat.

I pushed myself harder, not knowing where I was heading, until suddenly, the ground fell away before me.

I skidded to a halt at the edge of a cliff. Below lay a dry riverbed littered with jagged rocks, their sharp edges gleaming like teeth. A fall from this height would guarantee death.

The sound of pursuit snapped me out of my daze. The men were closing in, their shadows flickering through the sparse trees. I gripped my bamboo stick tightly, its familiar weight grounding me.

I thought of Jinjing, her smile vivid in my mind despite the chaos surrounding me.

"Meet me along the way," I whispered, stepping to the very edge of the cliff.

The men stopped, their breathing ragged as they took in my precarious position. For a brief moment, silence enveloped us all, the tension thick enough to cut with a blade.

I closed my eyes and let myself fall.

The rush of air tore past me, and my heart pounded like a war drum. Midair, I clutched my bamboo stick close to my chest, the only thing left connecting me to Jinjing. I braced for the impact, for the pain that would surely come before death took me.

But the collision never happened. Instead, strong arms caught me, halting my descent with a jarring force. My eyes fluttered open briefly, catching the faint outline of a hooded figure against the sun. The grip holding me was firm yet gentle, and I felt a faint sense of familiarity.

"Ruan Yanjun?" I murmured, though my voice was barely a whisper.

The figure didn't respond, but the warmth of his energy seeped into me, calming the storm raging within my dark core. My body, however, was too spent to process anything more. Exhaustion swept over me like a tide, and my eyes closed, pulling me into unconsciousness.