NIGHT OF MEMORIES

Yueying stood barefoot on the smooth tiles, her clothes damp with sweat, hair sticking lightly to her cheeks. In her hands, the wooden sword felt heavier than it should. Her breathing was controlled ( not shallow, but measured). She was tired. And aware that he was watching.

Lu Quing stood a few paces away, sleeves rolled up, a wooden sword of his own resting casually in his grip.

"Again," he said softly.

She raised her blade.

He moved first — incredibly fast.

But she met him, wood striking wood, a sharp crack slicing through the air. She twisted, stepped to the left, tried to catch him off balance — but he was already gone, pivoting behind her.

"Don't predict me," he said, voice calm. "Read me."

Yueying spun, eyes narrowing. "You make it hard to focus when you're this close."

Lu Quing arched an eyebrow. "Focus ".

She lunged — he blocked. Their swords locked for half a second, faces inches apart.

Her voice was low, unsteady. "You're distracting."

His mouth tilted at the corner. "So are you."

Another clash.

She feinted right, then went left — fast — almost catching his side. He grunted in approval, but tapped her hip with the flat of his sword.

"Too open. You hesitate when you're unsure."

She stepped back, chest rising and falling. "I don't like hurting people."

"That's not weakness," he said, walking toward her slowly. "But if you ever hesitate in front of the wrong person… it might be your last mistake."

He stopped in front of her.

She looked up at him — cheeks flushed, skin damp, fingers tight around her sword.

He reached up, brushing a strand of hair off her face with the back of his hand.

Yueying didn't move.

His voice dropped, quiet and rough. "You're improving. But there's still one thing you haven't learned."

"What?"

Lu Quing's gaze didn't leave hers.

He stepped closer — and gently took her hand, guiding the wooden sword down between them until it rested at her side.

"You don't have to fight me," he murmured. "Not when I'm the only one here to protect you."

She didn't answer.

Her heart was loud in her ears.

She could feel the heat of him, the calm power in the way he moved, the way he looked at her like he knew what she'd say before she said it.

************************

The moonlight spilled across the floor at the Lu Villa. Yueying stood near the balcony doors, her silk robe barely clinging to her shoulders, hair cascading down her back in loose, fire-touched waves. The cool wind kissed her skin, but it wasn't what made her shiver.

It was the man behind her.

Lu Quing leaned against the wall in silence, the top buttons of his black shirt undone, collarbone exposed — and those eyes… boring holes in her, fixed only on her.

"You should go to sleep," she murmured, voice slightly thin.

"I tried," he said, walking slowly toward her. "But I kept seeing you. Just like this."

She turned, slightly. "Like what?"

His hand reached out — grazed her shoulder, pushing her robe an inch lower.

"Undone," he whispered, "and beautiful enough to ruin me."

Her breath ceased for a while.

He stepped behind her now, his breath warm against the curve of her neck. "You think I don't notice how you avoid looking at me when we're alone?"

"I'm not avoiding," she whispered.

"No?"

He touched her waist lightly, giving her goosebumps. His fingers grazed the thin silk of her robe, skimming along the dip of her spine.

She shivered again — again, not from cold.

"I know every part of you that fights me," he said, voice low. "And every part that wants me."

Her heart was thundering now. "Lu Quing—"

He turned her to face him. Their lips just a breath apart.

"I don't want a puppet," he said. "And I don't want a goddess."

"Then what do you want?"

His answer came in a whisper against her lips.

"You."

Then — his mouth claimed hers.

Sweet, savouring her taste.

Not tentative.

But slow, hot, and deep.

His hand moved to her nape, pulling her closer. Her fingers tangled in his shirt, clutching him like her balance depended on it. Two figures intertwined.

She gasped softly against his lips when he pushed her back gently against the wall, his leg sliding between hers.

"Tell me stop," he murmured, voice shaking with restraint.

But she didn't. She just kissed him harder.

Her back met the wall with a soft thud, but she didn't flinch.

Lu Quing's kiss deepened, all composure burning away — as if he had held back too long. His control snapped like a string pulled too tight for a long time.

His mouth traced along her jaw, down her neck, tongue brushing where her pulse thundered. He inhaled her scent — like something about her was his salvation and his sin.

"Do you feel that?" he whispered into her skin.

She barely nodded.

"My whole body aches when you're near me."

Her hands fisted in his shirt. "Lu Quing…"

He looked at her — hair slightly messy now, his eyes glowing silver with a hunger so raw it cracked something inside her.

"Tell me to stop," he rasped again, even though his hands were already at her waist, sliding under the robe.

"I'm not going to," she said breathlessly.

That undid him.

He lifted her easily, her legs wrapping instinctively around his waist. He pressed her against the wall, the coolness of the surface in contrast to the molten heat between them.

Her robe fell open slightly — the silk slipping like water. His mouth trailed down the newly exposed skin slowly, like he was worshiping her.

" Can I ? " He said looking at her immersly. Yueying understood his meaning.

Her fingers ran through his hair, tugging slightly as she pulled his face up to hers.

" Take me " she whispered.

His mouth met hers again, but this time it was deeper and more passionate. Hands moving with purpose. His hand slid up the back of her thigh, fingers spreading over her bare skin, memorizing every inch.

She moaned into his mouth — and that sound drove him mad.

He laid her down on the bed, silk sheets tangling around her. The moonlight painted her silhouette in the darkness, and for a moment, he just looked at her.

The night was slow.

Lit by no candles or electricity — only by her pendant glowing at the bedside and the moonlight. Their bodies colliding .

Two beings.

Two histories.

One night that would never fade from their memory.

*************************

The first light of dawn filtered through the white curtains. The villa was quiet. The world outside had not yet stirred, and inside — all was still.

Yueying lay half-curled beneath the sheets, her bare shoulder exposed to the soft sunlight, red hair fanned across the pillow. Her lips were parted slightly, chest rising and falling in slow, calm rhythm.

Beside her, Lu Quing propped himself up on one elbow, his gaze on her — unreadable.

She stirred. Her eyes fluttered open.

And for a moment, she looked at him as if forgetting where she was, her fingers reaching for the silk sheet to cover her slightly exposed chest with modesty but Lu Quing caught her hand gently.

"You don't need to hide," he said in a deep voice.

"I'm not hiding," she whispered, turning her head to him. "I just remembered something."

His eyes softened. "What?"

"That I never planned for any of this."

He traced a fingertip down the curve of her arm. "Neither did I. But now, I don't want to go back to before."

The silence seemed to echo in their ears..

She reached up, brushing a thumb across his lips. "You look less like the devil in the morning." She blushed. What she had gone through last night she wasn't sure she would be able to walk properly for a while

"Hehe" Lu Quing chuckled. His little lady was really amusing. He leaned in, kissed her softly — not hungry this time, but with affection. Her fingers curled in his hair, pulling him down until his forehead rested against hers.

"I want to protect this," she said. "Whatever this is."

" I do want to protect it too" he said.

*********************

Yueying stepped out alone. She wore a long gown, her pendant hidden beneath fabric.

The wind blew.

And with it — something foreign.

A chill in the air.

Not of cold...

Yueying's eyes narrowed. She turned her head sharply.... A black feather drifted from the sky. It landed before her, burning at the edges until only ashes remained.

Yueying staggered back, looking at it strangely.

Later that night Yueying sat alone by the mirror, staring at herself. She couldn't forget about the night with Lu Quing and also the warning sign from the bird this morning.

She reached into the drawer. Pulled out the letter she had once received — the one sealed with the Eye.

'We need your blood'. It said.

The paper shimmered faintly now — reacting to her aura.

She whispered to the empty room "Come if you dare."

Li Anya POV

Li Anya stood at the center of a ritual circle, her dress black this time. Her eyes wide. Her hands glowing faint blue.

Around her — the witch queen's spirits chanted.

"She's growing too fast," Anya muttered. "We need to abduct her soon, before the First Flame awakens completely."

From the shadows — the silver-eyed man emerged.

"She's already begun to bond with him."

Anya smiled coldly. "Then I'll take him back."

"You'll lose."

"I won't "

She stepped into the circle.

And vanished.