Chapter 11 – The Scent of Passion

Night had finally set when Qin Yun was freed from his obligation, and was currently headed toward the next leg of the journey, led by a servant dressed purely in black.

The streets were winding, illuminated by fluorescent stones embedded in the pavement. Qin Yun had seen many ways people used to fight back the darkness of night, from primitive torches to even bioluminescence, but those stones were something else entirely.

They didn’t produce light on their own. Instead, the stones drew on Madra, the earth’s lingering vitality, converting its warmth into light through an unusual process, almost like a living creature might do.

The glow was faint, just enough to reveal the path ahead. Yet, with so many stones lined up in perfect order, Qin Yun had no trouble trailing his guide through the shadowy alleys.

Even as someone who spent all his life within the clan, this was the first time he had been allowed on this path. They even had to pass two checkpoints to reach this far.

Suddenly, the servant halted and glanced back. Spotting Qin Yun close behind, he let out a barely noticeable sigh of relief, only for a frown to quickly settle on his face. Wordlessly, he continued onward.

Qin Yun couldn’t help but muffle a chuckle, for he knew of the man’s apprehension.

The night pressed in with silence. Only the whisper of wind through the leaves and the servant’s footsteps broke the hush as they ventured deeper along the path.

Yet Qin Yun moved in utter silence. Not a single sound escaped him, despite the heavy garment and the many jewels that should have clinked with every step. It was unnatural, almost uncanny.

Qin Yun glided through the darkness like a panther on the hunt, a presence that only sharpened the servant’s wariness.

After fifteen minutes winding through the woods and climbing a gentle slope, Qin Yun reached a secluded residence. Set aside just for him, it would be his home for the week—the place, he’d been told, where the marriage was to be consummated.

Apparently, it was meant to allow a newlywed couple to grow intimate with each other away from prying eyes, but Qin Yun knew better.

He glanced around and spotted a faint, shimmering haze encircling the area—a telltale sign of a formation stretching from the house to the edge of the woods.

Qin Yun recognized the formation instantly. It was simple, almost brazenly so, designed with a single purpose: to trap anything that crossed its threshold within.

As if to confirm his suspicions, the servant halted just short of the boundary and turned to face Qin Yun. He said nothing, but his silent stare made it clear: Qin Yun was expected to enter.

Qin Yun sighed at the tangled web he found himself in, but he didn’t pause. The decision had already been made. All that remained was to see it through.

He stepped inside, passing through the formation as if it were merely a thin film of water.

Crossing the threshold, he was immediately struck by a sweet, cloying perfume that filled the air. He knew its source at once, and his expression darkened.

He spun around, searching for the servant who had guided him, but the man had vanished without a trace.

Just to be sure, Qin Yun pressed his hand onto the shimmering layer he had just traversed. As expected, a strong force prevented him from exiting from this side. It didn’t matter how much pressure he exerted. The boundary didn’t budge a single millimetre. It was almost as if this boundary represented a fracture in space he was unable to pierce through.

Even if he pushed himself to the limit, Qin Yun doubted he could break through the formation. For now, he was trapped, at their mercy until they decided to release him.

Qin Yun sighed before taking a few moments to adjust himself.

The first thing he did was shed all that needless weight.

He tossed the jewels carelessly onto the grass, unconcerned if they shattered. His outer robes soon joined them in a careless heap.

Freed from the burden, Qin Yun stretched luxuriously, joints cracking in relief. He even threw a few testing punches, making sure his body was still sharp.

After readying himself, he headed toward the residence.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

With every step, the fragrance thickened, its effects growing harder to ignore. Luckily, they had underestimated him, using a weak dose meant for an ordinary man—one he could easily resist.

The real question was what awaited him beyond that door.

Hand gripping the door’s groove, Qin Yun drew a final deep breath and slid the paper door aside, bracing himself—only to be taken aback by the sight within.

There, on a bed vast enough for an army, sat his bride, still shrouded from head to toe in her wedding gown. Hours had passed since she left, yet she remained unchanged.

Qin Yun’s brow furrowed. This was not how things were meant to unfold.

“Did the servants not help you prepare?” Qin Yun asked as he entered the room.

Despite his question, Yun Jingfei remained silent. She didn’t utter a single word, nor even turn her head to acknowledge his presence. Qin Yun felt as if he had just spoken to a mannequin. However, he knew instantly she was real, for she couldn’t mask the warmth her body exuded, nor the faint heartbeat that rang in her chest.

“Hmm?”

Looking closer, he noticed her heartbeat was unnaturally slow, as if she hovered in a trance.

Qin Yun approached with caution, lowering himself to meet her gaze. The veil fluttered with her breath, easing some of his doubts, but at this range, the scent struck him full force.

He had no choice but to inhale it deeply; she was saturated in the fragrance.

“What the hell were they thinking?” Qin Yun exclaimed as he rose and created distance between them.

Even prepared, Qin Yun found himself briefly overwhelmed by the scent’s pull. His heart thundered, breath quickened, skin flushed. He felt desire stir, but forced himself to fight it down.

It took several minutes for Qin Yun to steady himself after such intense exposure.