Nightmare Shuttle

Where the whip had hit, a hideous and bloody scar had been left. Like a mangled centipede completely marring the left side of his face. There was a brief moment of stunned silence among the men, no one had anticipated this unexpected turn of events. The delicate whip in Chu Yi's hand was still dripping with faint red blood, falling and mixing with the earth below. Then a wave of monstrous anger hit, tainted with humiliation and a tinge of betrayal at being deceived, the man let out an angry howl and reached out a hand to drag Chu Yi by the collar! 

The soldiers around erupted in encouraging howls and jeers, screaming at him to teach the daring beauty a lesson. Chu Yi narrowed his eyes and dodged to the side, preparing to whip the lash out once more and sink the sharp barbs into his flesh. The smell of blood and rust only made him feel more excited. Even the picturesque beauty of the forest around him, could not take away from the brilliant red eyes that shone in the warm sun. The thick foliage above cast mottled shadows on the translucent skin and the red lips that rose in confrontation to the raging bull, like the most daring and fascinating evil spirit.

Amidst the heavy and callous shouts, a cold voice suddenly penetrated their ears, like a bucket of cold water had been thrown onto their hotheads. "Have you all forgotten that this is the territory of the elves?" 

The soldiers were like ducks that had been held at the throat, the cries and shouts were abruptly stuck in their throats and even the brutish man charging towards, abruptly stopped in his tracks, bloody face turning a deathly white. Chu Yi raised an eyebrow and slowly turned his head to the side, stern footsteps slowly walked up towards him. A man, uncannily resembling Samuel stood before him and made a slight bow, "Welcome to the Zuan Clan sire, I apologize for the uncouth treatment you've been subjected to at the hands of these beasts." He did not even glance in the direction of the soldiers, but the stagnant and silent pressure in the air spoke volumes about the man's presence.

Red eyes squinted for a moment before Chu Yi broke out into a brilliant smile. The whip in his hand abruptly disappeared, the only thing on his wrist was a lightly trembling black tattoo. The man did not raise an eyebrow at Chu Yi's apparent ability and did not seem surprised at his beauty. As if he has known it long ago.

After a few more seconds of tense silence, Chu Yi was the one to speak first, "No need to apologize. If anything this has only made me sure about one thing about the elves. And this thing is...very interesting." The man who looked like Samuel paused for a moment and nodded towards him, "Well yes, I'm glad they could be of help to you sire. As I was informed, you were to be escorted to your dwelling and provided care until the ceremony?"

Chu Yi stared deep into the unfathomable black eyes and nodded slowly, the man tilted his head and gestured at the men behind him, the gentleness in his voice making way for a biting chill, "Gentleman, I do have to remind you, this isn't your human empire. This is the sacred land of the elves and disrespecting the guests of our elves will be seen as an insult and dismissal of our alliance and can be brought up to the elven high court. "

The men instantly turned white as a sheet, if the human's alliance with the elves was broken due to their actions, they really would have no tears to cries plus they did not want to test the man before them. They shook their hands frantically and bowed down to the two, hastily leaving on their initiative. The man who started the fight was a little unwilling but he could weigh the importance of his life or this fight and with a final vicious glare directed in Chu Yi's, the clearing was quickly emptied.

Chu Yi watched this scene without a word. The man turned back to him and smiled politely, "Please follow me to your room. You'll be adequately recompensed for any grievance that has been caused to you on our land. "

He bowed his head again and gestured to the right, "This way."

Chu Yi's smile grew broader and he followed behind him as they left, as he passed the raised platform he looked back slightly, the majestic tree that could be seen no matter where he was, seemed to have another black leaf added to its branches.

Chu Yi thought that with the nature of the elves, the houses they would live in would be more like treehouses with heavy green leaves to camouflage and wooden furniture or someplace with gorgeous jewels and silver gems to show the elves innate beauty. Instead what he was brought to was a small square stone house with a hay thatch. Although it was somewhat rustic and monotone, the inside was clean and free of dust. A small window had been dug into the stone and small stone carvings and table were placed neatly in the room. A singular bed lay the nearest to the window and a small stove was left to the side.

The man, who had still not given a name, nodded when he saw that he had settled properly and left soon after, leaving only Chu Yi to stay by himself. Before he left, he told him that he would come back to prepare Chu Yi for tonight. In his words before the actual ceremony every year, the elves would conduct a cleansing ritual to not taint the holy land.

He slowly circled the dull room, there was no trace of anyone else ever inhabiting that place and the stove had never been used. He slowly swept his hand along the wall and wiped off the traces of dust on his finger. When he came to the window, Chu Yi couldn't help but narrow his eyes. Although he wasn't an expert in Feng Shui, he did know one thing. Houses that perpetually stood in the shadows of the sun, were the best place for conducting Yin energy, otherwise known as negative energy.

He looked back outside once more and he could see the tops of the trees swaying lightly in wind, a bird would occasionally fly out from the surrounding forest and spread its wing in the orange rays of the setting sun. The cool breeze danced and skipped with a playful air and the peace and tranquillity were really like heaven on earth.

A paradise.

But how many dark secrets does such a place hold, he wants to find out.

Nothing else would happen for a while and neither did he decide to go out. In the end, Chu Yi lay down and closed his eyes to rest.

Amid a sinking dream, Chu Yi suddenly heard a voice, and his drifting consciousness abruptly woke up, "Chu Yi."

Who was talking?

He wanted to ask, but he was surprised to find that could not make a sound.

"Come to me."

The voice was very light and soft but had an irresistible hook. Chu Yi's feet were uncontrollable and he moved step by step in the direction of the voice. He wasn't panicked but rather intrigued by the situation he had never faced before.

When his vision suddenly shifted, he found himself standing on the shore of a lake.

The swaying stalks of green grass seem as if they wanted to penetrate the sky, on these stalks strange red fruit glowed like a silver bell.

In his cognition, Chu Yi had never seen such a clear lake, he bowed his head, and could even see the pebbles settled at the bottom of the lake. He unconsciously wanted to reach out and fan the flowing water but paused.

Chu Yi knows that beauty is just an appearance. No matter how much he wanted to reach out, he could never touch it, because beautiful things usually hide the most rotten core. When he looked back, he was somewhat surprised to see that instead of endless darkness, behind him was a familiar square hut and in the narrow bed, he could see himself still sleeping on it. He raised a brow slightly, what was the purpose of showing him this.

Was is it to threaten him?

Just as he turned back around, a figure slowly appeared at the edge of the lake and gently stepped onto the shore. Chu Yi's pupil was enlarged at that moment.

The wet black hair that stuck onto his chin, the white skin, and the eyes that shone with unusual brilliance. The clear eyes were like this lake, blue and deep. But Chu Yi could not be mistaken. That face was undoubtedly a replica of his face!

The creature before him opened his mouth as if to say something but before Chu Yi could hear the words, the world suddenly started to spin and with a heavy gasp, his eyes violently snapped open!

Above him, a cool and steady face had appeared, and from his lips, a long drawl was dragged out, "Chu Yi, it's time for the cleansing ceremony. We must prepare."

In Chu Yi's blank gaze, the man carried a translucent redshirt in his hand and pointed to him,

"Strip."

In the gloomy forest some hours away, the red sedan chair that had been leisurely making its way, suddenly paused as if sensing something. In the lingering wind, a cold voice suddenly sounded,

"Oh."

It was only one syllable but the entire forest seemed to tremble in fear.