My Heart Is Drawn to Jade - Chapter 3

Ignoring the wound, I opened the door.

An apparently endless corridor stretched ahead of me.

I stared.

It was magnificent, extravagantly ornate, and utterly silent in a way that felt almost sinister. Old-fashioned sconces lined the walls. Their wavering candlelight spread over cold, polished black marble, reflecting my thin, solitary figure.

I wandered down the corridor until it split three ways. Picking one at random, I kept going.

After more than half an hour, countless turns, more carved archways than I could remember, and several trips up and down spiral stone staircases, I ended up right where I’d started.

Well, that was annoying.

I wasn’t frightened. I just had nothing to say.

The last house I’d visited with such an absurdly complicated layout had been a buddy’s castle overseas, back in my own world.

His place had been much scarier than this one.

Not only was it gloomier and more oppressive, but there’d been a human skull every five steps and a complete skeleton every ten. Animal bones, too.

Bone ornaments everywhere: teacups, drinking cups, decorative pieces, candlesticks, whips, little stools. Some had even been made into lanterns hanging from the ceiling.

Open a door, and the room beyond would be filled with chainsaws, axes, boning knives, scalpels, surgical clamps…

The man beside me, beautiful as a demon, had smiled with a touch of smug pride.

“Huo Xiangjin, which one do you like? I’ll give it to you. These are my prized possessions!”

“Piss off.”

Give me one, my ass. I was a normal person, not a freak like him.

…

I had no idea how long I’d been wandering. I was getting bored, and a little dizzy.

At last, there seemed to be white light ahead.

My eyes brightened. God knew I’d walked enough to exhaust myself.

I hurried toward the light.

Before I saw the doorway, I saw the tall figure leaning against its frame.

His long, silvery-white hair gleamed softly in the candlelight, like flowing moonlight. Arms folded over his chest, one leg slightly bent, he looked utterly at ease—as though he’d been waiting there a long time for his prey to walk into the trap.

Amusement filled his violet-and-gold eyes. His voice was low and rich, and somehow chilling.

“Little human, where do you think you’re going?”