The Inconceivable Flame: A Fallen Angel's Disguise

Xiao Zhi Ren might have escaped being slashed by her dagger but her attacks didn’t stop. Ru turned her body and attacked Xiao Zhi Ren again.

Xiao Zhi Ren couldn’t see her face clearly because of the lack of light but he could clearly make out her silhouette as it flew to stab him in the stomach. Xiao Zhi Ren held her wrist on time and avoided the attack. She twisted her way out of his grip easily.

Her each strike was fierce as if she was ready to take a life while Xiao Zhi Ren was trying his best to have some restraint since he didn’t want to hurt Ru. If he hadn’t be trained from a young age, he knew he’d have long lost this fight. He was hardly a match for Ru’s techniques. He hadn’t seen those moves before but he had heard about them.

He had a hunch that Ru came from an ancient bloodline and now, he was certain that she came from a long line of martial practitioners. Those that defied one’s modern beliefs. But she was holding back. He was sure, he’d be dead if she wasn’t holding back her strength.

Attacking and dodging each other’s attack, both of them reached under a flickering fluorescent light. As Xiao Zhi Ren looked at Ru’s eyes, he was stunned. Those emerald green orbs that always made him feel at ease were blazing right now with murderous intent.

The rims of her eyes were red, he could even see the red veins visible in her eyes. Her face was distorted as if in pain. Xiao Zhi Ren’s heart shook violently. In his moment of daze, Ru got a chance and she raised the dagger again. Xiao Zhi Ren saw her movement and tried to flip his body. In the end, his arm was slightly slit but it wasn’t serious.

"RONG!" Xiao Zhi Ren shouted her name as he shook her but she didn’t hear him. She lifted her hand again but this time, Xiao Zhi Ren held her wrists behind her back in a tight grip. Before Ru could roll her body using her legs, he trapped her by pushing her against a Container while he caught her legs between his own.

"Rong, look at me!" His voice had turned softer. For some reason, her pained expression was like someone was stabbing his heart repeatedly. "What’s wrong? Say something! How am I supposed to help you if you won’t say a word?"

Ru’s struggle in his grip stopped as she slowly looked up and stared into his raven black orbs. She felt entrapped and yet, there was a strange comfort in this confinement. His arms were strong, his eyes were soft but the way he looked at her told her how he felt her pain.

"I’m right here. Stop struggling. I’m not going anywhere." His voice was so gentle that Ru’s eyes flashed with strange emotions. He was talking as if coaxing a baby to sleep.

Ru’s eyes caught the blood dripping from his arm and her eyes chilled again. "I hurt you that’s why you are shackling me as well." The words were said in a whisper but Xiao Zhi Ren heard her voice.

’I’m shackling him as well?’ Xiao Zhi Ren frowned at her words. "Rong, I’m not chaining you. I’m trying to save you. I don’t want you to hurt yourself." He had seen the way she had stabbed herself in the thigh and didn’t even flinch at the pain. He knew to leave her meant she’ll do something worse.

He didn’t realize the impact of his words yet again.

"Father, are you afraid that I’ll hurt people? Is that why I’m not allowed to leave our clan?" She had asked with fury as she was tired of repeatedly being told that she was not allowed to leave.

"Son, I just want to save you." Her father’s voice was softer, soothing her.

Ru’s body trembled at the memory and suddenly, her knees buckled and her head tilted to one side with her eyes shut, tightly. If Xiao Zhi Ren wasn’t holding her, she would have fallen to the ground.

Xiao Zhi Ren tried to shake her but she stayed in a deep slumber. Xiao Zhi Ren felt the way her body temperature suddenly dropped. She was cold. As if she was an ice-cold block. If one would compare their body temperature, Xiao Zhi Ren might appear as a burning fire before her.

Ren laid her on his back and ran towards his car. As he laid her in the passenger seat, under the light, he finally noticed the way her lips had turned blue. It was unexpected. He thought she was drunk but it didn’t seem like it anymore. Is it hypothermia?