chapter 3: Survive

Yan Jiayi’s throat tightened.

Before she could even react, the man suddenly withdrew his sword.

The blade slipped away from her skin with a cold whisper, but the danger didn’t fade.

If anything, it grew heavier.

"Get up," he ordered lazily, spinning the blood-stained sword in his hand like it was a toy.

Yan Jiayi hesitated, but seeing the casual killing intent in his eyes, she slowly pushed herself off the bloody ground.

Her legs trembled slightly, but she stood.

He looked her up and down with a strange interest, as if studying a piece of art he wasn’t sure whether to destroy or keep.

"Since you’re the last princess," he said, stepping back a little, "let’s play a little game."

Yan Jiayi's heart thudded.

Game? What game? Am I supposed to be happy I get to die slower?

The man’s smile deepened as if he could hear her thoughts.

"If you survive till tomorrow morning," he said lightly, "I’ll consider sparing your life."

Yan Jiayi stiffened.

Survive? Till morning?

In this blood-soaked, ruined place?

Seeing her blank face, he chuckled again, low and dangerous.

"Of course," he added casually, "I won’t make it easy."

With a snap of his fingers, the heavy doors behind him creaked open slowly, revealing the darkness beyond.

The air shifted.

Low, guttural growls echoed from the shadows.

Yan Jiayi’s scalp went numb.

System!! Trash system!! Is there no beginner protection mode?!!

But silence answered her.

No guidance. No protection. No script.

Only her, the enemy general… and the monsters waiting in the dark.

The man tilted his head, sword resting lazily on his shoulder.

"Run, little princess," he said, smiling that blinding, deadly smile.

"Let’s see how long you last."

Yan Jiayi didn’t wait another second.

The moment the words left his mouth, she spun around and ran — ran with every bit of strength left in her battered body.

Behind her, the low growls grew louder.

Monsters... real monsters!

She didn’t even dare look back.

Her thin shoes slipped against the blood-slick floors, but she forced herself forward, blindly pushing into the dark corridors of the ruined mansion.

The once grand hallways were broken and decayed.

Torn tapestries hung like ghosts, shattered tiles crunched under her feet, the heavy scent of blood never fading.

Somewhere behind her, faint footsteps echoed—slow, unhurried.

He was following her.

Not running.

Not chasing.

Just walking.

As if confident she couldn’t escape anyway.

Yan Jiayi's heart pounded so hard she thought it would burst.

System... any help now would be nice... really nice!

Still nothing.

Only the moaning wind through the broken windows, and the wet snarls growing closer.

Turning a sharp corner, she stumbled into a side room.

It was dark, but she slammed the door behind her and pressed her body against it, gasping for breath.

In the dim light, she could barely make out a massive, cracked mirror and rotten furniture scattered around.

Her knees weakened. She slid down to the floor, hugging herself tightly.

She bit her lip hard to keep from crying.

This isn’t a dream, is it...?

This is real. I could really die here.

Suddenly—

Creak.

The door under her back rattled lightly.

Something heavy brushed against the other side.

Yan Jiayi froze, breath caught in her throat.

A long, low growl rumbled from beyond the door.

Not human.

Not the red-robed man.

Something else.

Her fingers tightened into fists.

If she stayed here, she’d die.

If she ran again, she might still die.

But staying still is definitely death.

She gritted her teeth.

Slowly, silently, she rose to her feet, looking for anything — anything — to defend herself.

Her eyes landed on a broken chair leg lying near the mirror.

Not much. But better than nothing.

She grabbed it tightly.

The next second—

BAM!

The door smashed open.

And a shadow lunged at her from the darkness.

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