Tears streamed down his face along with snot to his chin, dripping down onto his clothes. His eyes were red, and his gaping mouth made inapprehensible noises as he desperately shook his head at her. He tried to get up only to avail, his muscles felt like stone. He couldn't even move an inch. He fought harder not knowing his own blood weighted him down.

Truly pathetic.

Hongyue tsked softly before she bent over to take a better look at his pitiful state. Is this what it looks like to be dreaded? She smirked in amus.e.m.e.nt. The guard seeing her smirk shuddered in fear. He turned away. Hongyue tilted his head upwards with the tip of her finger, so he faced her directly. Looking into his eyes and seeing her reflection, she realized why he feared her so much.

Her robes curled about her body as the breeze tenderly blew around her. Her hair scattered away from her face exposing a beautiful ocean blue pupil eye along with her black one. A bluish silver pearl hair ornament sat on top of her pitch black hair. Dried blood stains that were on her face gave her a menacing appearance. She gazed at her reflection and lightly touched her blue eye.

Looks like she could transform into this form after all.

Hongyue frowned.

She thought she looked quite beautiful, even a bit enchanting if she dares say. While this form didn't have any dramatic changes on her appearance like the one from the full moon, it was still quite powerful. Hongyue glanced at the trembling man in front of her. What was he so scared about? Her eye color? She didn't get it. Wasn't he arrogant before? Where did all his courage go? This wasn't even her full form.

"You know what I hate?" She studied his shaking pupils.

The head guard swung his head in despair. He ached to get away from here as soon as possible. He didn't want to be here at all. He wished he didn't aggravate her in the first place. If he had left, he wouldn't have to suffer like this.

Seeing this response irritated her. Hongyue suddenly grasped a handful of his hair and began dragged him across the yard to an old well, all while speaking calmly as if she was to a child.

"Calling me a monster just from my appearance when you were more of a monster yourself. Did you not torment a helpless child for years and abused your powers?" Hongyue paused, "Truly a hypocrite."

"It's fine, after all, you're not wrong. I am a complete monster, inside out. I was going to allow you to witness the final show, but things can go out of the plan. I'll kill you today. What do you think?" She grinned at his stiff body.

"What am I asking you for? After all, you never used your brain to think much in the past anyway. You always went on impulse, which was to torment people weaker than you like me." She continued.

Once she reached the well, she touched the edges of the rope.

"Ah! I remember. You particularly liked to dunk me in water until I fainted to wash away my dirtiness as an idiot because you 'feared' it might spread. I need to return the favor; after all, it's only polite. It'll be exactly like the game you used to play with me; only your legs will be tied."

She tied the rope tightly around his legs, exerting strength making the cord cut into his flesh.

"Ah. I forgot to mention that I'm still poisoned. You're heavy so I might not have the strength to lift you back out. After all, I'm just a weak good for nothing. What can I do?"

The guard flinched from the pain, but he still looked on with antic.i.p.ation. His head began to clear from the agony as he thought about his next step. He could swim with his hands, who cares if his legs were tied. He glared at her with hatred. Once he makes it out of the well, she will be the first one dead. Wait till he finds the general and tells him about her hidden powers. The fourth madam was right! This vile sp.a.w.n is actually a freak.

Seeing the hatred in his eyes, Hongyue's lips curled up slowly.

"I almost forgot! You used to add rocks to my pockets or make me don heavy robes," Hongyue looked around as if she was troubled, "What should I do?... Ah, I'll be nice and take something away from you...but what should I take?"

The guard sneered at her words inside his heart. His fear of her had converted back to contempt. It was likely the result of years of belittling and abusing Hongyue. Years of that lifestyle became a habit, and he grew arrogant once again. So what if she had a blue eye? Look at her; she was so stupid. Taking something away from him will only make it easier for him to escape. As expected of a lowly 'normal.'

Hongyue waved her hand, her blue eye glowing brightly. The blood inside the guard's hands strived to get out, thumping against the inside of his skin around the wrist area. The guard could only remember seeing atrocious b.u.mps developing on his hands as if something was fighting to get out before his hands suddenly neatly split from his wrist.

He gaped in hysteria. His eyes fearfully s.h.i.+fted to Hongyue's face. All his previous thoughts collapsed. What was he fooling himself with? How can he ever escape? It was a stubborn moment of delusions. His b.l.o.o.d.y severed hands warned him that Hongyue wasn't the same fool he can mock. She was untouchable and cruel.

A monstrosity.

"You don't have anything of any worth, so I could only choose your hands. Consider it my gift; after all, they are hideous. I would hate to see them attached to my own body." She declared regretfully.

She squatted down in front of him and pointed the right hand.

"This is for all the time you stole my money and tormented me." She explained slowly as if she was lecturing a child how to count.

Then s.h.i.+fting her weight, she held up the left one.

"That is the price for stomping on my hand."

Hongyue looked up with an innocent smile.

"Don't you like my gift?"