Chapter 25: He Loses Control, She Pleads Tearfully
Yun Sheng’s back was pressed against the cold wall. She had nowhere left to retreat.
Denial and feigning ignorance were both useless against the man before her.
She needed an explanation—one that could fool Si Jin for the time being without exposing her biggest secret.
"I... I really don’t know what happened. That time at the research institute, you suddenly collapsed, Mr. Si. I was... terrified, so I took the chance and ran.
A moment ago, I was just passing by. As for what General Bai said... that I can use his power... How could that be possible?
How could someone like me, who couldn’t even awaken, possibly do something even an S-class Guide might not manage? Maybe General Bai perceived it wrong?"
Yun Sheng was taking a gamble.
She was betting that this version of events was more likely to placate Si Jin’s suspicions than an elaborate lie full of holes.
A dead silence filled the abandoned warehouse.
Si Jin didn’t continue his interrogation, as Yun Sheng had expected.
He just tilted his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over her tense body before the corner of his lip curled.
"Is that so? Perceived it wrong?"
Si Jin didn’t move any closer, but the suffocating feeling of being targeted by a predator suddenly intensified.
"Bai Ye is an SSS-level Sentinel, the Star Alliance War God. If he could so easily misread his own spiritual power, he would have died countless times by now.
Yun Sheng, do you really think that little story of yours is plausible?"
Yun Sheng bit her lower lip and said with feigned hurt, "If you don’t believe me, Mr. Si, there’s nothing I can do. I’m just telling you the facts as I know them."
"Facts? Hah. It doesn’t matter. Since you won’t tell the truth..."
Si Jin slowly raised his hand. A wisp of shadowy black flame silently coalesced above his palm, dancing.
"I can take matters into my own hands to find out."
He extended his hand, the shadowy flame leaping forward until it was a mere inch from Yun Sheng’s cheek.
A bone-chilling cold and a destructive sense of pressure washed over her.
"Of course, this process might be a little... stimulating. After all, an ordinary person’s spiritual world is much more fragile than a Sentinel’s. One wrong move, and I might just burn something I shouldn’t... like memories, or even your sanity. It’s a possibility.
So, Yun Sheng, this is your last chance. Are you going to tell me, or... am I going to find out?"
Yun Sheng met Si Jin’s utterly cold eyes, not doubting for a moment that he would actually do it.
Confess?
’That would mean laying my biggest secret bare, which is the same as entrusting my life and future to him.’
’That was too dangerous!’
Run or fight back?
’In the face of such an absolute power difference, that was a joke.’
’She had to find another way.’
Yun Sheng suddenly lowered her eyes, her shoulders beginning to tremble violently. Large teardrops sprang from her eyes without warning, rolling down her pale, cold cheeks.
She made no sound, merely bit her lower lip hard, looking like a young, cornered animal trembling in fear.
"I... I really don’t know... Don’t... don’t use that fire... Please..."
She even raised a hand, futilely trying to grab the corner of Si Jin’s clothes, only to snatch it back in fear just as she was about to make contact, leaving it hovering limply in the air.
This was the ultimate display of weakness.
Si Jin’s movements halted.
The black flame in his palm wavered but didn’t go out. It also didn’t press any closer.
He silently watched Yun Sheng, whose face was now a blur of tears. An unreadable emotion flickered in the depths of his eyes.
’It wasn’t pity.’
’Si Jin hated tears, and he hated useless vulnerability.’
’Yet this time, he didn’t feel immediately annoyed. Instead... a strange spark of interest was ignited within him.’
He said nothing, merely continuing to scrutinize Yun Sheng, who was sobbing so hard she could barely breathe.
After a long moment, just when Yun Sheng thought her gamble had failed, Si Jin finally spoke.
"...Shut up."
His tone was still icy, but at least the deadly flame had disappeared for the time being.
Yun Sheng felt as if she’d been granted a pardon, but she didn’t dare actually stop crying.
She just nodded frantically, scrubbing at her eyes with the back of her hand, which only smeared the tears and made her look even more pathetic and pitiful.
Si Jin frowned, seeming to grow impatient with her tears, but he didn’t lash out.
He averted his gaze, turning and walking deeper into the warehouse.
"Stay here. Don’t move. You’re not going anywhere until I figure out what’s going on with you."
The oppressive feeling lessened somewhat as Si Jin moved away.
Yun Sheng leaned against the cold wall, slowly sliding to the floor.
’Safe... for now.’
She let out a long, inward sigh. Her taut nerves finally found a moment of respite.
But the relief lasted only a moment before a greater pressure washed over her like a cold tide.
’She was imprisoned in this unknown, abandoned warehouse by an SSS-level Dark Sentinel, like prey dragged back to a beast’s den. Her very survival now depended entirely on his mood.’
’Si Jin obviously wouldn’t let her go easily. Once he lost patience, or decided she was worthless...’
’She had to find an opportunity to leave as soon as possible.’
However, before Yun Sheng could even sort out her thoughts, Si Jin’s breathing, which had been relatively steady from deep within the warehouse, suddenly grew chaotic and violent.
"Ngh!"
The suppressed grunt was followed by the grating sound of something being torn apart by a violent force.
Yun Sheng whipped her head around to look, her eyes wide with shock.
’Si Jin had lost control again!’
’Run. I have to run, right now!’
She shot up from the floor and bolted in the direction of what she thought was the main door.
But compared to an SSS-level Sentinel who had lost control, her speed was nothing.
A dark, ghost-like shadow instantly appeared to block her path.
Si Jin’s current state was even more terrifying than before.
His breathing was heavy, and the black cracks reappeared beneath his skin, spreading as his crimson eyes locked onto Yun Sheng.
"Scent... such a sweet scent..."
He staggered toward Yun Sheng, each step clumsy yet incredibly swift.
Terrified by his fearsome pressure and gaze, Yun Sheng backed away again and again.
"Si Jin! Get a hold of yourself!" she yelled futilely.
Si Jin paid her no heed.
He shot out a hand, grabbing her wrist and yanking her viciously toward him.
"Ah!"
Yun Sheng cried out, slamming uncontrollably into his violently heaving chest.
Si Jin quickly lowered his head, the bridge of his nose brushing almost violently against the side of her neck as he inhaled deeply. His scorching breath made her skin tremble.
"This is it... so sweet..."
He murmured vaguely, his scalding lips nearly pressing against the frantic pulse in her neck.
Yun Sheng struggled with all her might, punching and kicking.
Her weak struggles only seemed to agitate Si Jin further. The arm clamped around her tightened like an iron vice, threatening to crush her into his body.
He lifted his head, his gaze locking directly onto her lips, slightly parted in fear.
The next second.
He plunged his head down, his scalding lips clumsily smashing against hers.
"Mmph!!!"
Yun Sheng’s pupils dilated, her mind going completely blank!