Chapter 48: Repetition
A helpless white wolf was grabbed by the tail by a wicked lop-eared rabbit and dragged into a haystack.
“Lina…” Adele leaned against the haystack. “That’s enough, right?”
Lina wrapped the wolf’s tail around her wrist and asked, knowing the answer, “What’s enough?”
An itchy sensation shot up from the tip of her tail to her spine. Adele met her gaze, her chest rising and falling slightly.
Twilight was falling. The orange-pink sky was gradually turning gray-blue. Specks of starlight leaked through the gaps in the haystack, illuminating the wicked intent hidden under Lina’s obedient mask.
Adele didn’t answer the previous question. The three words “don’t play with me,” she couldn’t say them. So she said, “You’ve gone bad.”
“But I’ve spent the most time with you, my teacher. We eat together, drink together…” Lina pulled the tail, and as she wished, she saw the person before her tremble slightly. “We also sleep together. Of course, I learned it from you.”
She heard Adele’s chaotic breathing.
Because of the two words “teacher.”
“You…” Just as Adele was about to say something, the farm woman’s call came from outside the haystack.
As she was distracted, Lina suddenly took half a step closer, her warm breath carrying a warning. “Teacher, don’t look at others.”
The haystack was not a wall. Adele was afraid it would collapse. With nowhere to retreat, she could only press her hand against Lina’s shoulder and whisper, “Someone’s coming.”
“Girls—” the farm woman called out, “After you’ve washed up, remember to come back for dinner! I’ve roasted some fragrant potatoes!”
Lina held her hand, her nose approaching, and said slowly, “I know.”
Adele heard the approaching footsteps. She should have pushed Lina away, but the scent of the lop-eared rabbit lingered at the tip of her nose, and she couldn’t help but become infatuated.
The tail, which had been snatched by the rabbit, had completely defeated her.
Embarrassment, shyness, and nervousness had turned her mind into a mush. She said, “Let’s do it when we get back.”
Not that she wouldn’t do it, but that they would do it when they got back.
Lina smiled lightly, very satisfied with her answer.
Although she was always made to lose focus, Lina had still figured out Adele’s constitution clearly.
The top predator that dominated the entire North Island ice field was extremely sensitive.
Who was the rabbit? It was still uncertain.
Lina refused to let her go and said wickedly, “I like it here. I want to do it here.”
For ventilation, the haystack had been built into a two-and-a-half-meter cube, hollow with an entrance. Through the gaps in the dry grass, one could even see the distant snowy mountains.
Not hidden at all.
“No.” Adele, with a pair of wolf ears that had already turned a pale pink, said, “Bad—rabbit—”
Lina accepted it with pleasure and said, “I’ve gone bad because of what you taught me. Shouldn’t you also be punished?”
The farm woman had already walked to the side of the haystack. She muttered to herself, “I’ll just pick up a couple of eggs to give the children a treat.”
The chicken coop was right behind Adele, separated by a haystack.
She didn’t dare to make a sound, but Lina deliberately whispered in her ear, “Should you be punished or not?”
The hot breath hit her ear. Adele gripped Lina’s clothes, her legs completely soft.
The two of them looked at each other again.
After a moment, Adele saw Lina’s gaze shift downward.
!
Adele immediately felt something and mouthed silently, “No, don’t—”
Lina kissed her. Her free hand also took away her chance to breathe.
Her tail, her neck, and even her lips, at this moment, no longer belonged to Adele. She couldn’t catch her breath. In the suffocation, the only thing she could grab was Lina.
The sky outside the haystack grew darker. In the dim light, Adele was gradually invaded by Lina. She briefly had the thought of running away but missed the opportunity because of her hesitation.
And then she could never run away.
Just like her.
She had long since lost the chance to leave Lina.
Lina was very patient. She didn’t want to eat her up so quickly. She wanted this person to remember the feeling she gave her.
Completely remember.
The footsteps behind her stimulated Adele’s nerves. Amorous sparks exploded in her mind. She had fallen into Lina’s trap.
A greedy rabbit never thought of choosing one of two.
“I only regret that I don’t have two more hands.” Lina pulled back slightly. The dazed eyes and bright red, moist lips of Adele stimulated even more obscene words from her. “I can barely hold you.”
She paused and said, “Teacher, you won’t blame me, right?”
Adele had almost been killed by that kiss. She didn’t dare to push the hand that was doing bad things in front of her, afraid of a heavier punishment. She said, “You…”
“What about me?” Lina asked.
“You just wait.” Adele threw down a “harsh word.”
Lina kneaded the pacifier that belonged only to her and said, “Alright.”
She was soothed by the softness in her palm. The kiss that fell again was much gentler.
*
The ancient castle was filled with a smell of blood that even incense could not cover.
Light was a luxury here.
Palm-sized glass was set in the cold stone walls. When the sun rose, the glass on the east and west sides had to be covered with thick curtains.
There was no fresh dry wood in the stone fireplace, only cold ashes.
Everything was cold.
The spacious hall was hidden in darkness. Every corner was deathly silent.
The grandfather clock struck twelve at noon.
Before long, footsteps appeared on the spiral staircase.
A woman was wrapped in a heavy velvet long dress. The pure black fabric almost merged with the background, but her skin was a deathly pale, like a paper doll, lifeless.
At the end of the spiral staircase, a young girl was kneeling. She had her head bowed. The closer the footsteps, the more she trembled.
She wore a slip dress. Her thin shoulders and back were covered with bite marks. The worst was her neck. A clear, deep red circular tooth mark was embedded on the blood vessel. It was clear that it had just been pierced and sucked not long ago. The surrounding skin was blue and purple, not a single patch of good flesh.
The woman descended the last step and stopped in front of the young girl.
The young girl held a silver tray. On it was a bowl of steaming medicinal soup. She buried her head even lower and, with all her strength, she managed to control her trembling voice and say, “Master… please… please have your soup…”
The woman did not speak but reached out and grabbed the young girl’s chin, forcing her to look up.
A watery sheen instantly appeared in the young girl’s eyes, a silent plea leaking out.
She was in so much pain.
The woman stared at her, saying nothing. Her fingertips secretly added a bit of force, then she abruptly threw the person away.
The medicine bowl rolled away. The soup spilled all over the floor. A thick, bitter smell instantly filled the air.
The young girl was so scared she crawled back, apologizing while completely undoing her slip.
She shouldn’t have refused.
She shouldn’t have resisted.
The young girl tilted her head up, exposing all her vulnerability to the woman. She closed her eyes and said with a trembling voice, “Please… enjoy…”
The young girl was confined in the woman’s arms. The huge size difference made it impossible for her to move or struggle. She could only endure the savage sucking.
Time became slow and viscous.
Finally, the woman let go. She gently licked the drop of blood from the corner of her lips, her face instantly glowing with health.
And the young girl, having lost her support, collapsed to the floor like a torn and tattered rag doll, lifeless.
She curled up, tears unconsciously rolling down her face. In her blurry vision, there was only the woman’s trailing black skirt.
Just then—
“Clang!”
The glass on the high wall suddenly shattered. A red shadow fell along with the glass shards.
“Mmph—”
It was a red fox. It fell heavily to the ground, its hind leg bent at an unnatural angle. It was clearly broken. After an extremely painful whimper, the red fox transformed into a human.
She was fifteen or sixteen years old, completely naked. She hugged her injured leg, her breath weak, and said, “Save… save me… please…”
After a few moments of silence, the woman walked straight to the fox. She bent down, very gently picked the person up in her arms, and even cooed softly, “Don’t be afraid, I’ll save you right away.”
The woman held her, turned, and walked away, leaving the young girl, who was on the verge of death from blood loss, on the ground.
The ancient castle quickly fell silent. The young girl lay on the floor, the bone-chilling cold gnawing at her weak body. She wanted to follow and find out what was going on but didn’t have the strength to get up.
She could only watch the woman’s cold back recede into the distance.
She should have been happy, but a deeper panic invaded her mind.
Master didn’t want her anymore?
This conjecture seemed to have come true.
Ever since that fox had burst in, the woman had never summoned her again.
Most of the time, the woman stayed with the fox. They would hug, have afternoon tea together, and do crafts together.
A connection flowed between them that completely excluded her.
Another night, the woman went to the red fox’s room.
The young girl stood at the corner of the corridor, eavesdropping. Her heart felt as if it were being pierced by tens of thousands of sharp needles. It was a pain more suffocating than having her blood sucked.
She would rather the woman be as cold and rough as before, taking her blood, than to be completely forgotten like this.
Completely abandoned in a corner…
“Don’t leave me!”
Haia sat up with a start. She subconsciously touched her neck. There were no bite marks on her smooth skin.
The room was filled with the smell of cheap soap. The narrow space could only fit a bed and a table.
This was the setup of a small inn.
Haia was still in shock. Everything in the dream had been too real. The feeling of having her blood sucked made her whole body go numb. What scared her even more was Aomo’s indifference.
She noticed Herlkin lying beside her.
Dead fox!
She wanted to spank Herlkin’s bottom again.
Just then, the door was gently pushed open.
Aomo seemed not to have expected that Haia was already awake. The two of them met eyes.
After a moment of silence, Haia got out of bed.
She tiptoed to Aomo’s side, tilted her neck up, and said softly, “Teacher, you must be hungry.”
Aomo was startled. She quickly looked at Herlkin, who was lying on the bed, and said, “You’re crazy. Xiao Jin is still here…”
Haia locked the door from the inside, pressed Aomo against the door, and said wickedly, “Isn’t this more exciting?”
Aomo’s gaze uncontrollably fell on that snow-white neck.
Blood.
The blood of a young woman.
She wanted to drink it.
“No…” Aomo bit her lip. She reached out to push Haia away. “Don’t mess around.”
Haia grabbed her hand and pressed it against her own heart. “I’m not messing around. I’m telling the truth…”
Herlkin, on the bed, turned over.
Aomo’s whole body tensed.
To be messing around with her student on the door, what kind of decorum was this! What’s more, the other student was right there…
“Haia.” Aomo called her by her first name. “Get away.”
The last three words poked at Haia’s most sensitive point. She squeezed Aomo’s hand tightly and demanded, “Why do you always push me away? I’m not afraid of you sucking my blood. I’m willing. I’ve been with you in the mountains for so many years. Don’t you understand my heart…”
“Shut up.” Aomo cut her off, her eyes full of pain. “You bastard.”
Haia directly touched her waist. “Yes, I’m a bastard.”
“Don’t…”
Just as everything was about to spin out of control, Herlkin shot up from the bed.
“My sausage!” she shouted, as if her heart were breaking. “My sausage!”
Haia instantly regained her reason. Aomo took the opportunity to push her away and hastily straightened her clothes.
“Are you awake? Are you uncomfortable?”
Aomo pretended to be calm and walked to Herlkin’s side. Her red ears had not yet faded.
It was unclear whether it was from anxiety or shame.
“I’m fine.” Herlkin seemed not to have noticed the subtle atmosphere in the room and said, “Where are we?”
Aomo raised her hand and pressed her temples. “The shipwreck came too quickly. Teleporting with two people over a long distance is too draining…”
She glanced at her still slightly trembling fingertips. “Then I lost control. We all fell into the sea. Fortunately, we were washed ashore. You were all unconscious, so I found the nearest inn.”
The warmth of Aomo’s side still lingered on Haia’s fingertips.
She caressed her fingers and said, “Then you shouldn’t have brought me next time. Just take her… why bother with me…”
Aomo spun around. The feeling of being squeezed on her side was still incredibly clear.
She wanted to say something, but Herlkin got up first. She walked barefoot to the door and grabbed Haia’s hand. “Don’t talk nonsense! Of course, the three of us have to be together!”
Haia stared at her, a warmth spreading through her heart. She said awkwardly, “I’m not done with you about the sausage! My nose is still stuffy!”
Herlkin covered her bottom. “Teacher! Save me!”
*
On the small island surrounded by the sea, there was a very lively central square, surrounded by shops. As soon as night fell, the lights in the glass windows lit up.
Smoked meat, fruits, cloth, and miscellaneous goods—there was everything.
The air was filled with the sweet aroma of roasted chestnuts. The cries of the vendors rose and fell. Children were chasing and laughing by the fountain. Adele held Lina’s hand and said, “I smell sausage. If Herlkin and the others are also on the island, they will definitely be near the sausage.”
Lina glanced at the bite mark on her neck and guiltily touched her ear.
I have to be gentler with my marking next time…
The two had just walked out of the small alley when they almost bumped into a pedestrian coming from the east.
“Ouch—”
A low cry sounded at the same time.
“Oh! Sorry!” Adele subconsciously apologized.
The person opposite also said, “Please forgive us. We didn’t…”
The air suddenly fell silent, and then—
Their eyes met.
“My lady Yuan You!”
“Elder Adele!”
Lina also recognized Huaguang, who was standing to the side. “Your Highness!”
The faces of the four of them all showed the relief of surviving a disaster and the joy of meeting again.
Huaguang reached out and patted Lina’s head. “It’s good that you’re all alive.”
Lina asked, “Where is Your Highness going?”
Yuan You chimed in, “I heard there’s a place selling sausage up ahead. We were going to try our luck, thinking we might run into you…”
“We were too,” Adele said. “Let’s go together.”
Before the four of them got close to the sausage shop, they heard:
“Smoking it with this pine wood won’t work. You have to use applewood. Smoke it until the first layer of fat has rendered, then the heat is just right. Then seal it and put it in a ventilated place. When you want to eat it, just wipe it lightly with snow water, then throw it into hot oil, and the aroma will come out with a sizzle…”
Herlkin was sitting at the entrance of the shop, sharing her experience of making sausage. Aomo and Haia were waiting by the side, but the two of them were far apart.
“Aunt!”
Lina was the first to speak.
Herlkin was stunned for a moment, then turned her head at the sound and saw that all four of them were standing before her, safe and sound.
“Oh!” she shot up and said, “I knew you guys would come looking for sausage!”
The team was reunited. No more words were needed. A silent understanding flowed between the seven of them.
…
The next day at noon.
The group walked up the snowy mountain. Yuan You held a map and walked in the front. Huaguang and Lina were next, with Adele half a step behind the rabbit ball, protecting her from behind.
Haia and Aomo walked in step, but Herlkin was squeezed between them.
“Don’t you think this shipwreck was very strange?” Huaguang said, “Our destination was this small island. If we had taken a ship, it would have taken at least another three days to get here. But now we’re early… From so far away, all seven of us were washed ashore on the island, and we’re all alive.”
“Yes, it’s too much of a coincidence.” Lina nodded, then asked, “Your Highness, is the army Queen Gila left for you on this island? But from what I see, this island is not very big.”
The implication was that it couldn’t hold too many people.
“Grandmother’s letter said that by following the map’s guidance, we can find an unnamed tomb. The secret to awakening the army is hidden inside.”
“A tomb?!” Haia’s professional instincts kicked in. “Before we go in, everyone come and get a mask from me, in case there’s poisonous gas.”
“Alright.”
The mountain road was winding. The withered tree branches were hung with fluffy snow. The snow on the ground was two or three centimeters thick, crunching underfoot. The group walked in silence for a while. Lina suddenly stopped in her tracks. She turned her head and asked Herlkin, “Aunt, how did you find out about me back then?”
Herlkin let out a puff of white air. In a flash, the white air turned into a cloud of mist in the cold air. She said, “I had a dream. I dreamt of Herte, and also of you. When I woke up, I received a letter saying you were in danger and asking me to come and save you.”
“A dream?” Lina also remembered her own dream about the farm, about the ruler, about the teacher and student.
Haia and Huaguang’s hearts also skipped a beat.
The scene in the dream was too real, as if they had experienced it somewhere…
But upon careful thought, they couldn’t find this memory from their childhood.
Damn it.
