Indebted marriage

Fourty five

The Hunt Ends – Shadows of Vengeance

"Now it's time to hunt the villains of our life—Meng Ziyi.
You dared to hurt my family—my lifeline—for your petty obsession. You thought that if I lost Weiying, I would come crawling to you... you fool. Now you will see the hunt of the ruthless king. And you... you are the prey."

Rain battered the warehouse docks, turning the ground into slick mud. Lightning flashed, illuminating the broken crates, puddles, and shadows that writhed unnaturally. Yibo's boots splashed through the water as his senses honed in on Meng Ziyi's aura—poisoned, twisted, and deadly.

He could see her standing there, crimson robes plastered to her body, eyes glowing green with malice. "The king finally shows up," she hissed, swirling her hands as dark tendrils of shadow erupted from the floor. "Come closer. Let me enjoy this."

Yibo's fist tightened around the hilt of his obsidian dagger. Every step forward carried the weight of fury and grief. He had seen Weiying collapse, pale and trembling, poisoned by her hand. He would not forgive.

With a blur of motion, he lunged forward, dagger slashing a precise arc. Meng Ziyi reacted instantly, raising a wall of fire laced with venom. Sparks flew as his blade struck the barrier; shards of flaming wood exploded around them.

"You can't win," she spat, her voice venomous. "He's mine. The poison will hollow him out, and you... you'll die beside him."

Yibo's teeth gritted. "He's alive because of me. And you... will regret touching him."

⸻

The first clash was a violent dance. Bolts of red and green magic slammed into each other, exploding into sparks that lit the warehouse in bursts of hellish light. Yibo dodged a spear of fire, rolling across the wet floor, dagger striking at her side. She twisted, summoning blades of shadow that sliced through the air, missing him by inches.

The storm outside mirrors the storm inside me, he thought, eyes locked on her, muscles coiled. Every strike was precise, every dodge fueled by desperation.

Her laughter rang, high and piercing. "Do you really think your strength alone can save him? You've lost before you even began."

Yibo ignored her, ducking under a whip of venomous shadow and striking her thigh with the dagger. She cried out, her magic flaring violently in retaliation, filling the air with noxious green smoke. He coughed but pressed on, spinning and slashing, forcing her back against a splintered wall.

The warehouse shook with the impact of unleashed magic. Rainwater sizzled as it hit bolts of energy, steam rising in thick, choking clouds. Every step, every strike, carried the weight of his rage and love.

⸻

Suddenly, the shadows in the far corner shifted. A chill ran down Yibo's spine. He felt it—a familiar, immense presence moving closer.

He's here.

From the darkness emerged Weiying, stepping forward with commanding poise. His eyes blazed violet, his aura radiating raw, unrelenting power. Black shadows coiled around his body like serpents, pulsing with energy.

"You talk too much, Ziyi," Weiying said, voice low, dangerous. "No one harms my family and lives."

Meng Ziyi faltered. Her confidence wavered for the first time. "Impossible... you should be weak—dying—"

"You underestimated the bond between us," Weiying interrupted. His hand flicked, and black tendrils of shadow struck the chains restraining Yibo, shattering them instantly.

Yibo's muscles coiled as he surged forward, blade flashing in perfect sync with Weiying's shadows. They moved as one, a deadly duet—steel and shadow against poisoned magic.