Intimate Contact (Part 4)

As we approached the gate, the sharp cry of a woman pierced the cool evening air, chilling me to my core.

Ruan Yanjun froze mid-step, his sharp gaze narrowing toward the source of the sound. Without a word, he spun on his heel and marched back inside, his stride deliberate and unyielding.

I hurried after him, my heart pounding with unease. The scream had come from the direction of the kitchen. By the time we arrived, a crowd had gathered, murmuring anxiously as they tried to peer past the kitchen door.

The guards recognized Ruan Yanjun immediately and wasted no time clearing the path, pushing people aside with stern commands. As we entered, the metallic tang of blood assaulted my senses, making my stomach churn.

Inside, the scene was ghastly. A woman's body lay crumpled on the cold tiles, her face turned away, her head a grotesque mess where her scalp should have been. The skin and hair were gone, stripped clean in a manner too precise to be the work of an animal.

A healer knelt beside her, his hands glowing faintly with spiritual energy, though it was clear there was nothing he could do. The murmurs from the crowd behind us seemed to grow louder as the healer lifted his head, his pale face etched with horror.

Ruan Yanjun, however, was calm—eerily so. His expression darkened, his crimson eyes narrowing with a dangerous glint.

"The Thread Reaper is back," he murmured, his voice low but resolute.

I turned to him, my breath caught in my throat. "You know who did this?"

He nodded, his jaw tightening. "There's only one person who would do something like this."

"Why would anyone…" I trailed off, glancing at the mutilated body. "Why would anyone do this to a woman?"

Ruan Yanjun's lips curled into a grim line. "He collects hair. Beautiful hair. It's an obsession—no, a sickness. The Reaper doesn't care about the person, only what they can give him."

The healer, who had remained silent until now, looked up sharply. "Sect Leader Ruan, wasn't it you who killed the Thread Reaper years ago? Everyone thought you'd put an end to him."

Ruan Yanjun's gaze remained on the body. "I beat him to a pulp and threw him into a lake. Whether he drowned or clawed his way back out, I didn't stay to find out."

The tension in the room thickened. The idea that this monster had survived sent a ripple of unease through everyone present. The guards exchanged nervous glances, and the healer's hands trembled faintly as he continued his futile attempts to preserve the woman's dignity.

Ruan Yanjun finally turned, his robe sweeping behind him as he strode toward the door. "Let them investigate," he said coldly. "There's nothing more for us here."

I followed silently, casting one last glance at the horrific scene before stepping out into the hallway.

The Duke intercepted us, his usually confident demeanor shaken. "Sect Leader Ruan," he said, his voice tinged with desperation, "please, stay the night. Your presence would reassure the household and…" His words faltered as he glanced over his shoulder, as though expecting the Reaper to emerge from the shadows.

Ruan Yanjun's eyes flicked to me briefly before he answered. "No. I'll take him somewhere safe."

The Duke's face fell, his shoulders slumping. It was obvious he was terrified, hoping Ruan Yanjun's presence would ward off danger. But Ruan Yanjun's priorities were clear. Whatever power struggle or chaos the Thread Reaper's return might bring, he wouldn't risk me being caught in the middle of it.

As we stepped out into the night, I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. The Duke's fear had been palpable, and I knew Ruan Yanjun's presence here could have saved lives. But I also knew better than to argue with him.

The devil beside me had made his choice. For better or worse, he had chosen me.

"Do you think he'll come after us?" I asked hesitantly as we mounted the carriage waiting by the gates.

Ruan Yanjun's gaze flicked toward the distant horizon, his expression unreadable. "If he does, he'll regret it."

His words should have comforted me, but instead, they left me uneasy. Somewhere in the shadows, a monster was lurking, and I couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't the last we'd hear of the Thread Reaper.