How horrible, how disgusting, how... sad.
Adam’s last finger trembled on its way down, eventually halting. His stern expression, his anger—they all collapsed, washed by the miserable girl’s genuine plea. It cut through his already aching heart like a frozen blade, awakening memories he did not want to remember. Yet, they flashed before his eyes.
Misha’s original mangled form, an unholy mix of a cheetah, her beloved horse, a wolf, and an ape, appeared first. Then the madness followed. The aberrations of the underground lab unravelled one after another, each more disturbing than the last, each the result of gruesome experiences and countless deaths.
Suffocating laughter reverberated through his mind, the madness chilling his blood. An old silhouette turned into a hulking, twelve-winged monster before he culled him and sealed his soul.
Yet, even after Ignatius’ death, his legacy endured for eight long years. Defenseless children were mercilessly mutilated, altered just like the girl who pleaded on her butcher’s behalf, until he put a definitive end to it seven years ago.
But the echo of this nightmare still haunted him, making his fists tighten each time he thought about Ignatius. No, the time he had spent with Misha and their shared feelings made it worse. His veins boiled as if molten steel coursed through them. If Julius refused to tolerate Gaston’s existence, he began to hate the mere memory of Ignatius.
And now, someone as devious as the old bastard stood before him.
As Adam grappled with his emotions, the witch’s smile broadened.
Power was law, but wit and experience could blunt even the sharpest blade. And Adam’s young age, coupled with his righteous anger, made him perfect prey. Emotions were the best weapon. By manipulating them, thousands of mages and cultivators had dangled at her fingertips like mere puppets. He would just become her latest addition, a much-welcomed replacement to the magical plant he had obliterated.
She licked her lips, anticipating all the riches she could gain with such a powerful slave. The ultimate reward, however, watered her mouth.
Many tunics of different sizes lay on the reclining chair—silent mementos of those who came before. Yet, she lived alone with the girl. Why? She was two hundred and sixty-nine years old, yet looked no older than twenty. Why?
Because, like the girl, these naïve fools became her nourishment, leaving a colorful tapestry of clothes as the only relic of their miserable deaths. The stronger they were, the longer they extended her lifespan. And Adam was strong, unlike the children she had begrudgingly fed on in the last fifty years.
The disappearance of powerful individuals caught the Verdant Peak Sect’s attention. It was a second-rate sect established on a nearby mountain, not exactly strong compared to giant first-rate sects, but led by five void refinement realm experts.
They labelled her the witch of the west, a title she didn’t dislike. However, the memory of the force mounted to subjugate her still made her tremble.
The forest shook, the earth trembled, and mana clashed against qi for a week. She defended her territory fiercely, yet was eventually overpowered and then forced into a travesty of an agreement.
In truth, they shackled her to their rule, wanting to benefit from her alchemy in secret. After all, seven-star alchemists were rare—those untethered like her were even rarer. In exchange for her collaboration, they promised to turn a blind eye to her... practices and even lend a hand as long as she limited her targets to commoners. She knew it was a temporary measure, though.
The day they reared their own alchemists to her level approached. Her usefulness was threatened, and so was her life. All the more reasons to subdue Adam, who proved stronger than her. With him, she could escape their monitoring. No, she could even take revenge! All she needed was to push the nail of doubt into his conflicted heart.
She placed her hands on the girl’s shoulders, her features softening into a caring expression.
"Listen. I asked you not to enter because I knew you would misunderstand. The girl said it herself: I’m her benefactor. True, she suffered a little, but it was all to develop the best antidote for her parents."
She placed her finger on her dimple, her scarlet eyes brimming with honesty. "Oh, and as I said, I can heal her condition. In fact, I was just about to do it when you barged in."
Adam shuddered for a second, then another. A tense silence engulfed the room, only broken by the rustle of his clothes and the girl’s muffled gasps of discomfort.
Eventually, he tilted his head to the side, a relieved smile curving his lips. "So, it was all a misunderstanding?"
"Exactly! But you’re better than most. You sought the truth until we cleared it. You might be young, but your wisdom impresses me." The witch clapped her hands, her smile turning predatory and her thoughts raging in victory.
Adam ignored her delight, gesturing for the girl to approach.
She hesitated, glancing at the witch, who raised a brow for permission. A hand pushed her forward the next second. She stumbled on her weak legs, almost crashing to the ground, but managed to step before Adam.
He smiled at her, nodding as he moved her beside him. Then, he focused back on the witch and sighed.
"I’m glad it was all a misunderstanding."
Before the witch could answer, a blur flashed past her eyes, too fast to catch. Yet, Adam still stood before her, unmoving. Did something pass her by?
Confused, she turned to confirm her suspicion, only for her eyes to widen.
Sunlight illuminated dancing motes of dust twirling from a fist-sized hole drilled into the wall. When had it appeared?
She shuddered the next second, a crippling pain assaulting her chest. She panted, her eyes darting down. And there she saw it—the same hole and her missing heart.
Through it, she saw the girl’s ugly face and Adam’s moving lips.
"I almost thought you were a botanist when you’re just another monster wearing human skin. That’s the misunderstanding I spoke about."
She tried to speak. But he stretched his left palm before him, then lowered his right over it.