The entire cave trembled as fire and debris erupted from the entrance.
Screams echoed through the chamber as hooded figures scrambled for cover.
The explosion sent a shockwave rippling through the underground lair, toppling stone pillars and shattering wooden crates filled with talismans and artifacts.
Huang Jin barely had ti to react before a second explosion rocked the cavern, sending a cascade of burning rubble raining down.
He threw himself to the side, narrowly avoiding a jagged boulder that would have crushed him instantly.
"What the hell is happening?!" Sheng Xin shrieked, coughing as smoke filled the air.
The leader, struggling to stay upright, clenched his fists.
His face twisted in fury as he shouted,
"It’s her! Yu Holea! She’s already found us!"
A third explosion detonated deeper in the tunnel, cutting off their only escape route. Panic set in among the cultists.
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"We’re trapped!"
"She’s going to kill us all!"
"Use your talismans!" soone scread.
But as they scrambled to activate their remaining dark magic, another surge of force shook the ground beneath them.
This ti, it wasn’t just an explosion—it was a collapse.
The cave ceiling cracked, and massive chunks of rock began to fall. Huang Jin’s eyes widened in horror. "No—!"
But it was too late.
A final, deafening blast sent a wall of fire roaring through the chamber, consuming everything in its path.
The last thing Huang Jin saw was the leader’s furious, bloodstained face before the ceiling ca crashing down on them.
Back in her apartnt, Yu Holea rolled onto her back, staring at the ceiling with a satisfied smirk.
"Ga over."
Her phone vibrated.
Luo Murong’s voice was lighthearted but impressed. "It’s done. No survivors."
Yu Holea yawned. "Good. Now we can finally get so peace."
She closed her eyes, letting sleep take her, knowing that for tonight, at least, there was nothing left to worry about.
Half of the reptilian shapeshifters were already dealt with, and the main force of reptilian shapeshifters were wiped out.
................
Yu Holea was in a deep sleep when she suddenly felt an octopus wrapping itself around her.
At first, she resisted, instinctively struggling against the constricting grip.
But the octopus was too strong, its limbs coiling around her body with an unsettling familiarity.
Her heart pounded. Sothing was wrong.
With a sharp inhale, Yu Holea forced her heavy eyelids open—only to find herself staring directly into Qiao Jun’s face.
She blinked, her mind sluggish from sleep.
"What... are you doing?" Her voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper.
Qiao Jun was lying beside her, his arms wrapped around her tightly like a vice.
His face was buried in the crook of her neck, his breathing slow and even, as if he had been there for a while.
Yu Holea stiffened.
"Qiao Jun?" She shook him slightly, expecting him to wake up groggy and confused.
Instead, his grip tightened.
"Don’t move," he murmured against her skin, his voice low and laced with sothing unrecognizable.
"Just stay like this for a while."
Yu Holea frowned, her sleep-fogged mind clearing rapidly.
"Why? Weren’t you ignoring ? Why do you want to hold now?" She rolled her eyes.
"Baby, I am truly tired. I will answer you once I wake up. Please let sleep for so while." Qiao Jun coaxed, his eyes remaining closed.
Yu Holea sighed, staring at the ceiling as Qiao Jun’s warmth pressed against her.
The weight of his arms around her was both comforting and frustrating.
She had been angry with him for ignoring her, but now he was here, clinging to her like she was his lifeline.
"Tired, huh?" she muttered under her breath.
Qiao Jun humd in response, his grip tightening slightly.
"Fine," she mumbled, closing her eyes. "Just this once."
Minutes passed, and soon, Qiao Jun’s breathing evened out, his body relaxing completely.
Yu Holea, however, found sleep elusive. Her mind spun with unanswered questions.
What had he been doing all this ti? Why was he so exhausted? And why did it feel like he was hiding sothing from her?
Eventually, she fell asleep, too.
Yu Holea woke up to the sound of soft breathing against her neck.
She turned slightly, shifting just enough to look at him.
Qiao Jun was still fast asleep, his face unusually peaceful.
There were faint dark circles under his eyes, and his usually sharp features seed softer in repose.
She reached out instinctively, brushing a strand of hair away from his forehead. As soon as her fingers grazed his skin, his eyes fluttered open.
For a brief mont, he just stared at her, his gaze unreadable. Then, he sighed and pulled her closer, burying his face in her shoulder.
"You’re awake," she murmured.
"Mm."
"Are you going to tell what’s going on now?"
Qiao Jun hesitated, his arms tightening around her. "Not yet."
Yu Holea exhaled sharply, annoyed.
"You can’t just show up in my bed, wrap yourself around , and then refuse to explain. I need to know what’s happening."
"I will tell you... soon," he said, his voice hoarse. "Just... let stay like this for a little longer."
Yu Holea bit her lip.
She should push him away, demand answers, but sothing in his voice stopped her. He sounded exhausted.
Defeated.
So she let him stay.
Minutes turned into an hour, and eventually, Qiao Jun shifted, sitting up with a heavy sigh. He ran a hand through his hair, his expression troubled.
Yu Holea sat up as well, pulling her knees to her chest. "Now, will you talk?"
He hesitated but finally nodded. "Let’s breakup."
Yu Holea’s heart skipped a beat, and she stared at Qiao Jun with a complex look in her eyes,
"What? What did you say?"
"I...have found soone better, Holea. Soone who understands my needs, soone who lets be close to them, and soone who is ready for physical intimacy." Qiao Jun said in a dull voice.
Yu Holea felt her body go cold.
For a mont, she simply stared at Qiao Jun, her mind struggling to process the words that had just left his lips. The warmth of his embrace from earlier now felt like a cruel joke, a final act before delivering a fatal blow.
Her fingers clenched into fists. "You’re joking, right?"
Qiao Jun’s expression remained unreadable, his dark eyes void of emotion. "No. I’m serious. I think we should end this."
Yu Holea let out a bitter laugh, though it was void of humor. "You think you can just crawl into my bed, hold all night, and then wake up and decide we’re done? Just like that?"
He looked away, his jaw tightening. "I didn’t an to mislead you. I just... needed comfort one last ti."
"One last ti?" Her voice cracked. Anger surged through her veins, drowning out the ache in her chest.
"So that’s all I was to you? Comfort? Convenience? A placeholder until you found soone ’better’? I didn’t give you a chance just so you could find soone better!"
Qiao Jun flinched but didn’t respond imdiately. He exhaled heavily, running a hand through his hair. "It’s not like that."
"Then what is it like?" she snapped, her patience unraveling.
"Tell , Qiao Jun. Who is she? Who’s the person that made you decide I wasn’t enough anymore?"
He remained silent, and that silence was worse than any answer he could have given.
Yu Holea’s heart pounded.
A mixture of hurt and fury swirled within her, threatening to consu her whole. "I deserve the truth," she whispered, her voice dangerously low.
"Say it to my face. Look in the eyes and tell that I don’t matter to you anymore."
Qiao Jun hesitated before finally eting her gaze. His expression was unreadable, but there was sothing else in his eyes—guilt.
"You do matter to ," he said softly. "But not in the way you deserve."
Yu Holea swallowed the lump in her throat, blinking back the sting of tears. "So that’s it, then? After everything?"
Qiao Jun’s face darkened, as if he was struggling with his own emotions. "It’s better this way, Holea. You’ll see that soon enough."
She let out a hollow laugh. "Better for who? You? Or the new woman who ’understands your needs’?"
Qiao Jun said nothing.
Yu Holea took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay composed. If this was how he wanted it to end, then she wouldn’t beg. She wouldn’t break—not in front of him.
"Fine," she said, standing up. Her voice was firm, but her hands trembled slightly. "You want to leave? Then go."
Qiao Jun nodded and stood up before leaving. He handed her a black card and said,
"Here, this is compensation..."
"I don’t want it! Just leave!"
"Holea! Holea, wake up." Yu Holea opened her eyes and saw Qiao Jun’s face.
She pushed him away and looked around.
Qiao Jun was caught off guard and almost stumbled out of the bed.
It took so ti for Yu Holea to realize that it was a dream, however, she felt no relief.
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