Pain seared through Yun Zhi's body as the cursed seal pulsed, sending waves of burning energy through his veins. He gritted his teeth, refusing to show weakness in front of Mo Lian, but she could see it—his struggle, his defiance, and the way his body was starting to falter.
She took a slow step forward, reaching out with her fingers. "I wonder," she mused, brushing a cold touch against his jaw. "How long can you keep up that smirk before you break completely?"
Yun Zhi exhaled sharply, tilting his head slightly away from her touch. "You sound confident," he murmured. "But you haven't won yet."
Mo Lian let out a soft laugh. "Haven't I?"
With a flick of her wrist, the chains twisted tighter, forcing Yun Zhi onto his knees. The pressure was overwhelming, the cursed energy digging deeper into his core. A lesser man would have screamed—but Yun Zhi only closed his eyes for a brief moment before looking up at her again, a glint of amusement still in his silver gaze.
"You must really like seeing me like this," he said, his voice smooth despite the pain. "Do you enjoy watching me suffer, or is it something else?"
Mo Lian's fingers hesitated for just a fraction of a second—so brief that most wouldn't have noticed. But Yun Zhi did.
There it is.
He smiled, slow and deliberate. "What is it, Mo Lian? Do I remind you of someone?"
Her expression darkened. "You think you're clever, don't you?"
"I know I am," Yun Zhi said, shifting slightly against his restraints. "And I also know that you don't actually want to destroy me." He lowered his voice, his gaze turning sharper. "You want to own me."
Mo Lian's eyes flashed dangerously. But instead of responding with anger, she crouched down to meet his level, her face mere inches from his.
"I own everything in this domain," she whispered, her breath ghosting against his skin. "And soon, that will include you."
Yun Zhi let out a quiet laugh. "You can try."
Before Mo Lian could react, his aura shifted. A sudden surge of power erupted from within him, and for the first time since he had been captured, he fought back.
His chains rattled violently, dark energy crackling through them as he poured his remaining strength into resistance. The cursed seal flared, pain lancing through his body, but Yun Zhi had no intention of submitting.
Mo Lian's expression flickered between intrigue and irritation. "You're willing to burn yourself out just to defy me?"
Yun Zhi grinned. "That's what makes it fun, doesn't it?"
And with that, a deafening crack echoed through the chamber as one of the chains snapped.