Morgan Shangguan stood by the window, her gaze coolly observing the people below. Susie Yun stood behind her and asked, "Miss, what did the Ghostmaster want with you?"
Morgan Shangguan shook her head and replied softly, "It's nothing."
Watching Morgan Shangguan lost in thought, Susie Yun kept glancing at her. Finally, she couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Miss, what are you thinking about?"
"Damien Gray."
Susie Yun's lips curled up. "Miss, why are you always thinking about the Ghostmaster? You say you don't like him, but if that's true, why do you keep thinking about him?"
Morgan Shangguan caught the teasing smile on her face and laughed, "Susie, why do you always think about such nonsense? Damien Gray is like a fox—if I don't stay on my toes, how can I deal with him?"
She had no idea what Damien Gray was thinking. His strange behavior always left her with a sense of foreboding.
Damien Gray didn't bother knocking; he simply pushed the door open and walked in. His eyes landed on Susie Yun. Susie glanced at Morgan Shangguan, and only when Morgan nodded did she quietly leave the room.
Morgan Shangguan looked at Damien Gray and smiled, "Ghostmaster, you really do move quickly."
Damien Gray approached her, placing his hands on the wall and trapping her between his arms. Morgan Shangguan frowned, but she didn't retreat—there was nowhere to go.
"Morgan, are you wondering what I'm about to do?"
Morgan Shangguan didn't reply. The intimacy of that address always made her feel a bit strange—she couldn't quite name the feeling. Maybe... she just wasn't used to it yet.
But she didn't reject it.
Damien Gray leaned down, his voice low and hypnotic, each word drifting into her ear and rippling through her heart. "Morgan Shangguan, listen carefully. I love you. So, in this life—and forever—you can only love me, you must love me. Do you understand?"
As he finished speaking, he kissed her earlobe and bit down—not too hard, not too soft—leaving a faint mark, like a brand that could never be erased.
Morgan Shangguan trembled slightly. The sense of foreboding in her heart grew stronger, as if something had already slipped beyond her control, leaving her feeling lost.
Her eyes flickered for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure. Morgan Shangguan laughed lightly, "Ghostmaster, have you really had too much to drink?"
Damien Gray reached out and pinched her chin, refusing to let her escape. He gazed into her eyes, a wicked smile curling at his lips. "Morgan, you will fall in love with me. Want to bet on it?"
"Sorry, as Cloud Guildmaster, I'm not interested in gambling." As she spoke, she tried to push him away. The posture was far too intimate, leaving her mind hazy and unable to think clearly.
It was as if Damien Gray had anticipated her move; he grabbed her hand and, lowering his head, pressed his lips to hers.
Morgan Shangguan hadn't expected him to kiss her so suddenly, catching her completely off guard. She wanted to resist, but Damien Gray had already blocked every escape route, leaving her no room to fight back. Clearly, dealing with this fox meant she couldn't let her guard down for even a moment.
Morgan Shangguan glared continuously behind Damien Gray. Seeing her expression, Damien couldn't help but laugh, pulling away from her lips just a little. "Morgan, it's useless. They wouldn't dare go against me!"
Morgan Shangguan was exasperated. Cowards, all of them! Before she could utter a word, her mouth was sealed again.
A shadow passed through Morgan Shangguan's eyes, but Damien Gray's gaze was filled with laughter. Now he was certain—Morgan didn't feel nothing for him. Otherwise, she wouldn't surrender so easily. Morgan's abilities were far greater than this; if she truly wanted to kill him, she could have done it by now.
This kiss was, in fact, a test. Unable to read her heart, he couldn't decide his next move. Now, he could finally relax and think about how to win her over.
"Guildmaster... Flower..." As this voice rang out, the door slammed into the wall with a bang, and the sound abruptly stopped.
Maxwell Jing swaggered in. When he saw what was happening inside, his eyes nearly popped out of his head. He stood frozen, unsure whether to advance or retreat. Was the prince really... really interested in men?
Damien Gray turned to look at him, displeased. "What is it?"
Morgan Shangguan was slightly out of breath, her voice low and steady. "Damien Gray, let me go!"
Maxwell Jing, who had just recovered his composure, was stunned again. No way—the prince even revealed his true identity? Was he really living by the saying: 'Better to die under the peony than live without beauty'? But this was a man, not a peony!
Damien Gray's lips curled into a teasing smile. "Morgan, it seems you're the one holding onto me, aren't you?"
Morgan Shangguan froze. Only now did she realize she was clutching Damien Gray's shirt. Her face shifted through several expressions before she glared at him, huffed, and shoved him away.
Maxwell Jing frowned. Morgan... Morgan... Something clicked, and he suddenly looked up at her, pointing in disbelief, stammering, "You... you are..."
Morgan Shangguan was still simmering with anger and snapped, "Are what? What is it? What do you want?"
Seeing her angry, Damien Gray was even more delighted, his smile growing wider and wider, making Morgan Shangguan grit her teeth in frustration.
Maxwell Jing finally snapped out of it, patting his startled heart before announcing, "Guildmaster, Flower Qianyu—that demon—is here." That was why he'd been so flustered he forgot to knock. Everyone knew Flower Qianyu... truly a demon!
Morgan Shangguan had calmed down by now. Hearing this, she turned to look at the great hall below. Petals were swirling everywhere, and everyone was staring toward the entrance.
Damien Gray seemed unconcerned about Flower Qianyu. He hooked his arm around Morgan Shangguan's waist and whispered in her ear, "Morgan, I will make sure you lose!"
Morgan Shangguan knew he was talking about their bet that she'd fall in love with him. She snorted, pulled his arm off her waist, and strode out the door.
Flower Qianyu, the Lotus Sect Master, was legendary for their beauty—so much so that people would do anything just to catch a glimpse. Famous throughout the martial world, the Lotus Sect was technically part of the demonic path, but its indifference to fame and fortune made it seem more righteous than the orthodox factions. Yet the truth of it all, no one really knew.