Chapter 36: What did you do to me?!
Pulling his robe from a nearby chair, she tossed it to him. He caught it awkwardly as he watched her dress, trying to figure out what was going on.
Turning away from him and walking over to the table where it had been sitting earlier. She picked up a small crystal bottle filled with a dark liquid, opened it, and poured the contents onto the floor below the table.
Mason watched as the liquid spread out, covering the entire area beneath the table. As soon as it touched the ground, a swirling black mist rose from the ground and began to form a shape. The darkness became a humanoid figure, its body made of shadowy tendrils that twisted and curled together. Its head was a featureless void, but two red eyes appeared in the center of the emptiness.
"What is that?" asked Mason nervously.
The Empress smiled at him. "That's my little friend."
'That doesn't answer my question, dumbass!' Mason deadpanned.
The creature stood silently, staring directly at Mason. It reached out toward him with long tendrils that seemed to stretch forever. The tips of the tendrils were sharpened into claws that looked capable of tearing through flesh and bone.
Mason stepped back slowly, keeping his distance from the creature. "What is it? A demon?"
"This is Shuí Huò," said the Empress, gesturing towards the creature. "My pet demon."
Mason gulped audibly. "Your what?"
The woman laughed, clapping her hands together. "Shuí Huò is one of the most powerful demons known to man," she explained. "He's also very loyal to me."
"Loyal?" repeated Mason incredulously. "To you?" He shook his head. "Why would a demon be loyal to anyone?"
The Empress shrugged. "I'm not sure myself. He's always been there for me ever since I met him."
Mason glanced over at the creature again. It still hadn't moved, but he could feel its presence behind him now.
[Shí Huò gradually takes the soul of its victim while masking its actions as a form of help to its master. She has been under its hold and majorly doesn't act of her own accord, but can you guess what part of this story is false?]
'That's why the Emperor... he knew! It could only be the reason he had placed the Soul Bound Lotus in her which could only be triggered by dual cultivating! But why pick me as the Favored one?'
"What does it do? How does it help you?" Mason asked cautiously.
The Empress walked past him, moving closer to the demon. "It helps me by killing people for me in exchange for something important."
Mason felt his stomach drop as she continued.
"It's a very simple process really; I allow it to get who I cultivated with, and then it kills them for me and exchanges it for their life force, essence, rank, or talent..." She paused before adding, "Usually it takes less than a day."
Mason took another step back. "What do you mean 'usually'?"
"It can take longer if the person has powerful enemies or is important enough to raise suspicion, like that bastard who wouldn't just die as we had planned! This seductress wouldn't allow it no matter the offer, so we had to go with a different route."
'We? Why the sudden change in pronouns?'
[The entity isn't complete, host. Think, recall any clues that could point you in the right direction.]
'Ming! That's the evil Bai mentioned that lurks around him, it has bonded with him and was acting out once it sensed my presence in this realm.'
The Empress turned around, looking at him with wide eyes. "You don't seem surprised about this."
Mason shook his head. "I've heard stories like this before. Demons aren't exactly unheard of in fantasy works."
"Oh, right," said the Empress, nodding as she started to walk back over towards Shí Huò. "We forgot that you're from a parallel plane of existence. You probably know all sorts of things that we don't."
[Shí Huò is devoid of a soul and you, host, are its target but it won't act on its desire until after the full moon.]
Mason's eyes widened in shock at the clue he had needed on his mystery opponent that had his world spiral into confusion the moment he got into this realm.
The corner of his lips curved into a smirk, "perhaps, am I a threat to your plans?"
"Oh no," the Empress replied with a laugh, "you're more of an opportunity. We planned to kill you here, not until this body had to be overwhelmed by mundane desires, but now... now we have a new use for you."
"Aside from the great pleasure benefit I got while ravaging that body you inhabit at the moment," Mason pointed at the Empress with a playful grin, "is her soul so repulsive that you're interested in mine now? Or maybe you want a free trial?"
The Empress scoffed, "I'm not going to waste time talking with someone like you. You'll just die soon anyway."
She turned around and walked up to Shí Huò. "I will give you four days, then you must return to me with what I need. If you fail to do so, I will make sure that everyone suffers."
The lotus petal emerged from the Empress' chest, causing her to gasp in pain. She fell forward onto the ground, clutching at her chest as the petal glowed brighter. Her face twisted into a mask of agony as she struggled to breathe, trying to pull herself away from the glowing flower.
Shí Huò screeched in pain, raising its hand over its eyes as the light grew stronger. A second later, there was a blinding flash of white light and the Empress stopped moving.
Mason stared at the Empress' unconscious body for a few seconds before turning his attention to the petal, which was now floating in midair. It continued to glow brightly before disintegrating into particles of light that faded into nothingness.
'Is she dead?' Mason narrowed his eyes at the Empress' body lying motionless on the floor. He knew that she wasn't truly alive anymore, but he felt a twinge of regret when he thought about how she'd been reduced to this state because of her secrets.
[She is still alive, but barely]
He shook his head and sighed, "So much for getting information out of her. That sly bastard really knows how to pack a punch even while on his deathbed."
He looked down at the body one last time, wondering if he should take her to someplace where her subjects would care for her properly or just leave her there. Before he could decide, the body began to move slightly, almost as though it were breathing.
Mason jumped back in shock as the Empress slowly sat up and opened her eyes. Her expression was blank and confused for a moment before her face contorted in rage and she glared at him.
"What did you do to me?" she snarled.
'Some nerve you have, ma'am!' Mason chuckled, "what makes you think I did anything to you? Your actions led to this situation."
"You... you..." the Empress sputtered, trying to form words but failing miserably, feeling her strength waning.
"Yes, I know," Mason said with a shrug, "and don't worry, I can fix it. Just beg me to spare your life."
The Empress looked at him incredulously, "Why would I ever do such a thing to a mere boy?"
'Mere b– mere boy?!' Mason broke out into a peal of crazed laughter.
"Because if you don't, I'll kill you right now," Mason replied with a twisted smile as his eyes gleamed with murderous intent. "This boy had you screaming in pleasure and clamping down hard on my little brother for a release, a few minutes ago. I wouldn't be surprised if that shit pet of yours already gave you enough to get you through the next couple of weeks."
The Empress' eyes widened in surprise and fear, "don't tell me that we–"
"Of course we did, but as a gentleman, it was only after you insisted," Mason nodded, "I'm a Dual Cultivation Master after all. What better way to test your abilities than to pair you with someone who has mastered it himself? I had been wondering why I needed to see you at the infirmary, but now I have a detailed idea."
Grabbing and pulling the Empress closer by the neck so she was mere inches away from his face, he took his time to search hers as a devious smile was plastered on his lips, "Now, tell me what I want to know, or I'll make sure that your suffering lasts longer than my ultimated four days."
The Empress struggled to breathe, her heart pounding in her chest as she stared at the frightening young master in front of her, she stared for a long moment before letting out a deep sigh and forcing a nod.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone