“No-” Rachel’s scream was cut short before Narcissa raised her hand and flicked her wrist. A flash of purple light sliced through the air, and Rachel’s hands were severed cleanly at the wrists. As blood sprayed across the floor, she let out one agonized cry before losing consciousness.
Muffled gasps and stifled sobs filled the hall, but no one dared cry aloud. They were terrified of being the next victim.
“Take her away.”
Narcissa waved her hand dismissively, as if shooing off a fly. Two trembling Weston family maids shuffled forward and dragged Rachel’s limp body out, leaving a bright trail of blood behind.
“Anyone else want to challenge me?”
Narcissa asked, her piercing gaze sweeping across the room.
Everyone lowered their heads. Not a single person dared to meet her eyes.
Kael still wasn’t satisfied. He walked toward a young woman kneeling on the floor.
She was Oswald’s granddaughter, Marilyn Weston, a college freshman home for summer break to help with the family business. She was delicate and pretty, but now deathly pale with fear.
“You,” he said, pointing his riding crop at her. “Bring me some pastries. The sweet kind.”
Marilyn scrambled to her feet and practically ran to the kitchen. Moments later, she returned carrying a plate of delicate pastries and carefully set it on the table in front of the boy.
Kael picked one up, took a bite, then spat it out.
“It’s too sweet. Are you trying to make me sick?”
He flew into a rage and lashed her across the face with the crop. Marilyn screamed, and a bloody welt rose on her cheek. She clutched her face and collapsed to the floor, tears streaming down uncontrollably.
“Useless!”
He raised the crop to strike again, but Narcissa stopped him.
“Kael, that’s enough,” she said flatly, her tone dismissive. “Don’t waste your energy on mortals. It’s beneath you.” He lowered the crop but kicked Marilyn hard anyway.
“Get out of my sight!”
Marilyn crawled to the side of the room, sobbing quietly while covering her wound.
Oswald watched it all with tears streaming down his weathered face, but he didn’t dare say a word. He knew these two were far beyond anything the Weston family could handle.
Narcissa claimed to be from some hidden cultivation family. Three days ago, she’d shown up at the Weston estate and announced she’d be staying temporarily.
He had tried to politely decline at first. But she had simply waved her hand, and the Westons’ two best security guards went flying, coughing up blood.
Since then, the Weston estate had become the mother and son’s temporary residence. The entire household was forced to serve them. The slightest displeasure meant beatings or worse. By then, three staff members had already been killed.
“Mom, I’m so bored,” Kael complained, rolling around on the couch. “This place is a dump. When are we going after that bitch? I want to catch her and make her my pet.”
A cold glint flashed in Narcissa’s eyes.
“Soon,” she said. “I’ve already sensed her energy waves. She’s badly injured and couldn’t have gotten far. Once I finish things here, we’ll go find her.”
“Really?” Kael’s eyes lit up. “I want to catch that white fox too. That little beast bit me. I’m going to skin it and turn it into a scarf.”
Narcissa smiled and patted her son’s head. “Of course, darling. Whatever you want.”
Just then, a faint sound came from outside the window. Kael was the first to notice. He rushed to the window and looked outside.
“Mom, look. It’s that white fox,” he said excitedly. Under the moonlight, a pure white fox was perched on a rock in the garden. Its amber eyes were coldly fixed on the house.
“You’re right.” Narcissa walked to the window, greed gleaming in her eyes. “That fox has a strong spiritual essence. If we can capture and tame it, it’ll be a powerful asset.”
“I’ll catch it.” Kael started for the door.
“Wait.” Narcissa grabbed his arm. “That creature is cunning. It escaped last time. Let me handle this myself.”
She opened the window, and her figure blurred before appearing in the garden. The moment Narcissa emerged, Snowy turned to run. But her speed was noticeably slower than usual because her hind leg clearly hadn’t fully healed.
“Let’s see how you’re going to escape now. Narcissa sneered and thrust her hand forward. Purple light shot forth, forming a net of light that swooped down toward Snowy.
Just as the net of light was about to close, a figure in white dropped from the sky and landed gracefully in front of Snowy. With a casual wave of her sleeve, the net dissolved into nothing.
Under the moonlight, Blanche stood in flowing white robes, her long hair cascading down like a waterfall. Her pale face remained expressionless.
She bent down, gathered Snowy into her arms, and gently stroked its head. “You’re safe now.”
“It’s you!” Narcissa narrowed her eyes. Blanche, I was going to hunt you down, but here you are, delivering yourself to my doorstep.”
Blanche raised her head, her gaze cold as ice. “You and your son have been terrorizing this family and killing the innocents. Aren’t you afraid of retribution?”
“Retribution?” Narcissa sneered. “From you? A wounded stray dog who lost everything. You think you can lecture me about justice?”
As she spoke, her energy waves exploded outward. Purple energy swirled around her body, forming miniature cyclones.
The flowers and plants in the courtyard bent violently in the wind. The windows of the Weston estate rattled and cracked under the pressure.
Inside the hall, the Weston family members felt an overwhelming force crush down on them. They collapsed to the floor, and some of the weaker ones passed out entirely.
Blanche’s expression remained blank. She set Snowy aside and said coolly, “Since you refuse to see reason, don’t blame me for what happens next.”
