“Master Chance is certainly forthright.” She lifted one slender hand and, without hurry, peeled away the gauzy veil. The cloth slid down and revealed a face that could topple kingdoms.
Her brows arched like distant peaks touched with ink, her eyes flowed like autumn water, her nose rose fine and straight, her lips glimmered like a dab of cherry blossom. Milk-pale skin caught the soft light inside the sedan and returned a faint, pearly glow.
She was stunning, no question. Not a showy, flamboyant beauty, but a cool grace warmed by a quiet softness, an orchid in a hidden valley, a plum blossom under new snow. Jared gave her two calm looks, then nodded once. “Acceptable… I won’t feel cheated…”
Dominic’s complexion darkened until it neared charcoal.
What did he mean, “acceptable”?!
And what did he mean, “won’t feel cheated”?!
In Cloudhaven City, Vivian’s looks ranked near the very top. Out of Jared’s mouth they became only “acceptable”?!
Worse, she had really removed the veil for him! Dominic had spoken with her for quite a while earlier and the veil never budged. Yet one sentence from Jared and it was gone.
The uneven treatment made Dominic’s jaw clench so tight the muscles leapt beneath the skin. He drew in a long breath, forced a measured tone, and said, “Master Chance, the contest isn’t finished. Are you so sure Miss Chance will end up your dual cultivation partner?”
Jared leaned against the sedan wall. “Not sure at all. But I need to inspect the merchandise first. Winning only to find I dislike the prize would be a waste of effort.”
“You…” Dominic’s face flushed. “Outrageous! Miss Chance is no merchandise!”
Vivian lifted a hand, a small motion that told Dominic to let it go. She studied Jared, curiosity glittering in her eyes. “Master Chance, you seem confident. Are you certain you can defeat Lord Wagner?”
Jared offered no answer. The corner of his mouth just quirked. The arc of that smile held a playful slant and a thread of disdain, as if to say, “Him? Please…”
Dominic caught the look and nearly burst. He squeezed his fists until the nails bit deep, barely keeping still.
The sedan kept moving, its rhythm steady.
After roughly one incense-stick’s time, the bearers finally halted.
“Miss, we have arrived,” a maid called from outside.
All three stepped down. A grand residence filled their view.
Scarlet doors studded with bronze nails and rings guarded the entrance, and above them a plaque carried two bold characters, Chance Manor.
Two rows of guards flanked the gate. Their breaths came slow and deep, every one of them stood at least at High Immortal Realm Level Six.
Vivian led the pair through several courtyards until they reached a quiet garden. In its center rested a crystal bed more than ten feet long.
The entire slab was clear and cold, faint frost-light seeping from within. Intricate formation lines crawled across its surface, each one pulsing with a restrained spiritual glow-clearly no ordinary object.
Vivian stopped, turned, and faced them. “This is the second test…”
Dominic’s brows knit. “May I ask, Miss Chance, what does this test measure?”
Vivian answered slowly. “Self-control…”
She pointed toward the bed. “This is the Heartstead Bed. Once you lie on it, the formation will draw you into an illusion… Inside the illusion, you will taste the deepest terror a person can know whatever nightmare each of you least wants to face.”
She let that settle, then went on. “Your task is to keep your mind steady, unmoved as a mountain. During the process you must not use any celestial energy. The instant you do, you fail… I will stand aside and watch to see whether you hold your ground.”
Jared studied the crystal slab and spoke up. “So we lie there without celestial energy while Miss Chance stands nearby and watches?”
Vivian nodded. “Exactly.”
Jared considered her for a beat, then asked, “Miss Chance, are you trying to see which of us has better skills in bed?”
Hearing this, Vivian froze, a rosy heat climbed up her cheeks. “You… What kind of nonsense is that?!”
She shot him a fierce glare. “This is a test of self-control! It’s not what you…”
Jared raised both hands. “All right, all right… Whatever you say.”
Vivian pressed her lips together, words catching in her throat.
A few steps away, Dominic’s jaw clenched.
Jared actually dared to tease Vivian like this!
What grated on him even more was that Vivian only blushed instead of truly lashing out. He gave a cold snort. “Master Chance, mind your tongue. Since it’s a test, allow me to go first.”
With that, he strode to the crystal bed and flipped himself onto it.
Vivian steadied her breathing and moved to the bedside. She lifted her right hand; a faint cyan glow filled her palm and swept forward with a light wave.
The glow wrapped Dominic from head to toe. His body stiffened, then his eyes slid shut.
Moments later, his brows knotted, and strain carved across his face.
Jared watched from the side, interest flickering in his gaze. He could sense the formation in the bed dragging Dominic’s soul into some illusion.
The cyan glow in Vivian’s palm was clearly tracking Dominic’s reactions inside that realm.
Dominic’s body began to tremble. His breathing turned ragged; tiny beads of sweat seeped across his forehead. Both hands clamped the bed’s edge, knuckles bleaching white.
“No… Don’t…” The words slipped out, thin and shaking. “Stay away…”
He writhed hard, as though fighting off something horrific. Vivian’s brows drew together, yet she did not stop.
Dominic’s struggle grew wilder; he twisted on the mattress, low, muffled groans spilling out. Suddenly he let out a grunt, and a telling reaction rose beneath his robes, the outline unmistakable. Vivian’s expression shifted; she snapped her hand back.
The cyan glow vanished, Dominic’s eyes flew open and he sucked in great gulps of air. Sweat soaked his clothing, his face pale as paper, pupils still unfocused.
“Lord Wagner…” Vivian’s voice carried a chill. “You have failed…”
Dominic blinked, finally grasping what had happened. Color raced across his face, white, then red, then a sickly green, and his gaze skittered away.
“Miss Chance, I…”
“No need.” Vivian cut him off, tone icy. “Inside the illusion you were swallowed by fear, lost your composure and your body reacted. That shows your self-control isn’t enough. Lord Wagner, please step aside.”
Dominic opened his mouth but nothing came out. He climbed off the bed, shooting Jared a look sharp enough to carve stone, then retreated to one side. Yet he did not leave.
He still wanted to see how Jared would fare.
