Chapter Seventy-Five: The Scorching Mark

The small sphere landed in her palm. Chi Naiyun was still sobbing, and the furry ball remained sprawled as if lifeless. It was in that moment that Chao Xu realized, with sudden clarity, that aside from herself, no one else could see this bead.

She paused, then brought the bead closer, studying it intently. Though its shape was regular, its surface was uneven, like a flawed piece of glass, exuding a dreary, oppressive aura.

She wondered what it would feel like to squeeze this thing.

Her fingers itched again. Chao Xu pinched the bead lightly between her two fingers and applied a bit of pressure.

In the next instant, the gray bead shattered instantly, as fragile as if it were nothing. It dissolved into a wisp of blue smoke and vanished completely.

At the same time, the violet energy that had been suppressed on Chi Naiyun’s body was suddenly released, surging to envelop her entirely in an unstoppable wave.

Chao Xu had just opened her mouth to speak when a wave of dizziness swept over her, and a burning pain struck her left shoulder blade.

“Chao Si, are you alright?”

Seeing Chao Xu’s unsteady steps, Chi Naiyun, still wiping tears from her face, hurried over to support her.

Chao Xu shook her head. She was about to say she was fine, when she noticed a playful strand of that gorgeous violet energy slipping from Chi Naiyun, curling around her own fingertips. It bounced around with a showy air before vanishing into nothing.

Raising an eyebrow with a hint of mischief, Chao Xu sensed she had stumbled upon something extraordinary.

“I’m fine. My hand’s just a bit sore from all that punching. It’s getting late—make sure you hurry home. I need to get back for dinner as well,” she said coolly, rising from Chi Naiyun’s support.

A little disappointed that her help wasn’t needed, Chi Naiyun murmured her assent, reluctantly bidding Chao Xu goodbye.

Chao Xu narrowed her eyes, watching Chi Naiyun for a moment longer, then turned and got into her car.

Closing her eyes, she said softly, “Let’s go home.”

…

At the Chao family’s main residence, the butler—who had been waiting anxiously all afternoon—finally relaxed at the sight of her car, then hurried out, beaming with relief.

“Young master, why are you back so late today, QAQ?”

Chao Xu stepped out of the car, calmly sidestepping the butler’s enthusiasm. “It’s nothing, just ran into a bit of trouble on the way. Once I took care of it, I came straight home.”

The butler, unaware of the nature of this so-called trouble, didn’t ask further. He cheerfully urged her to eat, lest she grow thin from hunger.

Starving, Chao Xu accepted the invitation. After dinner, however, she instructed the butler not to let anyone into her room.

Heading upstairs, she tossed her schoolbag aside, took the furry ball from her shoulder, blindfolded it with a strip of cloth, and ruthlessly threw it into the hamster cage.

[Wuwuwu, Host, why are you tying me up all of a sudden!]

Ignoring its wails, Chao Xu walked straight to the bathroom, taking off her jacket and T-shirt. She unclasped her black bra and, turning sideways toward the mirror, glanced at her left shoulder blade.

Her eyes darkened. In the mirror’s reflection, her usually unfathomable gaze showed a rare flicker of emotion.

Her cool fingertips slowly brushed the spot that had ached before.

There, on skin that had been flawless and porcelain-white, was an unexpected mark.

A black six-pointed star.

It looked as if it had been carved into her flesh, radiating an ancient and mysterious aura.

It was beautiful, in its way—if she brought this pattern to a tattoo parlor, it would probably become a sensation.

But here was the issue: she hadn’t noticed this mark during her previous showers.