Chapter 327

“Listen to me.”

The strength in his grip finally weakened a bit, allowing Ning Ning to cough softly and struggle for a breath.

“What you saw was just a scene set up by the demons to lure you deeper into darkness—I’m right here, alive.”

As she spoke, she moved her fingers, taking advantage of the retreating demonic energy to lift her right hand.

Her fingertip almost touched his chapped lips.

In her hand, she held a small, round candy.

“Back in Jialan, I noticed how much you liked this candy, so I bought more of it at the market.”

Her heart pounded, her gaze fixed on the youth’s eyes, now misted with tears.

Ning Ning blinked and, with a slight hoarseness in her voice, carefully placed the candy into his mouth.

“Do you remember how it tastes?”

It was sweet.

The fruity sweetness mingled with the fragrance of jasmine, spreading between his lips and teeth.

Pei Ji stared at her, his eyes reddening as though on the verge of tears, making it almost painful to watch.

“Don’t be sad.”

Ning Ning raised her hand to his nape, gently pressing him downward as she stood on tiptoes to meet him.

“I’m right here.”

It was a kiss tinged with blood.

The instant their lips touched, the demonic energy scattered like a shy retreat, and the crimson in Pei Ji’s eyes faded, replaced by a soft, watery glow.

The warmth of the candy slowly melted, blending with their shared breath, spreading out in a tranquil wave.

Every nerve in his back and heart tingled.

This was Ning Ning.

Ning Ning was kissing him.

As this thought flickered in his mind, he felt as though he were sinking into an endless lake, descending bit by bit, entirely submerged, willingly drowning in this sensation.

“…Ning Ning.”

His blood-stained hand slipped from her neck, brushing through strands of her dark hair, then settling at the small of her back.

Clumsy in his movements, he pressed closer, feeling her warmth with each touch.

Her skin was soft and warm. His touch is sometimes ticklish, making her shiver lightly under his hand.

Gradually, Pei Ji took control of the kiss.

Where their lips met felt as soft as cotton, but he was unsatisfied with such a gentle touch.

Acting purely on instinct, he ventured deeper, tasting a mix of sweetness and the faint metallic tang of blood.

Ning Ning’s breath faltered, her ears turning red.

The sensation of their tongues touching was especially wondrous, soft to an incredible degree, carrying a heat that sent shivers through them both, with each brush stirring their emotions even more.

It was wet, hot, and electric, like a surge of tiny sparks exploding along her nerves.

So sweet.

He couldn’t tell if it was the candy or the faint fragrance that often surrounded her—the same scent he’d once dreamed of.

The kiss grew deeper, slower, and more careful, as if the girl in his arms were a fleeting bubble that would shatter at the lightest touch.

His lips trailed lower, grazing across her skin, as Pei Ji murmured her name again and again, “Ning Ning.”

Some residual demonic energy clung to her, like clouds and mist winding around her ankles and wrists, tickling her lightly.

Even his demonic energy craved her presence.

The warmth of his breath hovered by her ear, and Ning Ning felt the slight tremor in his body.

Scalding drops of liquid fell onto the hollow of her neck, one after another, mingling with his increasingly labored breaths, spreading across her skin.

“…I’m sorry. It hurt, didn’t it?”

His voice was low, like a trapped beast at the end of its rope, pleading desperately, “Hit me, curse me, cut off this hand—whatever revenge you want… just don’t leave me.”

It was a plea no one could refuse.

Ning Ning felt her heart tighten as she gently stroked his head.

“I won’t. I like you more than anyone.”

“You mustn’t…”

Pei Ji trailed off, then kissed the red mark left by his hand.

“You mustn’t lie to me.”

This was something she couldn’t promise without hesitation.

Ning Ning thought of the unavoidable fate she bore.

She was silent for a long moment, finally answering him softly, “Alright.”