Horror Camgirl - Ch. 101: The Eerie Portrait of a Beauty
“It’s a time of peace now,” Yin Shengyao said. “There are so many vampires around, it’s not like you can just kill them off. As long as they don’t commit any crimes, the Chinese government allows them to exist.”
I held my forehead. “Lucky me, huh? I can’t even go to the bathroom without running into a criminal vampire.”
I forced a smile at him. “What a coincidence, are you heading back to Medicine King Valley?”
“I came here to find you,” he said, looking straight at me.
I instinctively took a step back. “What can I do for you, Mr. Yin?”
“I heard you did something earth-shattering in Chun City,” he said.
I frowned. “Wow, that news traveled fast?”
He pulled out a pale yellow card from his coat and handed it to me. “You refined a First-Grade Pill, the Nine-ring Detox Pill. The Alchemist Association wants to invite you to join, and they sent me to deliver the invitation.”
I took the card. It was elegantly crafted, with an antique feel—quite beautiful.
“Don’t accept their invitation,” he suddenly said.
“What?” I was a bit confused. He said seriously, “I’m a member of the Alchemist Association, which is why they had me deliver the invitation. But those stubborn and greedy old folks only want you to join because of your pill formula. If you join, they’ll squeeze you dry.”
I nodded. “Got it.”
“If you refuse, they have backup plans,” Yin Shengyao warned. “Be careful.”
“Understood, thank you,” I replied.
“Don’t assume that having the backing of the Special Department means no one will dare to mess with you,” Yin Shengyao said. “The Alchemist Association holds significant influence across various sectors in China, even the top leaders have to show them respect.”
I frowned in frustration. This was getting complicated.
Yin Shengyao stepped closer, reaching out to grab my shoulder. Startled, I quickly stepped back. He furrowed his brows, a flicker of disappointment in his eyes.
After a moment of silence, he said, “If... you came with me, I could protect you.”
I was stunned, looking at him like he was a monster.
What? Did he just say that?
He wants me to be with him?
Did I misunderstand? Surely, that’s not what he meant?
“Y-you’re joking, right?” I stuttered.
“I’m not joking.” Yin Shengyao leaned in slightly, his voice low in my ear. “If you become my woman, even those stubborn old geezers at the Alchemist Association wouldn’t dare touch you.”
His breath tickled my ear, sending shivers down my spine.
“All the medicinal herbs in Medicine King Valley would be at your disposal,” he continued, trying to tempt me. “We have tens of thousands of acres of herb fields, even rare Thousand-Year Ginseng is plentiful.”
I clenched my fists. If it were anyone else, I might have been tempted. But it had to be him.
He was my enemy!
I took another two steps back and gritted my teeth. “I may not have power or influence, but I won’t sell my body in exchange for protection.”
Yin Shengyao’s gaze turned cold. “You’ll change your mind.” He scribbled a number on a piece of paper and handed it to me. “Call this number when you do.”
I don’t know where I found the courage, but I ripped up the slip of paper right in front of him and tossed it into the toilet. “I won’t change my mind.”
After that, I walked around him to leave, but he grabbed my arm and forcefully pushed me against the wall.
“What are you doing?” I shouted angrily. “Let me go!”
He lowered his head and kissed me.
It was a rough, domineering kiss. I struggled desperately, but I couldn’t break free from his iron grip.
His tongue forced its way into my mouth, and I bit down hard. The taste of blood filled my mouth.
Finally, he released my lips, panting slightly as he looked down at me. “Have you been practicing some sort of charm technique? Why can’t I forget about you? Why do I dream of you every night? Why can’t I control myself when I see you?”
“That’s because...” I raised my hand and slapped him hard across the face. “Because you’re a beast!”
With that, I slipped out from under his arm and ran out of the bathroom as fast as I could.
As soon as I was outside, tears streamed uncontrollably down my face. Suddenly, a pair of hands grabbed my arm. Reflexively, I threw a punch, but he caught it easily.
“Jun Yao, what happened?”
I looked up and saw Tang Mingli. My tears flowed even harder. “I-I’m fine.”
“You’re crying like this, and you still say you’re fine?” He lifted my chin and glanced behind me, his expression turning dangerous.
Yin Shengyao had followed me out.
Tang Mingli pulled me behind him, staring coldly at the man in front of us. "What did you do to Jun Yao?" he demanded.
Yin Shengyao's eyes flashed with a hint of menace. "And what business is it of yours? Who are you to her?"
Tang Mingli clenched his teeth. "She's my woman."
In an instant, Yin Shengyao’s eyes darkened like a brewing storm. He let out a chilling laugh. "Oh, really? So if I want her, it looks like I’ll have to defeat you first."
Suddenly, a golden light slithered out from his sleeve, solidifying into a serpent-shaped weapon in his hand. At the same time, Tang Mingli drew his dagger. The tension between them crackled in the air; they were moments away from a clash.
I was just about to intervene when Tang Mingli made his move. His dagger shot forward, aimed straight for Yin Shengyao’s face.
Yin Shengyao sidestepped, the blade grazing past the tip of his nose. In a swift counterattack, he raised his weapon, but Tang Mingli blocked the strike with a deft flick of his wrist. The clash of metal rang out clearly as their weapons collided.
"You’ve advanced to the Transformation Realm?" Yin Shengyao narrowed his eyes, glancing briefly in my direction.
Tang Mingli smirked. "That’s right. Just enough to put me above you."
Barely ten moves later, Tang Mingli landed a punch squarely on Yin Shengyao's chest, sending him flying backward. His heels scraped deep grooves into the ground before he managed to steady himself. Clutching his chest, he spat out a mouthful of blood.
Tang Mingli’s eyes glimmered with satisfaction. "You’re still only at the peak of Dark Strength. With your current abilities, there’s no way you can beat me."
Yin Shengyao’s gaze deepened. "I’ll be back to challenge you again."
Tang Mingli nodded. "I’ll be waiting."
I grabbed Tang Mingli’s arm, pulling him behind me. Staring resolutely at Yin Shengyao, I said, "This is between the two of us. Don’t drag anyone else into it. One day, I’ll grow strong enough to defeat you myself."
Yin Shengyao locked eyes with me, silent for a long moment, before finally saying, "Alright. I’ll be waiting."
As we drove away in Tang Mingli's car, I remained silent. Worried, he took my hand. "Jun Yao, don’t be afraid. I’m here for you."
I smiled faintly. While he was willing to sacrifice for me, I couldn’t simply take it for granted, especially since I wasn’t ready to fully commit to him yet.
I had to rely on myself.
"Mingli, let’s prepare for our live stream," I said, taking a deep breath. "I’ve taken two weeks off. The audience must be getting impatient."
Seeing me pull myself together, Tang Mingli visibly relaxed. "Perfect timing. I’ve got some fascinating content. Have you heard of Beauty Paintings?"
"What’s that?" I asked, puzzled. "Are you talking about ancient portraits of court ladies?"
"No." Tang Mingli’s expression grew more serious. "Beauty Paintings were a mysterious art in ancient times. It’s said that painters would take the skin of young women who died in their prime, treat it with special techniques to create painting canvases, and then paint stunningly beautiful women on them. That’s what a Beauty Painting is."
He continued, "Legend has it that once a Beauty Painting was completed and hung in a man’s bedroom, at the stroke of midnight, the painted woman would manifest herself to meet with the man. Back then, some men even had their deceased loved ones turned into Beauty Paintings, so they could keep them close forever."
I frowned. "That sounds just like the practices of dark cultivators who use the bones of the dead to create magical artifacts, trapping souls inside to harm others."
I let out a scoff. "If those men truly loved those women, they would have allowed them to pass into the Underworld, reincarnate, and live again, rather than using dark magic to bind them. That’s not love; it’s possession."
Tang Mingli nodded approvingly. "You’ve got your morals straight."
I smiled slightly. "So, is there actually a Beauty Painting here in Shan City?"
Tang Mingli replied, "Yes, there is. And it’s mine."
"What? Yours?" I was shocked.
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