Jin Ge had lost count of the number of times he made an attempt on his own life.

He did kill himself, but no matter how much his body had suffered, how cruelly his bones and skin had been broken, or how much blood he had lost, he always survived.

There was one time he threw himself off a cliff. He felt his bones break from the impact, and his consciousness almost slipped away as blood spurt out, soaking his entire being. But his body was stronger than his will to die and mended itself before death could claim him. To his disappointment. Another time he walked into a blazing fire. He thought he would finally reach his end as excruciating pain overwhelmed all of his senses, yet he remained alive and conscious even as his body was destroyed and reconstructed every second. No matter what he did, he couldn't die.

And now here he was, imprisoned and chained to a wall, and still breathing.

Unfortunately.

Footsteps echoed in the distance. Jin Ge raised his head. The torches on the stone wall cast a warm glow on the cold and dark cell. It had been three years since he was thrown into this place—three years since the sun last touched him. How did he even end up here? Well, it was because of how much effort he put into killing himself. For days, ever since he was saved on that particular day, he never stopped looking for ways to completely destroy himself, in a simple or the most cruel way possible. Because how could he live knowing he was cursed to serve those who murdered his family—those who tried to kill him?

He'd rather die than be a traitor to himself and his kingdom.

The footsteps came closer, echoing ominously in the silence. The metal enclosing his wrists, ankles, and neck grew colder and sharper as he shifted about cautiously. Jin Ge was expecting to see one of those rukki servants who served in the Crimson Claws that always came to bring him food. However, when the figure emerged from the curtain of shadows, it surprised him to see such a familiar face.

Golden, wolfish eyes glowed mischievously in the surrounding darkness. His long, dark hair was partially pulled up into a high ponytail, with the remaining strands woven into neat braids, and his mouth was curled into that signature smirk of his. Taijin, the one who snatched him from the edge of death and bound him to a cruel servitude.

"You look bad, man. Do you even eat at all?" Taijin said as he stood outside the cell, looking at him through the iron bars.

Jin Ge didn't say anything and just glared at him through the messy strands of his long dark hair. His fiery gaze met Taijin's mischievous ones.

It had been three years since he last saw him. It was when he tried to burn himself to death. Jin Ge remembered Taijin knocking him unconscious that time, and when he awoke, he was in the state he was in now.

Taijin chuckled. "I didn't come here just to be stared at, you know. Come on, don't you have anything to say to your savior?"

Jin Ge clenched his fists so hard he could feel the chain tightening around his wrists and piercing his skin. As soon as blood dripped from his hands, the wound had already healed. "Savior? Don't make me laugh."

"Hmm? What was that?" Taijin cocked his head to the side, acting like he hadn't heard him when he clearly did.

"You didn't save me. You fucking cursed me, you bastard!"

Taijin expelled his breath in an exasperated sigh. "What's your name again? Jin Ge? Look, Jin Ge, all I did was give you half of my internal energy. I never thought that would turn you into an undying man. Believe me, I'm curious, too."

"I didn't ask you to do that. You should have killed me. You should have fucking let me die!"

"But someone's beloved begged me," Taijin said with a nonchalant shrug. "How could I deny such beauty?"

Jin Ge's gaze darkened, prompting the wolfman to burst into laughter. Nothing irks him more than the rukki's overly friendly behavior.

"Release me," he hissed.

Taijin sighed. He leaned his back against the wall and crossed his arms. "Don't be upset. The reason you're here in the first place is because of your obsession with death. Once you have the will to live, I promise to release you." A faint smile touched his mouth. "Don't you want to meet your beloved woman again? I heard she's still alive."

The last sentence was spoken in a very quiet voice, but the words echoed like ringing bells in Jin Ge's ears. His body froze like a statue and his heart pounded in his chest.

"Ying'er?" The name flew out of his mouth in a whisper.

Hua Xiuying's face flashed in his mind, beautiful and elegant, with a smile as soft and gentle as a blossoming flower. A rush of mixed feelings washed through him. Anger, relief, and something else he couldn't describe.

Jin Ge should have been dead already. His father, mother, and two brothers all died at the same place and time. He should have died with them three years ago. But instead here he was, suffering a worse fate, all because of a disgraced woman once so dear to him. If she hadn't begged an enemy, he wouldn't be as miserable as he was now. It was all her fault.

Hua Xiuying had cursed him.

"Hua Xiuying," Jin Ge snarled, his eyes full of darkness and rage. "I'll make her pay."

Taijin watched him in silence, his expression inscrutable. Then a smirk flickered at the corner of his mouth. He straightened and sighed.

"Anyway, I only came here to tell you that because I'm sure you'd want to know. And if you finally decide to stop killing yourself, just let us know. We'll release you without hesitation."

With a lazy wave of his hand, Taijin turned on his heel and started walking.

"The will to live, you say?" Jin Ge said in a quiet voice, making the wolfman stop. He lifted his head to look at him, tangled hair obscuring his features. "Then let me out. I want to make someone pay for their mistake."

Taijin looked over his shoulder at him and arched a brow. He was silent for a moment as if contemplating. And then he smiled a genuine smile.

"That's my man," Taijin said, turning to face him properly. "So you're after the life of your woman? Not what I'd expected, though. But, well, at least dying is not your priority now."

***

Jin Ge took off his soiled and ripped garment and submerged his body in the wooden bathtub. The water was so warm and pleasant that he couldn't help but close his eyes. It had been a long while since he bathed. Taijin insisted he wash first before anything else, complaining about his smell as he led him out of the prison.

However, no matter how pleasant and soothing the water was, rage and disdain still overpowered his senses; it was all he felt for himself. He was in the territory of his enemies, having a bath as if he were one of them. Not that he had much of a choice, but this reality was nothing but a poison slowly destroying him without the promise of death.

When Taijin transferred half of his internal energy to him, Jin Ge felt a drastic change in his body. It was as if something within him had been awakened from a deep slumber, something he couldn't comprehend. He feared that whatever it was would soon take over his body, like invisible strings controlling everything about him.

Frustration and helplessness once again threatened to overwhelm him. He just wanted to drown in this bathtub. If only he could.

After taking an hour-long bath, Jin Ge was escorted by a servant with reptilian-like slitted eyes to the Harmony Courtyard. He was dressed in clothes the servants prepared for him, a black robe with an open collar that left his chest bare. His hair was still damp and fell to his waist.

Peach and pear trees stood at each corner of the courtyard, giving the place a calm and cozy ambience. The surrounding flowers and grass also appeared to be frequently tended. The rukki servant led him to the room in the middle, which was the main hall. Two guards were stationed at the door. One had silver eyes, while the other had the golden eyes of a wolf, similar to Taijin.

Rukki were a group of wild beasts. They used to dominate the mainland a thousand years ago, causing widespread death and destruction. Until the dragons appeared, beasts of remarkable power that outclassed all other creatures. The dragons backed mankind in their war against the rukki, driving them from the mainland.

And now here was Jin Ge, standing right in the domain of their sworn enemy with no choice but to serve them. Of all things, he had to fall into the clutches of the Crimson Claws, a rukki organization that possessed enormous power and influence.

The rukki servant knocked on the door. "My lords, I have brought the guest."

There was no response from the other side. After a few moments, the door slid open. Taijin stood before them, smiling broadly as he looked at Jin Ge.

"Ah, here comes my special guest. Everyone, please give him a hearty welcome back."