Page 28 of Cruel Devotion

“Did you and Moni. . .you know?”

I raised my eyebrows. “No. I don’t know what you’re asking.”

“Come on.” Duck rolled his eyes. “You know what I am asking.”

“I don’t.”

“There were a lot of moans coming from your tent, from you and her—”

“And?” I glared.

Duck shot me a look, one that carried a mix of annoyance and genuine curiosity. “Are you going to make me say it?”

“Clearly.”

Duck’s gaze lingered on me, searching, probing. “Did you. . .let Moni take your virginity?”

I stiffened. “None of your business.”

Duck frowned.

The soft sound of footsteps caught my attention.

I checked my left.

Master Wu—our head healer—entered and then approached us with measured steps.

His face was an open book. The high cheekbones served as pages of laughter and sorrow. The strong jawline provided the plot twist. A prominent scar trailed from his right brow to his cheek, pointing to his missing eye where the area was smoothly closed and skin stretched over the void.

Rumor had it that many years ago, Master Wu had been deeply engrossed in his study of alchemy—a delicate balance of science and mysticism.

One fateful day, while attempting to distill the essence of a rare and volatile flower, there was a violent reaction. The explosion rocked his lab and a shard from a broken apparatus pierced his eye.

Though he bore the scar of that accident, Master Wu never considered it a setback. Instead, he often remarked that losing an eye had given him a unique perspective. He believed it deepened his intuition and enhanced his healing abilities, allowing him toseewith more than just his physical eyes.

I often wondered if that was true.

Today, he had his silvery white hair tied neatly in a traditional topknot. His sky-blue robe hung gracefully on his wiry frame.

He held a tray carrying two large glasses filled with black bubbling liquid.

A rank smell radiated from them.

What is this stuff? It better not be something disgusting.

His remaining eye was a deep shade of hazel. He got between our benches and targeted me with that one eye. “It is time for your medicine.”

I frowned. “What’s that?”

Probably noticing the apprehension in my gaze, he offered a gentle smile. “We have gone through this dance before, Mountain Master. When I tell you what is in it, you usually do not want to drank it but we both know that you must.”

I sniffed the air. “It smells nasty.”

“That is the healing properties.”

Duck snorted on my other side.

Master Wu looked his way and glared. “Do not worry, Dongfang Hóng, you are next.”

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