A Pawn's Passage - Chapter 561: Hu Jiaode

Three rejections. Three shattered dreams. That was Layla’s reality, all because she was different—a half-shifter in a world obsessed with purity. Ostracized, shunned, and finally sold off like a pawn to the most feared ruler alive—the Lycan King. He was ruthless, a king with a graveyard of brides, each one a ghostly reminder of a fate worse than death.Layla loathed him. Hated the way his gaze cold and fathomless, held no warmth for her. Hated how his touch, both thrilling and terrifying, sent an uninvited chill down her spine.---“I hate you!” I screamed, hands clenched so tight my knuckles ached.He sighed, a smirk curling at the edge of his lips, his tone mocking as he closed his book with a deliberate snap. “Stressed, are we?” he asked, strolling toward me, each step reminding me exactly who held the power here.“Lucky for you,” he drawled, rolling up his sleeves as he stopped just inches away, “I know exactly 70 ways to ease those nerves.” His fingers brushed my cheek, a touch that seemed to burn into my skin. “The first… a hug.” His voice dropped to a rough whisper as he leaned in, breath hot against my ear. “And the rest... well, that's 69? what do you say about that?”I swallowed hard, my heart thudding wildly as he tilted his head, waiting for me to react, that insufferable smirk still in place.“What’s the matter, darling?” he murmured, a taunt lingering in his gaze.---A Dangerous ObsessionCan she resist the pull, or will she dance into the flames of her own destruction?A dark dive into obsession, raw need, and the razor’s edge between desire and devastation.---LYCAN KING CASSIANI will tear her apart piece by piece, feeding the wildfire that grips her with each shuddered breath. Like air to flame, I’ll claim every inch, drawing heat from her skin until it sinks into her bones.Her pulse will race under my hands, her breaths shallow, pleading. Her eyes may scream, but her lips will still murmur my name. That first taste of fear will only feed something deeper—a need that burns through her veins, molten and fierce.And just when she’s too far gone to turn back, I’ll twist the knife, giving her the pain she’s learned to crave.She’ll be the moth to my flame, helpless against the very thing that will consume her.

A dark soul, damaged by his past An angel forced to be his mistress. Can anything go right? Would they ever be able to fall in love? Will she be able to see past his darkness? Will he be able to protect her when danger comes knocking? Find out in this book... An Excerpt*

''You know what you are getting into, right?'' He asked, crossing his legs, he raised a brow;

Tiana's lips slanted and her eyes narrowed at him;

''As long as you pay me, I'll do whatever you want. '' Nicklaus was amazed by her sudden audaciousness;

but he was sure she was just trying to seem bold, He knew her, she was just a weak, trembling soul, and she was trying so hard to mask it;

A smirk appeared on his lips as a thought came into his mind; ''Whatever I want? ''

He asked again and Tiana replied immediately without a second thought;

''Yes, Mr. Nicklaus, whatever you want. ''

''Alright then, I want you to strip yourself and go lie down on the bed. ''

He did not have any thought of touching her; he just wanted to see her reaction. But what Tiana did next shocked him.

(CONTAINS R18+ CONTENT)Enemies to lovers- checkSlow burn- checkA cute naughty dog- checkSpice? (The author is keeping her mouth zipped)No third-party breakup or misunderstanding. But there are lots of banter and witty comebacks.(The story is planned to be around 200 chapters. No drag)Mu YirenI never imagined I'd be faking a relationship with my biggest enemy—the untamed, ridiculously charming Feng Junjie, known throughout the city as the “golden boy” of business and a billionaire playboy with a reputation for breaking hearts. But when he dangles a life-changing offer in front of me, the kind that could secure my inheritance, I find myself agreeing to be his “girlfriend.”But the thing is….. What if I start seeing the real him?Pretending to be Junjie’s devoted partner is like walking on a razor's edge. He’s everything I can’t stand—sexy, cocky, and devilish, and yet a sweetheart by heart that leaves me flustered by his actions. I know better than to fall for a man like him; my mother’s battle with Alzheimer’s has convinced me to never fall in love. But Junjie isn't just any man. Beneath his easygoing charm is an intensity that leaves me breathless, and he knows exactly how to crack through the walls I have built around me, awakening a passion I never felt before.JUNJIEI need my life back. A sorry attempt at love had me question everything and forced me away from my brothers. Since my ‘ex best friend’s’ constant accusations had gotten out of control, I might as well pretend to date someone and shut her mouth.My definition of a fake date- Beautiful, sexy, tempting…..umm…. insufferable, annoying, and with a mouth that won’t stop running.The mouth with red lipstick. The mouth I want to….This arrangement was supposed to be simple: fake dating, clear boundaries, no feelings. But the more he plays the role of her devoted partner, the more the lines between fake and real start to blur. And now, he’s no longer sure where the act ends and his true feelings begin.The catch? Mu Yiren doesn’t believe in love. And she certainly doesn’t believe a man like Feng Junjie is capable of anything but heartbreak.But Feng has never been one to follow the rules. Boundaries? He’s about to break them. Deals? They were made to be rewritten.He’s going all in, and this time, he’s not playing pretend.*******“Are you saying you'd let any man get this close?”“ABSOLUTELY NO!” The words burst out of me, too quick, too honest. His smirk deepens.“Tell me, if I leave you like this, all wound up and aching, will you be sneaking off to use one of your little toys?”“Yes,”“Tell me, were you waiting for me to initiate something this past week?” he tugs my shorts more and kisses my navel.My heart hammers and my voice comes out shaky. “N-No.” I won't give him the satisfaction of knowing he's right.He chuckles darkly. “Wrong answer. Let's try again.”****

A poor boy whose parents died accidentally found a mysterious space and set foot on the avenue of cultivating immortals. From then on, he planted spiritual herbs, refined elixir, opened shops, trained troops, and established a fairyland…

This article is about cultivating immortals and farming, not for mortals, not for stallions.