Austin hesitated for a moment, he could sense the disappointment in her tone. , "No, let him have it. That cup,” Austin said, “was one of the final twelve made before the Zou province was annihilated. It’s the glyph for Zǐ yàn — ‘child’s flame.’ A reference to a cleansing ceremony they performed using blood tea.”Hannah recoiled in shock, "Blood, but it didn't look like that." She muttered. "Do you know what you are talking about?"He nodded. “A mixture of herbs, fermented animal bile, and occasionally human blood, infused during ritual burnings. The cup wasn’t just used to drink tea, it was used to unmake memories. It held trauma. It collected silence.”He continued, “And worse. After the ritual, the cup would be buried beside the person whose memories had been extracted. Zou believed if you drank from the cup afterwards, you’d absorb not the memories but the emptiness left behind. It’s not just haunted, it’s hungry.”A cold pressure crept along Hannah's spine. “But… it’s just sittin

She exhaled softly, as she began to explain. “Recently, I have been having nightmares. Not only that, but I often feel like I am being watched by someone. I came looking for something that would help me.” She began to explain. Austin kept his gaze fixated on her as he listened intently to her words. “And you think this is the best place?” Austin asked.Hannah looked confused, she patted her lips open but no words came out. “It’s fine, can I see your palm.”She stared at him with an furrowed brow. Without uttering a word she stretched out her palm. Austin looked at it for a moment, Hannah kept staring at him in curiosity. Then, he stepped away from her and walked towards the transparent box. Taking out a Pearl necklace and walking back. “Here, take this.” He said as he gave her the necklace. “What’s this for?” She asked with a mixture of confusion and curiosity.Her eyes darted from the necklace to Austin, as she waited for what he had to say. “It’s for protection, there is an

Not only did the crowd yell at Therma, the salesperson, but Derek also joined them. She had no idea what was at stake if Something bad should happen to the two men. Austin stood tall, his eyes lingering from left to right. Each gazes at him, and he can sense the tension and worries within them. He narrowed his gaze at Hannah, she gave him a light nod. He exhaled softly, walking back to get the box he had purchased earlier; he pulled it open, revealing the content that had been stored inside. Everyone moved back in fear, including Hannah. They thought he would collapse just like Jeremy and Duke but Austin stood firm. He inhaled the substance, They watched in shock. Gasps rippled through the room, as they kept their gaze fixated on Austin. What is he doing?” Did he just inhale the energy from the box? “Is he going to die? Can he heal them?’ Their minds whirled in several conflicting thoughts. Austin closed his eyes, allowing the energy to flow properly. He felt his

She nodded, her eyes softened. “Can I see you later tonight, let's hang out together. I want to thank you for helping me out.”Austin stared at her for a moment, “Alright,”Hannah smiled, “I will send you the location and time,”******Gerald was standing at the door waiting for Monica, he wore a casual t-shirt, looking smart and happy. While Monica was dressed in a green gown.She attracted the attention of the men inside the restaurant the moment they stepped in. Gerald wrapped his hand around her waist sending a signal to the lustful men around, who couldn’t take their eyes off her.It was their first dinner date after her divorce from Austin. Gerald had made plans for this a long time ago, but Monica had been occupied with her new project, giving her no time for hanging out.After several attempts, she finally found time to spend with Gerald. They took a seat, and at that moment, a waitress approached them politely and confidently. She kept a smile across her lips.Gerald placed

A few minutes later, Six men in dark suits stepped into the restaurant, their expressions cold and demanding. They tilted their heads slightly before Gerald.“Now, let’s see how confident you are.” Gerald bawled, Ruddy was unfazed by the men standing before him. He has seen more than just men; he had faced wars, killed many and survived, those men weren’t threats to him.Another group of men storm into the restaurant. Ten of them poured in like a dark tide. They fanned out fast, each one cold and focused.The restaurant erupted in gasps and screams, seeing the men, both men and women trembled in fear. One thing that was common about the men was their tattoos. It was obvious they were Zachary’s men. One of the most feared underbosses in Auburn. A man who even the rich fear so much. A man who doesn’t care about anyone.Does Gerald know what he is up against? Was he ready for the task? Was he blinded by love that he couldn’t seem beyond? Gerald didn’t flinch, he stood confident despi