A dull, throbbing pain pounded against Kai's skull, dragging him from the depths of unconsciousness. His body felt heavy, weighed down by an unseen force. His mouth was dry, and the stale taste of alcohol clung to his tongue.
What happened last night?
He cracked one eye open and immediately regretted it—the light pouring through the inn window felt like a thousand tiny needles stabbing into his brain.
Hangover. A bad one.
With a groan, he tried to move—only to realize that he couldn't.
A strange tightness bound his limbs, and as his senses sharpened, he became acutely aware that he was tied up.
What in the—?!
His arms were secured behind his back, and his legs were tied together with a length of sturdy rope. He struggled, twisting slightly to test the bindings, but they were snug and expertly knotted.
Then, he noticed two familiar figures standing at the foot of his bed, arms crossed, watching him with identical expressions of smug satisfaction.
Liu Yue and Liu Yu, the twin willows.
"Good morning, Master," Liu Yu said, her voice as sweet as honey, but her smirk told a different story.
Liu Yue sighed dramatically. "Ah, how the mighty have fallen."
Kai blinked at them, his mind still sluggish. "…Why am I tied up?"
Liu Yu tilted her head. "Because you're a bad patient."
Liu Yue nodded. "And a terrible sect leader."
Kai let out a weary sigh, closing his eyes for a moment. "So, what you're saying is that I get drunk one time, and suddenly I'm a criminal?"
Liu Yu grinned. "Oh no, Master. You tried to ditch us."
Liu Yue's expression darkened. "And that, we cannot allow."
Kai frowned, memories of the previous night surfacing in fragments—meeting the pretty girl with mischief in her eyes, the broad-shouldered man chasing her, drinking… a lot of drinking… and then—
Ah.
He had tried to sneak away, hadn't he?
Kai clicked his tongue. "You two are really overreacting."
Liu Yue gave him a pointed look. "Am I? Let's recap. You vanished without a word. Then we find you drinking and making… questionable choices."
Liu Yu chuckled. "We had to drag you back, Master. It wasn't pretty."
Kai exhaled through his nose. "Alright. I admit defeat. You win."
Liu Yue raised an eyebrow. "That's it? No excuses? No clever plan?"
Kai smirked. "You tied me up. What else can I say?"
Liu Yu beamed. "Good! Then you finally understand—you're not giving us the slip again."
Kai sighed again, shifting uncomfortably. "Could you at least untie me now? My arms are going numb."
Liu Yue hesitated for a moment before pulling a dagger from her sleeve. In one swift movement, she sliced the ropes off his wrists and ankles.
Kai flexed his fingers, rubbing his wrists where the bindings had left faint marks.
"High alert from now on," Liu Yue said firmly. "You won't be sneaking off again, Master."
Liu Yu smirked. "You belong to the Obsidian Peak Sect, whether you like it or not."
Kai didn't reply.
Once the twins left the room, Kai leaned back against the bed, staring at the ceiling.
The hangover was annoying, but it wasn't what truly bothered him.
It was the state he was in.
He had recovered, sure. His Qi was flowing properly again, his body had healed, and his strength had returned. He was, by all accounts, perfectly fine. He even felt proud that he could control his techniques very well in his first real fight and he had won beautifully.
But was he truly fine?
Kai exhaled, rubbing his temples.
Being forced into the position of Sect Leader had always left a bitter taste in his mouth.
From the moment he arrived in this world, he had been shoved into a role he never asked for.
People bowed to him, feared him, expected him to lead. They called him Master, demanded decisions, plotted against him, watched his every move.
There was no freedom. No escape.
Even now, he couldn't even slip away for a single night without being dragged back in ropes.
He was trapped.
The Sect was his prison.
And he hated it.
Kai ran a hand through his hair. There had to be a way out.
He had to find some way to slip away, to disappear—for good this time.
The problem was that the twins were no longer underestimating him. If before they had given him space, now they would be watching him like hawks.
Tch. Troublesome.
His mind wandered.
The girl from last night.
He wondered if she was still in town, running from her pursuer, playing her little game. She had been interesting.
He couldn't quite figure her out—was she a troublemaker? A thief? A noble in disguise?
She had that air about her… the kind of person who didn't belong in one place for long.
Kai envied that.
Then, his thoughts drifted to Yin Shuang—the assassin.
Where was she now?
Had she returned to her master to report her failure? Was she plotting another attempt on his life? Or was she simply wandering, lost and confused after being spared?
Kai frowned slightly. Why had he let her go?
Even now, he wasn't entirely sure.
Perhaps a part of him wanted to prove something.
To himself.
To the sect.
To her.
He shook his head. No use thinking about it now. He had his own problems to deal with.
Kai sat up and glanced at the window, watching the sunlight stretch across the town outside.
Escape wouldn't be easy. Not anymore. The twins would stick to him like glue.
But he wasn't going to give up.
If he was going to disappear, he had to be smart about it.
For now, he would play along.
Pretend to accept his role. Pretend to be obedient. Pretend he wasn't plotting his escape. When the opportunity presented itself, he would be gone.
A slow smirk played on his lips as he stretched, rolling his shoulders. He had always been good at bending the rules. This was just another challenge.
He glanced at the door where the twins had disappeared. Let them think they had won. For now.