"You...," I stuttered, "you want me?"

The Dark Shadow nodded.

I suddenly felt butterflies in my stomach. Even my heart started to beat so fast.

Ahh, my beauty is truly captivating!

"I want you-"

"Why? Why do you want me?" I cut him off and asked as I cupped my cheeks with my hands.

What am I even asking?

Why am I feeling flustered and giddy?

This is wrong!

This man is dangerous! He might kidnap me! Remember what he did to Ming Shu!

I reminded myself.

"Let me finish." He answered, oblivious to the storm that was causing chaos inside me.

"Okay..."

"I want you," he paused for a moment before continuing, "to work for me."

He wants me... To work for him...

I almost fainted out of shame.

Am I too full of myself?

Ahh, I am so embarrassed! Earth, open up and swallow me whole!

Why did I even think that he harbors feelings for me? I must have lost my mind.

I cleared my throat to mask my disappointment.

Why am I feeling disappointed?

"Work for you?"

"Yes." He answered simply.

"I'm sorry but no, I won't work for you." I shook my head profusely.

"Why not?"

Is he really asking me why?

Should I tell him? Or would he cut my tongue off?

"Because..." I started.

Seeing my reluctance, he motioned for me to continue talking.

"I don't want to be a criminal. I don't want to steal. I don't want to be an accomplice in kidnapping street children. I don't want to suffer the same way Ming Shu had suffered." I muttered as I took step backwards. If he decided to use violence, I could just jump into my bed, grab the dagger and stab him.

Sounds easy, right?

He turned silent. He didn't even make a single move nor blinked his eyes.

Why is he not doing anything? Isn't he mad that I exposed him?

Still, no movement.

In return, I just stared back at him. But I couldn't stand his deep emotionless eyes that I lowered my vision and caught sight of the blood still dripping from his hand.

At this point, he'd probably die out of blood loss before even doing something to me.

His dripping blood is starting to make a small pool on my wooden floor.

"Your hands..." I reminded him.

"Its going to heal." He repeated what he told me earlier.

Ahh, did he thought he was an immortal who would just magically heal his hand?

"You might not be bothered about it but I am," I said, "its going to stain my floor!"

He looked stunned for a moment but immediately regained his senses, "I apologize."

He then tore a piece of cloth from his sleeves and bandaged his wound. I wanted to help him but my sanity is still intact.

"Where did you hear those from?" He asked me after tying a final knot on the bandage.

"What? Isn't it true?" I countered.

I don't know why but I suddenly felt courageous. I know that the man in front of me is highly dangerous but the fear in me seemed to disappear out of nowhere.

"No."

I waited for him to continue but he didn't.

No? That's it? No more further explanation?

"It's not true?" I tried again.

"Yes."

Yes? That's it again?

Ahh, this man is frustating!

Feeling my mood dropped low, he took my hand and led me back to the chair where I was sitting a while ago.

"Sit."

I obeyed.

Am I a dog?

"I don't know where you got that information from but I don't do such things like what you accused me of." He seemed offended.

"But Ming Shu said..."

"There's a lot of people who pretends to be me."

So I was right?

There are actually two Dark Shadows. One is real while the other is a fake wannabe.

"The Dark Shadow you are talking about is a fake."

What if he's the fake one?

"I'm not."

Did he just read my mind?

"But why do you want me to work for you?" I am still confused.

"I need you."

He needs me?

Just minutes ago, he said he wants me. Now, he said he needs me. I see, this guy works fast.

Ahh, my beauty is truly captivating!

Wait...

I'll just let him finish first. I don't want to embarass myself further.

"I need you to convince your father to open the West Border for my trading business."

Eh?

"As soon as possible." He added.

"Why would I do that?" I narrowed my eyes on him.

"Because you work for me."

I didn't even agree yet!

"No. I don't want to get involved." I refused.

Did he think it was easy to suddenly go to my father and request for him to open the Western Border for trade?

My father is a warlord! Not the Emperor!

"Bai Fan..." It was the first time he called my name, "do this for me."

"Why don't you go to my father and talk to him instead?" I suggested.

"I can't reveal myself to anyone."

"But you just revealed yourself to me..."

Didn't Yu Lang know of him too? Even the fake Dark Shadow knows of his existence.

Honestly, the more I talk to him, the more confused I get. I didn't know it was so hard to talk to ancient people.

"You're an exception."

I just stared blankly at him. I don't understand anymore. I feel like I lost a thousand braincells and my mind can't fully decipher whatever he is saying.

"I'll be going now. I'll come see you again."

Though I feel weirdly attached to you for some unknown reason, please don't. Or else, I am going to lose my sanity!

"Think it over." He said as he opened my windows and left out of there.

Hey! I have a door, you know!

My eyes widen when I saw him jump up the wall without any leverage before he fully disappeared.

How the did he even do that?

I sighed. This world is getting more complicated.

Just when I was about to wipe the blood stain on the floor, nothing was there to clean. The floor was spotless.

Am I hallucinating? Was it all just a dream?

I fainted.