The Deceitful One



Celine walked home in a terrible mood. Earlier, if it hadn't been for the market to be so crowded, she would have definitely attacked the old tramp. However, she was strictly instructed not to cause too much trouble outside.

Although it had been more than a year already since she arrived in Nadir with Ron and settled down, the Transcendents from the Church of Wisdom still hadn't stopped their search.

After all, thousands of people had died in that incident in Damascus. And more importantly, a very important member of Nadir Silver Owls—Detective James Watson—had also died. So, how could they just let them be?

There were two main reasons why she had come to Nadir, which could be said to be right under the nose of the Church of Wisdom. Firstly, it was because the Holy Blood Sect had a much larger presence here compared to Damascus.

And secondly, and most importantly, it was because of the special artifact in possession of Ron. This was a very powerful artifact that could effectively hinder the divination of any person, even those at High-String Ranks!

As for how Ron was able to get hold of such a valuable artifact? It was naturally because of Sean Marx. And as to why Sean would give such an item to Ron in the first place, Celine believed that they shared a much deeper bond than they let on.

However, she never asked Ron about it because she didn't wish to encroach open his more private things. After all, she truly loved Ron and respected his space and their boundaries. She believed that eventually Ron would tell her everything. Because she knew that Ron too loved her dearly.

As she walked towards her house, which was a few blocks away from Carla Bazaar, her expression contorted from time to time and her eyebrows creased together in frustration. For some reason, that tramp earlier had really struck her nerve.

Right when she was thinking about the incident that happened to her at the market, a familiar and soothing voice drifted into her ears. "What's gotten into you, my love?"

Celine's eyebrows lit up, she looked in front of her and saw Ron smiling at her warmly. She rushed toward him and gave him a tight hug. "You're finally back!"

Ron hugged her warmly and replied with a smile, "Yes, I've missed you a lot."

Celine looked up at him and pecked him on his lips. "I've missed you even more."

The duo then walked home hand in hand. Ron couldn't help but ask, "What happened to you? You seem pretty annoyed."

Celine frowned as she recounted her experience at the market earlier. When Ron heard her story, he burst into laughter. "So, the homeless man scolded you in front of everyone?"

"Hmph! How dare he?" Celine harrumphed. She then pinched Ron in the stomach. "And you…. You're laughing at me. Fine, I won't talk to you."

Ron gave her a side hug and kissed her on her cheeks. "All right, I'm sorry. But it was really funny. Thankfully, you let it slip. Or else, it could have been troublesome."

"Nothing would have happened. You're just too paranoid," Celine rolled her eyes. "But you're right. It's better to remain inconspicuous."

Ron looked at her in approval. "Thank you for understanding."

Celine smiled brightly and spoke, "Of course! I'll do anything for you."

The couple walked together for a few more minutes and then finally reached their apartment building. They walked the staircase up to the fifth floor and then entered their apartment.

Celine kept the grocery bags in the kitchen. She walked up to Ron who was sitting on the couch in the living room and resting. She then sat on his lap and asked, "How did the mission go?"

Ron replied solemnly, "The mission went quite well. Master is planning something really big in Nadir and he's even got some help from people of very high standing."

"Really? That's good. Are you going to be away more often?" She asked meekly.

Ron replied, "Not for the time being at least."

Celine then hesitated for a really long time and then finally gathered the courage to speak. "Ron… can I ask something of you?"

"Anything, my love." Ron smiled warmly.

"You're the one I love the most. You're my everything. Can we… get married?" She spoke softly.

Ron was taken aback, he didn't know how to reply. Celine lowered her head and continued speaking, "It's always been my dream to marry you and have kids—"

"My love," Ron gently placed his hands on her cheeks. "When things settle down in Nadir, I promise to marry you. We'll have a grand wedding and invite our close ones. We'll settle down somewhere peaceful and have lots and lots of kids."

Celine's eyes began to redden, she then gave Ron a warm hug. "Thank you…. I love you!"

"As do I, my love," Ron gently caressed her head with a smile. "Let's grow old together."

The couple then got up from the couch, Ron lifted Celine in his arms and passionately kissed her on the lips. He walked toward the bedroom and then shut the door behind him. A few moments later, moans of pleasure sounded from inside the room.

Meanwhile, right across the street from their apartment building, on the sidewalk sat an old tramp wearing ragged clothes. He was holding an empty bowl in his hands. And beside him, lay a black cat sleeping peacefully.

A few people who happened to pass by him would put a few coins in his bowl out of pity. And the old tramp would always thank them with a smile.

The tramp then looked at the building right in front of him. Specifically, he was looking at the window of the living room in Ron and Celine's apartment.

His lips curled up into a mischievous smile as he muttered, "They say dreams can come true… but forget to mention, that nightmares are dreams true."

That very night, after Celine went to sleep, she had a dream. No, she had a nightmare!

…

Celine found herself in her friend's apartment back in Damascus. Currently, there was a small gathering going on. When she noticed where she was, she couldn't help but smile brightly.

This was the party where she had first met Ron before she became a Blood Path Transcendent.

Unaware of the things that would transpire in just a few moments, she continued to chat and mingle with her friends, at the same time also making sure to get drunk. It was a party, after all.

Suddenly, she heard her friend speak to her, "Celine, I want you to meet someone."

She turned around and saw her friend standing next to a handsome brown-haired, brown-eyed man. He seemed to be the same age as her, and with the neatly trimmed mustache decorating his upper lip, he appeared very gentlemanly.

Her friend introduced, "This is Ron. He works at the Sofia Public Library."

Ron came forward and stretched out his hand, "Hello miss, pleasure to meet you."

Celine was instantly dazed when she saw Ron. She felt as if she had met him somewhere before already, and felt a natural attraction toward him.

This was her dream, after all. And in the timeline of the dream, she had never met Ron before. However, because she had already met and was in love with Ron in the Waking World, she had a feeling of deja vu inside the Dreamworld!

Celine shook his hand and smiled, "I'm sorry but have we met before?"

Ron came closer and chuckled, "I wish we had."

"You really are quite the playboy, huh?" Celine looked at him coquettishly. She had a good first impression of Ron and seemed to be liking him by the second.

Ron laughed, "I can't help myself when I meet a beautiful lady."

The duo continued to chat, meanwhile, Celine's friend who had been the one to introduce her to Ron, stood by the sideline and watched everything happen in a daze. A few moments later, she left and thought grumpily, 'I shouldn't have introduced that man to Celine, tsk!'

Ron was a very suave man. Within minutes, he had already wooed Celine. And now, the duo were sitting extremely close to each other, holding each other's hand and talking.

"I've never met a man like you," Celine bit her lower lip. "Something about you is very attractive. It keeps drawing me to you."

Ron brought his face closer to Celine's, almost touching his lips with hers. He then whispered, "I'm sure one of the rooms here is empty…."

Celine's breathing became heavy as she saw Ron's lips from up so close. She began to get wet in her nether region. The next moment, she got up from the couch, grabbed Ron's hand and walked toward the closest room. Ron couldn't help but smirk.

After they got inside the room, Celine told him without looking back. "Lock the door."

She then proceeded to undress. When she heard the sound of the door shutting and getting locked, she couldn't help but bite her lower lip in excitement.

After removing her bra and panty, she turned around with unrestrained lust shining in her eyes. She spoke sensually, "Ron, I want you to—" However, the words got stuck in her mouth.

When she turned around, Ron was no longer there, instead, she saw an old homeless tramp wearing torn and ragged clothes, looking at her with an amused smile.

Celine screamed in fear and stumbled backward and fell on the bed. She dragged her naked body across the bed and drew back from this stranger. Her body trembled in fear as she stuttered, "W-Who are you!?"

The old tramp smiled deviously, "Honey, I am your nightmare."