I am Villain Cultivator
Chapter 37: The Passion of Burning Desire **

Chapter 37: Chapter 37: The Passion of Burning Desire **

In the quiet, dimly lit bathroom, steam curled gently into the air. A large marble tub sat in the centre, filled with warm water and scattered jasmine petals that floated like little stars on the surface. In one corner, a rose-scented candle flickered softly, casting a delicate fragrance and a romantic glow throughout the room.

Kaal leaned back in the tub, his white hair damp and trailing down his back. His crimson eyes caught the reflection in the water, sharp, intense, and unfamiliar. His once-dark locks were now a stark silver, and his sculpted frame, toned from constant battle and now transformed, gave him the air of a devilishly charming rogue.

He studied himself for a moment, then smirked.

"So my eyes turned red too... I didn’t even notice," he mused, brushing a wet strand from his forehead. "With this face, I might end up living as a gigolo."

It was a rare moment of light-hearted vanity, one that any man might indulge in after a transformation like his. Despite his usual stoic nature, Kaal wasn’t immune to appreciating the power and allure now evident in his appearance.

Just then, a gentle knock came at the door.

Knock. Knock.

"Young Master," Jane’s soft voice called from outside, "Your clothes are in the basket by the door."

Kaal raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Got it," he replied casually, sinking a little deeper into the jasmine-scented warmth, the corners of his red eyes glowing faintly in the candlelight.

The soft glow of the scented rose candle flickered once, then died out, leaving behind only a faint wisp of smoke that curled toward the ceiling.

Kaal, relaxing in the warm bath surrounded by jasmine petals, noticed the absence of its calming aroma. Without opening his eyes, he called out calmly, "Jane, the candle’s finished. Replace it with another one."

"Yes, Young Master," came her prompt reply from beyond the door.

Moments later, the door creaked open with gentleness. Jane stepped inside with measured grace, carrying a fresh rose-scented candle in both hands. As she approached the tub, her eyes inadvertently landed on Kaal’s bare torso. His pale skin, now glistening with droplets of water, was stretched over a chiselled frame that seemed more godlike than human. His snowy white hair fell messily across his shoulders, and the faint crimson hue of his irises made him appear dangerously ethereal.

A flush crept over Jane’s cheeks, rising quickly to her ears. She turned her gaze away, trying to regain control of her breath. With careful movements, she removed the extinguished candle and placed the new one, lighting it with shaking hands.

Just as she turned to leave, Kaal’s gaze lifted.

The red-haired girl with violet eyes so uniquely vibrant stood up to wipe the sweat from her brow. The simple gesture, combined with the glimmer of candlelight and the subtle shift of her dress, created a moment so unintentionally sensual that even Kaal, usually composed, felt his breath catch.

Something unfamiliar stirred in his chest, an emotion he couldn’t name.

He forced his eyes away, trying to rein in the strange storm rising within him. But just as he began to suppress it, the side effects of the Cursed Soul Orb surged violently. The earlier episodes had been manageable, though increasingly difficult. But this time, it was different. More intense. More consuming.

A sudden pulse of pain shot through him as the mutated Origin Core within his Sea of Consciousness reacted. His body tensed, and a low grunt escaped his lips despite his efforts to remain silent.

Jane turned sharply, alarmed.

"Young Master!"

She rushed to his side, her eyes wide with worry, her heart pounding in her chest as she knelt beside the tub. Kaal’s face was pale, his muscles rigid as he fought to control the chaos inside.

"Don’t come closer," he managed through clenched teeth. But Jane ignored him, concern overtaking caution as she reached out to support him.

He clutched the edge of the tub, suppressing a wave of dizzying heat coursing through his veins. The side effects from merging souls with Raven, the stranger from that distant blue planet, had always lingered beneath the surface. But now, a mutation in his Origin Core had unravelled his restraint, awakening a hunger he could no longer suppress.

Jane, ever loyal, stood by his side, her heart pounding as she watched him struggle. Soon, her gaze was drawn towards Kaal’s waist, and she saw a little dragon. A deep blush crept across her cheeks as realisation dawned upon her. With trembling courage, she stepped forward, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Y-Young Master... if... if you want... I will do it."

The words spilt from her lips, laced with both embarrassment and resolve. She had loved Kaal since childhood, ever since he had saved her from the horrors of the slave auction. She remembered that day vividly, the cold weight of the chains around her neck, the leering eyes of men who saw her as nothing more than an object of desire. And then, like a miracle, a child’s hand had reached out, shattering her bonds. That child was Kaal.

From that moment, her life had belonged to him. Yet, bound by the unspoken rules of master and servant, she had buried her feelings deep, never daring to hope. But now, as his darkened gaze lingered on her, she saw something new, a flicker of desire, of need.

Hesitant yet determined, she reached for him, her fingers brushing against the heat of his skin. But before she could go further, Kaal seized her wrist, his grip firm yet gentle.

"No, Jane," he rasped, biting down on his lip hard enough to draw blood. The metallic tang filled his mouth as he fought against the raven’s urges. "You know me. I would never treat you like this... like some servant to be used."

Tears welled in Jane’s eyes as she looked up at him. "But Young Master... I have wanted this... since the day you freed me. I Love You"

Before he could protest further, she rose onto her toes, pressing her lips to his in a kiss that was both soft and desperate. Kaal stiffened in shock, but the warmth of her mouth, the sweetness of her breath mingling with the iron of his blood, shattered his resistance. His arms encircled her, pulling her close as he deepened the kiss, losing himself in the taste of her.

Time blurred. When they finally parted, a silvery thread lingered between them, glistening in the dim light. Breathless, they stared at one another until a low chuckle escaped Kaal’s throat.

Jane blinked, her cheeks flushing deeper. "Young Master... why are you laughing?"

With a tenderness that made her heart stutter, he tucked a loose strand of her crimson hair behind her ear, his lips brushing against the silken strands before he murmured, "I had no idea my Jane was so bold."

A sound between a gasp and a whimper escaped her as she buried her face against his chest, her fists lightly thumping his shoulders. "Y-You... you’re a bully!"

Kaal’s laughter only grew, rich and warm, as he held her close. A moment of realisation appeared on his face; he also loved her, but he always suppressed this emotion, and the Soul Orb side effect amplified his emotion.