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墨書 Inktalez
Nineteen years ago, on a silent and eerie night, the floating clouds in the sky seemed to press down on the city, creating a suffocating atmosphere.
It felt as if everything was a portent. A calm and undisturbed omen.
The cry of a newborn baby shattered the tranquility of Later Qin. The most esteemed Priest in the court proclaimed that this child was born with a dragon's essence, his cries resonating like the Celestial Horse's call, echoing through the air. The Legend of Emperor Mu states: "The steeds of the Son of Heaven: Red Steed, Celestial Horse, White Justice, Overwheel, Mountain Child, Yellow Channel, Flower Steed, Green Ear." In the mountains where horses thrive, there exists a beast resembling a white dog with a black head; upon seeing people, it flies away, known as the Celestial Horse. The Celestial Horse is a divine beast from heaven, heralding auspicious signs. Thus, everyone understood that this newly born infant was destined to be the future ruler.
However, few were aware of this. For on that very day when the child was born, it was also when Ming Wang's brother, Current Emperor Yuwen Mijin's younger brother Yuwen Wendan plotted rebellion. Shortly after declaring this prophecy, the Priest was secretly killed.
On that day, in an unknown location, Emperor Yuwen Mijin was imprisoned in a secret chamber within the Later Qin palace, cut off from sunlight and subjected to the cruelest form of muteness—his vocal cords brutally severed, leaving him in unbearable pain. He lived like a beast in that dark place.
Meanwhile, within the palace walls, no one knew why their Sovereign had suddenly vanished. Ming Wang wept deeply for his missing brother; he felt as if he had lost everything along with him. After being intercepted by several ministers who were moved by Ming Wang's profound brotherly love and loyalty during the month-long vacancy of the throne, they unanimously elected him as the new emperor. Despite his repeated refusals, Ming Wang eventually ascended to the position he had long dreamed of amidst everyone's expectations.
He shared a deep bond with his brother; to outsiders, he had always shown respect and affection towards him. Thus, no one suspected him of harboring rebellious intentions. And so this absurd succession ceremony was completed.
The infant born on that day was taken by the new emperor Yuwen Wendan through a cunning scheme to replace his own legitimate son with this child. He could engage in treachery against this infant but remembered the Priest’s bitter curse: if he harmed this child, it would be against heaven’s will and he would face divine retribution. A person who has committed many wrongs becomes timid and cautious; thus he feared retribution after death but also feared that when the child grew up and learned the truth, he might conspire against him. Consequently, he treated him as just another one of his children while sending his mother away from the palace. He chose to neglect and ignore him from an early age, ensuring no one taught him knowledge or how to be a person or a Sovereign. He believed that by doing so, he would become weak and foolish and thought this would secure his own safety.
Yet he overlooked the power of the late emperor’s loyal confidant who endured humiliation for ten years while lurking beside Yuwen Mijin. Gaining his trust over time, this confidant secretly sought out tutors for Yuwen Ruojian—the late emperor’s illegitimate son—teaching him martial arts and literature while keeping him hidden from view until he could bide his time for an opportunity to rescue the late emperor.
Finally, after ten years, an opportunity arose for him to save the late emperor from captivity. Before leaving the palace, he informed Yuwen Ruojian—only ten years old at that time—who had matured far beyond his years due to neglect from his supposed mother and bullying from other siblings about all truths concerning Hidden.
However, when this loyal servant sent off his master and departed himself shortly thereafter due to a small oversight, Yuwen Mijin discovered everything. Thus he never escaped that palace; filled with rage, Yuwen Mijin brutally crushed his limbs before throwing him into a snake pit where he met a tragic end. During these events, suspecting that Yuwen Ruojian might have learned everything already and contemplating whether to kill him or not, Yuwen Mijin deliberately made sure ten-year-old Yuwen Ruojian witnessed how cruelly his only benefactor met his demise.
Despite being so young and feeling as though he had died countless times inside from pain, Yuwen Ruojian remained expressionless as he watched that person suffer in front of him because he knew that man would want him to be strong.
Having understood all truths after being deceived for so many years and having endured so much humiliation himself, ten-year-old Yuwen Ruojian vowed at that moment—when that person disappeared into the writhing mass of snakes—that he would seek revenge on this man who claimed to be his father yet caused his family’s ruin and led to his mother being sold into prostitution where she suffered until her death.
Thus began a transformation in Yuwen Ruojian—the once silent and reserved Ninth Prince—who started frequenting brothels in Xianyang City every night. He became a dandy prince who appeared harmless yet indulged in pleasures: drinking, feasting, flirting with beauties while plucking flowers carelessly. Everyone shook their heads at such a prince who seemed like nothing but trouble for the nation. Only one person smiled indulgently at all his antics—that was none other than the current Emperor. This version of Yuwen Ruojian was precisely what he had always hoped for—wasn’t it?
A seemingly harmless playboy—a fallen prince.
However, all of this was ultimately an illusion. Sometimes, what a person sees may not necessarily be the truth. Just like the Ninth Prince, who was looked down upon by the entire dynasty, he was merely hiding his true strength.
He recalled the vow he had made that day: no matter the cost, he would seek revenge.
Thus, at the age of thirteen, he took the excuse of traveling to explore and personally sought out the Sorcerer at the Southwest border to learn the Cursing Technique. After mastering it, the first curse he cast was upon his master. The second was directed at the Emperor, using the Mind Control Technique. As a result, the Emperor became his puppet. Moreover, he could transmit all the pain he had ever endured to him. Although the Emperor was controlled and turned into a marionette, his consciousness still lingered. Each time pain was relayed to him, it felt as if he were trapped in a hellish arena, suffering torment worse than death, with his soul being gradually consumed inch by inch, falling into the depths of hell time and time again.
He accomplished everything he had vowed to do. However, as a top-tier Sorcerer, he also had to endure various tribulations that ordinary people could not withstand.
If any trial could not be passed, then it would mean... death. And after death, with no soul to rely on, one would be doomed to never reincarnate. Thus, very few were willing to pay such a high price for anything.
This Emotional Curse was also one of those tribulations. If he could not pass it, then what awaited him would be... despair.
Yuwen Ruojian understood well that no one would save him or could save him. Therefore, when she left, he never revealed any of his sacrifices to her. He willingly offered up what little remained of his life for him.
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His sorrowful gaze told me that the torment and pain he endured were beyond what ordinary people could imagine. It was only reasonable for him to seek her help. I could picture how, at such a young age, he had done everything possible for revenge—to avenge his father and protect his family’s legacy.
Even now, he continued to suffer. His father, who had always been indifferent to worldly matters, could no longer bear to see his beloved son endure such pain and injustice in life. Thus, he came here. Threatening me—even wanting to kill me—was understandable; he simply wanted to use a father's strength to protect his child. This side of him reminded me of a wolf: cruel yet willing to plead with tears when hunters harmed their young ones, even willing to sacrifice their own lives in exchange.
Such profound emotions are worthy of respect and admiration.
He silently pleaded with me; I seemed to hear him repeating over and over: "Please... please... save him, save him..."
I sighed softly: "I'm sorry; I can't save him. I don't love him. My blood will not make flowers bloom even if poured onto a Mandrake."
I coughed lightly several times; the wound in my chest still throbbed painfully. My complexion paled further as I continued coughing into a handkerchief embroidered with Black Lotus patterns. In the next moment, I saw spots of crimson on the pure white fabric. For some reason, a ridiculous phrase suddenly came to mind: "A hundred flowers bloom in spring."
Little Seven saw my weak yet forced smile and felt a pang of sympathy. He came over to support me and helped me lie down on a nearby soft couch.
I waved my hand at Little Seven and said, "Let Song Kong find someone to take him back. Tell their master that in this life, it is I, An Jin, who owes him."
Then I closed my eyes and fell silent.
The west wind rustled through the courtyard, the flowers were cold and the butterflies found it hard to come. If in another year I were to become the Azure Emperor, I would repay the peach blossoms with a place to bloom.
In another year, if you and I were to meet first, what kind of scene would it be?
A faint memory surfaced in my mind of that enchanting man in red. I smiled lightly.
At this moment, I could not think of anything else. Sima Rui had not yet awakened. I remembered that when I fell into darkness, I had said that if he died, I would follow him. I thought that by wagering my life, I could win this gamble against the heavens, but clearly, I had not won yet. I knew it was warning me, warning me not to recklessly try to change anything.
If I were to leave, would it mean no one would be hurt anymore?
As I saw the blood flowing from his chest and staining my clothes with its warm hue, reminiscent of the warmth on his back in that dark dungeon, at that moment, everything came rushing back to me, and my heart grew even more desolate.
I, An Jin, was destined to gain what was another form of loss.
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