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墨書 Inktalez
The carriage traveled a short distance before gradually entering the city. It was neither East City nor North City, but headed directly towards South City. At the forefront of South City lay Underworld City, the capital of a dynasty.
I knew Lianchi intended to take me straight to Underworld City, but seeing me exhausted and in low spirits from lack of sleep, he decided to stop at South City for a brief rest.
“Knock, knock, knock.” Lianchi tapped on the door and entered with a tray. I leaned against the window, gazing at the bustling streets below, ignoring him. Lianchi placed the tray on the table and sighed, “What’s the point of this?”
I remained silent. Perhaps he thought my despondency stemmed from matters related to Underworld, Jun Chong, and Qin Ling. But I understood that silence would only cause stagnation, achieving nothing and dragging others down with me.
The reason for my silence was simply to wait for someone.
She had said that before she found me, it was impossible to enter Underworld Palace. Although Underworld Palace stood at the highest point in Underworld City, Lianchi implied that once we reached Underworld City, he would take me directly to Underworld Palace. This meant my condition would change; I remembered her words clearly.
Exiting from Underworld, South City was the last stop before reaching Underworld City. Whether I could wait for her depended on this place. Thus, I feigned indifference; regardless of whether Lianchi noticed my intentions, he still insisted that everyone pause here so I could recuperate for a few days.
However, yesterday Lianchi received news that the King of Hell had ordered an immediate return to Underworld City; we were to set off tomorrow.
As I watched the sky darken further, hope seemed lost. I didn’t know who that woman was or how to find her.
“Have something to eat!”
Lianchi placed food in front of me. I glanced up at him and suddenly recalled his strange behavior that day; perhaps he might know something?
Taking the bowl and chopsticks, I took a bite and casually asked, “Lianchi, have you ever loved someone? Do you know that longing is a kind of suffering? He was hurt while I wasn’t by his side; I couldn’t even see him. That kind of entanglement—have you ever experienced it?”
Lianchi sat across from me, his fingers tracing the edge of the tray as he listened to my words, a smile revealing his teeth. "How do you know I haven't loved?"
"You've loved?" I looked up, feigning surprise, then shook my head in disdain. "A playboy like you, flirting with everyone—how could there be true love?"
"A playboy? Heh." Lianchi smiled as he rubbed his forehead. "She said the same about me!"
My heart tightened, knowing who he was referring to, yet I still asked, "Who is she?"
"The woman who came looking for you last time," Lianchi admitted openly. "I love her, but I know I can't have her. I can only watch her reincarnate life after life. Every time she dies and comes to the underworld, it's I who guide her across the Bridge of Helplessness, watching her drink the Meng Po Soup and slowly forget me."
At this point, Lianchi paused, covering his face with his hand as his body trembled slightly. I remained silent, eating quietly as I waited for him to regain his composure.
"This time she has entered the underworld as a human, and she remembers everything from her past." Lianchi's voice was hoarse as he slowly moved his hand away, his gaze complex and filled with difficult emotions. "The king has ordered her capture and the destruction of her soul, ensuring she will never be reborn. And I am the grim reaper assigned to this task."
With a loud clatter, I dropped my bowl, unable to hold it.
Lianchi didn't move; he simply smiled faintly, revealing his teeth again. "Don't be so surprised. More than you, I want to see her, yet I'm afraid to meet her. Because I'm scared the king will cast a curse on me; once she appears, he will stop at nothing to take her life. You might laugh at this, but it's the first time I've felt disgust toward him for being so resolute."
It turned out he had known all along that my questions were aimed at uncovering that woman's whereabouts. Yet seeing Lianchi in such pain was something I had never witnessed before. Behind all his smiles lay an unspoken sorrow that no one could touch.
I reached out and took his hand, wanting to give him strength. "To kill one's beloved is a pain worse than death itself. Though I haven't experienced it, I understand. So—"
"So if that time really comes, I'm afraid I would choose to end my own life while ensuring she survives. This is her final life; if she dies, there will be no trace of her left in this world. I had hoped to wait for her death so we could accompany each other together, but now it seems that won't be possible."
Lianchi smiled, but his eyes were clouded with a misty haze. I felt a pang in my heart. Why do so many people yearn for love yet find it unattainable? Why must love lead to murder? In contrast, I have Jun Chong. Even if we are not together, my heart feels warm because I know he will wait for me; he will love me.
The earlier gloom and my worries about Jun Chong seemed to lighten considerably. Perhaps just being alive is the best thing after all!
Lianchi did not say anything further. Their matters were not mine to meddle in, but he admitted that he did not know where the woman was.
As the moon hung high in the sky, I lay alone in bed, tossing and turning restlessly.
The woman's earlier words, along with the ghost's warnings, echoed clearly in my mind. As Underworld City drew closer, I knew that the Demon Fetus would become increasingly dangerous.
I touched my flat belly, imagining how it would stir up a commotion when it grew larger.
In less than a month, the baby would be born. By then, it would likely be my time to die!
"Though I don't want to die, if the hope of survival for those two comes at the cost of others' lives, then I'd rather die."
"You won't die. Anxin, I promise you won't."
The clear voice of Linglong rang in my ears. I opened my eyes to see a woman standing before the curtain. She wore a red silk blouse over a pure white dress that revealed her long legs. Her skin was fair, and her shoulder-length curly hair was neatly tied back. A headband adorned with shimmering jewels rested on her head, sparkling like stars—mysterious and extraordinarily beautiful.
She looked completely different from last time; although her features remained the same, something about her felt significantly altered.
Noticing my daze, she nimbly climbed onto my bed and sat cross-legged beside me. With her dark eyes wide open, she examined me from head to toe before finally stroking her chin and asking, "Have you met the Demon Fetus?"
I nodded, surprised in my heart. "How did you know?"
"I sensed a fluctuation in the aura of the Demon Fetus."
"How could you feel the aura of the Demon Fetus? Who exactly are you?"
She looked at me and said each word clearly, "I am the child of Su Yi."
With a thunderous sound, I felt as if the world was collapsing around me. No one had ever mentioned what fate awaited Su Yi's child. Many had speculated about who that child might be, but I never imagined it would be the woman before me.
In contrast to my shock, she appeared calm. "I devoured Su Yi and then grew up. The power of the Demon Fetus grants me an excellent memory; there are many things I cannot forget. Because I am Jun Rui's daughter, everyone worships me, but I know that Jun Rui does not love me at all—he is just a madman. Later, I met someone... let's just say he was human! He taught me a method to wash away my entire Eerie Aura."
At this point, she glanced at me and seemed a bit uncomfortable, then leaned against the window railing. "That is Meng Po Soup. It washes away not just memories but the past of a soul. The waters of the River of Forgetfulness beneath the Bridge of Helplessness can cleanse my entire Eerie Aura, but in doing so, I must endure the suffering of Reincarnation. When the tenth life arrives, my very soul will dissipate."
I opened my mouth, wanting to tell her what Lianchi had said to me, but she already knew my intentions.
"Don't worry about me. Every soul ultimately meets death; it's just a matter of time—some longer than others. Just like Jun Rui and the rest will eventually die, so there's nothing to fear. Jun Rui has his own decisions; I blame no one. I came here because I sensed the aura of the Demon Fetus. Having experienced it myself, I understand that pain of being forced into battle even when unwilling. I do not want to see another tragedy caused by the Demon Fetus rebelling against Mother, so I've decided to help you."
"Thank you."
Since she was Jun Rui's daughter and I was like a husband to Jun Chong, she could be considered my niece. Yet her understanding of life and death was clearer than mine, without a trace of hesitation—a feat that is incredibly difficult to achieve.
Ten lives of Reincarnation; thinking about it wasn't such a simple experience.
Seeing that I remained silent, she chuckled lightly, "I know you're heading to Underworld City tomorrow, and I have some matters to attend to, so I can't go with you. I understand you're anxious, which is why I came to find you. Take this."
I looked at the smooth Yin-Yang Jade resting in my palm, dark as ink. "What is this?"
"Soulstone," she explained. "This can protect your soul. Give it to Jun Chong; it will shield his soul from the negative energy of Underworld City and keep Jun Rui from discovering his presence for now. He will definitely come looking for you before you enter Underworld City, so remember that."
"Well, aside from thanking you, I really don't know what else to say."
Her lips curled into a smile, her eyes brightening as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"Anxin, once you enter Underworld Palace, your belly will grow; the Demon Fetus could emerge at any time. You mentioned before that there’s a way in Underworld Palace for the Demon Fetus to coexist with Mother. I specifically looked into it, and there is indeed such a method. One involves the Emerald Feather Box."
"I know about that." I repeated what the female ghost had told me and then asked, "If the second method truly involves the blood of the Underworld King, why did Jun Chong's Great-Grandma still die back then?"
She fell silent, pressing her lips together tightly, her bangs casting shadows over her dark eyes as she tilted her head in thought. I didn’t interrupt her, even though I felt anxious inside.
"The second method does indeed involve the Underworld King's blood. The reason Su Yi died was that she rejected Jun Chong's blood. She tried to use her life to coerce him into compromise but failed and ended up dying. Not long after that, chaos erupted; Jun Chong was sealed and abdicated, while Jun Rui ascended the throne overnight."
"What exactly happened that night?"
She shook her head and sighed, "I only know it was related to the Demon Realm; as for the details, aside from those brothers, no one else seems to know."
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