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墨書 Inktalez
The moonlight flowed gently, silver lines cascading with the movement of the clouds, casting a faint glow that softened the dense darkness into a hazy gray. A small flower pot by the window swayed with the night breeze, its sweet form dancing lightly.
The sheer fabric spread out, fluttering softly, and with the occasional gentle breeze, it didn’t feel cold at all.
She and I sat on the bed, and due to the design of the room, we could see a crescent moon above us. There were no stars around, making it seem somewhat lonely.
We sat in silence, the atmosphere heavy with unspoken words until she finally broke it.
“Anxin, as far as I know, there indeed exists a Demon Fetus that coexists with its Mother, but that was a long time ago; perhaps it’s just a rumor.”
I nodded. “The female ghost mentioned something similar, but what exactly happened?”
She looked at me with a complex expression and then tightened her grip on my wrist.
“It is said that every new King of Hell must leave a drop of blood on their heart according to clan tradition. This blood is composed of the most concentrated yin energy from the entire Underworld; it can protect the King’s heart from death and symbolizes their status. Once they lose the title of King, this blood disappears. The yin energy of the Underworld is toxic to humans; drinking it won’t kill you but will drive you insane. However, he told me that this blood can indeed protect the Lord of the Ghost Fetus. Jun Chong’s Great-Grandma didn’t refrain from drinking it; rather, after drinking it, she went mad—her mind clear but her power overwhelming. She couldn’t control her body and ended up killing her most beloved person, which led her to choose death in the end. Not to mention how difficult it is to obtain the King’s heart blood; I sense a clear spiritual energy hidden within you. If you drink that blood, you would definitely lose control.”
A chill ran through me as I looked down at where she held my wrist. I felt her slight tremor from our contact, yet her face bore a smile, caring like an older sister.
“So neither method is suitable,” I said, trying to smile but failing to do so as I looked down at my belly and took a deep breath. “It’s okay; there’s still time. Let’s first help Jun Chong with his big issue. Do you know what one gains by becoming Queen of the Underworld?”
Though I was worried about myself, Jun Chong's matter was my priority now. Even if my heart ached, I had to suppress those feelings.
Her eyes flickered before she sighed and pulled something from her belongings. She took my wrist and applied a Black Oily Thing onto my Mystic Spirit Bracelet.
“I don’t know what this is either; he gave it to me and said it could temporarily protect your belly from the Underworld Palace's yin energy.”
“You’ve mentioned him several times; who is he?”
“The man I like—he's very powerful but has a strange temper.” When she spoke of him, joy and shyness sparkled in her eyes; it was clear he was someone special to her.
“But this thing won’t last long. Once your belly grows larger, the child could be born at any moment—not just at the end of the month. Anxin, this is all I can do for you right now. If you want to survive, you could give it a try. What if you can control it? I’ll ask Lianchi for help; he will assist you in obtaining Jun Rui’s heart blood.”
"I—"
I opened my mouth but said nothing. Being poisoned and going mad were two different endings. I would rather sacrifice myself than let anything happen to my child, Jun Chong, or my friends.
So perhaps not drinking was the best choice.
But giving up the hope of survival made my heart ache even more.
In the silence, my hesitation grew larger.
Suddenly, she opened her arms and hugged me, patting my head like an elder. "Anxin, I believe in you. You will succeed. The woman chosen by Jun Rui won't die so easily. You were like that back then, and you are still like that now."
"Back then?" I looked ahead in confusion and asked, "You know about me back then?"
"I saw fragments of memories from Su Yi before she died. You once said to believe in miracles; you waited for one then, so there will surely be another in this life. May you and your baby be safe."
She released me, smiling as she ruffled my messy hair, then got up from the bed and adjusted her outer garment.
"As for what you mentioned about the Queen of the Underworld, I think it refers to the Phoenix Feather, which represents military power and can summon a mysterious Death God Corps. They are said to wear golden grim reaper outfits but possess combat abilities equivalent to those above the blue level of reapers. This is an old rule passed down from our ancestors to prevent the princess from suffering losses; it is also a heartfelt intention from our forebears. As long as the Phoenix Feather remains unrepentant and as long as the Queen of the Underworld exists, she will definitely hold the Phoenix Feather. I believe Jun Chong intends to use it to restrain the demon realm. Currently, with chaos in the world and Miasma invading from the Underworld Ghost Path, there has been no impact yet, but those from the demon realm are eyeing a chance to release their demon king and flatten the underworld. It’s just that Jun Rui—"
She paused here, biting her lip tightly, her brows furrowed as if there was something she couldn't or didn't want to say. I didn't press further; some things were beyond my control, and what I needed to do was obtain the Phoenix Feather.
"Regardless, I will support Jun Chong's decision. I only hope he can show mercy on Jun Rui for the sake of their brotherhood." She raised her head, closed her eyes, and smiled slightly at the corners of her mouth before saying after a long pause, "Anxin, good luck. I will come to find you when I have time. Remember, do not easily believe anything Jun Rui says."
I watched her figure disappear again and realized I hadn’t asked her name. In a hurry, I called out, "What is your name?"
She turned back and smiled at me, like ripples on flowing water—warm and beautiful, fresh and captivating. "Just call me Jun Jun."
I watched as she gradually faded from my sight, thinking about what she had said and her expressions. Although she always wore a smile, there was inevitably a hint of bitterness in her eyes, especially when mentioning Jun Rui.
Outside the half-open window, purple light danced lightly in the air. I heard a low sigh filled with deep fatigue.
“Jun Jun loved her father very much, but Jun Rui had never shown her any affection. I knew she was smart enough to guess that the king wanted to kill her, yet she still came here.”
“Why?” I didn’t understand. “Even if he didn’t like her, she’s still his child. There’s no need to wait so long, to be reincarnated as another person, and then to be ruthlessly killed in her last life. Couldn’t he let her have a little peace?”
Lianchi sighed, his expression serious, filled with emotions I couldn’t quite articulate.
“I know you feel for her, and so do I. But she never says anything; I’ve never known what’s in her heart. It’s ironic, isn’t it? To love someone so much yet not understand their feelings at all?”
“No,” I said seriously, sitting on the bed and looking out at the purple fabric fluttering in the wind. “Even if you’re close, when that person doesn’t want to share their thoughts with you, it doesn’t matter how near you are. It’s like me and Jun Chong. But Lianchi, you must understand that sometimes saying nothing is just a way to better protect the person you care about.”
Lianchi smiled faintly, though it felt heavier somehow. I couldn’t see his expression; we both lay there staring at the lonely night sky in silence.
“Alright now, it’s getting late. You should rest early; we need to set off first thing tomorrow.”
I pressed my lips together and turned to burrow under the covers, murmuring, “Goodnight.”
Lianchi responded softly, and I thought he had left. Just as I was about to drift off to sleep, I heard his voice float from nearby.
“Actually, I know why the king chose me this time. Perhaps it’s not just because of my past with Jun Jun; there might be another purpose behind it. Maybe he just wants to protect her.”
I bit my lip lightly, turned over, and closed my eyes without replying.
The next day, Lianchi woke me from my dreams. With dark circles under my eyes, I reluctantly climbed into the carriage and headed quietly toward Underworld City.
“How long will it take us to get there?”
I still had the Soulstone with me. Jun Jun said Jun Chong would come looking for me, but since I had gone to bed late and slept heavily last night, I hadn’t felt anything. If we reached Underworld City today, my plans would surely fall apart.
Lianchi yawned lazily and leaned back against the soft couch in the spacious carriage. There was enough room for three large men without issue, along with various furnishings that made it feel like a moving home.
He pulled out a box of snacks from a hidden compartment and offered it to me before saying, “Two days. We’ll arrive at Underworld City by dusk on the second day; if we take our time, we’ll reach there by morning on the third day.”
"Then take it slow." I replied without thinking, "I get motion sickness."
Lianchi didn't say much more, smiling as he enjoyed some snacks. His demeanor was relaxed, completely different from yesterday; he seemed to have transformed back into the playful Lord Lianchi who loved to joke and admire beautiful women.
As the carriage rattled along, Lianchi and I ate and chatted, managing to forget some of the unhappy things. However, when we approached Qin Ling, I fell silent again.
Lianchi quietly took out a handkerchief from the side and held it out to me, perfectly catching the tears that had fallen. Seeing the pure white cloth stained with droplets, I realized I had been crying.
"Don't cry; it makes it seem like Qin Ling is your lover."
Lianchi flicked my forehead lightly. Though he had some strength behind it, I felt nothing at all. Instead, it seemed like a force reflected back from where he flicked me, causing his hand to bounce away.
Lianchi noticed too, staring at me in astonishment. Leaning closer with a teasing expression on his handsome face, his long eyelashes fluttered as he said, "You have spiritual energy within you, and it's pure—unlike the dark aura of the underworld. Anxin, can you tell me who you really are?"
His words left me feeling bewildered and instinctively shivering. I pinched my hand under my wide sleeves and replied seriously, "Shouldn't you know who I am? You must know more about what happened back then than I do."
He squinted at me for a moment, making me feel increasingly uneasy. "All I know about that time is that Su Yi is connected to you—very closely connected—but I don't know who you really are. Later, I went out on a mission, and by the time I returned, Jun Jun had already been born. So there are some things I'm unaware of. But your aura is very similar to Su Yi's; she is Soo Family's Chief Disciple, Yi. You wouldn't be from the Su Family too, would you?"
I let out a cold laugh in response. "Who I am now? Whether or not I'm related to the Su Family—you can find out for yourself."
Lianchi fell silent, his gaze sharp. I stared back at him without moving, relying solely on my breath to hold my ground. Finally, he straightened up and waved his hand with a smile as if dismissing the matter entirely. "I must have seen wrong; I'm going to sleep."
I pressed my lips together but secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Reaching up to touch my forehead, I recalled the threads that appeared that night and Jun Jun's words, inevitably letting my thoughts wander.
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