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墨書 Inktalez
When I woke up, I didn't feel any discomfort. I moved my body and opened my eyes. This wasn't a hospital or my home; it was a strange bedroom, specifically a man's bedroom.
Realizing this, I immediately got out of bed and checked my clothes first. They were intact, which relieved me.
"How did I end up here?" I rubbed my forehead, which felt smooth and tender, showing no signs of having hit anything. "I didn't bump my head? Whatever, let's go take a look outside."
I put on my shoes and walked out. The layout here was similar to an ordinary apartment, but it was simple and tidy, lacking unnecessary decorations, giving it a somewhat monotonous and lonely feel.
"You're awake?"
The sudden voice startled me, and in the next moment, I went on high alert, staring intently at the man approaching me. My defense wasn't against a stranger in general but specifically against him.
When Qi Zhi saw my reaction, the smile that had been slightly raised at the corners of his mouth stiffened for a moment but quickly adjusted. He placed the bowl of soup he was holding on the table and called out to me, "It's dark outside; come eat something!"
"You saved me?"
I stood still, not moving. For me, encountering Qi Zhi at this moment left me completely unguarded. He had saved me and brought me to his home, but it surely wasn't purely out of kindness.
"It seems you’re not happy that I saved you." Qi Zhi straightened up under the dim yellow light that illuminated him, making his tousled short hair glimmer with a soft glow. "Anxin, I would have preferred if you knew nothing before this; it would make me feel a bit happier." His long eyes moved lightly, his lips curling slightly but not into a smile. "Seeing you look at me like this makes me feel uneasy."
"Your unease almost got me killed by Miasma?"
"What? Miasma?" Qi Zhi's expression suddenly turned serious. "Were you attacked by Miasma?"
"Miasma is a product of your demon realm. Even if it's the Miasma from the Underworld Ghost Path, controlling it should be easy for your demon realm!"
"You’re human; being affected by Miasma isn't that simple. Show me where you're hurt."
Qizhe wanted to come closer and grab me, but I stepped back, taking the Qilin Hairpin from my head and holding it in my hand. The golden hairpin reflected a dazzling brilliance in the light. "Don't come any closer!"
Qizhe paused, stopping in his tracks, standing just in the shadow of the light. His slightly long bangs fell over his eyes, concealing the emotions that threatened to spill out.
I stared at him in silence, actually hoping to see if he knew who it was that had harmed me with the Miasma. However, he didn't seem to be aware.
Although Qizhe was positioned against us, I knew he genuinely cared for me. Yet, whether that feeling was real or not, I could only choose to ignore it.
"Anxin, if you consider me a friend—" He didn't finish the word 'friend,' instead shaking his head lightly with a smile. His long fingers brushed against his forehead, and the smile at the corner of his lips carried a heart-wrenching loneliness. "Just treat me as if I were your university professor and have a meal with me."
I wanted to refuse, but my stomach betrayed me with a loud growl. There were no calls from Taotie on my phone. Looking at the simple dishes spread across the table gave me a warm feeling, reminiscent of home-cooked meals.
"I'll leave after we eat."
"Alright."
Qizhe smiled, his eyes shimmering with tears of joy—a smile that hinted at something deeper.
He pulled out a chair for me to sit down, served my rice, handed me chopsticks, and then sat across from me to eat together.
Qizhe was very handsome, yet he lacked the mysterious aura of our first meeting. The man sitting across from me felt like an older brother from the neighborhood.
It wasn't the first time we had shared a meal like this; there had been several occasions before. But now, vague images floated in my mind—images of us sitting across from each other at meals where he would serve me food while eating very little himself.
"Qizhe, we—" I hesitated before speaking. "Or rather, should I say my past life? Did we know each other well?"
Qizhe's hand holding the chopsticks froze mid-air. Although he was trying hard to control himself, I could still see his hands trembling slightly—meaning I had guessed correctly.
"Qizhe, who was I in my past life?"
"Su Ziqian," she said, "I am a part of Su Yi, but Su Yi is human. How could a human have such a close relationship with demons? In all my understanding of Su Yi, there has been no mention of her connection to the demon realm."
"Or perhaps I should ask what your relationship with Su Yi is?"
"I have no relationship with Su Yi; I am only connected to you." Qi Zhi set down her bowl and chopsticks, reaching out to place her hand gently on the back of mine without applying any pressure. "Anxin, you are just Anxin. Some things are not yet meant to be revealed. Telling you too much now would only cause you concern. When the time is right, you will naturally learn everything that happened in your past life; that is the source of it all."
The source?
What exactly happened in the past life that caused them all to come to this world and refuse to let go? What role did I play? Which part of the Su Family, the Underworld, or the Demon Realm was truly my original belonging?
After dinner, Qi Zhi followed my instructions and saw me to the entrance of the community. He did not enter but simply watched as I disappeared into the darkness, his smile ultimately swallowed by shadows, vanishing without a trace.
"Anxin, I will definitely bring you back. I'm sorry."
I made my way upstairs, opened the door, and found the house eerily quiet and dark, devoid of any life. Jun Chong and Tao Wu had not returned yet, and Taotie was nowhere to be found. The large house felt particularly silent, like a lonely heart growing even more desolate.
"Jun Chong, please come back soon. I'm really worried about you."
Above the dark curtain of night, a full moon hung high in the sky, surrounded by no stars to adorn it, making it seem very lonely. I leaned against the window sill, gazing at the empty sky as tears streamed down uncontrollably.
I lost track of time until I fell into a drowsy sleep. Suddenly, I felt my body being lifted up, inhaling a familiar cool scent.
I wanted to open my eyes, but my eyelids felt heavy. The familiar aroma made me feel increasingly relaxed as I wrapped my arms around the tall figure and sank deeper into slumber.
When sunlight flooded the earth the next morning, I finally opened my eyes to find no one beside me. I got out of bed barefoot and opened the door. Not noticing what was at the entrance, I stepped on something soft and fuzzy that emitted warmth beneath my foot. Startled, I pulled back my foot but lost balance with the other foot as well and fell backward.
"How can you be so careless?"
Jun Chong caught me in his arms. The pure black Sealing Spell had vanished, revealing his handsome face adorned with a warm smile. He lifted me in a princess carry and walked toward the living room while from where I had just stood came the sound of something small scampering about.
I turned around and saw a fluffy creature struggling to keep up with Jun Chong's pace on its short, chubby legs. Its legs were so short that it was having a hard time walking, panting with its tongue out. In the sunlight, I could vaguely see its red fur shimmering, resembling a small red calf, and its cries sounded much like a puppy.
"Don't tell me that's Qiongqi?"
I stared in surprise at the fluffy creature, which looked like a miniature version of Qiongqi in every aspect, only cuter. Its small eyes sparkled with moisture as it gazed at Jun Chong, wanting to climb onto him but also feeling a bit timid. It dared to come just a little closer, and as long as it could lift its eyes to see him, it felt immensely happy.
"Yes." Jun Chong sat on the sofa, holding me on his lap and rubbing my forehead. "The third seal has been lifted."
"So does that mean the Sealing Spell has been suppressed or completely disappeared?"
I reached out to touch his face, smooth and tender, glistening with frost.
Jun Chong allowed me to trace his cheek with my fingers. His voice was soft, yet I could still sense a hint of fatigue in it. The pure white glow in the center of his brow had not completely faded away.
"Unless the seven seals are broken, the Sealing Spell will not disappear. But don't worry; it can be suppressed now."
"Then what is hidden within Qiongqi's soul this time? Is it one of the Four Sacred Beasts?"
I clearly remembered that Zhuque was hidden within Taotie's soul, using pure white light to help Jun Chong recover.
But Jun Chong shook his head. "Not all Ancient Beasts have something hidden within them. Zhuque's existence surprised me as well; this doesn't seem like Jun Rui's doing."
"Who else could it be? He was the one who set these seals; how could there be anyone else's involvement?"
Jun Chong fell silent, his slightly furrowed brows indicating he was pondering this question. Finally, he ruffled my hair. "You have work today; don't worry about me. Just take some time to recover; you'll be fine. Keep Qiongqi close; others won't be able to see him, and he can protect you if you encounter danger."
"Okay."
I almost never argued with Jun Chong's intentions because I knew he had my best interests at heart. After tidying myself up, I headed out.
It seems that someone has already explained my absence from work since Thursday until today. Everyone just knows I was sick and didn't pay much attention to it.
A new week has begun, bringing everything fresh and new. Work is gradually becoming more manageable, but also busier. Jun Chong has broken the third seal; while he has lost some spiritual power, he has also regained quite a bit. It seems that with each seal he breaks, his strength increases. Once all the seals are lifted, he will return to his former self.
"What was the old Jun Chong really like?"
I rested my chin on my hand, biting on a straw as I fantasized. Loving him back then must have been just as happy as it is now. Little Qiongqi, who had been napping beside me, perked up at the mention of Jun Chong. With watery eyes, he looked around but didn’t see Jun Chong, which made him a bit disappointed. He scooted closer to me and let out a soft whine.
I smiled slightly and occasionally teased him. Little Qiongqi lacked the terrifying malice and was simply adorable.
"How can you think of him so much when you’re together every day? Anxin, what are we supposed to do?" Lin You clicked her tongue and pointed at the table full of delicious food in front of us. "You’re treating us for lunch today."
I shot her a glare and pouted, "Su Ziqian is your boyfriend; you should be happier than I am! He’s rich and powerful; this meal should be on you."
"We're not married yet; everything is still uncertain. That doesn’t count; you’re treating us."
Just as Lin You and I were playfully arguing over who would pay for the meal, Miss Jiao Jiao from the Promotion Team rushed over with a magazine in hand. She snatched the freshly delivered orange juice and gulped down half of it before exhaling heavily. With a mysterious look, she said to us, "Do you know about The Vanished Bride?"
"The Vanished Bride? Is it a horror movie? An anime? A folk legend?" Lin You patted her shoulder with a sly smile. "You drank my orange juice; spill the beans quickly, or you won’t get any chances to promote Bagua in the future."
"Xiao You, don’t be like that! Life without Bagua would be so boring," Jiao Jiao whined as she laid the magazine flat on the table in front of us. Pointing at one of the pages, she said, "Look, this was a wedding held yesterday at a five-star hotel in the city center. The bride looked stunning, but just when the bride and groom were exchanging rings, she suddenly 'poofed' away."
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