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墨書 Inktalez
The Voidless Realm was not unfamiliar to me, but at that moment, it felt terrifying. There was no sunlight here; all the light was dim and gray, casting shadows that seemed to tremble with fear.
My whole body shook, and my gaze wavered as I clutched Jun Chong's sleeve tightly, unwilling to let go.
Jun Chong's lips curled into a clear smile, his eyes playfully glancing at my hand gripping his sleeve, merging with the darkness of his attire.
"Are you scared?" he asked.
I nodded.
"Then will you listen?"
I looked at him suspiciously. As he attempted to pry my fingers away, I immediately tightened my grip and nodded vigorously.
Only then did Jun Chong show a satisfied expression. "Since you're scared, you should obediently listen." He pointed to a small pool behind the Cherry Blossom Tree, filled with blue liquid.
I had never noticed that pool before during my visits, but now it was there, and its presence felt as if it had always existed. The blue water rippled gently, creating waves without any wind, yet it felt warm.
"Take off your clothes and get in," Jun Chong said with a chuckle. "You're covered in darkness; why bother with clothes? Just jump right in!"
I stood frozen in place, instinctively resisting the unknown.
But Jun Chong wouldn’t allow me to resist. With a firm push on my back, I found myself stumbling forward and falling into the pool, splashing water everywhere.
"They say women look most beautiful when they enter water. You're a shadowy figure; can't you at least look a bit more graceful? This is quite the mess," he teased.
Suddenly, I scooped up some of the water and splashed it toward Jun Chong as he approached. Caught off guard, he was hit directly at the junction of his upper and lower body. The blue water reflected colors against his dark robe, creating an amusing sight that was both unspoken yet hard to stifle laughter at.
The shadow did not understand, but Jun Chong did. He narrowed his eyes, a chilling aura emanating from him, causing me to tremble and instinctively move away.
"Trying to escape?"
With those gritted words, he stripped off his clothes and plunged into the water with a splash.
In an instant, water splashed everywhere as his large hand grasped me with precision. His other hand splashed more water, blurring my vision and filling my mouth and nose. Jun Chong's hands were relentless, forcing more water into me. I struggled desperately, but it was futile. Finally, I held my breath and lost consciousness.
"This is how you should behave."
Though the shadow had fainted, my awareness remained clear this time.
I saw Jun Chong lean me against the side. He pressed his palms together, and when he separated them, a transparent bottle appeared in his hands. Inside the bottle was a radiant array of colors, quietly shimmering in its brilliance.
He uncorked the bottle and gradually brought it closer to me, positioning the opening at my forehead.
In that moment, vibrant colors burst forth in the gray Voidless Realm, resembling fireworks lighting up a summer night sky with a considerable commotion.
The colorful glow gradually imprinted onto my forehead before vanishing completely. I suddenly felt a warm current flowing within me, like colorful butterflies dancing everywhere they went, leaving trails of sparkling light behind.
"This is the purest essence of the Seven Souls in existence. Its presence is unknown to all; it is merely spirit without soul. Now, I will share half of my Three Souls with you to create your own Three Souls. Whether you can merge them into a brand new Three Souls and Seven Spirits depends on you alone. If you succeed, you will gain a heart and become a complete person."
Jun Chong's voice echoed softly in my ears—not gentle nor cold but imbued with an inscrutable emotion that was hard to define.
"However, regardless of whether you succeed or not, this life will always belong to me."
After saying this, Jun Chong laid me horizontally on the water's surface without letting me sink. He then stood up and walked away.
He left and never returned, while the shadow remained in a deep slumber. Only I was awake, observing my surroundings but unable to move even an inch. Yet, I was still shaken by Jun Chong's words.
No matter where he obtained the Seven Souls, my Three Souls were halved and given to me by him. This left me even more confused about his true intentions behind such a sacrifice.
In my eyes, someone like him would never fall in love with just anyone, especially not with a mere shadow like me.
A ruler of the underworld falling for something that is nothing.
I had many doubts, but Jun Chong did not come back.
On the seventh day, I noticed the shadow had awakened, our consciousness merging once again. I climbed up from the water's surface, my feet resting on it as ripples spread beneath me without sinking.
My entire being remained dark, yet vibrant colors flickered within the blackness. I wondered, "What is this?"
As soon as I spoke, I was surprised again. "I can—" My hands covered my mouth; my voice sounded soft and childlike, causing me to hesitate in speaking further.
"Can speak now but are afraid?" Jun Chong suddenly appeared, and I had no idea when he had arrived. He stood outside the pool, his pure white robe billowing around him. His black eyes sparkled with brilliance and satisfaction. "I knew I wasn't wrong. Well done. Come here."
I found myself unconsciously moving forward at his command. Just as I was about to step onto dry land, Jun Chong suddenly reached his right hand swiftly into my body. Instantly, a wave of warmth radiated from his palm.
From an unbearable sensation to one akin to the warmth of sunlight enveloping me, it was more comforting than the feeling of a soul entering a body.
At the same time, I saw streams of red blood spreading beneath the black surface, and the azure water of the pool miraculously reflected my shadow.
The original colors within the darkness faded away, replaced by streaks of red that gathered at the position of my Heart on my left chest. A radiant jewel of seven colors continuously emitted light until it transformed entirely into a vivid red. The red grew larger, taking on the shape of a Heart.
"This is your Heart," he said. "Although a soul does not require a Heart, having this allows you to live under the sun just like any other person, even without a body. Once we find a suitable one later on, I will create a body that belongs to you."
Jun Chong took my hand, gradually leading me away from the pool and under the Cherry Blossom Tree.
With a single wave of his hand, a mirror as tall as a person appeared on the trunk. Standing in front of the mirror, I saw myself cloaked in darkness, with red marks all over my body, looking somewhat terrifying.
Jun Chong placed both hands on my shoulders, leaned down, and stared at me in the mirror, asking, "What do you want to look like?"
"Can I have a form?"
"Of course. I will give you a new life, and your appearance cannot be overlooked."
"Then I want to be like Ayi—"
"No." Jun Chong rejected it outright without a second thought. "I don't like her, so that's not an option. Choose something else."
I pouted in grievance, remaining silent for a long time. Jun Chong was not a very patient person; he raised his eyebrows and made a decision.
"Since you're not speaking, I'll choose for you."
He covered my eyes with his hands, focusing on the reflection of us in the mirror. A yellow glow emerged from his palms, gradually enveloping my entire body. The black shadow began to transform, revealing fair skin inch by inch, completely bare.
He gazed at me with satisfaction, not blinking at all. After a while, he raised one hand and snapped his fingers. A strapless floor-length Long Skirt spread out like gauze from my body, and my long black hair cascaded down to my ankles.
"All done."
The moment his large hand moved away, I saw my new self in the mirror.
A lively little girl stood there barefoot and somewhat timidly in front of the Pure White-Clad Man, looking both surprised and delighted at her reflection.
"Is this... is this really me?"
It turned out that the dream I had that day was real, because everything had truly happened.
Jun Chong placed his hands on my shoulders, his familiar smile shining like the sun on that day, radiating brilliance.
He said softly, "From today onward, this is you. Do you like it? A new life crafted by my own hands."
"I like it." I nodded earnestly, a joyful blush blooming on my face like the evening glow. "Wing Spirit likes it very much."
"This name is so annoying." Jun Chong frowned in displeasure, straightening his back. He took my hands from behind and gazed intently at our reflections in the mirror, speaking each word clearly, "From now on, you are Anxin." After a pause, he added, "Anxin means peace of mind."
Anxin—peace of mind—was the name Jun Chong gave me, and it would be my only name from then on.
It seemed that everything began to change with the emergence of this name.
For several days afterward, Jun Chong kept me here every day, teaching me to speak and walk, guiding me step by step like a kind elder.
I don't know if it was gratitude or something else, but during those days, my heart felt warm, like the sunlight in winter, with him always in my thoughts.
The joy didn’t last long before outsiders intruded into the Voidless Realm. It was none other than Qi Yi.
He burst in with great force, startling me. I hid behind Jun Chong, timidly peeking at him. When Qi Yi met my fearful gaze, a hint of sorrow flickered in his eyes.
"Give me back Seven Souls!"
Seven Souls? Was he calling for me?
I felt a sense of familiarity, and as a result, I stepped out from behind Jun Chong. He noticed and pushed me back, saying, "He's a bad person, the one who wants to capture you. Don't get close."
I nodded and quietly hid again.
Qi Zhi's brow furrowed as Malice flickered in his eyes. The Dragon Spear was drawn, ready for battle. "Return the Seven Souls to me!"
"Who says the Seven Souls belong to you? No one knows the origin of this Seven Souls. I just believe that such pure Seven Souls shouldn't fall into the hands of the demon realm. If you have any plans, she would be a significant obstacle. But now, you can't have her; she is already mine."
"A dignified King of the Underworld, yet you dare to invade the demon realm to steal someone else's possessions. Don't you feel ashamed saying that?"
"I'm just taking what is rightfully mine. Who told your Second Prince that his attendants are a bunch of useless fools who can't even guard a Seven Souls? It's not my fault for taking it away. Some things are still determined by strength."
"In that case, I will take her back; she is mine."
"Then you'll have to get past me first."
The two immediately clashed. Few could enter the Voidless Realm, which showed Qi Zhi's extraordinary strength. I stood under the Cherry Blossom Tree, facing away from the mirror as I watched their battle unfold, and it was evenly matched.
Though I was clearly anxious about Jun Chong, there was also a twinge of reluctance when facing Qi Zhi, who was occasionally at a disadvantage. It felt as if I had spent time with him before and didn't want to see him get hurt.
Just at that moment, while I was watching with a heavy heart, the smooth surface of the mirror behind me suddenly rippled. At the same time, a hand reached out from within and grabbed my neck, forcibly dragging me into the mirror.
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