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墨書 Inktalez
My heart jolted as the Soul Bell fell onto the stone table, producing a clear sound.
I tilted my head to listen closely, but there was no other sound. Instead, Qi Zhi walked out from the room and immediately spotted the Soul Bell on the table.
"Anxin, how did you get the Soul Bell?"
"It was given to me by Cangling."
"Cangling?" Qi Zhi frowned. "That Qilin King?"
I nodded, meeting his bright eyes. "Anxin, can you give me the Soul Bell? You know I've been searching for this pair of bells."
"Can you tell me why?"
"The Soul Bell and the Soul-Calling Bell were made from the same magical artifact. Su Yi created these bells to hide the traces of that artifact. Later, the Soul-Calling Bell was sealed due to her curse on you, and the Soul Bell disappeared after her death. I've been searching for so long just to reunite them and fulfill an unfinished wish."
"What wish?"
"Aren't you curious about what that artifact is?" Qi Zhi smiled and sat down beside me. "That artifact is called the Soul Stone; it is a treasure of the underworld and the source of all souls. That's why the Soul Bell and the Soul-Calling Bell possess such powerful abilities. But the Soul Stone has another function. Legend has it that as long as the wish-maker pays with their life force, they can make a wish upon it, and it will come true, no matter what."
Upon hearing his last words, I quickly grasped the Soul Bell in my hand and moved away from him at a distance. Even though he hadn't revealed what his wish was, I could guess; I absolutely could not let him do that.
It wasn't worth sacrificing for the dead.
"I can't give it to you."
"Why not?" Qi Zhi smiled helplessly. "You still don't know my wish; why won't you give it to me?"
"Qi Zhi, even though we are on opposing sides, I don't want you to die. I know I can't make any decisions for you because I'm not you and can't feel your pain, but the Soul Bell is mine; whether to give it to you is something I can decide."
Qizhu's outstretched hand slowly fell, the curve of his lips disappearing. He lowered his head, staring at the Soul Bell in my hand, frozen in place as if time had stopped.
The Wind Sound blew past, lifting the hem of his garment, silent and still.
"Prince, this is the wedding attire that Elder Rong asked me to deliver. The banquet is tonight; I hope both of you will prepare early."
Qizhu cast a glance, and the figure in black holding the clothes was the same person who brought me to the demon realm. Unfazed by Qizhu's imposing presence, he continued to smile and said, "To ensure Miss Anxin is happy, we have kept your friends from the human world safe."
I panicked. "What have you done to them?"
"Nothing much. Just making things difficult for them. I've placed the items down; I hope Miss Anxin will cooperate."
Tonight?
Looking at the glaring wedding attire, I felt a cold laugh rise within me, a wave of helpless bitterness washing over.
I never expected that wearing the wedding dress twice would not be for marrying the man I loved.
The more vibrant the wedding attire became, the more it stung my eyes.
How I once longed to wear that dress to marry Jun Chong, but after missing one opportunity, there would never be another.
Qizhu picked up the wedding attire and walked toward me, pulling me into a room. He held me tightly, his lips brushing against my ear.
"Tonight's wedding is merely a facade, meant to force Jun Chong to come here and open the passage between our worlds. At that time, Elder Rong will take me to the Forbidden Tower. Everything happening in the human realm is just an illusion designed to distract you all. Once I leave, take my Jade Token to the Rockery beyond the forbidden land; there lies a passage to escape the demon realm. The rest is up to you. This is all I can do for you now. When we meet again, I will be on opposing sides with Jun Chong, and it will be time to settle scores with wives and children alike. At that moment, I won't hold back because of your existence."
Qizhu released me, his pure black eyes shimmering with unspoken emotions that were forcefully suppressed. Finally, he leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on my forehead.
"The so-called world may only exist in a breath's span. All beliefs are merely for the chance to meet you."
Qizhu slowly stepped back, gradually loosening the grip on my arm. Although she smiled, tears glistened in her eyes and rolled down as she blinked.
“Anxin, I wish you happiness.”
No amount of words could compare to that simple phrase.
With determination, Qizhu turned and walked away. I wanted to reach out and grab her, but what would it change? I couldn't give her what she desired; all I would do is increase her pain. Perhaps this was the best outcome.
That night, the Demon Palace was adorned with lights and decorations, presenting a facade of joy, yet no one was truly happy.
I sat in my room dressed in bridal attire, holding the Jade Token Qizhu had given me. Cold sweat dampened its surface, betraying my inner tension.
“The Auspicious Time has arrived—”
Someone entered and placed the Red Veil over my head, then led me outside. Through the thin fabric, I saw many people gathered outside, my anxiety growing as I cautiously searched for any sign of Jun Chong.
In truth, I didn't want him to come. If he did arrive and opened the passage between realms, regardless of whether the Underworld could defeat the Demon Realm afterward, he would be a sinner.
For the sake of one woman, sacrificing so many lives in the Underworld was a crime beyond justification.
The hall was packed with Demons. Elder Rong, a senior figure in the Demon Realm, commanded their allegiance and sat in a high position to preside over the wedding.
“Bow to Heaven and Earth!”
At the sound of the Ritual Officer's voice, I was forced to bow.
“Two Bows to the High Hall!”
I complied once more.
"Couples, bow!"
This time, I stubbornly refused to lower my head. Even if it was fake, I didn't want to.
The wedding with Jun Chong was merely the initial shock; he had yet to give me his real wedding, yet here I was, holding a ceremony with another man. No one would willingly accept such a situation.
"Couples—" The word was still stuck in my throat when the Ritual Officer suddenly died, consumed by a black flame that turned him to dust.
The hall erupted into chaos. My heart trembled; that feeling was Jun Chong!
He had truly come!
A mix of surprise and joy surged within me, accompanied by deep guilt. He had come for me.
"My woman dares to be taken? Does the Demon Realm truly wish to be obliterated from existence?"
His commanding presence remained unyielding as ever, even stepping onto someone else's territory without a hint of fear. This was Jun Chong, my man.
"Lord of the Abyss, what grand words you speak. You and this one have never held a wedding; you even destroyed the Underworld Marriage Agreement. How can you call yourselves a couple?"
Elder Rong stood firm, showing no fear towards Jun Chong.
I lifted the Red Veil and caught sight of that black and gold figure. I thought he must have regained his body, yet he looked just as he always had.
My nose tinged with emotion; just as I wanted to step forward, Qi Zhi pulled me back protectively.
Jun Chong narrowed his eyes. "Qi Zhi, do you wish to die?"
"I haven't avenged my wife and child yet; how could I wish for death?"
Jun Chong frowned, "Another boring question."
"Jun Chong! How dare you say it's boring! Since you've opened the passage between realms today, the Underworld won't let you go. I'll make you a sacrifice for Father to emerge from the Forbidden Tower!"
Qi Zhi didn't summon the Dragon Spear; instead, he drew a sword from a nearby person. With a flash of his red robe, he charged straight at Jun Chong. Jun Chong countered with the Black Abyss, which was exceptionally fierce, but Qi Zhi was clearly at a disadvantage and struggled more and more.
I found it strange at the time. Qi Zhi was no slouch; he shouldn't be so far behind Jun Chong. Moreover, it was odd that he chose to use a sword instead of the Dragon Spear.
The hall was in chaos. I was being pushed back by a Demon and caught sight of Elder Rong sitting calmly in his high seat, watching the fight unfold without any reaction.
My confusion deepened.
This was not what Qi Zhi had described; how could Elder Rong not take this opportunity to attack the Underworld? Instead, he sat there watching the show?
"There’s definitely something fishy going on."
I quietly took off my red suit and removed my headpiece. Since no one noticed, it would be best to leave quickly. I believed Jun Chong could make it out safely.
As I crouched and slipped out from behind, I accidentally bumped into a Demon and immediately ducked my head to hide, not daring to move. But when the Demon didn't react much, I dashed toward the hall. I breathed a sigh of relief and hurried back.
It was quiet behind me; with so many Demons around, they couldn't all be gathered in the hall. The hall was only so big; it could barely fit a few dozen people. So where had all those others gone?
Thinking about Qi Zhi's combat strength and Elder Rong's odd behavior, I suddenly realized that this was likely an illusion meant to buy time. The real Qi Zhi and Elder Rong had probably already set off for the Underworld.
"I need to speed up."
I quickly ran toward the forbidden area. Just as I stepped into the Rockery, I heard the sound of a child's cries again, drifting softly with the night wind.
"Mommy, save me. Mommy, save me."
When Junxin was in my womb, that was how he called me. Now, hearing the voice of this child makes my heart ache.
After hesitating, I realized I was already standing in front of the cave. The voice was coming from inside. I had previously asked if there were children trapped in the Forbidden Grounds.
But Junxin said it had always been empty; ever since the Demon King was sealed away, no one had heard a child's voice.
I didn't think much of it at the time, but now the voice grew louder and more sorrowful, each call piercing my ears, making it impossible for me to leave. Finally, I gritted my teeth; after all I've done, what’s one more step?
Perhaps it would turn out to be a good deed?
With that belief in mind, I reached out and pushed the door, only to find it wouldn’t budge.
"Can't push it?"
I tried again with all my strength, but it still wouldn’t move. Just as I was about to give up, the child's voice came again, "Blood, use blood."
"Blood?"
Without hesitation, I used Blood Flame to cut my palm and then pushed with all my might. This time, the stone door opened easily.
As the door swung open, a heavy, musty smell rushed out at me. I quickly covered my nose and heard a cheerful voice from inside.
"Mommy!"
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