Yun Ruo carried Qin Zhong's body to the back mountain. While the front slopes of Yanfu Mountain were ablaze with spring blossoms, the northern-facing rear slopes lay desolate, especially the graveyard. Hundreds of graves were buried here, many belonging to Yanfu Palace disciples who had failed in their quest for enlightenment.
Those buried here were all fools. Qin Zhong knew it too, though his obsession lay in the Dao rather than love. Yun Ruo dug a grave with a hoe but did not rush to lay Qin Zhong within. Instead, she sat beside him, gazing at the dark red sun sinking beyond the horizon.
The lingering light cast upon his pale cheeks revealed a profound, solemn chill.
"Qin Zhong, if you regret this, then enter the cycle of rebirth. Forgetting someone isn't difficult. You just have to... put your heart somewhere you don't even know, and you'll forget..."
Yun Ruo narrowed his eyes, watching the dark red afterglow illuminate the hillside. Years ago, when he left that person, it had been a sunset like this one—so solemn it seemed to mourn, mourning something lost.
What was never gained couldn't be considered lost, could it?
Yun Ruo placed Qin Zhong in the grave and slowly covered him with earth. He silently chanted a soul-soothing spell, then cast a magic to make grass grow over the fresh mound, making it resemble an ancient grave.
As the sun sank westward, Yun Ruo left the back mountain, his heart heavy with melancholy and confusion. He failed to notice the watchful eyes nearby, observing his every move with ill intent.
Yuhua Palace within the Smoke-Floating Palace was Dan Yuehen's residence. Originally situated very close to the Flower-Adorned Pavilion, he had intended to bring Qiu Rong to live in Yuhua Palace after taking control of the Smoke-Floating Palace and eliminating Yun Zhongyu. But Qiu Rong always refused, saying only that the scenery at the Flower-Adorned Pavilion was beautiful and that she had lived there too long to bear leaving.
Qiu Rong finally agreed to move back and live with Dan Yuehen. Yet, Dan Yuehen felt a strange emptiness and loneliness. Hadn't this been what he'd longed for? He could finally be with Qiu Rong, keeping this tender youth close, cherishing him with all his heart. Why then did he still feel this void?
Dan Yuehen gently traced Qiu Rong's cheek. The fair skin flushed with bashful charm, utterly endearing. Yet overlaid upon Qiu Rong's face before him was another visage—one of endurance, despair, bordering on tragedy...
Dan Yuehen shook his head, as if to shake off the painful memories. "Rongrong," he murmured softly, "stay here tonight. Tell me what you'd like to eat, and I'll have it prepared."
"I don't want to eat." Having lost the mystical power from the Xuanlong Pearl, Qiu Rong hung her head, pondering how to replenish it. Though slightly displeased, she gave no outward sign.
Then she lifted her gaze to meet his, her eyes soft and affectionate. "Yuehen, I missed you." Her head dipped again, and where Dan Yuehen couldn't see, a dangerous smile slowly spread. Years of effort had gone up in flames. Though scheming against Dan Yuehen carried risks, she had no choice. She only hoped he wouldn't discover her soul-capturing technique.
Dan Yuehen ruffled her hair and chuckled softly, "If you missed me so much, why didn't you move in sooner? I missed you too."
Qiu Rong gently rubbed against Dan Yuehen's body, attempting to stir his desire. Dan Yuehen smiled knowingly, waved his attendants away, and helped him shed his outer garments.
The pure white body remained as flawless as ever, tempting like white jade. Dan Yuehen gazed at his lover, yet discovered that despite his usual impatience, he felt no such urge at all.
Qiu Rong lay sideways on his bed, radiating a captivating glow. He wore only a sheer undershirt; loosening the sash would reveal his smooth, tender skin. Yet Dan Yuehen trembled slightly, overwhelmed by his own helplessness.
A helplessness he'd never known before left him standing beside Qiu Rong, utterly unable to embrace his lover.Qiu Rong couldn't help but frown slightly. He would never agree to perform oral sex on Dan Yuehen. With his physical prowess, he hadn't reached that point yet.
Qiu Rong frowned and said, "Yuehen, I suddenly feel a bit unwell. Let's do this another time."
Dan Yuehen smiled at Qiu Rong's intervention and replied, "If that's the case, we'll discuss it next time. Rongrong, take some Qingxin Dan pills and get some rest. I won't disturb you."
After instructing the maids attending to Qiu Rong, Dan Yuehen hurriedly left his Yuhua Palace. A flurry of questions surged through his mind—why? Why did he feel no desire toward Qiu Rong, yet become madly obsessed whenever he thought of that person? Could it be a spell?
Indeed, there existed a mind-bewitching technique in Taoist arts that could make someone irresistibly infatuated with another. Yet a skilled practitioner could detect such spells when lucid—and he felt perfectly normal, showing no signs of being bewitched. Then... then perhaps he had simply grown accustomed to that person. No one else would suffice now.
Dan Yuehen clenched his teeth. This couldn't continue. He could seek anyone else, but he absolutely must not seek that person again. Otherwise, how could the ruler of a palace be entangled with someone of such mediocre talent? Wouldn't that be utterly disgraceful?
Dan Yuehen strolled along Huaiqi Lake. Yun Zhongyu breaking out of the Mystic Dragon Illusion Mirror had been unexpected. He couldn't fathom how it happened—a soul essence should have no remaining magical power, making it impossible for Yun Zhongyu to escape. Yet the unexpected had occurred.
Dan Yuehen pondered for a while, still unable to make sense of it, when he found himself unconsciously approaching Qin Zhong's residence. This place was extremely remote, yet he had stumbled upon it without intention.
Danyuehen frowned, preparing to turn back, but suddenly halted—since he was already here, why not go in and take a look?
A faint smile touched Danyuehen's lips. Suddenly, he felt a tightness in his lower body. Hesitating, he pushed open Qin Zhong's door. The door was already quite dilapidated, creaking softly as it swung open. Every time he pushed open the door like this, Qin Zhong would be waiting inside.
But to Dan Yuehen's surprise, Qin Zhong was nowhere to be found this time. He was usually taciturn and disliked talking much. Every day, he either stayed by his side or remained in his own room—he never went anywhere else.
Dan Yuehen sat in the room for a while, but Qin Zhong still hadn't returned. Growing increasingly anxious, he hurried out the door and summoned someone to inquire.
The disciple froze, seeing the fury on Dan Yuehen's face. Fear gripped him, and his words came out stammering: "Your Excellency, Young Master Qin suffered severe injuries today and has... passed away."
A thunderous roar echoed in Dan Yuehen's ears as if a sledgehammer had struck his chest. His hand shot out, delivering a savage slap that shattered several of the disciple's teeth.
"Nonsense! With his formidable magical prowess, how could he die so easily? How dare you lie to me!" Qin Zhong couldn't be dead. Impossible. Impossible!
The disciple, unaware of his anger, hastily knelt and kowtowed, stammering, "Every word is true, Your Highness. I dare not lie. Young Master Qin did indeed cough up blood and pass away this morning after you left the palace."
"Why was I not informed?" Dan Yuehen's expression darkened.
"Young Master Yun Ruo said he would handle the burial and that there was no need to inform the Palace Master."
Dan Yuehen's fist clenched suddenly. "Who gave him permission to do that?"
"I do not know."
Without another word, Dan Yuehen headed straight for Yun Ruo's residence, Xinyun Pavilion. He would get to the bottom of this. How dare Qin Zhong be so audacious—to die without his permission!
A painful sensation welled up inside him, like something had been torn open, yet he couldn't pinpoint what it was. He could only let the agony seethe, raw and bloody, making it nearly impossible to breathe.
When he arrived at Xinyun Residence, Yun Ruo was tending to the flowerbed outside, planting and weeding. Watching Yun Ruo's deliberate movements only fueled Dan Yuehen's fury. He'd never paid much attention to plants, trampling several to death as he approached. Standing before Yun Ruo, he snapped coldly, "Who gave you permission? Don't you know he was my servant?" How dare Yun Ruo touch him? Did he want to die? And to handle his body without authorization...
Yun Ruo didn't lift his head. He glanced at Dan Yuehen's purple robes before returning to watering his own plants. This man suffocated everyone around him, yet Yun Ruo wouldn't give him a single glance. Seeing someone's heart was the only true way to understand them, but few possessed the ability to peer directly into another's soul.
"Yun Ruo!" A purple hue flashed across Dan Yuehen's face as dark light flickered in his eyes.
Yun Ruo remained unbowed, lowering the wooden scoop into the bucket. Steam swirled within, rising in mist that slowly crystallized into ice.
Dan Yuehen's lips twitched slightly. "What exactly is your relationship with him?" Yun Ruo, who never engaged in conflict, was now prepared to fight him over a servant. Surely some illicit affair had already blossomed between them.
Anger gnawed at his heart like a dull blade, yet he couldn't fathom why it hurt so deeply. Could the betrayal of a mere servant truly reduce him to this?
"Me and him..." Yun Ruo heard his question, a faint smile touching her lips as she slowly lifted her head to gaze upon Dan Yuehen's flawless features. The most beautiful person in the Smoke-Floating Palace was not Qiu Rong, but Dan Yuehen. Qiu Rong's beauty was gentle and subdued, lacking that soul-stirring, captivating allure. But Dan Yuehen's magical prowess was too formidable, coupled with an air of haughty dominance. Even the old Palace Master had never dared to lay a finger on him.
"We hit it off instantly. He asked me to bury him after my death. What does the Palace Master wish to say?" Yun Ruo watched as Dan Yuehen's expression gradually twisted, her smile growing ever more delighted.
Dan Yuehen replied coolly, "Is that so? So he knew all along he would die." By the end of his sentence, his voice had grown faint, his thoughts drifting into haze. He strained to recall any signs before Qin Zhong's death, but no matter how hard he tried, nothing came to mind. Only the memory of his tiresome devotion and his alluring body lingered.
Being with Qin Zhong had been comfortable. Tormenting him, watching his pain yet unable to resist the lust that made him writhe and twist on the bed, brought an indescribable sense of satisfaction. Especially his utterly devoted, hopeless infatuation, which spared her the trouble of doing many things herself. But beyond his expressions in bed, Dan Yuehen had no interest in looking at that face, which was utterly revolting.
So... he had known all along that he was dying. And he hadn't told him.
The anger at being deceived didn't make him lose his composure; instead, it was somewhat diluted by another kind of inexpressible sadness. Dan Yuehen watched Yun Ruo impassively.
Yun Ruo smiled faintly, meeting his eyes as she said, "That's right. He knew he was going to die long ago. After we made love, he told me and asked me to arrange his burial."
"Shut up! " Dan Yuehen erupted in fury, though he couldn't pinpoint which words stung most, making him want to kill Yun Ruo.
"Dan Yuehen, you may not believe it, but he truly had fallen for someone else. He also said you were too rough, not half as refined and gentle as I am..." Yun Ruo smiled faintly. Seeing the rage flare in Dan Yuehen's eyes, she knew she'd achieved her goal and merely smiled without speaking. He hadn't known whether Dan Yuehen treated Qin Zhong harshly—it had been mere conjecture—yet his guess had struck true.
Dan Yuehen snorted. "What need is there for refinement with a servant? Young Master Yun, you're far too sentimental."
Yun Ruo smiled faintly. "Young Master Qin has his own merits, of course. We understand each other implicitly. "He had long since distanced himself from carnal desires and couldn't fathom what merit Qin Zhong possessed. Yet he had heard whispers of Dan Yuehen using Qin Zhong's body night after night to satisfy his lust. If Qin Zhong truly had nothing redeeming, Dan Yuehen wouldn't linger so reluctantly.
Dan Yuehen glared at him fiercely, as if he wanted to gouge out his eyes. His voice was sharp and cold: "Yun Ruo! Today, I will kill you!"
Yun Ruo said, Qin Zhong has been laid to rest. I refuse to disturb his peace while his body is still warm. Within seven days, you shall end the killing for the sake of my lifelong confidant and lover."
Dan Yuehen stared at him for a long moment, unsure he could kill him. He turned and left, his long sleeves billowing in the wind like a celestial being.
Yun Ruo watched his retreating figure and exhaled a breath of relief, his palms drenched in sweat.
He, too, doubted his ability to defeat Dan Yuehen, rumored to be the greatest swordsman of this age.
Dan Yuehen's sword control had reached the pinnacle—his heart moved, his blade struck, leaving no trace. For centuries, none in the Smoke-Floating Palace could match him.
Would his illusions deceive Dan Yuehen's eyes? If Dan Yuehen sought to desecrate the grave, Qin Zhong might never escape, even in death.
Dan Yuehen struggled to quell the inexplicable unease gnawing at his heart. His mind was haunted only by Yun Ruo's detestable smile and Qin Zhong's blood-soaked face in his final moments... Only the memory of Qin Zhong's agonized expression brought him slight relief.
That Qin Zhong had not forgotten him even in death proved his irreplaceable place in the man's heart. Yun Ruo's words were nothing but nonsense.
Danyuehen was normally a man of great reason, but momentary provocation had stirred his emotions. After reflection, he understood this, yet doubts lingered. Yun Ruo knew Qin Zhong so intimately—their relationship could hardly be superficial.
He walked by Huqi Lake for a long time, the sky gradually darkening. Danyuehen couldn't help but feel a pang of alarm—he hadn't realized how much time he'd wasted over Qin Zhong.
By the time he returned to Yuhua Palace, lamps had been lit. While the outer courtyards glowed with bright lanterns, Yuhua Palace itself was adorned with night pearls that emitted a soft, amber glow after dark.
As Dan Yuehen entered the palace, the thought of the enchanting Qiu Rong residing within brought him a sense of calm. His pace slowed imperceptibly.
Faint sounds drifted from a bedroom in the rear courtyard of Yuhua Palace. Listening closely, anyone from Yanfugu Palace would recognize them without mistake—the intimate sounds of lovemaking. The guard's expression shifted slightly, but Dan Yuehen swept his sleeve, halting the man's movement to report.
Dan Yuehen entered the bedroom slowly. He saw Qiu Rong lying half-naked on the bed, alone except for him.
"Rongrong, are you alone?" Dan Yuehen smiled, his gaze drifting casually toward the wardrobe beside the bed. The slightest breath of life would not escape his notice.
Qiu Rong cooed, "Of course I'm alone. Who else could it be?"
Dan Yuehen doted on Qiu Rong immensely. On any other day, he would have indulged her no matter what she did. But today, for some reason, he felt a strange weariness.
With a flick of his sleeve, the wardrobe swung open to reveal a naked man trembling inside. Dan Yuehen wore a deeply ironic smile. Today had been eventful indeed—everything that was meant to happen had happened.
Qiu Rong hadn't expected Dan Yuehen to expose her so completely without mercy. She hurriedly protested, "Yuehen, I still love you..."
Dan Yuehen snorted. "Is that so?" Yet his mind drifted elsewhere. He realized that learning Qiu Rong was with another man didn't anger him as much as discovering Qin Zhong's connection to Yun Ruo had earlier. Had he suffered a second blow, rendering him indifferent?
Seeing Dan Yuehen's expressionless face, Qiu Rong grew uneasy. "Yuehen, I just... I wanted to be with you, but you didn't..." So I found someone else..."
Dan Yuehen's expression turned icy. With a flick of his sleeve, the man in the wardrobe's skull shattered, dead instantly.
"Qiu Rong, you can sleep with anyone you want. Just don't do it in my Yuhua Palace. Got it?"
Qiu Rong trembled, stunned by the intensity of Dan Yuehen's rage. She slowly lowered her eyes.
If this place won't keep me, another will. He wasn't afraid.
Dan Yuehen stormed out of Yuhua Palace, furious. What angered him most was that his heart hadn't been shaken as deeply as he'd feared. The searing jealousy that had consumed him when he saw the old Palace Master leading Qiu Rong into the secret chamber to practice martial arts seemed to have vanished entirely. His reluctance to see Qiu Rong stemmed solely from her revealing his impotence today, a profound blow to his pride.
The spring breeze of Huaqi Lake gently rippled the water's surface, yet it failed to reach his heart. What lingered relentlessly was the image of Qin Zhong before his death. Reflecting now, it didn't seem as hideous as he had once perceived.
His dying question—had he ever loved him?—echoed in his ears, strangely tender and sorrowful, lingering with a lingering warmth despite the bitter grief. Perhaps it was the night breeze, blowing softly in the darkness, that made him feel a little tipsy and intoxicated.
Danyuehen had once been so exasperated by Qin Zhong's relentless, unrequited love that she had tormented him in their intimate moments, hoping to crush his hopes and leave him utterly despondent. Now that he was finally gone, she found herself feeling strangely adrift.
Their affair was truly over now. Only at its end did she revisit the entire journey—he hadn't been so detestable after all. Perhaps she should have told him a lie at his deathbed to ease his passing, sparing him that despairing end.
Dan Yuehen refused to return to Yuhua Palace, lingering instead by Huqi Lake.
Deep into the night, the disciples of Yanyu Palace had retired. Several attendants hinted at offering themselves, but he felt no desire. He dismissed them all.
No one remained. A gentle lake breeze carried the lingering fragrance of Tihua blossoms. Tihua was meant to bring clarity, yet in moments of profound lucidity, one might yearn to drown in intoxication instead.
Overthinking was futile; the man was already dead. Had he uttered that one more lie, it might have created entanglements in the next life. If Qin Zhong, before plunging into reincarnation, resolved to meet him again in his next existence, that would be rather troublesome.
Danyue Hen comforted himself, his mind easing slightly. He lifted his gaze and found himself once more outside Qin Zhong's door.
Since she had no desire to see Qiu Rong for now, staying here for the night wouldn't hurt. With that thought, Dan Yuehen entered the room.
The room was pitch-black. Guided by memory, she made her way inside. Beside the bed stood a chair and a table, upon which sat a pot of flowers. They were strikingly... strikingly lush, spilling over the edge of the table.
The more exquisitely beautiful a flower, the less fragrance it possessed. The scent of this bloom was so faint it was nearly imperceptible.
Now that the flower was gone, it felt somewhat unfamiliar. Yet a faint trace of its scent lingered in the air, vaguely reminding her of the scent that had clung to Qin Zhong—light, elusive, with a hint of hazelnut bitterness.
One day, I must ask what kind of flower it was. To keep one in my room would be quite distinctive.
Danyuehen lay down on the bed. Qin Zhong's bed was always immaculately clean. Even after the passion had just unfolded, he would leave for a moment and return to find it spotless once more. That man, even while enduring physical discomfort, insisted on leaving everything pristine, untouched by dust.
But the last time he came, Yun Ruo had lain on this very bed. Dan Yuehen shifted uneasily, as if to press Yun Ruo beneath him.
Qin Zhong's scent lingered on the sheets—no doubt washed away now, leaving only his own bitter trace.
Dan Yuehen's heart grew still. Unnoticed, the night passed without dreams.