Dan Yuehen continued his tranquil life. Each day he attended council meetings at the Tai Ming Hall, strolled near the Huaqi Lake, and occasionally returned to the Yu Hua Palace to see Qiu Rong—yet without any hint of romantic desire.
Barriers now surrounded the Yanfu Palace; should Yun Zhongyu attempt to enter even half a step, he would be made aware. With Yun Zhongyu's current abilities, returning to his former self was already difficult enough, let alone defeating him.
Though Dan Yuehen sometimes slept in Yuhua Palace, he could never rest there. Only by retreating to Qin Zhong's former quarters could he find peace. His maid, Xiao Yu, suggested having the room tidied if he intended to stay, but he refused.
Once tidied, the aura would vanish.
Dan Yuehen's heart lurched—he'd thought it was merely a passing infatuation, something that would fade in a few days. Clearly, that wasn't the case. If this floral scent brought him such peace, he might as well find some of those flowers to cultivate himself. There was no need to stay here any longer.
Dan Yuehen made his way to the Frost Snow Tower within the Smoke Floating Palace. This was the domain of the Shen Water Hall, where the characteristics of every aquatic and terrestrial plant were meticulously recorded. The Shen Shui Hall specialized in using plants as the foundation for cultivating magical arts, differing from the other branches.
Outside the Frost Snow Tower lay a sea of flowers. Though they bloomed brilliantly, they lacked the frenzied intensity of the one Qin Zhong cultivated—a madness that almost instilled a faint sense of dread.
Dan Yuehen forced herself not to think of that man again. Slowly, she walked along the stone path into the Frost Snow Tower.
Ding Ruyi, the head of the Shen Shui Hall, had already received word and awaited her inside. After hearing Dan Yuehen's description, he pondered for a moment before asking, "Are you referring to the Prajna Flower? The one whose blossoms are dazzlingly brilliant when in full bloom, with an exceptionally long flowering period—lasting a full half-year?"
"That is correct."
"Your Highness, I must confess my inability to assist. While records of this flower exist, no cultivation methods are documented, so our Shen Shui Hall possesses no flower manuals. Its toxicity is profound—in small doses, it promotes blood circulation and dissipates stagnation; in large quantities, it amplifies one's magical prowess, yet ultimately leads to death as all remedies prove futile."
Dan Yuehen was startled. Fixing his gaze on Ding Ruyi's eyes, he demanded, "Are you telling the truth?" After a moment's thought, he understood, yet beyond a sense of inevitability, he felt nothing else.
Three years prior, he had taught Qin Zhong the ways of cultivation. However, Qin Zhong's progress was painfully slow, and Dan Yuehen had often taken his frustration out on him because of it. Dan Yuehen knew he had been demanding too much. He himself possessed exceptional talent; even if Qin Zhong had been equally gifted, reaching his level would have taken twenty years. Achieving it in just three years was utterly impossible. Yet, somehow, Qin Zhong had managed it.
Dan Yuehen hadn't asked why, and Qin Zhong hadn't explained. He never imagined it was because of this poisonous flower.
That fool. What good was such high cultivation if he was dead?
A faint smile touched Dan Yuehen's lips, yet her heart felt bitter.
Ding Ruyi nodded, instructing a disciple to fetch the floral compendium from the Scripture Hall. Opening it to the page on the Prajna Flower, they found a prepared specimen—a single bloom preserved between two sheets of thin ice, its form still faintly alluring.
Ding Ruyi retrieved the specimen and asked, "Your Highness, is this the flower?"
As the specimen left the pages, the thin ice gradually melted into clear water. Dan Yuehen watched the Prajna Flower slowly bloom in her hand—delicate and dewy, dazzlingly radiant, faintly reminiscent of days past.
Danyuehen's eyes suddenly stung. She carefully tucked the flower into her bosom and said softly, "Since it cannot be traced, then so be it. Hall Master Ding, I take my leave." Before Ding Ruyi could react, Danyuehen had already stepped outside the Frostsnow Tower. Her steps were slow, her purple robe fluttering, and in an instant, she was far away.
Ding Ruyi stared blankly at Dan Yuehen's retreating figure. The plants and flowers within Frostsnow Tower were already rare treasures in this world. The Palace Master knew full well how uncommon the Prajna Flower was, yet he had simply slipped it into his bosom without a word. But what could his subordinates say? They could only search for it again next time.
Ding Ruyi helplessly instructed his disciples to stow away the flower catalogues and sent others to research cultivation methods for the Prajna Flower, lest the Palace Master conduct another sudden inspection.
Dan Yuehen emerged from the Frost-Snow Pavilion in a daze. A maid bowed beside him. Noticing his absent-mindedness, she cautioned, "Your Highness, please be careful."
Dan Yuehen gave a casual nod. After a moment's thought, he asked, "Xiao Xu, do you know where Qin Zhong is buried?"
The maid Xiao Xu, surprised he remembered her name, flushed slightly. After a pause, she replied, "The Palace Master must mean Young Master Qin. That day, Young Master Yun carried him to the back mountain. He must be buried in the graveyard on the back mountain..." She happened to work at the Flower Brocade Pavilion. Though she had seen Dan Yuehen before, she had only secretly pondered this hauntingly captivating man. Never expecting him to speak to her, she grew even more nervous.
Dan Yuehen looked up at the gray, overcast sky. A few patches of dark clouds obscured the sun, and his heart sank slightly. In a daze, he recalled that day at the Flower Brocade Pavilion. He had taken Qiu Rong away, leaving him lying alone on the ground. He had asked if she had ever loved him. She had glanced back at him but given no answer.
At that moment, he had murmured something softly, but she had already walked far away. His voice was faint, and she hadn't heard clearly.
Dan Yuehen seized Xiao Xu's shoulders and said urgently, " Xiao Xu, you were at Huaqi Pavilion that day, weren't you? Tell me—what did Young Master Qin say before he died?"
Startled by Dan Yuehen's sudden grasp, Xiao Xu flushed even deeper, lowering her head coyly as she struggled to recall the scene: "He said... he would give up his entire life for the Palace Master's happiness, but in the next life, he never wished to see her again."
As if struck by lightning, Dan Yuehen froze, repeating the words in a low voice: "He said he never wished to see me again?"
Xiao Xu, terrified by his ghastly, horrified expression, froze stiff as a board, nearly bursting into tears. "Yes... yes... Palace Master, please let me go..."
Dan Yuehen released her grip, feeling an abrupt emptiness within. His mind went blank, as if he couldn't comprehend Xiao Xu's words at all. He stared at her blankly, as though seeing her for the first time. Blinking, he murmured again, "He said he never wanted to see me again in future lives?"
In this world of endless cycles, reunion is inevitable. To say "never again" meant renouncing reincarnation, dissolving into the void of existence. He didn't want to see him, so he had abandoned even eternity.
Xiao Xu, terrified by his horrifying expression, let out a shriek and turned to run.
Only after Xiao Xu vanished did Dan Yuehen snap back to reality, realizing his own loss of composure. He drew a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He knew his reaction had been excessive. He must steady himself—it was merely Qin Zhong. His departure brought him no loss. He had already seized the position of Palace Master of Yanfu Palace. There would be plenty more to use in the future. Nothing to care about... Once this period passed, the pain would fade...
Sorrow? Was he truly feeling sorrow?
He lightly touched his face—it was wet.
Was it raining?
He looked up at the scattered patches of gray clouds. Though gloomy, there was no sign of rain.
Dan Yuehen walked aimlessly, yet his steps carried him toward the rear mountain.
A faint voice within urged him: He must hear him say it himself—never to meet again.
It had been six days now. By the time he dug it up, it would likely be decaying already.
Dan Yuehen thought numbly as his slender, jade-like fingers dug deep into the earth.
The back mountain was dotted with unclaimed graves. Yun Ruo would never tell him which one it was, nor did he want anyone to know how deeply he still clung to Qin Zhong. The magic that dug through the earth would also damage his body, so he had to proceed cautiously, inch by inch.
Dan Yuehen had forgotten he could use a shovel. His fingers dug deep, clearing the soil from the graves. The first held only bones. The second coffin contained a woman. The third, the fourth... Blood seeped from Dan Yuehen's fingertips, yet he remained oblivious, continuing to dig grave after grave.
At the eleventh grave, the earth finally yielded a man. Danyuehen dared not look upon the man's face. She clutched his cold body tightly. After an unknown span of time, she wiped the corpse's features clean. Despair washed over her once more. Pushing the body away, she staggered to her feet and walked forward.
No, no...
Danyuehen thought blankly. Behind her lay a chaotic scene—nothing but scattered, dug-up graves.
Dawn was breaking. The faint morning light bathed the back mountain, where weeds swayed in the wind, carrying an eerie, twilight melancholy.
Dan Yuehen stared at the grave beneath her, reaching to dig further when a shriek pierced the air: "Master of the Palace! What... what are you doing? How... how could so many graves be..."
Xiao Yu, one of Dan Yuehen's personal attendants, had spent the entire night searching for her mistress after realizing she was missing. Finding Dan Yuehen amidst the graveyard on the back mountain was the last thing she expected. Though her hands were stained with blood, Dan Yuehen remained serene, her beautiful eyes lifting with a gentle flick that could steal one's soul.
Spotting Xiao Yu, Dan Yuehen remained composed, her voice cool as she ordered, "Nothing. Summon the disciples of Yanfu Palace. Exhume Qin Zhong's body. Without my permission, no one is to be buried here henceforth."
Xiao Yu nodded submissively and withdrew, thinking to herself that Qin Zhong must have wronged the Palace Master in life, otherwise why would his grave be desecrated even after death?
Just as Xiao Yu was about to leave, Dan Yuehen suddenly raised her hand to halt her. "Don't let Yun Ruo know."
Xiao Yu's mind filled with doubts, but she dared not ask further.
Dawn had broken. Dan Yuehen went directly to the Tai Ming Hall for council. By the time matters were settled, the disciples sent to dig graves on the back mountain had returned with their report. All graves on the back mountain had been excavated, yet Qin Zhong's body could not be found. Some claimed to have seen people from the Black澤 Hall frequently visiting the back mountain to steal corpses. It was feared his body had been taken by them.
Upon hearing this, Dan Yuehen felt dizzy and disoriented, nearly unable to recover. He never imagined that one careless mistake could cost them even that person's corpse.
Dan Yuehen immediately ordered a thorough investigation. Only after punishing several people with the cane did the truth emerge: they had been instructed by Hei Zetang's envoy, Pei Siyi, to steal the corpse from the rear mountain.
Pei Siyi hastily knelt to beg for mercy, his face drenched in cold sweat. "Palace Master, spare my life! I was momentarily blinded by greed..." He had assumed Dan Yuehen would never care about such a thing, which is why he stole Qin Zhong's corpse. Little did he know Dan Yuehen would suddenly decide to dig up the grave. He stammered, "Mercy, Palace Master! I thought Young Master Qin might still have a glimmer of life left, so... I wanted to see if he could be saved. But it was stolen on the way..."
Dan Yuehen tightened her grip on the cup, faint traces of crimson blood staining her fingers. Her voice was soft yet sharp: "Who took it?"
The angrier Dan Yuehen grew, the quieter her voice became. Pei Siyi, terrified, kowtowed repeatedly. "It was... Young Master Qiu Rong. He insisted on taking the body to examine it. I had no choice but to..."
Qiu Rong! A chill ran through Dan Yuehen's body. What could Qiu Rong possibly want with the corpse? His voice turned harsh. "Pei Siyi, did you show any disrespect to the body?"
Disciples of the Black澤 Hall would never steal a corpse without cause. But seeing Dan Yuehen's fury, Pei Siyi knew this matter was grave. He dared not admit the truth. Having already spun a grand lie, he prayed it would deceive Dan Yuehen. "I would never dare!" he cried.
Dan Yuehen declared, "All involved shall receive one hundred strokes of the cane."
As he stepped outside, Dan Yuehen refused to acknowledge it—refused to admit that body had been violated by who knew how many hands. Yet his entire being trembled uncontrollably.
It hurts so much... Why does it hurt so much? He walked in a daze, a gaping wound in his heart, yet unable to name the feeling. Only he had the right to touch that person. No one else could lay a finger on him—not even himself... How had it come to this?
He had allowed so many others to lay hands on him.
An indescribable agony tore at his heart like a knife. If he ever saw that person again, he would not let him die easily. He wanted him alive, forever by his side. Even in death, he must never leave.
Dan Yuehen clenched his fists tightly, his slender nails digging deep into his palms.
In moments, they reached Yuhua Palace. His attendants dared not follow him inside and waited outside. Dan Yuehen ordered them not to disturb Qiu Rong—he needed to know what she had done with Qin Zhong's corpse.
Though a faint suspicion stirred within him, Dan Yuehen refused to believe what he was about to witness until he saw it with his own eyes: a scene of unearthly, bewitching beauty unfolded before him. Sheer curtains lay strewn across the floor. A pale, slender form thrust rhythmically against another body. Beneath him, the limp form hung its head, as if all resistance had been surrendered—for every effort had ultimately yielded nothing but hopelessness.
Dan Yuehen trembled as he parted the gauze curtains. The scene before him was shockingly explicit.
Qin Zhong's eyes remained tightly shut. His body, preserved in Black澤 Hall's secret embalming solution, emitted a faint, clean fragrance. His expression was serene, as if untouched by the events that had unfolded. Yet below the waist, chaos reigned—the inner thighs near the opening were smeared with white, viscous fluid.
Only then did Qiurong notice Dan Yuehen had entered unnoticed, now standing by the bed watching her. Her body trembled, yet her face remained unruffled. She slowly draped a garment over herself, adjusting her clothes before lifting her head to meet Dan Yuehen's gaze with a faint, sorrowful smile.
"Yuehen, why have you come?"
After being discovered by Dan Yuehen in bed with another man, Qiu Rong knew that even though Dan Yuehen no longer resided in Yuhua Palace, she could no longer bring anyone there either. Unwilling to abandon years of arduous cultivation, she had been tempted days earlier when she saw someone practicing martial arts using corpses near Hei Zetang. Corpses offered no sound or warmth. No matter how powerful Dan Yuehen's arts, he wouldn't detect a corpse hidden within Yuhua Palace. Using the pretext that Qin Zhong, as Dan Yuehen's guard, must not be subjected to humiliation, she brought Qin Zhong back to Yuhua Palace. wr7xt For several days, Dan Yuehen had been absent from the palace, and Qiu Rong had relaxed her guard, assuming he wouldn't return to Yuhua Palace anytime soon. Unexpectedly, Dan Yuehen suddenly burst in.
"This is Yuhua Palace. Why shouldn't I come?" Dan Yuehen looked at Qiu Rong indifferently, his expression utterly calm. Seeing the one she loved beside the corpse of the man who loved her, she felt no jealousy, only an indescribable sorrow and grief.
Qiu Rong paused, then smiled softly. "Yuehen, is there something you want to know? Why don't you ask? If you ask me, I'll tell you. You don't dare ask because you still love me, don't you?"
Dan Yuehen remained silent. He had intended to ask if Qiu Rong had ever loved him, but now it seemed unnecessary. Strangely, he felt no sorrow at this revelation. Had three years truly changed him so much that he could never return to who he once was?
Dan Yuehen said, "Rongrong, go. I don't want to see you anymore."
Qiu Rong was somewhat taken aback. He had expected Dan Yuehen to hate him, yet feel compelled to keep him, never imagining she would actually let him go. Dan Yuehen's expression was utterly cold; even pleading would only be a pointless loss of dignity. He gave a faint, chilling smile, slipped on an outer robe, and walked out the door.
The room held only Dan Yuehen. He gazed at the lifeless form on the bed, discarded like a tattered rag doll. The head lay limp to one side, hair disheveled yet strangely soft. Dan Yuehen stood motionless for a long moment before slowly approaching. He stroked the hair, kissed the forehead—met with icy coldness.
The man who once gazed at her with such fiery intensity could never open his eyes again. His lips were as white as frost. Looking closely, she could still discern the faint, almost self-mocking, sorrowful smile that had lingered on his lips in his final moments.
Dan Yuehen suddenly clutched the body tightly to her chest, murmuring, "I won't let you die, so you can't die... You're mine, you belong only to me..." In the secluded chamber where no one else could enter, her voice cracked in a way she herself noticed, and she abruptly fell silent.
No, this wasn't right. He should have chased after Qiu Rong, prevented her from leaving. He shouldn't be here, nearly choking on his own sobs for someone already dead.
Everything should have followed the rational course of events, yet in an instant, it changed—almost like the crack of thunder—and suddenly he became someone he didn't recognize.
Perhaps only Qin Zhong's resurrection could unlock this mystery. The corpse bore the toxins of the Prajna Flower and the preservative poison. Even if the soul were summoned, it could not possess the body. The toxins must first be purged, then the soul restored using the Soul-Stabilizing Pill of the Qingxiu Wuxin Sect.
Counting the hours, the seven-day deadline was still several hours away. The soul had not yet dissipated. If the ritual circle were opened immediately to summon the spirit, the soul not yet entered into reincarnation could be called back. Even if the soul had already been reborn as a human, its location could be calculated.
The body in his arms was cold as ice, yet Dan Yuehen felt nothing. Holding it tightly, he slowly stepped out of the secret chamber and ordered preparations for the soul-summoning ritual. His disciples exchanged glances. Human fate was predetermined by heaven; summoning souls defied the heavens and would surely invite divine retribution. Some stepped forward to protest, but Dan Yuehen silenced them with a stern command.
He feared no heavenly retribution, believing fate lay solely in his own hands. With sufficient effort, he could overcome all obstacles.
White soul-summoning banners fluttered in the night sky as the altar was prepared. Dan Yuehen slowly ascended the steps. In the southwest chamber, a soul-capturing sack had been set up. Every surface except the single door was covered with soul-binding talismans. Once the spirit entered the room, the door would slam shut automatically. Dan Yuehen placed the corpse upon the altar, inscribing Qin Zhong's birth chart with vermilion on yellow paper. Gathering true energy between two fingers, he instantly summoned a long sword that sliced through the inky night.
A lightning-like brilliance illuminated the entire sky. The yellow paper fluttered upward, suddenly bursting into flames.
Dressed in purple robes, Dan Yuehen's exquisite features held a faint smile, rendering her breathtakingly beautiful.
The paper's spontaneous combustion signaled the Soul-Searching Technique's success. She placed the corpse into the white jade coffin resting in the Smoke-Floating Palace's forbidden area, sealed it with magic, then entered the secret chamber.
The chamber's exterior was densely plastered with yellow talismans. As long as these talismans remained intact, any soul entering the chamber could not escape. Though this method offered only temporary containment, it was the best solution available without a dedicated ritual artifact.
The interior lay in complete darkness. Dan Yuehen lit an eternal lamp in her hand and stepped inside slowly, its glow illuminating the entire inner chamber.
In the shadowy corner stood a man clad in a half-worn blue robe. From Dan Yuehen's angle, only his profile was visible—eyes narrow and slanted, expression serene. Bathed in the lamp's warm, yellow glow, his entire being radiated an extraordinary softness.
The spirit possessed no magical power, making it visible yet untouchable. Moreover, separated by the divide between life and death, his approach placed immense pressure upon the spirit.
Danyuehen halted three paces before the man, revealing his most confident and beautiful smile. He murmured softly, "Qin Zhong, we meet again."
Hearing his voice, the man slowly turned his head, a look of bewilderment crossing his face. "Are you calling me?"
"You... What did you say?" " Dan Yuehen heard her own voice speaking, yet felt utterly frozen—had he forgotten? Could he truly have forgotten?
She took a step forward, reaching to grasp Qin Zhong's shoulder, only to grasp at thin air. Startled, she stared blankly at him. Qin Zhong's expression remained calm as he replied, "I've forgotten who I am. I don't know why I'm here. Could you tell me?"
He slowly lifted his head, which had been hanging low, and looked at Dan Yuehen. That single glance felt as long as a lifetime. Dan Yuehen stared intently into his eyes, trying to see through his soul.
"Don't lie to me! If you had forgotten, you would have reincarnated long ago. How could you still be summoned by my Three Souls and Six Spirits?" Dan Yuehen revealed a cold smile. To think he dared deceive him—utterly delusional.
"Reincarnate? Why would I reincarnate?" His expression seemed to hear incomprehensible words as he quietly regarded Dan Yuehen.
"Qin Zhong, why are you pretending not to know me? Didn't you love me? Back then, no matter how I drove you away, you wouldn't leave. Why are you pretending not to know me now?" Dan Yuehen's expression twisted slightly, a strange panic stirring within him. He hadn't expected that even after retrieving his soul, it refused to acknowledge him as Qin Zhong. If this continued, even if he used the white jade coffin to purge the corpse's poison and found the soul-stabilizing pill, the soul refusing to enter the body meant there was no way to restore it.
A flicker of emotion flickered in Qin Zhong's eyes before fading into calmness. He replied indifferently, " I don't know what you're talking about. This place is unbearable. I'm leaving. Goodbye." With that, he slowly walked toward the door. Dan Yuehen made no move to stop him, watching him with a cold, grim expression that held a hint of vengeful satisfaction.
Sure enough, the moment Qin Zhong's hand touched the door, he flinched involuntarily. Clearly, a soul-binding talisman was affixed to it. Undeterred, he steadfastly increased his strength, attempting to force the door open. But the door felt like a red-hot iron plate to him. He grunted, slowly sliding to the floor, writhing and grimacing.
It hurt so much! Seeing him fall, Dan Yuehen felt a sudden, almost numbing sensation. He practically leaped to his feet, rushing to his side, only to realize he couldn't lift him up—he couldn't even touch him. Even... even if he wanted to be gentle with him, he couldn't.
Watching Qin Zhong's tightly closed eyes and pained expression, Dan Yuehen suddenly realized he wasn't truly omnipotent after all... Before, whenever he saw Qin Zhong's weakened look, he'd involuntarily feel a surge of pity. Only when tormenting Qin Zhong did he show the same tenderness he reserved for Qiu Rong. But now, everything had changed, spiraling beyond his grasp. Even touching him had become impossibly difficult.
"Can... can you get up?" Dan Yuehen forced himself to calm his emotions, speaking in a low voice. If the soul summoning hadn't taken place tonight, perhaps he would never have been able to treat him well for the rest of his life. He should be grateful—grateful that before he fully understood his own feelings, things could still be salvaged.
Qin Zhong's lips twitched, but no words came. He hadn't forgotten, but this death had taught him much. Some things couldn't be forced, nor were they worth clinging to. His delay in reincarnating stemmed solely from his refusal to repeat past mistakes. He was a fool. If he were to be reborn, he might forget everything and err again.
From the moment he first laid eyes on him, Dan Yuehen's smile, as gentle as spring rain and mist, had shattered his senses. He'd fallen into an uncontrollable, mad love. But if he forgot this lesson in the next life, who could say he wouldn't err again? For a fool like him, having his soul scattered to the winds was the punishment he deserved.
After lingering in the tomb for a day, his soul began to dissipate. He'd thought drifting beyond the heavens would gradually turn him into mist, but a thunderclap snatched his spirit back, returning him to Dan Yuehen's side. Now, gazing at this man, he was utterly lucid. Beyond ruthless exploitation, Dan Yuehen had only ever inflicted cruel torment upon him.
Now that he had been retrieved, it was likely only to be exploited once more. Qin Zhong gave a bitter, self-mocking laugh. It was... no longer possible. His previous life had been utterly squandered. He did not wish to see him again, nor hear his voice.
Qin Zhong struggled, slowly rising from the ground. Straightening his body, he prepared to open the door once more. Dan Yuehen couldn't touch him, nor could she stop this foolish act. She could only watch helplessly as he persisted in this hopeless endeavor, her heart feeling as though it were being slowly sliced by a dull blade, the pain nearly overwhelming her.
"Enough! Qin Zhong, what do you want me to do to satisfy you? Just tell me!"
Watching Qin Zhong writhing on the floor, scorched by the soul-binding talisman's magic yet still crawling toward the door, Dan Yuehen could bear it no longer. With a flick of her sleeve, Qin Zhong was blown away from the doorway like smoke. Startled, she realized Qin Zhong was now powerless, weaker than an ordinary person. That slight brush of her sleeve had only intensified his agony, and she froze in shock.
He hadn't been careful enough with him. Watching Qin Zhong writhe in agony on the ground, clenching his lips to stifle any moans, a fresh wave of pain pierced Dan Yuehen's heart.
After an unknown length of time, Qin Zhong's voice came trembling: "I'm not... the person you're looking for. Please let me go. I beg you, let me go! He begged Dan Yuehen to spare him, considering their past bond. Though he'd served him for years, he'd never once pleaded—until now.
"Qin Zhong," Dan Yuehen murmured with utmost tenderness, "come back. Return to me. If you come back, I'll treat you well." Though uncertain of his own feelings, he knew he could still offer him kindness.
The searing pain from the soul-binding talisman had gradually subsided. Qin Zhong tried to rise slowly but found himself unable to move. He could only remain prostrate on the ground, murmuring softly, "The one you seek is a dead man. Since he is already gone, it's time to let go of whatever it is you hold onto. Why disturb his spirit's peace?"
Seeing Qin Zhong immobilized, unable to reach the door plastered with talismans, Dan Yuehen felt a measure of relief. Yet witnessing his helplessness only deepened his ache. He'd never known he could feel such heart-wrenching tenderness for another. Though he'd cherished Qiu Rong deeply, their bond had been sweet with desire, not this—this pain that seemed to wrench his entire heart.
"You are clearly him. Why won't you admit it? Do you think these words can deceive me? Qin Zhong, you wish to fool me, but even in two hundred years, it may still be impossible." Dan Yuehen smiled, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction. Listening closely, Qin Zhong's voice was intensely tender and lingering. Though tinged with faint indifference, a slow, gentle warmth still seeped through its calm tone.
"Even if you find him and make him admit it, what... meaning would it hold?" Qin Zhong was utterly drained, his final words barely more than a gasp. He lay prostrate on the ground, his expression obscured. Dan Yuehen suddenly felt an urge to see the look of desperate struggle and helplessness on his face.
Dan Yuehen couldn't resist moving closer, kneeling beside him. An indescribable tenderness welled up inside him, making him want to... gently cradle him in his arms, kiss his lips—a kiss devoid of any desire.
Qin Zhong was struggling to sit up when he lifted his head. His face was now mere inches from Dan Yuehen's exquisite features. An indescribably strange expression played across Dan Yuehen's face, yet his eyes were fixed intently on Qin Zhong.
"Qin Zhong, come back to your senses. If you just come back to your senses, I'll treat you well."
Qin Zhong froze, then offered a bitter smile. "You've mistaken me for someone else," he murmured.
A brief stalemate ensued between them.
Dan Yuehen's expression darkened. "You refuse?"
He always reacted this way when Qin Zhong refused. Dan Yuehen had always indulged him, granting every demand. But this too must come to an end. Qin Zhong shook his head softly. "I am not that person. Naturally, I cannot agree to your request."
Dan Yuehen said nothing more. He rose to his feet and turned toward the door.