Days passed in the sunless, windowless chamber.
No sunlight penetrated the dungeon. Dan Yuehen visited for brief periods each day, then stormed out in anger. Though the confinement was hollow and tedious, his absence made endurance easier than his presence—sparing him from facing this man and revisiting a past that now felt like a nightmare.
In the Smoke-Floating Palace, those superior to him were everywhere. Dan Yuehen could find anyone better than himself. He had once foolishly clung to the delusion that Dan Yuehen might harbor even a shred of affection for him. Fortunately, Dan Yuehen had shattered that unrealistic dream at the very moment of his death. He did not hate him, for Dan Yuehen had never deceived him. And his presence by Dan Yuehen's side had been solely to wish him happiness—as long as Dan Yuehen was happy, that was enough.
Yet in the end, people always cling to delusions. Only at death's door do they realize how pitiful and laughable those fantasies truly are.
Qin Zhong felt more and more certain that pretending not to know Dan Yuehen was the wisest choice. But he was too clumsy at it. Dan Yuehen didn't believe him at all, and he had no idea when he would give up.
After an unknown span of time, the door creaked open. Dan Yuehen stood outside, his expression obscured. His robes fluttered lightly, carrying an eerie chill.
Qin Zhong remained seated in the corner, not rising.
"Have you made up your mind?" Dan Yuehen's voice held a cold, ruthless edge that made Qin Zhong waver slightly. This time felt different from before.
"I've told you, you've mistaken me for someone else," Qin Zhong replied indifferently. The moment the words left his mouth, a tremendous suction force pulled at him, nearly knocking him off balance. Startled, he saw the jade ring on Dan Yuehen's finger emit an intense glow.
This was the Emerald Jade Ring, a magical artifact capable of absorbing souls to amplify one's magical power. Like the Mystic Dragon Mirror, it was one of the Seven Great Artifacts of the world. By the time Qin Zhong grasped this, he had already lost consciousness.
It was unclear how long he remained trapped within the jade ring before being released. He still felt dizzy and disoriented. The ring was tiny; inside, he could barely move at all.
Qin Zhong staggered to his feet and turned to face Dan Yuehen. Though questions swirled in his mind, he held them back. Under no circumstances could he admit he was Qin Zhong. The most crucial step in the soul-returning technique was repositioning the soul. If that failed, nothing else could succeed.
He knew full well how formidable Dan Yuehen was. Though the Soul-Stabilizing Pill was a treasure within the Wuxin Sect, as long as it existed in the world, Dan Yuehen could obtain it. Resurrecting the dead defied the heavens, yet Dan Yuehen's arrogant nature never bowed to the laws of the universe. Allowing him to succeed would be a grave mistake, likely inviting divine retribution in the future...
Qin Zhong dared not dwell on the thought.
"Qin Zhong, you refuse to admit it, do you?" Dan Yuehen's lips curved into a faint smile, his voice growing faint yet tinged with a chilling edge. The soul-binding talisman couldn't hold out forever, and the corpse wouldn't last eternally. It was best to return the soul sooner rather than later. He had no other choice; only this way could he force a confession.
Dan Yuehen flicked his finger, and a speck of fire appeared between his fingers, flying into the distance. It sliced through the dim space, igniting the lamps lining the walls of the room one by one. Only then did Qin Zhong realize this was another chamber. The room contained nothing but a white jade coffin. Yellow talismans covered the walls, clearly meant to prevent escape.
"It doesn't matter if you don't admit it." Dan Yuehen slowly approached the white jade coffin, lifted the lid, glanced at Qin Zhong, and smiled faintly. "Want to see what's inside?"
Qin Zhong's expression remained impassive. "I don't know."
A faint smile lingered on Dan Yuehen's face. "Come see. Look, doesn't this person look familiar?" Dan Yuehen slowly lifted the corpse from the coffin, placing it on the floor. One hand supported the upper body while the other gently traced the face. "See? Doesn't he look remarkably like you?"
Though Qin Zhong had shared the bed with Dan Yuehen many times, she had always departed after venting her desires, occasionally uttering words of humiliation, but never with this... this almost lewd attitude. Qin Zhong felt himself nearly fainting, his voice trembling. "What... what are you doing?"
Deep down, he sensed Dan Yuehen might commit some horrific act upon his corpse, but he never imagined the man would be so utterly brazen.
"What I intend to do—aren't you perfectly aware?" Dan Yuehen watched Qin Zhong's panicked expression and smiled triumphantly. He knew this method would work, the quickest way to strip away his facade.
Dan Yuehen slipped a hand beneath the collar of the white robe covering Qin Zhong's body. Through the fabric, his slender, pale fingers could be seen clearly gliding over Qin Zhong's form.
"No, you can't do this..." Qin Zhong's voice trembled. Had he not been merely a wisp of spirit, he might have fainted long ago. Though he'd shared intimate moments with Dan Yuehen many times before, he'd always endured with eyes closed, refusing to contemplate the shameful misery of being pinned beneath someone else. Today, however, he was forced to witness his own body copulating with Dan Yuehen.
Dan Yuehen slowly peeled away the single robe covering the corpse, revealing flesh blanched pale by the medicinal bath. Days without life had left the body somewhat withered, yet it carried a faint, medicinal fragrance.
"Why can't I do this?" Dan Yuehen shot Qin Zhong a sidelong glance, a mocking smile playing on her lips. Her hand gently covered Qin Zhong's lower body, softly kneading it. "Too bad the body doesn't respond..."
"You... you... He's already dead! Why can't you just leave him alone?" Qin Zhong hadn't expected Dan Yuehen to be so ruthless, to harbor such lustful thoughts even toward a corpse. His lips trembled, his entire body quivering slightly.
"Look at his expression... so adorable it makes you want to devour him whole..." Dan Yuehen smiled as she caressed Qin Zhong's body, her eyes fixed on his soul.
Qin Zhong watched her fingers attempt to probe the hidden passage beneath him. Though her movements were gentler than ever before, his entire body trembled uncontrollably. "Please... show some respect for the dead. He's already gone. Let him rest..."
Dan Yuehen chuckled softly. "I respect him. I respect him deeply right now. This is exactly how he liked it. Whenever I did this to him, he'd furrow his brow and moan softly—such a beautiful sound..."
As he spoke, Dan Yuehen slowly slid his already rigid desire into Qin Zhong's lower passage. Qin Zhong let out a startled cry and slowly sank to his knees, as if shattered by the blow. He covered his face with both hands: "No! No..."
How could Dan Yuehen be so cruel to him, not even sparing him after death...
Faced with Qin Zhong's helpless, sorrowful expression, Dan Yuehen couldn't help but feel stirred, a peculiar tenderness stirring within him. He had never concealed his manipulative intentions toward Qin Zhong, and felt that giving him physical pleasure was repayment enough. Yet he had never imagined that one person could love another so deeply—to die for the one loved by the one he loved.
Dan Yuehen couldn't resist cupping Qin Zhong's face, slowly lowering his head to kiss his lips. He'd only intended to force Qin Zhong to admit his true identity, never expecting to react the moment their skin touched... Regardless, Qin Zhong would have to take responsibility for this.
Dan Yuehen didn't dwell on his own complex emotions, only feeling an irresistible urge before the slender, naked form before him. He tightened his embrace around the body as cold as ice.
When he saw Dan Yuehen lift his own legs, exposing his most intimate place, allowing his hardness to penetrate deeper into his body, Qin Zhong finally, finally reached his limit, crying out in alarm: "Dan Yuehen, have mercy! Spare me! What do you want from me? I'll agree to anything..."
Hearing the pain he was struggling to suppress, Dan Yuehen's burning desire halted. He turned his head and was stunned by the sight before him. Qin Zhong's agonized expression made his heart clench instantly. Simultaneously, he was horrified to see Qin Zhong's soul gradually fading, dissolving into scattered points of starlight that danced wildly around the room. Each time they brushed against the soul-binding talisman, they emitted a piercing shriek, their brilliance steadily weakening.
His soul was slowly dissipating from the overwhelming trauma.
Dan Yuehen was startled, realizing that without immediate intervention, Qin Zhong's soul might vanish forever.
He extended his hand, and the jade ring on his finger emitted a brilliant light, drawing Qin Zhong's soul into its depths. The jade ring could only enhance the wearer's own magical power; it could not re-form a soul. Only the Mystic Dragon Mirror possessed such an effect.
After Qiu Rong departed, Dan Yuehen immediately noticed the Xuanlong Pearl had vanished from the Xuanlong Illusion Mirror. A man of exceptional intelligence, he instantly understood everything. Qiu Rong had remained by his side solely to grow stronger—she had never truly loved him.
Upon this realization, Dan Yuehen felt no sorrow, only a sense of relief. He believed his relief stemmed solely from knowing Qiu Rong traveled alone. Having a Xuanlong Pearl with her would ease his mind—after all, she had once loved him, and he didn't wish to owe her anything.
Loved?
Dan Yuehen's heart sank. Could his love have been so fleeting? He had trained relentlessly day and night for Qiu Rong, enduring all seasons, only to end up like this...
Though Qiu Rong had never loved him, he couldn't bear the fleeting nature of his own affection—loving someone was fundamentally a solitary act, independent of whether they reciprocated. Dan Yuehen wouldn't let another's feelings dictate his own emotions, but... did he truly no longer love Qiu Rong?
Had he changed for this person's sake?
Dan Yuehen glanced at the lingering glow on the ring, his expression darkening.
The Xuanlong Pearl had been taken by Qiu Rong, but without it, the Xuanlong Illusion Mirror could still be suppressed by other spiritual artifacts to achieve the same effect—like the ring on his finger. Yet while the mirror preserved souls, it drained one's spirit terribly. Those imprisoned within it often suffered so intensely they wished for instant death.
Yet at this juncture, there was no other choice. Without this, Qin Zhong would ultimately be reduced to nothingness. Watching the ring's glow steadily fade, Dan Yuehen found himself momentarily hesitating.
The thought of subjecting this man to further torment brought a rare look of bewilderment to Dan Yuehen's face as he made his way toward the Huaqi Pavilion. Regardless, this was the only option; he had to try.
Dan Yuehen banished Qin Zhong's soul into the illusionary mirror, removed the jade ring, and placed it where the Xuanlong Pearl had been. After imbuing it with incantations, the jade ring, devoid of magical power, ensured Qin Zhong couldn't break free like Yun Zhongyu. This would grant Dan Yuehen ample time to retrieve the Soul-Stabilizing Pill from the Qingxiu Wuxin Sect.
Watching the ripples in the illusionary mirror gradually calm, Dan Yuehen could clearly see Qin Zhong's pitiful state. Yet she dared not look, instead staring at her own lonely reflection in the smooth surface.
If none of this had happened, he would surely be waiting behind her, head bowed, forever... forever waiting for her. Dan Yuehen's heart grew still as a sudden memory surfaced—the night they first became intimate when he was drunk.
Back then, he'd been seven parts intoxicated yet three parts lucid. She vaguely recalled how, when his desire grew unbearable, she'd pressed him until he confessed his love. She'd long sensed Qin Zhong's affection, but never imagined the look of panic and utter shame that would wash over his face when he finally spoke.
He must have been already somewhat lost in passion then.
He wouldn't have noticed this otherwise, but Qiu Rong's ruthlessness had made him see his own feelings clearly. He never imagined he could harbor even a shred of affection for this man who possessed nothing but a touch more devotion than others. Dan Yuehen's expression darkened further. Without another glance at the Xuanlong Illusion Mirror, he turned and walked out the door.
Viewing the outside world through the Xuanlong Mirror was astonishingly clear, as if only a lake separated them, with the deep waters lying beyond. Perhaps life was always like this—those immersed in it remained blind, unaware how crystal clear it appeared from another vantage point.
Qin Zhong watched Dan Yuehen turn away expressionless, a futile smile curling his lips. The agony felt like a raging fire threatening to reduce him to ashes, his entire body torn apart by excruciating pain. Dan Yuehen always chose the cruelest methods to torment him. Calling such feelings love was nothing short of absurd.
He should have seen the truth long ago, yet he had deceived himself all along. Now, returning to his side felt like nothing more than a way to see that truth even more clearly.
Qin Zhong had lost even the strength to struggle, let alone break free from the heavy chains binding him. Yet the agony kept him lucid, forcing him to focus on anything and anyone but Dan Yuehen.
Suddenly, Yun Zhongyu came to mind. How had Yun Zhongyu broken free from the Illusionary Mirror? Dan Yuehen had sent men to investigate, but found no answers. He had witnessed the fierce battle between Dan Yuehen and Yun Zhongyu. Yun Zhongyu's magical power was no stronger than his own. The fact that Yun Zhongyu had escaped the illusion mirror proved that the illusion was not flawless.
The alternating torment of blazing flames and freezing ice pushed him to the brink of insanity. Every passing second brought deeper layers of agony. Rumors circulated of a disciple punished thus, whose soul endured three days within the illusion. Upon returning to his body, he awoke a complete imbecile.
It was precisely this fact that led Dan Yuehen to conclude Yun Zhongyu would never break free after three days. Yet, unexpectedly, Yun Zhongyu had found a way.
But what good would it do him to escape? Better to endure three days within this illusion. Dan Yuehen couldn't find the Soul-Stabilizing Pill. When he became dull-witted in the illusion, it would be like death. Though the process differed, the outcome was similar. This matter could be considered settled.
After enduring roughly two cycles of bone-chilling cold and heart-searing heat, Qin Zhong's lips had turned deathly pale, and his mind was growing hazy.
After an unknown span of time, a faint crack echoed as the illusionary mirror erupted in a burst of multicolored light. Qin Zhong lifted eyelids heavy as lead to find a strikingly beautiful youth standing outside the mirror. Long hair was gathered behind his back, radiating an indescribable air of delicate fragility.
It was Qiu Rong!
Qin Zhong frowned slightly as he watched Qiu Rong cast a spell to remove the jade ring pinning the illusion mirror in place. First, he struck the mirror's surface with a palm strike, sending ripples across it like the ones Dan Yuehen had created when he struck Qin Zhong that day. Then, he lifted the jade ring from the mirror and slipped it onto his own finger.
Qin Zhong suddenly understood how the Mystic Dragon Pearl had been taken.
Qiu Rong smiled at Qin Zhong. "Didn't expect it to be me, did you?" Without waiting for a reply, she spun the jade ring in her hand, sucking Qin Zhong's soul into it.
Qin Zhong gasped in shock, yet could offer no resistance as Qiu Rong drew him into the ring.
Within the ring, nothing but a vast, white expanse could be seen. Though he had been here three times before, this was the first time he felt this suffocating sensation was actually far more bearable than the hellish realm within the phantom mirror.
Where was Qiu Rong taking him? Why was he being taken away? Qin Zhong didn't dwell on it. His spirit had left his body, reduced to a mere wandering soul—what could be worse than that? He'd endured too much already. Nothing could be more humiliating than his time by Dan Yuehen's side.
He had no idea how much time had passed when Qin Zhong felt the surroundings shift—Qiu Rong had actually released him.
Qin Zhong staggered to his feet, calmly observing the once frail youth before him. How the tables had turned. Though his magical prowess far surpassed Qiu Rong's, the latter now held absolute power over his life and death. Should Qiu Rong so desire, his soul would vanish in an instant.
"Who would have thought we'd reach this day?" Qiu Rong murmured, a sinister smile curling her lips. She extended a finger, poised to lift Qin Zhong's chin.
Though he knew Qiu Rong could never touch him, Qin Zhong involuntarily took a step back. Qiu Rong had always been capricious, and this flippant gesture wasn't the first time he'd directed it at Qin Zhong. Yet this time, it sent a chill down his spine.
"What's the matter? Haven't you been touched by Dan Yuehen countless times? Since she can't touch you, why the nervousness?" Qiu Rong flashed a mischievous smile before turning and striding away. Her long hair fluttered behind her, radiating an indescribable grace and allure. Her voice faded into the air: "I've sealed this area with a barrier. You can't escape. Don't even think about it."
Qin Zhong sensed something eerie about Qiu Rong, though he couldn't pinpoint why.
This was a solitary island, dotted with exotic flowers and plants. Yet Qin Zhong knew it was all an illusion—likely just a forest or desert constructed with intricate mystical formations.
Qiu Rong visited him daily, sometimes with a cold expression, glaring at Qin Zhong with such venom it seemed they shared a deep, ancient grudge. The island held two dwellings: one for him, the other for Qiu Rong. Each day, Qiu Rong would bring a different stunning beauty to the island, drugging her unconscious before taking her away the next. Qin Zhong recognized this as the smoke-floating palace's practice of gathering essence. Qiu Rong's relentless training suggested she was preparing to confront someone exceptionally formidable.
Within the illusory mirror, Qin Zhong had already reassembled his soul, which had scattered into starlight fragments. Though his spirit remained weak and his soul's hue still faint, it would no longer dissipate.
Seeing Qiurong once again stare at him with cold, hate-filled eyes, Qin Zhong couldn't fathom why. He wasn't so narcissistic as to believe Dan Yuehen would abandon Qiurong for him, and he trusted that though Dan Yuehen was ruthless, she was also deeply devoted. Yet when he questioned Qiurong, she refused to answer, only offering a sinister, cold laugh.
In that instant, Qin Zhong suddenly understood something, and a wave of sorrow washed over him—this world held so many inexplicable yet inescapable things.
His heart sank as Qiu Rong slowly walked out the door, her long hair trailing behind her.
Though this person also had long hair, it wasn't tied back. Instead, it was lazily half-pinned up, with a hairpin slanted through it. Though her features bore a striking resemblance to Qiu Rong, she was not Qiu Rong.
Qin Zhong no longer questioned Qiu Rong. Sometimes when they met, he would simply gaze at her calmly. Qiu Rong found this odd and stared back intently, catching a fleeting glimpse of pity he desperately tried to hide.
Rage surged within her. "What are you looking at?" she snapped coldly.
Though merely a wisp of spirit, Qin Zhong's complexion was poor when his mental energy was weak, his lips appearing parched and cracked. He offered a faint smile and said, "Actually, you are Yun Zhongyu, aren't you?"
Qiu Rong's expression shifted slightly before she burst into laughter. "I must admit your eyesight isn't bad. Correct, I am Yun Zhongyu."
Qin Zhong's expression remained unchanged as he asked calmly, "What purpose do you serve in bringing me here?" He held little significance in Dan Yuehen's heart. The effort Dan Yuehen had gone to in reviving him puzzled him deeply. Perhaps he merely sought to exploit him once more. Could Yun Zhongyu possibly know the secret behind it all?
Yun Zhongyu let out a cold chuckle, his gaze fixed on Qin Zhong as if trying to pierce through his fear. He spoke slowly, " I'm waiting for your old flame to come rescue you."
So he'd set a trap, waiting for Dan Yuehen to fall into it. Perhaps because Dan Yuehen had preserved his soul even after his death, Yun Zhongyu actually believed he held some weight in her heart. Qin Zhong smiled faintly and said, "Rest assured, he won't come."
Yun Zhongyu snorted. "Not for you? Surely he'd come for Qiu Rong?" Qin Zhong had seized the Smoky Floating Palace from Dan Yuehen, and Qiu Rong had betrayed him. These three bore him a hatred as deep as the sea. He would make them suffer agonizing deaths. He had long been lying in wait. Seeing Qiu Rong descend the mountain, he seized the moment, possessing her body and even forcing her soul out.
As a living soul, Qiu Rong couldn't be reincarnated while her body still existed, doomed instead to wander aimlessly. After Yun Zhongyu seized the Mystic Dragon Orb from her grasp, he attempted to imprison her spirit essence, only for Qiu Rong to escape. He tracked Qiu Rong to the Smoke-Floating Palace. Learning Dan Yuehen had departed, he stumbled upon the jade ring on the Mystic Dragon Mirror. Eavesdropping on guards, he discovered Dan Yuehen had gone to the Wuxin Sect to seize the Soul-Stabilizing Pill for Qin Zhong. As he took the jade ring, he also carried off Qin Zhong's soul.
Even if Dan Yuehen obtained Qiu Rong's soul, Yun Zhongyu had already possessed Qiu Rong's body. Dan Yuehen would inevitably come looking. Qin Zhong pondered this, then let out a bitter laugh: "Yun Zhongyu, you've thought of everything." Though he himself was insignificant, Qiu Rong's body remained supremely important. If it suffered any harm, Dan Yuehen would surely be heartbroken.
Yun Zhongyu glanced at him, his expression turning peculiar. "You're not afraid?" Qin Zhong, now in his grasp and knowing he was Yun Zhongyu, showed not a shred of fear. Instead, he conversed with him quite amiably, unconcerned about his soul being scattered. He even told Yun Zhongyu that Dan Yuehen wouldn't come for him. Yun Zhongyu couldn't help but wonder if Qin Zhong was mentally unstable.
Qin Zhong smiled faintly and replied slowly, "I helped him seize the Smoke-Floating Palace. It's only natural you seek vengeance. Why should I fear?"
Yun Zhongyu fell silent, gazing into his eyes before murmuring, "Are you not afraid of losing future lives? Of never again beholding this world and all its wonders?"
Qin Zhong smiled, glancing at the scattered gray clouds on the horizon. He had never... never intended to reenter the cycle of rebirth. Though he cherished this world and its wonders, he refused to endure that agony again. If Yun Zhongyu scattered his soul, perhaps he would even be grateful. But he would never tell Yun Zhongyu that—for then, that very wish would remain unfulfilled.
A peculiar smile touched Qin Zhong's lips.
Seeing Qin Zhong's expression, Yun Zhongyu felt an inexplicable pang of reluctance. Yet the deep-seated hatred between them meant he could not simply let Qin Zhong go. Yun Zhongyu snorted and swept his sleeves, departing.
Qin Zhong watched his receding figure, his mind a whirl of conflicting thoughts. Yun Zhongyu now inhabited Qiu Rong's body, and Dan Yuehen, wary of harming the host, dared not act rashly. Now a mere wandering spirit, devoid of any magical power, he needn't consider whether to aid Dan Yuehen in seizing Qiu Rong's body. His presence here was solely to await Dan Yuehen's arrival.
Had he been able to help, perhaps he would still hesitate. After all... even now, he couldn't deny the truth that he still loved him. Had it not been for his utter powerlessness, he never would have made the decision to shatter his soul.
Qin Zhong leaned against the wall, eyes closed in rest. His face bore deep weariness. With his once-warm eyes shut, the vibrant glow vanished from his features, replaced by a faint, ashen pallor.
Days passed like this, feeling like mere days yet like an eternity. Yun Zhongyu visited less often, and sometimes a light flickered in his eyes—familiar yet strange to Qin Zhong.
Perhaps it was because this was Qiu Rong's body that it felt familiar. Qin Zhong didn't dwell on it further.