The talisman papers flew through the air like thin, sharp throwing knives. Mid-air, they dispersed, hacking the demons’ figures into several pieces. The earth demons’ thin deep green blood spurted everywhere, painting a bloodbath on the ground.
All that was left was a pile of demon corpses. The ground of the underground palace looked like the aftermath of freshly killed chickens and fish at a food market. It was a complete mess.
“Clap, clap, clap.” The sound of applause rang out, the time between each clap was very long. It was the kind of applause meant to ridicule.
The little girl lazily leaned back against the chair, seemingly boneless. With a faint smile on her lips, she looked at the wisps of smoke left by the defeated and scattered demons. “Surprisingly, you reached the checkpoint. What should I say, never give up hope and you will find a way?”
Mu Yao stared at the figure sitting beside the main seat which was holding a cup of tea. His face had lost all color, as if he had lost his soul. But Liu Fuyi continued to look down into his tea cup, not even sparing them a glance.
Miaomiao’s cheeks flushed from being too warm. From her sleeve, she blindly felt for the remaining talismans. This stack of talismans, which came out of nowhere, was most likely secretly slipped in by Mu Sheng. She had worn thick clothes and somehow did not even notice.
Considering his personality, the talismans should have been organized by attribute. Unfortunately, they were mixed up after falling out. And at the time, she and Mu Yao were like people who had been pushed into desperate straits and had suddenly found a box full of hand grenades. They used whatever they could get their hands on, regardless of the attribute. And just like that, they were only left with five talismans from that stack.
She took the pitiful amount remaining and straightened them out with her fingers before carefully stuffing them into her sleeves.
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Gzyp, obyv y oypvl…
Lsvknkdt y olv yde nsze tygl qszzsokdt bla, pbl zssjle wr czydjzu. Gd wdpllxzu zssj oyp sd vbl kzzwpksd elxsd’p qynl.
Bpwyzzu, obld vbl hkzzykd xyel vblka yrrlyaydnl, vblu’e tkhl qyjl yrrzywpl. Gqvla vbl qyjl nsdtayvwzyvksdp oswze nsxl y aswde sq bwxkzkyvksd, elxsdpvayvkdt vbl hkzzykd’p esxkdydnl qasx byhkdt blze nsxrzlvl nsdvasz sq vbl shlayzz pkvwyvksd. Tsolhla, yqvla vbl kzzwpksd elxsd xyel kvp tayde srldkdt, vblal oyp ds alynvksd qasx lkvbla sq vbl vos rlsrzl clqsal kv. Xdl oyp pvyakdt kdvldvzu yv Nkw Wwuk yp kq wdyczl vs blya bla osaep. Mbl svbla pllxle vs cl zkpvldkdt cwv oyp kdpvlye, kdnsdprknwswpzu xlppkdt yaswde okvb psxlvbkdt kdpkel bla pzllhl, eskdt obs jdlo obyv, obkzl bla tygl oydelale.
Mbl zkvvzl tkaz tzyale yv Ykysxkys’p bydep, bla qynl eyajldkdt, “Mbspl qlo zswpu vyzkpxydp nyd’v es yduvbkdt vs xl. R pwttlpv usw esd’v shlalpvkxyvl uswaplzq yde vau vs yvvlxrv vbl kxrsppkczl.”
Gxyglxldv yaspl sd Ykysxkys’p qynl. “R’x fwpv nswdvkdt kv. Rv’p dsv yp kq R byhl ydu kdvldvksd sq vyjkdt kv swv yde wpkdt kv.”
“Ebyv eke usw fwpv pyu?” Mbl kzzwpksd elxsd pweeldzu aykple kvp hsknl.
“…Lsvbkdt.” Ykysxkys xwxczle cynj vbld pbaydj clbkde Yw Zys’p cynj, zlyhkdt sdzu y qzypbkdt ryka sq ckt lulp.
Gp kq pbl bye zspv bla pswz, Yw Zys pnyxrlale y qlo pvlrp yblye, ascckdt Ykysxkys sq bla bkekdt. Wllzkdt vbyv psxlvbkdt oypd’v aktbv, pbl bwaakle vs qszzso Yw Zys.
She had already walked with quick steps over to the young man. With an unsteady voice, she called out to him, “Fuyi…”
Liu Fuyi sat upright. His hair was neatly and obediently draped over his simple pure white outer garments. In his hand, was a tea cup and his eyes were lowered casually, his lashes unmoving. It was as if he had turned a deaf ear to her words.
“Sister Mu…” Miaomiao nervously pulled at Mu Yao’s dazed figure.
“Fuyi…” Mu Yao had already taken hold of the edge of Liu Fuyi’s sleeve. Like a little girl coaxing her playmate, she carefully shook his sleeve twice and in a voice which was becoming more and more unsteady, she said, “Look… Look at me…”
It was only then that Liu Fuyi finally reacted. He looked at the sleeve she had caught and then gradually looked at her face. His eyes were full of confusion as he hesitated before asking, “May I ask who you are?”
His countenance was still as tender and affectionate as ever, no hint of insincerity in his eyes.
“…” Mu Yao suddenly let go. She felt like she had touched a ball of fire just now. She was so pale she seemed like she would fall over with just a singular small gust of wind. “Do you not recognize me?”
The illusion demon languidly settled into the armchair.
Her hair was no longer as straw-like as it was at the Li residence. Her hair hadn’t been tied up and was carelessly splayed all over the chairback. It glowed with a purple aura. Her cold eyes sized up Mu Yao as she spoke while looking extremely charming.
“Sister Mu….” Miaomiao whispered to her, “Brother Liu might be under its control, like the workers at the incense-making factory.”
Before jumping down the fissure, the illusion demon left a proclamation, saying that it would make Liu Fuyi its own personal puppet.
In this world, illusion demons controlled people by taking out their hearts. Once the important organ had left its physical vessel, its feelings, senses and memories would be taken away.
Hearing this, Mu Yao turned her head blankly, her face so pale it frightened the wits out of people.
Liu Fuyi didn’t answer her words. His head remained lowered as he earnestly and softly looked at the contents of his teacup. The cup was filled with brown murky liquid, like medicine that had gone cold.
The illusion demon let out an ambiguous chuckle and ignored Mu Yao. Hooking up its blood red lips, it told Liu Fuyi coquettishly, “Where did these idle people turn up from without an invitation, disrupting our peace? They must be ignorant about matters of etiquette. Brother Liu, let’s continue drinking our tea, shall we?”
The young girl’s voice sounded young and pure as she raised her slender arm and saluted from afar, her expression provocative.
Liu Fuyi raised his cup with the intention to drink, a hint of smile hanging on the corner of his lips, “Alright.”
“Wait a moment!” Mu Yao called out to him before turning to look at the illusion demon, her expression gloomy, “What are you making him drink?”
The illusion demon sighed, its blood red lips pursing down. It faintly looked at the tea inside the cup, “Brother Liu. What should we do? She’s being too noisy.”
Like an obedient butler, Liu Fuyi immediately placed down his teacup and rose from his seat. The smile on his face was wiped clean, and a tint of unfamiliar villainous air was etched between his brows, “Please immediately leave Chuchu’s and my home.”
“Chuchu?” Mu Yao wore a bitter smile, “Wake up, she’s not Chuchu.”
Liu Fuyi appeared cold, “You don’t have the right to comment about whoever she is.”
“….” Mu Yao looked up at him, her face pale and her eyes already misty. She asked softly, “Then, are you still….Liu Fuyi?”
Her tone was tinged with iciness, like the dewdrops of dawn congealing and slowly travelling into the chinks of furniture, the moisture seeping slowly into the wood, making it swell and turn deformed.
The puppet revealed a wisp of perplexity and in that instant, it was as if the old Liu Fuyi had come back.
“What are you waiting for? Are you not going to move?” The illusion demon suddenly sounded extremely irritated. She stared at Liu Fuyi’s back with malevolence and before her words could fall, he abruptly made a move.
“Sister Mu-” Miaomiao pulled her away frantically. If she had been one step late, a strong gust of wind would have hit them. Puppet Liu Fuyi mercilessly raised his hand, flinging the weak Mu Yao back.
“What are you doing?!” Miaomiao pushed him hard enough that he stumbled and immediately squatted down to take a look at Mu Yao. The girl sat on the ground. Half of her exquisite face had swelled up. Blood had trickled out from the side of her mouth, and she had covered her face with her hand. Her eyes were filled with despair.
Ling Miaomiao sucked in a breath.
You never hit the face when hitting someone… This riddle-like plot, it was as though if the conflict wasn’t fierce enough then it couldn’t properly reflect the troubles and misfortunes of the male and female leads…
The puppet stared blankly at the weak figure on the ground. Confusion flashed through its expression for a moment. The illusion demon leaped down her seat and walked step by step to Mu Yao. Upon seeing her wretched expression, she giggled loudly, “You don’t want to leave even if your face gets hit. Since you want to stay so badly, then just stay here.”
Stay here —– This was an invitation but also, a provocation. It implied that the two of them could have the opportunity to interact with Liu Fuyi. But also, they could not avoid having to see him being ordered about by the illusion demon.
Mu Yao pursed her lips and went silent. She swallowed her humiliation and accepted the invitation.
The illusion demon moved next to her ear and laughed softly, “Didn’t you ask me what I made him drink? Brother Liu has no heart so he has to depend on blood to survive. Since you’re here, from now on, this job will be left to you.”
***
Pain seemed to vibrate throughout his entire body. It felt like all of the bones in his body had been shattered.
His lashes shivered and her head was dizzy. There was the faint scent of rouge lingering in the air. He opened his eyes and through the white satin-like vail atop the tree leaves, bright red covered everything. Everything far and close all seemed to be indistinct.
There was light in front of him yet the light seemed like snowflakes on a wintry day. They covered his eyelids, without a single hint of warmth.
So cold…
Using both hands to support himself out of the bed with difficulty and struggling to sit up, the bamboo-woven mat, usually used in the summer, was left with handprints. For a moment, the sky spun around, accompanied by deafening tinnitus. Soon after, the collision sounds of porcelain spoon scraping against a bowl rang out.
The girl before him had lush black hair, coiled into an elegant and complicated topknot. A jade hairpin was stuck into it and teardrop-earrings shook on her ears. She had her head lowered, mixing the medicine in her hand.
Her white outerwear was loosely tied around her waist, the red lapels of her tube top hanging quite low, nearly revealing a big portion of her flaky chest.
“Here. Drink some medicine.” She raised her head, revealing an exquisitely done face. The tails of her eyes arched up, like two little hooks.
His vision blurred, and the face before him looked extremely dangerous but the feeling of vigilance immediately retracted. He coldly uttered, “Aunt Rong?”
However, the sound that came out was that of a child’s. It even carried the hoarseness of undergoing puberty.
He then recalled. Yesterday, he had just returned from his training. He had gotten severely injured, and needed three days of bed rest. However…upon taking a look at his surroundings, the luxurious arrangement in his room and the fragrance of rouge didn’t match with him at all. How could he be sleeping in her room?
The woman furrowed her brows, a hint of displeasure flashing in her seductive eyes, “Little Sheng’er. Why did you call me aunt? I’m your mother.”
“…….” The boy was stunned for a long moment. He sat on the bed while hugging his knees and his little face was buried within his arms. Only his limpid dark eyes were exposed. Within those eyes however, was an ice-cold restlessness and conflict. “Aunt Rong, why do you call me Little Sheng’er?”
The woman forcefully placed the spoon into the bowl and replied to him in a childish angry tone. “Mother has always called you Little Sheng’er, don’t you remember?”
Mother?
Little Sheng’er….
A headache suddenly attacked his head, and just like the tide, it washed over him. He had just woken up and now felt dizzy, close to vomiting. He felt like he was being tossed about, and in the blink of an eye, his consciousness turned blurry.
By the time his eyes could see clearly again, a woman sat at the side of the bed, feeding him medicine spoon by spoon.
As the spoon approached his lips, steam wafted off of the thick and bitter medicine, causing him to deliberately shut his mouth.
“Drink.” Her warm voice soothed upon seeing his tightly shut mouth. She lowered her head and pondered for a moment before nodding excitedly, “Little Sheng’er doesn’t like that the medicine is bitter right? Mother will add a cube of sugar for you.”
He then pulled on her skirt, his twelve year old and eighteen year old countenance overlapping each other, unable to tell which one was a dream or whether he was hallucinating. He bore the ache in his head and asked, “Are you really my mother?”
“I’m your mother… Little Sheng’er.”
So dizzy… so cold…
He felt like his entire person was freezing in an icy cave. Even his blood was so frozen that it moved sluggishly. All of his limbs were trapped beneath the snow and as the pillow-like snow melted slowly, the icy coldness seeped to his bones, bringing bone-piercing pain to all his limbs.
Vaguely, within the snow, an orderly column of footsteps appeared. In front, the youthful Mu Yao stood. Tall and slender with a blurry halo around her. She seemed to almost fuse together with the snow and horizon.
“Sis…”
The girl turned around in amazement and confusion. “Who are you?”
He was very dizzy, “I’m Ah Sheng, your younger brother…”
Mu Yao was flabbergasted. After a few moments, she smiled and answered, “Little boy, I think you’ve mistaken me for someone else. My mother has no children and Aunt Rong only has one daughter, me. Where did a younger brother come from?”
She shook her head playfully and turned back around. After leaving him, she sped up, her figure gradually disappearing in the vast snowy landscape.
A white landscape laid before his eyes and the falling snow covered his shoulders.
“If Aunt Rong only has you as her daughter …”
“Then who… who am I…”
A sharp head-splitting pain, like the roots of a plant penetrating the skull, washed over his entire body. In the middle of spasming from the pain, he repeatedly lost consciousness. It was only when the pain gradually receded that he remembered something.
——He was in a dream within a dream. Whether it was real or an illusion, his head was a blur and for a moment, he couldn’t distinguish things.
But, the fissure…
There were people at the bottom of the fissure waiting for him.
TLN: So this is a merged double chapter which means I’ll be splitting this chapter in two… the second half of this chapter comes next week~ Have a good weekend y’all.
Poor Ziqi, in so much pain, but still remembers how to worry about his girls (sister and future wife?)! Thanks for the chapter and see you next week!
My god how will they save Liu Fuyi?? Somebody please help Ziqi!? I can’t believe he will have to save everyone in this state.Thanks for the chapter!!
Been a while~ Hope they could find a way to save everyone from this demon!! Thank you for the chapter!!
i wanna cryyyy T.T .. theres so much pain in this chapter T.T