Before meeting Chu'he, Chi Yan was nothing more than an empty shell, devoid of desires.
After being with her, he was no longer the young master of the Witchcraft and Gu Sorcery Sect in Miaojiang—just a simple "Ninth." He learned to indulge in food, to throw petty tantrums, and for the first time, he learned how to love.
Then, he gained "friends" and "family."
But with them came boundless desires—all revolving around a single name: Chu'he.
Unlike him, who had nothing, Chu'he had countless ties to the mortal world. Her life was rich and vibrant, and even without Ninth, the pillars of her "world" would still stand.
So, he convinced himself that not being chosen was only natural.
Yet, against all expectations, Chu'he made a choice no one saw coming.
It turned out that even someone as wretched as him could be gifted with unwavering devotion.
Ninth didn’t know how much pressure Chu'he had to bear when she decided to gamble on him. He only knew one thing: it was time for him to do something for her.
Endless darkness stretched before him, without borders or end.
"Chi Yan, you’ve finally made this decision."
A figure emerged from the churning, bloodied sludge—a slender silhouette of a young man, featureless and indistinct, yet somehow "gazing" at the one who had willingly plunged into the abyss, as if pleased.
Ninth felt as though he had stepped into another realm. He could still hear the grotesque sounds of gu insects feasting on his flesh, could still feel the agony of his body being torn apart—but he merely opened his eyes calmly, staring at the intruder in his mind, expressionless.
The crimson figure laughed in delight, thick, viscous blood dripping with every movement.
"Do you know how long I’ve waited?" it said, each word deliberate. "For the moment your last desire—death—would finally come."
Long ago, an accident in the Medicine Man’s Den had left Chi Yan stripped of all emotions and desires—except one. And Chu'he’s appearance had preserved that final thread.
Because of it, the Gu King could not be completed, and his plans had failed.
But now, after relentless scheming, he had finally pushed Chi Yan to this point.
For the sake of ordinary people in Yang City, he had offered his own body to lure out the gu insects infesting them, placing himself in mortal peril.
How laughable.
One by one, the unconscious began to stir, groaning in pain. Some discovered unexplained injuries and trembled in fear, their memories blank.
Chu Sheng woke groggily, his body aching. His first sight was Bai Lian beside him, then the confused crowd around them.
"What is that?!"
A scream pierced the air, trembling with terror.
Under the moonlight, in a pool of blood, countless horrifying gu insects writhed in a grotesque mass, gnawing at each other, fighting over scraps of flesh.
The unnatural sight shattered the onlookers’ sanity.
Yang City, bustling with merchants, had drawn all manner of people—including seasoned travelers who recognized the creatures.
"Gu insects! They’re from Miaojiang!"
"We were taken and hurt—this must be the work of Miaojiang sorcerers!"
"I’ve heard they turn people into puppets for their gu rituals!"
"Look! There’s a Miaojiang person here!"
Sang Duo became the target of their accusations, her face flushed with anger. "You’re slandering us! If not for our young master, you’d all be dead!"
But the fear of Miaojiang’s people ran deep in the hearts of the Central Plains folk. Few believed her—why would ruthless gu sorcerers ever save anyone?
"Those gu insects are a curse!"
"Burn them!"
"Burn them all!"
The mob surged forward, their fury drowning out the weak protests of Fang Songhe and others.
Chu Sheng, still dazed, followed the crowd—until he saw the familiar figure crouched before the monstrous swarm.
"Chu'he!" he gasped.
The cry snapped Chu'he out of her stupor. She heard the cries for bloodshed around her.
Snatching up a fallen blade, she rose, shielding the grotesque mass behind her.
"No one touches him."
Some in the crowd hesitated, recognizing the young lady of the Chu family who had once shown them kindness.
"Ribbit!"
A giant yellow toad leaped to her side, a fuzzy spider perched on its head. From the shadows emerged a scorpion and a centipede, their many legs skittering.
A small green snake slithered from Chu'he’s hair, baring venomous fangs.
"Gu insects! She must be a Miaojiang witch in disguise!"
"That’s the Chu family’s eldest daughter!"
"Then she’s been bewitched—or turned into a puppet!"
Anyone who stood in their way was branded a pawn of Miaojiang—even Fang Songhe’s pleas were dismissed as the words of a deluded man.
When Chu Sheng spotted the familiar "Big-Eyes" creature, his blood ran cold. A horrifying suspicion took root.
Then, an excited shout rose: "The Heart of Linglong!"
Amid the churning gu insects, a crystalline object gleamed like polished glass.
"The Heart of Linglong!"
"A treasure forged only in Miaojiang!"
"Legends say it can revive the dead, heal the mortally wounded—even grant immortality!"
Greed ignited in their eyes, burning away reason, leaving only madness.
