Black Goose and White Dove sensed something amiss—there was another expert hidden here.
From behind, another black-clad figure wearing a white mask emerged from behind a tree. His aura was steadier, and he seemed far more troublesome than the first.
"Leave this to you. I'll pursue them!"
The injured black-clad figure retreated and vanished. Black Goose and White Dove moved to stop him but found their path blocked.
Chu'he knew she had to hurry back and find help, not daring to slow her steps. However, the woman had been fleeing for days with a child in her arms, and their pace couldn’t be much faster.
Breathing heavily, the woman gasped, "Miss, I’ve dragged you into this."
Chu'he asked, "Why do they want the child in your arms?"
The woman replied, "They want to use the child to threaten my husband."
Now Chu'he was certain—this woman was Luo Qiaoqiao, the wife of the Lord of Canghai Continent, and the child in her arms was Wenren Yan, the lord’s only heir.
Chu'he hadn’t intended to meddle, but since this woman was Wenren Buxiao’s wife, she had no choice.
If she remembered correctly, in the original storyline, it was precisely because Luo Qiaoqiao and Wenren Yan were captured that Wenren Buxiao and Canghai Continent were dragged into the conflict, ultimately leading to the entire continent’s destruction at the hands of the great antagonist.
Without Canghai Continent’s support, the male lead struggled immensely against the forces of Yunhuang Immortal City, contributing to the world’s tragic ending.
In other words, if Luo Qiaoqiao and Wenren Yan weren’t captured, Wenren Buxiao could continue holding Canghai Continent against Yunhuang Immortal City, ensuring many lives would be spared.
If the world didn’t collapse, Chu'he’s mission would be complete!
A chime of bells rang out, and an overwhelming pressure descended, forcing Chu'he and Luo Qiaoqiao to their knees, unable to move.
A man reeking of blood strode forward, clutching his heavily wounded shoulder. His eyes burned with fury as he glared at Chu'he.
If not for this woman’s interference, he would have completed his mission long ago—he wouldn’t be suffering such grievous injuries!
"Your constitution is quite remarkable… perfect for refining into a gu."
Chu'he was stunned. Was this man also from Miaojiang?
The man gripped Chu'he’s throat, chuckling darkly. "A pity I’m injured now and need nourishment to recover. Otherwise, I’d take you back and refine you into a Gu Mother."
Luo Qiaoqiao struggled to speak under the crushing pressure, barely managing to shield the child with what little strength she had left.
The man’s gaze bore into Chu'he. "Your blood… must be delicious."
As he leaned closer, Chu'he suddenly blurted out, "Chi Yan!"
The man froze. "What did you just say? Say it again!"
Chu'he choked out, "Chi… Yan…"
"You know his name? He actually told you his name! Why? Why would he do that?" The man’s voice trembled with agitation as he roughly turned Chu'he’s face side to side. "You’re alive. You called his name, yet you’re still alive!"
A distant memory surfaced in Chu'he’s mind—Ninth’s words, spoken long ago, echoed clearly in her ears.
"If I’m ever not by your side, just say my name. It’ll work."
Back then, Chu'he hadn’t understood how a mere name could hold such power.
Even now, she didn’t grasp why this name alone could send the man into such a frenzy.
The man’s eyes gleamed with excitement. "Good, good, good. I won’t kill you. You’re far more valuable alive."
He declared, "You’re his chosen partner."
A sense of foreboding gripped Chu'he.
Faint blue light flickered in the dim night, like scattered stars dispelling the cold.
Finally, the glow settled atop Chu'he’s head—a luminous ghostly insect emitting an eerie blue radiance.
Ding-ling—
White hair, loosely tied with a red ribbon, fluttered in the wind. The black-and-red robes billowed, tracing the chilling arcs of the night breeze.
A young man stood against the pale moonlight, his exquisite features softened by a faint smile. His arrival was like a spring rain descending upon the stifling darkness.
The delicate chime of silver ornaments rang like pearls cascading onto jade plates, or raindrops tapping against tiled eaves—utterly enchanting.
"So it was you… who stole my beloved."
His voice was tender, gentler than dawn’s glow or evening’s breeze.
"It’s you… it’s really you!"
The masked man’s voice rose uncontrollably—a mix of terror and fanaticism, a twisted contradiction.
He instinctively stepped back but then tightened his grip on Chu'he’s throat, yanking her in front of him like a shield. "You can’t kill me!"
Chu'he winced, the crushing pain in her throat making each breath a struggle.
Ninth said softly, "You’re hurting her. You know, don’t you? When I’m unhappy… I like to kill. Many, many people."
The masked man shuddered, his grip involuntarily loosening.
Seizing the chance, Chu'he gasped out, "Ninth! I don’t want to see you right now—get lost!"
Ninth remained motionless, as still as a corpse—only the tinkling of silver proved he still lived.
Chu'he’s voice was hoarse. "You bastard! I’ve had enough of you—you’re greedy, lazy, ugly, and your voice grates on my ears! I’m sick of you pestering me every day! I never want to see you again!"
Ninth’s lips curved slightly. "But you once said I was beautiful, that my voice was sweet, that you adored me."
Chu'he: "That was all a lie! The truth is, I’ve always been afraid of you—afraid you’d kill me if I displeased you! Everyone says Miaojiang people are terrifying, and I think so too!"
Ninth took a step closer.
The ground split open, skeletal hands clawing their way out.
In desperation, Chu'he cried, "Everything I ever told you was a lie!"
Ninth remained unshaken. "Every word you said was true—especially the part about loving me."
The skeletal hands tore into his legs, each step leaving a trail of blood.
Chu'he: "You’re not my fiancé! And I’d never bear your child!"
"Your fiancé can only be me. And of course, you’ll bear my children."
Beneath the mangled flesh, bone glistened—gruesome and brutal.
Chu'he panted, "You… you’re just a bloodthirsty, deranged monster! I could never love you!"
Ninth smiled. "I know. You’ll always love only me."
His left leg snapped, and he staggered, collapsing to his knees—yet his smile remained dazzling.
Chu'he was at a loss for words. Desperate, she pressed the masked man’s hand tighter against her throat. "If you take one more step, I’ll kill myself!"
Ninth replied calmly, "As long as you have a single breath left, I can bring you back."
The masked man stared at Chu'he, a strange sense of role reversal creeping over him.
She was truly the noisiest hostage he had ever seen, so he tightened his grip around her throat to silence her incessant chatter.
Of course, the main reason was that he could now confirm this woman was indeed the perfect tool to manipulate Ninth. Otherwise, Ninth wouldn’t have obediently surrendered and walked over without resistance.
Yet even so, he still didn’t dare lay a hand on Ninth himself.
The masked man declared, "You are the master of all poisons in this world. Once I refine you into my puppet, all your venomous arts will belong to me!"
Unable to contain his excitement, he added, "You want to save her? Fine. I’ll spare her life—on one condition. You must carve out your own heart!"
Without hesitation, Ninth plunged his hand into his chest. Flesh tore, and the wet, squelching sound was grotesquely loud.
"Ninth!" Chu'he cried out in horror.
Streaks of blood marred his face as he smiled softly. "Don’t be afraid. It’ll be over soon."
He cradled his still-beating heart in his hands.
Thump. Thump. Thump. The rhythm was unnervingly strong.
Chu'he tensed. Without wasting a second, she yanked the hairpin from her bun and drove it deep into the man’s wounded shoulder.
The masked man snarled in pain, but believing the situation was firmly under his control, he reflexively tightened his grip. A sickening crack echoed as Chu'he’s neck snapped. She collapsed limply into the pool of Ninth’s blood.
Strangely, she felt no pain from what should have been a fatal injury.
Even stranger was the thought that crossed her mind—Ninth’s body is cold, but his blood… isn’t.
Her head lolled to the side, eyes glazing over as her fingers twitched weakly. "Don’t… give it… to him…"
Ninth seemed to be staring at her, his expression oddly dazed.
Her vision blurred. Everything faded.
"Mine! It’s all mine now!" The masked man’s voice trembled with manic glee. He lurched forward, fingers outstretched toward the heart—only for a bloodied hand to seize his wrist.
"Chu'he dislikes it when I kill," Ninth murmured. His voice was hollow, lifeless. "I didn’t want to do this in front of her."
The boy lifted his gaze. Half his face was drenched in crimson, his eyes gray and desolate. "I was going to let you live a moment longer. Why were you in such a hurry to die?"
The man recoiled, fumbling for the bell in his hand—but the drumhead shattered. A green snake slithered out, sinking its fangs into his throat.
Then came the crunch of bones shattering. The destruction spread rapidly; though his skin remained intact, every bone inside turned to powder.
The man shrieked as rotting corpses clawed their way from the earth, surrounding him.
They peeled his skin, ripped his flesh, dug out his pulverized bones, and ground what remained into paste.
Nearby, Luo Qiaoqiao had long since fainted from terror.
Chu'he was lifted into someone’s arms. Cold, sticky fingers traced her fragile neck. A kiss, thick with the metallic tang of blood, pressed against her lips. The coppery liquid flooded her mouth, overflowing in rivulets down their chins—a macabre intimacy amidst the carnage.
When consciousness returned, she felt a tickle at her throat. Blinking slowly, she met Ninth’s pale, blood-streaked face. His beauty was otherworldly, hypnotic.
He pecked her lips lightly. "Silly Chu'he. Who told you to die for me?"
Her mind sluggishly rebooted. Her first instinct was to reach for the gaping wound in his chest—but the mangled flesh made her hesitate.
Ninth chuckled, guiding her hand inward. Warm viscera squirmed eagerly against her fingers, as if desperate to claim her.
Deeper still, her fingertips brushed his pulsating heart.
She froze, stunned.
He smiled. "Feel that? It’s still here. It’s yours. No one can take it."
Inside him, countless living things writhed with sentient hunger, yearning to crawl up her arm and devour her whole.
Yet they dared not—not while the heart, their sovereign, held them in check.
Her sanity teetered on the brink. Only madness remained.
"You knew!" she gasped. "You knew if I used your name, they’d use me against you!"
Ninth blinked, suddenly evasive.
He was coveted by thousands. If others learned she was his weakness, she’d be protected.
But he never anticipated she’d rather die than let him be threatened.
Chu'he wrenched her blood-slicked hand free and raised it, poised to strike.
Ninth closed his eyes, offering no resistance.
The blow came—but instead of a slap, she shoved him back into the gore. The girl pinned him down, cradled his face, and kissed him like the world was ending.
