As they walked, You Jiang asked, “Your disciple has been looking for you for a thousand years. How has he, a mere mortal, managed to live this long?”

Chi Yu honestly answered, “He is already highly skilled in the ways of the Dao, and he used forbidden arts to swap souls.”

“I see.” You Jiang was surprised for a moment, then seemed to understand. “But that’s against the way of heaven.”

Chi Yu made a shushing gesture. “Lower your voice.”

You Jiang quickly covered his mouth, feeling a bit of awe. “He is so dedicated to you, it’s truly admirable.”

Chi Yu responded with a hum and reminded You Jiang, “When we see the Emperor later, don’t mention him. Otherwise, I’m afraid he won’t be able to leave the Underworld.”

“I know, don’t worry, I won’t say anything unnecessary.”

You Jiang led Chi Yu to the door of his room, asking him to wait outside while he entered first to check.

The room was filled with a gentle, enchanting atmosphere. Even You Jiang, the person involved, couldn’t help but blush slightly.

Thinking back to the passionate affair earlier, he smiled in satisfaction. However, his thoughts quickly turned critical, cursing inwardly at the old man—getting more and more flirtatious, truly not a good thing.

The smile on his face disappeared, and he quickly walked to the bed, threw the curtain aside, and pulled back the blanket.

“Old man, get up, I have something to discuss.”

The Underworld Emperor, disturbed from his sleep, startled awake and opened his eyes with some irritation. He grumbled, “What is it? Can’t it wait until I’m awake?”

You Jiang glanced at him with a somewhat spoiled expression, “No, it can’t.”

The Underworld Emperor saw this and, instead of getting angry, smiled and sat up. “Fine, fine, fine. Tell me now, right now.”

You Jiang gave him a playful, half-scolding smile. “That’s more like it.”

“You little demon, in the entire Underworld, you’re the only one who dares to speak to me like that.” The Underworld Emperor pulled You Jiang into his embrace and affectionately pinched his nose.

You Jiang rested against his shoulder, twisting slightly with a flirtatious look, and softly whispered, “Chi Yu went to the mortal realm and found one soul and four souls. Those souls are incomplete, and he can only merge one soul. The other four fragments… can you help him with them?”

“You’re really good to him. Whenever it’s about him, you don’t hesitate to ask me for anything. I wonder if I’m more important to you or if he is.” The Underworld Emperor was somewhat jealous.

Ever since a thousand years ago, when You Jiang brought back a fragment of Chi Yu’s soul, the Underworld Emperor had been feeling uneasy. You Jiang was entirely devoted to Chi Yu. If it weren’t for the fact that he knew it was out of gratitude for the life-saving favor Chi Yu had once given him, the Emperor might have thought there was more to their relationship.

But as the ruler of the Underworld, he was forced to be obedient to this little demon, who ordered him around at will. He was angry but dared not express it, afraid of angering this little ancestor.

“Old man, you’re getting jealous again.” You Jiang scolded teasingly. “If Chi Yu hadn’t found me and helped heal my wounds back then, I would have long since been a lost soul. You’re the one responsible for that.”

The Underworld Emperor fell silent. This was a taboo between them, and it was the reason why You Jiang could behave so freely in front of him.

“Why bring that up again?” The Underworld Emperor quickly tried to move past the topic and coaxed You Jiang. “Alright, alright, I’ll do as you say. Is that good enough?”

You Jiang gave a small hum, feeling satisfied, and stopped talking. “Then you can handle it now.”

“Alright, I’ll do it now.”

You Jiang nodded, “Then I’ll help you get dressed.”

The Underworld Emperor chuckled, “Little demon.”

After a while, both of them were dressed, and You Jiang opened the door to let Chi Yu in.

Chi Yu immediately bowed upon seeing the Underworld Emperor. “I greet His Majesty.”

“No need for such formalities,” the Underworld Emperor said as he stood beside You Jiang and wrapped his arm around his waist. “I heard from You Jiang that you found one soul and four fragments. How did you manage to find them so quickly?”

Chi Yu didn’t respond. Instead, he took a gourd from his waist and respectfully handed it to the Underworld Emperor. “Your Majesty, the souls are in here. Please, perform the ritual.”

If the Underworld Emperor hadn’t known that Chi Yu’s soul was incomplete and unable to function normally, he might have kicked him out for being so direct in giving orders to the ruler of the Underworld.

You Jiang saw the Underworld Emperor hesitating to take the gourd, so he pushed him lightly on the chest. “Come on, hurry up. It’s not a big deal. Get it done quickly. You still need to sleep.”

The Underworld Emperor saw You Jiang speak in such a spoiled tone, and his displeasure vanished immediately. He took the gourd from Chi Yu’s hands. “Alright, I’ll do it now.”

The Underworld Emperor glanced sideways at Chi Yu. “Next time you have something, watch the time. It’s the middle of the night. If it weren’t for You Jiang speaking up, I would’ve had to punish you.”

Chi Yu lowered his head and bowed. “I understand.”

You Jiang, seeing the Underworld Emperor reprimanding Chi Yu, was a bit displeased. “So much talk, just hurry up.”

The Underworld Emperor’s expression immediately softened as he smiled and soothed, “Don’t worry, don’t worry. I’m doing it now.”

With that, the Underworld Emperor opened the gourd and released the shattered souls inside. This kind of magic was as simple to him as drinking a glass of water.

Chi Yu was dazed. He had so few memories to begin with — how could he talk about having any strong attachments?

The Nether Emperor’s palm ignited with a faint glow, sending streams of it into each fragmented soul. In less than the time it took for one incense stick to burn, all the fragmented souls had been completely restored.

Standing to the side, You Jiang watched and couldn’t help but feel happy for Chi Yu. “This is great. Once you fuse these souls, you’ll practically be half a ghost already.”

Chi Yu gave an awkward laugh. “Half a ghost?”

You Jiang turned and urged the Nether Emperor, “Hurry up and fuse these souls into Chi Yu.”

“I know, what’s the rush?” The Nether Emperor fondly pinched You Jiang’s nose. “Just wait.”

With that, he began chanting a spell. The souls seemed to understand him, each lifting their gaze to the Nether Emperor without blinking, waiting for his next command.

“You were torn from your body by disaster, incomplete for a long time and unable to regain your full form. Now, with my aid, you shall return to your true self,” he said, marking a sigil on Chi Yu’s body. “I have shown you the way. Quickly return to your body without error.”

As soon as his voice fell, the fragmented souls bowed to the Nether Emperor, then turned toward the sigil. They transformed into wisps of green smoke and streamed into Chi Yu’s body.

In an instant, Chi Yu felt his soul swell, a wave of suffocating pressure rushing to his head. He gritted his teeth to suppress a grunt of pain, gasping heavily as he dropped to his knees.

Seeing this, You Jiang quickly rushed over to support him. “Are you alright?”

Chi Yu was hit by a wave of dizziness. Each soul carried different fragments of memories, and now they all flooded into his mind at once, overwhelming him with pain.

He saw images of himself offering sacrifices to the heavens, scenes of cultivating alongside Li Xin, the moment his grandfather’s corpse was brought home — even the misery suffered by the people of Dongrong a thousand years ago.

It was too much for Chi Yu to take in all at once. He was in agony. Before, he hadn’t completely believed everything Li Xin had told him. But now, after seeing it with his own eyes, he fully accepted it.

“So it’s… it’s all true,” Chi Yu choked out, barely able to speak through his pain.

Seeing how much he was suffering, You Jiang immediately turned to question the Nether Emperor. “Old thing, what’s wrong with him?”

The Nether Emperor looked innocent. “This is normal when a soul returns to its body. Just let him rest for a while, and he’ll be fine.”

You Jiang cast him a skeptical glance. “Fine, I’ll trust you for now. I’m taking him to rest. If he’s not better soon, I’m coming back for you.”

Seeing You Jiang about to help Chi Yu out, the Nether Emperor hurried to block her. “Have one of the inn’s attendants take him. You still have to stay here and keep me company.”

You Jiang snorted. “You can sleep by yourself. I’m not leaving him to someone else.”

The Nether Emperor grew a bit angry. “So who’s more important, him or me? Am I even in your heart at all?”

You Jiang gave him an impatient look. “Childish.”

She pushed the Nether Emperor aside and supported Chi Yu into a side room.

The Nether Emperor’s face turned as black as the bottom of a pot — his good mood from coming to find You Jiang completely gone.

Chi Yu was helped onto the bed. He didn’t even know how he’d managed to walk there, everything feeling distant and surreal.

Reality and the visions in his mind intertwined, and he couldn’t tell what was real and what was illusion.

“Lie down for a bit. I’m going to get your junior brother,” You Jiang said as she turned to find Li Xin.

But Chi Yu didn’t hear a word she said, lying there in a daze.

Not only did he see glimpses of his own past life, but he also saw what had happened to these souls after their bodies had died.

Some had drifted aimlessly before finding a suitable place to temporarily settle, while others had stayed trapped in one place, held back by deep attachments.

Those with strong attachments tended to remain more intact. Li Xin had probably considered this when searching, which was why he found them first.

When Li Xin hurried over with You Jiang to the room, the sight that greeted him was Chi Yu lying unconscious.

“Senior brother! Senior brother, what’s wrong?” Li Xin rushed to the bedside in a few quick steps, grabbing Chi Yu’s hand to check his pulse.

Thankfully, it was only a temporary discomfort caused by the soul fusion.

Li Xin let out a breath of relief and turned to You Jiang to thank her. “Thank you so much.”

You Jiang gave a small laugh. “No need to be so polite. Chi Yu’s my good friend — this was only natural.”

“And please help thank the Nether Emperor as well.”

“No need, it was a simple favor.” You Jiang replied, then remembered something. “You stay here and watch over him. I’ve got something to deal with, so I’ll be going. I’ll come back once he wakes up.”

Li Xin nodded. “Alright. Thank you.”

You Jiang smiled at him and quickly returned to her own room — where a certain jealous man was still waiting to be appeased.

Just thinking about it gave her a bit of a headache.