Who is this “Ninth Brother” he’s talking about?

What does “dying without regret” mean?

Chu Hanjin had no idea.

When the red string was tied tightly around his black hair, he slowly stood up. It was as if he was following some sort of command, walking along the stairs and entering a spacious room.

Around him were men and women dressed in light robes, chasing each other, embracing, and laughing. Chu Hanjin’s senses had become even sharper than before. He could smell the scent of rouge and powder in the air—a luxurious and extravagant aroma.

This place was a brothel.

He was led by a pair of hands to sit on the high platform at the top. The red robe draped down his back, its layers flowing to the ground. Despite this dignified and elegant posture, the heavy brown sword was still strapped to his back, giving him the appearance of a serene Buddha sitting on a lotus platform. Chu Hanjin lowered his gaze to the crowd below.

They sang and danced.

They played and chased each other.

But all of this seemed like a stage performance, distant and unrelated to him.

Not long after, a small ball rolled to the side of Chu Hanjin’s spotless shoes. He looked down and saw a child, about half his height, with hair tied up, chubby cheeks like carved jade, and bright, wide eyes gazing up at him.

The child waved his hands, trying to get his attention.

His face seemed full of anticipation.

But Chu Hanjin didn’t recognize him.

He cast a glance and coldly averted his gaze.

The child furrowed his brow, looking extremely wronged, and grew anxious. He took a few steps closer, desperately tugging at Chu Hanjin’s sleeve, scratching at it. Unable to speak, the child could only make whimpering sounds, his frustration clear.

Chu Hanjin’s long fingers emerged from his sleeve, gently pushing the child back a few steps.

If he didn’t recognize someone, he didn’t recognize them.

Random people couldn’t capture his attention.

As the child stepped back, a tall shadow emerged behind him. Chu Hanjin raised his eyes, revealing a tall, sturdy young man dressed in black, with short sleeves and armored shoulders. His posture was strong and sharp.

His gaze moved further upward, revealing a handsome and deep face, with sharp eyebrows and a confident demeanor. At this moment, though, the man’s lips were pale, his expression carrying a touch of gloom and fatigue.

A strong scent of blood hung around him, as if he had just come from battle. His sleeves and collar were stained with blood spots, giving off an aura of killing intent. But when he looked at Chu Hanjin, his gaze was unexpectedly soft.

—It was him.

The tension in Chu Hanjin’s mind heightened.

Something within him triggered.

The man’s expression was laced with worry. He forced a smile and held the child’s small hand. The child, not understanding why his father was suddenly ignoring him, buried his head in the man’s arm, sniffling and whining.

The man knelt halfway down, his pupils reflecting Chu Hanjin’s face, his voice gentle: “Why are you ignoring QQ?”

Chu Hanjin answered out of routine: “I don’t know him.”

Yue Lin paused for a moment, a helpless smile tugging at his lips: “You’ve forgotten again.”

But there was no blame in his smile, only a fleeting sorrow and pity. He glanced at the curse mark on the back of Chu Hanjin’s neck, seeming to understand. Sitting beside him, Yue Lin gently held Chu Hanjin’s hand in his palm.

“It’s alright,” he said. “We’ll remember slowly.”

Then he gestured toward the child beside him, “This is your son.”

Chu Hanjin glanced at the boy indifferently.

He said nothing.

Yue Lin gently squeezed Chu Hanjin’s hand and spoke softly, “I am your husband.”

Chu Hanjin remained silent.

One person was warm, the other cold. The scene was strangely tense. Yet despite the bloody aura surrounding Yue Lin, he showed no other reaction, only gazing at Chu Hanjin with warmth, saying, “Right now, you really look like a heartless man who’s abandoned his wife and child.”

Chu Hanjin understood the meaning of “heartless man.”

His cold eyes turned toward Yue Lin.

Yue Lin smiled: “But it’s not your fault.”

The scent of blood on Yue Lin seemed to grow stronger. His eyes dropped slightly, a faint sadness lingering in them. Quietly, he asked, “What’s today’s task for my wife?”

To kill you.

Lightning flashed in the chaos, as if a fierce beast had opened its bloody maw in his mind, fangs sharp, endlessly echoing those three words.

Chu Hanjin lightly pressed the hilt of his sword, but before he could move, Yue Lin placed a hand over his own, gently pushing the sword back with a soft “clang.”

Following the command, Chu Hanjin said, “To marry you.”

“Marry me?” Yue Lin raised an eyebrow, suspicious.

Then, he gave Chu Hanjin a once-over. He had been searching for Chu Hanjin for days, with a bad feeling growing in his heart. A few days ago, Bai Gu suddenly appeared before him and said Chu Hanjin had fallen into his hands, which now seemed to be true.

But why was Chu Hanjin cursed again?

And what exactly did Bai Gu want by using Chu Hanjin against him?

Yue Lin had pondered for days, and a vague suspicion had begun forming in his mind.

His smile didn’t waver as he squatted down slightly, gently holding Chu Hanjin’s hand: “Are you hurt?”

Chu Hanjin remained silent.

Yue Lin chuckled self-deprecatingly: “You want to marry me, but you’re giving me no affection at all?”

Yue Lin had come here to rescue Chu Hanjin, ready to face death. He tapped the head of “Chu Zhaoyang,” revealing it to be a puppet. The real QQ had been temporarily entrusted to Lord Lu. This puppet was merely brought here to see if Chu Hanjin could recall anything.

He put away the puppet, his golden eyes glancing at Chu Hanjin. “Then let’s get married now.”

Inside the room was a dragon-phoenix bed, red wedding candles dripping wax tears, lighting the space with a fiery glow. Chu Hanjin walked in without expression, the tassels of his belt brushing against his sword. He sat on the bed, his eyes fixed on Yue Lin.

The intent to kill was clear.

But Yue Lin’s lack of resistance was equally evident.

It was as if they were merely going through the motions, performing a scene, waiting for the spectators behind the curtain to feel satisfied before revealing their weapons.

But what was the purpose of the one who had cursed Chu Hanjin?

Chu Hanjin’s face was serious, his lips pale, his expression cold yet elegant. With one hand, he raised the wine cup on the table, facing Yue Lin.

“Drink,” he said simply.

It seemed to be part of the wedding ritual. Yue Lin also picked up the cup, about to drink it all at once.

But to his surprise, Chu Hanjin bent his arm, indicating that they should perform the traditional wedding drinking ceremony.

A flicker of bitter amusement crossed Yue Lin’s eyes, and he felt a sense of melancholy. This was the scene he had dreamed of, yet now Chu Hanjin was doing it to kill him.

Yue Lin played along, extending his arm to drink.

Just as he thought the moment for violence had arrived, Chu Hanjin’s gaze softened, a hint of allure rising on his face. His head gently leaned against Yue Lin’s chest.

The cool scent of sandalwood mixed with body warmth filled the air, causing Yue Lin’s hand to tremble slightly as he embraced Chu Hanjin.

“…”

When would this twisted puppet game end?

Yue Lin’s hand trembled as he looked at Chu Hanjin. “Now what are we supposed to do?”

Chu Hanjin had only one command in his mind.

“Consummate the marriage.”

His words were brief.

After saying this, Chu Hanjin’s long, slender fingers moved to Yue Lin’s shoulder, his brows furrowing slightly as he began to undress him. Before the clothes could fully fall, Yue Lin asked with a bitter smile, “Ah Chu, do you know this is a trap?”

Someone was waiting to watch this spectacle unfold.

But Chu Hanjin merely hesitated briefly, then continued. His fingers untied Yue Lin’s belt. His eyes, slightly confused yet clear, reflected a deadly allure that could captivate anyone.

It was a color that had only existed in Yue Lin’s dreams.

Stunned for a moment, Yue Lin barely noticed as Chu Hanjin leaned down, his fingers running along the hem of Yue Lin’s clothes, revealing the firm muscles of his waist beneath the soft red glow of the wedding candles.

“Ah Chu…” Yue Lin called out in a daze.

Chu Hanjin’s lips were tinged with a rosy pink, his gaze locked on Yue Lin, slowly revealing the seductive charm of a bride in their wedding chamber.

His fingers, long and slender, white and clean, were slick with sweat, dampening the deep red wedding robe around his neck. His skin glowed, translucent under the candlelight, a light blush appearing on his cheeks.

At the same time, the cold sword at his waist tapped against Yue Lin’s knee, swinging back and forth, brushing against the straps around his calf. Yue Lin could feel the sharp chill from the sword’s tip.

The tender surface hid a deadly intent.

How ironic, how theatrical.

Yue Lin gritted his teeth, his hand brushing against the curse mark on Chu Hanjin’s neck. Patiently, he asked, “How could someone as smart as you fall for the same trap twice?”

He stared into Chu Hanjin’s eyes, almost piercing him with his gaze: “Who knocked you down?”

Who?

How could Chu Hanjin remember?

He said nothing, continuing with his “task,” occasionally lifting his wet, seductive eyes to lure Yue Lin into submission.

He was giving Yue Lin pleasure.

Right now, he was nothing more than a puppet, following commands.

The deep red wedding robe, with its long tassels trailing to the ground, was as striking as fresh blood. As it slipped off his shoulder, it revealed a patch of pale, glowing skin. Against the deep red backdrop, his skin stood out, radiant in its beauty, while the dark curse mark on his neck added an eerie touch.

His throat bobbed slightly.

Sweat trickled down his forehead.

His tongue slowly curled inward and retracted.

The love of his life was standing before him, without memories, yet moving with the unconscious actions they had practiced that morning. Despite the slight awkwardness, it was enough to pull Yue Lin into a dangerous trap.

Yue Lin seemed to realize something. His hand, veins bulging, brushed against Chu Hanjin’s brow: “Does this count as us getting married?”

Chu Hanjin’s eyes flickered.

He licked his lips, cleaning them with one sweep.

Such a simple action caused Yue Lin to smirk slightly: “You’ve never been this deliberate before. I’ve dreamed day and night of this moment, but I never thought your goal was to kill me.”

His hidden meaning was clear as he hooked his finger under Chu Hanjin’s chin, lifting his fair, pink-tinted face.

Chu Hanjin pushed him away, slowly rising from the ground. His fingers pressed against the scabbard of his sword, drawing out a flash of silver.

The cold glint illuminated his vacant, lust-filled eyes, as well as Yue Lin’s.

Chu Hanjin remained silent, raising his flowing sleeves. The snow-white sword gleamed as he pointed it directly at Yue Lin.

“Now, are you going to kill me?”

Yue Lin’s breath caught for a moment, but he smiled as he met his gaze.

Chu Hanjin’s voice was soft: “He said he won’t let you die with regrets.”

Yue Lin’s expression faltered for a brief moment.

At the same time, that snow-white, sharp blade suddenly turned, pointing instead at Chu Hanjin himself. Just as Yue Lin thought Chu Hanjin was preparing to end his own life and tried to seize the sword, the blade flashed, slicing through the embroidered phoenix on the wedding robe, slowly tearing it apart until the hem pooled at Chu Hanjin’s long, pale ankles.

Bare skin gleamed in the air.

Yue Lin’s pupils contracted as he slowly leaned back, his wrist supporting himself on the bed.

The cold sword lightly hovered in Chu Hanjin’s hand, resting against Yue Lin’s waist and abdomen, its chill penetrating his bones. But at the same time, Chu Hanjin indifferently stepped forward, lifting his long leg and gently placing it on Yue Lin’s knee.