The cold blade was pressed between Chu Hanjin’s fingers, and blood flowed freely.

A slight numbness spread through his wrist as it was tightly gripped, causing him to release the sword. Yue Lin leaned in, pressing Chu Hanjin down heavily. Chu Hanjin struggled violently beneath him until the unbearable pleasure passed, leaving a bloody bite mark on Yue Lin’s shoulder.

Without much time to think, Yue Lin pulled the red wedding robe over Chu Hanjin’s shoulders, covering him up tightly. He whispered, “Let’s go.”

Chu Hanjin’s eyes were half-closed, still gasping for breath. His waist was gripped tightly, and in an instant, his wrists were bound securely. A dark black curtain fell before his eyes.

A piercing whistle echoed in his ears.

Above him were the stars and the moon.

Chu Hanjin found himself walking once more along a pitch-black path.

His body felt weighed down, his gaze wandering as he tried to find the two young boys he had seen a few days ago. But there was nothing ahead, and he walked a long way without seeing anyone. Finally, he heard the clear chirping of birds and saw two figures crouching by a clear river.

One of them, dressed in white, looked exactly like him.

The other, had the face of Yue Lin.

The person in white was covered in mud, his slender fingers also stained with dirt, and he was covered in cuts and bruises. Yue Lin squatted in front of him, washing his hands gently, like he was tending to a child. He even looked up at the person in white and smiled.

At that moment, Yue Lin’s face bore the marks of a beast’s claws. His body was scarred, and blood covered the corners of his lips, but his gaze toward the man in white was gentle, his lips still holding a smile.

The scene had an unspoken tension, unlike the innocent camaraderie of the two boys earlier. It seemed more like two people supporting each other, enduring hardship together.

Suddenly, Chu Hanjin felt a sharp pang in his heart.

He touched the spot over his chest, near his collarbone.

It was empty, save for the command to kill Yue Lin.

He felt like he had forgotten something, but he had no motivation to recall it.

Chu Hanjin continued walking forward, a suffocating feeling rising in his chest, like he was being submerged in icy, bone-chilling water. His nose and mouth were blocked, and the feeling of suffocation grew stronger and stronger—

Suddenly, he flipped over, coughing loudly!

When he opened his eyes, the river and forest were gone, replaced by a cold, dark pond. The stones around it were as black as iron, and towering mountains blocked his view.

His wet clothes clung heavily to his body. He tried to get up, but a hand gently pressed his shoulder. “You’re awake?”

A low male voice.

Chu Hanjin turned to see Yue Lin.

Yue Lin was sitting on a smooth rock, with a small child beside him. A makeshift grill made of firewood held a roasting wild chicken over the flames. The firelight illuminated Yue Lin’s face, making his deep-set eyes dance with a warm orange glow.

Chu Hanjin closed his eyes and coughed again, his throat expelling more water. He tried to stand, but the weight of the wet wedding robe made his knees weak. When he reached out for support, he realized his hands were wrapped tightly in white cloth, almost like a mummy, making movement difficult.

Yue Lin, who had been picking wild fruits for the child, noticed Chu Hanjin trying to rise. He set down the branch and came over to help. “Ah Chu, you’re awake? How are you feeling? Any better?”

As Yue Lin approached, Chu Hanjin caught a strong whiff of blood.

Yue Lin’s clothes were neat, his collar layered and tightly fastened. Chu Hanjin glanced at him, then suddenly grabbed Yue Lin’s approaching hand and pushed it away forcefully.

Yue Lin took two steps back, his empty hands raised, a look of helplessness on his face.

Chu Hanjin sat back down, expressionless, scanning the surroundings.

Yue Lin seemed to know what he was searching for: “I’ve taken your sword for now.”

Chu Hanjin tried to gather his qi.

Yue Lin smiled, looking pleased. “I’ve sealed your spiritual meridians for now, too.”

Chu Hanjin shot him a sharp look, like a blade.

Yue Lin nodded in response. “Yes, I took advantage of the situation.”

“…”

After saying that, Yue Lin sat back down on the rock, leaving an empty space beside him. “Come, sit and eat something.”

Chu Hanjin stared at the spot, his tightly pressed lips betraying no emotion. He still stood, not sitting down, even after being invited.

His red wedding robe had been removed, leaving only a white inner garment. He stood there with a rebellious aura, head lowered as he examined his hand injuries.

During their earlier encounter, when he had tried to kill Yue Lin, he had gripped the sword blade in his hand. According to the command, he was supposed to kill Yue Lin at his most vulnerable moment. But at that moment, he had inexplicably grabbed the sword instead.

Yue Lin, noticing that Chu Hanjin was still standing, found it odd. “Aren’t you going to sit?”

Chu Hanjin’s clear eyes glanced at him.

Yue Lin pulled out a knife, slicing off a piece of crispy, juicy rabbit meat. He held it out on the tip of the blade. “Eat something.”

But Chu Hanjin remained as serious as ever, still standing straight.

Yue Lin licked his lips and retracted the knife. Behind him, the child stared at Chu Hanjin for a long moment. Though the child had been ignored earlier, he couldn’t resist tugging at Chu Hanjin’s robe again.

The child hung his head, his fingers pale and tender, looking pitiful. Tears still clung to the corners of his eyes as he tugged at Chu Hanjin’s robe, making soft whimpering noises. Gradually, these sounds began to form clearer words.

“Fu~Jun~~”

After several tries, the child finally managed to say “Father.”

Yue Lin glanced up and clicked his tongue lightly before pulling the child back, urging him to sit down. However, the child was uncooperative, gesturing frantically between the roasted meat and Chu Hanjin, stamping his feet in frustration.

Yue Lin nodded. “I get it, I get it.”

He stood up, sighed lightly, and walked over to Chu Hanjin, grabbing his wrist.

Just as Chu Hanjin was about to push him away again, Yue Lin pressed him against the stone wall. Something was shoved into Chu Hanjin’s mouth, filling it with the smoky taste of roasted meat. But before he could spit it out, Yue Lin’s finger brushed his lips lightly, a brief, comforting touch.

“Eat,” Yue Lin said with a smile.

Chu Hanjin turned his head and spat it out.

Yue Lin sighed and looked back at the child. “No luck. Your father won’t eat.”

The child hugged his legs, whimpering in disappointment.

Nearby, a red wedding robe hung over the fire to dry. Yue Lin felt the fabric with two fingers and said, “It’s dry. Let’s change your clothes so you don’t catch a cold.”

He picked up the robe and, without much effort, twisted Chu Hanjin’s arms behind his back. Leaning in close, his nose brushed against Chu Hanjin’s damp, pale skin. “Don’t be stubborn. Let me help you change.”

As he drew near, Chu Hanjin caught the scent of blood again.

He remembered clearly how he had sliced Yue Lin’s skin, cutting through his flesh with each stroke of the blade. Yet here Yue Lin stood, hiding his injuries so well, as if nothing had happened.

As Yue Lin helped him into the robe, Chu Hanjin unintentionally brushed against Yue Lin’s chest, causing him to flinch slightly from the pain. But Yue Lin’s expression remained calm, quickly concealing the discomfort.

He was hiding something.

Why?

Chu Hanjin glanced at the child sitting obediently nearby.

Was it for the child?

As Chu Hanjin pondered, Yue Lin lowered his head, gently tying the waist sash. With a slight tug, the slender curve of Chu Hanjin’s waist became visible.

“For now, this is the only clothing we have. You’ll have to make do with the wedding robe. It looks good on you, anyway. In a couple of days, when we head to the Demon Realm, I’ll get you some new clothes.”

After he finished, Yue Lin noticed that Chu Hanjin was still staring at him coldly.

“Oh,” Yue Lin added, “I’ve taken care of the renegade and guardian cultivators in the city. The chaos has been temporarily suppressed. Actually, I’ve been thinking these past few days, who could keep trapping you over and over again…”

Suddenly, Yue Lin looked into his eyes. “Ah Chu, is it someone close to you?”

Chu Hanjin’s expression remained calm, and he said nothing.

Yue Lin shook his head. “I’ve decided to take you back to the Demon Realm to find Song Shu. Once your memory returns, we’ll naturally know who’s responsible for all of this.”

The words spun in Chu Hanjin’s mind, but he still didn’t respond. He stood quietly by the pond, as if waiting for a command or a distant summons.

He felt like he existed solely for that command.

Sunlight filtered through a crack in the rocky shore, at first bright and clear, but gradually dimming. Chu Hanjin knew it was getting dark. His legs were growing sore, so he slowly sat down.

As a high-level puppet under the puppet curse, Chu Hanjin had been filled with excitement, agitation, and bloodthirst when fully controlled. During their earlier “wedding night,” he had been entirely focused on following orders, entirely unfeeling. Now, however, the control over him had clearly weakened. Chu Hanjin, receiving no further commands, began to feel tired. For the first time in a long while, he even felt hunger.

Hungry.

The thought surfaced in his mind, and the lingering smell of meat over the fire intensified his discomfort. The charred aroma made his hunger worse.

He wanted to eat something.

Yet Chu Hanjin remained wary of Yue Lin, only glancing a few times at the bones over the fire without saying anything.

While Chu Hanjin stared at the bones, the child watched him.

After a long pause, the child seemed to realize something. He climbed up and took a piece of meat from the grill, choosing the fattest part, and walked over to Chu Hanjin.

Chu Hanjin hesitated, looking at him.

His mind held no commands to kill, save for the one against Yue Lin. So his hesitation didn’t last long. He accepted the meat from the child and took a bite.

It was cold, greasy, and tasted strongly of animal fat, but it satisfied his hunger.

As he ate, the child looked up at him with wide, curious eyes. After a moment, the child tugged at Chu Hanjin’s sleeve, standing obediently by his side.

At that moment, Yue Lin returned with a few dried logs and saw the scene. He didn’t seem surprised. “I suspected as much. When the puppet curse weakens, some of your humanity returns. It seems I was right.”

It had happened before in the mountains. When Chu Hanjin had first been cursed, he was completely controlled and had been intent on jumping into the sword-refining pool. But as the curse weakened, he gradually lost his memory, becoming less rigid. Occasionally, he would still wake up suddenly in the middle of the night, grabbing his sword and searching for the center of the sword formation.

Chu Hanjin, chewing on the meat, glanced up at him with lowered lashes, giving a faint “Hmm?”

Yue Lin said, “Keep eating. There’s more.”

He deftly butchered a dead deer nearby, peeling off its skin and removing the bones, before placing the meat on the fire. Chu Hanjin sat down, no longer resisting, and waited for the food to finish cooking.

Night had fallen, and the fire crackled and popped.

Chu Hanjin closed his eyes, feeling as though he was walking through the darkness again, occasionally catching glimpses of unfamiliar fragments.

“Clang—”

It sounded like something hard had been struck. Chu Hanjin’s thoughts shifted, and it felt as though he had returned to that mountain forest. There was no one else around, just Yue Lin standing beside him, in tattered clothes as if he had just crawled out of a grave. They stood together at the mountain peak, their clothing fluttering in the wind.

Soon, they were wading through a river. Yue Lin stood in the water with a fishing spear, and Chu Hanjin, at his urging, took off his shoes. Little fish nibbled at his toes…

The sensation was ticklish.

Chu Hanjin wanted to look down at the fish, but just then, a string in his mind suddenly tightened—

“Kill.”

That word appeared.

Chu Hanjin’s eyes snapped open, finding himself once again by the cold, silent pond. The child was fast asleep in a hammock made of woven leaves, and Yue Lin sat beneath a tree with his arms crossed, resting.

Chu Hanjin stood up silently and walked toward him, extending his hand toward Yue Lin’s neck. If he squeezed hard enough, he could snap Yue Lin’s neck. Just as he was about to make contact, Yue Lin’s hand shot out and grabbed his wrist. A sharp pain hit his knees as they buckled, and he let out a soft, “Hmm?” as he collapsed into Yue Lin’s arms.

In the darkness, Yue Lin’s deep golden eyes reflected the moonlight as he looked at him quietly. “Still not sleeping?”

Chu Hanjin pushed away Yue Lin’s arm and grumbled, reaching for his neck, but his waist and abdomen felt heavy, his spiritual power sealed, and without a weapon, his efforts were easily restrained.

“Yue Lin…” Chu Hanjin murmured his name.

His shoulder pressed against Yue Lin’s arm, rubbing slightly. Yue Lin effortlessly twisted both of Chu Hanjin’s arms behind his back, smiling as he said, “You’re still not tired?”

All Chu Hanjin wanted was to kill him. He struggled fiercely, but Yue Lin held him in his arms, and with every movement, Chu Hanjin unintentionally rubbed against Yue Lin. Sure enough, Yue Lin’s expression gradually darkened.

Finally, Yue Lin pressed his hand against Chu Hanjin’s waist and gave him a firm pat, pushing him down into his lap. “Alright, that’s enough. Time to sleep.”

By now, Chu Hanjin’s eyes were slightly red. His mind was filled with the desire to kill, but his body was too heavily restrained. Instead, he resembled a stubborn girl who refused to submit. In Yue Lin’s eyes, it was not frightening but strangely alluring.

Yue Lin leaned closer, kissing Chu Hanjin’s pale nose.

“Alright, Ah Chu, time to sleep.”

He nodded toward the hammock. “Don’t want to wake your son.”

Chu Hanjin gritted his teeth. “I don’t have a son.”

“Mm, you don’t have a son,” Yue Lin said, his voice indulgent. “You don’t have a husband either. I’m just some rogue you met on the road, and your son fell from a tree. Is that right?”

Chu Hanjin ignored his teasing, clenching his teeth and twisting Yue Lin’s arm, the cracking sound suggesting he had really hurt him this time. Yue Lin flinched, a pained sound rising in his throat before he swallowed it back, then flipped Chu Hanjin over, pressing him down onto the stone.

The sound of rustling fabric filled the air.

The pressure was heavy, and Chu Hanjin’s arms were numb, unable to move.

He tried to gather his strength, but his head was spinning, his vision filled only with the faint moonlight filtering through the cracks in the stone.

Yue Lin looked down at Chu Hanjin’s defiant face, saying nothing. He lowered his head and bit down on Chu Hanjin’s pale earlobe, licking it gently.

“Let go!” Chu Hanjin shouted.

But no sooner had the words left his mouth than Yue Lin covered his lips with his hands.

Yue Lin’s voice was indulgent and teasing as he kissed his ear and neck. “Why are you so naughty, Ah Chu? I told you to sleep, but you didn’t listen. You even tried to provoke me. Still want to kill me? How are you going to do it? The same way as yesterday?”

Chu Hanjin turned his head away from the kisses, trying to kick him, but Yue Lin quickly locked his legs with his own, leaving Chu Hanjin’s shoulders bare as his robe slipped down.

Yue Lin’s voice was filled with amusement, clearly enjoying himself as he teased, “Do you know what happens next?”

Chu Hanjin wasn’t interested in his games. He only had one goal in mind. He kneed Yue Lin sharply, and the sound of tearing fabric grew louder. In response, Yue Lin scooped him up.

“Well, since you’re not sleepy, then let’s not sleep.” Yue Lin’s voice was hoarse.

His touch was burning hot as he effortlessly lifted Chu Hanjin, controlling him with ease. His voice dropped lower. “Let’s move somewhere else. We don’t want the child to see.”

With that, he cradled the disheveled Chu Hanjin in his arms, quietly stepping over the fallen leaves, like a pair of wild ducks, sneaking away from the cold pond.

This was a remote, uninhabited mountain forest, made even darker by the night. The vast wilderness was cold and eerie, with the howls of wolves and tigers echoing in the valleys, along with the rustling of nocturnal creatures.

After walking for a short while, they came across a large stone peak. Yue Lin swept away the fallen leaves, placing Chu Hanjin down.

As soon as his hands were free, Chu Hanjin prepared to throw a punch, but before he could, Yue Lin grabbed his wrists and pulled him close. Without any warning, Yue Lin pressed him against the stone, his heated hands roughly slipping beneath his robe.

…

…

The deep red wedding robe shimmered in the moonlight, its gold embroidery reflecting faint patterns. The red of the robe contrasted with the white of his skin, creating a fleeting, vivid scene. The lines of their bodies brushed against each other, leaving a faint flush of color.

Dewdrops slid off the bamboo leaves with a soft “plop.”

Yue Lin, cradling the limp and nearly unconscious Chu Hanjin, lifted him up. The person in his arms was pale, his skin glowing like moonlight. His damp black hair clung to his white earlobes, and his lips were slightly parted, his brows furrowed as if he had just endured something terrifying.

Yue Lin whispered in his ear, “Sleep.”

He carried the exhausted Chu Hanjin back to the cold pond, holding him tightly as he stoked the fire. Under the warm glow of the flames, he wrapped his arms around him and closed his eyes.

He woke up before Chu Hanjin.

The birds in the forest were chirping louder now. Chu Hanjin’s head rested gently on his shoulder, sleeping soundly. Just as Yue Lin tried to move, the person in his arms frowned slightly, looking displeased.

Yue Lin gently cupped his face, carefully laying him down before checking on the sleeping Chu Zhaoyang in the hammock. The child was sprawled out with his legs spread wide, a few leaves clinging to him. Yue Lin plucked them off and tossed them aside.

When he turned back, Chu Hanjin had woken up, staring at him with those emotionless eyes.

Yue Lin smiled faintly.

The best thing about Chu Hanjin under the puppet curse was that he had no moral compass. Compared to his usual stubbornness, there was a kind of blunt honesty to him.

Chu Hanjin glanced at him briefly before standing up. Realizing something was off with his body, he gave Yue Lin a strange look.

Yue Lin stepped closer and asked softly, “Does it hurt?”

Chu Hanjin didn’t respond, maintaining his silence.

However, the control of the puppet curse seemed to have weakened again. He wasn’t showing any signs of wanting to kill Yue Lin, at least not yet. Yue Lin brushed his hair lightly, turning away just as Chu Hanjin shot him a glare. “Let’s go.”

They were already close to the demon territory, practically within its borders. It would only take a day or two to reach the capital.

When they reached the foot of the mountain, Yue Lin somehow managed to find an ox cart, likely one used for hauling hay. After cleaning it up, he had Chu Hanjin and the child sit in the back while he took the reins and drove toward the capital.

The autumn air was crisp, and the breeze was gentle.

Chu Hanjin sat quietly in the cart, dressed in clean, coarse fabric clothes. His hair was tied back, with a few strands blowing in the wind, giving him a clean and refreshed look, though his expression remained cold and distant.

As Yue Lin drove, Chu Hanjin leaned against the wooden slats of the cart, closing his eyes as he recalled his scattered memories.

In some unknown place, it seemed like he was standing in a deep mountain forest during a thunderstorm. Lightning crackled between the clouds, striking down mercilessly on everything in the forest. He stood there, dressed in white, sword in hand, standing in the wind and rain, not avoiding the strikes as if searching for something.

One bolt of lightning after another struck near his legs and beside him.

Mud splattered, soaking his clothes.

The next strike was coming for him.

Just then, a voice said, “Why don’t you hide?”

Chu Hanjin turned and saw a pair of deep golden eyes.

At the same time, something tugged gently at his robe, the pull soft but insistent.

Chu Hanjin broke out of his memories and looked down to see a pair of eyes similar to those deep golden ones, only smaller and rounder.

Chu Zhaoyang was holding up a small bunch of wildflowers, tilting his head as he looked up. “FatherFather”

Chu Hanjin: “Hmm?”

Chu Zhaoyang waved the flowers excitedly, his joy evident.

Blue, yellow, red—he had gathered a variety of colors. The road they had been traveling was covered in thick grass, but flowers were scarce. He must have gone out of his way to collect them into a small bouquet.

Chu Hanjin’s fingers twitched inside his sleeve. He turned his face away, ignoring the child, and said nothing.

Chu Zhaoyang, seeing this, burst into tears.

Yue Lin glanced back and sighed, saying, “You could at least acknowledge him. Even if he’s not your real son, a child giving you flowers deserves at least a nod, right, Ah Chu?”

As Yue Lin spoke, Chu Zhaoyang seemed to understand, holding his breath as tears rolled down his cheeks. His big, teary eyes looked at Chu Hanjin, trembling as he held out the little bouquet.

But Chu Hanjin’s expression remained cold as he stubbornly turned his head away.

“Waaah…”

The child’s sobs grew louder.

Yue Lin chuckled, saying, “It’s okay. Your father is going through a tough time right now and doesn’t remember us. But remember what I told you the other day? Be good. Don’t cry, don’t make a fuss. Your father is going through something difficult, and you have to understand that.”

Yue Lin gently patted the child’s head, comforting him softly, “Your father just doesn’t remember you right now.”

Chu Zhaoyang wiped away his tears, his loud sobs turning into soft whimpers, his watery eyes looking up at Chu Hanjin like a sad little puppy.

Chu Hanjin’s fingers curled tightly inside his sleeve.

There was a suffocating feeling in his chest.

He turned his head as if he wanted to say something, but just then, a group of mounted cultivators appeared ahead, galloping down the road, kicking up a cloud of dust as they raced toward the capital.

Yue Lin wiped the tears from the child’s face, saying, “We’re almost to the capital.”

The group didn’t pay them much attention, and after they passed, the city came into view in the distance.

Yue Lin got off the cart, tightening the reins, his expression serious. “We’ll find a place to stay in the city. I’ll look for Song Shu. The curse I placed on him should still be effective.”

After he finished speaking, he glanced at Chu Hanjin, who still wore the same indifferent expression.

Yue Lin couldn’t help but smile, but he said nothing more as he led the cart into the city.

Just as they entered the city gates, another group of soldiers rushed out, moving quickly and ignoring everyone in their path.

An old man had his basket knocked over but said nothing, quietly gathering his things. Yue Lin approached him, asking, “What’s the rush?”

The old man glanced at him. “There’s a war going on outside.”

“A war?”

“Yeah, the Saintess and the Sacred Emperor are fighting over territory in the south. Those soldiers are probably headed there to join the battle.” The old man shook his head, dusting off his basket as he walked away. “Looks like hard times for us common folk.”

The Saintess was Yue Lin’s third sister, and the Sacred Emperor was his seventh brother.

After asking more about the situation, Yue Lin learned that the conflict was over Yefeng City. Nearby was a spirit pool, an excellent place for cultivating spiritual bodies. It used to belong to the Saintess’s city of Penghe, but the flow of the spirit pool had shifted toward Yefeng City. The Saintess claimed that since the pool originally belonged to Penghe, the area taken over by Yefeng City should be returned. The Sacred Emperor, of course, disagreed. Tensions had escalated, and someone had finally made a move, sparking a full-blown war.

Understanding the cause of the conflict, Yue Lin turned to Chu Hanjin. “It seems they’re not just stirring up trouble in the righteous path but also in the demon realm. Their goal is clearly to throw the world into chaos.”

Chu Hanjin remained silent, glancing down at Chu Zhaoyang, who was still trying to hold his hand.

The child grabbed his hand.

Chu Hanjin shook it off.

The child grabbed it again.

Again, Chu Hanjin shook it off.

But the child, determined, reached for it once more.

This time, the child didn’t seem as fragile. He was persistent, even smiling at Chu Hanjin with a bright grin, as if saying, “No matter how much you dislike me, I’m not angry.”

Yue Lin couldn’t help but chuckle, but his smile faded quickly, replaced by a heavy seriousness. “If the world descends into chaos, they’ll benefit from it, playing both sides against each other. It’s a clever move—caring only for their own gain, with no concern for the havoc they’re causing.”

Chu Hanjin still said nothing.

He knew Yue Lin was thinking about something important, but he didn’t feel like it concerned him at all.

He felt thirsty.

“Alright, let’s find something to eat.”

Yue Lin began to turn the cart around when he suddenly stopped.

His tall figure blocked out the sunlight, and as he turned, the light cast sharp shadows across his face. He stood there, silently staring at the bustling street.

Something was wrong.

The curse he had placed on Song Shu allowed him to sense Song Shu’s location, but every spell has its flaws. When they got too close, he could sense Song Shu, and Song Shu could also sense him.

Amidst the crowd, it was like a tiny firefly had lit up in the dark. Its faint light was magnified by the surrounding darkness.

The street was full of people, their heads bobbing up and down, a sea of moving bodies.

Yue Lin took a few steps forward.

It felt as though a thin thread had wrapped around his heart and suddenly tightened—

Yue Lin dropped the reins and drew his sword, sprinting toward the bridge ahead.

But just as he moved, the child’s frightened cries echoed behind him, as if they had witnessed something terrifying.

Yue Lin turned back, only to see that the bustling street, with its city walls, shops, and throngs of people, had vanished. The once-crowded city had become a ghost town, completely empty as if it had never existed.

Thick, black fog rolled through the streets, and within the fog, flashes of vengeful spirits appeared. Strange creatures began crawling from the ground, some with one body and three legs, others with two heads, or long, thin, towering forms. All were stitched together from human corpses, their mouths stained with blood and their nails long and sharp like hooks. As they ran, their speed left afterimages, making it easy to imagine how effortlessly they could tear through human flesh.

Each of them had a black puppet curse mark on the back of their neck.

Yue Lin suddenly understood everything.

All the events were connected, including why the first target had been the hundreds of thousands of corpses in the Celestial Burial Pit.

Chu Hanjin remained oblivious to the scene, standing still. Meanwhile, a figure at the bridge turned and swiftly fled.

With no time to hesitate, Yue Lin leaped from the air, his sword slashing toward the figure. His fingers dug into the figure’s shoulder, leaving five deep, bloody marks.

He saw Song Shu’s pale face trying to remain calm as he smiled faintly. “Demon Lord, you’re quite lucky to still be alive. I didn’t expect we’d meet again.”

“Humph.”

Yue Lin couldn’t deny that his journey had been filled with hardships, and now he had fallen into a trap within this city, led by Song Shu. His adversary might laugh, but he had no choice but to continue forward.

Yue Lin struck the back of Song Shu’s neck, and his expression shifted from smug to terrified. “Yue Lin!”

Song Shu’s voice was nearly a scream, filled with rage.

Yue Lin, however, remained calm. “Are you scared now?”

His fingers pressed deeply into Song Shu’s neck, igniting a flame that began to burn his skin, revealing three black tomoe-shaped marks.

Clear, distinct, and sinister.

Yue Lin smiled coldly. “I’ve learned the puppet curse too.”

Song Shu shook his head frantically. “No, no, it’s impossible… You…”

Yue Lin replied, “Why? Just because I was tricked into dying once, everyone assumes I’m weak? Everyone praised my photographic memory. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that I could learn this curse after seeing it once.”

Song Shu shrieked, “No!”

But Yue Lin slammed his palm down hard!

Gray lines began crawling across Song Shu’s eyeballs, like tiny insects burrowing into his pupils, seemingly sucking the life out of him. His body froze, turning into a rigid statue, his face becoming ghostly pale.

But the paralysis didn’t last long. Soon, Song Shu’s expression returned to normal, his shoulders straightening as if he had come back to life. He looked at Yue Lin.

“Return Chu Hanjin’s memories,” Yue Lin demanded, his voice heavy with emphasis.

“As you command.”

Song Shu walked quickly toward Chu Hanjin, pulling out a piece of paper and a brush. Like a puppet on strings, he obediently followed the order, half-closing his eyes as he began to draw a curse mark on Chu Hanjin’s forehead.

Meanwhile, the puppet corpses surged forward in a frenzy. Yue Lin leaped into the air, his massive sword glowing blood-red. The sword qi tore through the thick black fog like scorching sunlight, its rays exploding outward.

The puppet corpses were blown back by the sword’s energy. Some fled, while others were cut into pieces, their flesh scattering across the street. Blood splattered onto Yue Lin’s hair, face, and his deep golden eyes, which gleamed with a dangerous intensity, full of killing intent!

Amidst the blood mist, a ghostly hand reached toward Chu Hanjin, only to be stomped into powder by a black boot.

“Remember anything?” Yue Lin bent down.

Chu Hanjin coughed weakly, his knees buckling as he collapsed to the ground.

He had remembered why he needed his memories back—to identify the true culprit hiding within the righteous path. It had to be someone close to him; otherwise, they wouldn’t have been able to cause such chaos in his life.

Who?

Who could it be?

Chu Hanjin’s mind raced, fragments of memories flashing by like a whirlwind, too fast to examine each one carefully.

The library…

Closed-door cultivation…

The alchemy furnace…

Blank spaces…

Wilderness…

The mountains with Yue Lin…

The shattered corpses in the grave…

Yue Lin’s half-healed body chasing after him…

Streams, birdsong, starry nights…

He was smiling and saying something…

Fireflies…

At this moment, Chu Hanjin coughed violently, blood spilling from his lips as his vision blurred. Fireflies… The flower field had been planted by Yue Lin.

That night, Yue Lin had asked him if he liked fireflies. He said he could plant a field of Zuiyu grass, and by summer, the mountains would be full of fireflies.

His memories continued to flash by rapidly. All the moments he had shared with Yue Lin were no longer a blank canvas waiting to be filled, but stories that had always been there, waiting for them to relive.

Chu Hanjin’s hair brushed the cold ground, his shoulders trembling slightly. Tears welled up in his eyes, and the memories continued to flood back.

He had left the courtyard in the rain, heading for the center of the formation, only to be struck by lightning…

Yue Lin had bandaged his wounds…

He had asked, “Should we have our child…?”

They had climbed mountains and crossed valleys in search of a “ginseng man”…

Their hair had been bound as husband and wife, vowing to never part.

… 

Where was it? Where was the culprit? Chu Hanjin’s fingers dug deep into the ground, blood seeping from his fingertips as he rifled through his memories, searching for the person he had seen, the person responsible…

His mind raced through the memories—

Suddenly, Chu Hanjin felt like he was closing in on the answer—

That face, standing in his courtyard, dressed in a blue robe, with his hair tied high. His posture was upright and graceful, one hand holding a talisman, but his face remained blurry.

His face was about to come into focus—

Chu Hanjin let out a sharp hiss as excruciating pain flared up in the back of his neck, as if his entire scalp was being torn off. His vision was swallowed by an overwhelming darkness, drowning out all his senses.

“Ah…”

Hearing the sound, Yue Lin reached out to grab him. “Ah Chu—”

But before he could finish, his hand was sliced open by a sword formed from spiritual energy, blood spurting from his wrist.

“Ah Chu…”

Yue Lin’s pupils dilated in shock as he stared at Chu Hanjin.

Chu Hanjin stood up, his eyes clouded with gray, bloodshot veins spreading across his sclera. The black curse mark on the back of his neck was so deep it bled, and his lips curled into a faint smile. He raised a sword made of spiritual energy, aiming it at Yue Lin.

The control of the puppet curse on him had strengthened.

A gust of wind swept through the air.

Yue Lin glanced up.

On the city wall stood two figures, their robes billowing in the wind, one dressed in green, the other in blue, exuding an ethereal, divine aura.

Bai Gu nodded with a smile. “Ninth Brother.”

Yue Lin’s grip tightened around his sword, his gaze locked onto the person beside him. His heart sank, not for himself, but for Chu Hanjin. “It was you all along.”

Yue Lin’s voice nearly broke as he shouted, “Mu Lianchun!”

Mu Lianchun’s expression remained calm as he glanced at the puppet-like Song Shu beside him. “I didn’t expect you to learn the puppet curse.”

“Why?!!!” Yue Lin roared.

Why? He had suspected Mu Lianchun before, knowing that only someone close to Chu Hanjin, someone who could catch him off guard, could betray him.

It had to be Mu Lianchun who had pushed Chu Hanjin into the sword-refining pool. When the sword-refining failed, and he feared being discovered, he had wiped Chu Hanjin’s memory.

At the city of Yushui, it had to be Mu Lianchun who had caused Chu Hanjin to be captured and cursed once again.

And yet, Mu Lianchun was Chu Hanjin’s most trusted senior brother. Although Yue Lin had suspected him, he had never voiced it.

Mu Lianchun furrowed his brow. “I don’t need to explain myself to you.”

His gaze softened as it fell on Chu Hanjin. “Junior Brother.”

Chu Hanjin, like a marionette in a shadow puppet play, turned his head and lifted his chin to look at him. His expression was cold, his face devoid of any emotion. He was the perfect puppet, but tears glistened faintly in his eyes.

Mu Lianchun’s brow furrowed slightly as he gazed into his eyes. “Junior Brother, have you remembered everything?”

Chu Hanjin’s expression remained cold, his features unmoving. He neither nodded nor shook his head, nor did he speak. His demeanor was as elegant as ever, like an immortal, but with the heart of a puppet.

Mu Lianchun’s face flashed with fleeting emotion—perhaps a twinge of guilt, but more than that, a look of resolve. “Junior Brother, don’t hate me. I never meant to harm you. I only wanted to join forces with you to restore the glory of Far Mountain Sect under our master’s rule.” He paused, his voice softening, “That’s your ambition too, isn’t it? We just chose different paths. You may misunderstand me, but you certainly don’t blame me.”

Bai Gu nodded. “Lord Yue Zhao should have been refined into a sword spirit, to dwell within the sword forever, bringing peace to Far Mountain Sect. But who could have expected that my Ninth Brother would interfere in the process, causing Lord Yue Zhao to break his vow and even bear a child? His spiritual energy was no longer pure and intense—it’s such a pity!”

Mu Lianchun’s gaze returned to Yue Lin, and a surge of anger flickered in his eyes. “It’s all your fault, you wretch!”

Yue Lin gritted his teeth, blood trickling from his mouth.

Bai Gu added, “Ah Wan, why not let Lord Yue Zhao kill him? He ruined the sword spirit, led Lord Yue Zhao astray, and defiled him. It would only be fitting for Lord Yue Zhao to kill him and cleanse the impurity.”

Mu Lianchun, seething with rage, snapped, “Yes!”

His fury was palpable, and Yue Lin was equally furious. The fire of anger burned in his chest, and he wished he could cut off both their heads with a single strike. Yet, he was so enraged that he couldn’t even form the words. “You—”

“You—shameless!”

Unable to speak, his chest was filled with a flood of sorrow and anguish for Chu Hanjin.

Bai Gu stepped back leisurely, saying, “Ah Wan, go ahead.”

With a wave of his sleeve, Mu Lianchun summoned a fierce gust of wind.

Yue Lin turned his head, just in time to see Chu Hanjin’s spiritual energy surge, breaking free from the seal Yue Lin had placed on his dantian. He was back to his full strength. His beautiful face turned toward Yue Lin, devoid of emotion, nose unable to smell, and mouth unable to speak. He was as lifeless as a clay Buddha, but a single tear rolled down his cheek.

Yue Lin’s heart clenched, torn apart by conflicting emotions. “Ah Chu, you recognize me, don’t you?”

His voice choked with emotion. “You don’t want to fight me, do you?”

He was certain of it.

The light in Chu Hanjin’s eyes brightened slightly, but the spiritual blade in his hand didn’t disappear. Instead, its power grew, and the wound on the back of his neck bled profusely.

“Huh, how interesting. Are they lovers destined to kill each other?”

Bai Gu laughed as he turned to Mu Lianchun. “Lord Yue Zhao was led astray because he thought he had fallen in love with my Ninth Brother. Now that he has regained his memory, having him kill my Ninth Brother with those memories would truly cleanse him of all impurities. Isn’t that right?”

This nonchalant remark pushed Yue Lin over the edge. He let out a long roar, and his sword qi shot into the sky, splitting the entire street in two. Rocks and rooftops collapsed, filling the air with dust and debris, carving a chasm dozens of feet deep.

Bai Gu’s face paled as he hid behind Mu Lianchun. “Ah Wan, save me.” Despite his earlier harsh words, Bai Gu had always feared Yue Lin. Even now, with Yue Lin seemingly cornered, Bai Gu remained terrified.

Yue Lin leaped into the air, his sword qi aimed straight at Bai Gu. Mu Lianchun’s broad sleeves fluttered as he shouted, “Junior Brother, now!”

A chill ran down Yue Lin’s spine.

As he turned, a blade of dazzling light flashed before his eyes. The cold gleam reflected in Chu Hanjin’s eyes, now clouded with white. His lips were tightly pressed together, his gaze cold and murderous.

This blow, with its electrifying purple light, unleashed a thunderous explosion of spiritual energy. This was no longer Bai Gu’s twisted game—it was a real fight to the death!

Yue Lin cried out in anguish, “Ah Chu!”

Chu Hanjin’s toes barely touched the ground as his figure moved like a graceful snow goose skimming across the snow. His ink-black hair fluttered in the wind, and the grace of the immortal lord he had once been was completely gone, replaced by the lust for blood. Each strike was more lethal than the last.

Chu Hanjin didn’t kill.

But he was very skilled at killing.

Far Mountain Sect didn’t emphasize killing, so many of his techniques had never been used in battle.

Yue Lin parried his lightning-charged blade with a resounding “clang,” his arm straining under the pressure. He gazed into Chu Hanjin’s eyes. “Ah Chu, you don’t want this, do you? You don’t want to kill me, do you?”

Chu Hanjin’s lashes fluttered slightly, but his strikes didn’t hesitate. He spun gracefully in midair, delivering a fierce kick that sent Yue Lin crashing to the ground. Without giving him a moment to breathe, Chu Hanjin raised his spiritual blade high, ready to strike—

Yue Lin’s voice was filled with unbearable pain. “Ah Chu, Ah Chu… I don’t know if you can wake up, but I beg you, wake up…”

He pointed to the city wall. “Your senior brother isn’t worth it. He isn’t worth you becoming like this, isn’t worth you killing and committing evil for him! He’s not worth it, not worth making you forget everything—forgetting Chu Zhaoyang, forgetting me, even forgetting yourself! He’s not worth it!”

Each word was spoken with blood and tears.

Chu Hanjin’s throat convulsed slightly, a faint whimper escaping him. His face remained cold as stone, but his eyes glistened with unshed tears. As he turned to execute another strike, a drop of still-warm water fell onto Yue Lin’s hand.

“Plop.”

Mu Lianchun’s command was heavy.

Chu Hanjin struggled against the puppet curse, but the mark dug into his flesh like a venomous snake, biting deep, causing his neck to bleed profusely as it burrowed further in.

Chu Hanjin couldn’t slow down, couldn’t stop. With one hand gripping the spiritual blade, he swung it mercilessly at Yue Lin, each strike flowing seamlessly into the next, each new move an even deadlier killing blow. The sound of their clashing blades echoed loudly, and electrical sparks filled the air, forcing Yue Lin to the ground as his black boots stomped into the mud.

Chu Hanjin remembered everything.

But he couldn’t stop.

Whenever he tried to touch that deep, impenetrable darkness, his mind would explode in pain, numbing his senses. By the time he regained consciousness, he realized he had instinctively unleashed a series of deadly strikes.

He even wanted Yue Lin to kill him.

Even if he died, the real mastermind had already revealed himself. Yue Lin was smart enough to resolve the impending disaster, wasn’t he?

After weighing everything, the best hope was for Yue Lin to kill him. After all, if Yue Lin died, Chu Hanjin would remain a puppet, powerless to resist, and the truth would never come to light.

… And there was Chu Zhaoyang.

The child.

…

He had always thought Yue Lin was lazy and careless when it came to raising the child, but without him, Yue Lin would surely raise the child well, wouldn’t he?

Chu Hanjin gazed at Yue Lin, straining with all his might to endure the searing pain in his head. If he could just endure for a moment, he might be able to create an opening. As Chu Hanjin swung his blade again, his movements slowed. He was using a particular sword technique that required a transition from a side sweep to a thrust, which involved a shift in hand position. A skilled swordsman could execute this maneuver in an instant, while the opponent would have to parry by striking the hilt of the blade away.

Chu Hanjin knew this technique inside and out, as smoothly as flowing water, and Yue Lin was naturally well aware of it. If he suddenly slowed his movements, Yue Lin might react according to the usual timing, which could result in Yue Lin’s sword hilt striking Chu Hanjin’s blade, potentially piercing Chu Hanjin’s body before he could adjust his stance.

Chu Hanjin slowed down for a brief moment.

But as soon as he hesitated, Yue Lin’s pupils dilated, and he sensed something was wrong. By the time they reached this point, the rage in Yue Lin’s eyes was no longer hidden. “Chu Hanjin!”

He let out a furious, pained shout.

“I originally planned to fight you until our spiritual energy was exhausted, and then we’d naturally stop!”

No…

That would mean Yue Lin would fall into Mu Lianchun and Bai Gu’s hands.

Yue Lin, his sword trembling with anger, growled, “But this is what you’re planning?! Have you ever thought about how I’d feel? Do you know that if I hurt you, I’d regret it for the rest of my life? Chu Hanjin!”

He roared, gritting his teeth. “If you want to die so badly, then don’t blame me!”

With that, he sheathed his sword behind his back and used his left hand to press several points on the back of Chu Hanjin’s neck, igniting a burst of flame that revealed the black curse mark.

Bai Gu’s face turned pale.

Mu Lianchun was equally shocked.

Yue Lin had mastered the puppet curse.

Now, he had placed a puppet curse on the back of Chu Hanjin’s neck.

But this time, the master of the curse wasn’t Mu Lianchun.

It was Yue Lin.

Now, Chu Hanjin had two puppet curses on him. Who would he obey?

Yue Lin placed his hand on Chu Hanjin’s shoulder, wiping away the tears from the corners of his eyes. “Ah Chu… I won’t let you die.”

Mu Lianchun stepped forward, shouting, “Junior Brother!”

Yue Lin grasped Chu Hanjin’s hand, channeling his spiritual energy into his palm, his voice trembling slightly. “Ah Chu…”

He was betting everything.

He was betting that his spiritual energy in Chu Hanjin’s body could overpower Mu Lianchun’s.

Spiritual energy naturally seeks strength, and Yue Lin had confidence in that. But as the vessel for both energies, Chu Hanjin would surely endure unimaginable pain.

Yue Lin never wanted to resort to a method that would hurt Chu Hanjin, unless he had no other choice.

He held Chu Hanjin tightly, clinging to him desperately. “Ah Chu, it won’t hurt…”

The two opposing spiritual energies clashed and tangled within Chu Hanjin’s mind, exploding violently. The two puppet curses, buried deep in his flesh, seeped blood.

Yue Lin embraced him so tightly that it seemed he wanted to merge their souls together. He murmured over and over, “Ah Chu, Ah Chu… You have to endure this… Hang on…”

He continued channeling spiritual energy into Chu Hanjin’s hands, keeping his body stable.

“Ah…”

Chu Hanjin’s face was deathly pale, his chest heaving as he coughed up blood. His brow furrowed as he collapsed into unconsciousness.