Chapter 8

Helan Xi remembered his mother saying that the wedding chamber was meant to be shared by two people who deeply loved each other. However, for those practicing the Path of Unfeeling, such deep emotions would inevitably lead to the collapse of their path. Yet, when he met Zhu Ruo Shuang at the Lin residence last time, he didn’t notice any signs of her path collapsing.

But even if Song Xuanji was well-versed in the art of the wedding chamber, it wouldn’t make sense for them to go that far just to break an illusion.

Helan Xi turned around calmly: “No matter, Zhu Ruo Shuang and Lin Dan also haven’t shared a wedding chamber.”

Song Xuanji: “Why not?”

Helan Xi: “Because Zhu Ruo Shuang’s path hasn’t collapsed.”

Song Xuanji silently pondered, not fully agreeing with Helan Xi’s assessment that no collapse of the Path of Unfeeling meant no wedding chamber. He didn’t argue, instead, he changed the topic: “Have you finished your homework?”

Helan Xi was taken aback, almost exclaiming “Ah”: “…Mm?”

Dressed in a bright red wedding robe, Song Xuanji looked at him expressionlessly: “Do your homework.”

Helan Xi hesitated: “Are you serious?”

“Since we have nothing else to do,” Song Xuanji replied calmly, “you can finish your homework on the History of the Nine Provinces first.”

Hearing the words “History of the Nine Provinces,” Helan Xi felt a pang in his chest, an overwhelming sense of sadness washing over him.

Since he was following the Path of Unfeeling, he was destined to have no connection with romantic unions in his lifetime. Today would likely be the closest he ever came to marriage. Even though it was fake, and his “marriage partner” was a cold and aloof oddball, he knew he would never again have the chance to wear a wedding robe.

Putting those thoughts aside, he was exhausted from working tirelessly for the Taihua Sect. He hadn’t been slacking off, so why did Song Xuanji have to keep nagging him about his homework?

Helan Xi had a peculiar trait; although he didn’t mind doing homework and would even take the initiative to complete it, if someone told him to do it, he wouldn’t want to do it at all.

The more he thought about it, the more upset he became. With a cold expression, he declared, “No.”

Song Xuanji: “No?”

Helan Xi, getting a bit moody, said, “I’m not doing homework.”

Song Xuanji: “Why not?”

“No reason,” Helan Xi replied coldly. “I’m just not doing it.”

Song Xuanji paused, his voice less cold than usual, tinged with a hint of inexplicable nuance: “I don’t understand you. But have you considered why the Immortal Lord Fuxu set up this illusion?”

Helan Xi was slightly taken aback, realizing that Song Xuanji’s words had a deeper meaning.

Ordinary people set traps in their tombs to repel or even kill intruders, but Immortal Lord Fuxu was different.

Immortal Lord Fuxu was inherently kind and would avoid killing unless necessary. Even if someone trespassed into his tomb, he would first intimidate them with sand serpents and then test their moral character.

So what was next? After testing their strength and morality, what else did Immortal Lord Fuxu need to confirm before he could feel at ease allowing them deeper into his tomb?

Helan Xi had an epiphany and understood Song Xuanji’s implication: “You mean, we just need to act as we normally would in the Taihua Sect?”

Song Xuanji nodded: “Mm.”

“Alright, I’ll trust you this once.” Helan Xi lifted the hem of his wedding robe and sat properly on a chair, taking out the Compendium of the Nine Provinces from his spiritual pouch.

Song Xuanji sat across from Helan Xi, retrieving a book on Talisman Studies. Instead of opening the book immediately, he looked at the wedding veil on Helan Xi’s head and asked, “Not taking it off?”

Helan Xi casually replied, “Ignore it.”

Song Xuanji: “…”

The red candles, originally meant for the wedding night, were now used to illuminate their homework. For some reason, neither of them changed back into their Path of Unfeeling uniforms, and Helan Xi still had the lifted red wedding veil on his head.

As he diligently wrote, Helan Xi couldn’t help but think that they were probably the only two people in the world who were doing homework while wearing wedding robes.

As the night slowly descended, the sense of time in the illusion felt as real as in the actual world. After two hours, Helan Xi, absorbed in his book, had almost finished his homework on the History of the Nine Provinces, leaving only a biographical essay.

On a blank sheet of paper, Helan Xi wrote “The Influence of the Ghost King on the Nine Provinces” and then looked expectantly at Song Xuanji: “So, what is the influence of the Ghost King on the Nine Provinces?”

—-

In the Taihua Sect, each member of the Path of Unfeeling trio had a subject they weren’t good at. For Helan Xi, it was the History of the Nine Provinces, for Song Xuanji, it was Pharmacology of Elixirs, and for Zhu Rushuang, it was Mechanics. Although they each had their strengths and weaknesses, they had never asked anyone else for help with their homework before. This was the first time.

After all, it was Song Xuanji himself who offered to help with the History of the Nine Provinces, so Helan Xi had no reason not to ask.

“Take out the Compendium of the Nine Provinces and turn to the first page,” Song Xuanji instructed, lowering his eyes and pausing his writing. “You need to start learning from there.”

Helan Xi silently bowed his head. He felt deeply humiliated, truly humiliated.

To Helan Xi, the History of the Nine Provinces was like a powerful sleeping potion. No matter how interesting the person explaining it, even if they were dressed in a bright red wedding robe, it couldn’t change this fact.

Listening to the life story of the Ghost King, Helan Xi’s eyelids grew heavy, his consciousness becoming blurred, and he soon fell asleep without realizing it.

When he woke up, he found that he wasn’t lying on the table but sitting on the ground, leaning against a tall pillar.

The wooden house of the illusion had disappeared, replaced by a slightly dim secret room. The walls were adorned with torches that seemed to burn endlessly. The ground felt rough and cold, and a sense of old, oppressive air filled his nose. Instinctively, Helan Xi looked for Song Xuanji: “Song Xuanji?”

Song Xuanji’s voice responded: “Here.”

Helan Xi stood up, supporting himself with the pillar, and saw Song Xuanji in the corner of the secret room. Holding a torch, Song Xuanji stood facing the wall, seemingly examining something.

Taking advantage of Song Xuanji’s lack of sight, Helan Xi joyfully ran a few steps toward him: “Has the illusion been broken?”

Song Xuanji replied to him with a simple “Mm” without turning his head.

It seemed that Song Xuanji’s deduction was correct. The reason Immortal Floating Sequence set up the “Floating Life Like a Dream” technique in the tomb was to judge whether the intruder had any nefarious intentions.

Immortal Floating Sequence was buried with the Ghost King’s Horn, not to let it remain buried forever like his corpse. Perhaps he had foreseen that one day, someone would break into his tomb for the Ghost King’s Horn.

Immortal Floating Sequence first needed to know if the intruder had the strength to control the Ghost King’s evil object, then ensure that this person wouldn’t oppose his intentions, and finally determine the reason for breaking into the tomb.

Song Xuanji suddenly pulled him along to study, intending to show the spirit of Immortal Floating Sequence that they were proper disciples of Taihua Sect, with the sole purpose of investigating the truth behind a fellow disciple’s sudden marriage, and nothing more.

Helan Xi believed that Zhu Ruo Shuang alone could have completed the three tests set by Immortal Floating Sequence. The reason he was trapped in “Floating Life Like a Dream” for three years must be due to Lin Dan.

It was Lin Dan, who couldn’t gain the approval of Immortal Floating Sequence for three years, causing Zhu Ruo Shuang to be trapped in “Floating Life Like a Dream” with him until the day they married in the illusion.

Perhaps after three years, Lin Dan developed genuine feelings for Zhu Ruo Shuang, shedding the evil thoughts that Immortal Floating Sequence did not approve of, thus allowing them to escape the illusion together.

However, if Zhu Ruo Shuang and Lin Dan truly loved each other, why would Zhu Ruo Shuang secretly guide them here to uncover the truth?

The whole matter was full of doubts, but Helan Xi had a vague feeling that he and Song Xuanji were close to the truth.

Helan Xi approached Song Xuanji, the torch illuminating the wall, revealing a series of ancient murals. The scenes were grand, with vibrant colors and lifelike figures, silently recounting the epic battle between Immortal Floating Sequence and the Ghost King two years ago.

Immortal Floating Sequence had bright and clear eyes, a serious expression, wearing a sky-blue Taoist robe, standing with a sword amid the swirling smoke. The blue of the robe, similar to the current Taishan Dao Academy’s attire, seemed like a vast ocean, silently flowing into the mountains and rivers, benefiting all things.

Helan Xi recognized the sword in Immortal Floating Sequence’s hand, named “Qingping Le.” It wasn’t because he was well-versed in Taishan Dao Academy’s history, but because the sword of Immortal Floating Sequence had been passed down to the current headmaster of Taishan Dao Academy.

Standing opposite Immortal Floating Sequence was the legendary Ghost King.

Typically, murals recording the life of a tomb’s owner would deliberately depict their opponents unfavorably, describing them as “hideous,” “dog-like,” or “white-haired and barefoot.” However, Taishan Dao Academy despised lying, so what Helan Xi saw was a tall, slender youth in black robes. His face had faded due to the mural’s age, only the broken dragon horn on his head was visible.

A single stroke of “Qingping Le,” illuminating the ancient night, was undoubtedly the work of “Qingping Le.” The broken dragon horn was thrown into the ghost realm by Immortal Floating Sequence, becoming a tool to suppress the ghost realm.

Helan Xi widened his eyes: “This is…”

Song Xuanji took over: “The Ghost King’s Horn, broken by Immortal Floating Sequence, can summon a thousand ghosts and command ten thousand demons. The world calls it—” Song Xuanji paused, looking at Helan Xi, meaning: You say it.

This glance reminded Helan Xi of the fear of being called on in the “Nine Provinces History” class, making his heart race.

If he remembered correctly, Song Xuanji had told him about this in the illusion. He had memorized it back then, but now he couldn’t recall a thing.

The Ghost King’s Horn, the Ghost King’s Horn, what could it be called?

His head hurt.

Helan Xi forced himself to stay calm and tentatively answered: “Tianya Ghost Horn?”

Song Xuanji closed his eyes lightly, his shoulders seemed to sag slightly.

Helan Xi: “…”

Did Song Xuanji just sigh? Did the chosen one of the Unfeeling Dao really sigh at his poor “Nine Provinces History”? How impressive.

Song Xuanji calmly uttered three words: “Ghost Xiangyu.”

Helan Xi nodded, maintaining a composed demeanor: “Good name.”

Lin Dan broke into Immortal Floating Sequence’s tomb, most likely for the “Ghost Xiangyu.” A young master from a merchant family had no reason to target the “Ghost Xiangyu”; he probably was no longer the original Lin Dan.

At this point, even if they weren’t disciples of Taishan Dao Academy, they had to ensure the “Ghost Xiangyu” didn’t fall into the wrong hands. This was exactly what Zhu Ruo Shuang wanted them to do.