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墨書 Inktalez
“Anxin, Anxin.”
In a haze, I heard someone calling my name. Slowly opening my eyes, my first instinct was not to look around but to find Nian.
“Baby?”
“Mom, I'm here.”
Hearing my call, Nian weakly opened his eyes. I pulled him tightly into my embrace from Qizhi's hands. “What happened to you?”
“The atmosphere here is affecting him. Although he is half-demon, the strongest essence he carries is still his mother's spiritual power.”
Only then did I take a look around and realize we were in a stone house. Everything was hazy, and I couldn't see what kind of place it was. Qizhi stood to one side, watching me and Nian with glistening eyes.
“Father, it was Demon King Grandpa who deceived the baby. He wants to use the baby to threaten Father. Father, Demon King Grandpa is an outsider.”
His words were innocent and naive, but they held the greatest truth for him. Qizhi's gaze softened. “Father knows, which is why Father is here—to stop this. Come here, baby; Father will take you out.”
“Can we really go?”
I felt a bit anxious. The atmosphere here was so thick that Nian seemed increasingly weak. We were definitely in the vicinity of the Forbidden Tower; getting out wouldn't be easy.
“Anxin, don't worry. I won't let you get hurt.”
Qizhi reached out his hand to me, and I took it, preparing to leave.
“Leaving? Heh heh!”
The sudden voice came like a ghostly attack, resembling the roar of a collapsing mountain, carrying with it a terrifying force that could destroy everything. The Wind Sound was mixed with the stench of blood and rain.
The kind of fear that surged from the heart, invading every pore, enveloped the entire body. Even the hairs on one's skin trembled in terror. Just a single voice could instill such panic, and there was only one person responsible for it.
The Demon King.
"Qizhi, I have not treated you poorly. At least I spared your child. Are you really going to help outsiders fight against the Demon Realm now?"
"The Demon Realm and the Underworld originally did not interfere with each other. It is your greed that has caused this; this matter is the Demon Realm's fault. Father, I beg you to let it go."
"Let it go? That's easy for you to say! Who will take responsibility for the two thousand years of suffering I've endured?"
The Demon King was enraged. The mere weight of his voice sent Qizhi crashing against the wall mercilessly. Blood spurted from Qizhi's mouth as he curled up in pain.
"Qizhi."
"Don't worry, I'm fine." Qizhi wiped the blood from his lips and resolutely got back on his feet. "I will take you away; I won't let anything happen to you."
"I was going to say that if she were willing to marry you, it would be acceptable. Those who enter my Demon Realm will not be treated poorly by me. But since she refuses, she must die."
The word "die" came with a cataclysmic force, causing the ground beneath my feet to crack open, shaking violently. Clinging to Nian, I couldn't let go, my body swaying dangerously as the fissure widened beneath me.
In that fleeting moment, I fell into the chasm below, one arm holding onto Nian while the other made futile attempts to pull myself back up. In the end, it was that hand that grasped my wrist tightly.
"Anxin, don't let go."
I felt gravity pulling me downward. Qizhi held onto me with all his strength, but the Demon King would not relent. Blades of black wind sliced into his back like daggers, crimson blood spraying everywhere like a fountain, splattering onto Nian and gradually filling my vision.
In an instant, my eyes turned red.
"Aren't you afraid of death? Even if it's my own son, I will show no mercy!"
"To protect the one I love, even death is necessary, without any regrets."
"But this time, I will not let you have your way! I will make you utterly despair!"
The Demon King's voice unleashed a more tumultuous intimidation, striking mercilessly at Qi Zhi, yet he bit down on his lip, refusing to let go.
Tears fell behind him, mingling with the Demon King's maniacal laughter and the incessant cries of despair.
"Father, let go. Nian, don't be afraid of death. Father, don't get hurt. Nian, it hurts my heart."
"Silly child, you are my child; I will not let go. Hold on."
"Qi Zhi, I beg you to let go! Please don’t sacrifice your life for me; I am not worth it!"
"Hey." Qi Zhi chuckled lightly. "Anxin, although you are not Xiao An, I once regarded you as Xiao An. But at least now I know clearly who I love. Xiao An will not come back, and you are just Anxin. I have only loved two women in my life, yet I was powerless to protect either. As a man, what a failure that is! So Anxin, this time no matter what, I must save you; otherwise, I fear I will succumb to despair and become a monster, a mere walking corpse. The pain of letting go is nothing compared to a dead heart that can never revive. As long as I can see you smile, even if I can never have it again, I am willing. Anxin, seeing you smile is my greatest motivation. So don’t cry, don’t waver; please believe in your faith—there will definitely be a miracle. Anxin, I love you."
Five words—five blood-stained words—pierced deeply into my eyes and my heart. I was powerless to give him anything in return, yet he was willing to sacrifice his life for me. What right do I have as Anxin?
The only thing left to do was to let go.
But could I?
The Demon King's merciless strike aimed not at Qi Zhi but at the only hand we held together.
"No—"
A heart-wrenching cry wanted to leap out with me, but a force restrained him, leaving him helplessly watching the figure shrinking further into the darkness.
I felt the wind sound sharpen beside my ear and saw that person's despair as I could only hold onto Nian tightly and fall downward.
The sound of a bell chimed softly as the Wind Sound carried it to me. I opened my eyes to see the Soul-Calling Bell falling downward, and I quickly raised my hand to catch it.
"The artifact formed by combining the Soul-Calling Bell and the Soul Bell is called the Soul Stone. The Soul Stone can grant one wish using a life soul, and anything can come true."
I held it tightly in my hand.
At that moment, a powerful darkness erupted from above, and what caught my eye was the blood light of Yin Hong at his brow. The world around us was collapsing into darkness, devoid of light, with an overwhelming invisible pressure weighing on our hearts.
"My good son, let me enter your body and completely invade the Underworld!"
Prayers, hold on; I believe in you.
So I cannot die.
As I landed, I successfully summoned the Blood Flame Sword and called upon the Golden Qilin. The Golden Qilin circled around us before finally landing at a clean water source.
Nian had succumbed to the powerful magical erosion and fainted, his small face pale as paper. I knew that carrying him further would only put him in greater danger.
"Anxin."
In that moment of helplessness, a familiar voice reached me. I turned to see a fiery red nine-tailed fox. "Tian Yuan." It seemed that heaven had not completely abandoned me. "Tian Yuan, you're just in time. Quickly take this child away to your master; do not stay in the Underworld."
I handed Nian over to Tian Yuan, who carried him on her back, looking at me with concern. "My master sent me to help. As soon as I arrived, I saw you. I'll take you out."
"No." I shook my head, gazing at the darkness above with a smile. "I still have things to do; I can't leave. You must go quickly; this child has been corrupted by Evil Energy, and only Hikaki can save him. I will pay the price myself. Hurry."
Tian Yuan could not persuade me otherwise and had no choice but to leave. Once they were gone, my body relaxed against the cold mountain rock as I furrowed my brow and bit my lip tightly. Hidden beneath my clothing, a metal rod had pierced through my left ankle, blood flowing endlessly; the pain was beginning to numb.
Only the Golden Qilin remained by my side, howling softly and licking my blood with concern.
"I'm fine."
I stroked its fur, enduring the pain, and lowered my head to take out the Soul-Calling Bell that had fallen from Qiqi, along with the Soul Bell.
Both bells glowed with a crimson light, stained by my blood.
Jun Chong had said that my blood was transformed from the Guardian Pearl, and even the Soul Stone could potentially be awakened by it. To awaken the Soul Stone, I needed to break the seal of the Soul-Calling Bell.
"This should also work with my blood!"
With that thought, I applied a bit of pressure, and suddenly the Golden Qilin let out a cry, transforming into the Qilin Hairpin. At the same time, the box containing Chitaki sealed against my chest emitted a similar glow.
Since Chitaki had taught me how to retrieve it, I took it out. The seal on the box had loosened and opened automatically.
Inside was bare except for two grooves and a pattern resembling a qilin on the inner wall. I noticed that it was just right for placing the two bells. A premonition arose in my heart.
"Could it be that Hikaki intended for Jun Chong to use the Soul Stone?"
If this box was meant to hold the Soul-Calling Bell and the Soul Bell, then would placing the bells inside cause the Soul Stone to appear?
That seemed unlikely.
I leaned against the stone wall and laughed.
Hikaki wanted Junxin to pass this to me; perhaps the main intention was for me to use the Soul Stone!
Otherwise, why not hand it directly to Jun Chong? Why hadn’t I given it to him during our two meetings? It wasn’t because I hadn’t thought of it, but rather due to the binding power of this box.
Awakening the Soul Stone and making a wish could completely resolve this disaster.
Whoever it was, they should have done the same.
But he gave me the choice. First, only I could break the seal of the Soul-Calling Bell. Second, everything that had entangled us to this point was partly my fault.
"So, do I have to die?"
Storm clouds swirled above me, and the sounds of battle echoed across the sky. Every cry resonated within me, and even though I was here, I could feel their anguish. They wanted to live; they wanted a peaceful life.
And now, I was the only one who could resolve this matter once and for all.
But if I died, what would happen to Jun Chong?
My heart twisted painfully. It wasn't my choice, yet I was being forced to make one. Was this what they called the world? What they called fate?
If that were the case, would I wish that none of this had ever happened? How wonderful it would be to be just an ordinary shadow!
But everything had happened, and I never regretted meeting him, falling in love with him, or experiencing all of this.
"Golden Qilin." As I called out, the Golden Qilin reappeared. "Take me to the final battlefield."
Wiping away my tears, I mounted the back of the Golden Qilin, holding the Blood Flame as we soared toward the center of the Forbidden Tower. Below us lay darkness; blood spread throughout the Underworld, filling my nostrils and deepening my sorrow.
The Grim Reapers had already broken through barriers and were attacking here. The Golden-Clad Reaper was among them. They had long since infiltrated part of this place, and now they were fully united, a formidable force.
Thunder roared above the Forbidden Tower as fighting raged on, shaking the entire Underworld.
Two familiar figures were locked in combat. Jun Chong was a soul; his physical body had been destroyed. He no longer had even a shred of spiritual power to support him. After his previous battle with Rong Zhi, he was still heavily injured and hadn’t recovered. Now he was fighting against a demon lord—two titans clashing in a fierce struggle. The outcome was clear without needing to look.
It wasn't that I lacked confidence in Jun Chong; it was simply that I didn't want him to die. Not at all.
Even with Tao Wu and Qiongqi as guardians, along with Zhuque, they were still no match for the Demon King. I didn't know how powerful the Demon King truly was, but I could see that Jun Chong was staggering, clearly unable to withstand the pressure.
Tao Wu and Qiongqi fell together under the onslaught of the attack, vanishing into nothingness. Only Zhuque remained, holding on with great effort. If Zhuque were to fall, Jun Chong, who had lost his physical form, would be even more helpless. The only way out was to be reborn through fire.
Suddenly, Jun Chong stood still, silently chanting something. I watched as Zhuque transformed into a ball of flames.
"This is bad," I thought in alarm. "Jun Chong is going to use himself as a price to borrow the power of the divine beast Zhuque—Nirvana Rebirth."
This was the only way he could truly fight against the Demon King.
But if he did this, he would undoubtedly die; I understood his intentions all too well. That was why he confidently spoke of using Hellfire—Hellfire could destroy everything, but he was not the Lord of the Underworld; everything came at a cost.
My heart felt like it was being sliced open, and my hand trembled uncontrollably around the box.
"Jun Chong, you must not die. Wait for me."
"Anxin."
Hearing someone call my name, I looked down to see Chitaki waving at me from below. I signaled Golden Qilin to let me down, and Chitaki came over to support me. "What happened to your foot?"
"It's just a minor injury; it's nothing serious."
"Nothing serious? I—"
"Chitaki, I need you to do me a favor."
"I won't help." Chitaki suddenly shook her head, her gaze sharp. "I won't assist you with anything."
I chuckled lightly. "Did you guess something?"
“Anxin, you absolutely cannot die. We are ready; as long as Jun Chong draws Hellfire, everything will come to an end.”
“But he will die.” I grasped Chitaki's hand, struggling to stand. “Chitaki, I know you’re worried about me. But I cannot be so selfish. Everything started because of me; I cannot keep hiding under Jun Chong's protection. I should strive for him and do what I can. To me, my entire life revolves around him, but his heart belongs to the world, to the underworld, and he has many responsibilities he cannot let go of. So no matter how difficult it is, he must live.”
I knelt before Chitaki. “Chitaki, even if I have to beg you, help me this once. Anxin will be forever grateful.”
Chitaki gritted her teeth, tears welling in her strong eyes. “Anxin, why must you think this way?”
I took out a box and smiled. “Because this is the ending that heaven has given me. I know that resistance might succeed, but it would only hurt more people. I cannot let my selfishness lead to your suffering. That’s why I had no choice but to make this decision. Please help me.”
Chitaki sighed. “How do you want me to help you?”
“I know there is a Taoist secret technique that can completely erase memories, whether they belong to spirits or humans. After I die and everything settles down, you must personally erase all of Jun Chong's memories of me. And don’t erect a tombstone for me; just let it be as if I never existed at all. No one should mention me in front of him.”
Tears fell from Chitaki’s eyes as she unleashed her spiritual power, striking the approaching Demon with a fierce wind that shattered it into pieces. “Anxin, how can you be so heartless?”
“I rarely get to be cruel like this. Just let me be selfish for once, okay?”
Chitaki fell silent, choosing to accept my request. With her assurance, I felt at ease.
As I opened the box, the seal lifted, and the Golden Qilin transformed back into the Qilin Hairpin, floating in midair. I picked up the Qilin Hairpin; although I didn’t know exactly what to do next, there seemed to be a force guiding me on what steps to take.
Holding the Qilin Hairpin tightly in my hand, tears streamed down my face as I looked at the fragile figure above. With a determined heart, I snapped the Qilin Hairpin in two.
I never expected that it would be me who broke the Qilin Hairpin in the end; nor did I anticipate that it would be me who abandoned this feeling. Perhaps it truly validated Su Yi's curse—that Jun Chong and I would eventually part due to the breaking of the Qilin Hairpin.
To my surprise, blood flowed from the broken Qilin Hairpin, mingling with my own as it dripped onto the Soul-Calling Bell and Soul Bell, causing them to emit an even deeper crimson glow.
The Qilin Hairpin gradually became transparent before transforming into a small qilin that imprinted itself onto a qilin-shaped pattern inside the box. With a roar, the box flew from my grasp, and the brilliance belonging to the Golden Qilin burst forth, illuminating the entire Underworld and dispelling the endless darkness.
The Soul-Calling Bell and the Soul Bell were slowly merging, radiating a more powerful aura that obscured the changes within, yet a gentle force emanated from it, becoming the only source of light in the darkness and the sole hope.
"Anxin, no!"
A voice came from the horizon, Jun Chong's voice, tinged with a hint of panic. I saw the Demon King strike down mercilessly towards him, but he ignored it and rushed towards me, abandoning everything.
With a swift motion, the Forbidden Tower suddenly shook, the ground trembling as flames ignited around us—Hellfire. He unleashed the Hellfire.
The Demon King attempted to pursue his advantage but suddenly froze, his body becoming strange. Then, a figure began to spill out from within him—it was Qizhi.
"Anxin, don’t do anything foolish."
"Are you still struggling? Son, it's useless. Today I will destroy everything and claim the Underworld for the supremacy of the Demon Realm!"
"Father, I won’t let you have your way."
Within Qizhi's body, both their souls began to tremble. Qizhi's form swayed unsteadily in mid-air, colliding against everything around him as stones fell from the Forbidden Tower.
"I am the Soul Stone. Who is summoning me?"
"It is I." As Jun Chong drew closer, I looked at the radiant light of the Soul Stone and smiled faintly, resolutely stating, "I am willing to trade my life and soul with you. If that is not enough, I also offer the Guardian Pearl, Blood Flame Sword, and the spiritual power within my body as payment. Please let this all come to an end; let the departed souls return to the earth, slay the Demon King and dispel the Demon Realm, granting peace to both the Underworld and the human world."
"Your wish has been received."
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