That was the first time I lost control after I had completely taken control of myself, after I had become cold and ruthless like a machine. That's why, even though the Queen of the Underworld had the ability to kill me, and I had the ability to kill her, I expended enormous effort to help her become a ghost unaffected by its instincts! "If you want to kill her, kill me first. Is that reason enough? With me by her side, she has never harmed a living person. Is that reason enough?"

"That's enough." Fang Zong nodded gently and put away his magic sword, Shattered Star.

Murong Zhen was a powerful man, but also a pitiful one; he only had one friend, the Empress Dowager.

Fang Zong patted Murong Zhen on the shoulder, and as he turned around, he suddenly tilted his head and said, "But do you know how deep her feelings for you are, that she controlled the evil spirits' desire to harm people for you?"

Upon hearing this, Murong Zhen froze, his breath catching in his throat for a moment.

The Empress lowered her head, her slender fingers gripping the hem of her clothes tightly...

"An ordinary little devil has achieved so much. Empress, what are you working so hard for? Do you really want to control the hegemony of the Eastern Kingdom?"

Fang Zong asked another question, then strode away, disappearing into the drizzling rain in a few steps.

Murong Zhen and the Empress stared at Fang Zong's blurry figure obscured by the rain. Their eyes, one human and one ghost, gleamed with a trembling light.

"Murong Zhen, don't be stubborn."

Empress Xiao grabbed Murong Zhen's hand, gripping it tightly as if she never wanted to let go, and said, "I know you're not a robot, I know you're more sentimental than anyone else, stop pretending to be strong! I know, I know, I really know! You can actually live a carefree life like Fang Zong!"

Murong Zhen's body trembled violently, and a sour feeling rushed up his throat, into his nose, and into his eyes.

He finally couldn't hold back anymore. His eyes widened, but the tears that had been welling up for over a decade couldn't be contained. He could no longer pretend!

His face was taut, but tears streamed down his face. He tried his best to stand up straight, like an indestructible mountain peak.

He has to hold back!

He had to hold back!

Murong Zhen is the strongest strategist in the world. Even Nalan Guigui can't possibly surpass him in strategy!

Murong Zhen has absolutely no weaknesses; he is the only person in the world without any weaknesses!

As Murong Zhen thought this, his back straightened more and more; he exerted so much force that he even bent his waist backward—

He would rather break his spine than fall to the ground and suffer a crushing defeat!

Purple light shines through the wine glass

The evening breeze peeks into the gray dates.

These past few nights you've been so indifferent, it seems you don't want to be close to me anymore..."

Just as Murong Zhen stubbornly bit his lip until it bled, the Empress Dowager embraced him from behind, tears welling in her eyes, and softly sang:

"Let's pretend we're lovers, pretend we're having a blast together, pretend you like kissing me."

Even though we're about to part ways, can we pretend for one more night and reenact the events of that day...?

"Pfft!" Murong Zhen spat out a mouthful of blood, but felt much better.

He collapsed to the ground, pounding his fists until they were bloody and mangled, yet he laughed maniacally: "Hahahaha, good, I lost! I lost! I admit defeat!"

"No, you will never lose," the Empress said earnestly from behind him.

She stared at the back of Murong Zhen's head, her beautiful eyes gentle yet resolute—Murong Zhen could not lose. She had never seen Murong Zhen lose before, nor did she expect him to lose. All she wanted was for Murong Zhen to live a little easier.

"Really, you won't lose, I won't let you lose."

The Empress murmured softly, released Murong Zhen's hand, and vanished in an instant.

Murong Zhen paused for a moment, then gripped Xiao Jiu's shoulder...

Dark clouds swept in, and the wind and rain were bleak.

Fang Zong, clad in pure blue flames, appeared as if he were a god descending from the heavens, walking on clouds and riding the wind.

He suddenly stopped and looked at the pitiful figure blocking his way.

"Fang Zong, I refuse to submit!" The Empress's almond-shaped eyes widened, and her ten fingers transformed into long, ghostly claws, descending upon Fang Zong.

She didn't care at all about Fang Zong's reputation as a nemesis of ghosts, or whether it was close or not, and rushed directly in front of Fang Zong, attacking him wantonly, without any mercy or defense!

Faced with the Queen's impenetrable claws,

Faced with the chilling, ghostly wind,

Fang Zong, however, moved his toes and his figure floated away...