phantom

This person is truly extraordinary; he actually noticed... Xu Zixie thought to himself, "That rat in the abyss has come out, but unfortunately, he's too late. There can only be one Xu Zixie in this world, not two. He's been rejected by the Heavenly Dao. How tragic!"

He walked up to Shen Muchen and asked, "Little one, are your injuries getting better?" Shen Muchen frowned. He felt that he and the person who saved him had the same face, but their behavior was completely different. However, there was no such strange thing in the world. He did not answer Xu Zixie's question and walked straight past him back to his room.

Mo Liangcheng, fearing that he would get into trouble because of what had just happened, also returned to his room. Xu Zixie felt bored and looked at the people who had been talking. With a wave of his hand, they turned into ashes, leaving no trace of their existence.

Jiang Yi escaped that person's gaze from the palace and left Jingheng Kingdom. However, he forgot that that person was all-powerful and knew all about his intention to leave. He just didn't want to confine him in this magnificent cage and make him a canary kept by his side.

As for Mo Liangcheng, he simply assumed he was exhausted that day and his eyes were playing tricks on him, so he didn't pay much attention to it. After resting for a night, he continued his journey. Soon they arrived in Yudu. The people had long heard the news of Mo Liangcheng's triumphant return to the capital and came out to watch. The emperor sent Lu Chaowen to escort the general back to the capital.

Mo Liangcheng watched as the city gate slowly opened before him. He rode his horse leisurely into the city. Shen Muchen looked at the long-lost Yudu. He never thought he would have a day to return. He thought he would never have a chance to return to Yudu in this life, and that he would spend the rest of his life in that endless yellow sand.

They entered the city, each lost in their own thoughts. Not far away, Lu Chaosheng waited quietly. Mo Liangcheng dismounted and bowed to Lu Chaosheng as a sign of respect, "Prime Minister Lu, I've kept you waiting!" Lu Chaosheng returned the bow, saying, "It's alright. I've arranged a place for you to rest, so your soldiers can get some rest!" Mo Liangcheng was unaware of the entanglement between the two. "Thank you..." Lu Chaosheng didn't want to continue with such formalities and quickly changed the subject, "I'll take you there. You can get yourself ready. I'll wait for you here, and then we'll go to the palace together to see His Majesty." Mo Liangcheng nodded and went inside.

He quickly tidied himself up, removed his heavy armor, and changed into a blue and white outfit. He opened the door, and Lu Chaowen saw his favorite person, dressed in this blue and white outfit, standing in the sunlight, dazzling and incredibly handsome. Mo Liangcheng walked up to him, and Lu Chaowen was involuntarily stunned. Mo Liangcheng reached out and waved his hand in front of Lu Chaowen's eyes, bringing him back to his senses. Then he heard, "I called you earlier, but you didn't respond. What's wrong? Is my outfit inappropriate? I'll go in and change!" Lu Chaowen stopped Mo Liangcheng and replied, "No need to change. It fits perfectly, and it looks great on you. I haven't seen you dressed like this in a long time, and I was momentarily stunned. Let's not talk about this anymore. Let's hurry into the palace so His Majesty doesn't get impatient and unhappy." Mo Liangcheng nodded, not pondering the deeper meaning of his words.

Jiang Yi learned from his informant that Shen Muchen had returned to Yudu, and he also knew where Shen Muchen was in Yudu. He needed to create an opportunity for a chance encounter...

Shen Muchen strolled leisurely through the bustling streets of Yudu, with Xu Zixie following slowly behind. Jiang Yi weaved through the crowd and happily arrived at Shen Muchen's side. "Shen Muchen!" Hearing the voice, Shen Muchen turned around and saw Jiang Yi running towards him joyfully. "Jiang Yi, what happened to you back then? They said you weren't there when they checked the battlefield. Where did you go?" Jiang Yi was about to give the prepared explanation when Shen Muchen interrupted him before he could speak. "Anyway, it's good that you're back!"

Xu Zixie watched silently from the side as the two interacted and became intimate, something he could never do in his life. In the evening, Jiang Yi followed Shen Muchen to the inn. Xu Zixie watched Shen Muchen enter the inn and followed him in, but was stopped by Jiang Yi.

"What are you doing?" Xu Zixie looked at his actions with great confusion. "I was just thinking, after hurting him so much, how can you still have the face to stand next to him? Or is it that you like him, but you no longer have the right? After all, you personally shattered his trust in you that night. Don't you think your feelings are too heavy for him? He could have stood on that high platform, as the illustrious Crown Prince, but because of you, he fell into the mire. Xu Zixie, who are you pretending to be now, this bitter and resentful look? No one will sympathize with you, and I certainly won't!"

Hearing Jiang Yi's angry rebuke, Xu Zixie calmly looked at him and asked, "What's your purpose in telling me all this?" Jiang Yi was momentarily speechless. What purpose could he have? He just felt that the Xu Zixie of today was so different from the Xu Zixie at the border. If it were the Xu Zixie at the border, he probably would have killed him long ago. But this one was so calm. It was truly a headache.

Meanwhile, the other Xu Zixie was in the palace. The emperor, seemingly aware of his return, had already set up a chessboard, waiting for him. "This time, you've lost!" the emperor said to Xu Zixie. Xu Zixie scoffed, "Your Majesty, don't you think it's too early to say that? I haven't even made a move yet, how can you know the outcome?" The instant he placed his piece, he entered the emperor's body, taking control of it. The emperor's consciousness gradually dissipated until he finally fell into a deep sleep. "A mere human trying to control me, how utterly foolish!" Tomorrow's banquet is going to be exciting; I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's show!

Xu Zixie sat on the rooftop, gazing at the starry sky, but his mind was filled with Jiang Yi's words. If he had come sooner, would this have been avoided? A bitter smile crept onto Xu Zixie's lips. Oh well, what's done is done, and there's no escaping it. The gears of fate keep turning, and I have no choice but to move forward step by step, looking ahead. The greatest fortune of my life is that I can meet you again.

All my life, I only wanted you to live a peaceful and happy life. I wanted to stand by your side forever, but there's no chance anymore. Just like he said, there's no possibility between us. I'm a monster. On one hand, I want to keep you by my side forever, but on the other hand, I think you shouldn't be trapped by me. You should become the most dazzling starlight. Xu Zixie saw Shen Muchen's image before his eyes. He slowly reached out to touch it, only to find that it was just a phantom. Xu Zixie smiled self-deprecatingly, but a tear slid down his cheek and disappeared into the vast night.