Chapter 40 [VIP]

Jiang Zhuochen's gaze, which had been fixed on the void, returned to Xu Xing. He wanted to reach out and hug him one last time, but his fingertips slipped through Xu Xing's skin the instant he touched him. His heart skipped a beat, and he quickly lowered his head, curling his fingers as if nothing had happened, and withdrew his hand.

Xu Xing knew exactly what he was thinking. A hint of helplessness and heartache flashed in his eyes. He raised his hand and placed it lightly in front of Jiang Zhuochen's eyes, his voice becoming muffled: "Be good, close your eyes."

The entire desolate land was like a mirror violently destroyed, shattering outwards under the unbearable weight. The sky, the earth, the scorched soil... all the scenery cracked inch by inch, turning into countless fragments that shimmered with an eerie light, fluttering and falling away.

It looks terrible.

Jiang Zhuochen sniffed softly and obediently closed his eyes.

The solid ground beneath his feet suddenly cracked, sending a chill down his spine. The next moment, he landed firmly on the ground again. Jiang Zhuochen felt a sense of clarity wash over him, and the lingering heaviness and oppression vanished without a trace.

The pungent smell of sulfur was replaced by a cold, damp, earthy odor. Jiang Zhuochen opened his eyes. The familiar darkness and silence, as well as the decaying veins buried deep underground, reminded him that the illusion had been broken and he had returned to this empty tomb.

Feeling the warmth of his palm, Jiang Zhuochen looked up in a daze, just as Xu Xing opened his eyes.

Their eyes met, and the lingering crimson at the corner of his eye, carrying the vulnerability of someone who had survived a catastrophe, was unexpectedly reflected in the other pair of eyes so close to his.

Xu Xing stood right in front of him, so close they could feel each other's breath. The flush on the other's face, damp with moisture, immediately made his still-beating heart pound again.

The tomb was deathly silent, with only the intermingling breaths of the two still breathing, drifting in the stagnant air.

Xu Xing reached out and gently wiped away the water droplets for him, her heart aching. She opened her mouth, then hesitated for a moment before softly saying, "Don't cry, don't cry."

Jiang Zhuochen grasped his hand, raising his eyes to trace the softened features of the person opposite him. The delicate, tangible touch finally calmed his panic and helplessness at not being able to grasp anyone in the illusion.

The ghostly energy reacting in the air began to expand rapidly, with wisps of black smoke extending from the edges, waving restlessly like tentacles. If it had a mouth, it would have been accompanied by a sharp, piercing roar.

Jiang Zhuochen turned his head and stared at the ghostly energy darting around. His anger was softened by the tears he hadn't had time to wipe away, and he looked no different from a ruffled rabbit.

"Only a piece of trash with no substance would resort to such despicable means. I'll destroy you!"

The vulnerability and dependence he felt when facing his master were instantly replaced by anger. With a light tap of his toes, he blocked the entrance to the narrow passageway of the main tomb chamber in a few leaps, his hands moving with the speed of a phantom, his ten fingers flying across the page.

Streaks of pale golden light materialized out of thin air, then anchored themselves to key points on the stone walls, the ground, and the dome, forming a vast and intricate array of runes. The light spread out in wisps, firmly sealing off the entrance to the passageway and creating an impenetrable barrier.

The fleeing ghostly energy crashed into the light net, emitting a sizzling, burning sound. They were forcibly blocked and suppressed by the power of the talisman array, struggling and crashing with all their might, but they could not break through.

Jiang Zhuochen took a deep breath, slowly raised his hands to his chest, and silently recited an ancient incantation. As he chanted, a powerful and invisible suction force suddenly erupted from him.

In an instant, the already sparse spiritual energy of heaven and earth within the tomb and even within a hundred miles frantically converged towards Jiang Zhuochen, surging into his body, and then the light of the talisman array surged.

The trapped ghostly energy was forcibly pulled and torn apart, rapidly disintegrating at a speed visible to the naked eye. The thick black smoke was purified into wisps of green smoke, eventually dissipating into nothingness, and the unsettling aura of resentment also vanished without a trace.

The light of the rune array gradually dimmed, leaving only pure, slightly dry air at the entrance of the passageway.

He exhaled, staggered slightly, and before he could fully relax, he noticed Xu Xing frowning and looking in his direction. He initially thought the other was observing his condition, but when they met eyes, Xu Xing's cold and deep gaze passed right past him and landed behind him.

Jiang Zhuochen's mind raced, and almost instinctively he turned his head and took two steps forward.

Footsteps sounded behind him and soon arrived beside Jiang Zhuochen. Xu Xing stood in front of the entrance to the passageway, looking up at the top of the tomb.

At the top of a massive, toppled stone pillar, where it meets the dome, there is a very hidden stone protruding out, smaller than a fingernail.

This wouldn't be strange in a tomb full of stones, but the fact that Xu Xing kept staring at it meant something was definitely wrong.

The heaviness in his body was instantly forgotten. Jiang Zhuochen silently recited the incantation, and his sword flew towards the stone in the next moment. With a 'bang', a white light flashed around the stone, and then it disappeared again.

It turned out to be a barrier; no wonder he couldn't detect it with his spiritual power.

The veins on his hand, pressed against the stone wall, bulged as he took out a pill from his storage bag, briefly replenishing his depleted spiritual energy. Without hesitation, he unleashed all his strength to attack again.

When the sword tip touched the white light, Jiang Zhuochen almost bit his lower lip until it bled. Fortunately, there wasn't much spiritual energy left on the barrier. With his powerful strike, the barrier shattered and spread out like a spider web until it disappeared completely.

The remnant soul trapped within the rock strata trembled slightly, drifting towards Jiang Zhuochen as he looked on. As if it had gained sentience, it gently brushed against the corner of his eye and entwined around his fingertips.

Although he couldn't actually touch it, he felt a cool, refreshing breath silently emanating from the point of contact, instantly relaxing him and calming his turbulent thoughts.

Just like how his master always appeared in time whenever he was in danger, it was an indescribable sense of peace. In that instant, all the weariness, fear, and grievances seemed to find an outlet, only to be suppressed by that gentle comfort.

Jiang Zhuochen smiled and took out the longevity lamp. The soul slid across his palm, lingered in front of the lamp for a moment, then circled around, as if to confirm that the other person was in a good mood before floating into the lamp.

Jiang Zhuochen's shoulders slumped, and with his spiritual energy depleted, he was about to faint.

Xu Xing remained silent, standing two or three steps behind him, his lips pressed tightly together, his expression indifferent. Although he was clearly looking elsewhere, Jiang Zhuochen's figure flickered almost imperceptibly, and Xu Xing caught him instantly, his eyes revealing a tenderness and jealousy that he dared not show at this moment.

As the night deepened and the dew grew heavy, the dim yellow glow of the streetlights spread across the somewhat deserted road. Cars trailed long taillights, reflecting neon lights and shadows on the hotel windows, creating a dreamlike and enchanting scene.

Xu Xing sat on the edge of the bed, his expression unreadable. Warm yellow light swept across his hair, casting shadows that obscured his dark eyes.

He actually remembers everything.

In Jiang Zhuochen's self-contained illusion, although he could not see his own face clearly, he knew that he had become the so-called master, the head of Wangxian Valley, an existence that no one in the cultivation world could shake.

Strangely, although he could clearly perceive and control that body, its every word and action seemed to have seeped into his very bones, acting on its own before his brain could even issue a command. Every glance, every whisper was instinctive, requiring no thought.

This strangeness deepened his doubts, yet deep within him surged a terrifying sense of familiarity and rationality, as if this was how he was supposed to be.

So, with unspeakable thoughts in mind, he allowed himself to take the place of his master while coldly observing the interactions between Jiang Zhuochen and his master.

Those trivial daily moments, that tacit understanding and intimacy that belonged only to them and no outsider could intrude, were like silver needles, piercing the darkest corners of his heart. The more he looked, the more frustrated he became, feeling a sense of anger and helplessness, like a bluebird that had guarded a precious branch for a hundred years suddenly having its nest usurped.

So when he saw the affection in Jiang Zhuochen's eyes that didn't belong to him, he followed his heart and, using this stolen body, openly embraced and kissed him, without fear of being pushed away by the other's face full of resistance.

It seemed that this way he wouldn't be his master, and Jiang Zhuochen would only be facing him. Xu Xing resignedly closed his eyes, letting his uncontrollable thoughts flood his entire body.

A wind had picked up outside the window, and heavy clouds pressed down, obscuring the faint light of the waning moon. A bolt of lightning struck without warning, followed by a muffled rumble of thunder that rolled across the sky, making the windowsill vibrate. The road, still damp, was once again soaked by dripping rain.

After a night of drizzling rain, the sunlight became softer, casting a dappled pattern of light on Jiang Zhuochen's eyelids through the gap in the loosely drawn curtains. His eyelashes fluttered, and he slowly opened his eyes, still somewhat groggy. When his vision focused, the first thing he saw was a man sleeping against the edge of the bed.

The other person's head was tilted to the side, with slightly messy strands of hair falling to their forehead. Even in their sleep, the well-defined jawline revealed a hint of inexplicable tension.

Jiang Zhuochen stared blankly at the face, the words his master had spoken in the illusion flashing through his mind. Although he knew it was fake, something still felt off.

Those things all stemmed from his deepest, most fervent desires, so much so that he failed to notice anything amiss, wanting only to immerse himself in them. He trusted the only person who acted irrationally too much, never even considering questioning them. Since the illusion was revealed by his master, does that mean the other party was also real?

Jiang Zhuochen's heart raced, but he couldn't understand how his master could be real. Could it be that the remnant soul in the tomb had also entered the illusion with him, thus causing his master to regain a fragment of his consciousness? And what about his last words…?

Jiang Zhuochen lowered his eyes, as if everything he had experienced indicated that the person in front of him had an inextricable relationship with his master, and his doubts grew more and more.

He unconsciously reached out, his fingertips almost touching Xu Xing's brow. At that very moment, the longevity lamp that nurtured his master's soul emitted a low hum. A long-lost, incredibly familiar warm current flowed through his entire sea of ​​consciousness.

It's complete!

After so long, Master's three souls have finally been fully restored.

A faint blue light emanated from the flame core, dancing clearly and powerfully in his sea of ​​consciousness, as if responding to his awakening, or as if waiting for someone's arrival.

"Master!" Jiang Zhuochen cried out silently in his heart, overwhelmed by immense joy, his heart pounding in his chest. His eyes shone with an astonishing light, all doubts vanished.

He sat up abruptly, a smirk playing on his lips. He didn't even glance at Xu Xing beside him before immediately sitting cross-legged, closing his eyes, and sinking his mind into the depths of his consciousness, eager to touch the soul that he had lost and regained, the one that could respond to him.

A note from the author: