Author: 易修罗 / Yi Xiu Luo

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 61

He Gui watched as Zhi Shang gradually disappeared in front of him and sighed in relief.

“We’ve gotten rid of a big nuisance, now…”

Before he could finish his sentence, he looked down in disbelief. The dagger that had just pierced Zhi Shang was now fully embedded in his own chest, with only the handle exposed.

“You…”

He Gui could never have imagined that he would be killed by his so-called “comrade”. The person who had just been plotting with him moments ago had turned against him.

His “comrade” was expressionless. “The military isn’t as foolish as you think. Zhi Shang had just been investigated. If you tried to frame him for treason now, it would surely arouse suspicion. It’s better to tell them the truth, so they know that you are the one they are looking for.”

“Why did you then…” Take the risk and kill Zhi Shang?

No, in his final moments, He Gui understood. Both he and Zhi Shang were disposable to the other person. One knew his secret, and the other was an obstacle. This was killing two birds with one stone, but unfortunately, he was one of those birds.

“I hope you’ll be smarter in your next life,” the voice sneered at the fallen dagger after He Gui vanished.

Having dispatched two souls, the real culprit picked up the relics they left behind and slowly made his way to the old storeroom nearby. He was running out of time. He had to quickly set up the scene so when it’s discovered, it would look like they had killed each other.

……

When Yao Tai arrived at the base, all that awaited her was her lover’s dagger.

“I’m sorry.”

Yu Quan handed over the dagger, head bowed as if it was his fault.

Yao Tai took it, trembling, her face beyond despair. In Ling Xiao’s eyes, she had always been the proud and confident Queen Yao, but today he realized that sometimes it only takes a few words to defeat a proud person.

The ever-graceful and smiling man had vanished without a word, never to return. Even if he were to be reincarnated, he wouldn’t be the same person.

“What happened?” Yao Tai’s voice quivered.

“There was a traitor in the base. The chief discovered his secret, and in the ensuing struggle, they killed each other. His sacrifice was noble. The evidence of the traitor’s betrayal has been revealed, and the others are investigating urgently. That’s why I was sent to deliver the chief’s relic to you.”

“How could there be a traitor in the base?” Yao Tai asked urgently.

Yu Quan paused. “Teacher… he’s still alive.”

Yao Tai staggered back. For years, without any news from Tai Yin, she believed he had met with misfortune, along with that fledgling.

“Not only is he alive, but he has also been in contact with people from the base. The military had long suspected this. This time, using the theft of the second generation as a pretext, they investigated whether the two of us were still in contact with him. The chief didn’t tell you because he didn’t want you to know the truth. He didn’t want you to know that Teacher didn’t die but continued on the wrong path, which would make you sad.”

“Who maintained contact with him?”

“A security personnel from the base, named He Gui.”

Ling Xiao was shocked. He remembered the name.

By the way, I haven’t asked for your name yet?

My name is He Gui. If you ever come back, feel free to find me.

It was him?! The man who had escorted him and Ying Feng from Zone G to the hall while telling them stories about Master Tai Yin. Was he the inside man for Tai Yin in the base? Thinking back, he had expressed great admiration for the previous chief. Was that the reason he chose to be Tai Yin’s insider?

Was his appearance back then just a coincidence?

Ling Xiao went pale, grateful no one noticed.

“So, this He Gui is also dead?” Yao Tai whispered.

“Yes. Souls ascending were detected in Zone Z. Investigators found signs of a struggle in the old warehouse, and then the relics of the two. He Gui had always been in contact with Teacher there. It’s regrettable that the chief might have stumbled upon them and this happened.”

Yao Tai bowed her head calmly. “I understand.”

Ling Xiao was surprised by her composure, but before he could say anything, she turned away, tears dried but no longer flowing.

“You both should go.”

“Dr. Yao?”

“You were originally here to welcome me. I’ll stay to investigate the truth with my colleagues and continue Zhi Shang’s unfinished work. You don’t have to worry about me.”

Ling Xiao wanted to say something, but Yao Tai cut him off. “Go.”

Ling Xiao and Ying Feng exchanged glances and, helplessly, turned and left.

After they left, Yu Quan slowly spoke.

“Now that they’re gone, you can speak freely. But if you’re thinking what I believe you are, I’ll stop you no matter what you say.”

Yao Tai clutched the dagger tightly. “How did you know?”

“The look in your eyes now is just like Teacher’s back then. The reason Teacher sought you out among the three of us is because your character is the most like his. As a research scientist of the base, you need to maintain absolute calm and reason. However, you and Teacher prioritize emotions so much that it sways your actions. Even with your talents in research, you aren’t suited for this work. I advise you to give up.”

Ling Xiao was halfway out when he pulled Ying Feng. “Why do I always have a bad premonition? Dr. Yao seems odd to me. I feel that things aren’t as simple as she says.”

“I feel the same. Her calmness is unnatural.”

“We should go back and check,” he said, already turning back with Ying Feng following closely.

“I’m sorry.” Yao Tai lowered her head deeply. “He is the one I deeply love. I don’t want to part with him. Even if there’s the slightest chance, I won’t give up…”

With a speed impossible to catch, she circled Yu Quan’s back, her dagger pressed tightly against his heart. When Ling Xiao returned, this was the scene he was met with.

“Dr. Yao!” Ling Xiao exclaimed. “What are you doing?”

She was now completely lost in madness. “Only you can help me. When Shang Yang left, you found his reincarnation. Please, as a favor for our shared past, help me one more time. Even if by force, I…”

Yu Quan’s poker face remained unchanged, and his voice was still calm. “What happens after you find him? Wait ten, twenty years for him to awaken, then imprison him like Teacher did? Maybe by then, you’ve already reunited with Teacher and found a way to break the blood pact. You’d force the reincarnation of the Chief to bond with you just because he was your lover in a past life.”

“But have you ever thought, he doesn’t have memories of being with you? All the wonderful, romantic memories in your mind are only associated with Zhi Shang’s name. After reincarnating, he’s no longer Zhi Shang. He’s a new person. To him, you’re just a stranger. The memories you force upon him are only pain.”

Tears formed in Yao Tai’s eyes as Yu Quan continued.

“I know, losing a loved one is painful. But that pain shouldn’t be the start of another’s suffering. My biggest mistake in life was betraying my conscience to repay a debt to Teacher. A year after that event, when I saw Shang Yin’s reincarnation, I realized the gravity of my mistake. That’s why I chose to surrender to the military, betraying Teacher. All these years, I’ve been wracked with guilt, forever unable to forgive myself. The reincarnated soul was innocent; I ruined his life.”

Yu Quan’s voice softened. “Senior Sister*, let me call you that one last time. Don’t even mention that I no longer have the authority to trace the soul’s reincarnation; even if I did, I wouldn’t help you. I’ve made that mistake once; I won’t repeat it. I don’t want the tragedy of Shang Yang to be replayed on the chief. He’s gone. Let him be at peace in the next life.”

*[Shijie] (师姐) Address used for a woman who is older or higher rank. Generally this is used when you study under the same teacher/master.

As her strength waned, Ying Feng and Ling Xiao saw their chance and acted. She offered no resistance as they took the dagger from her. Her face was pale and lifeless as she spoke to Yu Quan, “Junior brother*, let me call you that one last time. You’ve already refused one request of mine; I hope you won’t refuse the next.”

*[Shidi] (师弟) Address used for a man who is younger or lower rank. Generally this is used when you study under the same teacher/master.

……

“Dr. Yao, are you sure about this?” On their way, Ling Xiao kept trying to dissuade her. By the time they arrived at the Nightmare Hall, he still hoped to change her mind.

“My mind is made up. It’s unexpected that you two would be the ones to accompany me on this final journey.”

She looked at Ying Feng. This young Qizhu always concerned her.

“As a Qizhu, we possess supreme power in the spousal relationship. Precisely because of this, we must learn throughout our lives how to overcome the desires that power brings to us—how to use the power in our hands to protect rather than harm our Qizi. While the Qizi passively obeys, the Qizhu actively exercises restraint. This is the lifelong lesson for every Qizhu.”

“Ever since Zhi Shang and I became bonded, I’ve exercised my power over him twice. Apart from the time I injected Ember, it was when my teacher fled. Zhi Shang could have initiated the interception process, but I restricted his actions.”

“Choosing to help Teacher was the biggest mistake of my life. Over the years, I’ve lived with guilt, and I never thought that today I might follow in his footsteps.”

“I have shared many loving years with Zhi Shang. Even with this rift between us, he never blamed me. I can’t bear a life without him. If he were to leave me, I would wish this moment to be the end of my life. Maybe in the next life, we can meet again.”

“But you once said that even if two people die at the same time, they might not awaken at the same time. In the vast sea of people, it’s nearly impossible to find and fall in love with someone you’ve forgotten,” Ling Xiao argued anxiously.

“As an observer, I can say that objectively and rationally. But when it happens to me, I realize how hard it is to live without him. Even if the chances of meeting again are minuscule, I still yearn to try.”

“But…”

“You don’t need to persuade me. This is my decision. Before I go, I have a few words to say to you alone.”

Yao Tai pulled Ling Xiao aside.

“Ling Xiao, I never told you, but among the two of you, I’ve always been more inclined towards Ying Feng. If one of you were destined to become the Qizi, I even hoped it would be you.”

Ling Xiao caught his breath.

“That’s because you possess a resilience he doesn’t have. The failures he can’t accept, you might overcome. In this aspect, you are much stronger than him.”

“But no one should be destined to be a Qizi. My thoughts come purely from a school doctor’s selfish perspective, raising the possibility from 0% to 1%, but it’s 100% unfair to you. For that, I’m deeply sorry.”

Ling Xiao’s eyes began to moisten.

“The secret you asked me to keep, I kept, not because of your request.”

“I felt you should tell him personally, not through anyone else.”

“I hope that day comes soon. Don’t wait until it’s too late or leave any regrets.”

She cast a final glance at Ying Feng. “Ying Feng is quite insensitive to emotions. Sometimes, he needs you to spell things out before he knows how to act. But if you don’t tell him, he will never know.”

Yao Tai resolutely turned towards the Nightmare Hall; Yu Quan was already waiting at the entrance.

Ying Feng approached. “What did she say to you?”

Before he finished speaking, Ling Xiao suddenly lunged at him, hugging him tightly, his shaking shoulders betraying his emotions.

Ying Feng froze for a moment, then hesitantly raised his hands, gently placing them on Ling Xiao’s back.

A bell sounded from the Nightmare Hall, its ominous tone like a dirge. Hearing the bell, the person in his arms shifted uneasily. Ying Feng raised his hand to cradle the back of Ling Xiao’s head.

“Don’t look.”

Ling Xiao stilled, burying his face deep into Ying Feng’s neck, tears silently flowing.

Yao Tai’s soul rose into the air, then descended, disappearing in the direction of the purification pool. She would sleep and awaken again, perhaps meeting Zhi Shang once more, starting their new life. In the face of those who lost their loved ones, death often seemed so trivial.

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