Chapter Three: Bound by Soul and Dream, The Final Resolution

Night cloaked the world in its vastness—a waning moon and the chill of dawn should have cast a mournful air. Yet today, at the Dwelling of Restless Souls, lanterns blazed and ribbons fluttered; the place brimmed with lively festivity. Crimson lanterns hung high, silken banners draped from the beams, and the courtyard overflowed with vibrant blooms, their brilliant hues mingling with the starlight and moon, bathing the sky in a jubilant glow of rosy clouds. The atmosphere was one of unbridled joy and harmony.

Within, guests filled every inch of the great hall; the crowd pressed so thick that even the normally desolate corridors teemed with people. Laughter, music, murmurs, and words of congratulation wove together, filling every corner. Even Yu Shang, who was usually as cold as frost, now wore a rare smile, greeting those who came to offer their well-wishes.

In the bridal chamber, Ling Huanying sat clad in her wedding robes, her head veiled, slender fingers nervously twisting the edge of her gown, her heart a storm of joy and sorrow. Joy, for at last she was to marry the one she loved and remain by his side forever; sorrow, for her grandfather’s words on her wedding day still echoed in her mind: “Today is the best chance! Hidden within your clothes is Illusion Spirit Powder; when he’s off guard, slip it into his wine and persuade him to drink. That will make him reveal the secret method. If his will proves truly unbreakable, use the soul-seizing technique I taught you, accompanied by demonic intent, to force open his inner gate. But be wary—do not let it turn upon you. Remember this well!”

Her heart was anxious, torn by struggle. She lost track of how long she sat thus before the noise outside faded, replaced by the faint sounds of guests departing. Then came the softest trace of footsteps, barely perceptible, which stopped at her door. The door opened, revealing a handsome man in purple, his cheeks tinged with red.

With gentle hands, he lifted her veil. Before his eyes appeared a woman of ethereal grace, elegant yet alluring, and he could not help but sigh, “Every smile and glance tugs at the soul; your beauty would topple kingdoms and steal hearts. Ying’er, you are breathtaking.”

“And when did you become so glib?” she replied with a smile that outshone the flowers. The man gazed, entranced, until, unable to resist, he leaned to kiss her. She turned her head, evading him, then rose and crossed to the table, where, in a swift and fluid motion, she poured the Illusion Spirit Powder into a luminous wine cup while his attention was elsewhere.

“Come, let’s follow mortal custom and drink the nuptial wine together, shall we?” She offered him the cup; their eyes met, arms entwined, and they drained the wine.

Before he could speak, he collapsed onto the marriage bed. “Yu Shang… Yu Shang…” she murmured tenderly by his ear, but when he did not stir, she sat cross-legged, her jade-like fingers forming a seal. A soul-seizing radiance surrounded him as she closed her eyes, sending her consciousness, laced with demonic force, plunging into his body in search.

Within him was an endless abyss, devoid of paths. She searched for a long time, finding no trace of the so-called inner gate. Just as she was about to give up, a faint, nearly imperceptible glimmer caught her attention. Without hesitation, she rushed toward it, and after much effort, her consciousness finally reached the gate.

It seemed ordinary, but possessed an extraordinary devouring force—no matter how much demonic power she poured in, it would not open. Instead, it threatened to draw in even her soul. Were it not for her desperate resistance, she would already have perished, her spirit shattered.

As her strength began to fail, a red light shot forth from the man’s heart, merging with the gate. Instantly, an overwhelming, unknown force burst out, hurling her spirit back. Her nearly broken consciousness snapped back into her body, but she could not withstand the backlash; blood spurted from her lips as she collapsed to the floor.

That formidable power then enveloped the man, lifting him into the air and floating from the house. Weak and unsteady, she forced herself to pursue. The power drifted to a dense forest and, strangely, disturbed no one; it moved silently, as if it had never existed, leaving no trace for any to follow.

Suddenly, the force began to spin rapidly, setting the forest rustling. All the essence and spiritual energy within gathered and poured into the mysterious energy. Gradually, it grew brighter and more radiant, eventually forming a barrier that sealed off part of the forest—even Ling Huanying was trapped within.

It was as though the force were nurturing the man, feeding every drop of essence and spirit into his body. His form underwent wild transformation: layers of luster swept across his skin. His flesh shifted from yellow to white, then to near-transparency, cycling endlessly. Even his bones transformed, becoming crystalline. His hair grew tough as needles, as if it could pierce the heart, and its color changed from a stifled, gloomy black to an enchanting, mysterious pale violet.

The sheer suddenness of it all left her stunned. No one knew how much time passed before the man finally woke, and the mysterious energy returned to his body and vanished.

He opened his eyes in confusion, glancing about before his gaze landed on the woman, who sat cross-legged in meditation, healing herself. Countless memories surged through his mind, unstoppable.

“Why did you do this to me? You knew how important the secret method was to me, and that it must never be revealed! Was your love for me all a lie, a means for your Blood Ink Clan to seize the Netherworld and unite the worlds?” His anguished roar echoed, infusing the flowers and grass around them with his desolate sorrow.

The woman snapped awake at his shout, tears brimming in her eyes. “Only to prevent the tragedies of years past from repeating—so no one would dare oppress my Blood Demon Clan again. My feelings for you? Had you asked me years ago, I would have said, without hesitation, that they were true and deep. But now, even I cannot be sure. Let’s say I am the one who wronged you.”

“Why? Why—” He struck wildly at the air in a frenzy, venting his pain, but it only fueled the dark thoughts within. Instantly, his violet hair flew about like a storm, his eyes turned icy and remote, and he seemed an entirely different man. Now, there was no love in his heart, only hatred.

Sensing danger, the woman unfurled illusory wings and fled at speed, but her cultivation was no match for his. He struck with a blade formed of his palm’s energy, cutting her down. She fell with a cry, landing hard, the spectral blade embedded in her body, blood gushing forth. After a while, the blade faded, leaving only a ghastly wound and her faint, fluttering breath.

“You should never have betrayed me!” he said, then turned and disappeared without a trace. Unbeknownst to him, the dying woman vanished as well, swallowed by a sudden beam of light.