The man, who was like a demonic figure from hell, approached the palace gates step by step with his back to the moonlight. The royal guards before him were like moths to a flame.

His entire body was stained with blood, and the bright red, viscous liquid on his sword blade dripped onto the white marble steps, forming winding, intersecting lines.

The remaining guards, unable to resist, could only step aside and clear a path. And those bloody corpses trailed behind him, extending deep into the palace…

“The painting of the vast landscape ultimately led him here. Are you pleased?” Han Ling spoke, gently brushing his fingers over Bai Fanlu’s lips.

Bai Fanlu was shocked. Could it be that Mu Yunhe really saw that painting and guessed he was in the palace?

“Lu Qing must be very pleased,” Han Ling slightly curled his lips, his eyes indifferent. The sharp edge that appeared just moments ago was gone, and his tone returned to its usual calm.

“You’ve been by my side for 196 days, and I’ve never seen you so amiable.”

He leaned down slightly, as if observing him. Bai Fanlu forced himself not to flinch, knowing that he couldn’t anger Han Ling at this moment. What he needed to do now was to buy as much time as possible.

“What is Your Majesty saying? This humble servant…”

Han Ling’s fingers slid over Bai Fanlu’s slightly pursed lips, cutting off his words.

“You’ve often furrowed your brows these days, but when facing me, you always managed to feign a smile. But now, you can’t even force a smile anymore. Did you know he was coming?”

Han Ling wrapped his arm around Bai Fanlu, pulling him closer with a bit of force. “Lu Qing is going to be disappointed. He won’t find this place.”

The sudden closeness made Han Ling’s faint sandalwood scent unusually strong, but it still couldn’t mask a bitter herbal smell.

When Han Ling stayed here, he would take his medicine on time. Bai Fanlu, who had some knowledge of medicine, could discern from the smell that it was a tonic for health.

But now, being so close, the smell of the medicine seemed like…

Bai Fanlu suppressed his panic. “Your Majesty!”

Han Ling looked down at Bai Fanlu. In his dull eyes, there seemed to be a mix of ink, accentuating his translucent face, as cold as frost and stars.

On countless nights, just by looking at him, Bai Fanlu felt at peace.

But now…

“Even Xiao Liu can’t make you forget him?”

In this tense moment, Han Ling brought up Xiao Liu again.

“Who exactly is Xiao Liu?” Bai Fanlu asked. He had asked this many times, but Han Ling never answered directly.

This time, however, Han Ling asked in return, “Isn’t he the person you’re thinking of?”

“The person in my… heart?”

“He would give you rabbits like I did, make things to make you happy, and stay with you… expressing feelings within proper limits. Can you really forget him?”

Bai Fanlu felt a turmoil in his heart.

Xiao Liu… that name was so familiar, not from the world he originally knew, but another person, perhaps the one Han Ling was talking about…

“Mu Yunhe isn’t the person you’re looking for,” Han Ling whispered in Bai Fanlu’s ear. “He’s just a substitute.”

A substitute!

The word instantly cleared Bai Fanlu’s muddled mind. Just as Han Ling was about to kiss him, Bai Fanlu pushed him away forcefully and coldly said, “Your Majesty, please restrain yourself.”

“Restrain myself?” Han Ling suddenly laughed. “Do you know why I haven’t touched you all these days?”

Bai Fanlu took a step back but was stopped by the stone railing, with the lake below.

He gripped the railing tightly, ready to act.

But Han Ling moved quickly, pinning Bai Fanlu between the railing and himself.

“I haven’t touched you, not because I didn’t want to. But today, I can.”

After this inexplicable statement, Bai Fanlu suddenly felt his outer garment being torn off, and something fell into the lake behind him.

It was the sachet!

Without thinking, Bai Fanlu broke free from Han Ling and jumped into the lake.

He knew he was acting impulsively. The first thought after diving into the lake was to retrieve the sachet, but he couldn’t see it at all. And if he was trying to escape, jumping into the lake in front of Han Ling was futile.

How foolish, all for a sachet.

As expected, the sachet drifted away, and Bai Fanlu was quickly pulled ashore.

But he never expected that the one who would pull him out was the Emperor himself.

Moreover, just as he jumped in, Han Ling followed suit.

“How can you swim?” Han Ling asked bluntly.

“I…” Bai Fanlu was stunned. Before the expedition to the southern barbarians, Mu Yunhe had forced him to learn for safety reasons. But Han Ling’s tone suggested he knew Bai Fanlu couldn’t swim before?

“If I had relaxed even for a moment, were you planning to swim away from here?”

“Lu Qing, you’re really something!”

Han Ling finally lost his temper, grabbing Bai Fanlu by the collar. Just as he was about to touch him, a surge of sword energy suddenly struck, causing intense pain in Han Ling’s hand, forcing him to let go.

Bai Fanlu lost his balance and fell backward, expecting to hit the ground, but instead fell into a damp embrace.

The person said nothing, but Bai Fanlu felt something being pressed into his hand—it was the soaked sachet.

His mind suddenly cleared, and Bai Fanlu cried out, “A Zhan!”

Han Ling stood opposite, his expression dark. After a cold laugh, he clapped his hands.

Dozens of shadowy figures suddenly surrounded them.

“Infiltrating the forbidden palace—no wonder you’re the famous General Mu. Such audacity.”

The newcomer was dressed in black robes, with silver armor stained with blood that hadn’t been entirely washed away by the water.

Although he was now filled with a murderous aura and was vastly different from before, he was indeed Mu Yunhe.

The sound of weapons being drawn echoed around them, and Bai Fanlu knew they were surrounded by the secret guards.

“Why doesn’t General Mu speak?” Han Ling asked. “Or are you afraid he’ll hear you?”

Mu Yunhe raised his sword directly, and the secret guards swarmed in. He quickly turned and leaped onto the roof with Bai Fanlu.

Now that he had found Bai Fanlu, it was clear he intended to escape.

But there were too many secret guards. Mu Yunhe took down one group, only for another to appear. His entire body was stained with blood, some his own, some his enemies’.

Bai Fanlu, held by Mu Yunhe’s single arm, felt the strength of the two fingers gripping his waist through his thin undergarment.

The sound of clashing weapons, the brush of sword energy close to his body… everything was incredibly vivid. Bai Fanlu held onto Mu Yunhe tightly, trying his best not to be a burden to him.

And he had an unconscious feeling that midnight was approaching. This might be Mu Yunhe’s fated disaster.

What should he do to help him through it?

Suddenly, a strong sense of danger from a certain direction made Bai Fanlu aware of an impending attack. Instinctively, he tried to shield Mu Yunhe, but at that moment, Mu Yunhe turned his body.

The sound of a blade cutting through flesh was unmistakable. Bai Fanlu wasn’t hurt, but the hand encircling his waist suddenly loosened. As Bai Fanlu fell, he was seized by the secret guards and forced behind Han Ling.

“How does it feel to lose an arm?”

Bai Fanlu was shocked and tried to get up, but was restrained by the guards.

Han Ling and Mu Yunhe faced each other, Han Ling’s expression unchanged as he calmly said, “In your current state, if he sees you, it might give him nightmares…”

The secret guards surrounded Mu Yunhe completely.

Mu Yunhe no longer held back. He slowly raised his sword with his right hand.

In the midst of the chaotic battle, Bai Fanlu heard a roar, like that of a beast being hunted. He could easily imagine how the blood-soaked man was fighting desperately.

At this moment, Bai Fanlu hated that he had no power. He wanted so badly to fight alongside that person, not to be here, helpless!

“Does it hurt to see him like this?” Han Ling looked up at the sky.

A full moon had risen to its zenith.

But the dark night sky was now filled with the sound of thunder, and the bright full moon was gradually being swallowed by thin, rolling clouds, leaving only a faint, eerie white light. It seemed like a storm was coming.

Han Ling remained unperturbed. “Soon, you’ll have something even more heartbreaking to witness.”

At some point, Mu Yunhe had killed all the secret guards.

That single eye had gone blood-red. Blood dripped from his entire body, and the only remaining arm was soaked red, as if he had risen from the depths of hell, with an aura of blood as he took each step.

Finally, he thrust his sword at Han Ling.

The movement was extremely swift, but the white light in the sky was even faster, expanding and covering the night in an instant.

The world turned white, like dense feathers of snow, mixed with a storm, shrinking the space around the three of them into a narrow circle, with no escape in sight.

Han Ling suddenly picked up a sword, his golden figure advancing toward Mu Yunhe. The clash of short weapons echoed across the night sky.

It was as if the air had frozen, with only the intersecting swords gleaming with a cold light, stirring up a swirling current, hidden undercurrents, and waves of killing intent.

His opponent was the “Ghost General,” who had slaughtered countless people, but Han Ling seemed indifferent. His expression remained cold and unchanging as he gazed at that single eye burning with hatred. His movements revealed a touch of nonchalance.

Mu Yunhe wielded the sword with one hand, moving with lightning speed. His sword techniques were as swift as the wind. The two seemed steady as mountains, but their combat style was fiercely aggressive. Every move was an offensive strike, leaving all vital points exposed without any defense.

Such powerful and forceful attacks meant that even the slightest mistake could lead to devastating consequences, like being flayed alive and suffering endless torment.

Until, in a sudden, dazzling moment of swordplay, one of them inexplicably let go of their weapon at the critical juncture!

Bai Fanlu felt an unusual pressure in the space. Suddenly, he realized something and widened his eyes in shock.

Han Ling’s hand hung at his side, his sharp eyes calmly watching the bloodied sword stabbing towards him.

At the center of the swirling air currents, the faint red light within the mist gradually became clearer and brighter. Han Ling’s hand seemed to move slightly.

The overwhelming white light suddenly dimmed and contracted.

It was like the moonlight scattering, shattering into pieces like pearls and jade.

Between Mu Yunhe and Han Ling, a figure wavered and fell, as light as a leaf drifting down onto the lake’s rippling surface.

And then, there was silence.

Among the three, Han Ling seemed to be the only one still conscious. But soon, even his usually calm eyes showed a hint of madness.

Han Ling looked down at his hand. Just now, this hand had done something unimaginable.

Before him, a figure in white had been pierced through the chest by a sword and slowly collapsed.

Mu Yunhe’s mind went blank; he couldn’t think of anything. But in his dazed state, he seemed to hear a faint sound, like the clear ring of a metal object falling to the ground, so faint it seemed to come from the heavens…

The liquid splattered on his hand was scorching hot, like fire burning his skin. The cold night wind blew, chilling his blood that was boiling with rage, as the thick red mist gradually cleared from his vision.

In the clarity of his eyes, the reflection of the moon appeared in pairs, while beneath it lay the once pure white color now stained crimson.

“…Lin… Qiu?”

His voice was more heart-wrenching than a cry. Bai Fanlu clutched his chest in agony, trying to muster a smile, but as soon as he moved his lips, a warm stream of blood flowed uncontrollably down his chin.

In his mind, some images suddenly surfaced.

Scenes from long-forgotten dreams of Mo Jiuli and Qi Zhao appeared before Bai Fanlu, as if they had physical forms. He could see with his own eyes… Qi Zhao’s sword piercing through Mo Jiuli’s body.

Yet, despite the sword digging deeper, Mo Jiuli raised his hand and drew closer to Qi Zhao, gently touching his face.

Then, he kissed him.

Blood trickled down from the corner of Mo Jiuli’s mouth, but he smiled as warmly as spring.

“Qi Zhao, the burden of protecting the world is too heavy. This time… let me guard it.”

Mo Jiuli struck with his palm, forcing Qi Zhao back, who was holding the sword that had pierced through his body. “Ah Li!”

In the midst of the blood mist, Bai Fanlu felt a red veil cover his eyes, as if something cold yet burning was seeping into his eye sockets.

In an instant, the world collapsed and shattered. All the magnificent and mysterious scenery dissipated along with the spiritual energy, returning to nothingness.

Mo Jiuli was drawn into a deep, dark vortex, leaving only Qi Zhao behind.

Kneeling on the ground, alone in his solitude.

Gradually, Qi Zhao’s figure changed, becoming more distinct, taking on a form.

Bai Fanlu faintly felt that he could see again. He finally saw clearly the face of the person before him.

So, this was what was called the “Blood Condensation Pearl.”

“A Zhan…”

Perhaps others couldn’t recognize that this was once the high-spirited young Lord Mu, but Bai Fanlu could.

That eye, blurred with blood, indistinguishable in shape, with liquid that was either blood or something else, rolling down his face.

“A Zhan, don’t cry…” Bai Fanlu tried to speak, but found he had no voice.

Only then did he realize that not only his voice, but his entire being was floating, leaving the body lying on the ground.

Bai Fanlu wanted to embrace Mu Yunhe, but he passed right through him, watching as Mu Yunhe slowly leaned down, cradling the body in white.

The only remaining hand gently stroked the face of the one in white, trembling lips dripping with blood mixed with tears.

“Lin Qiu… Lin Qiu…”

“I know I was wrong… please… wake up…”

“Lin Qiu… I beg you… don’t scare me like this again…”

“Lin Qiu… I deserve to die… please wake up… please wake up!”

The sound of repressed sobbing filled the silent space, gripping Bai Fanlu’s heart tightly, but he could do nothing.

On the other side, Han Ling coldly watched the frantic Mu Yunhe, his eyes void of emotion.

At that moment, a bolt of lightning suddenly split the bright sky, tearing through the suffocating darkness, followed by an increasing downpour of lightning strikes.

Bai Fanlu suddenly realized, could this be the true heavenly tribulation?

In his past life, Qi Zhao had personally killed Mo Jiuli, and in this chess game, Mu Yunhe had killed Lu Linqiu.

So… this was the fated life-and-death tribulation, the knot in Yun Zhan’s heart that he could never overcome!

Bai Fanlu rushed forward, his intangible form facing Mu Yunhe.

“A Zhan! A Zhan! Listen to me!”

But Mu Yunhe seemed oblivious, his eye filled only with despair.

Bai Fanlu was burning with anxiety, and suddenly he noticed that Mu Yunhe was clutching Lu Linqiu, holding the sachet tightly in his hand. Instantly, he thought of the idea that a soul could manifest through an object, and he quickly entered the sachet.

The sachet emitted a faint warmth, with a dim light seeping through the cracks in Mu Yunhe’s fingers. He finally reacted, looking down at the sachet, his hands trembling as he lifted it.

The bloodstained right hand gave a slight shake, and two small grass-woven rabbits fell out, along with two strands of hair tied with a red thread.

“A Zhan…”

Mu Yunhe seemed to hear Bai Fanlu’s voice.

The lifeless eye suddenly brightened, and Mu Yunhe urgently called out, “Linqiu!”

Bai Fanlu’s form gradually materialized in front of him. Mu Yunhe felt a gentle touch on his lips.

At the moment their souls intertwined, the two small rabbits and the two strands of hair transformed into light, slowly rising and enveloping them.

Bai Fanlu felt something inside him begin to leave his body.

It was the human soul, wasn’t it?

“A Zhan, do you remember now…”

Mu Yunhe stared blankly at Bai Fanlu. That gentle kiss had triggered his memories.

He remembered how Mo Jiuli had kissed Qi Zhao.

He remembered the warmth of that person’s tongue, tender and lingering, making him lose himself in the moment, forgetting everything around him.

He also remembered that under his tongue, there had once been a pill, which was stirred up during the kiss and ended up in the other’s mouth.

“As carefree as you were, Emperor Zhaoge, when did you become so weak?”

“Don’t seek death. Guard this world for me. Remember, everything here is a part of my heart and soul.”

“I have no regrets in this life. If there is a next life, if there is a next life…”

Mu Yunhe remembered everything. He remembered that he was Yun Zhan, also Qi Zhao.

And Lu Linqiu was Mo Jiuli, also Bai Fanlu.

“A Zhan, wake up. I’m waiting for you. You can do it.”

Bai Fanlu’s soul whispered as he felt his body begin to disintegrate, nearing its end. Reluctantly, he looked up one last time.

Mu Yunhe reached out as if to catch him, but the person in his arms had already faded, turning into countless silver specks of light, like dancing butterflies swirling around him.

All that remained was an empty sachet on his lap, stained red with someone’s blood.

Surrounded by emptiness, after the flashes of lightning and thunder, there was only the devouring darkness.

This short year of fleeting beauty was coming to an end.

Mu Yunhe let out a roar, his entire being radiating divine light, like lightning tearing through the night sky. He flew into the air, stirring up waves of thunder, turning night into day.

Countless bolts of lightning, like icy chains, tightly bound him, but suddenly, a crimson bolt of lightning descended from the other end of the sky.

It was a dark red lightning bolt. Though it was only one, it was brighter than all the others combined.

Was that also part of the heavenly tribulation?

Bai Fanlu, floating in midair, still had some consciousness. He was concerned about Yun Zhan’s tribulation and had not yet left. Seeing this lightning strike, he thought it was going to target Yun Zhan, but it unexpectedly struck another person.

It hit Han Ling!

Han Ling was struck by the lightning and forced to one knee, but his posture remained upright, only trembling slightly.

This scene… he wasn’t an ordinary person either.

Bai Fanlu watched as a cold light emanated from Han Ling’s body, and his attire began to change.

However, the most astonishing thing was that his black hair, scattered by the wind, began to turn a shimmering silver, like the color of moonlight.

As his hair fluttered around him, Han Ling lifted his head, his frosty eyes looking directly at Bai Fanlu.

Bai Fanlu’s eyes widened in disbelief.

That person was…

“Master…!”