Chapter 118 Part 1

Before descending the mountain, Xie Shu divined for Wei Huai, who had gone to pursue Xuan Yang.

The result was an omen of absolute calamity, nearly a death hex, with only the faintest thread of survival. Wei Huai… was likely in grave peril.

Xie Shu furrowed his brows tightly. He knew Wei Huai’s capabilities well. The one who could kill him in such a short time, obscure the heavens’ secrets, and plant an illusion upon him was no ordinary foe.

From this, it seemed Xuan Yang was inextricably linked to the Cave Abyss God. He was either an incarnation of the deity or its emissary, directly under Its protection.

Either possibility confirmed that Wei Huai’s earlier words were no lie—Qixue was still alive, and the one who took him away was the Cave Abyss God.

Following the divination’s guidance, Xie Shu arrived at the place where Wei Huai had found Xuan Yang. But he was one step too late. Nothing remained here; even the bloodstains on the ground had been incinerated to ash by Xuan Yang. The remaining heart had been taken by Sang Chi.

Only the lingering demon power in the air attested to the fierce clash that had once erupted here.

Xie Shu discerned these faint traces of demon power. Besides Wei Huai’s savage aura, there was a yin-cold, dark, chaotic force—likely the handiwork of the Cave Abyss.

After a moment of contemplation, he raced to the Imperial Mausoleum at top speed and infiltrated the sinkhole formed by the earth tremor.

Deep within the sinkhole, chaotic earth qi still surged wildly, suppressed only by a grand array that prevented another outburst.

The depths of the chaos were extremely perilous, yet Xie Shu ventured in and finally captured a strand of eerie power amid the flows—the very force that had triggered the earth veins’ upheaval.

Only the Cave Abyss God’s power could rupture the earth veins. This force shared the same origin as the one that killed Wei Huai, proving that the Cave Abyss God had sabotaged the veins, faked Qixue’s death, and then silenced Wei Huai after he uncovered the truth.

Xie Shu emerged from the earth veins’ depths and stood at the edge of the bottomless sinkhole, his expression stern and grave.

He had long considered the possibility of facing the Cave Abyss God.

The Dragon Clan and the Cave Abyss were natural mortal enemies. For centuries, the Cave Abyss’s power had ceaselessly polluted the world, eroding countless dragons until they withered and died. When the nest falls, how could the eggs remain intact? Xie Shu knew he would inevitably confront the Cave Abyss God one day.

That day had come sooner than anticipated.

But he would never hand Qixue over. Whatever reason the Cave Abyss God had for taking him, it was irrelevant. Qixue was his wife, and he would seize him back.

Xie Shu gazed silently into the pitch-black pit.

By his judgment, the Cave Abyss God might have hidden Qixue in the abyss’s deepest recesses.

That was an endless chasm darker, more profound, and boundless than the sinkhole before him. No one knew where the Cave Abyss ended—it was forbidden ground accessible only to the Cave Abyss God.

If he had to plunge into its depths to find Qixue…

Xie Shu pondered, when a streak of light suddenly halted before him—a transmission from his disciple in the palace.

“Reporting to the Palace Lord, His Majesty requests your presence in the palace for an urgent matter!”

“The Great General’s mount, Zhaoying, has brought back his message: the Noble Consort lives, and he is presently at Dali Mountain!”

…

Xie Shu hurried to the Imperial Palace at utmost speed.

He strode swiftly into Chenglu Palace. The disciples’ chanting had ceased, leaving the spirit hall in pin-drop silence.

All eyes fixed on one direction, at the center of which sat Helan Ji.

Several days had passed, and the burns on his feet had healed, though his sleeves still hung empty, and his face remained somewhat pale.

He sat by the coffin, gazing at the bloodstained plush rabbit on his knees. Each plush rabbit Qixue had given them was unique; the one on Helan Ji’s lap clutched a luminous pearl and belonged to Wei Huai.

Xie Shu stared at the fluffy little rabbit and suddenly realized Qixue’s fake death had been premeditated, with Qixue himself as a willing participant. He had known he would feign death and depart, so he gifted them farewell tokens as meager consolation.

Recognizing this, a surge of fury ignited in Xie Shu’s heart.

After days of torment and utter despair, he learned his suffering stemmed from a cold deception. In that instant, his rage overshadowed even the joy of knowing Qixue lived.

Qixue, how dared he… how dared he do this?

Dare to use a feigned death to deceive them, then slip away so lightly? Did he think that by leaving, he could erase his debts and sever all ties?

No such bargain existed in the world.

He would never escape them!

Xie Shu’s face darkened like still water as he approached Helan Ji swiftly, picked up the plush rabbit from his knees, infused it with demon power, and listened to Wei Huai’s recorded words.

Wei Huai’s message was brief.

“A Xue still lives and has returned to Dali Mountain.”

“Xuan Yang was an incarnation of the Cave Abyss God. I killed him, but the Cave Abyss God can send new incarnations at any time. Be vigilant.”

The soft rabbit fur was stained with dried blood.

Helan Ji’s body trembled faintly. He looked up at Xie Shu, the corners of his phoenix eyes reddened, his voice hoarse as he whispered, “State Preceptor Xie, is this true… Does Yuan Yuan truly live?”

He had wallowed in despair too long. This sudden glimmer of hope terrified him; he dared not entertain it.

The reason was simple: if the recording proved false and he believed it rashly, the shattering of hope upon revelation would plunge him into an even deeper abyss, irredeemable.

Ji Yuheng’s face was ashen, equally reluctant to hope too much. He merely watched Xie Shu silently, awaiting his verdict.

Seeing this, Xie Shu’s anger deepened. He nodded coldly. “It is true.”

“Qixue lives.”

He shared the clues he had uncovered, concluding: “The Cave Abyss God is the mastermind, faking Qixue’s death and taking him away. But Qixue willingly followed the Cave Abyss God. He deceived us all.”

At the same time, Xie Shu circulated his magic to dispel the illusions Xuan Yang had imposed on Helan Ji and Ji Yuheng, clearing their minds to see the truth.

Unlike Xie Shu’s reaction, Helan Ji and Ji Yuheng showed no fury at the deception. Instead, they seemed dazed, as if awakening from a nightmare.

Ji Yuheng, after extreme mental strain followed by sudden release, felt drained and gripped the coffin, gasping for air. As the shock faded, wild joy welled up. His face twisted in a sob-laugh, tears brimming: “Mother Concubine truly lives…”

Helan Ji bowed his face low, hiding his expression. His shoulders slowly slumped, his rigid spine bending slightly at last, freeing him from that excruciating agony.

“Your Majesty, this is… this is wonderful… The Noble Consort lives…”

Eunuch Xue teared up in excitement, weeping and laughing as he stepped forward to gently steady Helan Ji.

“This servant believes the Noble Consort could never abandon Your Majesty. He loves you so much. His departure must have been due to unavoidable circumstances… Your Majesty, please do not be angry with her. Hasten to send for her return to the palace.”

Ji Yuheng promptly knelt before Helan Ji. “This son is willing to share Father’s burdens and escort Mother Concubine back from Dali Mountain.”

Helan Ji remained silent for a long while before lifting his head from the quiet. His eyes were faintly red, his demeanor serene.

But this serenity differed from prior lifeless despair—it was peaceful, gentle tranquility, like melting glaciers and spring-reviving dead wood, his decayed soul reborn with vigor.

Light gleamed in his eyes as he told Eunuch Xue, “I knew Yuan Yuan would not abandon me.”

“I suspect Yuan Yuan left because of me—perhaps to protect me, or heal my body… He departed without farewell not from lack of love, but from loving me too deeply.”

Helan Ji harbored no resentment for Qixue’s deceit, no negative emotions at all. Even after losing his hands to rescue Qixue, he trusted in Qixue’s love and knew he would not abandon him without cause.

Xie Shu found his words grating, jealousy fueling his rage further. He retorted icily, “That remains to be seen.”

He recalled Qixue’s past words: if he ever opposed the Cave Abyss God, Qixue would side with It.

He knew Qixue loved them deeply, but that love might pale against his faith in the Cave Abyss God, ingrained since birth.

The mere thought of Qixue following the Cave Abyss God without hesitation during the fake death turned Xie Shu’s fury tangible. If Xuan Yang stood before him now, that rage would have torn him apart.

Helan Ji shook his head slightly, ignoring Xie Shu’s cold words, and told Ji Yuheng, “Stay in the capital and handle court affairs. I will personally fetch Yuan Yuan back.”

Ji Yuheng froze, his lashes drooping in disappointment, his heart aching: “This son…”

He was accustomed to obeying Helan Ji’s commands and knew they could not both leave Shangjing—one must remain to govern. Yet he yearned to retrieve Qixue from Dali Mountain.

He missed Qixue so profoundly, unwilling to linger alone in the frigid palace.

When Qixue had gone to the Summer Palace before, he had stayed behind. After the incident, regret gnawed at him for not seeing Qixue one last time. This time, he would fetch him back himself, to avoid further remorse.

Ji Yuheng steeled himself, drew a deep breath, and declared firmly to Helan Ji, “This son wishes to accompany Father Emperor to Qing Province and welcome Mother Concubine back to the palace.”

He paused, softening his voice: “…I miss him terribly. So very much.”

These last words were spoken as an equal to Helan Ji—not as subject or nominal son, but as fellow lovers of Qixue, their longing and affection equal. Helan Ji had no right to bar him.