arms and checked his temperature with a thermometer.He, however, seemed much more at ease. He reached out and took Younan from my arms, saying in a light tone, "Little one, you just caught a cold. Lo...Under the cushion, the wind was like a knife cutting through bone. I quickly pressed down on the cushion. Qingluan reflexively tried to help me block the invasion of evil spirits, but she was only a soul. Those dark energies passed through her and hit my flesh, instantly tearing flesh and bone. My hands were covered in blood.

The dragon ring in his hand dimmed several times, like a frightened child gritting its teeth and enduring the pain before suddenly erupting with a storm-like red glow. The surrounding bones were engulfed by the red light, turning to dust inch by inch.

I couldn't see the scene before me, I could only feel the icy wind cutting like a knife, slicing through my flesh and bone... My whole body was in pain, not an inch of skin unharmed.

Qingluan's voice rang out in terror: "Who is she! Who is she!" Qingrui elder sister, why does she have the imperial seal of the Emperor—we must go save her!"

Help me…

I felt myself sinking into a cold, a swirling mass of black fog gathering before me until it solidified into the shape of a human head. I could faintly make out its eyes, nose, and lips...

"...Mu Xiaoqiao, where are your evil thoughts" The black head split its mouth open and asked with a sinister smile.

This scene was like when Cheng Banshen helped my dad remove the negative energy.

"Jiang Qiyun also asked me back then, Mu Xiaoqiao, do you have any evil thoughts"

Is jealousy considered...

As a weak and submissive person like me, all I want is to die. What kind of evil thoughts could I possibly have

Only the strong have evil thoughts, the weak only have weakness.

The black-headed figure chuckled and said, “You’re truly fortunate. Someone is diligently protecting you, shielding you from every gust of wind and drop of rain. That’s why you can live in peace, free from anger and resentment... be content..."

The head before me gradually dissipated, and I faintly heard a familiar roar --

"Mu Xia Qiao!!"

He grabbed my blood-soaked hand and yanked it upwards with a force!

But it's so deep here.

Except for a red glow, I couldn't see anything. All I felt was a hand gripping my bloody palm.

A cold hand.

Over so many nights past, this hand has grazed my skin, delved into my hair, cupped my chin and left me disheveled.

He drew warmth from me, and brought with it a coldness that felt warm.

"Qingrui! Why is she here! What did you do!" Jiang Qiyun's icy voice was laced with barely suppressed anger.

“…Even if she died, wouldn't she still be able to serve you You're so reluctant to let her suffer a little Ah, that's right, it depends on whether she can come out of the Ghost Path completely…”

"You—"

"Lord Emperor, please calm your wrath--"

Their commotion was unclear to me. I felt myself falling into an abyss, being torn by a blade-like sinister aura that pierced through me with agonizing pain. My body was slashed open, bleeding profusely. Yet Jiang Qiyun held onto me with relentless force, tormenting me further.

I wryly smiled and said, "Qiyun, let go. This hurts."

I don't know if he can hear me, the badge on my chest is soaked in blood, and my insides burn like fire.

"Mu Xiaqiao! Keep running forward, whoever told you not to look back! Did you hear me!" Jiang Qiyun's voice was so anxious that it terrified me. Was the place I was going to very scary

"Listen, I heard..." My head felt numb from the pain. Wouldn't he let go

"Remember this well! If you ever disobey me again, I—" He gritted his teeth, stopping his words abruptly.

What I'm already hurting so much, do you still want to hit me And... if you don't let go, I'm going to bleed out.

A barely audible sigh escaped his lips.

Go to the underworld and wait for me there, don't wander off.

He slowly released the hand he was clutching tightly.

"Don't be afraid."

"

Light surged like a torrent, the air thick with crimson. In that instant, I felt an inferno ignite within my gut, erupting with their every ounce of power.

The entire space was trembling violently, yet I blankly stared at the boundless red, unsure of where I would land.

Gradually, the crimson light dimmed, as if it had exhausted all its energy, slowly being swallowed by darkness.

I raised my hand and touched my abdomen, the heat there dissipated.

Dissipated...

My chest aches so badly, it feels like I'm suffocating. It's as if someone is carving me with shards of glass, and when I touch it, it's all covered in blood.

Blood was gushing from my chest, like it was coming from deep within. Is there even any blood left in me Or is this the last bit of crimson clinging to my heart chambers

When I hit the ground, I didn't feel any pain at all. My body was probably already destroyed.

A manticore fluttered beside me, roaring in a harsh voice: "Mortals, bustling and clamoring, all for fame and fortune. Some are kind throughout their lives, while others spend their entire existence with evil companions. The righteous have fragrant flowers to guide them, the wicked suffer punishments of torture to atone for their sins. Each walks their own path, destined for different fates."

It kept repeating this sentence, and I saw a path lined with fragrant flowers. Although the ghost messenger had an ugly and ferocious face, his eyes were filled with a smile that beckoned me forward.

In the middle, there is an ordinary road. People on the road are crowded and line up to move forward.

And I, surrounded by a throng of malevolent spirits, a suffocating miasma of evil intent and malice, each pair of eyes burning with terror fixed upon me.

"Don't be afraid, this is your path, go ahead." The man with a fox-like face let out a cackle: “Since you fell into the Ghostly Path, you must have been an evil person in life…”

As soon as she finished speaking, several disfigured ghosts with indistinct faces gathered around me. They laughed and said, "With this appearance, you must be a beauty who brings calamity... Come, let us teach you a lesson..."

They surrounded me, their faces grim and they let out two terrifying screams that made them flinch.

"Hurry up, you new bad woman, or those demons will catch you... they'll heheh you~~"

What the heck is that!

I ran forward along this path, Jiang Qiyun had said not to look back, so I buried my head and ran desperately, until the wounds on my body turned white and the flesh peeled away. Was this blood flowing But I didn't feel any pain.

"Xiao Qiao!" a voice rang out behind him.

My whole body trembled, it was my brother's voice!

"Xiao Qiao, why are you running so fast! Be careful not to fall! You have a ball in your belly!" This familiar voice and words, is that really my brother

I dared not stop my feet, could my brother have also died Shen Qingrui said he went to the quake zone, could it be that after falling into the Wan Gui Cave and dying, his soul also fell into this evil ghost path

Jiang Qiyun said he couldn't go back... I covered my ears, trying to ignore the sound, my feet still running forward, but they were already slowing down, not listening to command.

"Xiao Qiao, wait for me! I jumped down following you, why didn't you wait for me" My brother's voice was very anxious.

He jumped down with me Jumped down where To the Ghost Lair

"Bro! How—how could you be so stupid!" I couldn't help but slightly tilt my head.

I didn't turn around! I just tilted my head—and a pair of icy arms went onto my shoulders.

A puffy, pale face slowly emerged from behind me. It had droopy triangular eyes, a mouth stretched wide to its cheekbones, revealing rows of pitch-black teeth, and it grinned eerily:

"Xiao, Qiao, yo..."ny danger... But why are there alarm bells now" I rushed out in a hurry, feeling like I was on fire.I should have gone with them! At least I could have commanded the gu spirits.Lin Yanhuan absolutely...