Chapter 6: Yan Yunqing

The troll’s rage echoed throughout the small world, causing the very fabric of the realm to tremble incessantly.

"Today, I shall take the three of you trapped within the Blood Array and serve you as a side dish for my wine!"

Shen Xunqing undid the shackles binding Yu Huan and the little celestial fox. He carefully settled Yu Huan aside, his own eyes beginning to fill with a swirling black mist. He spoke in a chilling tone, "Taotie, even at the height of your power, you could not defeat me. Now that only a mere sliver of your soul has escaped, how dare you spout such arrogant nonsense?"

The troll let out a roar, clenching his fists as his massive body grew even larger. Looking down at Shen Xunqing inside the Blood Array, he sneered, "Even if it is only a sliver of my soul," he glanced at the unconscious Yu Huan beside Shen Xunqing, "it is more than enough to crush the one by your side."

A dark, menacing glint flashed in Shen Xunqing’s eyes, his face as cold as frost. If he had not been vigilant and kept a close watch on Yu Huan, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

A faint white light enveloped Shen Xunqing, and with a flash of radiance, the Soul-Returning Whip appeared in his hand. The troll braced himself for a fierce battle, but to his surprise, Shen Xunqing tossed the whip to Black Servant.

Shen Xunqing turned to Black Servant and offered a sudden, brilliant smile—a smile that made chills run down Black Servant’s spine. "It is rare to find a suitable opponent. Treat this as practice. Your cultivation has been stuck at the peak of the Divine Realm for far too long; use this opportunity to break through. If you lose to this old fool, you might as well leave the Asura Palace. To fail against a mere sliver of his soul would be too great a disgrace to my name!"

The troll, trembling with fury, felt the very ground beneath his feet shake. He lunged at Shen Xunqing with a punch, only to be blocked by Black Servant. A bloodthirsty, unsettling smile curled on Black Servant’s lips as he responded, "As you command, Master."

The troll let out another roar, "You old ghost! You truly infuriate me! I will tear you to pieces!"

Shen Xunqing, however, had no time to spare for the troll. As the troll and Black Servant became locked in a fierce struggle, Black Servant found things much easier with the assistance of the Soul-Returning Whip.

Shen Xunqing observed the Blood Array closely. He knew the old Taotie well; aside from his gluttony and foul temper, the creature lacked the intellect to devise such a complex array. Someone must have incited him, likely using him as a pawn. What a foolish, insufferable old brute!

Shen Xunqing frowned as he looked at Yu Huan. The faint blue light that had been flickering around him now glowed brilliantly, and the crimson light of the Blood Array pulsed in harmony with it.

Oblivious to the chaos, Yu Huan had fallen into darkness once more. When he awoke, he found himself drifting through a sea of stars, the twinkling lights so mesmerizing he could not tear his gaze away.

Time lost its meaning. Eventually, Yu Huan spotted a star, the most brilliant and radiant of them all. Drawn to it, he walked toward it until its white light shifted into a deep blue. He did not know how long he had been walking before he finally arrived beneath that blue star.

The object resting beneath the star left him in shock. It was an ice coffin, emitting a constant, biting chill. The sides were thick and opaque, but the top was transparent. Through it, Yu Huan could clearly see a man in black, noble robes lying silently within, his expression solemn. It was himself—or rather, someone who looked exactly like him.

The uncanny sight made Yu Huan’s heart race. Subconsciously, he gripped the string of bells at his waist, counting down in his heart as he prepared to push open the lid to see the truth.

Yu Huan’s hands trembled as he reached toward the coffin. Before he could touch the lid, the starry sky suddenly turned blood-red, and the temperature in the air began to soar. Yu Huan felt a searing, agonizing heat consume him. He reached out to touch the ice coffin to soothe his pain, only to find the lid melting away. The blue light within the coffin intensified, revealing what appeared to be a protective barrier.

As his discomfort eased, he looked into the coffin again. The man inside bolted upright and turned to look at him. The gaze, cold enough to freeze everything, made Yu Huan feel as though he had turned to ice.

Yu Huan lowered his eyes and smiled bitterly. His own body was beginning to turn transparent, while the man in the coffin seemed to grow more vibrant. Ancient legends spoke of two souls sharing one body; it seemed that was the case now.

It was a pity he had not yet fulfilled his mother’s final wish, nor had he told Shen Xunqing that he actually liked him. He had always been prone to overthinking; perhaps if he had spent more time with Shen Xunqing, there would be no such regrets.

Yu Huan gradually shattered into starlight, drifting toward the figure in the coffin. The man within seemed moved, and a single tear traced a path down his cheek.

Shen Xunqing’s eyes flashed with a cold light as a plan formed. Since it was an Ultimate Yin Array, it must be broken with an Ultimate Yin method. Just as he prepared to shatter the array, Yu Huan, who had been unconscious, floated into mid-air. At the height of the blue radiance, the Blood Array vanished without a sound.

After the array dissipated, the blue light grew even brighter. Yu Huan drifted slowly toward Shen Xunqing. He opened his eyes, looking at Shen Xunqing with innocent confusion, and asked, "Who are you?"

Seeing the array gone, the troll panicked and attempted to flee. Shen Xunqing, understanding the situation, did not look away. He reached out toward the fleeing troll and clenched his fist. The troll gasped as if his throat were being crushed, unable to move a muscle. Black Servant stood silently by Shen Xunqing’s side, cradling the little celestial fox.

Shen Xunqing said coldly, "You should never have escaped."

Despite the troll’s desperate pleas, it was too late. Shen Xunqing tightened his grip, and with a silent roar, the troll vanished from the small world. The realm collapsed in its wake, and Shen Xunqing returned to his estate with Yu Huan and Black Servant.

As Shen Xunqing stood lost in thought, he felt the person beside him rubbing against him. "What is it?" he asked softly.

Yu Huan looked up and said bluntly, "I like the way you smell." The tone was innocent, but the low, magnetic voice gave the words an indescribable allure.

A taste of blood rose in Shen Xunqing’s throat. He bit his lip, suppressing it. Using a mortal body to destroy a sliver of Taotie’s soul was a desperate measure; his current physical shell was reaching its limit, beyond repair.

Yu Huan’s situation was much the same. Within the Blood Array, the scattered souls of his reincarnation could not bear the agony of the Ultimate Yin, so they sought help from the main soul—the Little Yama himself. The Little Yama was a vessel of eternal ice, which a mortal body could not withstand.

Thus, this state had emerged—much like a fledgling bird that feels an instinctive affinity for the first creature it sees. He would slowly recover his memories of the mortal world, grow up, and the moment those memories were fully restored, the mortal life of the reincarnated Little Yama would come to an end.

For the first time, Shen Xunqing felt a sense of helplessness. The Little Yama’s tribulation should not have gone this way. The ways of Heaven were fickle; if this trial was not completed, it would simply shift elsewhere. Nothing would be spared. It was his own underestimation of the enemy that had led to this; the fault was his.

Looking at the trusting gaze of the person before him, Shen Xunqing smiled helplessly. After all, the Ghost Sovereign had never feared anything. No matter what happened in the future, he would be there to protect him, and surely, nothing too grave would occur.

Shen Xunqing glanced at the shivering little celestial fox in Black Servant’s arms. "Take him back to the Celestial Fox Clan immediately. Let there be no more trouble."

"As you command," Black Servant replied. He sped off with all his might. His master’s condition was not optimistic; he had to return quickly to stay by his side.

Unlike the rosy-cheeked Yu Huan, Shen Xunqing’s face was deathly pale. Yu Huan frowned in concern, sensing the man’s suffering. He suddenly reached out and swept Shen Xunqing into his arms. Shen Xunqing instinctively wrapped his arms around Yu Huan’s neck, looking up in surprise. Yu Huan walked forward, his eyes filled with an undeniable worry.

Shen Xunqing chuckled softly, finding that being the one cared for was not so bad after all. He could see the thoughts hidden in the mind of the Little Yama, who looked so capable. "Walk to the end of this path, pass through the corridor, and turn left. That courtyard is where I rest," Shen Xunqing whispered.

Without his mortal memories, how could the Little Yama know the layout of this estate? Even if he had some vague sense, he would not remember everything.

Shen Xunqing leaned his head against the Little Yama’s chest, content. He closed his eyes to rest and asked, "What is your name?"

Sensing the man in his arms growing sleepy, the Little Yama adjusted his hold carefully. "Yan Yunqing," he replied.

"Yan Yunqing," Shen Xunqing murmured. "Yunqing... that is a beautiful name." He yawned, feeling exhausted. Too tired to worry about what remained to be done, he drifted off to sleep in Yan Yunqing’s arms.

As steady breathing filled the air, a smile graced Yan Yunqing’s lips. Soon, they arrived at the room Shen Xunqing had described. Yan Yunqing placed him gently on the bed and sat by his side, staring blankly at him.

He felt a deep, inexplicable joy just looking at this person. He must be a treasure bestowed upon him by the heavens. In the underworld, his father was always busy with official duties and had no time for him; he had always been alone. Now, things were better; finally, someone could stay with him.

He would guard this person well. When he woke up, they would go out and play together.

But the man looked so tired. Yan Yunqing leaned over and gave Shen Xunqing’s forehead a quick kiss. *Little brother, you must get well soon so you can take Yunqing out to play!*