AUOF - 87

Ji Hengyu disliked brightness; only two palace lanterns were lit in Shuoguang Hall.

However, at this moment, with each step he took closer, the candles lit one by one, illuminating the inner hall like a bright flame and exposing Ji Xun, who had been diligently working at his desk, with nowhere to hide.

He sat motionless at the desk, his eyes devoid of any emotion.

Seeing him remain still, Ji Wu became anxious: [Brother, don’t just sit there, run! You can come back after Master calms down.]

Ji Wu incessantly urged him within his mind.

He knew what it felt like to be killed—it was unbearable. Even though the physical body could be rebuilt, the lost memories could never return.

Ji Xun remained as if he hadn’t heard anything. Not only did he not flee, but he didn’t even move his pen an inch.

Soon, Ji Hengyu appeared before him, standing face-to-face.

Only then did Ji Xun rise, his hands clasped together, bowing deeply to Ji Hengyu: “Master.”

Calm and composed, as if he didn’t know that he was here to kill him.

Ji Hengyu silently observed him, trying to find any trace of evasion or guilt in his eyes. Yet, there was nothing. He was still his most composed and calm puppet—no avoidance, no hint of panic on his face.

It wasn’t until Ji Hengyu took out the delicate hairpin that a flicker of emotion passed through his eyes.

“What did she say to me?”

Ji Hengyu used “I,” reminding Ji Xun that he was merely a puppet who couldn’t see the light of day.

To Sang Li, who didn’t know the details, when facing Ji Xun, all her words were directed at Ji Hengyu.

Ji Xun clenched his fists tightly, his fingertips digging into his flesh, yet he felt no pain.

“She didn’t say anything.”

“Is that so.” Ji Hengyu’s voice was calm as he effortlessly crushed the hairpin, raising his palm to summon the Fushi Bell. “Just a drop of blood from this object can rewind memories.” His gaze was piercing. “Ji Xun, I do not wish for you to lie to me.”

Ji Xun lowered his eyes, his expression flickering.

Without hesitation, he walked up to Ji Hengyu, dripped his fingertip blood into the bell, then stepped back two paces, maintaining his respectful stance.

Ji Xun himself was just a wisp of soul split off from Ji Hengyu; naturally, the Fushi Bell couldn’t reflect everything a puppet had experienced. Ji Hengyu was bluffing. He deliberately concealed this fact from Ji Xun to prevent Ji Wu from talking too much, while also suppressing him. Then, he intentionally circled the empty Fushi Bell, his eyes flickering like ghostly flames: “Should I believe you?”

Ji Xun’s throat was dry as he looked straight into his eyes: “Ji Xun is loyal to Master without a second thought. Giving Sang Li the hairpin was done in Master’s name as a celebration for her entering the Demon Suppression Palace. If Master doubts me, then take back the heart and kill me.”

His forthrightness and openness suddenly made the hall solemn.

After a moment, Ji Hengyu nodded: “Very well.”

Watching the situation spiral out of control, Ji Wu could no longer stay calm. Forcing his way through the restriction, he flew out to stand between the two, hurriedly blocking Ji Hengyu: “We are puppets, how can we develop emotions? Ji Xun’s soul power surpasses mine, and he has followed Master for a thousand years. If this body is killed, even if it is rebuilt, it will be hard to surpass the current Ji Xun. Master, please don’t let temporary anger lead to disaster!”

Ji Wu was always stubborn. Seeing that Ji Hengyu still showed no sign of relenting, he stammered: “Besides... at first, it was Master who didn’t want to bear the backlash of the love gu curse and gave this heart to Ji Xun. Even if Ji Xun is truly affected by the love gu, it is not his intention. Why does Master want to kill him?”

Ji Hengyu laughed coldly in his extreme anger: “Are you saying it’s my fault?”

Ji Wu shrank back slightly, feeling guilty: “I didn’t mean that.”

The next instant, Ji Hengyu’s smile vanished. A white shadow passed through Ji Wu’s body. His face changed drastically as he quickly turned around, but before he could stop him, he saw Ji Hengyu thrust an arm through Ji Xun’s chest. With a tearing sound, he brutally ripped the heart out from inside.

“Ji Xun—!”

Ji Wu couldn’t help but exclaim in shock.

The intense tearing sensation caused Ji Xun to stumble, clutching his chest and kneeling halfway on the ground.

Under the candlelight, Ji Hengyu held the rapidly beating heart in one hand.

The flower born from desire grew wildly within the exquisite heart, its burning red veins wrapping around the entire heart chamber.

Ji Hengyu admired it as if admiring a rare treasure of the world.

Ji Xun’s throat burned dry, and all the blood in his body seemed to drain away in an instant, leaving him surrounded by a sense of decay. Logically, without a heart, one shouldn’t feel emotions. Yet, he still felt panic and unease, these emotions stronger than ever before.

Compared to being completely killed, it seemed he couldn’t accept having his affection stripped away.

No, Ji Hengyu wouldn’t dare.

The longer the silkworm gu stayed in his body, the more repressed and uncontrollable his emotions became.

The karma already showed signs of worsening. His body... could no longer bear another love gu.

“Are you thinking that I can’t handle this silkworm gu?”

Ji Xun remained silent.

“Indeed.” Ji Hengyu laughed bitterly. “The punishment day is approaching soon. The silkworm gu will indeed catalyze the karma, making me lose control, go mad, or even fall into demonic madness. In the past, whether I lived or died, I didn’t care. But now, with someone on my mind, I can no longer be indifferent.”

Ji Xun listened with his head bowed.

“Ji Xun, I don’t care about your thoughts, whether they are genuine feelings or influenced by the love gu. Just remember, I am the one who gave you flesh and blood. If I command you to live, you live; if I command you to die, you die.” He looked down on Ji Xun condescendingly. “You cannot compete with me.”

Ji Hengyu casually tossed the heart back and didn’t look at him again, his figure disappearing into the flickering candlelight.

This made Ji Wu breathe a sigh of relief: “Thankfully, nothing happened. Ji Xun, behave yourself in the future. You know Master’s temperament...”

Ji Xun remained in his kneeling position.

A buzzing sound filled his ears, gradually replacing Ji Wu’s voice with sharp, piercing noise.

[You cannot compete with me.]

Ji Xun slowly raised his head, his gaze following Ji Hengyu’s long-gone figure, leaving only dark, sinister shadows in his eyes.

**

Punishment Day.

Recently, the demon gods have been relatively quiet, and theoretically, they could maintain stability until the next Punishment Day. However, considering the upcoming plans, Ji Hengyu still sent some Fu Xi blood to the Demon Suppressing Stone.

After enduring two more days of karma, Ji Hengyu secretly ordered someone to invite Si Tu to the rear hall of Shuoguang.

Snakes are cold-blooded animals.

Yet, during the karma’s flare-up period, Ji Hengyu was extremely sensitive to cold. The entire palace had warm walls activated, the heat enveloping the air sea. Despite this, Ji Hengyu still wore a cloak, his complexion paler than usual, and with his expressionless face, he appeared even more chilling and unapproachable.

Si Tu was already wary of him, and seeing him like this made her even more unsettled.

But she was a strong-willed person. Even if she was scared, she didn’t show it on her face, instead revealing disgust: “What do you want, calling me over for no reason?”

“The Immortal Feast is approaching, and I assume the goddess will also return to the upper realms.”

There was hidden meaning in his words, making Si Tu frown.

Her chest tightened slightly, and a familiar metallic taste surged to her throat. Ji Hengyu picked up the teacup, forcefully suppressing the rising blood with hot tea, then said: “I have a plan to dissolve the engagement.”

Si Tu’s forehead throbbed intensely.

She felt as if facing a formidable enemy and instinctively retreated towards the palace doors. “Would you really be so kind?”

Ji Hengyu smiled faintly: “Goddess should understand that this marriage is a constraint imposed by the Divine Lord upon both of us. You’re unwilling, and so am I. It would be better to end it early, sparing the goddess from sending another immortal to my bed.”

Si Tu’s eyes widened in shock, drawing in a sharp breath: “You... you... you’re lying!” Her face flushed red as she vehemently denied it. “I... I tell you, don’t slander me! I haven’t...”

Before she finished her denial, she was interrupted by a soft laugh.

Ji Hengyu leisurely enjoyed watching her flustered explanation. “Goddess can rest assured; I won’t use this as leverage or reveal anything. On the contrary, I must thank the goddess.”

Si Tu was taken aback: “Thank me for what?”

Ji Hengyu straightened up slightly. “Isn’t the goddess close to Sang Li because you want her to win my favor?”

“...”

“......”

Damn!

Si Tu’s eyes dimmed, and she felt utterly disoriented.

So he knew all along about her sneaky efforts? Reflecting on his words, Si Tu suddenly realized their implications and shuddered.

Did Ji Hengyu mean... her plan succeeded, and he truly intended to be with Sang Li?!!!

For some reason, the shock outweighed the joy, leaving her with an indescribable sense of frustration.

Si Tu admitted that her friendship with Sang Li wasn’t entirely pure-hearted. Initially, she had looked down on the tiny immortal maid.

But hearts are made of flesh. In the end, she no longer cared about any plans and simply wanted to be lifelong friends with Sang Li.

She wasn’t a good person, and neither was Ji Hengyu.

Sang Li was different.

She couldn’t guarantee that Sang Li, if she were with Ji Hengyu, would still be as happy and carefree as she was now.

Si Tu’s brows furrowed deeply.

She lifted her head and asked: “Do you truly love Sang Li?”

Ji Hengyu glanced sideways at her: “Hmm?”

“I am Sang Li’s friend. If you’re just using her as an excuse to reject the divine realm, I won’t agree. Rather than being imprisoned in Gui Xu forever, I’d rather not use a friend to gain so-called freedom.”

Half a year ago, Si Tu would have eagerly agreed to Ji Hengyu’s proposal.

But now, things were different. She and Sang Li had become close friends. If she conspired with Ji Hengyu behind Sang Li’s back and pushed her into an invisible abyss, wouldn’t that be betrayal?

Ji Hengyu was somewhat surprised and couldn’t help but respect Si Tu a bit more.

He rolled up his sleeve, revealing the red vine gu pattern on his inner arm: “I’ve bound our lives with a love gu. This life, I am destined never to betray.”

Ji Hengyu didn’t specify which love gu it was, but with Si Tu’s spiritual power and status, she could easily discern the truth.

Sure enough, her expression became even more shocked.

Ji Hengyu calmly lowered his sleeve. “Gui Xu is full of the Divine Lord’s spies. He should know I can’t afford to wait. This Immortal Feast might very well set our wedding date. If we miss this opportunity, there will be no more chances.”

If Ji Hengyu had made all sorts of vows to Sang Li, Si Tu wouldn’t have believed him.

But the love gu made her trust him a little. Though she didn’t know exactly which gu it was, judging by the patterns, it should be an extremely vicious gu capable of devouring flesh and blood.

No wonder she always felt something strange between Sang Li and Ji Hengyu.

Si Tu’s thoughts raced, and she finally made up her mind: “Alright, I trust you. What do you plan to do?”

“Not difficult.” Ji Hengyu raised his eyelids lazily. “It’s just that the goddess will have to endure some physical pain.”

“...”

Si Tu fell silent.

She knew it. This bastard definitely wouldn’t say anything nice.