Blossom in Darkness

【One】Enchanted Dream

It took me over twenty years to find you—how could I ever leave you so easily?

As usual, after dinner, Wang Yan and I took a walk up a small hill to watch the sunset.

Suddenly, he smiled and asked me, "Yue Mi, why do you always carry a dagger in your arms? Are you afraid I might take liberties with you before we're married?"

I bit his arm lightly and pulled out the Silver Pixiu from my bosom—a dagger as dark as ink, exuding an unusual fragrance—to show him. "This dagger was given to me by my master long ago. He told me to carry it with me at all times, saying it could ward off evil, protect me from harm, and even heal illnesses and nourish the spirit."

"Yue Mi has a master?" Wang Yan arched his phoenix-like eyes, the evening glow casting a faint blush across his jade-like cheeks.

"I used to be frail and sickly as a child. When I was ten, my father hired a master to help me recuperate. The master said he had two lifelong passions—one of them was taking disciples. So I became his student, and he gave me this Silver Pixiu. Later, my health gradually improved, but I haven’t seen him in years. My father said the master has taken on more disciples than there are sparrows in our courtyard—he probably doesn’t even remember who’s who anymore." I recalled the man who always wore red robes and suddenly felt a pang of nostalgia.

"What an interesting man. Yue Mi is truly fortunate—doted on by her father and cherished by her master. And now, you’ve abandoned everything for me, yet all I can offer you is my heart and nothing more..."

I shook my head gently. "Don’t say that. As long as I’m with you, I fear no hardship. Promise me, Wang Yan—no matter what happens, never leave me."

"It took me over twenty years to find you—how could I ever leave you so easily?"

Wang Yan smiled tenderly, his white robes fluttering in the wind. His ink-black eyes gazed at me as if they could swallow the entire world.

Wang Yan and I met a year ago. My father had hired an elderly tutor to teach me, but the tutor fell gravely ill, so his student came in his stead to instruct me in music and chess for a time. That day, I had lazed in bed and was late as usual, dawdling my way to the pavilion. Wang Yan was already there, waiting for me as he played the zither, his eyes lowered like a figure from a painting. We fell for each other at first sight, and as days passed, our affection deepened uncontrollably.

The Lin family had only one heir for generations. My mother died in childbirth when I was born, and my father, devoted to her memory, never remarried or took a concubine. Our household was small, and I had been sickly since childhood. Though the Lins weren’t a distinguished noble family, we had prospered through generations of trade and were quite wealthy. My father adored me and indulged my every whim. When arranging my marriage, he was meticulous—the match was impeccable in family status and appearance. At the time, I thought all girls must marry eventually, so I secretly went to see the man and, finding no fault, agreed. But then I met Wang Yan, who stole my heart, and naturally, I refused to go through with the betrothal. My father, however, insisted a gentleman’s word was final and forbade me to break the engagement. Unbeknownst to me, he secretly threatened and bribed Wang Yan, all because he looked down on Wang Yan’s lack of wealth and status.

So, like the stories of scholars and maidens in books and plays, I eloped with Wang Yan. We settled in a place called Yuancheng. Though I had brought a fortune in silver notes and valuables when I left home, Wang Yan refused to spend a single coin of mine. We bought a small house in the outskirts, nearly depleting all his savings. Yet he remained optimistic and resolute, ruffling my hair with a smile. "What kind of man would I be if I couldn’t even provide for my own wife?"Indeed, Wang Yan was full of talent, yet for some reason, he had never cared for fame or official rank. Nor did I wish for him to become an official—even when my father's opposition was at its fiercest, I never encouraged him to pursue a career to win my hand. After all, honest officials had a hard time, while corrupt ones were beneath my contempt. And with Wang Yan's unyielding nature, as stubborn as a block of wood, it would only have worried me more. All I wanted was a man as devoted as my father, who would cherish me alone and spend more time by my side.

On an auspicious day chosen for the occasion, Wang Yan and I finally held our wedding ceremony before the eyes of our neighbors, embarking on a new life together. Wang Yan worked as a tutor in a private school, selling calligraphy and paintings in his spare time or writing letters for others. I set aside my mischievous girlish ways and earnestly learned to manage household affairs, but Wang Yan always feared I would tire myself out. The moment he returned home, he would rush to do everything himself. Worried I might grow bored, he even built a fence in the courtyard, planted flowers, and raised a flock of chicks and ducklings.

At night, I loved curling up in his arms as he told me unofficial histories from books. When in high spirits, he would compose poetry for me, reciting it while nibbling my earlobe. Amid fragrant bed curtains and passionate embraces, our days were far from bitter—instead, they were filled with delight.

Time flew, and before I knew it, over half a year had passed. My personal maid, Xiao Xiang, occasionally managed to send me tidings from home through intermediaries. When I left, my father had indeed been furious, but he never sent anyone to look for me. He shut himself in his room for a full day and night, afterward forbidding anyone from ever mentioning me again. It seemed his heart had turned cold, and he no longer acknowledged me as his daughter.

Recently, I heard my father had fallen slightly ill. The thought of being unable to care for him weighed on my mind, leaving me distracted and melancholy. Seeing me sleepless and sullen, Wang Yan scooped me up in the middle of the night, insisting we go outside to admire the flowers.

Under the moonlight, the peonies we had transplanted when we first arrived were in full bloom—a breathtaking sea of fiery red, faintly veiled in silver radiance, magnificent yet touched with mystery. Wang Yan poured himself a cup of wine, drank it in one gulp, then played The Phoenix Seeks Its Mate on the zither for me. I danced in the breeze, smiling at him, wishing I could freeze this moment forever.

Wang Yan fed me wine from his lips, then pressed me down beneath the peonies, kissing me with unprecedented intensity. "Yue Mi," he murmured, "how I wish I had met you sooner."

Gasping, I caught his fingers and lightly bit them. "Aren't we together now, bound for life? But tell me, Wang Yan, when my beauty fades with age, will you still love me like this?"

Wang Yan vowed solemnly, "Even if the seas run dry and the rocks crumble, I will never betray you."

Amid the storm of passion, layers of peony petals concealed us, then drifted down in a dreamlike shower of splendor. Exhausted, I dozed briefly and awoke to find the moonlight still shining brightly. Wrapped in Wang Yan's robe, my head resting on his lap, I felt neither chill nor discomfort—his thoughtfulness was ever-present.

When I opened my eyes to look at him, he was casually draped in an inner robe, his arms bare, tilting a wine jar to his lips as he drank deeply. In the haze of intoxication, his profile held a cold elegance I had never seen before.

The two rows of scars on his arm had faded somewhat, yet they remained etched in my heart, never to disappear.That was three months after we met. I was already deeply in love with Wang Yan, but he still avoided me due to my young lady status, keeping me at arm's length. Filled with curiosity about him, I asked endless questions. When he told me his favorite thing was climbing to the mountaintop at dawn to watch the sunrise, I insisted he take me too, even if just for sunset. Unable to refuse, he secretly took me out.

Unexpectedly, on our way back, it grew too dark, and we stumbled into a hunter's trap. Wang Yan got injured pulling me out. In the pitch-black mountains, surrounded by the sounds of wild animals, I cried in fear. Then heavy rain poured down at night, and Wang Yan held me tightly, comforting me that the hunters would come to check their traps and rescue us. But no one came. We were trapped for three whole days. Starving and terrified, I developed a high fever. The scar on Wang Yan's arm was from my bite—in my delirium, he kept reassuring me, saying he would stay with me, urging me to drink his blood to hold on, that we would soon be rescued.

Eventually, we were found. My fever broke, and after some rest, I recovered without lasting harm. But Wang Yan, weakened by blood loss and infection, nearly died. My heart shattered from crying. It was then that my father learned of our relationship. Though he hired the best physicians for Wang Yan, he forbade us from seeing each other again.

Perhaps before, my love for Wang Yan had been admiration and infatuation. But after that life-and-death ordeal, it truly seeped into my bones, incurable, granting him my complete trust and devotion. Even if it meant abandoning the whole world, I would stay with him.

No matter how much Wang Yan praised my beauty, I knew it was just love's blindness. My looks were ordinary, my needlework a mess, and my skills in music, chess, poetry, and books mediocre at best. The only thing I excelled at compared to other young ladies was cooking. Though I had servants growing up, I wasn’t completely helpless—I often cooked for my father. So now, with free time, I constantly experimented with new dishes to please Wang Yan’s palate.

He picked up his chopsticks, tasted the steamed perch I had just made, and raised his brows in admiration. "Even the same dish tastes different when Yue Mi makes it—nothing like the restaurants."

"How so?" I asked, pleased.

Wang Yan shook his head at the tender, fragrant fish still quivering slightly on the plate. "Hard to say. It just feels incredibly fresh, the texture perfect."

"If your wife is so capable, will you accompany her to the shadow puppet show tonight?"

Wang Yan widened his eyes. "We’ve already gone for ten days straight."

I giggled, nestling against him stubbornly. "But I really want to know what happens next!"

"I can tell you—I already know the story."

"No, no! You can’t act it out."

Wang Yan sighed and patted my head. "Fine, fine, I’ll take you."

But just as the show began that night, a neighbor rushed over to tell us our house was on fire. Wang Yan and I hurried back. Though the fire was put out, the house was nearly destroyed. It had started in the kitchen—I’d left soup simmering when we left, likely because the stove wasn’t properly covered, and sparks had caught the firewood. Our home, painstakingly built over half a year, was ruined. How could I not be heartbroken? Along with it went the large sum of silver notes I’d brought from home and so many of Wang Yan’s paintings and calligraphy.Wang Yan kept comforting me, saying that as long as we were unharmed, nothing else mattered. I thought about it and realized he was right. As long as Wang Yan remained by my side and we were both safe and sound, that was more precious than anything else.

[Two] Awakening from the Dream

Everyone believes they are the protagonist of their own story. The moment they realize they’ve been reduced to a supporting role is when they are most heartbroken.

Another half a year passed in the blink of an eye when Xiao Xiang suddenly brought news that Father was seriously ill. Wang Yan and I hurried back to the Lin residence. In just a year, Father had aged so much. Weak and frail, he sat by the bed and beckoned to me. I hugged him and cried uncontrollably, repeatedly apologizing, but he didn’t seem angry with me at all—he only asked if I was doing well. His condition fluctuated for a month, and the night before he passed, he told me that if anything happened, I should seek out Master Dan Shen at White Mist Mountain. Then he was gone.

I had to arrange the funeral and take on the responsibilities of the Lin family. Back when Father had tried to teach me accounting and management, I had no interest in learning. But the Lin family couldn’t be left without an heir, so Father had pinned his hopes on my husband. Unfortunately, Wang Yan had no inclination for business, and I suspected this was one of the reasons Father had been dissatisfied with him. Though the steward handled most affairs, there was still much for me to oversee and manage.

Wang Yan found a teaching position at a nearby school, and life seemed no different from before—except I no longer had the same carefree leisure. Three more years passed like this. Perhaps from overwork, my health deteriorated. I coughed frequently, and there were signs of my old illness resurfacing. That winter, I fell seriously ill with Wind-cold and was bedridden for over half a month.

Wang Yan resigned from the school to care for me at home and reluctantly began handling some of the household affairs. Sometimes I wished I had an older brother or younger brother to share the burden, and I often missed our little house in Yuancheng, the chicks and ducklings I used to raise in the yard.

Despite consulting many physicians, my illness never fully healed. The coughing worsened, and I often suffered from tinnitus, dizziness, and drowsiness. At night, I was frequently jolted awake by nightmares—visions of my corpse abandoned in the wilderness, beasts devouring my organs, vultures pecking at my eyes. I was in pain yet fully conscious, unable to move a muscle. Waking up drenched in sweat, I felt as though I had died and come back to life. I became like a child, prone to unreasonable tantrums, clinging to Wang Yan and demanding he stay by my side at all times. He always indulged me, holding my hand as we strolled through the garden, personally cooking soups for me. On fine days, he took me horseback riding or kite-flying in the countryside.

Though my illness gradually improved, I became somewhat neurotic, often plagued by headaches, nausea, and various hallucinations. Moreover, Wang Yan had recently been leaving early in the morning and returning late at night, claiming there were issues with the business. Each time, he looked exhausted and pale. While I pitied him, I couldn’t help but suspect something when I occasionally caught a strange fragrance on him—was there another woman? After a month of this, just as I had mostly recovered, he fell ill, his whole body noticeably thinner. Yet he still insisted on going out every few days. I sent Xiao Xiang to follow him, and she reported that after leaving the shop, Wang Yan went to an unfamiliar residence every day. My unease only grew.I was never much of a beauty, and now what little youth I had left is gone. In the mirror, my cheekbones protrude, my face is sunken, and my complexion is frighteningly pale. Could it be that Wang Yan has already lost interest in me? Filled with resentment and jealousy, my dreams are haunted by seductive women in red clinging to Wang Yan, tempting him over and over. When I wake, I find myself standing by the lotus pond, a dagger in hand, so terrified I nearly faint.

Wang Yan called a physician to see me, but my sleepwalking only grew worse. I kept waking up in different places, and rumors began to spread through the household. My temper became increasingly unpredictable, and I often flew into rages. No matter how Wang Yan cared for or comforted me, it was no use. The figures from my dreams began to appear even in daylight, drifting around us, smiling seductively. I cursed them, threw books at them, demanded they stay away from Wang Yan, and the servants whispered that I had gone mad.

Unable to bear this torment of suspicion any longer, I resolved to confront Wang Yan directly. But that day, he returned unusually early and prepared a table full of my favorite dishes.

"Yue Mi, have you forgotten? Today is your birthday. I have a gift for you."

Wang Yan moved the red candles and performed a shadow puppet show behind the screen, depicting a scholar and a young lady eloping.

"Do you like it? Haven’t you always missed this? I practiced for a whole month. These puppets were made by my own hands—look, doesn’t this one resemble me, and this one you?"

I threw myself into Wang Yan’s arms, tears streaming down my face. So all those late nights had been for me, while I had been doubting him all along.

Knowing he wasn’t skilled in business, I advised him not to take things too seriously. The Lin family’s wealth was vast; even if there were losses, they could afford them. But he shook his head, saying he had to honor his late father’s legacy and didn’t want others to look down on him.

After this, my mind settled somewhat, though I still suffered from severe nausea. Xiao Xiang suspected I might be pregnant and suggested calling a physician. Overjoyed at the thought, I gathered my strength and went to the clinic myself.

The physician confirmed my pregnancy, and I longed to fly to Wang Yan’s side to tell him immediately. Upon learning I was the Lin family’s young mistress, the physician asked me to take some medicinal herbs back for Wang Yan, saying he had ordered them. I saw they were all expensive tonics—cordyceps, ginseng, and the like. The physician mentioned that Wang Yan had been ordering such rare medicines from various apothecaries for the past two years.

A faint unease stirred within me. No one in the household needed such extensive tonics. After some thought, I checked the storeroom and found that many of the precious herbs had indeed been taken by Wang Yan. Breaking into a cold sweat, I entered the secret chamber and discovered that numerous land deeds, jewelry, and jade artifacts had vanished without a trace.

Terror seized me. I began to reconsider everything—my first meeting with Wang Yan, the dangers we faced, our elopement, even the great fire—it all seemed like part of a sinister plot. Sleepless through the night, I watched the next morning as Wang Yan, as usual, went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for me. I followed him secretly and saw him take a bamboo tube from his sleeve and pour some powder into my porridge. My heart stopped, and my scalp prickled with dread.That night, I found the bamboo tube in the cabinet and took some of the powder inside to the coroner at the yamen for examination. The coroner told me it was an extract of datura flowers, which could induce hallucinations and madness. In an instant, everything became clear. I was on the verge of collapse, my entire body cold and trembling as if trapped under an inescapable net, struggling to breathe. Frantically, I called for Xiao Xiang, gave her a large sum of silver, and instructed her to go immediately to White Mist Mountain to find a man named Dan Shen to treat me, promising her a hefty reward upon her return.

Xiao Xiang was terrified and refused to take the money. "If it's the young mistress's order, Xiao Xiang would gladly lay down her life. Does the young mistress not trust me?"

I laughed bitterly in my heart. Trust? Who could I still trust now?

The love I had given everything for was nothing but a lie. Shocked and dazed, I was filled with resentment and hatred. But before I could even figure out what to do, Wang Yan made the first move.

That night, neither of us could sleep. He suddenly sat up and threw a handful of powder into my face, paralyzing my body. He lit a candle and picked up the Silver Pixiu I always kept by my pillow, its gleaming blade reflecting on my face. I opened my eyes and looked at him sorrowfully. I never imagined that after so many years of marriage, he would personally kill me!

The face I knew so well, always gentle, was now expressionless. "Yue Mi, I heard you've been secretly going through the household accounts these past two days. You must have figured everything out by now. Why haven't you asked me?"

Ask what? The truth was already clear. If I spoke it aloud, there would truly be no turning back.

A flicker of guilt flashed in Wang Yan's eyes. "You would have found out eventually. I just didn't expect it to be so soon."

Wang Yan, I was never a foolish woman. Never. I just loved you too much, which is why I couldn't see your lies and deceit all these years!

"Xuan Xuan is my childhood sweetheart. Both our parents passed away early, and for all these years, I've been the one taking care of her."

Xuan Xuan? So that's her name? Foolishly, all I could think was how much more beautiful she must be than me to make you treat her this way—and me this way...

"She has a rare illness and needs expensive medicine. I had no other choice."

So you deliberately got close to me? Treated me well, even eloped with me? Were all those vows of eternal love just lies?

"Don't look at me like that! A pampered young lady like you, raised in wealth, could never understand how we struggled to survive together, how even watching a sunrise was a luxury for her! If fate has been so cruel to us, why can't I be cruel to you?" Wang Yan roared at me, his eyes filled with conflict and pain. With a swift motion, the Silver Pixiu plunged deep into my chest.

The pain wracked my body. Blood spilled from my lips as I smiled bitterly. What had I, Lin Yuemi, ever done wrong in this life to deserve such an end? Was it for being born into wealth? For being born into the Lin family? Or for loving you, Shen Wangyan?

"The... the baby... Wang Yan, please... for the child in my womb..." I struggled to speak, trying to stop him. Even if just for our child, could you show some mercy?

Wang Yan froze as if struck by lightning, staring at me in disbelief. "A child?"

I tried desperately to nod, but my body wouldn't move. All I could do was smile at him with all my strength.Wang Yan's body trembled violently, his eyes filled with hesitation and reluctance. He looked down at his blood-stained hands, tears falling drop by drop onto my face: "Yue Mi, it's too late now, there's no turning back. I never wanted this, but I knew you'd never allow me to bring her into our home. At first, I just wanted to make you lose your senses so I could still take care of you afterward. But since you found out, you'd never let Xuan Xuan go. I had to strike first. Yue Mi, don't hate me..."

With those words, he plunged another vicious stab into my chest. I closed my eyes in agony, my entire body numb and cold.

Shen Wang Yan, in your heart, am I really such a cruel person? For her sake, you'd abandon me—but even your own flesh and blood?

"Yue Mi..." He called my name, checked my breathing, then delivered a third brutal stab. Thick blood covered my body as Wang Yan wrapped me in a sheet, carried me to a dried-up well in the backyard, and threw me in. Then he sealed the well with a massive boulder.

[Three] Nightmare

Is all love in this world destined to end in betrayal?

Surrounded by darkness, I simply stared wide-eyed into the void. Soon, faint shouts of "Fire!" and urgent gong strikes reached my ears. Indeed, for a mistress already known to be half-mad, someone as skilled in deception as Wang Yan could conjure a thousand flawless explanations for my death or disappearance.

I was grateful he hadn't buried me somewhere or dismembered my body to destroy the evidence. Immersed in darkness, I'd forgotten what pain and fear even meant. Drifting in and out of consciousness, I seemed to return to primordial chaos, yet kept dreaming of days spent with Wang Yan.

After what felt like days, someone finally moved the massive stone above. Moonlight poured into the well like liquid silver, and I saw a flash of crimson before exhaling softly.

Master Dan Shen appeared this time in the form of a young nobleman—handsome, yet with a roguish smile. Like a falling red leaf, he landed beside me, pulled me from the well, and extracted the Silver Pixiu still embedded in my chest. Blood gushed out but quickly stopped. Xiao Xiang stood behind him, utterly terrified.

Weak and trembling, I curled up in his arms like a wronged child. After a long silence, I finally managed to speak.

"Master... I'm hungry..."

Dan Shen took Xiao Xiang and me away from the Lin estate to recuperate at White Mist Mountain. When I glanced back, my eyes remained dry. The Lin estate was my home, and Wang Yan was my husband. No matter what, I wouldn't let anyone take them from me!

After years apart, my master Dan Shen remained the strangest person I'd ever known. He was the world's finest herbalist and the greatest painter—though while others painted landscapes, Dan Shen painted skins. Changing faces was as simple as changing clothes, and I never knew his true appearance. Sometimes he was a man, sometimes a woman. Though he'd taken countless disciples, only animals ever stayed by his side. He used to say human hearts couldn't be trusted—I hadn't understood then, but now it was too late.

When I told him I wanted revenge, he took my face and replaced it with that of an ordinary middle-aged woman—dull complexion marked by years of toil. My original face now hung on his collection wall alongside countless others, eyes peacefully closed as if in eternal slumber.

Six months later, I returned to the Lin estate as a cook. The woman Wang Yan called Xuan Xuan had moved in, introduced as a distant cousin seeking refuge due to grave illness. She lived reclusively in a remote courtyard, rarely seen. Meanwhile, I had supposedly died sleepwalking into a fire in the southern study, with Wang Yan suffering severe burns trying to save me. Though many doubted, my history of sleepwalking was well-known, making the accident plausible. Moreover, Wang Yan's universally liked nature discouraged suspicion—and even skeptics lacked means or evidence to challenge the story.

Wang Yan grew paler and thinner, constantly rushing about with worried expressions, summoning renowned physicians from across the land. He personally prepared her medicines in the kitchen daily, the doses growing heavier—I suspected the woman wouldn't last much longer. I longed to see her, often hiding in her courtyard's shrubs, but caught only her frail silhouette against the window, listening to Wang Yan speak to her with tenderness a hundred times greater than he'd ever shown me.It wasn't until a full moon night two months later, when Wang Yan helped her out for a walk, that I finally saw the woman who had ruined my life. Under the moonlight, she was as pale as jade, beautiful yet devoid of vitality. I couldn't describe the turmoil in my heart, only wondering—if Wang Yan had lived almost his entire life for her, would he follow her in death if she were to die?

So I asked my master to examine her. Surely she would believe the words of the legendary Ghost Doctor Salvia, said to bring the dead back to life. Avoiding Wang Yan's notice, after some careful planning, Dan Shen disguised himself as a venerable old man with a white beard and prescribed her medicine. Then, holding Wang Yan's birth chart and the Silver Pixiu, he told her she needed the heart of such a person as the medicinal catalyst. He would only stay for three days, so she must find it within that time. Afterward, he returned to White Mist Mountain with Xiao Xiang, whom he had also taken as a disciple.

Back then, Wang Yan had told me such a tragic and moving love story—one gravely ill and difficult to cure, the other unwavering, enduring hardships, compromising, and ultimately resorting to murder. Had I been an outsider, I would have been deeply moved. But unfortunately, the one sacrificed was me.

I loved Wang Yan so much that if he had fallen ill, I would have married another without hesitation, even killed for him. I tried to see things from his perspective, telling myself not to hate him. But how could I not hate the broken vows, the cold blade that tore apart my love and happiness, and the child in my womb? How could I not?

Yet I wouldn't hurt you, Wang Yan. I love you too much to bear it. I just wanted to see if this woman loved you as deeply as you loved her, if she truly deserved your love—

On the third night, I stood outside the window, watching the scene I had anticipated unfold before my eyes. Voices speaking, sobbing, the shattering of cups and bowls, the overturning of a table.

Wang Yan asked why. My lips moved numbly, echoing the same question—why?

Like watching shadow puppets leaning against Wang Yan's shoulder in the past, his figure swayed unsteadily on the window. Xuan Xuan, trembling all over, finally raised the dagger high and plunged it forcefully into Wang Yan's chest.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, Wang Yan. The Ghost Doctor told me that with a human heart as the catalyst, my illness would surely be cured. I'm sorry, I've wronged you, but this is my last chance. I don't want to die like this! I don't!"

"I won't let you die. Even if it means death, I won't let you go alone. I promised to take care of you forever..." Wang Yan collapsed. I could imagine him curled up on the ground in agony and disarray.

"But do you know how much I've suffered all these years, struggling alone on my sickbed, while you married that woman, spending every day together, basking in sweetness under the sun? Every time I think of it, I can hardly breathe from hatred!"

"I did it all for you. I was with Yue Mi, and I even killed her with my own hands! I even killed my own child!"

"I know, I know... Then help me one more time, won't you, Wang Yan? I don't want to live like a walking corpse anymore. I don't want to..."I heard Xuan Xuan's sobs, heard the sharp blade of the Silver Pixiu slice through flesh and pierce the sternum, heard Wang Yan's voice, half-laughing, half-crying, say, "Xuan Xuan, you didn’t need to do this. If only you had told me—even if it meant digging out my heart with my own hands, I wouldn’t have hesitated..."

The door burst open, and under the moonlight, a woman covered in blood stumbled out. Her once-beautiful face was twisted into something grotesque, and in her hands, she cradled a still-beating, crimson heart.

"I can finally see the sun again, I can finally see the sun again..." Xuan Xuan laughed wildly as she staggered forward, her voice more wretched than any cry.

I thought, she must have truly lost her mind...

Silence reclaimed the surroundings, the blood trailing from the room all the way to the corridor. I stepped over the stains and slowly entered. Wang Yan lay by the door, his eyes wide and vacant, staring blankly upward, his body still twitching from the pain.

I crouched beside him, smiling gently. "Wang Yan, Wang Yan, it's me—Yue Mi. I didn’t die. I came back. I promised to stay with you forever, didn’t I? Though I’ve changed my face... You won’t reject me, will you? If you do, I can ask Master Dan Shen to change it back—or maybe make it even prettier? It’s a shame the baby is gone, but it’s alright, we can always have another, right?"

Wang Yan jolted as if struck by a hammer, finally snapping back to reality, staring at me in disbelief. I didn’t know if my expression was as crazed as Xuan Xuan’s, so I only stroked his face more tenderly, soothing him.

"Wang Yan, do you finally understand now? How much it hurts to be killed by the one you love most—to have your heart torn out while you still live?"

I pulled open my collar, revealing three deep, jagged scars across my snow-white chest, hideous and grotesque.

"Wang Yan, how could you bring yourself to do it? Loving her, being good to her—that wasn’t wrong. But was it wrong for me to love you and give you everything? I kept wondering what I did wrong, what I lacked, that you could do it without a shred of hesitation or remorse. Have you forgotten all the words you once spoke to me? Or is it that all love in this world must end in betrayal?"

Wang Yan trembled, lips quivering, unable to speak. The bleeding from his chest had slowed. I picked up the Silver Pixiu from the ground, tilting my head as I widened my eyes at him.

"Do you know why the dishes I made for you were so delicious? Because of the Silver Pixiu—it’s a blade that can never kill. Whether I chopped off a fish’s head or a chicken’s neck, even if I cut them into pieces, every part would still be alive, still fresh. Tell me, how could food like that not taste good?"

Covering my mouth, I laughed. In Wang Yan’s eyes, I saw my own monstrous reflection—like a vengeful demon.

"So, whether you stab through my chest or she carves out your heart, we won’t die. None of us will. And the wounds will never heal!"

"See? You’re still mine, Wang Yan. No one can take you away. I don’t want your heart anymore—it was never truly mine. Now, I just want you to stay by my side forever..."

I clung to Wang Yan and wailed, tears and blood slowly seeping into the hollow wound in my chest.