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Shen Xihe’s pupils contracted slightly: "Soul-seizing Art? I’ve heard of it..."
She had heard of it back in the Northwest. Her uncles often gathered for casual drinks, and when the wine warmed their spirits, they couldn’t resist reminiscing about the past—especially the ever-changing and heart-pounding events on the battlefield.
Father rarely participated, mostly listening, soothing tensions, or cracking jokes to lighten the mood. Only once did he speak with a grave expression, recounting a battle from which he had nearly failed to return.
It was a campaign to stabilize the rear against a mysterious tribe from the Western Regions. The enemy was highly skilled in manipulating minds. As they passed through valleys, they could hear enchanting songs drifting from the mountain peaks. The women’s voices were utterly mesmerizing, and those with weak wills would instantly fall into illusions, even turning their blades against their own comrades.
During night marches, they often heard eerie, chilling cries—mournful and pleading, as if the land were teeming with lonely ghosts. Some soldiers, unable to endure the haunting, demonic sounds, chose to end their lives with a single stroke of their blades.
Such bizarre and indescribable occurrences were countless. It was the battle where Shen Yueshan suffered his heaviest losses. Yet he endured all of this, only to face something even more terrifying: an ambush. After being scattered, a thick fog enveloped them. When the mist finally cleared and they regrouped, Shen Yueshan detected nothing unusual at first.
But then strange events kept unfolding. One by one, those around him fell. Shen Yueshan began to suspect that someone among his personal guards had been replaced. Yet when he tested them, the results showed every one was genuine.
Thus, Shen Yueshan couldn’t easily suspect anyone. A single mistaken suspicion could lead to an irreversible tragedy.
"What happened next..." Xiao Huayong rarely heard Shen Xihe voluntarily speak about Shen Yueshan’s past, especially when it involved the mysterious Soul-seizing Art, which piqued his curiosity even more.
"Later..." Shen Xihe lowered her gaze. "It was discovered that my father’s captain of the personal guards had been placed under a spell and turned traitor..."
This person was much like the current Fifth Son of the Yu family—fully aware of his actions and their consequences, unafraid of exposure, and utterly convinced he had done nothing wrong.
"Youyou, would you like to know how I came to learn of such an extraordinary art in this world?" Xiao Huayong asked softly.
Shen Xihe collected her emotions and looked up at Xiao Huayong. Her expression suggested that it was only natural for him to know such things—in her eyes, he was erudite, omniscient, and remarkably capable. "Is there a special reason?"
Xiao Huayong nodded slightly, his lips parting as he spoke in an even tone. "I was once placed under this art."
Shen Xihe abruptly stood up, her eyes fixed on him with tension.
Women of noble birth were expected to be demure and graceful, their comportment a model for others.
This was the first time Xiao Huayong had seen the hairpin in Shen Xihe’s hair sway so violently. He couldn’t help but let a faint smile touch his lips. "It happened when I was ten. I kept feeling as if something was constantly sounding in my ears—rhythmic and orderly. Whenever these sounds arose, it was as if someone was whispering temptations to me. I couldn’t make out the words, but it felt like an invisible rope binding me tightly..."
At that time, his wings were not yet fully grown. Although Tianyuan and others were already by his side, they were far from possessing their current capabilities. He informed Tianyuan and asked him to investigate, but they couldn’t uncover who was behind these supernatural tricks."What happened next?" Shen Xihe asked with the same urgency Xiao Huayong had shown moments before.
"Later..." Xiao Huayong's smile remained unchanged, but the faint traces of coldness shimmering in his eyes made his grin send chills down one's spine. "I couldn't shake off that bewitching voice, nor could I find where he was hiding. So I decided to play along..."
He intended to stop resisting and see what tricks this person had up their sleeve.
But he never expected to truly experience a period where his mind went completely blank. He had no recollection of what he did during that time. When he finally regained consciousness, ten days had already passed. He couldn't remember a single thing about his actions during those ten days.
However, Tianyuan, who had been following him all along, said that during those ten days, he was still himself—behaving no differently from usual and never doing anything out of the ordinary.
Shen Xihe grew deeply concerned upon hearing this: "So you've never recalled what happened during those ten days? Have you been bewitched again since?"
"Neither." Xiao Huayong grasped her hand. "I can't remember those ten days at all, and no one has ever tried to bewitch me again since. The me of today is no longer a ten-year-old child."
Not only did he now have fully grown wings making it difficult for ordinary people to get close, but even if someone managed to break through all barriers and sneak up beside him, his current mental fortitude...
Thinking this, he met Shen Xihe's worried gaze and chuckled softly: "Nowadays, only you can bewitch me."
Such a serious and dangerous conversation was suddenly interrupted by Xiao Huayong's flirtatious remark, leaving Shen Xihe unsettled. Her expression shifted between clear and cloudy, as if unsure whether to relax or get angry.
This provoked a brief laugh from Xiao Huayong, who lifted her hands and gently kissed the back of them.
Taking a deep breath, Shen Xihe returned to the main topic: "So you never found out who cast the spell on you back then? Or why they did it?"
"Never found out." The smile completely vanished from Xiao Huayong's face. "It was only later, during my travels, that I met an extraordinary person who understood these arts. By chance, we went through hardships together, and he gave me some guidance."
"Only then did I learn that I had actually been subjected to the Soul-seizing Art back then. This extraordinary person tested me using his methods, confirmed that I was no longer under any spell, and then drifted away into the distance."
"I'm surprised you didn't recruit such a talented person for your own use." Shen Xihe expressed some astonishment.
"While I thirst for talent, I can also recognize that some people are like birds meant to soar through the nine heavens. If caged, they either lose their ability to survive or gradually decline until they die of depression." Since he admired the person, why force them to stay?
No wonder all the people around him were so loyal, Shen Xihe nodded to herself. She approved of Xiao Huayong's broad-mindedness and magnanimity.
Those of imperial lineage, born into a life of flattery and smooth sailing, often develop intolerance toward defiance. They tend to be dictatorial—when they desire something, they'd rather destroy it than fail to obtain it.
"Youyou has finally discovered another merit of mine." Xiao Huayong preened with self-satisfaction.
Shen Xihe couldn't help but roll her eyes at him. He kept trying to steer the conversation off track, while she kept pulling it back: "So, Fifth Young Master Yu was subjected to the Soul-sealing Art! Prince Jing has such a capable person behind him!"
She lifted her eyes to gaze intently at Xiao Huayong: "Beichen, do you have a way to counter it?"It is a fact that Yu Wu Lang destroyed the reservoir. Even if he was under a spell, he could not escape accountability. Shen Xihe had achieved her goal, but she had no intention of letting Xiao Changyan off so easily. Especially since someone so formidable was hidden behind Xiao Changyan, forcing her to proceed with caution—this made it all the more imperative to uncover that person. For your convenience in future readings, you can click the "Bookmark" below to save your progress (Chapter 669: I Was Once Under a Spell). The next time you open your bookshelf, it will be visible!
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