Love Beyond the Grave

The twelfth day of the first month of the Xīn Hé era, Duan Xu was ordered to the Northern Territory to reassume the position of marshal and reorganize the troops. After lying low for two months, he shifted from defense to offense, recapturing Qingzhou. The governor of Yingzhou under Danzhi rebelled against Danzhi and surrendered to Great Liang.

The nineteenth day of the third month of the Xīn Hé era, the Great Liang army besieged the Upper Capital, cutting off its water supply.

The eighth day of the fourth month of the Xīn Hé era, the Danzhi Fengshun Emperor attempted to flee the Upper Capital under the cover of twenty thousand cavalry but was ambushed by the Great Liang army, forcing a humiliating retreat back into the city.

The fifth month of the Xīn Hé era, Danzhi sued for peace, requesting the preservation of their royal house. Duan Xu refused.

The sixth day of the sixth month of the Xīn Hé era, the Upper Capital fell. Duan Xu led his troops into the city, executing the Fengshun Emperor and nearly a hundred members of the Danzhi Royal Court. The High Priest committed suicide, and Danzhi was thus annihilated.

Duan Xu ordered his entire army that no harm should come to the city's inhabitants, even if they were Hú Qì People.

The seventh month of the Xīn Hé era, remnants of Danzhi forces in Yi and Ji prefectures led resistance efforts. Within half a month, they were driven to the northern grasslands by the Táng Běi Army and the Snow Treading Army.

From the seventh to the tenth month of the Xīn Hé era, over three months, the five prefectures of Tan, Qian, Gui, Ru, and Huan surrendered one after another.

The eleventh month of the Xīn Hé era, Duan Xu submitted a memorial proposing the relocation of the former Hú Qì populace to Qian, Ru, and Huan prefectures for farming, along with a ban on intra-ethnic marriages, requiring intermarriage with Han people. The Emperor approved.

The spring of the second year of Xīn Hé, Duan Xu returned to the Southern Capital, relinquished his military authority, declined rewards, and retired from office.

Regarding Duan Xu, the first-class hero of the Northern Seventeen Prefectures' recovery, various legends circulated in the Northern Territory. Some said he was born with divine strength and extraordinary intelligence, having once received teachings from immortals in a dream, making him invincible in battle.

Others claimed he was frail and rarely took to the battlefield, but the mere sight of his commander's banner would inspire the Great Liang army to fight valiantly without retreat.

It was said he was intimately familiar with the Danzhi Royal Court, instantly recognizing the Fengshun Emperor and the crown prince in disguise and executing them personally. He once conversed with the High Priest atop the city walls for three hours, after which the High Priest laughed and wept, declaring—"I return to the grasslands," before leaping to his death.

Legends told of his surviving numerous assassination attempts unscathed, often seen talking to himself as if accompanied by a deity offering constant protection.

Amidst the lush grass, singing orioles, and the warm spring sun, flowers bloomed brilliantly. Duan Xu, clad in black robes embroidered with silver pines, cypresses, and bamboo, had grown much thinner. His face bore signs of illness, yet his spirit remained strong. Sitting cross-legged before a grave, he tossed one victorious battle report after another into a brazier. The flames danced, and ashes floated leisurely in the bright light.

"In a few generations, the Hú Qì People within Great Liang will gradually become Han, blending bloodlines as Simu once envisioned. I’ve also presented your policy proposals to the Emperor," Duan Xu remarked casually, as if in idle conversation.

When he declined all victory banquets and returned the military tally to the Emperor, announcing his resignation, the Emperor's eyes flashed with genuine delight—only to be immediately clouded by suspicion. It was as if he couldn’t believe Duan Xu truly harbored no ambition for the realm, as previously claimed.

Knowing further words with this sovereign were futile, Duan Xu simply said as he placed the tally in the Emperor’s hands—"Your Majesty, the world is vast, and this tally is heavy. Hold it firmly."

"I wonder if the Emperor will read your proposals seriously, or if he’ll implement them even if he does. But it doesn’t matter. I gave Zhao Xing a copy too—he’s quite an interesting man." Duan Xu smiled faintly.Due to the passing of the late emperor and the ensuing internal strife in the court, the government had no time to deal with Zhao Xing in the northern Qi Prefecture. Zhao Xing thus openly remained in Qi Prefecture. Later, because of his military achievements, Duan Xu even secured him the position of Qi Prefecture Governor and the title of Duke of Xun.

Before leaving, Duan Xu compiled Fang Xianye’s governance experiences in Yun and Luo Prefectures along with his political treatises and presented them to Zhao Xing. After flipping through a few pages, Zhao Xing’s eyes lit up, and he repeatedly praised the work, expressing a desire to meet the author.

—The author, Fang Xianye, is already buried beneath the earth. If you achieve great success in the future, remember him.

—Lord Zhao once aspired to be the overlord of Qi Prefecture. Why not aim higher now?

At these words, Zhao Xing’s expression shifted slightly before he smiled knowingly.

Zhao Xing was a formidable figure, ambitious and resourceful, with a vision far broader than the one sitting on the high throne in the Southern Capital. Before leaving, Duan Xu returned the troops he had recruited from Qi Prefecture to Zhao Xing. Shi Biao was unwilling to return south, so Duan Xu persuaded him to stay by Zhao Xing’s side. In addition, he gifted Zhao Xing the blueprints for the Feather Formation Vehicle and his military manuals.

"The thorns have been cleared, the path opened." Duan Xu coughed twice, deftly wiping away the blood with a handkerchief, and smiled. "This is all I can do."

"Don’t blame me. These past few days, I’ve noticed I already have white hairs. Fang Xianye, ah—since ancient times, youth never returns. Have you not seen the travelers from distant lands? On the road to Chang’an, each return brings more aging."

Duan Xu tapped the tombstone with his index finger, smiling. If his old friend had been standing there, he would have seen the same bright, round eyes as always.

The sunlight was warm, the surroundings utterly still.

After a moment of silence, Duan Xu looked up at the clear blue sky and spoke whatever came to mind.

"Twelve years have passed in the blink of an eye. When I first met you, I thought, ‘This person looks so frail—nothing like me.’ If I had stayed in Great Liang, would I have grown up to be like you? You were too proud to hear such things, so there was much I never discussed with you. Now, looking back, it’s a shame."

"Jing Yuan’s marriage is settled. In a few months, she’ll wed. Her fiancé is a fine man, most importantly, he treats her very well—rest assured. Still, I think she might have had some affection for you. When you died, she wept for a long time. I asked why she was so heartbroken, and she said she didn’t know. If you two had spent more time together… Never mind, let’s not dwell on it."

Duan Xu sighed softly, his lips still curved in a smile, but his eyes grew desolate. He joked, "I used to think that once the Northern Territory was reclaimed, I’d entrust everything to you. Yet you slipped away first. Now I wonder—why did I ever believe the things I wanted to do would never fail?"

Chen Ying was now but a feeble, unconscious Wandering Soul, and Fang Xianye had departed long ago.

In the arrogance of youth, they thought they could outmaneuver misfortune and always triumph over fate. But as time rushed by, they realized that though they had not lost, they had never truly won either.

Flesh and blood could never withstand the unpredictability of life.

Someone appeared behind him, a faint fragrance spreading in the air. By now, he could barely discern the scent, but he knew who it was.

He Simu placed a hand on his shoulder and bent down. "Time to go back and take your medicine."Hearing the words "take your medicine," Duan Xu let out a long sigh, stroking the tombstone as he said, "I finally managed to visit my old friend. Can’t you let me talk to him a little longer?"

He Simu smiled faintly, unmoved. "Your excuses for avoiding medicine are getting more creative by the day."

Grabbing the back of his collar, she effortlessly pulled him up from the ground. Duan Xu didn’t resist, rising with her help, and said to the tombstone, "My wife is too fierce to disobey. Farewell, Xianye."

After a moment of silence, he finally smiled brightly. "In your next life, don’t meet someone as troublesome as me. Live lightly and find your own happiness."

As soon as the words fell, they vanished into a wisp of smoke. Before the tombstone, only sunlight, the chirping of insects, and birdsong remained.

Following his agreement with He Simu, after resigning from his official post, Duan Xu moved into the Star Clarity Palace so Tiantong Star Lord could treat him at any time. When Tiantong Star Lord removed the silver needles embedded in Duan Xu’s head, he immediately vomited blood and could barely stand.

Throughout the year-long war, under Tiantong Star Lord’s repeated warnings, Duan Xu had rarely taken to the battlefield himself, but the mental toll had been immense. By the war’s end, he was barely holding on, sustained only by the Star Lord’s needles to keep his spirit intact.

After the fall of the Upper Capital, he had rested for a while. This time, returning to the Southern Capital to settle matters with the Duan estate and relinquish his military authority, he had to rely on these measures to conceal his condition.

He Simu forced him to finish his medicine, then helped him lie down on the bed. Duan Xu, exhausted, blinked drowsily as if about to fall asleep. Half-conscious, he grasped He Simu’s arm and murmured, "How much time do I have left… just tell me…"

He Simu paused, her gaze burning into Duan Xu’s pallid face. Then she tucked his arm under the blanket and whispered in his ear, "I’ll tell you when you stop dodging your medicine."

Duan Xu pressed his lips together and closed his eyes, drifting off to sleep.

He Simu adjusted his blanket and sat quietly by his bedside, watching him.

While the Southern Capital basked in clear skies, the Star Clarity Palace on Mount Taizhao was shrouded in spring rain. Without the silver needles, Duan Xu was as fragile as paper, unable to withstand even a breeze. The doors and windows of the room were tightly shut, leaving only the sound of dripping rain to be heard.

He Simu thought to herself that Duan Xu was only twenty-six now. She had known him for just seven years.

She had once imagined him at seventy—old, white-haired, walking with a cane, his movements slow. She had envisioned teasing him mercilessly then, flaunting her ageless youth, possessing various young bodies to flit around him and provoke his frustration.

And then, she would take good care of him.

By that time, he would have long fulfilled his ambitions, becoming an old man who could leisurely bask in the sun by her side.

She would have that stretch of time with him entirely to herself. After knowing him for fifty years, she would slowly come to terms with the fact that he would eventually leave her, vanishing from this world.

But seven years was too short. She wasn’t ready.

Would he live to seventy? Would she get to see him gray-haired, one day dozing off peacefully, leaving her without pain or suffering?

Seven years was too short. Seven years was far too short."Have some pity on me too, Duan Fox," He Simu murmured softly. As she spoke, a sudden surge of intense emotion welled up within her—a mix of heartache, sorrow, and despair, overwhelming her like a raging tide.

She thought perhaps she wanted to cry.

But Evil Ghosts have no tears. Not even her parents had ever received a single tear from her.

"Has General Duan fallen asleep?" came a deliberately hushed voice. He Simu looked up to see Hejia Fengyi standing before her, bent slightly with his cane, dressed in his usual blue court robes—still appearing sickly yet inexplicably spirited as always.

He Simu nodded.

Hejia Fengyi sighed. "Senior Brother told me General Duan's condition isn't good..."

"Mm."

"If he passes, what will you do?"

He Simu was silent for a moment before replying, "There are still many things to be done. Aunt Jiang Ai is overseeing the Ghost Realm for me now, but her heart isn't in it. Eventually, she'll return the authority to me. Chen Ying's soul is still too weak now. In a few years, once his soul has been nurtured, I'll restore his consciousness to keep me company. His obsession is protection. If he's willing, perhaps in a hundred years, he could even take my place."

"I wasn't asking about what the Ghost King will do. I meant, what will you do, Old Ancestor?"

He Simu's gaze flickered slightly before she let out a bitter laugh. The room was filled only with the sound of pattering rain, the air quiet and damp.

"I don't know," she said, lifting her eyes to meet Hejia Fengyi's. "Perhaps only when that time comes will I find out."

Now, whenever she thought of Duan Xu's death, it felt as though time had vanished into thin air, leaving behind an endless blank expanse like an ocean. She could still see countless tasks awaiting her, but she could no longer see herself.

Hejia Fengyi's eyes softened, and he reached out silently to pat He Simu's shoulder.

Before long, Jiang Ai summoned He Simu to the Ghost Realm to handle some matters, and she left for the time being. Hejia Fengyi also prepared to leave the room when he noticed Duan Xu on the bed had opened his eyes.

Hejia Fengyi exclaimed in surprise, "So General Duan was just pretending to sleep earlier?"

"I slept for a while, then woke up," Duan Xu said slowly, sitting up with his usual bright smile on his pale face. "Your Excellency, I have a favor to ask."

Hejia Fengyi had a bad feeling. "What do you want to do?"

"Is there a way for me to lend all five senses to Simu at the same time? Even just for an hour would suffice," Duan Xu said, as though it were the most natural request.

Hejia Fengyi's eyes widened. Choking for a moment, he finally sputtered, "I've never wronged you in the past, nor do I have any grudges against you now. Why are you asking me to do something that would surely get me killed in front of the Old Ancestor?!"