Love Beyond the Grave

Duan Jingyuan was stunned for a moment before whispering, "Let me ask you one more time—are you Miss He? The same Miss He who stayed at our Duan residence recently, watched polo with me, and whom my brother likes?"

He Simu nodded.

Jing Yuan swallowed hard and continued, "You're... an Evil Ghost disguised as a human, and also... their leader, right?"

He Simu nodded again.

Jing Yuan tightened her grip on the scroll and said, "You saved me today, and I'll never forget this great kindness. But Miss He... could you spare my brother? He's a good man—he's never done evil or killed innocent people. Go take someone else's life instead!"

Hearing this, He Simu couldn't help but chuckle. Tilting her head, she said, "I'm not here to take your brother's life. The relationship between us... you could say we're lovers? Genuine lovers."

Jing Yuan stood frozen in place, as if witnessing a ghost-human romance play come to life.

"As for sparing him, you should talk to your brother about that. If he's willing, I have no objections. But your brother has known I'm an Evil Ghost from the very beginning."

Jing Yuan thought to herself—this really was just like those play scripts.

Since they were some distance from the Duan residence, He Simu took Jing Yuan aboard the Ghost King Lamp, flying over the Southern Capital toward the estate. As night fell and lanterns began lighting up the streets, Jing Yuan clung carefully to the lamp's pole, both fearful and awestruck as she gazed down at the familiar alleys and bustling human world below. Countless people came and went, rows of lanterns illuminating the mortal realm like the Milky Way.

She murmured in wonder, but a slight jolt made her panic and instinctively grab He Simu's wrist before hurriedly letting go.

He Simu glanced at her briefly before looking away. "I won't let you fall."

After a hesitant pause, Jing Yuan said, "Your hand is so cold."

"I'm dead. Naturally."

Jing Yuan studied He Simu's profile against the wind, then glanced at the distant ground below before cautiously reaching out to grasp the sleeve of He Simu's robe.

Noticing the hand clutching her sleeve from the corner of her eye, He Simu smiled faintly but said nothing.

"Miss He... why did you save me?"

"Though I'm dead, I'm not entirely without conscience. After all, you showed me around the Southern Capital for days, taught me about colors, deliberately stood up for me in front of Wu Wanqing... and you're Duan Xu's sister."

Jing Yuan was bewildered—everything that had happened today left her utterly confused. "Are all Evil Ghosts as gentle as you?"

This time, He Simu turned fully toward her. The bloodstains still marked her face, and her gaze turned solemn. That terrifying aura reminiscent of death returned, making Jing Yuan shiver.

"A wolf may save a lamb a hundred times, but the wolf remains a wolf, and the lamb remains a lamb. That is an eternal truth. Humans shouldn't hold overly high expectations of Evil Ghosts. Whether kind or cruel, living people should flee when they encounter us."

Jing Yuan suddenly wasn't sure if she should retract her hand from He Simu's sleeve.

"...Regardless, you're a ghost and my brother is human. Our paths are fundamentally different. I won't let him stay with you any longer!"He Simu smiled noncommittally, offering no response as she simply guided the Ghost King Lamp to land directly in the Duan family's courtyard. Duan Jingyuan's feet finally touched solid ground again. He Simu dispelled the illusion concealing her presence, and Jing Yuan glanced back at her, muttered a quick "thank you" before immediately turning away to lift her skirts and run off.

He Simu watched leisurely as the girl dashed into Duan Xu's courtyard. She walked over slowly, already hearing Jing Yuan's faint sobs in the distance—likely pouring out today's misfortunes to Duan Xu.

"Your Majesty."

He Simu turned to see Yan Zhang appearing beside her, bowing deeply.

"The matter Your Majesty entrusted has been completed."

"So quickly?"

"That living man was utterly worthless—couldn't withstand much at all."

"Then throw him back to his home. Cleanse his memories thoroughly."

"As you command." Yan Zhang straightened up, glancing toward Duan Xu's courtyard. "Your Majesty, you always show such favor to the living, yet they never appreciate it."

"Why would I need their gratitude? Do I require temples and sacrificial offerings from them?" He Simu turned her gaze to Yan Zhang. "Has your person come of age yet?"

Yan Zhang nodded.

He Simu asked no further, merely waving her hand in dismissal, and Yan Zhang withdrew.

Yan Zhang was the Mistress of the Xiao Ghost Hall, where all members were women—mostly those who had suffered in the mortal world. Despised and toyed with by men in life, they took greatest pleasure in tormenting men after death.

In life, Yan Zhang had deeply loved a man who betrayed her, leading to her disfigurement and tragic death. After becoming an Evil Ghost, she would seduce him in each reincarnation when he turned eighteen, ultimately ruining his family and ensuring his miserable demise.

How many lifetimes had it been now? Thirty perhaps?

In many cycles, the man had seemingly become a decent person. After so many reincarnations, he was no longer the one who had wronged Yan Zhang—this vengeance had long lost its meaning.

Did Yan Zhang know? Perhaps she simply didn't wish to.

He Simu sighed deeply, lightly leaping up to sit atop Duan Xu's courtyard wall just in time to see Jing Yuan tugging at Duan Xu's sleeve, asking: "Brother, did you know Miss He is an Evil Ghost?"

Duan Xu's gaze lifted past Jing Yuan to settle on He Simu perched on the wall. She smiled faintly. He looked back down, patting Jing Yuan's hand reassuringly as he said gently, "I know."

"And yet you... you still love her? You're still with her? Evil Ghosts devour people!"

"In this world, sometimes men devouring men is far more terrifying than ghosts devouring men."

"Brother! Are you even listening to me? Miss He—He Xiaoxiao is an Evil Ghost! How can she be your beloved? Humans and ghosts belong to different paths—yang and yin cannot mix. Being with her will surely harm you. Think carefully—you have your whole life ahead! You must marry and have children someday. If not for yourself, think of Father and Mother... Brother, haven't you seen how all tales of human-ghost romance end tragically? Please stop seeing her, break it off!"

Jing Yuan poured out her earnest admonitions, her pleas almost desperate—as if determined to rescue her third brother from damnation and set him back on the righteous path.

Duan Xu remained silent for a long moment. His eyes were always clear as undisturbed water, brimming with warmth that seemed to conceal nothing. Even now they remained so—calm as a shallow, crystalline pond.He replied very straightforwardly, "Alright."

Third Brother had agreed.

Duan Jingyuan thought, Third Brother actually agreed so easily. The stone in her heart seemed to drop, only to hang suspended halfway down.

"Third Brother, tell me the truth. Will you really never see her again? You’re not lying to me this time, are you?"

Her Third Brother stood with his back to the lamplight under the dark night sky, and she suddenly felt his expression was indistinct, as if he were distant and unreachable.

Duan Xu looked at her calmly, then said with a smile, "Jing Yuan, you already know the answer in your heart. Why ask me again?"

Duan Jingyuan released his hand and took two steps back. She scrutinized Duan Xu as if she didn’t recognize him. How could he lie so cheerfully and lightly?

"...Third Brother, why are you like this? How many more things are you hiding from me? We’re family. There shouldn’t be any secrets between us." She even sounded a little desperate.

Duan Xu thought that there were still people in this family who believed there were no secrets between them—this was probably one of the few remaining traces of warmth. So he pulled the bewildered Duan Jingyuan close, gently patting her shoulder as he said, "I’m sorry."

With this single apology, he silenced all of Duan Jingyuan’s questions.

Chen Ying, who had witnessed the entire exchange, approached them and tentatively said in a small voice, "The little miss even saved you on the polo field. She’s not a bad person."

Duan Jingyuan pushed Duan Xu away and glared at Chen Ying. "Do you think I don’t know that? I know she’s good... she’s been good to me too. But no matter how good she is... she’s an Evil Ghost! Third Brother, why did you have to fall for an Evil Ghost? Either you hide it for the rest of your life, or you’ll be exposed and scorned. You... you..."

As she spoke, her eyes reddened. Unable to continue, she turned and stormed out, slamming the courtyard gate with a deafening crash.

Duan Xu and Chen Ying exchanged a glance. Chen Ying worriedly said, "Jing Yuan-jie won’t tell anyone, will she?"

Duan Xu chuckled. "She won’t. She’s afraid Father will beat me. But she’ll probably be angry at me for a long time. I’ll have to ask someone how to cheer her up."

With that, he looked up. He Simu, who had also witnessed the whole scene, jumped down from the courtyard wall and walked over to him, extending her hand. "Come on, I’ll take you somewhere."

Without asking where, Duan Xu took her hand and said, "Alright."

Chen Ying hesitantly piped up, "Can I come too?"

Before his words even settled, He Simu and Duan Xu vanished before his eyes. Scratching the back of his head, he looked around in confusion before pouting and returning to his martial arts practice.

Duan Jingyuan had previously thought He Simu had left the Southern Capital, yet Duan Xu didn’t seem the least bit upset—as if she hadn’t left at all. That was because He Simu had merely reverted to her Evil Ghost form. She hadn’t left and still frequently visited Duan Xu.

He Simu and Duan Xu sat atop the Ghost King Lamp, floating high above the Southern Capital. She said she had been walking down the street when she suddenly sensed Jing Yuan’s aura—in a place Jing Yuan never frequented—and had gone to investigate out of curiosity. There, she saw Jing Yuan’s maid, Biqing, lying in a pool of blood, while Wang Qi was trying to drag Jing Yuan away, clearly with ill intentions.

"But I’ve already taken care of Wang Qi."

Duan Xu nodded. He reached out to wipe the blood from He Simu’s face and said, "Thank you for today.""It was nothing."

"But why did you bring me here?"

"Just now when I flew Jing Yuan over, she was amazed by the night view of the Southern Capital. It occurred to me that you probably never had the chance to enjoy such scenery here, so I wanted to show you."

The wind howled fiercely as white silk threads twisted and curled between the heavens and earth, winding through streets and alleys. People looked like ants, houses resembled lacquered boxes, and lantern lights resembled the Milky Way. Even the most solemn and grand palaces appeared tiny, reminding Duan Xu of the sandcastles he used to build at Heaven Knows.

"Do you like it?" He Simu asked.

"Of course I do. I like it immensely."

Duan Xu thought to himself that she always seemed to want to give him something—a bit awkward and clumsy, yet utterly endearing.

He Simu cleared her throat and said, "Actually, this is a good time to say goodbye. I need to return to the Ghost Realm. I've been away too long—there are matters that require my attention."

Duan Xu sighed deeply. "So you reveal your identity to my little cousin, then dump this mess on me and run away? I have a feeling I'll be keeping an empty bed for years to come."

He Simu glanced at him. "What was I supposed to say to her?"

"Fair enough. When you're not pretending to be human, not scaring people is already an achievement."

"Then why haven't I scared you away?"

"Why wouldn't I leave? I'll be departing in a few days too—to recruit troops."

He Simu recalled the stacks of diagrams she'd often seen on Duan Xu's desk recently and asked if those were the battle formations he planned to use.

Duan Xu nodded. "Yes. Even with our sturdy armor and strong horses, Great Liang's cavalry can't match the Hú Qì People who grew up on horseback. Our cavalry inevitably lags behind, so infantry becomes crucial. I'm very familiar with Danzhi's cavalry tactics—we need to find infantry strategies that counter them. Before, we took advantage of Danzhi's internal strife to capture three provinces with surprise attacks. But now that their unrest is subsiding, things won't be so easy anymore. We need foolproof plans."

He Simu chuckled. "So you're planning to test your theories on your new recruits? Where will you recruit them from? Have you decided?"

"Oh? Does the Ghost King have recommendations?"

"Shenzhou. Shenzhou produces the most Evil Ghosts. Only those fierce enough in life remain fierce after death. Shenzhou has too many people and too little land—families and villages frequently clash, often escalating to armed battles and blood feuds passed down through generations."

"Oh? That does sound promising."

"Fox Duan, human life is limited. How long do you plan to wage war?"

Duan Xu pondered before answering: "As the saying goes—five victories bring disaster, four bring exhaustion, three bring dominance, two bring kingship, and one brings emperorship. Prolonged and frequent warfare would strain both the treasury and the people. Danzhi is simply too vast. I think three northern campaigns to reclaim all lost territories would be appropriate."

Three campaigns—what bold words. But this was typical of Duan Xu. He Simu leaned against his shoulder, bringing her face close to his as she teased, "My little general's ambitions are truly outrageous."

Duan Xu laughed, his eyes gleaming with smug satisfaction as he lowered his head to touch hers. "Is that so? Then I suppose for a hundred years after my death, you won't fall for anyone else—you'll never find another madman as extraordinary as me."

He Simu blinked. "And after a hundred years I will?""You still can't find me, but you'll slowly forget me—forget all the fervor of my life, until I become nothing more than an indistinct silhouette lost to time. You might even point at my grave someday and say, 'I used to love this person very much, but now... I can't even remember their name.'"

Duan Xu spoke with startling composure, then added playfully, "Could you remember me a little longer? Just another hundred years?"

He Simu looked at him, recalling how he'd appeared amidst a sky full of red firecracker debris in his crimson wedding robes. She remembered his figure galloping across golden summer sunlight. Smiling silently, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

"Duan Shunxi, I've noticed you've gotten much better at playing the pity card lately," she said.

Duan Xu sighed dramatically. "Ah, you've seen through me."

The night wind howled over the Southern Capital. Under the moonlight, countless white threads wove through the air around them, tangling their hair together and stitching their bodies into one. Heaven and earth became their cocoon, and they the larvae within.

Three days later, He Simu left the Southern Capital. Ten days after that, Duan Xu was also dispatched from the city to suppress bandits.

Deep within the Nine Palaces Maze Prison of Jade Zhou City, in an ocean of boundless, lightless darkness, a dim area suddenly flickered to life—illuminated by the glow of a Heart Candle.

There, seated on the ground, was a figure with snow-white hair, lashes, and robes. His body bore numerous wounds, leaving him looking battered and frail as he sat with bowed head in silence.

The newcomer crouched down, the Heart Candle's light revealing the figure's face, and called his name: "Bai Sanxing, time to wake up."

The all-white Evil Ghost lifted pitch-black eyes. The vacant dullness in them gradually sharpened into focus, as if he were waking from an interminable dream. For a long moment, he simply stared at the newcomer in disbelief before finally rasping out in a hoarse voice: "How... is it you?"