Love Beyond the Grave

Shi Biao and Ding Jin launched a surprise attack, swiftly severing the connection between the rebel forces and Danzhi's army according to Duan Xu's arrangements. Meanwhile, with Purple Micro's assistance, news of Tang Dequan defecting to Danzhi spread like wildfire, causing seventy to eighty percent of Tang's subordinates to switch allegiance to Duan Xu. Before Tang Dequan could even betray them, he found himself isolated and fled in panic to Danzhi's territory seeking refuge.

With this, two-thirds of Jingzhou fell into Duan Xu's hands. He continued attacking the remaining cities in Jingzhou with the Returning Crane Army and Meng Wan's Solemn Valor Army as the vanguard. Shi Biao, who had once ruled as a mountain bandit, excelled in ambushes and mountain warfare, employing unscrupulous tactics that often allowed him to defeat larger forces through deception, making him a standout on the battlefield. Danzhi's most prized heavy cavalry, clad in full armor, struggled in mountainous terrain and were worn down by Shi Biao's relentless harassment.

Meng Wan's Solemn Valor Army, in contrast, was far more methodical. While Shi Biao excelled at assaulting cities, he was poor at holding them, often losing and retaking the same city multiple times. Thus, they coordinated—Shi Biao led the breakthroughs, while the Solemn Valor Army secured the gains. Within half a month, they steadily swallowed up Jingzhou.

During this time, Duan Xu seized the moment to send a letter to Zhao Xing, the rebel leader of Qizhou. Zhao Xing had controlled Qizhou for some time, and Great Liang had sent wave after wave of envoys to negotiate. While General Qian of Weizhou had already pledged allegiance to Great Liang, Zhao Xing remained evasive.

Truth be told, Great Liang had rewarded Qian Chengyi handsomely, and Zhao Xing would receive no less. Yet despite knowing this, he remained ambiguous, watching the Jingzhou rebellion from the sidelines—likely hoping to fish in troubled waters and carve out his own dominion.

Duan Xu's letter was polite in tone but firm in content: Tang Dequan, who had betrayed them for Danzhi, had been beheaded by Han patriots and left to rot in the streets. If Zhao Xing chose Danzhi, he would meet the same fate. Duan Xu needed Qizhou as a base to encircle and break through Youzhou—if Zhao Xing refused to submit, he would take Qizhou the same way he had taken Jingzhou. Then, Zhao Xing would no longer be a hero but a traitor.

Not long after the letter arrived, Zhao Xing sent an envoy declaring his willingness to accept Great Liang's rewards and surrender Qizhou.

"Zhao Xing is cunning. Though he's agreed to submit, there will likely be complications—we'll have to watch closely. Qizhou is our rear base for the campaign against Youzhou and must remain stable. Xia Qingsheng is cautious and meticulous—send him to Qizhou first to meet Zhao Xing and reorganize his troops. I'll follow shortly," Duan Xu instructed Chen Ying after setting down Zhao Xing's letter.

Chen Ying nodded.

"Does Purple Micro have anyone reliable in Qizhou?"

"Sister Luo mentioned that Zhang Qian, Zhao Xing's military advisor, is one of Purple Micro's people. She observed him before and finds him trustworthy."

"Good. Have Xia Qingsheng contact Zhang Qian upon arrival. If Qing Sheng also deems him reliable, place Zhao Xing's elite troops under Zhang Qian's command. Before Zhao Xing departs for the Southern Capital to receive his title, Purple Micro must keep a close eye on him."

"Understood," Chen Ying replied.

Duan Xu exhaled in relief before abruptly changing the subject. "How is your Brother Han doing now?"

This was the first time in over half a month that Duan Xu had mentioned Han Lingqiu. Upon his return, he had thrown Han Lingqiu into prison without further inquiry, publicly justifying it as punishment for insubordination.Chen Ying had received much care from Han Lingqiu over the past four months. Seeing Han Lingqiu return as a completely different person—silent and gloomy—and noticing the strange tension between Han Lingqiu and Duan Xu, Chen Ying had long been puzzled. Now, hearing Duan Xu mention Han Lingqiu, he couldn't help but shudder, thinking to himself, Third Brother is finally bringing this up. Eagerly, he asked, "Still the same... He doesn’t speak at all. Even when I try to talk to him, he doesn’t respond. Third Brother, what exactly happened to Big Brother Han?"

Duan Xu let out a long sigh and chuckled, "You call him 'Big Brother' but me 'Third Brother'—you’ve just demoted me in seniority."

He stood up from his chair and stretched. "Come, let’s go see him. Since he can’t figure it out himself, I’ll help him."

Baffled, Chen Ying followed Duan Xu all the way to the prison. Duan Xu strolled leisurely with his hands behind his back, stopping before the bars. He turned to look at the disheveled, sullen figure in the corner. Half a month had passed, and Han Lingqiu’s physical wounds had mostly healed, but the scars on his heart clearly remained. He was a far cry from the earnest, sincere, and simple Han Lingqiu of the past—as if another soul had been forced into his body.

But in a way, that was exactly what had happened.

The boy who fought for the Azure God under Heaven Knows could not accept being Han Lingqiu, the general of Great Liang.

And Han Lingqiu, who defended his homeland, could not accept the bloodstained youth of Heaven Knows who slaughtered innocents.

He had two diametrically opposed, mutually hostile pasts. Now, the teachings he had received in Heaven Knows and the beliefs he once held dear had returned to his mind. He had once sworn that no matter his past, he was only Han Lingqiu of Great Liang. But now, that seemed nothing more than a naive and wishful delusion.

Duan Xu unlocked the door, the sound of the mechanism echoing through the empty cell. As he turned the key, he called out, "Han Lingqiu."

Han Lingqiu’s gaze snapped toward him, filled with wariness and hatred. "Don’t call me that name," he said coldly.

"What? It’s not like I gave you that name. Are you blaming me for it now?" Duan Xu walked up to Han Lingqiu and crouched down to meet his eyes, smiling. "Remember, you once choked me. Attacking me in such a situation could be considered betrayal."

Han Lingqiu’s eyes flickered before he sneered. "Betrayal? Isn’t that your specialty?"

Duan Xu straightened up, rubbing the key in his hand as he studied Han Lingqiu for a moment. Then he said, "Speaking to your commanding officer in such a tone—it seems you’ve completely abandoned being Han Lingqiu. Have you decided to return to Danzhi?"

Han Lingqiu clenched his teeth and fell silent.

"Lingqiu, how about another Nether Trial with me?" Duan Xu said, unsurprised when Han Lingqiu’s eyes widened in shock. He added, "The Nether Trial is a fight to the death. If you win, you can kill me."

On the grassy plains of Yunzhou in the afternoon, the shallow lake shimmered under the warm, bright sunlight. The lush green grass grew tall enough to brush past one’s ankles. There was no wind—all was peaceful.Duan Xu and Han Lingqiu stood facing each other from a distance by the sunlit lake, both clad in black robes. Duan Xu wore a black and silver headband, just as he had when traversing the Ghost Realm, looking nothing like a military commander but rather like a carefree youth.

Han Lingqiu gazed at Duan Xu from afar, as if peering through nine years of time to see that outstanding opponent from Heaven Knows whom everyone had looked up to. Duan Xu was taller now, his frame more angular, but otherwise, he hadn’t changed much from his days in Heaven Knows. Back then, too, he had always worn that perpetually smiling expression, as if untouched by any troubles.

Han Lingqiu wondered vaguely—had he ever envied Duan Xu? It seemed he had, perhaps for Duan Xu’s talent, their master’s favor, or simply his happiness. He couldn’t quite remember now. Back then, they had no names, no friends. To him, Duan Xu had been nothing more than a symbol.

In those long years, everything had been reduced to symbols—what was right, what was wrong, what held value, what was worthless—all neatly categorized. Simple, precise, uniform, and deeply ingrained.

Now, he was utterly disoriented. Over the past half-month, he often felt on the verge of madness. Whether as Han Lingqiu or as a disciple of Heaven Knows, it all felt like betrayal. He couldn’t find himself, didn’t know where he belonged.

And standing before him, composed and unruffled, was the very instigator of it all—Duan Xu. He had never understood this man, not in the past, and not now.

From across the distance, Duan Xu smiled faintly in the sunlight. He lifted a black cloth and tied it over his eyes, then called out, “General Han, focus now.”

As Han Lingqiu tied the cloth over his own eyes, he thought it was contradictory—Duan Xu wanted to challenge him using Heaven Knows’ Nether Trial, yet kept addressing him as “General Han.” Perhaps losing to Duan Xu here once more and being killed by him would be his best ending.

With his vision obscured, the world plunged into darkness, sharpening all his other senses. He heard Chen Ying shout the start, followed by the faint but swift sound of footsteps approaching from ahead. In that moment of hesitation, the gust of a blade swept toward him, and he barely managed to dodge. In that instant, he realized—Duan Xu was serious.

He was pulled into Duan Xu’s rhythm. Duan Xu’s speed was so overwhelming that Han Lingqiu could only retreat and defend. It had been years since anyone had pushed him to this point. Amid the clashing of blades, memories buried deep in his bones began to resurface. It was as if he had returned to those days of life-and-death struggles with Duan Xu, the relentless pursuit of breaking his limits, the days steeped in bloodshed—all vividly alive again in this darkened world.

For those seven years, it seemed he had killed someone every single day.

He had reveled in it. People were no longer people to him but mere livestock. He delighted in the sound of blades piercing flesh, in pleas and screams, in the splatter of blood and shattered limbs. He took pride in it, found joy in it.

This was the meaning of his existence.

To his younger self, slaughter had been the most beautiful thing in the world.

Yet now, these vivid memories filled Han Lingqiu with terror.Not only was he afraid, but he also felt disgusted. He wished he could chop off his own limbs—those filthy limbs stained with blood. He wanted to run back to the past and pin down that person who reveled in slaughter, to silence that person, to smash that person’s skull.

He wanted to cry for help.

Someone, save that person. Someone, save him.

If only someone had stopped him before he killed his first person—even if it meant truly severing his hand—he would have been endlessly grateful.

Desperately, he wanted to grab hold of someone to save the Evil Ghost-like version of himself, but it was already too late.

Not only that, but a voice in his mind mocked him, telling him that the world was always meant to be this way. Weren’t you happy back then? What are you despairing about now? Just choose to return to that path of the past, and you can walk it smoothly once more.

You are a glorious warrior of the Azure God. Those you killed were merely necessary sacrifices. Release the hand choking your own throat. Stop struggling. Go back to the past.

"Why won’t you kill me?"

The sudden voice pierced through the darkness of Han Lingqiu’s world. He froze, realizing that in his state of extreme despair and madness, he had been attacking Duan Xu almost purely on instinct, heedless of his own life.

And then it seemed he had won. How could he have won?

Han Lingqiu tore off the black cloth covering his eyes. Duan Xu sat on the ground, clutching his abdomen as blood seeped between his fingers, while Han Lingqiu’s sword pointed at Duan Xu’s throat. Duan Xu spat out a mouthful of blood, wiped his lips leisurely, and said, "Not only have you not regressed, you’ve improved quite a bit. Lingqiu, why won’t you kill me?"

In the darkness, Han Lingqiu had lost all sense of time. It had felt like only a moment, yet now the sun was setting, painting the world in a dazzling crimson. The lake beside them reflected the scarlet twilight and the sinking sun, as if it were a pool of boiling lava.

Duan Xu looked up at Han Lingqiu calmly, and in his gaze, Han Lingqiu saw a trace of pity.

Suddenly, he remembered the sunset nine years ago on the dueling platform, just before he and Duan Xu began the Nether Examination. Duan Xu had looked at him the same way then.

Faintly, he recalled that in the ensuing haze of confusion, someone had carried him on their back, staggering along a long, winding path. That person had said to him—Go south. Go to Great Liang. Don’t come back.

Han Lingqiu seemed unable to bear it any longer. With a low growl, he threw down his sword and grabbed Duan Xu by the collar, his eyes bloodshot as he gritted his teeth and demanded, "Why… why did you save me? Don’t tell me it was some damned pity—we’ve even killed three-year-old children! There’s no bond between you and me. Why didn’t you kill me?"

Duan Xu met his gaze without flinching, then smiled. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, dripping onto Han Lingqiu’s hand where it gripped his collar.

"The sole survivor becomes Seventeen. I didn’t want to be Seventeen, so I couldn’t let you die. I wasn’t saving you—I was saving myself."

Han Lingqiu was stunned.

"Of course, as you said, we’ve killed three-year-old children. What does it change if I saved you in the end? Nothing. It’s just a childish notion, a reason to comfort myself. But Lingqiu, it’s these childish notions that have kept me going.""You say I'm good at betrayal, but in my view, I've never betrayed anyone. The struggles and thoughts you're grappling with now—I've already wrestled with them long ago. Since then, I've only been loyal to myself. But you and I are different. Out of selfishness, I disregarded your wishes and made this choice for you."

Duan Xu held Han Lingqiu's hand, which was gripping his collar, and smiled calmly. "Lingqiu, I apologize for my presumptuousness and for the scar on your face. I'm sorry."

Han Lingqiu gradually loosened his grip. He lowered his gaze and remained silent for a moment, then gave a wry smile as if finding the situation absurd. "You saved me, and now you're apologizing to me. I’m not so ungrateful as to not recognize that."

He raised his eyes to meet Duan Xu's, the crimson hues of dusk reflected in his gaze. The frenzy had settled into a deeper, more profound wound. "Marshal Duan," he said.