Love Beyond the Grave

Duan Xu opened his eyes to the morning light falling upon them, stinging slightly. But soon this minor discomfort was overwhelmed by the pain radiating throughout his body, especially from his chest—so intense that the eye pain became negligible. Over the years, thanks to his dulled senses, his perception of pain had weakened. Injuries that once required gritted teeth to endure now seemed bearable.

Memories slowly returned to him—the chaotic galloping of horses in the dark, arrows flying, enemies by the mountain, being surrounded and then breaking through. The last memory froze on the image of an arrow hurtling toward him. He raised his hand to touch the bandage on his chest, realizing this must be where he was wounded.

How perilous. It seemed these assailants had specifically targeted him.

He turned his head, intending to call for Chen Ying, but instead saw a woman sitting in the room. The morning light seeped through the paper door, casting a glow on the floor between them. Clad in dark red robes, she sat in the shadows, watching him calmly through the floating dust. There was something different about her presence today.

Duan Xu’s heart sank. Hadn’t Simu said she wouldn’t come looking for him anytime soon?

Seeing him awake, He Simu remained silent.

Feeling uneasy, Duan Xu called out tentatively, “Simu?”

Her features were indistinct in the dimness. After a long pause, she finally spoke. “You were besieged for three days.”

“Ah, well—”

“Three full days. Why didn’t you call for me?”

Her voice was eerily calm, and Duan Xu couldn’t quite grasp her mood, though he suspected she might be angry. Summoning his strength, he forced a smile. “Victory and defeat are common in war. It’s not the first time I’ve been trapped. If I called for you every time, you’d surely grow tired of it.”

He Simu didn’t respond. Silence filled the room, making even the chirping of birds and insects outside seem unbearably loud.

Growing restless, Duan Xu continued, “Besides, if you came, you’d only save me—maybe Chen Ying at most. But I’m the commander of an army. I can’t just abandon my soldiers and flee, can I?”

As he spoke, he tried to prop himself up on his elbows, struggling to sit up. In that instant, He Simu moved. She stood and flashed to his side in a blur of crimson robes, then sat astride his waist, pinning his shoulders back onto the bed.

Duan Xu froze, looking up at her. Only then did he notice her eyes had turned pitch-black, her body wreathed in ghostly energy. Normally, she took great care to suppress it when she appeared before him—but today was different.

“Did I… say something wrong?” Duan Xu sensed something was off.

He Simu slowly leaned down, her cold hair brushing against his cheek. The darkness in her eyes receded, leaving them clear and sharp. She smiled faintly. “No, you didn’t. Come to think of it, you’ve never called for me when you truly needed me.”

Before Duan Xu could process her words, she suddenly pressed her lips to his. The kiss was far from gentle—it was fierce, demanding, her tongue forcing its way into his mouth, tangling with his. He was forced to tilt his head back, his breath ragged, unable to catch it. Unswallowed saliva trickled down his neck. When he tried to raise his arms, she immediately pinned them down, her body pressing harder against him as if she were desperately searching for something—or as if she meant to steal his soul and take his life right then and there."It hurts... it hurts..." Duan Xu murmured vaguely in the intervals, prompting He Simu to ease her grip. She looked down to see the bandages wrapped around his chest stained with fresh blood.

"Cough... I'd love to, but... I'm seriously injured now..." Duan Xu said between coughs, still managing a smile.

As he coughed, his chest trembled slightly, as if the beating heart within was also quivering. He Simu stared at the bloodstains on the bandages, her deep emotions hidden in her eyes. After a moment, she whispered, "Living beings are truly fragile."

Fragile against storms, fleeting and impermanent.

No use clinging, only to multiply partings.

He Simu turned her gaze to Duan Xu and said, "When I kissed you just now, I felt nothing."

She was almost pressed against him, her eyes very close to his. They were beautiful phoenix eyes with a small mole beneath them, yet devoid of any emotion—like a frozen sea. Duan Xu froze, his unease growing stronger, and he reached out to embrace her.

"Whatever feeling you want, I can give it to you now," he said with an easy smile, as if he weren't the one who had narrowly escaped death.

He Simu watched him quietly, then caught his arm just as he was about to hold her, slowly pressing it down. She shook her head, her tone indifferent. "No need. What isn't mine will never be mine."

No need.

Duan Xu was stunned.

She rolled off the bed and stood beside it, bathed in the bright morning light, looking down at him. Dust danced in the sunlight, gilding her long hair and lashes, yet the light cast no shadow of her. Meeting Duan Xu's gaze, she spoke emotionlessly, as if stating a fact: "Let's end this here, Duan Xu."

Duan Xu was dumbfounded. Ignoring the pain, he propped himself up. "What did you say?"

"I said, let's end this here," He Simu repeated, word by word.

She offered no reason, no explanation, simply vanishing into the radiant light.

"He Simu! He Simu, Simu!" Duan Xu called her name frantically, trying to rise from the bed but collapsing back.

Hearing the commotion, Chen Ying pushed the door open and rushed in, supporting Duan Xu with delight. "Third Brother, you're awake!"

Duan Xu coughed violently, gripping Chen Ying's arm, unable to speak. He covered his mouth, his brow tightly furrowed, then vomited blood—a crimson splatter across the floor. Chen Ying patted his back in alarm. "What's going on? Little Sister didn't swap senses with you this time. Why is your illness acting up..."

Duan Xu seized his arm, looking up at Chen Ying, his lips stained with glaring red. "Did you tell her about my illness?"

"No! I swear I didn't say a word! I didn't tell Little Sister!"

Duan Xu relaxed slightly, his chest heaving as he struggled to steady his breathing. Then, suddenly, his entire body stiffened. Slowly, he raised his head to look at Chen Ying, at the room behind him, his eyes filling with confusion and dread.

"I... can't see..."

The threads of wind, the Wandering Souls, the Ghostly energy—gone.

He Simu had taken back the world of Evil Ghosts' eyes she had given him.

—Let's end this here.Duan Xu lowered his gaze, staring at the blood-stained bed curtains with an incredulous smile, murmuring, "Impossible... She couldn’t be... serious, could she? Why?"

Why?

The first time Marshal Duan woke after being pulled back from the brink of death, he fainted again due to overwhelming emotions. He hadn’t noticed that when he saw He Simu this time, the Ghost King Lamp Jade Pendant at her waist was missing.

This time, Shi Biao bore the primary responsibility for Duan Xu’s predicament. Originally, Duan Xu had anticipated a possible ambush and changed his route while arranging for Shi Biao to lead troops as backup. However, Shi Biao, having won a brilliant victory in Youzhou and without Duan Xu around to restrain him, couldn’t resist celebrating with alcohol. Once he started drinking, he lost all control, becoming utterly drunk and missing the rendezvous time, which led to Duan Xu’s peril.

Fortunately, Zhao Xing, worried about potential trouble, had prepared a backup force. Sensing something amiss, he immediately went to assist, rescuing Duan Xu and his cavalry. Shi Biao, filled with remorse, voluntarily submitted to a hundred lashes and awaited further punishment in the camp prison.

After waking, Duan Xu summoned him and said that since the battle in Youzhou was still raging and Shi Biao was one of the few besides himself and Chen Ying who understood the Feather Formation Vehicle, it was foolish to insist on punishment now. He ordered Shi Biao to the front lines immediately, with the matter to be settled once the fighting eased.

Shi Biao, red-eyed, swore an oath never to touch alcohol again—vowing to cut off a finger if he ever drank again.

After sending Shi Biao to the front, Duan Xu remained temporarily in Qizhou, reviewing battle reports from all sides and strategizing from the rear. Zhao Xing’s timely aid had greatly impressed Duan Xu, who now recognized his talent as a commander—calm and decisive in crises, with a clear sense of righteousness.

The Emperor’s refusal to allow Duan Xu into the Southern Capital for his investiture had, ironically, worked in his favor.

Chen Ying, noticing that Duan Xu never mentioned He Simu after waking again, only asked about what had happened during his unconsciousness. He mentioned that Sister Xiaoxiao had helped procure the antidote, but there was nothing else of note.

Duan Xu merely nodded upon hearing this and threw himself back into the busy military affairs, appearing as composed and decisive as ever, smiling while making ruthless decisions. Chen Ying sensed something had happened between his third brother and Sister Xiaoxiao but didn’t know the details.

News arrived from the front that the Danzhi army had suddenly surged like tigers, fiercely counterattacking with such ferocity that they could withstand the Feather Formation Vehicles with sheer flesh and blood. Two of the three key towns previously captured had fallen back into Danzhi hands. Shi Biao and Wu Shengliu were still leading their troops in desperate resistance.

This news arrived in the morning. By afternoon, the former State Preceptor Hejia Fengyi knocked on the door of Duan Xu’s recuperation quarters in Qizhou.

Hejia Fengyi, accompanied by his beautiful and silent attendant Ziji, leisurely sipped the fine tea Zhao Xing provided. He explained that the Danzhi army was summoning ghosts to possess their soldiers, enhancing their strength at the cost of defying natural and moral laws. As cultivators, they could not stand idly by and would go to the Youzhou front to perform exorcisms.

"Marshal Duan need not worry. This scourge will be eradicated within ten days. It’s merely the Ghost Realm’s traitorous minister overreaching, extending his hand into the human world."

Still recovering from his injuries, Duan Xu coughed twice and said, "You were content to watch from the sidelines, yet he meddles in human affairs—clearly provoking you to side with Simu. Why would Yan Ke do something so harmful to everyone?"Hejia Fengyi narrowed his eyes and said with an air of mystery, "Who knows?"

Duan Xu remained silent for a while before asking casually, "How has Simu... been lately?"

Hejia Fengyi sighed. "She told me not to tell you anything about her."

"...Is she avoiding me?"

"Haha, the Ancestor doesn't avoid anyone." Fengyi's words carried hidden meaning, his eyes filled with regret.

Duan Xu looked at him, his gaze flickering as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he only smiled faintly.

That night, Chen Ying was sent by Duan Xu to secretly fetch a jar of wine from Zhao Xing. Nervously clutching the wine, Chen Ying entered Duan Xu's room and saw him waiting with eager anticipation despite his sickly appearance. Chen Ying found it both strange and baffling.

Chen Ying whispered, "Third Brother, the physician said you shouldn't drink yet."

"Since when do I listen to physicians? Where's the fun in that? Am I the obedient type?" Duan Xu replied matter-of-factly.

"Then why not just ask for it openly? Why make me steal it?"

"Shi Biao just announced he's quitting drinking. It wouldn't look good if word got out I was drinking here."

Duan Xu casually explained and then proposed testing Chen Ying's alcohol tolerance by drinking together. Accustomed to maintaining sharp awareness, Duan Xu rarely drank and would secretly swap his drinks when unavoidable. Chen Ying also seldom drank, but unexpectedly, he had an innate tolerance—no matter how much he drank, he remained sober. In contrast, Duan Xu was soon tipsy.

Slumping over the table, Duan Xu buried his head in his arms as if suffering a headache, murmuring indistinctly. Concerned, Chen Ying leaned over and nudged his arm, asking what was wrong—only to hear him slur the name He Simu.

He rarely called her by her full name like this. In the past, just this call would summon Little Sister to their side immediately.

Chen Ying wondered if his third brother was just drunk-talking. Little Sister had once gotten angry when Duan Xu summoned her in his sleep. He quickly glanced around, expecting her to appear as usual.

But the room held only the flickering candlelight, casting shadows of just the two of them. As Duan Xu's voice grew hoarse, He Simu still didn't appear.

Uneasy, Chen Ying turned back and noticed the sleeve beneath Duan Xu's eyes was damp.

"Third Brother... what's wrong?" he asked anxiously.

Duan Xu stayed silent for a long time. During this silence, he stopped calling for He Simu and said nothing else. Then he chuckled lightly, adopting his usual carefree tone.

"Damn. I think I've really been abandoned."

His voice trembled, though his words sounded like a joke.

Chen Ying froze. It dawned on him that Duan Xu wasn't drunk—drunkenness had just been an excuse to see Little Sister.

But she hadn't come.

Was it possible... she would never come again?