Chapter 15

The remains of the dream-world trembled around them….
Fragments of lanterns floated through the air.
The sky above had turned crimson.
Not sunset.
Not dawn.
But a deep, unnatural red.

As if the heavens themselves were bleeding.
Zhou Yi Chen could barely remain conscious.
His body felt heavy.
Every spiritual vein burned.

The strain of Chenghuang’s illusion, the battle, and the condition he’d been suppressing for days had finally caught up with him.
When he tried to stand-
His knees nearly gave out again.
Before he could fall-
Strong arms caught him.
Once more.
“…”
“…”

Zhou Yi Chen didn’t even have the strength to argue.
Zhao Yuanzhou looked down at him.
Golden eyes unusually quiet.
No teasing.
No flirting.
Only something older.
Something that looked suspiciously like pain.
The crimson sky reflected in his eyes.
And for a brief moment-
He wasn’t looking at Zhou Yi Chen.
He was looking through him.
Past him.
Into another lifetime.
“You always do this.”
His voice was soft.
Almost a whisper.
Zhou Yi Chen frowned weakly.
“What are you talking about?”
Zhao Yuanzhou smiled.
But it wasn’t a happy smile.
“Being stubborn.”
The words carried thirty-four thousand years of exhaustion.
Then, almost without realizing it, he continued.
“I lost you three times already.”
Silence.

Zhou Yi Chen’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“…What?”
Zhao Yuanzhou seemed to realize what he’d said.
For a brief moment-
Something vulnerable crossed his face.
Then he laughed softly.

As if trying to dismiss it.
“Nothing.”
But his hands tightened around Zhou Yi Chen slightly.

As though afraid letting go would make him disappear.
“Three painful times..

The words escaped before he could stop them.
The red sky trembled violently.
The dream itself responding to emotions too old and too powerful.
Zhou Yi Chen stared at him.
For the first time-
Unsure what to say.
Then suddenly-
Zhao Yuanzhou lifted him effortlessly.
“What are you doing?”
“You can’t walk.”
“I can.”
“You almost collapsed.”
“I did not.”
“You literally collapsed onto me.”
“…”
Without another word, Zhao Yuanzhou turned around.
And lowered himself slightly.
“Get on.”
Zhou Yi Chen blinked.
“What?”
“My back.”
Absolutely not.

A minute later-
He was on Zhao Yuanzhou’s back.
Wen Xiao looked delighted.

The group continued deeper into the broken illusion.
Finally, Zhao Yuanzhou stopped before the puppet of the original goddess.
The carefully preserved one.

The only puppet Chenghuang truly cared about.
His eyes narrowed.
Then he calmly raised it.
“Chenghuang.”

His voice echoed through the void.
Nothing happened.
“I’ll count to three.”

Zhao Yuanzhou’s fingers closed around the puppet.
“Three.”
The sky shook.
“Two.”
The illusion cracked.
“One.”
“STOP.”

A furious voice exploded across the dream.
Golden light erupted.
The world twisted.
And Chenghuang appeared once more.
His composure was completely gone.
“You dare.”
Zhao Yuanzhou smiled pleasantly.
“You came back.”
For the first time-
Chenghuang genuinely looked like he wanted to kill him.
“Put it down.”
“No.”
“Put it down.”
“No.”

The argument continued for several moments before Chenghuang finally realized Zhao Yuanzhou wasn’t bluffing.
“…What do you want?”
Zhao Yuanzhou’s expression softened slightly.
He looked toward the puppet.
Then toward Chenghuang.
“What was she to you?”
Silence.
The question struck deeper than any weapon.
For a long moment-
Chenghuang didn’t answer.
Then the world shifted again.
Mountains appeared.
Ancient.
Endless.
Covered in clouds.
The Kunlun Gate.
The legendary passage connecting the Great Wilderness and the mortal realm.
The group stood silently as ancient memories unfolded around them.
Chenghuang gazed toward the distant gate.
His expression unreadable.
“There were once two guardians.”
His voice sounded different now.
Older.
“Not one.”
Everyone looked at him.
“The world remembers the Baize Goddess.”
His eyes lowered.
“But they forgot the other.”
The illusion brightened.
A woman appeared.
Clothed in white.
Radiant.
Divine.
Beside her stood a man.
Tall.
Dark-robed.
His face hidden by a mask.
Ancient demonic power surrounded him.
Yet there was no cruelty.
No malice.
Only strength.
Wen Xiao stared.
“A demon?”
Chenghuang nodded.
“The Baize Goddess.”
His gaze shifted to the masked figure.
“And the Great Demon.”
“The two who governed the Baize Order together.”
The group fell silent.
Even Zhao Yuanzhou stopped smiling.
The memory showed the pair standing beside the Kunlun Gate.
Protecting it.
Guarding the balance between worlds.
Together.
“They were kindred spirits.”
Chenghuang’s voice softened.
“They protected the Great Wilderness side by side.”
The masked demon turned toward the goddess.
The way he looked at her-
Trusting.
Devoted.

⚫✨✨✨✨❄️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️

illusion shifted once more.
Clouds drifted across the peaks of Kunlun.
Ancient memories unfolded before everyone.
For a moment, Chenghuang’s cold expression softened.
Almost becoming human.
“There was a time…” he said quietly, “when I truly believed the world could remain peaceful.”
The memory showed the original Baize Goddess standing beside him.
The two governed the Baize Order together.
One divine.
One demonic.
Yet perfectly balanced.
“We were respected in both realms.”
Chenghuang’s gaze never left the memory.
“The gods trusted her.”
“The demons respected me.”
“We protected the Great Wilderness together.”
The illusion showed countless years passing.
The Goddess laughing beneath blooming trees.
Chenghuang standing beside her.
Guarding Kunlun.
Maintaining order.
Protecting both worlds.
Wen Xiao couldn’t help but whisper,
“They really cared for each other…”
Chenghuang smiled sadly.
“Cared?”
His voice cracked slightly.
“She was my entire world.”
Silence fell.
“But peace never lasts.”
The memory darkened.
The skies turned black.
A terrifying beast emerged from the wilderness.
A calamity.
A plague-bearing disaster beast.
Villages fell.
Demons died.
Humans died.
Even gods suffered.
And then-
The Goddess became infected.
Everyone watched as the once-radiant woman grew weaker.
Paler.
Sicker.
Day by day.
Chenghuang’s hands trembled.
“I searched everywhere.”
His voice lowered.
“For medicine.”
“For miracles.”
“For anything.”
The memory shifted.
Blood appeared.
A demon village.
Destroyed.
Then another.
And another.
Bodies covered the ground.
“I killed anyone who might possess a cure.”
Chenghuang closed his eyes.
“I slaughtered entire clans.”
The hall fell silent.
Even Zhao Yuanzhou’s expression darkened.
“I didn’t care anymore.”
Chenghuang laughed bitterly.
“I only wanted her to live.”
The memory suddenly changed.
The Goddess stood before him.
Weak.
Barely able to remain standing.
Yet furious.
Blood stained her lips.
But her eyes remained bright.
“Chenghuang!”
Her voice echoed through the illusion.
“Look at what you’ve become!”
The younger Chenghuang stood frozen.
“I did it for you.”
“No.”
The Goddess shook her head.
“You did it for yourself.”
The words hit harder than any weapon.
“You were entrusted with protecting life.”
Her voice trembled.
“Instead you became the very thing we swore to stop.”
Zhou Yi Chen clenched his fists.
The Goddess raised her hand.
Divine light gathered around her.
“You are no longer fit to oversee the Baize Order.”
A sealing formation appeared beneath Chenghuang.
But before she could finish-
Her body gave out.
Blood splattered onto the ground.
The divine light shattered.
And she collapsed.
The memory froze.
For a long moment-
Nobody spoke.
Then Zhou Yi Chen finally broke the silence.
“You’re selfish.”
Everyone looked toward him.
His voice was sharp.
Cold.
“You were given a duty.”
His gaze locked onto Chenghuang.
“You were supposed to protect people.”
The anger in his eyes was unmistakable.
“Instead you abandoned everything for your own grief.”
The words struck deeply.
Chenghuang looked away.
Unable to answer.
Silence lingered.
Then unexpectedly-
Chenghuang turned toward Zhao Yuanzhou.
“And you?”
His eyes narrowed.
“What is your wish?”
Everyone looked toward the ancient demon.
For once-
Zhao Yuanzhou didn’t smile.
His golden eyes drifted toward the crimson sky.
“I’ve lived too long.”
The answer was quiet.
“I’ve watched kingdoms rise.”
“And fall.”
“I’ve watched friends die.”
“Enemies die.”
“Entire eras disappear.”
His voice became softer.
“I’ve experienced countless separations.”
“Countless deaths.”
His gaze briefly shifted toward Zhou Yi Chen.
“I even watched the…”
He stopped.
For the first time-
Zhao Yuanzhou couldn’t finish a sentence.
“…someone precious to me.”
Silence followed.
“And yet I remain.”
A bitter smile appeared.
“Immortality sounds like a blessing.”
“It isn’t.”
The words carried thousands of years of exhaustion.
“It becomes a punishment.”
Even Chenghuang seemed surprised by the honesty.
Then he smiled.
“I can grant that wish.”
The air froze.
“I can end your life.”
Wen Xiao nearly choked.
“WHAT?”
Bai Jiu looked horrified.
Pei Sijing looked equally alarmed.
But Zhao Yuanzhou simply laughed.
“No.”
The answer came immediately.
Chenghuang frowned.
“You refuse?”
Zhao Yuanzhou nodded.
“I already promised someone.”
His gaze drifted toward Zhou Yi Chen.
“When my life ends…”
“It will be by his hand.”