Chapter 26
The hidden passage opened slowly.
Cold air drifted from the darkness below.
The others immediately prepared to follow.
“No.”
Zhao Yuanzhou stopped them.
Everyone looked at him.
The ancient demon’s expression had become unusually serious.
“Stay here.”
Wen Xiao frowned.
“What if-“
“If something happens, I’ll bring him back.”
The certainty in his voice silenced everyone.
Without another word, Zhao Yuanzhou stepped into the darkness alone.
The passage stretched deep underground.
And filled with something that made Zhao Yuanzhou’s heart sink.
Hatred.Pain.Grief.
The lingering effects of the rhinoceros horn incense.
Then-
He saw him.
At the center of a stone chamber stood Zhou Yi Chen.
Yun Guangjian gripped tightly in his hand.
His robes stained with blood.
The demon bone needle still embedded in his shoulder.
For a brief moment, relief washed through Zhao Yuanzhou.
“Yi Chen-“
The sword flashed…
Yun Guangjian lunged directly toward his throat.
Clang!
Zhao Yuanzhou barely avoided the strike.
The blade sliced through his sleeve.
Stone shattered behind him.
Silence.
Then Zhou Yi Chen attacked again.
Faster.
More vicious.
Each strike carried enough force to kill.
Yet his eyes were wrong…
The negative energy surrounding him churned like black mist.
Zhao Yuanzhou’s expression darkened.
“Zhou Yi Chen.”
No response.
Another strike.
Another.
Another.
The sacred sword screamed through the air.
The chamber shook from the impact.
After several exchanges, Zhao Yuanzhou finally understood.
The incense hadn’t controlled him…
But it had amplified every painful emotion inside him…
Every nightmare.
Every grudge.
Every loss.
Until hatred overwhelmed everything else.
“Wake up from this eerie nightmare..and come back to your senses..”
Golden light gathered in Zhao Yuanzhou’s palm.
He reached forward.
Spiritual energy surged toward Zhou Yi Chen.
Trying to clear the darkness.
Trying to reach him.
But the moment the power touched him-
Zhou Yi Chen slashed downward.
A sharp pain tore through Zhao Yuanzhou’s chest.
His body staggered.
Blood spilled from his lips.
The chamber fell silent.
For a moment, even Zhou Yi Chen froze.
Then-
A slow clap echoed through the room.
Qing Geng emerged from the shadows.
Smiling.
“Touching.”
“But not enough.”
She stepped beside Zhou Yi Chen.
The demon bone needle glowed faintly.
“Look at him.”
She whispered.
“Your father.”
“Your brother.”
“The people who died because of him.”
The darkness around Zhou Yi Chen stirred again.
Qing Geng’s smile widened.
“Kill him.”
“Now.”
“Take revenge.”
hao Yuanzhou didn’t look at Zhou Yi Chen.
His gaze remained fixed on Qing Geng.
“You’ve gone through a lot of effort.”
“Of course.”
“You want my inner core that badly?”
The woman laughed softly.
“Not for myself.”
That answer caught his attention.
“Then why?”
For the first time, genuine emotion appeared in her eyes.
“Because I want freedom.”
The room fell quiet.
Qing Geng looked toward the distant mountains.
Toward somewhere beyond Lingxi Villa.
“My true body has been sealed here for centuries.”
“My consciousness can wander.”
“My power can reach beyond these walls.”
“But I cannot leave.”
“Not truly.”
“And your inner core can break the seal.”
Everything suddenly made sense.
The plague.
The traps.
The illusions.
The bait.
All of it.
Qing Geng smiled.
“So tell me, Zhao Yuanzhou.”
“If sacrificing yourself means someone else gains freedom…”
“Wouldn’t you do it?”
The ancient demon remained silent.
Then-
Footsteps.
Everyone froze.
Zhou Yi Chen slowly walked forward.
Yun Guangjian still in hand.
His expression unreadable.
Qing Geng’s smile widened.
“That’s right.”
“Finish it.”
Step.
Step.
Step.
He stopped directly before Zhao Yuanzhou.
The sword lowered.
Silence stretched between them.
Then-
To Qing Geng’s horror-
Zhou Yi Chen reached out.
And grabbed Zhao Yuanzhou’s arm.
Helping him stand.
The entire chamber froze.
“What?”
Qing Geng’s smile vanished.
Zhao Yuanzhou laughed.
A quiet laugh.
“You finally figured it out.”
The darkness around Zhou Yi Chen shattered.
Completely.
Gone.
His eyes were clear once more.
Cold.
Sharp.
Annoyed.
Especially annoyed.
At Qing Geng.
The realization struck her immediately.
The negative energy was gone.
The hatred had been dispelled.
The two had been acting.
The entire time.
“You-“
Qing Geng stepped back.
“You tricked me.”
Zhou Yi Chen wiped blood from his mouth.
“I learned from a certain shameless demon…”
“I feel attacked.”
Zhao Yuanzhou replied.
Ignoring him completely, Zhou Yi Chen looked at Qing Geng.
“You wanted revenge.”
“You wanted freedom.”
“But someone is backing you.”
The room became still.
Qing Geng’s expression shifted.
Just slightly.
Enough.
Zhao Yuanzhou noticed.
His eyes narrowed.
“Who is it?”
Silence.
“Who promised to free you?”
For the first time, uncertainty appeared in Qing Geng’s eyes.
And then-
Something changed.
Beside Zhao Yuanzhou.
A wet sound echoed through the chamber.
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
The ancient demon turned.
His expression immediately shattered.
Blood.
Fresh blood.
Pouring from Zhou Yi Chen’s lips.
The young commander’s body swayed.
The color drained from his face.
The demon bone needle suddenly cracked.
A backlash erupted through his meridians.
His knees buckled.
“Yi Chen!”
The sword slipped from his fingers.
Blood stained the stone floor.
And before he could hit the ground-
Zhao Yuanzhou caught him.