Although Duan Xu had agreed to cooperate with Yan Ke, Yan Ke still didn’t trust him. He had removed Duan Xu from the ghost prison, but still made him wear handcuffs and leg chains when walking outside, and placed a spell on him that prevented him from calling He Simu, though he spared him from torture.

On one hand, Yan Ke held contempt for Duan Xu, because he was merely a mortal with a short lifespan, without a trace of magical power, helpless before evil ghosts. He Simu’s care and protection for him would only last for a fleeting moment. Duan Xu would soon be forgotten by He Simu, while he, even if hated by He Simu, would remain in her heart for a much longer time.

On the other hand, he harbored a vague jealousy toward Duan Xu, after all, Duan Xu had once received He Simu’s love, whether brief or lasting, it was genuine love nonetheless.

When He Simu told him about the peculiarities of the Ghost King’s Lamp, Yan Ke felt extremely angry, but he also thought that this was indeed the woman who could make him love her for three hundred years, who could temporarily suppress his thirst for power and make him willing to be her subject.

No woman in the world could compare to He Simu, and he was determined to have her.

Duan Xu, however, behaved very obediently, always showing hatred whenever He Simu was mentioned. He was often blindfolded and taken to various places, and after more than ten days, he finally heard the deafening sounds of battle.

The blindfold was removed from his eyes, and after adjusting to the light, he looked around to find himself inside a military tent, with the sounds of battle seemingly coming from below.

Duan Xu thought they must be on a cliff overlooking the battlefield below.

Yan Ke lifted the tent flap and entered, coldly saying, “Now is the time. The opportunity has arrived to exchange the five senses with He Simu.”

Duan Xu extended his hand and said, “Return Po Wang Sword to me. I need to use its spiritual power to activate the spell.”

Yan Ke glanced at Duan Xu but still ordered his ghost servant to bring the Po Wang Sword.

Duan Xu took the Po Wang Sword and pulled out the talisman left to him by He Jia Feng Yi. The Po Wang Sword began to shimmer with light, but Duan Xu frowned, opening his eyes to say, “He Simu is too far from here. The spell is difficult to activate.”

Yan Ke’s gaze intensified: “What trick are you trying to play?”

Duan Xu thought for a moment, then pointed at the Ghost King’s Lamp at Yan Ke’s waist and said, “The Ghost King’s Lamp contains her soul. Perhaps I can use its essence to exchange the five senses.”

Yan Ke immediately grabbed Duan Xu by the throat, his eyes filled with suspicion. Duan Xu raised his hand to grip Yan Ke’s wrist, speaking with difficulty: “You know… I don’t have any magical power… and I’m not an evil ghost… even if the Ghost King’s Lamp were in my hands, I couldn’t use it. Here… inside and out are all your subordinates… I’m still wearing handcuffs and leg chains… how could I escape…”

Duan Xu’s face turned red, his eyes showing pure sincerity.

Yan Ke slowly loosened his grip, examining him up and down with half-belief and half-doubt.

Although he had suspicions, that Duan Xu was indeed a mortal without any foundation in magic, holding the Ghost King’s Lamp would be useless to him, and escape would be impossible.

After a moment of silence, Yan Ke placed the Ghost King’s Lamp in Duan Xu’s hand, his gaze fixed intently on him. Duan Xu held the Ghost King’s Lamp in one hand and the talisman in the other. He raised the lamp to his chest and suddenly smiled brilliantly.

In that moment of dazzling smile, Yan Ke realized something was wrong, but before he could react, Duan Xu had already swallowed the Ghost King’s Lamp jade pendant in one gulp, his throat moving as it went down into his stomach.

Instantly, an enormous power erupted from his body, spreading like a tidal wave, forcing Yan Ke to step back three paces just to maintain his balance. Duan Xu’s clothes and hair were blown about by the swift wind, his entire being enveloped in the vast ghostly energy of the Ghost King’s Lamp, like a true evil ghost.

“Sorry, I really can use the Ghost King’s Lamp.”

Duan Xu tilted his head, smiling slightly, just as he had done five years ago in Yuzhoufujian City.

Years ago, when he and Simu first exchanged their sense of smell, he had swallowed the Ghost King’s Lamp. At that time, He Simu had used the spiritual power of the Po Wang Sword as a medium to make the Ghost King’s Lamp obey him. She had said then that the Ghost King’s Lamp unexpectedly resonated with him, allowing him to control most of its power. It seemed that over these years, Simu had not withdrawn this permission.

The Ghost King’s Lamp was originally her lifeline, yet she had entrusted it to him after knowing him for barely half a year. Before she liked him, she had already given him her trust.

Duan Xu removed the handcuffs from his wrists as if taking off bracelets, then kicked off the chains from his feet, smiling slightly as he said, “Also, these things can’t contain me. Sorry.”

Hordes of evil ghosts rushed in as Yan Ke rose to charge toward Duan Xu, but Duan Xu’s gaze intensified, his body instantly igniting with blue ghostly fire, pushing Yan Ke back immediately.

Duan Xu did not draw his sword but pointed it at Yan Ke, who could not approach him through the crowd of ghosts. With a bright smile, he said, “Lord Yan, even hearing Simu’s name from your mouth makes me sick. You want to steal her magic, to capture her, and what will you do to her after I die? Were you this disgusting when you were alive?”

Yan Ke stared at him fiercely, as if he wanted to tear him into a thousand pieces.

Duan Xu’s smile grew even brighter as he twirled the sword in his hand and walked straight past Yan Ke toward the outside of the tent. Blue flames followed his steps, burning a path, as evil ghosts scattered to avoid him. As he walked, he said, “I could never live as disgustingly as you do.”

Ghost realm matters were for the ghost realm to handle. As for eliminating Yan Ke, he would not overstep his bounds.

The ghostly fire ignited the tent flap as Duan Xu walked outside and immediately saw He Simu on the cliff opposite. That girl with the red and white curved hem robe and flowing black hair was like a black branch of red plum blossoms covered in white snow. From too far away to see her expression, he only felt she seemed to step forward.

Duan Xu looked down and indeed saw two armies of evil ghosts battling beneath the cliff. On the battlefield, dust and smoke rolled, countless evil ghosts turned to ashes under fangs and blades, floating in the sky like a gray-white fine snow. Under this overwhelming blanket of ashes, the light grew dim, and the world seemed to pause at the moment between dawn and dusk.

“How magnificent,” Duan Xu said softly. He raised the Po Wang Sword, holding it level with his eyes, slowly drawing it apart with both hands holding each side. Dazzling light reflected from the silver-white blade onto his round eyes.

“Let’s go, Po Wang.”

After speaking, he leaped directly from the cliff, the bright blue flames burning along his path. As he neared the ground, he used the Po Wang Sword to borrow force from the cliff wall several times, riding the fiery energy of the Ghost King’s Lamp to land on the battlefield.

Standing before him were Yan Ke’s soldiers. Those ghost soldiers turned to see a ghost wreathed in ghostly fire descending from the sky, causing them to panic and fall into disarray. Duan Xu flourished the Po Wang Sword with both hands, creating a beautiful arc, then charged into the crowd of evil ghosts without hesitation.

He Simu stood on the cliff edge, her pupils constricting sharply.

Ghosts have excellent vision, and she saw her little general in black clothing cutting into the enemy forces from behind. His two gleaming swords whirled like a gale, engulfing all approaching evil ghosts, shredding them to pieces that turned to ash. With smiling eyes, he bloomed amidst the slaughter, seemingly tireless, like Kuafu chasing the sun to the last moment of his life, a great killing spree.

He Simu’s world froze for a moment, then she leaped down from the cliff, ignoring Jiang Ai’s cries behind her. Using her powerful ghost energy to make the armies tremble, she descended like a pressing black cloud onto the battlefield, rushing toward Duan Xu, finally grabbing his arm in the center of the battlefield, calling out, “Duan Xu!”

Duan Xu’s sword-wielding arm stopped, and in that instant, He Simu pulled him and flashed back to the cliff where she had been before.

Duan Xu’s eyes were bloodshot as he fell to his knees like a man who had lost all strength. As he tilted forward, He Simu caught him in her arms.

“Hahaha… exhilarating… truly exhilarating…” Duan Xu laughed loudly on He Simu’s shoulder, speaking intermittently.

He Simu held his shoulders, her gaze trembling as she looked into his eyes, calling his name: “Duan Xu!”

Duan Xu’s eyes flickered, the redness slowly receding. He quietly looked at He Simu for a moment, then smiled and said, “Simu, happy new year, may you be safe year after year. I’ve brought you a New Year’s gift.”

He pointed to his stomach and said, “I’ve retrieved the Ghost King’s Lamp for you. It’s in my stomach.”

He Simu gazed at him for a long time, her pitch-black eyes trembling as they slowly settled into clear black and white amidst the fluttering fine ashes as if they had just passed through a great conflagration of heaven and earth. She gradually embraced him tighter. She couldn’t feel his body, so she had to use all her strength to hold him tighter, even tighter.

“Duan Xu, Duan Shunxi…” she called his name through gritted teeth, her voice trembling as if each word cost her great effort. She said word by word, “I hate you so much.”

Duan Xu also embraced He Simu’s back, burying his head in her shoulder, belatedly beginning to tremble as if all his wounds had begun to hurt at once. Her shoulder slowly became wet with his tears.

In the moment of seeing her after a year apart, he thought he would fight his way to her and then tell her—I don’t want to end things with you.

We should be entangled for a lifetime; we cannot end like this.

But now he couldn’t say these words. He only murmured, “It hurts, Simu, you’re holding me too tight.”

He Simu whispered in his ear, “Not as much as I hurt.”

“You can’t feel pain now.”

“I can.”

It was you who taught me how to feel pain.

He Simu felt pain with nowhere to go and could only say, “You’re hurting me to death.”

Duan Xu patted her back, but suddenly his body tensed, and he struggled to push her away. He Simu let go of him, caught off guard, and saw Duan Xu spitting out a dark liquid that splashed onto her face and clothes.

She froze, watching as Duan Xu covered his mouth while the liquid continuously flowed through his fingers as if it would never stop. There was some alarm in his eyes, but he said indistinctly, “Don’t be afraid… this…”

“It’s blood,” He Simu pulled away his hand covering his mouth, feeling she could barely endure this pain, and slowly said, “Do you think that because I can’t see color, I don’t know what this is?”

Duan Xu could no longer cover his mouth, and blood poured out in large quantities. His gaze gradually became unfocused as he swayed forward, falling onto He Simu’s shoulder. He said softly, “Simu… I… I’m sick.”

As he spoke these few words, he still managed to grasp He Simu’s hand, intertwining their fingers.

Then he lost his strength and fainted on her shoulder.