Chapter 25: A Startling Scene in the Mourning Hall

Thump...

The eerie sound of a drum beat against Qu Wanqing’s nerves like a death warrant. She involuntarily gripped Jiang Yu’s hand, her palms slick with cold sweat. Jiang Yu squeezed back, his touch warm and firm, as if silently transmitting strength to her.

Deep within the mourning hall, the darkness coiled like a monstrous beast, devouring every sliver of light. The air was thick with a suffocating pressure, and the scent of danger grew increasingly pungent. The pair followed the source of the sound, groping their way forward with extreme caution. Qu Wanqing’s heart hammered against her ribs like a war drum; the tension wrapped around her like an invisible net. The silence surrounding them was terrifying, broken only by the bizarre drumming and their own shallow breaths, which only amplified the horror. It was a scene straight out of a nightmare.

Finally, they reached the innermost part of the hall. In the dim light, a massive formation revealed itself. It looked like an evil flower blooming from thick, viscous ink, its ghostly blue glow flickering like the eyes of a demon watching them. The intricate lines of the formation resembled countless writhing, twisting snakes, and every time the blue light pulsed, one could almost hear whispers rising from the depths of hell. At the center of the formation sat a black coffin, its lid slightly ajar, revealing a blurred figure within.

"What in the world is this?" Qu Wanqing gasped, goosebumps erupting over her skin. This was far more sinister than she had imagined.

Jiang Yu’s brow furrowed tightly as he scrutinized the formation, his expression grave. "This appears to be an ancient occult formation," he said in a low voice, "and I sense... it is aimed at you."

Aimed at me?

Qu Wanqing’s heart sank, and a chill surged from her soles to her scalp. Good grief, the path of a villain was truly arduous! Was fate really trying to kill her off? She felt a sense of helplessness and frustration, yet she had no idea how to dismantle this bizarre trap. Her mind raced, the surrounding danger surging like a tide, her heartbeat threatening to shatter her ribs. Just as she felt despair taking hold, a memory from an ancient text flashed into her mind like a beam of light in the darkness. She clung to it as if it were a lifeline.

Jiang Yu was also deep in thought, his lips pressed thin as his sharp gaze swept over every detail of the formation, searching for a way to break it.

Time ticked by, and the atmosphere in the hall grew taut, like a string pulled to the point of snapping.

Suddenly, Qu Wanqing raised her head and looked at Jiang Yu. "Wait! I think I..."

"Wait! I think I’ve seen a formation like this before!" Qu Wanqing excitedly grabbed Jiang Yu’s hand, the records from a dusty, long-forgotten book called *The Record of Anomalies* flashing through her mind. It contained an entry for a similar formation known as the "Soul-Locking Array," designed specifically to imprison powerful spirits.

Well, well! So that was it!

She immediately relayed the method of breaking it to Jiang Yu. "The heart of the Soul-Locking Array is at the bottom of the coffin! If we destroy the core, the entire formation will collapse!"

Jiang Yu’s eyes brightened. "Good! We’ll do it together!" They split the task: Jiang Yu would distract the formation while Qu Wanqing seized the chance to locate the core.

Jiang Yu drew the dagger he carried and struck at the runes within the array. The blue light flickered wildly, emitting a low, buzzing hum like an enraged beast. Taking advantage of the distraction, Qu Wanqing darted behind the coffin, held her breath, and carefully pried up a wooden board at the base. Sure enough, a gemstone emitting a faint, ghostly blue light lay there—the core of the array! Without a moment’s hesitation, she reached in and yanked it out.

In a flash, the formation lost control. The blue light vanished instantly, and the oppressive weight in the air dissipated along with it.

"We did it!" Qu Wanqing cheered, a brilliant smile lighting up her face. The feeling was absolutely exhilarating!

Watching her confident smile, Jiang Yu’s heart swelled with love and admiration. He pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her, his gaze burning with desire.

"Wanqing, you are truly incredible..." His voice was low and hoarse, laced with irrepressible excitement. He lowered his head, kissing her neck tenderly, savoring the scent of her skin. Qu Wanqing gasped softly, her body softening. She was caught between her immersion in his affection and the nagging worry that such intimacy was ill-timed given the lingering dangers. Yet, she could not resist his passion, the internal conflict pulling at her heart. She responded to his fervor, wrapping her arms around his waist and pressing against him. The air grew hot and heavy, as if even the darkness were saturated with the scent of desire.

"Jiang Yu..." she whispered his name, her eyes hazy.

Jiang Yu’s kisses grew more intense, more profound...

"Shh..." Jiang Yu suddenly covered her mouth, his eyes turning sharp.

"There is a killing intent!"

Almost simultaneously, a piercing shriek shattered the silence of the hall. A shadow darted from the coffin like a bolt of black lightning, bringing with it a freezing wind that seemed to ice the very air.

Good heavens, this thing was even scarier than the formation! It was a literal case of the dead rising!

"Wanqing, look out!" Jiang Yu shoved her aside and met the shadow head-on. He stood like a mountain rising suddenly, shielding her without hesitation. His silhouette seemed thin against the encroaching darkness, yet he was unshakeable. Time seemed to freeze as his dagger clashed with the creature's claws, sending sparks flying with a screech of grinding metal.

In the blink of an eye, Jiang Yu was struck by the shadow and let out a muffled groan, a trace of blood spilling from his lips. He clutched his wound, his body trembling slightly. Though his gaze remained firm, the pain clearly gnawed at his resolve, and he bit his lip, fighting back the terrifying thought that he might no longer be able to protect her.

"Jiang Yu!" Qu Wanqing cried out, her heart tightening into a knot. Why had the plot turned so tragic so suddenly?

Though he appeared wounded and at a disadvantage, Jiang Yu suddenly recalled an ancient combat technique. He skillfully dodged a lethal blow from the shadow and, in an unexpected maneuver, dealt it a heavy strike. The creature let out a wail of agony.

He kept his gaze steady, every movement filled with power. This damned protective instinct of his! It was simply irresistible!

Those around them were stunned by the sudden turn of events, watching Jiang Yu fight for his life for Qu Wanqing’s sake with mixed emotions. These two truly shared a bond stronger than steel.

Just then, Clerk Qin arrived at the hall with a group of men. Everyone had expected him to stop Qu Wanqing, but instead, he brought news.

"Steward Feng, the butler for Master He, has confessed," Clerk Qin said with a stern expression. "He says everything in this mourning hall was arranged by Master He himself!"

What?! This twist was far too thrilling!

Clerk Qin continued, "He also said that Master He has been researching a forbidden art that requires a powerful soul..." He paused, his gaze falling upon Qu Wanqing. "And you are the target he has chosen."

Good grief, this Master He really was trouble!

Qu Wanqing thought to herself. She didn’t know what secret Master He was hiding, but her intuition told her this matter was far more complex than she had imagined.

"Wanqing, what do we do now?" Jiang Yu asked, clutching his wound and looking at her with concern.

Qu Wanqing took a deep breath, her eyes firm.

"We go find Master He! I want to ask him for the truth myself!"

She turned around, her gaze like a torch and her tone cold. "Jiang Yu, Clerk Qin, let's go!"