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墨書 Inktalez
“Golden Qilin has been born.”
I couldn't tell who said it, but I saw a cute animal head emerging from the Qilin Hairpin in my palm. It quickly surged upward, the golden light becoming more brilliant. Although it was right before my eyes, it didn't hurt; in fact, I felt an unusual clarity in my vision as I watched the golden Qilin break free from the bead of the Qilin Hairpin.
It was small at first, but as it fully emerged, it transformed into a creature the size of a horse, its entire body shimmering with golden radiance. Tiny droplets sparkled like fragments of light, each reflecting the most beautiful curves, continuously flowing out and dissipating.
With a cry of “Awo~,” it released waves of sound that stirred the air around us.
“Golden Qilin?”
I stared in astonishment at the horse-like creature standing beside me. After letting out a sharp cry, it stepped back on its four legs and suddenly lowered its head to lick the blood from my hand.
The wound didn’t heal automatically as it usually did. The Golden Qilin gently licked up all the blood from the gash caused by Blood Flame, and by the time it finished, the wound had already healed.
“Awo~”
With another call, it grabbed my sleeve with its mouth, seemingly trying to pull me up. I was somewhat dazed, unsure how to face such a creature or whether I should become its master.
“Anxin, don’t be dazed; there’s not much time left.”
I turned to see Jun Jun standing behind me with a serious expression. Dressed in a red outer garment over a white outfit that resembled snow, she looked exceptionally beautiful in those colors. The golden light highlighted her delicate skin, and her perfect profile was rarely so grave.
“The Golden Qilin has been born; its master can make one wish.”
Jun Jun watched as the brother and sister gradually faded away in front of her. She turned to me, her expression as serious and earnest as her profile.
"When you choose to use it and where you decide to use it is entirely up to you. You are the master of the Golden Qilin; you have the final say. But there is only one opportunity, so think carefully," she said, suddenly pausing. Her gaze flickered slightly as she slowly pressed her lips together. "But I don't want to deceive you. Jun Chong was injured by the Golden Reaper while holding the Phoenix Feather on his way to the Mysterious Valley because the Phoenix Feather was fake."
My heart tightened sharply. The already cold ground felt even chillier at that moment. I had sensed that obtaining the Phoenix Feather would not be easy; the King of Hell was too cunning. Since he used the Phoenix Feather as a Betrothal Gift for the Queen of the Underworld, he would not allow others to obtain it easily.
After arriving in the Underworld, Jun Chong's injuries worsened. I knew he was suffering, and hearing about his injury made my heart ache.
Perhaps sensing my change in mood, the Golden Qilin moved closer to me, shielding me behind it and standing between me and Jun Jun, growling at her with hostility.
"Don't be angry; she's not a bad person."
I felt its impending attack and reached out to touch its body. When my hand made contact, a wave of warmth enveloped me, refreshing my entire being and clearing my muddled mind.
"The Golden Qilin can purify; this is the best Betrothal Gift Jun Chong has given you. However, Anxin—"
"I know." I propped myself up with the Golden Qilin and nestled against it, remaining still. I looked at the brother and sister who were about to disappear completely and made my decision. "Golden Qilin, save them; this is my wish. Please."
The Golden Qilin bent its limbs and knelt before me, performing a deep bow. "Your wish shall be fulfilled, my lord."
Its crisp voice was genderless as it transformed into a beam of golden light, rushing towards the two who were merging into one. The incoming brilliance swallowed the silver moonlight, and the intense golden light penetrated deeply into Molin, who was on the verge of silent disappearance. Suddenly, a piercing scream erupted from him, shaking the ground beneath us.
Then, as the radiance faded away, in an instant, the Golden Qilin returned to my side, its body gradually shrinking until it slipped into the lotus of the Qilin Hairpin on the ground.
I picked it up and saw that the bead on top had vanished, replaced by a Golden Qilin no larger than a fingernail—motionless yet lifelike, as if it were real.
But I could feel the tremor above me, and I clenched my fists tightly.
Molin was enveloped in golden light, and I couldn't see what was happening inside. As the golden light slowly faded, my heart tightened further, beating joyfully yet fearfully, a mix of surprise and potential disappointment.
When I saw the red garments revealed at my feet as the golden light receded, my heart jolted, a pang of pain coursing through me. Yet there was no bitterness; as I had said before, even if Qin Ling emerged victorious in the end, I would still consider him a friend.
Dressed in blood-red robes, he knelt on one knee, his black hair slightly disheveled. The dark mark on his face had vanished, leaving his pale visage devoid of any expression.
He slowly rose from the ground. The wind blew gently, stirring his red garments and black hair, his demeanor indifferent. One hand remained protectively over his chest.
I stood frozen in place, anxiously watching him, but Jian Rou was nowhere to be seen.
I had called upon Golden Qilin to save them; why was Jian Rou missing? Was it possible that Jian Rou was still dead?
"Hmph, a wisp of Soul cannot last long," came the cold snort of the Underworld King. He had remained silent and motionless until now, but his expression was filled with disdain and anger as he flicked his sleeve and vanished from sight.
Instead, Jun Jun smiled and patted my shoulder. "Look at the faint light in his palm."
I widened my eyes to see better. Because he wore red robes, the brilliance wasn't very clear against it, but upon closer inspection, I could still make out a faint glimmer flickering within.
"That is Jian Rou's soul. Though weak, it is real."
My heart finally felt at ease. "So he is Molin?"
Jun Jun shook his head, "I don't know either."
I turned to see him gradually approaching me, then he smiled lightly. His handsome face was filled with exhaustion, and his eyes, clear as ever, lacked the silly cuteness they once had. Instead, they bore the marks of time, carrying a hint of coldness, as if he were a blend of Molin and Qin Ling.
"Anxin, I am Molin."
I was taken aback. He said he was Molin, and I believed him. I opened my mouth to ask about Qin Ling but found myself unable to speak. The current Molin seemed different from before; perhaps they truly had merged into one, becoming a complete soul.
Even if that weren't the case, it was enough for me to think so; at least it brought some peace to my heart.
I knew that one cannot have both fish and bear's paw, but Molin had survived, and Jian Rou's soul had been preserved. That was already enough. The rest could remain deep within my heart, transforming into a beautiful dream.
"Can you help me protect this soul? Hand it over to Shizui."
Molin carefully guarded the faint light in his palm. I saw it was only as big as an egg, its glow very weak. Jian Rou's presence was nearly imperceptible; survival would be difficult.
But as long as there was hope, we would not give up.
"Jun Jun, you have to—"
Before I could finish my sentence or even catch a glimpse of anything, I felt a chilling cold pass through me. In the blink of an eye, the soul in Molin's palm vanished.
"Who dares defy the king will meet the same fate as this."
A figure in flowing purple garments appeared, her face blooming like a flower, radiating enchanting brilliance. Yet her eyes were filled with icy malice and warning. With a single squeeze of her hand, Jian Rou's fragile soul disappeared without a trace.
"Die."
"No!"
I screamed as Molin rushed forward. His fighting ability had always been weak, and he would get injured every time. But now, he moved with agility, countering every attack, his techniques reminiscent of Qin Ling's. It felt as if I were witnessing Qin Ling teaching Molin how to fight.
The opponent was clearly no match for Molin, but he had exhausted too much energy and was merely holding on. Before long, he was knocked down to the ground.
Yet he refused to give up. The soul he had fought so hard to protect was disappearing right before his eyes, and no one could accept that. "You destroyed my sister; I want your life in return!"
"She is Yazhen, the only woman among the Seven Guardians."
"So she is Yazhen."
I had always thought they were all men, so seeing a woman suddenly took me by surprise.
"Anxin, there isn't much time left. Tomorrow is the day of the King of Hell marrying the Queen of the Underworld. If Jun Chong and the others can't make it back by then, you will be truly doomed. I calculated it; your child will definitely be born tomorrow."
I reached down to touch my protruding belly and was startled to find it had grown even larger without my noticing. It was close to labor, yet I felt nothing.
"Is the thing I asked Lianchi to give you still with you? If you really don't want to get married, just drink it." Jun Jun's words were devoid of any jest; each word was pronounced clearly. "I will help you from the shadows."
"Help her? Hmph, I doubt you can save yourself." A cold voice interrupted, accompanied by a swift strike from a long sword. Before Jun Jun could react, Lianchi's figure appeared before her, blocking Feng Ao's incoming attack.
Feng Ao stood with his sword drawn, anger radiating from him. "Lianchi, do you wish to defy the king?"
"I don't want anything else; I just want to protect the woman I love. It's that simple."
Lianchi stood firm in front of Jun Jun, not backing down. His face was pale, likely because his spiritual energy had not fully recovered. Facing Feng Ao would surely put him at a disadvantage.
Meanwhile, Molin was struggling, frequently on the losing end. He was struck to the ground by Yazhen and coughed up a mouthful of blood. Yet, he was unwilling to give up; anger turned his eyes red as he prepared to fight again. I anxiously grabbed Jun Jun's hand and said, "Jun Jun, take him away. It's not safe here; hurry."
"But you—"
"I'll be fine. I'll wait for you, for Jun Chong to come back and rescue me. I believe in him; even in peril, he will keep his promise. So please, take Molin and leave."
Jun Jun frowned but eventually nodded. "Anxin, you must stay safe."
"I will be safe."
I watched as Jun Jun knocked Molin unconscious and carried him away, whispering softly.
Just as my words fell, a sharp pain pierced through my chest. Looking down, I saw a long sword protruding from my back and piercing through my heart.
Yazhen's intense killing intent surrounded me. "Gu Anxin, no one can become the Queen of the Underworld."
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