Chapter 303: Heart Demon Emerges

Gu Mo and Ye Jinglan couldn't help but twitch their brows as they watched Ye Chen cradle the painting, murmuring "Mmm" with a look of pure rapture on his face. "Unbelievable!" Ye Jinglan scoffed, rolling her eyes in exasperation, clearly unwilling to engage further with someone whose mind worked so differently from most.

Gu Mo also shook his head, speechless. Ye Chen's thought process could sometimes be so unconventional it was hard to follow. He stopped paying attention to him, refocusing on the task of finding the restriction. Ye Jinglan likewise collected herself and resumed her own investigation.

Both were top experts of their time, possessing extraordinary perceptive abilities. Gu Mo focused his mind, his fingertips emanating a moon-white True Qi that acted like a precise probe, meticulously sweeping every inch of the tomb's stone walls and floor, even penetrating the rock layers beneath. Ye Jinglan, meanwhile, closed her eyes, sensing the faint, lingering energy fluctuations in the air.

Time passed slowly, with only the rustling sounds of Ye Chen rummaging for treasures echoing through the tomb. Finally, Gu Mo stopped in a seemingly ordinary corner of the tomb. He knelt, pressing his palm gently against the cold white jade floor tiles, his brow slightly furrowed.

"Found it?" Ye Jinglan immediately moved closer. "Yes, it's very well hidden," Gu Mo said gravely. "It's not a restriction affixed to the surface of the structure, but rather one directly connected to an underground ley line deep beneath. This restriction... it's less of a defense and more of an elaborate trap, a primitive formation without special powers. No wonder my spiritual power couldn't detect it."

As he spoke, Gu Mo's fingertips traced complex patterns on the floor tiles with his True Qi. "Look, the core nodes of this restriction delve deep underground, connecting to the network of hidden currents beneath this lake. If it's forcefully triggered or deactivated incorrectly, it will instantly disrupt the geological balance of this area, causing the entire lake's water level to plummet suddenly, creating massive whirlpools and impacts. At that point, not only would the tomb be completely washed away and buried, but the deluge caused by the lake's backflow could even affect parts of Chang'an City. The consequences would be unimaginable. Forget taking any treasures from here; anyone who entered would be lucky to survive!"

Ye Jinglan stated solemnly, "That's entirely consistent with Qi Miaoxuan, that old immortal's, disposition. In his eyes, human lives are no different from ants. So, if ordinary people were to break in, even someone as lucky as Ye Chen, who might avoid touching the Poison Pearl, the pearl would still shatter and explode under this self-destructing formation, endangering Chang'an City."

Gu Mo nodded slightly. "Brother Gu, can you resolve it?" Ye Jinglan asked.

"It's a bit troublesome, but manageable," Gu Mo replied. "This restriction is tightly integrated with the ley line, so brute force is too risky. I need to use pure internal energy to reverse-engineer its energy patterns, identify the crucial 'anchor points,' and then progressively peel them away and erase them one by one without disturbing the ley line's water flow. It will take some time." For an ordinary person, even a grandmaster of formations, this primitive self-destructing array would be extremely problematic, as a slight misstep could activate its self-destruction. However, Gu Mo's True Qi was immense, allowing him to forcibly stabilize the array's anchor points first.

"Brother Gu, please proceed. I will guard you," Ye Jinglan immediately offered. Gu Mo said no more, slowly crouching down with his palms facing downwards. A dense, almost tangible, pale golden True Qi gently flowed into the ground. This True Qi didn't erupt with brute force; instead, it moved like the most agile carving knife or the toughest silk thread, carefully probing underground, tracing, analyzing, and stripping away the restriction's invisible network. The entire tomb seemed to subtly tremble, and an invisible pressure permeated the air.

Time passed as Gu Mo remained fully absorbed in breaking the restriction. Approximately half an hour later, the light from Gu Mo's palms intensified for a moment before slowly subsiding.

Gu Mo stood up and said, "It's done. The restriction has been completely erased, and its connection to the ley line severed. This place is safe now. You can arrange for people to come in and retrieve the treasures at any time. While they don't compare to the riches of the Blazing Ruins, this wealth, if used on the battlefield, could save many soldiers' lives."

Ye Jinglan responded gravely, "This is already a substantial amount. I roughly estimate its value to be no less than two hundred thousand taels, enough to forge many weapons and armors. Jiang Kingdom is cold; if these two hundred thousand taels were all converted into clothing, it could help many soldiers survive the winter. Alas, war, isn't it ultimately fought with money and lives?"

Ye Chen, clutching the scroll, dared not speak. He was worried that these two Qian Kingdom individuals, consumed by righteous indignation while discussing national affairs, might take their frustration out on him, a Chu Kingdom citizen, with a beating. For one, he couldn't defeat Gu Mo. As for Ye Jinglan, he didn't know why, but despite her barely ranking tenth on Qian Kingdom's Heavenly Ranking, he, the third-ranked expert of Chu, always had a strange feeling that he couldn't defeat her either.

"Let's go," Gu Mo said, waving his hand. "Brother Ye, I won't interfere with the transfer of the treasures later. Just be careful; the sealed containers must be sturdy enough to prevent the lake water from corroding the contents, especially the jewels and silk." "I know, I'll personally oversee it!" Ye Jinglan promised, thumping his chest.

Immediately, the three returned the way they came, passing through the underwater tunnel and surfacing on the lake. Outside, Su Ziyou had been anxiously waiting for a long time. Seeing them emerge, he immediately let out a sigh of relief.

Upon learning that everything had been taken care of, his long-held worries finally dissipated, and the anxiety of the past few days vanished in an instant. Subsequently, Gu Mo and Ye Chen left first.

Ye Jinglan immediately directed the waiting Imperial City Bureau elites, who, equipped with numerous specially made sealed containers, began their tense yet orderly diving operation to transport the tomb's treasures. Around the lake, the extensive military blockade and deployment had already drawn countless Chang'an citizens to watch. The crowd surged, buzzing with speculation about what major event was unfolding beneath the seemingly calm surface of the lake.

Gu Mo and Ye Chen passed through the outer cordon of soldiers and merged into the bustling crowd, heading towards the Ye Residence. Although Gu Mo had never been overly anxious, he had remained somewhat concerned about the Poison Pearl. While it certainly couldn't affect him, he still didn't want to see Chang'an suffer such a widespread catastrophe.

At this point, he finally felt a sense of relief. As he moved with the crowd, passing an intersection, an extremely faint yet exceptionally clear sensation stirred within him without warning. The feeling... was like a cold spider silk, lightly brushing across the lake of his mind, carrying an inexplicable meaning.

Gu Mo abruptly stopped and spun around! His gaze, swift as lightning, instantly swept over the surging crowd, noisy vendors, and rows of shops behind him... everything appeared normal and bustling. The sensation had come quickly and vanished even faster, as if it were just an illusion. His keen eyes searched the crowd meticulously, yet he could no longer detect any abnormal presence.

"Brother, what's wrong?" Ye Chen, holding the scroll, noticed Gu Mo had stopped and asked in confusion. Gu Mo's brow was deeply furrowed. After sensing for a moment longer, he slowly shook his head.

He couldn't quite articulate it, but the feeling he'd just experienced was like an instinctual biological stir, yet it wasn't an attraction or a call; it was simply the fleeting sense that something unique had appeared. It was gone in an instant.

The two then continued on, their figures quickly disappearing around the street corner. And in the direction Gu Mo had just glanced back, not far from the intersection, in a secluded corner of a quiet tea stall, beside a simple wooden chessboard.

Liu Zhongfu, the renowned "Chess Fanatic" of the capital, whose hair and beard were completely white, was scratching his head frantically, his forehead covered in cold sweat as he stared at the chessboard. Opposite him sat a young gentleman dressed in an elegant green robe, with an ordinary face but an indescribably calm and profound demeanor. On the board, Liu Zhongfu's black pieces were completely surrounded, his defeat already sealed. After much agonizing thought, he finally threw in his piece in resignation, sighing in admiration, "Your skill in chess is divine, old man... I humbly admit defeat! May I ask your esteemed name, young master? This old man has a slight reputation in the capital's chess circles, yet I have never heard of a person like you."

The young gentleman smiled faintly, a gentle smile that seemed to conceal millennia of ice in its depths. He unhurriedly collected the chess pieces, his movements graceful. Hearing the old man's question, his hands paused slightly as if in thought. Then, he raised his eyes and softly spoke in a tone that held a hint of amusement, as if stating the most ordinary fact: "My name... is still... Qi Miaoxuan."

As his words faded, he gracefully rose, straightened his uncreased robe, and turned to merge into the bustling crowd behind him, his figure disappearing like a drop of water into the ocean. Only Liu Zhongfu remained at the tea stall, staring blankly at the unfinished game. This Qi Miaoxuan was indeed the "old immortal" Qi Miaoxuan that Gu Mo and Ye Jinglan had spoken of.

However, after the battle in Mobei last year, Qi Miaoxuan hadn't anticipated that Gu Mo was the world's third dragon. This caused the Azure Dragon's soul within the Inverse Scale Blade to awaken prematurely. While suppressing the dragon soul with one hand, he fought Gu Mo with the other and was beaten black and blue, fleeing in disarray. Afterward, he absorbed the Fire Kirin's physical body to strengthen himself, then used his own body as a formation to merge with the Fire Kirin's ancestral elemental flame, suppressing the dragon soul. He had completed his plan of the servant devouring the master, and now the dragon soul was successfully sealed within the Inverse Scale Blade, burning ceaselessly.

As he walked, Qi Miaoxuan entered a domain state. Although he was still walking on the street, no one could see him. He whispered, "Azure Dragon, your actions just now were quite shameful. You once planned to seize the third dragon's body for your own use, but now you're begging him for help? Before, you treated him as your vessel, but now you think of him as your kind? You truly resemble a dog now!"

Qi Miaoxuan's chest subtly rippled. Then, the Azure Dragon's voice echoed in his ear: "Vile slave, don't be so smug. This Venerable One will die, but the primal energy will not dissipate. After your death, this Venerable One will still have a chance to reappear in the world!"

Qi Miaoxuan replied, "I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you. This Venerable One will not die. This Venerable One will become the Heavenly Dao, far beyond your reach."

"Daydreaming! That God in the Heavens Beyond Heavens was the first sentient being to awaken in this world, and even He couldn't become the Heavenly Dao. You... delude yourself. You're just an ant peeking at the sky. Before, I was here to block you, and God couldn't see you. Now, do you think you can still hide?" the Azure Dragon sneered.

Qi Miaoxuan chuckled, "Azure Dragon, do you know what distinguishes you beasts most from humans?" "What? You're the beast!" the Azure Dragon roared.

Qi Miaoxuan said, "Humans use their brains, but you don't. Think about it: how many eons have you existed, and how many have humans? We are but a fraction of your time, yet you consistently lose to humans. That God in the Heavens Beyond Heavens, does He not merely rely on a Heavenly Gate and a Heart Demon to monitor the mortal realm? As long as someone deals with those two, God won't be able to see what's happening in the mortal realm for a while, giving me time to do whatever I need to. One day in the Heavens is one year on Earth. By the time the Heavens Beyond Heavens monitors the mortal realm again, I will have mastered all the powerful forces in the world, enough to ascend to the Heavens Beyond Heavens. What then is God?"

The Azure Dragon sneered, "That's just the talk of a frog in a well!" Qi Miaoxuan scoffed, "I am a born sage. With your Azure Dragon's spatial power, the Inverse Scale Blade's unmatched offensive capabilities, and the Fire Kirin's limitless energy, when I kill the Seven-Colored Peacock and gain its immortal and indestructible abilities, won't that be enough to kill a god? If it's still not enough, it doesn't matter. I will then kill the Black Tortoise to fuse with its invincible defensive power, and then control the Mirror of Samsara. If that's still not enough, I'll borrow the power of the mortal realm. What is a god then?"

The Azure Dragon stated gravely, "When you kill the Heart Demon and eliminate the Heavenly Gate, you will certainly be seen by God. At that point, you'll have no opportunity to execute any of your subsequent plans."

Qi Miaoxuan chuckled, "I've already said, I won't personally do the killing. Weren't you just begging your kind, that Gu Mo, for help? Isn't he the most suitable candidate to kill the Heart Demon?" "You came here just to lure him into a fight with the Heart Demon?" the Azure Dragon asked, bewildered.

"What else did you think?" Qi Miaoxuan retorted. "If I wanted to stop them from finding the Poison Pearl, I could have just detonated it remotely, plunging all of Chang'an into plague. Why would I bother coming here? The Heart Demon invades anyone in the world who touches the barrier of the Ascension Realm. Although perhaps not one in a hundred of these people successfully ascends, the Heart Demon invades them in advance to prepare. Gu Mo currently has two individuals near him who have theoretically reached this threshold: Ye Jinglan and Ye Chen. Three hundred years ago, when the Heart Demon found Yu Shier, I secretly fought him and intercepted a sliver of the Heart Demon's power. That power is now in the Cold Mountain Treasury. Ye Jinglan's mind is very strong, so that bit of Heart Demon power can't sway him. But I deliberately set a trap targeting Ye Chen's mental weakness—his lust. That boy will definitely be targeted by the Heart Demon. When Ye Chen shows any abnormality, Gu Mo will be able to detect it. Conveniently, Gu Mo now holds a bit of the Mirror of Samsara's primal energy. With his talent, he should discover that he can use the Samsara Primal Energy to suppress the Heart Demon. Even if Gu Mo can't kill the Heart Demon, he can certainly gravely wound it. And perfectly, there's also a chosen one in the mortal realm named Jiang Ruoxu. He can deliver the finishing blow. He is the most talented person in the mortal realm in nearly a thousand years, having reached a realm beyond Ascension as a pure human. Although Gu Mo has also touched a realm beyond Ascension, he is, after all, a dragon. Hmm, speaking of which, you didn't leave behind any dragon eggs back then. Logically, besides dragon veins, there shouldn't be any other dragons, should there?"

The Azure Dragon fell silent, evidently not knowing the answer either. The moonlight, like silver, streamed through the carved window lattice into Ye Chen's room at the Honglu Temple, casting a layer of cold, frosty luminescence on the floor.

In stark contrast to the quiet night was Ye Chen's restless heart. He hadn't fallen asleep, nor was he meditating as usual. Instead, he sat dazedly at the table. The oil lamp had long since gone out, leaving only the moonlight to illuminate the scroll he carefully held in his hands.

The woman in the painting, adorned in a seven-colored gown with picturesque features, seemed to have completely captivated him. Her smiling face appeared even more vibrant under the moonlight, and her tender, expressive eyes utterly enthralled Ye Chen. He periodically let out sounds of admiration, his fingers unconsciously caressing the cold paper of the painting, as if touching the skin of a lover in a dream.

In a daze, the cold moonlight cast upon the scroll seemed to be drawn by an unseen force, suddenly condensing and flowing, seeping strand by strand into the painting. A soft yet eerie seven-colored halo bloomed on the painting's surface, rippling like water. Despite such a bizarre scene unfolding on the painting, Ye Chen seemed unfazed, continuing to stare transfixed.

Suddenly, the eyelashes of the stunning woman in the painting fluttered gently like butterfly wings! Immediately after, her eyes, which had merely been painted, yet held fragmented reflections of the galaxy, abruptly became vibrant and profound, as if transcending the boundaries of time and space, gazing directly into Ye Chen's heart. Her vermillion lips parted, and a voice as gentle as water, filled with endless affection and sorrow, spoke:

"My lord... your humble servant has finally waited for you..." Ye Chen trembled, a wave of dizziness instantly overwhelming him. Despite the bizarre occurrence of a painted figure speaking, he felt no fear or surprise. Instead, he asked with great joy, "You're waiting for me?"

"It's me, my lord... I am your Qiuniang..." The woman in the painting's eyes shimmered, holding a thousand years of longing and deep affection. "We have finally... met again." Her figure, interwoven with moonlight and the seven-colored halo, began to become three-dimensional and clear, stepping out of the painting and sitting beside Ye Chen.

"Qiuniang? We... know each other?" Ye Chen's voice held a trace of numbness. He suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity with the woman before him.

"More than just knowing each other..." Qiuniang's voice caught with a sob. "Three hundred years ago... you and I were a match made in heaven, a divine couple, deeply in love. But fate played a cruel trick. At the critical moment when we were jointly attempting to ascend to immortality, we encountered a catastrophe... To save me, you willingly burned your divine soul, pushing me into the Immortal Gate, while you yourself... your Dao foundation collapsed, and you fell into the cycle of reincarnation in this mortal world... My lord, it's been three hundred years, and Qiuniang has missed you every moment..."

Ye Chen felt something was amiss in his heart, but this feeling vanished completely when he met Qiuniang's eyes. A strange sense of sorrow and destiny welled up within him, as if distant memories from a past life were truly being stirred deep in his soul. He watched Qiuniang, her face tear-streaked and sincere, and slowly took her hand, saying softly, "So... so that's how it was! Qiuniang, you've suffered so much! I... I actually don't remember anything..."

"It's alright, my lord!" Qiuniang broke into a tearful smile, her smile blossoming like a spring flower, carrying incomparable allure. "Now I am one of the immortals. Although I cannot descend to this realm in my true form, a wisp of my divine consciousness is attached to this ancient painting for the sole purpose of finding you. Heaven truly has eyes; it has finally allowed me to find your reincarnated self!" Her tone became fervent and hopeful. "My lord, in our previous life, you sacrificed for me. In this life, let Qiuniang help you re-ascend to the path of immortality! We, as husband and wife, can once again be carefree, immortal divine companions, wouldn't that be wonderful?"

"Divine companions... eternal life..." Ye Chen's mind was completely captured by this beautiful prospect, and his eyes erupted with an intense longing. "Good! Qiuniang, what should I do? As long as I can be with you, I'll do anything!"

"Don't rush, my lord," Qiuniang's voice was gentle as water, carrying a calming power. "To ascend to immortality, your foundation is paramount. My lord, please tell me the cultivation method and incantations you are currently practicing in detail. Although I am not of this realm, my immortal cultivation realm remains. Perhaps I can offer you some insight, eliminate hidden dangers, and point you in the right direction."

"Qiuniang, you are so good to me!" Ye Chen was so moved he almost cried. He immediately sat cross-legged, cleared his throat, and began to recite the incantations of the 'Great Sun Demonic Art' he practiced, without holding anything back: "Qian Yuan Heng Li Zhen, Kun Hou De Zai Wu, where Yin and Yang clash, lies the turning point..."

Seeing how easily Ye Chen fell for it, a hint of joy flickered in Qiuniang's eyes. As a power the Heart Demon had spread in the mortal realm, she could theoretically be considered a clone of the Heart Demon. She possessed consciousness, but her purpose was to invade cultivators' martial wills through various means, whether it be greed, anger, and delusion, or separation, hatred, suffering, and so on! This was why powerful cultivators in the world would invariably be unable to defeat the Heart Demon after ascending, because the Heart Demon would have already planted its hidden hand in them.

The most common method was the one she was currently employing: after swaying a cultivator's mind, altering their martial arts in various ways. This would not only dramatically increase the cultivator's power and speed, enabling rapid breakthroughs, but also plant the seeds of disaster. Originally, this "Qiuniang" had predicted that Ye Chen, reaching the threshold of the Ascension Realm at such a young age, must be a dragon among men with an exceptionally firm will. She had prepared a series of backup plans. However, none of them were needed.

Ye Chen's will was so weak that he was inferior even to a somewhat strong ordinary person. She even wondered how he had acquired his martial arts in the first place! Nevertheless, it was good for her. With just a few words, he had begun to divulge his martial arts.

However, the smile on "Qiuniang's" face did not last long. As Ye Chen spoke, it slowly froze and stiffened. In her eyes, which held fragmented reflections of the galaxy, there first flickered a hint of extreme bewilderment, as if she were listening to gibberish.

Following that, bewilderment turned into astonishment, and astonishment quickly transformed into an indescribable... stupefaction! What... what in the world was this? The incantations Ye Chen recited seemed to make a little sense at first listen... but upon closer inspection, they were pure nonsense! Completely illogical!

She wanted to alter it but had no idea how! After all, the prerequisite for alteration was a cultivation manual, even a useless one would do!

"My lord..." Qiuniang's voice held a barely perceptible dryness and a forced tenderness. "Your cultivation method... hmm... it's quite... unique." She racked her brain to find a relatively neutral word.

"Unique?" Ye Chen's eyes lit up. "Qiuniang, you also think it's extraordinary, right? This martial art is the legendary Great Sun Demonic Art. Please quickly help me see where it needs modification? How can I break through faster?"

Qiuniang: "..." A pile of dung, even if placed on a golden plate, was still dung! She had no idea what seasoning could make it palatable.

After a brief silence, Qiuniang decisively abandoned that approach. A captivating smile, enough to charm all beings, bloomed anew on her face. Her eyes shimmered, exuding seductive charm. "My lord," her voice suddenly turned exquisitely soft, carrying an enchanting, soul-stirring magic. "While cultivation methods are foundational, there's no need to rush them. We've been separated for centuries, our longing is bone-deep... At this beautiful moment, why cling to those dry incantations?"

Qiuniang extended a slender, fair finger to caress Ye Chen's cheek, her movements full of playful provocation. "There's a distinction between immortals and mortals. Though I cannot embrace you in my true form, my lord... we still have the method of dual cultivation to connect our hearts and share the joy of intimacy."

Qiuniang's voice was like a feather tickling Ye Chen's heart. "This method is a secret from the Immortal Realm, where Yin and Yang complement each other, blending like water and milk. I can transfer a wisp of pure immortal essence into your body, my lord. Not only will it nourish your physical body and cleanse your meridians, but it will also help you comprehend the profound truths of heaven and earth, mending your foundation. Your future cultivation will naturally achieve twice the results with half the effort, advancing a thousand miles in a single day... far surpassing the painstaking practice of that... ahem, unique cultivation method. My lord, are you... willing to join Qiuniang... in studying this wonderful method?"

As she spoke, Qiuniang's silken robe was half-undone, her fragrant shoulders slightly exposed. Her subtly revealed exquisite curves and passionate eyes were enough to make any normal man's blood surge. Ye Chen gazed at the enchanting Qiuniang, feeling an irresistible urge. His breathing grew heavy, and then he directly embraced her.

"Quick! Qiuniang, let's..." He impatiently reached to untie his own sash. Qiuniang covered her mouth and chuckled softly, her eyes shimmering with endless anticipation and a trace of imperceptible coldness, signaling her prey was about to fall into her trap.

The joy of intimacy was also the Heart Demon's most direct method. Regardless of who it was, when engaging in such acts, they were at their weakest point and most vulnerable to attacks on their mind. Ye Chen took a deep breath, trying to calm his wildly beating heart, preparing to embrace this "sacred" moment spanning past and present lives.

However, just as his mind surged and his desire peaked, as he was about to act—a terrifying encounter from the brothel that day flashed into his mind, clear as day and without warning! That nauseating smell, the extreme contrast between sight and touch, that bone-deep feeling of revulsion... like the coldest tide, it instantly drenched him, chilling him to the core! His body's most honest reaction betrayed all his will and desires. Under the immense shock of psychological trauma, he instantly quieted down, becoming... unresponsive, his heart as still as water.

Then, Ye Chen looked at Qiuniang on the bed and said earnestly, "Um... Qiuniang, I think, even though we were a couple in a past life and deeply in love... I think we should get to know each other first. The moonlight is perfect right now; we could sit and chat about life, discuss philosophy, and talk about our ideals..." Qiuniang: "?? We're like this, and now you want to talk about life, philosophy, and ideals? Are you insane?!"

Ye Chen slowly pulled on his trousers and said, "Let's talk about something sensitive. What are your thoughts on the war situation between Qian and Chu kingdoms in Jiang?" Qiuniang: "...Useless!" Then, she added, "An invincibly useless piece of trash."

Ye Chen was greatly provoked. In that instant, an unnamed surge of anger suddenly appeared. It was this momentary mental agitation that abruptly made him sober up. Looking at Qiuniang before him, he instantly felt a chill run through his body, a coldness rushing from his feet to the crown of his head. He immediately circulated his cultivation and sternly demanded, "What kind of monster are you?"

Qiuniang calmly replied, "A very prideful good-for-nothing." Ye Chen: "I..."

Before Ye Chen could argue, his mind grew clearer. In a daze, Ye Chen suddenly straightened up, realizing that he had somehow fallen asleep at the table and had only been dreaming.

He slowly rolled up the painting and put it away, whispering, "Thank goodness it was just a dream... I should be fine... definitely fine!" Then, he abruptly stood up, went to the door, and called out, "Hey, Ah Qi, where did you say you met that divine doctor the other day? I just feel a bit unwell and want him to give me a couple of treatments. No other problems! What problems could I possibly have, hahaha..."

The next day, Chang'an City was under full lockdown. The Crown Prince Investiture Ceremony officially commenced. Gu Mo, naturally, had been invited and was summoned to the Imperial City early.

However, the Crown Prince Investiture Ceremony was an extremely complex and tedious affair. Gu Mo merely attended out of respect for the Qian Emperor, making a symbolic appearance at the beginning before leaving directly. Gu Chuwinter went off to feast with Li Li in the palace, while Ye Jinglan, Su Ziyou, and Zhuo Qingfeng—who had just returned yesterday—all had to remain at the ceremony as high-ranking officials.

Thus, Gu Mo left the Imperial City alone. However, he didn't see Ye Chen at the ceremony today. Upon inquiring, he learned that Ye Chen was feeling unwell and resting, so Gu Mo decided to visit Ye Chen at the Honglu Temple on his way.

However, just as he arrived at the entrance of the Honglu Temple, he saw Ye Chen furtively clutching a package, glancing left and right with a guilty conscience. Gu Mo was curious. He immediately stepped out of his carriage and, with a single stride, instantly appeared behind Ye Chen, quietly asking, "What are you doing? Stealing something?"

"No, I'm perfectly fine..." Ye Chen straightened up abruptly. Gu Mo: "..."

"Oh, Brother, what are you doing here? Didn't you go to the Crown Prince Investiture Ceremony?" Ye Chen asked. "I did, but it was boring, so I came back," Gu Mo explained, pointing at the large package Ye Chen was carrying. "What's that? You look like you're smuggling a dog."

"No," Ye Chen quickly said, "I just went shopping and bought a few random things!" Gu Mo looked suspicious and said, "What decent person 'randomly' buys cinnamon, deer antler, Cynomorium songaricum... hmm, and Cistanche deserticola, and Epimedium? Tsk tsk tsk, Ye Chen, your 'random' purchases are quite peculiar!"

Ye Chen looked utterly bewildered and said, "No way, Brother, you can tell all that?" Gu Mo replied, "I'm a physician, and my medical skills are considered unparalleled. I can smell these herbs from a mile away. But if you have needs for strengthening yang and nourishing kidneys, you should come to me. I'll concoct a 'Perfect Great Tonic Pill' for you that's guaranteed to be a hundred times more potent than anything you'd find on the market!"

Ye Chen grasped Gu Mo's hand, saying, "Brother, from now on, you're my true elder brother. Once a brother, always a brother. You'll be the senior, and I'll be the junior..." "Enough of that!" Gu Mo chuckled. "Still, with your martial arts and internal energy, and being only in your twenties, this shouldn't be happening..."

Ye Chen looked troubled and said, "I don't want this either. If I hadn't had that dream last night, I wouldn't have realized that brothel incident affected me so much..." Ye Chen then roughly recounted the events of his dream from the previous night. After finishing, he said with a mournful expression, "Brother, am I beyond saving? Am I too sensitive...?"

Gu Mo chuckled, "Whether you're too sensitive is something we'll set aside for now. Let's first discuss how you could harbor such... *filthy* thoughts towards a painting. Tsk, you truly are something..." Ye Chen quickly interjected, "Brother, it's really not my fault! You didn't look closely at that painting yesterday. It's truly too well-drawn, as if she were real. Just one glance, and I felt I fell in love. Seriously, I even felt she was smiling at me... Wait, no, she *really* was smiling at me!"

Gu Mo: "???" Ye Chen's eyes suddenly widened as he said, "That's right, Brother! Yesterday in the tomb, that painting smiled at me, but I don't know what happened; my mind suddenly went blank, and I just completely overlooked it!" Gu Mo's heart immediately tensed. He realized there might indeed be a real problem, especially since Ye Chen's current destiny seemed to involve a bit of unavoidable trouble.

"Where's the painting?" "In my room!" Immediately, the two quickly entered the Honglu Temple and went to Ye Chen's quarters. Ye Chen hastily entered, retrieved the painting, and handed it to Gu Mo.

Gu Mo slowly unrolled the painting and examined it carefully. He had to admit, the girl in the painting was indeed beautiful—not a stunning beauty that would immediately turn heads, but rather the graceful and delicate type, exuding a comfortable and innocent aura at first glance. However, there was nothing wrong with the painting itself.

"Brother, do you see anything wrong?" Ye Chen asked. Gu Mo frowned. He couldn't detect any problems; the painting appeared to be a very ordinary portrait. "It's probably not the painting itself that's the issue," Gu Mo said. "Rather, there was something *on* the painting before. Since it appeared in your dream, I'll go into your dream to take a look!"

Ye Chen asked doubtfully, "How?" "Just take a nap."

"I can't sleep now, it's broad daylight..." Before Ye Chen could finish speaking, Gu Mo delivered a swift hand chop to his head. Ye Chen's eyes immediately rolled back, and he collapsed to the ground.

Immediately, Gu Mo pointed a finger at Ye Chen, and a surge of spiritual power instantly entered Ye Chen's consciousness.

Ye Chen was indeed dreaming. In his dream, he was back in his childhood, with a happy and harmonious family and a childhood sweetheart he spent every day with. They were innocent playmates, their affection deep, promising to marry when they grew up.

But good times didn't last. One day, a band of horse bandits suddenly appeared and raided the village.

Ye Chen and his childhood sweetheart fled, but were caught by the bandit leader. The leader laughed cruelly, raising his saber to strike the young girl. Ye Chen cried out in agony. That ferocious smile was the nightmare he most dreaded to recall from the depths of his heart. He felt intense anger and hatred, but he couldn't muster the courage to face his fear directly.

Just then, a white-clad figure descended from the sky like an immortal, kicking the bandit leader so hard he flew back, crashed into a tree, and died instantly. Then, the white-clad figure lightly landed before Ye Chen, smiling faintly. It was Gu Mo.

Seeing his childhood sweetheart saved, Ye Chen breathed a long sigh of relief and quickly cried out, "Thank you, Immortal..." However, he didn't finish his sentence.

He saw Gu Mo slap his childhood sweetheart on the head. Then, the girl's head twisted a full circle, bounced back, and dangled loosely on her neck. Her face, however, wore a bewildered expression as she said, "Shouldn't you have helped him break through his fear? How did you become that fear yourself?"

Gu Mo chuckled and said, "If I become the fear, doesn't that mean this dream becomes my domain? Who can leave and who must stay is all up to me. You can't leave either, can you—Heart Demon!"