The Southern Border betrayed their trust and tore up the alliance, attacking Daliang's Yueguan Pass. The Battle of Dragon City had already rendered the two sides mortal enemies.
Daliang's army crossed the Ghost Gu Mountain, their warships sailing up the Qu’nan River in the west, advancing in a mighty offensive. The Southern Border's frontier was repeatedly attacked, throwing it into turmoil.
However, the Southern Border was backed by the formidable North Qi. With ample supplies and soldiers, they had no intention of surrendering. The two sides fought fiercely, leaving the borderlands devastated.
A few days later, Daliang's Great General of the West suddenly led his troops across the Snow Mountain, destroying the Twelve Cave Dwellings and invading the Ten Thousand Gu Cave.
The Gu King was enraged and dispatched troops to surround the cave. The entire Ten Thousand Gu Cave was heavily guarded.
Yet, Tantai Ye showed no fear, battling the elders of the Twelve Cave Dwellings alone outside the holy land.
Ye Luan heard the news when Xie Beihan was leading her to the forbidden area.
In a secret chamber.
"Your Majesty, should we let him in now?"
Xuan Qing walked over respectfully and asked.
Xie Beihan chuckled, "Let him in alone."
"Yes."
Ye Luan listened to their conversation with a cold expression, feeling a vague unease.
"What are you afraid of?"
Xie Beihan glanced at her and took her hand, pulling her forward.
Ye Luan frowned and struggled, but he pulled even tighter.
"Follow me, there are mechanisms."
"Xie Beihan, are you sure we should do this?"
Xie Beihan paused and looked back at her. A hint of cunning lurked on his sinister face.
"Since ancient times, winners take all. If I win, I'll take you back to North Qi. If I lose, I die."
Ye Luan's body stiffened. Her left hand unconsciously clenched, her nails digging into her flesh, blood seeping from between her fingers.
Xie Beihan noticed, leaned closer, lifted her hand, and gently shook it.
"Doesn't it hurt?"
In the secret passage of the chamber, faint torches were lit on both sides.
The weak firelight illuminated half of his face, making that half appear gentle and clear. But the face hidden in the darkness held a touch of madness.
Especially his eye, like a dark, lurking snake, unfathomably deep.
Ye Luan looked at him a few times, a complex feeling welling up in her heart.
Xie Beihan gently lifted her hand to apply medicine.
"As expected, a ruthless woman. You're even cruel to yourself."
His slightly mocking laughter echoed in the passage.
Ye Luan said, "Xie Beihan, doing this will only lead to a mutual destruction."
"Mmm."
His expression was calm, his eyes so indistinct that his emotions were almost invisible.
Ye Luan felt distressed, but she knew nothing could be changed.
"Alright, let's go."
He pulled her forward.
Ye Luan looked at his retreating back, her eyes stinging.
She allowed him to pull her along, remaining still.
Xie Beihan glanced back at her, and also remained still.
In the dim secret passage, they looked at each other for a long time, without a word.
Silence permeated the air.
Ye Luan spoke first, "It's not worth it."
Xie Beihan remained silent. Suddenly, he pulled her hard, embracing her.
His slightly cool lips brushed across her cheek, landing by her ear as he whispered,
"Ye Luan, I want you."
The Holy Pagoda was surrounded by the sea, protected by poisonous insects and ants.
Xie Beihan led her through the passage used by successive saintesses to enter the pagoda. Opening a hidden door led to an ancient hall. Inside, the hall was empty, with twelve colossal pillars supporting the vast dome. In the center stood a colossal statue of a human with a dragon's tail.
Golden light from outside refracted into the hall, falling upon the statue's eyes, making them appear to possess a spirit.
Ye Luan stared at the immense dragon tail, speechless.
The dragon tail was enormous, extending directly out of the hall's entrance.
"Come, I'll show you outside."
Ye Luan stepped out of the hall and was stunned by the scene before her.
The end of the dragon tail led to a holy pagoda buried atop a sacrificial altar. The pagoda was bound by iron chains on all four sides, its entire body carved with various Buddha, ghost, and god statues, each in a different posture, yet all lifelike.
The dragon tail climbed almost to the top of the pagoda, soaring towards the sky.
Xie Beihan pulled her onto the altar.
The forbidden land of the Southern Border, where mortals were forbidden to tread.
It was unbelievably vast and extremely eerie.
The sky was rent by a black curtain, and blood-red light obscured the sun, illuminating the vibrant valley depths below. Seven or eight mountains of withered corpses stood tall. The mountains were green, the water was red, and gu insects coiled around the entire landscape.
To the west, there was a Forgetfulness River. The river’s water seemed to come from an unknown source. The bloody water meandered downward, several feet wide, flowing towards the southeast.
Tantai Ye rode in alone from the Dragon Tower.
He came from the north, clad in his iron-blooded military uniform, his cold face streaked with blood. His dark, piercing eyes were devoid of any expression.
Mandalas bloomed everywhere on both sides, dazzlingly red, making his figure appear even more desolate.
Seeing that Tantai Ye had truly entered the holy land alone, Ye Luan’s heart grew anxious.
Xie Beihan stood atop the tall altar, clad in a noble, deep purple imperial robe, his figure upright, his posture languid.
He watched Tantai Ye approach on horseback, chuckling with endless mockery.
"Tantai Ye, I truly look up to you."
Tantai Ye stared at him coldly, "Where is she?"
"What's the hurry?"
"Xie Beihan, I don't want to waste words with you. Hand her over."
Tantai Ye had been driven nearly mad by the days of torment.
Upon learning that Lan Murou was in the Holy Pagoda, he had disregarded the Lingnan King's objections and insisted on leading his troops into the pagoda.
Now, seeing Xie Beihan, his eyes betrayed an undisguised murderous intent.
Xie Beihan laughed heartily, picking up a bow. He played with it as he spoke mockingly,
"I'm extremely curious, what color is your heart? Dig it out and let me see, and I'll release her."
As he spoke, before Tantai Ye could reply, Ye Luan turned her head and shouted angrily,
"Can one live after having their heart dug out?"
Xie Beihan glanced sideways, the corners of his mouth curling into a chilling arc, "I want to see what a heart that loves someone looks like when it's beating."
Pervert.
Ye Luan didn't want to deal with him, but she had no choice.
She changed the subject, "Didn't you promise me you'd let me see Murou? Can I see her now?"
Upon hearing this, Xie Beihan raised an eyebrow. He tilted his head to look at Tantai Ye not far away, his eyes filled with playful mockery.
"Come, bring her out."
Around the altar stood several masked ghost-faced figures.
Upon hearing the command, they suddenly flew up to the Holy Pagoda and opened a mechanism.
From the tower, the unconscious Lan Murou was brought out, bound by chains, imprisoned against the tower. She wore a red wedding dress, and the piercing cold wind billowed her skirt.
Tantai Ye stared grimly at the person imprisoned on the tower, his eyes filled with terrifying killing intent.
"Murou!"
Ye Luan exclaimed in shock and rushed to move, but Xie Beihan grabbed her, pushing her onto a chair beside them.
"Let go of me, let me go—"
Seeing her eyes redden in fury, Xie Beihan sneered and restrained her.
"Be good and stay still, don't force me to tie you up."
Ye Luan bit her lip, afraid to provoke him.
Xie Beihan stroked her face, then suddenly triggered a mechanism on the chair, locking her hands to the armrests.
"Be good, enjoy the show."