Not long after, Su Zimo and Mu Yunxuan arrived at the foot of the mountain as the woman had mentioned. Looking at the entire mountain, it resembled a soaring eagle with outstretched wings.
At the foot of the mountain, there was a low-lying area with some farmland and a dozen houses, picturesque and perfect for seclusion.
"Moyi, this village is well-hidden. How did those people find this place? And from here to the mountaintop, ordinary people can't possibly ascend. How did that woman leave, and why did she cry for help when there was nothing behind her?"
"Yunxuan, regardless of the reasons, since we're here, let's go down and take a look first."
"Alright!"
The two descended into the center of the village but didn't see a single soul. Under the tall trees, sunlight filtered through, casting mottled patterns, rendering the entire village eerily quiet.
They walked to a place in the village used to dry crops and found strange banners hanging there, adorned with eerie figures and unidentifiable patterns.
The whole setup resembled an altar, yet it also didn't. Surrounding it were some crops being dried, making the terrifying scene even more unsettling within the tranquil village.
"Moyi, considering the topography, this place can be considered isolated. It's not far from the Haoyue Imperial Capital and remains unknown in these deep mountains. It's very peculiar."
Mu Yunxuan held Su Zimo's hand, remaining vigilant of their surroundings.
A strong aura of hostility permeated the air, even Su Zimo could sense it. She looked up at his cold and handsome face, feeling a tinge of heartache.
"Yunxuan, there's no trace of anyone here. Shall we go and check the cave that woman mentioned?"
Su Zimo suggested, doubting the woman's words as there were no men in the village despite her claim that they had all been killed.
"Let's go."
In the Haoyue Kingdom, within the Sanwang Mansion, everything was engulfed in grief. Today, Yao Guifei's funeral was held, and Haoyue Emperor had yet to make an appearance.
This outcome was already anticipated by Jun Lintian. If the Emperor didn't show up, Yao Guifei couldn't be laid to rest in the imperial tomb. This was the most distressing aspect for Jun Lintian.
Jun Lintian instructed Lin Puda to find a scenic place and bury Yao Guifei there.
Kneeling in front of Yao Guifei's grave, Jun Lintian kowtowed heavily three times.
"Mother, rest assured, someday Tian'er will come to escort you to the Huangling."
Tears streamed down Jun Lintian's face, and for the first time, he cried so sorrowfully over his mother's death.
Yan Ping'an watched from the side, feeling a sense of discomfort in his heart.
"Your Highness, the dead cannot be revived. Let Yao Guifei rest in peace."
Yan Ping'an sympathized with Yao Guifei, but he also understood the heartlessness of Haoyue Emperor. After all, Yao Guifei was a noble concubine and had died for him. How could she be denied entry into the imperial tomb?
"It's my incompetence that allowed Mother to leave like this. I can't even witness the day of my grand wedding. I am truly unfilial."
Jun Lintian stared at Yao Guifei's tombstone with bloodshot eyes.
The trails of tears on his handsome face had yet to dry, but hatred gradually consumed his rationality.
He understood his father's intention. Since childhood, Haoyue Emperor had favored Jun Shaochen, and now Jun Shaochen turned out to be the son of Li Guifei. Very well! As sons, why did you favor one over the other? If you showed such bias, Father, don't blame your sons for being heartless and ungrateful.
In the palace, Liu Kui, the newly appointed eunuch, quickly approached the study.
Haoyue Emperor stood by the window, lost in his thoughts.
"Your Majesty, Yao Guifei's tomb is in Yuhua Mountain, also a Feng Shui treasure."
"I know, you may leave."
Haoyue Emperor turned around and walked toward the jade table.
"Tian'er, it's only your father who has let you down. With your narrow-mindedness, you're not suitable to be the Emperor of Haoyue Kingdom. It's not that your father is biased, but you truly aren't suitable."
"So, is this how Father treats the Third Prince? Father, do you know that the more you behave like this, the more he will hate you, and the more hostile he will become towards Tian'er? Father, this will lead to upheaval in the court."
Jun Shaochen strode in, appearing much steadier after experiencing these events.
Haoyue Emperor sat silently, not getting angry at Jun Shaochen's words.
"Chen'er, even if your father acts this way, Lintian won't give up easily. Do you know why Haoyue Emperor didn't decree the marriage between Tian'er and Su Ziyun six years ago? Back then, in his heart, your father already knew that Su Weichen belonged to him. As long as your father didn't agree, Tian'er couldn't do anything. Among my three sons, you, Chen'er, are the most suitable to be the Emperor of Haoyue Kingdom."
"Father..."
"Chen'er, whether you like it or not, you have to assume this position. Only then can you protect your mother and the woman you love. The struggle within the royal family is brutal. If you choose to withdraw, your mother will face death once again."
Haoyue Emperor quickly interrupted Jun Shaochen's words. He knew that Shaochen preferred a carefree and free-spirited life, but being born into the imperial family left no room for such thoughts.
Upon hearing this, Jun Shaochen's mind flashed with that charming smile. Yes, if he didn't become stronger, how could he protect his mother and the woman he loved?
"Have you visited your mother?" Haoyue Emperor asked cautiously.
"I have. Mother is still the same. She practices alchemy during the day at the Dan Medicine Pavilion in Mingyue Villa and rests at the villa at night."
"I see." Haoyue Emperor nodded. He had no complaints towards Li Manqi's indifference to him. It was his own fault, but luckily, there was still time to make amends. He would make sure that Manqi forgave him.
"Yunxuan, look over there on the cliff. It seems like there's a cave."
"Let's go and take a look." Mu Yunxuan also noticed it.
The two flew and landed at the entrance of the cave, sensing some activity inside.
Su Zimo and Mu Yunxuan exchanged glances and cautiously walked further into the cave.
The cave was pitch-black, but Su Zimo could see clearly in the darkness with her night vision ability. She couldn't help but be amazed. Was this ability a result of the water from the Holy Pool? And even in this dark cave, she didn't feel sick. She must find time to examine the sachet her master gave her and discover its wonders.
As they walked deeper, a dense aura of profound energy seemed to flow invisibly, entering Mu Yunxuan and Su Zimo's bodies through their meridians and gathering in their dantians, eventually transforming into a thick and heavy profound power. This power became increasingly solid, as if it had been tempered countless times, continuously converging in their dantians.
At the same time, a faint blue light emitted from Mu Yunxuan's eyes, resembling two vivid sapphires in the dark cave.
Both of them were astonished, finding it unbelievable.
In the Mingyue Valley, it was still the same cave with only two people.
"Yuntian, where is this place? Why did Mo'er and Mu Yunxuan appear here?"
"It's a coincidence. Moyu Witch unexpectedly made a move personally this time. I had anticipated it, but I didn't expect the location to be in the Yulong Village."
Moyu Tian squinted his eyes, a fleeting tenderness appearing in them. Mo'er wasn't strong enough yet. He didn't know if she could defeat Moyu Witch. Xinyan, would you be happy to see Mo'er?
Su Zimo and Mu Yunxuan held hands and continued walking deeper into the cave. The further they went, the more spacious it became.
Dim sunlight seeped in, and Su Zimo and Mu Yunxuan looked up to see an entrance.
"Yunxuan, there probably aren't any relatives as that woman mentioned. Let's not waste any more time here."
Su Zimo didn't want to go further. After all, this place was too strange, especially with such a dense aura of profound energy.
"No, Mo'er, since we're here, let's go inside and take a look. Don't you feel that this cave is peculiar? I don't want to give up, Mo'er."
He tightly held her hand, providing her with support.
Su Zimo initially wanted to refuse, but she had a feeling that a force was calling her.
In the end, she nodded.
The two slowly ventured deeper and noticed a glimmer of light. As they looked around, they saw jade pearls embedded in the walls, illuminating the cave to some extent.
The further they walked, the more spacious it became.
"Mo'er, look, it seems like someone used to live here."
Mu Yunxuan observed the dusty stone table and other items.
"It's truly strange to find such a unique cave here. The airflow is smooth, allowing one to breathe freely. Living here doesn't feel oppressive at all. Judging from the decorations, it seems a couple used to live here."
"How can you tell?" Mu Yunxuan couldn't discern that.
"Yunxuan, look at those teacups. They are couple cups. And there are bows and arrows on the stone wall, a spinning wheel on the ground, and look at the shoes near the stone bed, one pair for a man and a woman, with only one bed. It must have been a couple living here."
"People who live in seclusion here must lead a very leisurely life."
Mu Yunxuan said with some envy.
"This place is isolated from the world, where a divine couple can live their days."
"Do you like this kind of life, Mo'er?"
Mu Yunxuan suddenly looked at her and asked.
"What if I do? Can you let go of everything and accompany me in this secluded life?"
Su Zimo asked with a smile on her lips.
"Why not? The Mu family has more than just me, Mu Yunxuan, as a son."
"But I don't like this kind of life. I don't want to be disconnected from the world. I prefer a self-reliant and free life."
Su Zimo hooked her arm with Mu Yunxuan's.
The intimate feeling made Mu Yunxuan's smile even softer.
"It's fine for me. As long as Mo'er is there, it doesn't matter where we are!"
"You're getting better at sweet-talking."
"As long as Mo'er likes to hear it, I can say more."
Mu Yunxuan teased.
Su Zimo smiled knowingly, finding it ridiculous that she had spent a sleepless night full of sadness yesterday.
Love is just like this. When you feel like you've lost it, your heart feels dead. But when love returns, it feels like you're sitting on a cloud.
Su Zimo approached the stone table and picked up a cup, suddenly a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes. The pattern on this cup looked very familiar.
"This cup is exactly the same as the one my master used in Mingyue Valley. It has a peony flower and the character 'Yan' next to it."
Su Zimo turned around, looked around, and a deep inquiry appeared in her eyes.
"Yunxuan, look at this, it's a tooth flute. It's exactly the same as the one my master had, but I've never seen her play it."
Su Zimo picked up the tooth flute from the dressing table and examined it carefully.
"Look at the arrangement of these furniture pieces, they are somewhat similar to the ones in Mingyue Valley."
Unbeknownst to them, upon reflection, they were startled to find many things that were remarkably similar. It was truly strange.
"Mo'er, look quickly, there seems to be a stone door over there."
Mu Yunxuan discovered a crevice in the stone door, but he didn't know where the mechanism was.
"Let's go in and take a look."
Su Zimo frowned. It seemed like there was some significant secret waiting for her to discover inside.
The two searched around but didn't find any mechanism to open the stone door.
"Mo'er, there must be a way to open it. Don't worry."
"As long as it's designed with a mechanism, it can be opened."
Su Zimo examined it carefully again and suddenly, she saw a mark on the stone door. Her Zunyu flew out from her body, surprising Su Zimo. She looked at the Zunyu curiously.
How did the Zunyu come out on its own?
At first glance, the mark on the stone door perfectly matched the shape of the Zunyu.
A hint of joy flashed in Su Zimo's eyes. She saw the Zunyu emitting a soft halo, flying into the stone door, which abruptly contracted upwards.
"Let's go, Yunxuan, let's go inside and take a look." The two of them sidestepped and entered the secret chamber. It was not as spacious as the outside.
What caught their eyes was a crystal coffin.
There was a ring of gemstones piled around the crystal coffin, emitting a strange luster that was dazzling and capable of reflecting a person's figure.
In front of it, there was a translucent crystal with a stone inscription.
"Tomb of my beloved wife, Mu Xinyan. This is a burial chamber."
Su Zimo looked around and said.
"It looks like a burial chamber but not quite," Mu Yunxuan frowned.
"Yes, it's called a burial chamber, but there's only one coffin, which is strange. There is nothing else around except for the crystals."
Su Zimo respectfully bowed towards the crystal coffin before circling around to the back of the tombstone. She wanted to see what the person lying in the crystal coffin looked like.
"Ah!" Upon seeing it, Su Zimo exclaimed in fright and quickly took a few steps back.
Mu Yunxuan, who was usually calm, also looked incredulous at this moment.
The woman in the coffin actually bore a striking resemblance to Mo'er. No wonder Mo'er was so astonished!
"Yunxuan, what's going on? How can she and I look so alike?"
Su Zimo's voice trembled, breaking her usual composure.
With disbelief, they gazed at the crystal coffin, where a serene woman lay, dressed in a beautiful white gown, as if peacefully asleep.
"Mo'er, stay calm. The world is vast, and there are countless wonders. There must be a reason why we came here today," Su Zimo reassured her.
"No matter the reason, it's incredibly astonishing," Mo'er replied.
Su Zimo gulped nervously, feeling an unexplained tension in her heart. It was as if she had suddenly stepped into the Warcraft Continent, where magical encounters made her suspect that her presence in this world was orchestrated by someone, reinforcing her belief in the concept of past lives.
Just as Su Zimo was filled with astonishment, a white light suddenly emanated from the crystal coffin.
Once again, Su Zimo took a few steps back, sensing a suspicious situation unfolding.
"Don't worry, Mo'er. This phenomenon is called soul projection. When someone passes away, their soul can be attached to a certain place or object and manifest when the person they've been waiting for appears," Mu Yunxuan explained.
"What? I've never heard of such a thing," Su Zimo exclaimed, shocked. Suddenly, she recalled her encounter with the Nightmare, who claimed that she was the person he had been waiting for, and he vanished once his wish was fulfilled.
As Mu Yunxuan had predicted, the white light gradually formed the shape of a person, precisely the woman from the crystal coffin.
Su Zimo looked up, shaking her head in astonishment. Unbeknownst to her, tears welled up in her eyes.
Once again, Su Zimo was taken aback. Why was she crying? It wasn't her mother who had passed away, so why was she mourning like this?
The woman in the coffin gazed silently at Su Zimo, and a gentle smile gradually appeared in her eyes.
"Mo Mo," the woman's voice was soft and pleasant to the ears.
It was so melodious that Su Zimo suddenly let go of all her concerns and felt a sense of relaxation throughout her body and mind.
"You... who are you?" Su Zimo struggled to find the right words to ask. It was beyond her comprehension.
"My little Mo Mo has grown up," the woman's eyes radiated a tender light, resembling a mother's gaze upon seeing her child return home.
It evoked an inexplicable feeling in Su Zimo's heart.
"Can you tell me what all of this means? What is the Nightmare? And who is Jian Mo?" Su Zimo urgently sought answers, her mind racing like a madwoman.
"You will find out the answers in due time. Come closer, my dear. Mother has a gift for you."
"Mother...?" Su Zimo shook her head in disbelief. She wished she could be struck by lightning to end this and prevent things from becoming even more mysterious.
"Mo Mo, your father didn't deceive me. You have truly returned," the woman's voice was clear and filled with joy.
"Father... Who is my father?" Su Zimo tightly grabbed Mu Yunxuan's arm.
"Mo Mo, I don't have much time left. You will have to find the answers yourself," the woman remained gentle, raising her hand and swiftly tossing a bead into Su Zimo's mouth.
"Cough...!" The bead was quite large and forcefully slid down Su Zimo's throat, making her feel like gagging.
"Mo'er," Mu Yunxuan asked, his voice filled with suspicion, "What did you give Mo'er to eat?"
"Don't worry, she is my daughter. Everything she consumes is a priceless treasure. Remember, in this world, only my Mo Mo can lift the curse on your Mu family. Protect her well," Mu Xinyan responded with a sinister gaze at Mu Yunxuan.
"You can rest assured. She is my daughter, and everything she consumes is a priceless treasure in this world. Remember, in this world, only my Mo Mo can lift the curse on your Mu family. Heaven does not make inexplicable decisions without reason. Everything is predestined," Mu Xinyan said with a confident smile.
Mu Yunxuan was shocked to hear that Mo Er was the only one who could lift the curse. Mu Xinyan's body began to fade, and Su Zimo's eyes filled with urgency and a tinge of pain. She couldn't bear to let her go. "Don't go. Didn't you want to see me? Why are you leaving so soon?" Su Zimo pleaded.
Mu Xinyan smiled kindly as her form faded, leaving only her voice. "My wish has been fulfilled. I have seen you one last time, and now I can rest in peace."
"It seems like I arrived a little too late," a new voice spoke up. Mu Yunxuan helped Su Zimo up and looked towards the newcomer.
The newcomer held a staff made of a skull, with two rubies embedded in its eye sockets. Their entire body was pitch black, devoid of any color, and the wide brim of their black cloak concealed their face, leaving only darkness visible.
Behind the newcomer were three men dressed similarly.
"You are the Yu Xiu Witch of the Wu Clan?" Mu Yunxuan had seen her once before, albeit only from behind, but he recognized her instantly. She had been wearing the same attire for decades.
"Supreme Lord, it seems your eyesight is sharp. You recognized this old woman," the Yu Xiu Witch said with a hint of pride in her tone.
"Why are you here?" Su Zimo, her sadness replaced by vigilance, asked.
"I suppose you must be Su Zimo!" the Yu Xiu Witch retorted with a question.
"Isn't that an obvious question? I didn't expect you to come so quickly!" Su Zimo smirked coldly. She had some knowledge of the Wu Clan and knew that they possessed exceptional talents, making them formidable opponents who required extra caution.
"It seems you're a clever one. Well, I won't beat around the bush. Spit out the bead you swallowed earlier," the Yu Xiu Witch demanded.
"Hmph! What if I don't?" Su Zimo's mood had already been sour, and the arrival of this old woman only added fuel to the fire. Her tone was far from pleasant.
"What an ignorant girl you are. You have already experienced death once. He spared no expense to save you and bring you back. Yes, he truly managed to bring you back," the Yu Xiu Witch commented with a hint of admiration. Mu Yunxuan had gone against all odds to save Su Zimo, and she wondered what methods he had used.
"What? What does this have to do with my master?" Su Zimo was shocked and pale. Her master...
"Hmph! Master!" The hoarse voice contained a tinge of mockery, which displeased Su Zimo, causing her to furrow her brow.
"A person's heart is like boiling water in a teapot. When it boils over, the mind becomes crazy. It seems this old woman has gained quite a lot on this trip. Today, you must hand over the Jade Dragon Pearl, or I will make you stay here with your mother forever," the hoarse voice threatened, carrying both a sense of intimidation and a hint of profound meaning.