"Ah Jing, listen to me," Rong Wan said, stepping forward as Jingheng turned to avoid her, but she caught his sleeve. When he turned around, he saw her eyes filled with tears. She bit her lip and handed him the straw doll as if it were something precious.
"What is this, sister?" Jingheng recoiled as if he had touched boiling water, but inside, he felt nothing but contempt.
"Ah Jing, I got this for you. I heard that Lord Bai Zhi plans to poison you, so you should transfer your soul into this doll. Tomorrow, I'll send your body out. After that, you'll need to stay hidden for a hundred years..."
Hidden for a hundred years—did she want him to disappear entirely?
"Sister..." Jingheng looked at the straw doll. In his past life, he believed Rong Wan and transferred his soul into it, but before the next day came, she almost incinerated him with celestial fire. It was then that Ghost Lord Chou Zhi came to the Heavenly Realm.
His thoughts stopped. He didn't dwell on it any longer. Instead, he asked, "What is this thing?"
The straw doll, known as the "cloth doll," came from the demon realm. In his past life, Rong Wan deceived him because he was ignorant, but he was no longer the same as before.
As expected, Rong Wan's expression changed, her usually gentle eyes showing a hint of fierceness, though it was only for a moment. "Ah Jing, this is something I risked my life to get for you. Are you questioning me?" She looked at him incredulously, then covered her face with her hands, sobbing softly. Her tearful appearance would melt anyone's heart. Jingheng turned his head away, but Rong Wan continued, "Ah Jing, I know you've suffered, but think carefully—who in the Heavenly Realm has treated you better than I have over the past hundred years?"
Jingheng stepped forward and apologized, then asked, "It's my fault, sister. But if I use it, what will you do?"
"I'll find a way. Ah Jing, you need to stay alive. Stay alive and be well," Rong Wan replied, wiping her tears and smiling lightly as she patted his head, like she always did.
A strange sense of nostalgia washed over him, as if he still longed for the warmth that never truly existed. But the moment quickly passed. She was the one who had betrayed him, and he knew it deep in his heart.
Rong Wan clasped her hands together and recited a chant. The straw doll came to life, its black eyes turning white. In an instant, Rong Wan collapsed, but the doll stood up, speaking in her voice. "Ah Jing, do you understand?"
"I understand," Jingheng replied, his face growing cold. In his palm, the lotus fire had a faint hint of black. A blood-red flash emanated from the lotus fire, and just as Rong Wan was struck with fear, it wrapped around the doll.
"A cloth doll from the demon realm, right? Sister?" Jingheng's voice was light, but his expression held no humor. The blood sigil tightly bound Rong Wan to the cloth doll, preventing her from using her spiritual energy.
Jingheng picked up the doll and placed it on Rong Wan's body. He leaned down, his expression ambiguous, causing her to panic.
"Who are you?" Rong Wan shouted in fear, realizing that Jingheng was no longer the naive child she once knew.
"Who am I?" Jingheng chuckled. "Just a few moments ago, didn't you recognize me, Sister?"