The Red Blossom Fiend was now kneeling on the ground, trembling with fear—nothing like the arrogant figure who had once stood before me.
"So now you're begging for mercy? Weren't you about to devour me just a moment ago? Don't think I don't know your true intentions. Your target wasn't this boy. The task to kill him didn't require someone like you. Your goal was me. If you wanted to swallow me whole, then come on, why hesitate?"
As I spoke, my foot pressed against the Red Blossom Fiend's head. Though the act wasn't entirely of my own volition, the sensation felt incredibly real. For the first time in my life, I experienced a sense of dominance. All my life, I'd been the one bullied, and now it was the other way around—even if it wasn't entirely me, it was still my body asserting power.
"Brother Liu, what's gotten into you…" Mo Yun started, only to fall silent under a sharp glare from Ye Cha, who had taken control of my body.
But Ye Cha wasn't about to let him off so easily. In a flash—so quick I couldn't even process it—"I" was suddenly in front of Mo Yun. My hand lifted to touch his chin as I leaned in close and said in a teasing tone, "You little brat, weren't you just pleading with me to save you? I'll cut you a deal: kill that woman and that man over there, and I'll let you leave here alive—and I'll even help you find your sister."
Something wasn't right. Alarm bells rang in my head. Ye Cha was clearly stirring up trouble.
"Ye Cha, what are you doing? He's just a kid! Why are you pressuring him like this?"
I tried to shout, but no sound came out. I wanted to pull my hand away from Mo Yun's chin, but my body wasn't responding. It was as though Ye Cha had completely taken over.
"You're not Liu Cunxi!" Mo Yun said nervously, staring at "me."
In his reflection, I could see myself grinning wickedly—a cruel, sinister expression I'd never wear under normal circumstances.
"I don't know why I can't sense your aura, but you should know this: someone like me doesn't concern themselves with a life or two. As long as it doesn't lead to mass casualties, even heavenly retribution won't bother me. I could kill them all, and then you'd have no body to possess, rendering the sunlight you fear meaningless."
Ye Cha's hand moved from Mo Yun's chin to his neck, sliding further down with an unsettling intent. I couldn't even begin to process what Ye Cha's words meant. My only fear was that she might use my body to harm the boy. That would leave me with an unerasable guilt.
My consciousness felt like it was wrapped in a thin membrane. No matter how hard I tried to break free, I could only stretch it without tearing through.
"Heh, you're worried about me? Take a look behind you."
Mo Yun's previously innocent demeanor shifted, and his face showed a sinister edge.
That's when I realized why Ye Cha had been wary of the boy from the start—she had known his true identity. If it were Zhang Jue, Huang Lianfang, or even the vanished Fang Jinghua and Mo Xiangqi, it wouldn't have surprised me. But Mo Yun? I hadn't expected it at all.
Ye Cha turned, only to see vines sprouting wildly behind her. Countless human heads rolled within them, surging like waves and rushing to attack.
"Tsk, how audacious," Ye Cha sneered.
I could feel my fingers forming intricate seals at an incredible speed. The gestures were entirely unfamiliar, even beyond anything my master had taught me. Under Ye Cha's control, my body began to levitate. Before I could fully grasp the sensation of floating two meters above the ground, a complex red array flashed beneath me. I didn't recognize the symbols, but they exuded an undeniable power.
The advancing vines stopped dead in their tracks, unwilling to come closer. Those near the array recoiled entirely.
"What are you?" Mo Yun asked, his voice filled with disbelief. "Blood-red arrays are forbidden arts! How can you use them without paying a price?"
"Someone as good as dead doesn't need to know so much. Perish!"
Chains flew out from the array, wrapping tightly around the Red Blossom Fiend. No matter how much he struggled, he couldn't break free. Helpless, he was dragged down below.
"In the eternal hell of torment, I'm sure they'll welcome a newcomer like you. Enjoy your time in the underworld."
With the Red Blossom Fiend gone, the field of grotesque human-head flowers vanished as well. I assumed that whatever had trapped those souls had been lifted, and they could now reincarnate.
Having dealt with the Red Blossom Fiend, I turned to confront Mo Yun, but a sudden wave of dizziness overtook me.
Thud!
I collapsed to the ground.
When I opened my eyes again, I found myself lying in a coffin. The most unnerving part was that I was dressed in a bright red robe, like a groom from ancient times. Beside me lay Mo Xiangqi, also clad in a red dress. The scene was as eerie as it was surreal.
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm so I could think.
I remembered agreeing to let Ye Cha possess my body to deal with the Red Blossom Fiend. After that, I'd blacked out.
"Ye Cha? Ye Cha?"
I called out internally, but there was no response. Just then, Mo Xiangqi stirred.
Seeing our bizarre attire, she tried to sit up, but like me, found herself unable to move.
"Brother Liu, what's going on? Why are we dressed like this?"
That was exactly what I couldn't figure out. The Red Blossom Fiend had already captured four men. Why place me here? And if Mo Xiangqi and I were here, what about Huang Lianfang and the others?
"Remember what I told you about the Twin Ghosts? I think the next step is forcing us to marry. After that, our souls will be forced out of our bodies and devoured by the ghost. That'll be the end."
I surprised myself with how calm I sounded, even on the brink of death.
Mo Xiangqi, however, turned pale with terror. Her voice trembled as she pleaded, "Think of a way to get us out of here! My brother must be so worried."
Her mention of Mo Yun made me hesitate. Should I tell her the truth? If the ghost had taken his form, the real Mo Yun might already be dead.
Before I could decide, I heard footsteps approaching. I motioned for her to close her eyes and feign unconsciousness. I did the same, but kept my eyes slightly open to observe.
As the footsteps drew closer, my heart raced in my chest.