Zhan Yunwei never imagined that until her death, the moment she would obsess over repeatedly would be that one day. It was the 14th year of Shengping, a bitter winter. She sat in the main hall of a tavern, watching as someone was led to their execution. A great snowstorm raged outside, carrying with it evil spirits. Countless people grumbled, while simultaneously seeking refuge in the tavern, their eyes eagerly searching—when would the prisoner's carriage pass by?
"This isn't snowing, it's like deadly knives falling from the sky." "It's all that traitor's fault! If he hadn't committed such heinous crimes, how could the Spirit Realm have become like this?" "I heard the emperor ordered him to be taken to Tianyun Terrace to face the death of slow slicing and bone extraction."
Slow slicing and bone extraction was a brutal punishment where a person's flesh was slowly cut off, piece by piece, until all their bones were removed, and they would take their last breath in agony. Such a cruel execution… Zhan Yunwei held a cup of tea and gazed out at the snow. The tavern boy approached with a tray, coming to her table: "Guest, are you here to watch the execution? We still have excellent seats available, just ten spirit stones."
She turned around, and the tavern boy, with his charming smile, paused. Before him stood a pale, delicate young girl, with a scar running across her eye, about the width of a finger, like a cruel bloodstain on a pure white canvas. It looked almost like a tear of blood flowing down from her right eye.
In the Spirit Realm, almost everyone practiced cultivation, and there were pills and charms that could change one's appearance. It was rare for anyone to have their looks destroyed unless they had suffered a wound so severe it could neither be reversed nor concealed. The young girl's expression was calm as she counted out ten spirit stones and placed them on the tray. The tavern boy hurriedly took them, leading Zhan Yunwei upstairs: "This way, please."
As evening approached, the sky darkened to a grim gray, and the sound of carriage wheels drew nearer, drowning out the noise in the tavern. Someone shouted, "The prisoner's carriage is here." The tavern instantly became eerily silent, everyone leaning out, watching the dark iron prisoner's carriage. Everyone wanted to know what the traitor, who had raised the dark army, slaughtered the royal family, and overturned much of the royal city, looked like.
Twenty-four black-armored guards cleared the way, holding long halberds. The prisoner in the carriage wore a thin white robe, his bones visibly protruding, with his ribs pierced through and his body covered in binding talismans. In the snowstorm, the white robe should have been hard to notice, but the blood splattered on it was as conspicuous as red plums blooming in the snow, a stark contrast. The wind and snow blurred his face, making it impossible to see his features. All that could be discerned was that he was still very young, with a satin ribbon tied around his eyes, also stained with blood.
"He's blind," someone murmured, whether out of malice or an odd sigh. No one knew who threw the first object at him—a sharp stone, a foul-smelling beast's fruit, even discarded shoes… accompanied by the pitiful cries: "Because of you, my husband died at the hands of evil spirits. Give me back my husband!" "My brother will never come back, how could anyone have such a heart of stone like you?" "You've killed 158 lives in my family—how could that be repaid?"
The man in the carriage remained expressionless, unable to avoid the relentless barrage of filth, and perhaps never intending to. His forehead was soon bloodied by the stones, but he stood in the vast, snow-filled world, as though made of ice, with every strike seeming to sink into an abyss, not even causing a ripple.
The black-armored guards escorting him were blocked by the crowd, and one of them shouted to maintain order. Someone had to hold back their relatives, saying, "His heart is cold. When those 158 lives from the Yue family died, he didn't show up to save them. This sinner is doomed to die, and at least we'll have avenged our loved ones."
"His heart is cold." Zhan Yunwei had heard those words countless times. But back then, he wasn't a traitor; he was the head of the Clear Heaven Bureau, fighting against the evil spirits and protecting the city and the people with his brilliant spiritual artifacts.
Her wet nurse had once told her, "He's not so heartless. The only warmth he had was for Miss Qu and his mute sister, and he couldn't spare any for anyone else."
Zhan Yunwei looked at the man from afar. They had little interaction, and for a moment, she couldn't even remember what he looked like. The only thing she recalled was his sharp, cold eyes that carried a sense of indifference when he looked down at people. Now, with his eyes blind, his appearance was completely blurred.
Suppressing her complex emotions, she crushed the talisman with her fingers and quietly followed the black-armored guards.
As the night deepened, the snow still fell heavily. The prisoner's carriage exited the bustling streets and entered the forest, where the black-armored guards stopped to rest. No one wanted to escort a prisoner through the snowstorm.
One of the black-armored guards sighed in frustration: "What bad luck to get stuck with this job." And yet, the emperor insisted on humiliating the traitor by parading him through the streets. These black-armored guards also had to march for days in this cursed snowstorm, carrying the weight of the emperor's hatred.
A shorter black-armored guard said tiredly, "I'm going to relieve myself." Another guard frowned, "Hurry back, don't cause any trouble." The shorter guard chuckled, "What could go wrong? His shackles are sealed with the emperor's royal talismans. The Yue family's rebels are all dead, and a man like him? Who could possibly try to rescue him?"
"Don't forget, he still has a former wife. What if Miss Zhan still has feelings for him?" The shorter guard was stunned. "That's impossible, isn't it? They said his wife was the one he…"
"Shh, be careful with your words, hurry up and go."
The snowstorm grew fiercer, and when the shorter guard returned to the camp, it was clear that the black-armored guards had rotated shifts. The night was darker, and when the returning guard passed by, a faint, unmistakable mark appeared under his right eye.
Zhan Yunwei, still holding the talisman, transformed into the form of the shorter black-armored guard and covered the injury on her face with another talisman. She returned to the camp and was lucky enough to be handed a bamboo tube. "Ah Yan, go give that man some water. Just wet his lips and spare his life—don't let him drink too much."
Zhan Yunwei agreed and walked toward the prisoner's carriage. When the black-armored guards rested, they could sit, but he could only stand in the prisoner's carriage. Perhaps too exhausted or too cold, his head drooped, and his exposed fingers were already red from the cold. The satin ribbon over his eyes fluttered in the wind, and despite his quiet stillness like a corpse, there was an inexplicable air of arrogance about him.
Zhan Yunwei climbed into the carriage, bit her lip, and gently shook him. In a deliberately rough voice, she said, "Drink some water."
It had been five years since they had last met, and this was the first time she was so close to this sinner, her "ex-husband." The stench of blood was thick around him, mixed with the cold scent of ice lotus, almost covering the foul smell of the filth thrown by the onlookers.
When she called out to him for the first time, he didn't respond. She had to avoid the talismans and knocked on the carriage again, "Wake up, drink some water."
It was some time before he stirred and raised his head. His eyes were blind, but Zhan Yunwei wasn't worried about him recognizing her. He didn't open his mouth, still appearing lifeless. It was easy to understand—since the emperor wanted him dead, keeping him alive to endure the slow slicing and bone extraction punishment was pointless. The water in her hand would only wet his lips; he wouldn't need to open his mouth.
She didn't feel much sympathy for him. From the very beginning, their positions were irreconcilable. Five years ago, she hated this man in front of her for being heartless and cruel, forcing Pei Yujing into Duyue City, and leaving behind a letter of divorce, never to meet again. In these past years, she had heard rumors of his brutal methods, his countless sins, beyond counting. Of the entire Yue family, the only one she had any fondness for was probably his mute sister, but the mute girl had died years ago.
Zhan Yunwei raised her eyes to look at him. Over the years, she had concealed herself in the mortal world, witnessing scenes of criminals being executed. Before an execution, mortals would often have a hearty meal and a bowl of clean water. He had his many faults, but he had also safeguarded the royal city and the mortal realm for many years.
She frowned, and after a long while, when no one was paying attention, she avoided the talismans and pried open his mouth, quickly feeding him a sip of water. He swallowed it, but there was no sign of gratitude. Instead, he coldly "examined" her, his eyes—though blind—seemed full of suspicion.
She knew that he was a man who thought a lot, and was not surprised. Reflecting on her intentions, she said, "I propose a deal. You can decide if it works for you."
She continued, "I've heard that the Yue family has many treasures. If you tell me the location of the hidden treasures, I'll grant you a quick death, sparing you from the punishment of being dismembered. What do you think?"
The Yue family produced many gifted weapon-makers, and countless treasures had been forged. What she wanted was the Yue family's Changming Lu, which was said to have the power to bring the dead back to life, restoring flesh and bones.
Indeed, Zhan Yunwei wasn't trying to save Yue Zhi Heng; it was Pei Yujing, the eldest disciple of Penglai, whom she wanted to save. The talisman restraints on Yue Zhi Heng had been set by the Emperor himself, and she couldn't save him. She could, however, grant him a quick death.
He still didn't say a word. Criticism didn't move him, nor did the offer of a swift end. His cold, unyielding character made Zhan Yunwei furrow her brow in frustration.
"I'm not lying to you." She thought he didn't believe her, and said seriously, "I swear on my soul. If I break this vow, my soul will scatter."
She waited. Time passed, and just as Zhan Yunwei thought she might never get the Changming Lu before his death, he finally spoke.
"Fine," he said, "but there's no need to spare me from the torture. I want you to do something else."
Zhan Yunwei looked up at him. "What is it?"
He said coldly, "First, swear your oath."
She silently cursed in her heart. As expected, people she disliked were always so frustrating.
To avoid suspicion from the Black Armored Guards, she had to use a talisman again to obscure their vision and swear her soul oath. Though he was blind, she knew his abilities well and didn't dare deceive him. She gave the most binding oath she could.
"Now, can you tell me what you want?" she asked through gritted teeth.
"My elixir," he said in a calm tone, uttering shocking words. "I want you to deliver it to someone."
Zhan Yunwei hadn't expected him to be so mad. Before his execution, he had even taken out his elixir. For a cultivator, retrieving their elixir was more painful than cutting out their heart. Many would rather have their soul scattered than endure such torment. And the one who obtained another's elixir could use it to inherit their talents. At the very least, it could offer powerful protection.
Zhan Yunwei knew that he was born with nine-fold spirit veins, and his elixir was coveted by many. She couldn't help but wonder, to whom was he trying to pass it? The mute girl? But she had died years ago. Then it must be that Miss Qu—the one who had left a lingering warmth in his otherwise cold and cruel heart.
He lifted his head as though looking beyond the endless darkness, towards the end of the falling snow.
Zhan Yunwei had never imagined that one day she would hear her own name from his lips.
"Zhan Yunwei, the daughter of the Master of Changya Mountain."
Zhan Yunwei's expression was strange, and for a moment, she forgot what kind of expression she should have. The snow was falling heavily, and she couldn't see his expression clearly through the face blurred by the snow and ice.
In the distance, there was a commotion. It seemed the Black Armored Guards she had knocked out had been discovered.
"Someone is rescuing the prisoner! Capture the assassin!"
She had no choice but to flee immediately, using the talismans and magical items on her to escape in a very messy manner.
In the chaos, she couldn't help but think—was she really just a pawn in his revenge against the Immortal Mountain? Had he been delirious at the brink of death, confusing her with Miss Qu?
She had numerous wounds on her body as she fled the forest. Through the snowy landscape, the mountains and forests were hidden behind the fog, and the sky was beginning to lighten. Zhan Yunwei couldn't see the shadow of the prisoner's cart anymore. Nor could she see the former loyal dog of the royal family, now the young traitor who was hunted by all.
The crows flew over her head. She furrowed her brow, and a vague sense of confusion emerged in her heart. She realized that she couldn't save him, nor had she ever wanted to.
Three years as companions, each of them with someone they loved, their feelings were so faint that they rarely even shared the same bed. Even though she couldn't save this notorious "ex-husband," she realized that if she had the intention, there were still things she could have done for him.
For example, adding a warming talisman on his body that no one would notice, or wiping the dirt off him, or even feeding him a sip of clean water.
But in this life, from the reluctant marriage, to the decisive escape, and finally to his cruel death under torture, she had never done anything for him.
The next morning, the traitor Yue Zhi Heng was executed on the Tianyun Platform. Everyone was talking about it, and children in the alley cheered with excitement.
Zhan Yunwei followed the clues Yue Zhi Heng had given her and successfully found the Tianming Lu. The man's elixir was also in her sleeve, so hot it burned her skin.
Zhan Yunwei realized she had never understood him. She didn't understand why he had chosen to be the royal family's attack dog, nor did she understand why he had betrayed the royal court now.
As she walked through the crowd, she overheard the people of the royal city complaining and cursing him. It seemed no one remembered that the many evil spirits that had caused trouble in the world were pacified by him.
The snow still hadn't stopped, the future was uncertain, and the road ahead was difficult to predict. Zhan Yunwei didn't realize at that time that even though she had successfully saved Pei Yujing later, she had lost her precious talents and become an ordinary mortal.
Before she reluctantly died, the elixir fell from her arms. She looked at it and remembered that the traitor had already died two years ago.
Everyone said he was cold and despicable. She had thought that being his wife would make her life unbearable. But now, looking back, those were the most vibrant and free-spirited years of her short life.
Outside the window, the silver moon was incomplete and dim. Zhan Yunwei, too weak to close her eyes, never expected that when she opened them again, she would find herself back ten years ago, the year she married Yue Zhi Heng.