Chapter 1, Skylight

Zhou Zishu sometimes looked at him as if he were looking at himself from a few years ago. After a short while, Duan Pengju arrived with a token, and he was still somewhat puzzled, as this was a group of people who operated in the shadows. Usually, apart from Zhou Zishu, others did not have many opportunities to meet with them.

Then, as if a certain level had been activated, he let out a muffled groan, and immediately his entire body slumped against the corner of the wall, slowly sliding down. His body trembled incessantly, and the little color left in his lips faded away. His teeth chattered with a "clattering" sound, and suddenly he convulsed violently, his eyes slightly widening, then slowly closing again, his head tilting to one side

The two guards responded and stepped out side by side. The young guard could not help but glance back, seeing the man in the blue robe quietly leaning against the door frame, his eyes seemingly fixed on something in the void, yet appearing to see nothing at all. The young man felt inexplicably that he seemed to be heading to a very distant place.

The man in the long robe appeared to be around twenty-eight or twenty-nine years old, with a refined demeanor resembling that of a scholar. However, his face was shrouded in a layer of illness. His brows and eyes were deeply and clearly defined, and his irises were exceptionally bright, often slightly lowered, causing his extremely long and thick eyelashes to obscure half of his face. When he occasionally lifted his gaze, it carried an indescribable chill, making those who looked at him feel a sense of coldness in their hearts. His nose was elegantly shaped, while his lips were rather thin, adding an air of indifference and unkindness to his handsome face. His extremely long and thick eyelashes obscured half of his face, and when he occasionally lifted his gaze, it carried an indescribable chill, making those who looked at him feel a sense of coldness in their hearts. His nose was elegantly shaped, while his lips were rather thin, adding an air of indifference and unkindness to his handsome face.

One of the two guards at the door, with his back to the prison cell, appeared to be new, his face still bearing the youthful innocence of adolescence. Suddenly hearing the commotion, he couldn't help but shiver, stealing a glance at his companion, only to find him standing as still as a mountain, seemingly deaf to the noise. Immediately, he too reined in his thoughts and lowered his gaze

The "Skylight" is an organization composed of scouts and assassins, directly loyal to the Emperor. No one knows how many members they have, nor where they are hidden—yet no one doubts that their reach can extend to the ends of the earth. It was established by Emperor Rongjia, Helian Yi, during his reign as the crown prince, and to this day, it has become highly organized and regulated.

Zhou Zishu murmured softly: "Seven orifices, three autumns nailed, three autumns must break the heart, once the bow is drawn, there is no turning back the arrow"

Helian Yi was stunned for a long time, unable to utter a single word. After a while, he dejectedly sat back down, looking up at the beam of the study, and murmured to himself in a low voice: "Yun Xing has gone far to the northwest, Bei Yuan... Bei Yuan is gone, and now you are going to abandon me too?"

Hearing the boy's address, the man couldn't help but glance at him again, chuckling lightly, and said: "You must be new here"

Duan Pengju was so frightened that he lost his voice

She sighed lightly again and said softly, "Come here."

After a while, he closed his eyes and waved his hand

Zhou Zishu said little more, only leaving him to have breakfast, estimating that the Emperor was about to finish the morning court session, before giving a command: "Let's go"

The newly arrived guard could only feel goosebumps rising all over his body in a rush.

From the secrets of the court to the gossip of common folk, it seems that there are no secrets at "Tian Chuang". Therefore, a regulation was established: any living person who can speak must not leave "Tian Chuang". They may enter and exit only if they are dead, or if they voluntarily request to be subjected to the "Seven Orifices and Three Autumn Nails".

Duan Pengju hesitated for a long time before gritting his teeth, raising the ominous dark red nail, and driving it forcefully into the flesh of his master. He knew it would be excruciatingly painful; even the toughest men he had seen over the years could not withstand such a blow and would inevitably cry out in agony. Yet, Zhou Zishu merely flinched slightly, maintaining his upright posture, without a scream, only a barely audible muffled groan.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door and walked out

There stood several guards, equipped with swords and daggers, standing as still as wooden figures, and at the entrance, there was a large iron railing as thick as the arms of an adult man

The two individuals arrived at the study, one in front and the other behind. Emperor Rongjia, Helian Yi, was already there. Upon hearing of their arrival, he immediately instructed someone to call them in. After Zhou Zishu and Duan Peng performed the grand ceremony, Zhou Zishu took out a bamboo tube from his sleeve and presented it to Helian Yi, saying: "Your Majesty, this is what you instructed last time."

He even felt that there was a hint of laughter in Zhou Zishu's muffled hum

Zhou Zishu's lips curled into a smile: "Thank you for your great kindness"

Helian Yi stared intently at the blood gourd-like figure, and in that moment, no one knew what thoughts were occupying the mind of the emperor in his prime—those years of caution and restraint, those years of intricate schemes, those years of rising smoke from battle, ... those years of hardship and suffering, those years ... . ... And finally, he reigned supreme over the world, yet everyone was gone, leaving only him.

Passing through the narrow, dark passage of the prison cell, one proceeds inward to three large stone doors controlled by mechanisms, each guarded by a sentinel. Beyond these three stone doors, it seems as if not a trace of human vitality remains, as if that long, narrow path is the road of vengeful souls in the underworld, with flickering lights resembling will-o'-the-wisps.

The man in black took the token and then vanished without a trace, as if he had never been there at all

Duan Pengju, the chief steward, was promoted solely by Zhou Zishu after he took control of the skylight, and he is solely responsible for its management. This individual possesses both capability and ambition, and he does not hesitate to showcase this ambition.

Zhou Zishu suddenly lifted his garment and knelt on the ground, leaving Duan Pengju perplexed, who could only follow suit and kneel down as well

At that moment, a person quietly said behind him: "Do you regret not having seen this?"

Here it comes

Zhou Zishu smiled faintly, did not nod, and simply said: "Your Majesty, you need not worry."

The term "Seven Orifices and Three Autumn Nails" refers to the act of sealing seven poisonous nails within the seven most critical acupoints located in the chest and abdomen using internal energy. This causes the flow of the seven channels and eight meridians to stagnate, rendering one’s martial arts ineffective, leaving one unable to speak, and immobilizing the limbs, resulting in a state akin to that of a disabled person. After three years, the poison infiltrates the five internal organs, leading to suffocation and death.

It was as if they formed a bizarre and terrifying totem, and the young guard's gaze involuntarily followed the middle-aged man until they disappeared at the other end of the stone door

In the innermost cell, a man's voice softly uttered something, followed by a moment of silence, as if another person sighed lightly, without any force.

He appeared tall and well-proportioned on the surface, yet once he removed his clothing, it became evident that his body was emaciated, as if it had been drained by some force. Between his gaunt chest and abdomen, there were clearly six nails embedded, known as the "Seven Orifices and Three Autumns Nails," which had been driven in at some unknown time and had nearly grown into the flesh.

The young guard shuddered in fear and suddenly turned around, only to see a man in a royal blue robe standing silently behind him, having appeared out of nowhere. One of his companions was already kneeling on one knee on the ground. Realizing the situation, the young man quickly knelt down as well and said, "Master of the Manor."

Helian Yi frowned and asked, "What are you doing?"

At the end of the small courtyard, there is a corner gate partially obscured by a plum blossom, showing signs of age. Pushing open the small door reveals a stark contrast inside. Two robust men stand at the entrance, both clad in armor and wielding swords. The entrance is narrow and cramped, with large blue stones laid on the ground, leading to a pitch-black prison cell. A heavy and oppressive atmosphere of solemnity and menace rushes towards me.

Without waiting for Helian Yi to respond, he strode out of the study, as if he had laid down some burden, moving with a lightness that made his figure flash and then vanish from sight

A figure in black emerged like a shadow, bending down to await his words. Zhou Zishu took out a dark-colored token and tossed it to him, saying: "Go and invite Steward Duan to come; today I want him to accompany me to meet the emperor"

Yet, even so, there are still those who would rather be living dead than remain under the skylight

Zhou Zishu spoke softly as if lacking strength: "I only seek a favor from Your Majesty."

He looked as if he had encountered something extremely joyful, as a slight flush appeared on his pale face, which bore the marks of illness. He turned to Duan Pengju with great excitement and handed him the last nail, saying: "Here you go."

He went to the palace. Although Duan Pengju did not understand what he meant, he did not ask further and simply followed silently

Zhou Zishu lowered his head to look at his own body, chuckling self-deprecatingly. He picked up a small knife from the side, gritted his teeth, and reopened the flesh around each nail that had already begun to close. His movements were swift and steady, as if he were not cutting into his own flesh. In no time, his entire chest was soaked in blood, and upon closer inspection, the nails that had been driven in earlier appeared as if they had just been inserted.

The plum blossoms in the courtyard have bloomed abundantly on the branches, falling to the ground and covering the remnants of snow that have yet to melt away. At first glance, it is difficult to distinguish where the snow ends and the plum blossoms begin. When the wind rises, a subtle fragrance lingers, flowing throughout the courtyard.

Under the twilight, the moon rises above the eaves, its light cool as water

Duan Pengju interrupted him, saying: "Master Zhuang! Master Zhuang, you cannot say that. I, Old Duan, absolutely do not have such thoughts! You... you cannot..."

After about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, the man's voice finally faded away. Not long after, two individuals dragged out a middle-aged man whose condition was uncertain, whether alive or dead. The man was bare-chested, his head tilted to one side, his hair soaked with sweat, his lips and tongue mangled, with blood frothing from the corners of his mouth. His body bore no significant wounds, but there were seven dark red nails driven into various points on his chest and abdomen.

Helian Yi caught sight of Duan Pengju again. He was first taken aback, then asked, "Why has Pengju come here today? It has been quite some time since I last saw you, and you seem to be looking much better."

The man nodded slightly, waved his hand, and said: "You two go ahead, I would like to enjoy some peace alone for a while"

In the fourth year of Daqing Rongjia, the name "Tianchuang" had already caused the entire court and the populace to tremble upon hearing it

It was not until the dawn of the second day that the person curled up in a corner of the cell gently stirred, then slowly opened their eyes. When they first attempted to rise, their legs gave way and they nearly fell back down. It was only on the second attempt that they managed to stand up with difficulty, took out a piece of silk, dampened it with water, and carefully wiped away most of the bloodstains on their chest. They then adjusted their collar and picked up a seven-orifice autumn nail, tucking it into their bosom.

Zhou Zishu continued, "Your Majesty, you need not worry too much about the skylight; Peng Ju has been with me all these years, and he is trustworthy and capable..."

Suddenly, a piercing scream abruptly shattered the darkness of the cell, causing even the flickering flames to momentarily dim. The scream was extremely shrill, akin to that of a dying animal, evoking an indescribable chill in the heart.

Zhou Zishu remained silent.

Helian Yi took it over but did not rush to look at it. Instead, he scrutinized Zhou Zishu and couldn't help but frown, saying: "Your complexion is getting worse. You should call the imperial physician to take a look at you later. There must be some hidden injury; do not underestimate it. Do not take it lightly just because you are young."

But the screams were so high-pitched and prolonged that the person lost their voice, their throat became hoarse yet they continued without pause. In the end, their breath faltered, and the sharp, tragic cries turned into sobbing moans, which only served to heighten the sense of despair.

Helian Yi smiled faintly, sensing that Zhou Zishu seemed to have something to say. He first opened the bamboo tube he had brought, took out a small scroll of paper, and read it quickly, revealing a smile on his face. He then looked up at Zhou Zishu and said: "This matter has been handled splendidly. How should I reward you, Zishu?"

After dismissing those around him, Zhou Zishu returned alone to the small prison cell. He closed the door, placed his hands behind his back, and slowly paced around for a while, deep in thought. He then stopped, took out a small box containing the Seven Orifices and Three Autumn Nails from the corner of the wall, and opened it. This terrifying little object surprisingly emitted a fragrance reminiscent of the cold scent of fallen plum blossoms. Zhou Zishu took a deep breath and then reached out to unfasten his long robe.

No one can escape the unpredictability of the world and the abandonment of time

He bent down and bowed his head to Helian Yi, but after bowing, he did not raise his head. He said, "Considering my years of service, please grant me this favor."

Three years of mere survival is the greatest grace bestowed by the Emperor

Zhou Zishu paused for a moment in place, and finally bowed to Helian Yi, his face as pale as paper.

Helian Yi smiled and said: "Get up and speak. You have fought for me through thick and thin all these years. Apart from this kingdom, what is it that I cannot grant you? So go ahead and tell me."

The young man was taken aback and turned his head to look at his older companion. The old guard's hair had turned white at the temples, and he sighed, saying: "There are still many things you do not understand. Our 'skylight' is fundamentally a one-way passage; to go out, one must either die or be severely injured."

As the first iron gate descended, the silent old guard suddenly spoke in a low voice: "Look at the appearance of the master, he seems like a refined and gentle scholar. Can one imagine that it is those very hands that nailed old Bi with the 'Seven Orifices and Three Autumn Nails'?"

Helian Yi fell silent for a moment and sighed, saying: "I am a solitary person."

The man raised his hand and patted his shoulder twice, saying: "Remember, do not call me 'Zhuang Master' anymore, for I am no longer a 'Zhuang Master'. Next time, you should address me as 'Lord Zhou'"

Zhou Zishu opened his palm again, and on his slender hand lay the last of the Seven Orifices and Three Autumn Nails. He said, "Your Majesty, I have personally struck six nails. If the seventh nail is also driven in, I fear I will not be able to reach the palace to bid farewell to Your Majesty. I humbly request Your Majesty's grace to allow Pengju to assist in fulfilling my wish."

Stepping out of the cell, he returned to the small courtyard adorned with cold plum blossoms and white snow. Zhou Zishu felt a refreshing fragrance wafting towards him, as if it effortlessly cleansed him of all the bloodshed he had endured. He stood under a plum tree for a long time, leaning in to gently sniff the blossoms, and an involuntary smile appeared on his face.

The complexion was pale and ashen, the body covered in bloodstains, resembling that of a corpse

The first leader of "Sky Window"—the man in the azure robe—is none other than the former "Master of the Four Seasons," now known as Lord Zhou, Zhou Zishu.

Duan Pengju squinted his small eyes and hurriedly smiled, saying: "It is commendable that His Majesty, despite being occupied with state affairs, still remembers this old servant."

The young man lowered his head and said, "Yes."

Though I have survived for three years, living is worse than dying

Zhou Zishu straightened up, yet remained kneeling. He then silently unfastened the front of his long robe. As the thick and tightly woven robe was opened, a wave of bloody stench immediately rushed forth, and his body, which had only just scabbed over and stopped bleeding, began to bleed again due to the jolting of the carriage along the way

The young man quickly glanced up at him, then respectfully lowered his gaze again: "Yes, Lord Zhou."

Duan Pengju believes that the owner has gone mad

Helian Yi suddenly stood up and exclaimed, "Zishu!"

The fragrance of flowers seems to be blocked at the entrance of the courtyard, unable to come through at all

The strength within his body was rapidly fading, and a numb sensation began to rise slowly. He opened his mouth to utter the final four words: "May the Emperor take care."