Chapter Four, Phoenix Pavilion

In the howling wind, there are the footsteps of two people

The night is deep and heavy

In the depths of her mind, she seemed to sense some danger. She cleared her thoughts and closed her eyes to listen intently

With a creak, the door was pushed open

It is as if the whispers of ghosts

... ...

She walked steadily through the night, her feet treading on the decayed leaves, producing a faint sound

The door panel swayed back and forth in the wind, echoing in the deep night

If the leaves are like this, how can people endure it

In the eerie old palace, she regained her composure

Little girl! What nonsense are you asking! ... Let me tell you, you absolutely must not go there ... ... Otherwise, the countless vengeful spirits of the previous dynasty will rise up and cause trouble ... ...

On the window frame, in front of the bed, on the beam, between the pillars

The moon is obscured by clouds, and the wide, straight avenue extends into the distance

The ground was covered with a layer of gray dust, but surprisingly, the area by the window was densely covered with talismans, obscuring its original color

This is a gloomy room covered with talismans

The crimson talisman has already faded, rustling softly in the night breeze

Hmph... The late emperor entrusted me with a heavy responsibility, and I once offered him gentle words of comfort. Yet, I never expected that as he grew older, he became increasingly fearful of death, leading him to commit such acts... He cannot be allowed to remain.

It is an abandoned palace.

In the distance, the dark and abandoned palace resembles a dead giant beast

Two dark figures silently chase each other through the thicket

Time has eroded everything, and dust has concealed all lies, thus becoming the world of countless years

... ...

Since ancient times, victors have become kings while the vanquished are labeled as bandits; even a plaque must be destroyed, which reflects a rather petty disposition

How did it end up like this?

In a state of helplessness, as one looks up, under the moonlit night, the youth among the trees appears refined and graceful

The young girl did not respond, merely smiling gently, her playful yet innocent charm reminiscent of someone seen before

This is the head of Guo Xuan

In front of the writing desk, the brush washer and paperweight remain, but the Xuan paper and the lake brush are already in a tattered state, unrecognizable.

She walked straight back, passing through the corridor and the courtyard

And wait for me... none of you who are alive and enjoying honor in the tomb shall escape. Heaven has tolerated you for twenty-six years, and I am here to bring you retribution

The ebony corridor columns, carved with flying phoenix patterns, have lost their luster under the ravages of time. The silk curtains, made of fine gauze, have become so dirty that they are unrecognizable. Gently pushing open the palace door, the creaking sound reveals its age. A thick layer of dust covers the ground.

Morning dew listened to this exceptionally familiar voice and finally remembered, causing her body to tremble

Later on ... ...

In the grand hall, the former splendor and majesty can still be seen. The golden and jade imperial throne remains at the center, surrounded by various treasures, all of which are covered with a layer of dust. It is likely that since that night, no one has stepped inside again

"As I depart, I indeed came across some interesting sights in the eastern part of the city," the elder chuckled lightly

The questioner spoke in a soft voice and appeared quite young, yet exuded an air of authority typical of someone in a position of power

Your companion has caught up. Meet by the lake at midnight tomorrow

That was the palace of the previous dynasty, which was once splendid and beautiful, dazzling to behold. Thirty-four years ago, the Tartars captured the capital, committing arson, murder, and pillage here, bringing disgrace to the royal family, causing the world to weep. In a single night, countless palaces were reduced to ruins and debris

Above the palace gate hangs a plaque, half suspended and on the verge of falling. It is marred by numerous cuts from swords and knives, rendering the original inscriptions completely illegible

Yet what draws ever closer is ... ...

A surge of rage surged within her, and with a firm grip, it immediately transformed into a flurry of tattered yellow butterflies, scattering in all directions

In front and behind the sleeping quarters, separated by a crystal curtain, only two people were seen arriving at the writing desk, where they came to a halt

Another person bowed in response, their voice steady and rich, likely in their forties. Chen Lu felt a tremor in her heart, giving rise to a strange yet familiar sensation

After a few moments, it was finally blown open by the wind, revealing her true appearance.

Indeed. A small thief slipped out from the Jingzhaoyin yamen, moving with remarkable agility. On his back was a bulging round bundle... it is unclear what it contained, the elder chuckled teasingly.

In her previous life, she simply fell there and took her last breath

Recalling matters of great importance from her past life, she approached the crystal curtain, just about to reach out to explore the dark compartment at the head of the bed, when she suddenly felt a wave of unease

Standing upright, yet the ten fingers tremble slightly

It was merely a momentary change, which was soon restored to its original state

The two individuals chased to the window, but due to their height and physique, neither could pass through. They circled to the front door, only to find it was already too late, and in the night, only a silhouette could be seen.

The moonlight flows like water, birds in the sky are startled and take flight, beneath the trees stands a girl in a plain dress, as if she were a ghostly spirit.

This was given to her when she was twelve years old, during their first meeting.

Finally stepped into that nightmarish night

In a desolate ruin, in such a strange and eerie palace, who could it be that arrives here at midnight

The man was taken aback for a moment, and in the next instant, he lost his composure, his face contorted with excitement as he reached out to grab the girl: "Who on earth are you?!"

I still remember that time, when she wore a snow-white garment, her hair disheveled, the long sword dripping with blood, and behind her, the pursuers were drawing near

"Who is it!" shouted the middle-aged man sharply, clearly having noticed, as the two rushed towards the curtain.

She descended from the desolate and eerie avenue, before her stood a majestic and elegant place

With a push from both hands, the morning dew flew sideways and unexpectedly leaped out through the small window

A middle-aged man was chasing, but he suddenly saw a figure ahead come to an abrupt stop, waiting for him under the tree

She smiled and said with a light mockery: So it has become so dilapidated, no wonder "they" can pull off such tricks, claiming that this place is also a relic of the previous dynasty

Morning dew bent down, hidden behind the bed, yet heard two people passing through the front hall and the corridor, arriving at the entrance of the sleeping quarters

She gazed and smiled gently, softly saying a few words

There is fundamentally no difference between thirty-four years and twenty-six years

The middle-aged man said nothing, but with a change in his footsteps, he unexpectedly pursued like a wisp of smoke.

Morning dew turned its head slightly, gazing at the ruins of the past dynasty in the distance. The burdens in its heart transformed into a single thought: "It turns out, it is all just dust, nothing is different."

She smiled, recalling Aunt He, her face instantly turning pale.

Then, aunt, what place is located furthest east towards the east

One person walked lightly and steadily, as if trained in a prestigious martial art, but their skill was not high. The other person, however, was quite peculiar; their breathing, heartbeat, and footsteps were almost imperceptible—indeed, they were a top-tier master of the present age

Her appearance is merely delicate, yet it possesses a kind of imposing clarity that makes one hesitant to look her in the eye

Interesting

She raised her head, her eyes as cold as ice and as pure as snow, speaking softly and gracefully, word by word:

The moon is cool, and the wind carries elegance

She whispered softly, her voice faint, with a bitter resentment embedded deeply in her words.

Aunt He said that the house you are to live in is located at the far east, remote and secluded, with no one willing to reside there, and it can only serve as a storage room

She walked to the front of the sleeping chamber and finally came to a stop

The phoenix tree symbolizes trust, and the inscription contains the four characters "Holding Your Hand," with the ink still vivid.

The intimate embrace on the tree, the boy's light kiss, provoked her to slap him in embarrassment and anger

Later, they made a vow of eternal companionship, from then on walking side by side, bound to each other in life and death

It turns out that it is this curse at work... causing me to be burned by fierce flames under the Naihe Bridge for twenty-six years...

She reached out to take the "New Compilation of School Outlines" from the shelf, extracting an item from the bottom layer

The previous dynasty ... ? ... Aunt, a room, is it not also from the current dynasty?

Hesitating, she walked in

Only a sound of "dong" was heard, as another person placed a heavy object down.

How is the situation, Qu Qing