Volume One, Chapter 84: "Little Hu"

He let out a bitter laugh. “What is that? That person—how could he look so much like me? What kind of joke is this…”

Chi Xingwan spoke directly, “That corpse is you. You’re already dead. Right now, you’re a soul.”

“Ah—” The man suddenly crouched down, clutching his head and screaming in agony.

“That’s impossible. How could I have died so suddenly? We only entered the tomb a bit early, what’s the harm in that? How could I be dead?”

Chi Xingwan could only try to comfort him. “My condolences.”

“Why did I have to die? I just graduated. My life was only just beginning. How could it end so easily? I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die, I want to go home…”

Chi Xingwan watched him quietly, observing as disbelief faded into reluctant acceptance.

“You should go outside first. I still have to save Xiao Hu, if she’s still alive.”

Chi Xingwan took out a talisman and tossed it toward the man’s soul. The charm floated in the air, emitting a faint glow.

“Follow this talisman. It will lead you back to the surface. My colleagues are up there—they’ll take care of you.”

The man’s expression was dazed, still unable to accept that he was dead, but at least his emotions were no longer out of control. Like a walking corpse, he followed the talisman away.

Chi Xingwan continued deeper into the tomb.

Each burial chamber connected to more than one corridor, every passageway pitch-black, with no way to see where they led.

But Chi Xingwan didn’t need to see; she didn’t need to find her way. She simply headed toward the place where the black aura was thickest.

Soon, she arrived at the main burial chamber.

The atmosphere there made her deeply uneasy, and she shivered despite herself.

Standing at the doorway, she swept her gaze casually across the entire chamber, finally settling her eyes on the stone coffin at the very center.

“Hey, we have a guest. Why don’t you come out and greet me?” Chi Xingwan called toward the coffin.

A strange, chilling laughter echoed through the chamber, and Chi Xingwan tensed instantly.

Suddenly, with a thunderous crash, the heavy lid of the coffin flew into the air and smashed to the ground, splitting in two.

A “person” sat up inside the stone coffin.

She was dressed in sportswear, her hair tied back in a ponytail, her eyes empty as they fixed on Chi Xingwan. In that instant, Chi Xingwan guessed her identity.

This was Xiao Hu—but at the same time, she was no longer Xiao Hu.

Her voice was cold as she asked, “Miss, may I ask your name?”

“Xiao Hu” paused, then asked, “How can you be sure I’m a woman? What if I’m the king?”

Chi Xingwan stared at her intently. “The tomb’s owner was a man. But there was a man who broke in with you, and three grave robbers. Why did you choose this woman’s body?”

“Xiao Hu” laughed, amused. “I simply chose at random. I happened to fancy this woman’s body.”

“Do you really believe what you’re saying?” Chi Xingwan retorted. “You’ve taken over her body because you want to live as her. You chose to be reborn as a woman.”

“Xiao Hu” laughed heartily. “You’re a most amusing soul master. I spent my whole life as a man—now I just wanted to try being a woman for once.”

Chi Xingwan smiled as well. “Perhaps. But if you were truly the tomb’s owner, you would have chosen the man.”

“Xiao Hu” responded instinctively, “Why?”

“Because he was a king,” Chi Xingwan replied.

“Xiao Hu” froze, and comprehension dawned on her face. She covered her face and laughed for a moment, then her expression turned cold and vicious.

“Yes, he was a king. He was a king because he was a man. He enjoyed a lifetime of glory and supreme power—if he could choose, he would never choose to be a woman.”

“So, who are you?” Chi Xingwan asked.

“Xiao Hu” stared back frostily. “Are you here to destroy me?”

“I’m sorry, but yes. You’ve already killed five people—there’s no forgiveness left for you.”

“I have no need for forgiveness,” “Xiao Hu” said coldly.

“What are you planning?” Chi Xingwan suddenly had a bad premonition.

A grin spread across “Xiao Hu’s” face. “I plan to go on a killing spree.”

The black aura in the main chamber suddenly surged, coalescing behind “Xiao Hu” into four great black serpents. With gaping maws, the massive snake heads lunged for Chi Xingwan.

“Tch, as expected—troublesome.”

Chi Xingwan swiftly formed a set of hand seals; four golden shields appeared in the air, blocking each of the giant snake heads.

With a wave of “Xiao Hu’s” hand, two more snake heads sprang into being. Chi Xingwan was not to be outdone—two more golden shields appeared above her.

Not only shields, but six enormous swords also materialized.

The two sides became locked in fierce combat.

The entire ancient tomb began to tremble violently. The soul masters aboveground struggled to keep their footing. Jin Feng rushed from place to place, patching up any weak points as soon as he spotted them.

Inside the main chamber, Chi Xingwan was still locked in a stalemate with “Xiao Hu.”

“Give up,” Chi Xingwan said. “Even if you defeat me, what then? The underworld’s enforcers won’t let you go. They’ll arrive soon—you can’t escape.”

“Xiao Hu’s” eyes were bloodshot as she forced out the words, “So what? Before they arrive, I’ll kill as many as I can.”

“Why do you want to kill?” Chi Xingwan asked. “You must know at least a thousand years have passed since your time. Even if you had enemies then, they’re long dead. The people living now—they’ve never wronged you.”

Suddenly, “Xiao Hu” lost control of her emotions. “I never wronged anyone either! So why did I have to die!”

Chi Xingwan was silent for a moment, then said, “You know, you and I are much alike. My soul, too, is only borrowing this body.”

“Xiao Hu” stared at her, stunned.

“But unlike you, I didn’t kill the owner of this body. I only borrowed it after she died.”

“Why are you telling me this? I don’t want to hear it,” “Xiao Hu” said, but Chi Xingwan continued regardless.

“I’m a bit older than you. I come from three thousand years ago. Do you know why I must return to the mortal world?”

“To repay a debt of gratitude. Do you know why I have to repay it?”

Though “Xiao Hu” didn’t interrupt, her expression showed she was curious.

Chi Xingwan fell into her own memories. “Because my entire family was killed. I barely escaped and was saved by my benefactor.”

“Xiao Hu’s” mouth hung open slightly, and the six giant serpents’ attacks lost some of their ferocity.

After a long pause, she finally asked, “Did you take your revenge?”

“I did,” Chi Xingwan replied. “I killed every last one of my enemies. I destroyed their souls as well—they never had a chance at reincarnation.”

A faint smile tugged at “Xiao Hu’s” lips. Her eyes were no longer so vacant; instead, they brimmed with emotion.

Sorrow—and envy.

“Well done. You avenged yourself. You’re stronger than I am. I truly envy you.”