Chapter 0: June Shattered Ice
The inscription on his arm flickered and vanished. Qin Gou’s eyes darted, was this a reminder or a warning? No matter what it was, there was only one reason: someone had tampered with him while he was trapped in the Eternal Seal Ice. This was precisely what Demon Emperor Mo Qingyang had worried about the most. Once trapped in the Eternal Seal Ice, although the physical body would be well protected, his spirit and soul would be utterly defenseless, as fragile as an infant, and extremely susceptible to external influence. Speaking of children, the only one Qin Gou could think of at this moment was… A’Yuan. In the illusion just now, both the Black Robed Qin Gou and Li Yuanzhen, while resembling each other in appearance, were vastly different in their relationships, status, and cultivation, as if from another world compared to reality. Especially the strength of the Black Robed Qin Gou; it was a terrifying power never before heard of, bearing countless blood debts, all for the sake of achieving some grand, immortal plan. At that time, Qin Gou had keenly captured two key points from their conversation… the Black Robed Qin Gou’s ‘not much time left’ and the scenario if the two had met earlier. Clearly, A’Yuan’s mother, or someone else, wanted to give him some kind of enlightenment through this method. Qin Gou kept everything in his heart and thought of a way to ingeniously discern A’Yuan’s true lineage. He then called out, “Yi Chengying!” The Little Chair reappeared before Qin Gou with a bewildered expression. “Lord Qin, where did you just run off to? Little Chair has been searching for you for a long time in Chenglu City, my hometown.” “It’s nothing, I had some issues with my own technique. Do it again, and we’ll go to your hometown together for a good look.” Qin Gou’s smile was as gentle and warm as usual, as if nothing had happened.
Wang Ji Village. Gu Feiyan burned yellow paper to pay respects to True Man Wangji before taking out an ancient ring and opening the door to the Time Secret Realm. Everyone stepped into a paradise. The clear pool water, the simple yet memory-filled hunter’s cabin, everything seemed unchanged. Qin Yuan walked into the hunter’s cabin, full of curiosity and excitement, looking around before quietly asking in Gu Feiyan’s ear, “Master’s Wife, was A’Yuan born here?” Gu Feiyan’s pretty face blushed, and she glared at Qin Yuan reproachfully, “Don’t talk nonsense, how could that be?” Afterward, the Eternal Seal Ice containing Qin Gou and Yi Chengying was properly placed inside the hunter’s cabin. Gu Feiyan and the others could not stay in the Time Secret Realm, so they remained in Wang Ji Village, waiting. Utilizing the ten-times difference in time flow between the Time Secret Realm and the outside world, they allowed Qin Gou and Yi Chengying to break through the seal as quickly as possible. Time flowed like a torrent, stars shifted and rotated. In the blink of an eye, Gu Feiyan and the others had been waiting in Wang Ji Village for six months. During this time, cultists loyal to the Abyss had visited several times, standing in for Kong Ling, who could not appear in the human world due to her identity. Gu Feiyan also entered dreamscapes multiple times to monitor the consciousness of Qin Gou and Yi Chengying. On this day, the consciousness of Qin Gou and Yi Chengying could finally sense their bodies again, signifying that the sealing power of the Eternal Seal Ice was finally being depleted by the blade of time. Gu Feiyan, Qin Yuan, and Ao Banwei came to the hunter’s cabin in the Time Secret Realm again. The Eternal Seal Ice, stained a light red by blood, shattered like an eggshell under everyone’s gaze. Qin Gou and Yi Chengying were freed from the restraints of the Eternal Seal Ice and returned to this real world. However, they were still unconscious and did not wake up immediately. Gu Feiyan and the others immediately took them to Wang Ji Village and spared no expense on heavenly treasures, carefully tending to them, hoping for their full recovery. After all, the Old Qin family was not lacking in top-grade spirit medicines. Three days later, Yi Chengying woke up first. “Qin…” Yi Chengying first called out, then quickly realized the two people by her bedside and exclaimed with joy, “I remember, you are younger sister Banwei, and you are Lord Qin’s fifth disciple, A’Yuan. We even competed with Little Chair last time to see whose prostration was more standard… Seeing you two means Little Chair and Lord Qin have finally escaped the Eternal Seal Ice?” “Yes, congratulations, Master’s Wife.” Ao Banwei smiled beautifully. “I told you I’m not your Master’s Wife… Just call me Sister Chengying.” Yi Chengying let out a chuckle and blinked her beautiful eyes. Qin Yuan said gently, “How do you feel? Do you have any discomfort in your body?” “I feel very good. Even my Dantian, which was previously unstable and depleted, has been replenished. You must have all paid a great price for me.” Yi Chengying said, her heart filled with warmth and gratitude. “We are happy that you are alright.” Qin Yuan waved her hand, smiling. Yi Chengying, supporting her recovering body, bravely sat up. “That… where is Lord Qin? Little Chair wants to see him.” “Sister Chengying, don’t worry, Master has not yet awakened.” Ao Banwei quickly said. “What?” Yi Chengying asked in disbelief, “How could Lord Qin’s injuries be so severe? He never told me about this.” “No, the reason Master is waking up more slowly is because he spent a long time creating dreamscapes to communicate with us in the outside world. Although his spiritual power could be replenished by the Eternal Seal Ice, his mental exhaustion requires a period of rest and the nourishment of heavenly treasures. But overall, he is not in any serious danger.” Ao Banwei explained softly. “So that’s how it is.” Yi Chengying finally breathed a sigh of relief, only to find that both Ao Banwei and Qin Yuan were staring at her with curious eyes. “Why are you two looking at me like that?” Yi Chengying asked, confused. “Sister Chengying, we waited for you and Master for six months in the outside world. Considering the time difference, you and Master spent almost six years together day and night! This is too intriguing.” Yi Chengying’s pretty face flushed, and she shyly said, “Okay, what’s so intriguing? Don’t misunderstand, Master and I don’t meet in the dreamscape every day.” “Of course, we’re curious about your feelings for Old Qin.” Qin Yuan’s lips curled slightly. At this moment, her smile held a distinct charm of someone else. “This, how could Little Chair speak of such things.” Yi Chengying’s face turned completely red, and she looked down, extremely bashful. “Don’t worry, A’Yuan and Banwei will definitely keep silent! You don’t need to explain the details, just reveal a little.” Qin Yuan winked playfully. “You… really want to know?” Qin Yuan and Ao Banwei nodded obediently. “Then… I’ll tell you just a little bit.” Yi Chengying’s small hands twisted together shyly, her pleasant voice becoming very soft, yet uniquely firm. “If you are the green mountains, I am the pine and cypress; crushed to powder, I will never betray you.” “Too formal!” “Ah?” “Haven’t you two said anything more romantic?” “His love for me is overflowing, and when he overflows, I will brim over!” “Right, right, that’s it!”
