Chapter 2: New Century (Epilogue)
To prevent You Ye from being recognized by Xi Wei, Connie went to great lengths. First, she gave You Ye a dragon milk bath. Then, she fitted You Ye with simulated dragon horns, a tail, and wings, all meticulously trimmed to her size. The materials, of course, came from that unlucky red dragon from before. Slaughtering the red dragon was for this very purpose. Connie had foreseen this and prepared in advance. Plus, You Ye would refrain from making any noise… even if she couldn’t help it, it wasn’t a big problem, as Connie would be there to guard her. If You Ye couldn’t hold back, Connie would simply utter dragon speech. After waiting for the cooked rice situation to settle, and keeping it warm for half the night, she would then lift the “silence” spell. Heh heh, by then, Xi Wei would have no choice but to accept it, and perhaps she might even get a chance to join the fight. And frankly, listening to the commotion inside, she was starting to get a little antsy. “No, no, no, a toad chanting scriptures!” Connie covered her ears. She couldn’t listen any longer. Listening any further would lead to certain images in her mind. See no evil, hear no evil.
After the initial pain, You Ye found her suffering turning into sweetness and her situation improving. In the darkness, her pair of ink-black eyes could see everything, including the strong King of Winter. “Finally, I have him…” she sighed with contentment, the sound eventually turning into a soft hum. But this peace of mind didn’t last long. A grand will descended silently, dragging You Ye’s soul into a space separate from the prime material plane. Here, there was only endless night and the twinkle of stars. This was Nyx’s Divine Kingdom. By the time You Ye came to her senses, she had arrived in this Divine Kingdom shrouded by the galaxy. It was a piece of pure black land, with black mist filling every corner. In the distance, a tall shrine stood, and a river of starlight flowed past its edge. “Where… is this?” Following a faint summons, You Ye approached the shrine. “Boom—!” A drawbridge lowered, and the shrine doors opened to the sides. You Ye crossed the drawbridge, the river beneath her flowing like spilled moonlight. Dusk for soil, stars and moon for a river. This was the work of a god. You Ye seemed to already know what she was about to face. She had had a premonition when Loli and Ruo Yi ascended to godhood. As she walked into the palace, the shrine’s doors, carved with stars and moon, automatically closed. “Bang—” It was like a ferocious beast sealing its gaping maw. The empty palace contained only a throne. The Goddess of the Night, Nyx, sat regally on her divine seat, her form illuminated by the chilling moonlight. Her red lips were the only warm color in the black and white palette, yet they brought no warmth, appearing almost cruel. The Goddess of the Night had removed her veil. Her beauty was immense, her aura noble and mysterious, appearing as a noblewoman around thirty years old. Her dark night gown trailed behind her, and black mist crept outwards around her. The Sword of Night was Nyx’s weapon. She held it in her hand now, its blade reflecting the grim moonlight downwards. “My vessel, you have arrived.” Nyx looked up, a gentle smile curving her lips as she gazed at the bewildered You Ye. “I…” You Ye looked up at the Goddess of the Night, her words seemingly stuck in her throat, a suffocating sensation filling her chest. She was a vessel. This wasn’t the first time she had heard that word. The vessel of the gods, her fate. So many times in dreams, people had told her this. You Ye often told herself not to be paranoid, but Loli and Ruo Yi’s ascension had confirmed that everything in her dreams was true—a harbinger of the future. “Yes, I have arrived…” You Ye nodded. Such was fate, such was her mission. Her mind was blank. “Very good, You Ye, you have done very well. You have worked hard all these years. Relax your mind, and let us become one. In the future, I will drive out the Old Ones with your strength.” Nyx stood up and walked towards You Ye, her words gentle and affectionate, but her gaze upon You Ye was cold and cruel, like a leopard sizing up food that had been delivered to its mouth. “Become one?” You Ye instinctively felt wary of those words. “If we become one, will I still be me?” “Of course,” Nyx smiled, spreading her arms as if a mother were about to embrace her child. “I am you, and you are me. There is no difference between us. You are merely an extension of my will, like a ladle of water thrown into the ocean. Only now, you should return.” “Yes…” You Ye nodded blankly, walking towards Nyx step by step, murmuring to herself, “Dust to dust, earth to earth. I should go back. I should complete my mission…” [A ladle of water poured into the ocean will only become part of the ocean.] Suddenly. A majestic male voice echoed in You Ye’s mind. [From now on, there is only the ocean.] [There will no longer be that ladle of water.] [Is this outcome what you want, You Ye!?] The male voice gradually rose in volume, finally turning into a reprimand. It made You Ye stop abruptly. “What is it, a part of me? My… child?” Nyx asked suspiciously, looking at the frozen You Ye. “Don’t you yearn for your mother’s embrace? We were meant to be one… What are you hesitating for?” “No, no, it’s wrong…” You Ye’s eyes widened in terror as she clutched her head. Her body trembled helplessly. “It’s not like this!” That man’s voice was so familiar. It was a voice she could absolutely not forget. As You Ye recalled, the memories obscured by divine power finally broke free. The image of the King of Winter gradually emerged in her mind. “I don’t want to be a god’s vessel!” You Ye remembered. She was You Ye, the maid of Winter Fort. Not some vessel! “Tsk, you remember after all?” Nyx chuckled lightly, covering her mouth as she looked at You Ye, who was glaring angrily like a startled cat. “Heh, it’s meaningless even if you remember. Now that I’ve pulled you in, your fate is sealed. Just obediently become my vessel. That way you won’t have to bear the responsibility of expelling the Old Ones anymore, won’t that be good?” *Whoosh—* Countless black mist chains flew from the shadows of the shrine, binding You Ye firmly in place, rendering her immobile. Nyx approached step by step, a triumphant smile on her face. Divine Trial? Non-existent. She simply intended to usurp the vessel. Even the God of Light wouldn’t say anything. You Ye gritted her teeth, forced to watch as the Goddess of the Night’s fair hand reached out. Those hands seemed to possess a magical charm that could capture souls. She had a strange premonition. That exquisite, slender hand could instantly strip her of everything. Her peaceful yet sweet life. Everyone at Winter Fort. And, her most beloved, His Majesty the King of Winter.
