Chapter Three: The Mirage Appears

Beyond the door lies paradise; within the door, hell. And between you and me, there is only this single door.

Shenlou’s youthful brilliance had faded, leaving only an elegant, refined gentleman. He stood inside the door and asked, “Brother, do you truly wish to leave?”

Haishi scratched his head and grinned broadly. “I really want to go out and see the world.”

Shenlou replied with a gentle smile, “Very well. Safe travels, brother.”

Haishi stepped forward and embraced Shenlou tightly for a moment. He whispered into Shenlou’s ear, “Little Lou, wait for me to come back!”

Shenlou returned the embrace but said nothing. He stood alone inside the door, smiling and waving at Haishi until Haishi no longer looked back and his figure disappeared from sight.

Shenlou’s face became expressionless, cold as ice.

An old man quietly emerged from within, bowing slightly. “Young Master, everything is ready.”

Without further hesitation, Shenlou stepped inside. He wished for his foolish brother to soar freely and live with abandon beyond the door, while as for what remained to be borne, he would shoulder it himself.

Time passed; she was gone.

Haishi returned to the tribe full of anticipation, but no one had time to greet him. The whole tribe was decorated with vibrant red banners and lanterns.

Suspicious, Haishi hurried home. There he saw Shenlou, dressed in red, holding the hand of someone in bridal attire. As Haishi entered, he caught the last words of the wedding matron, “Send them to the bridal chamber...”

Haishi’s mind was a haze, submerged in the crowd. Shenlou’s lips bore a faint smile, but Haishi felt a chill pierce his heart, as if he had fallen into an icy abyss.

Though only a few steps apart, an unbridgeable chasm now separated them. There was no returning.

Seeing these scenes again, Heiyao was no longer surprised. Instead, he observed carefully, afraid to miss a single detail—surely there must be a way to prevent Haishi’s disappearance!

Heiyao focused intently. Shenlou quietly entered an inner room, but in the opposite direction from the bride. As Heiyao tried to look further, a dense fog enveloped his vision, and nothing more could be seen.

When Heiyao awoke, daylight had already broken. The first thing he saw was Yanluo’s haggard, bloodshot face. He tried to speak, but his voice was hoarse and raspy.

Heiyao pointed at his own throat in confusion. Yanluo explained, “You fell into a nightmare last night.”

Yanluo had just begun to say more when a sudden “bang” sounded, as if something had exploded.

Yanluo hurriedly pulled Heiyao outside the apartment.

A thick, pitch-black smoke soon billowed out from within, engulfing several buildings in an instant. Cries and screams echoed from inside, a scene both terrifying and haunting. Heiyao looked down from above—the black mist had already flooded the city and seemed to be climbing ever higher.

A shadow burst from the darkness, laughing with a chilling cackle. It was Haishi, unconscious, his entire body shrouded in a thin mist. Both his eyes were jet black, emitting lighter, swirling vapor.

Haishi cocked his head, examining the two before him. “Well, look at my luck—two top-grade supplements at once.”

Below, the black mist coiled into thick vines, shooting up to attack Yanluo and Heiyao. But Heiyao’s Soul-Devouring Bell formed a barrier that blocked them.

The darkness around Haishi surged faster; the screams within the fog grew ever more harrowing. The black mist blotted out the sun, and the sky darkened. Haishi’s body swelled, veins bulging, his brow furrowed in agony.

Heiyao had never encountered such a situation. Instinctively, he gripped Yanluo’s shirt. The attacking vines grew many times larger, surging toward them, threatening to shatter the barrier.

Suddenly, Heiyao heard Yan Nianqing’s voice call out, “Daddy!”

Heiyao opened his eyes to see Heinu clutching Yan Nianqing, stepping toward them from afar. With a flick, Heinu tossed Yan Nianqing to Heiyao and, eyes narrowing, strode straight into battle with Haishi.

Heiyao caught Yan Nianqing, just in time to see two black shadows flashing back and forth before his eyes. Unable to speak loudly, he could only watch anxiously.

Yan Nianqing grasped Heiyao’s hand and said, “Daddy, don’t worry. With Uncle Nu’s skills, capturing Haishi alive is a piece of cake. Haishi’s already burned through all his fuel.”

Uncle Nu? What on earth had his little Nian’er been doing on his outings every day? Heiyao quickly checked Yan Nianqing for injuries, but found none. Could he be hurt inside? Just as Heiyao was about to remove Yan Nianqing’s clothes for inspection, two hands—one large, one small—stopped him at once.

Though touched by Heiyao’s concern, Yan Nianqing would rather not be undressed in public. He’d only had a good talk with Uncle Nu. Since Uncle Nu was sent by his mother, he was more than welcome.

Yanluo took Heiyao’s hand, leading him to his side, and reprimanded Yan Nianqing coldly, “How improper, doing this in public!”

Yan Nianqing looked at his father’s slightly flushed face, the corner of his mouth twitching. Jealous, envious, resentful, aren’t you? Just want to take advantage of Daddy, hmm? The mighty King of Hell, bullying his own child!

Rolling his eyes, Yan Nianqing immediately hung his head, looking dejected.

Heiyao hurriedly pulled away from Yanluo, hugging Yan Nianqing with a look that said, “He’s still a child, don’t frighten him.”

Yanluo understood but paid it no mind.

Yan Nianqing, satisfied, hugged Heiyao back, casting a triumphant glance at his father—try sending me on errands now!

A heavy thud sounded. Haishi was kicked down by Heinu, vanishing beneath the black mist.

Heinu was just about to turn and return to Heiyao when a sound came from below.

Someone emerged, holding Haishi, ascending rapidly. Heiyao focused—it was Shenlou! After all Haishi’s efforts, Shenlou had never appeared, yet now he showed himself.

Haishi was unconscious, but the black mist lingered. Shenlou’s lips curled in a faint smile. Gently, he stroked Haishi’s cheek, carefully wiping the blood from his lips, then lowered his head and kissed him softly.

Looking up again, he was still smiling, but his voice was dark and cold. “Was it you who did this to him?”

Heinu nodded without hesitation, owning his actions.

Suddenly, Shenlou vanished from before Heinu’s eyes. Startled, Heinu turned—Shenlou was already in front of Heiyao.

Handing Haishi to Heiyao, Shenlou said with a smile, “Would you mind looking after him for a while? He’s had that temper since childhood. If he wakes and finds I didn’t avenge him, I’ll catch hell.”

Shenlou’s expression was so calm that Heiyao couldn’t tell—did he know about Haishi’s condition or not?

Yan Nianqing chimed in, “Don’t worry, Daddy. Haishi will be fine.” He and Uncle Nu had endured so much to obtain the treasure—how could they let it all go to waste now?

After the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, Shenlou returned, still smiling faintly, his clothing immaculate. Below, the black mist gradually dispersed. Heinu’s clothing was nearly in tatters, his hair a wild mess.

Heinu stared daggers at Shenlou—just wait, next time let’s fight fair and square!