55 Chapter 54: Confined In The Dark Road

Golden pupils reflect back at her from the mirror ahead. Contrary to the average face she bore during her time in the human world, her features look a little more refined. Dark pupils became a golden color that excludes a regal grace. Black hair cascaded across her shoulders and landed on the carpet like the finest reel of silk. Due to her prior bath, strands of hair stuck to her face and lips, highlighting the healthy glow of white skin and red lips.

Her arms stretched out from her sides as bustling servants dressed her with utmost care. Obsidian robes embroidered with golden cranes meld together with her indolent disposition as she waved the servants aside.

"Prepare a carriage, I'm going to the archives." It's different now compared to last time. Last time she could travel wherever she wanted without anyone escorting because her arrival was only known to a few. But on this occasion, the moment a fragment of her soul had returned to her former body, her return was publicized.

And as someone who holds a distinction position, it's impossible to walk as leisurely as before. At the very least, not when she's visiting the archives. Remembering the destroyed paper doll, Chu Nuan's heart aches for the time and money spent on that spell.

It took her a long time to refine a paper doll capable enough to hold a fragment of her soul. Twenty-four high grade spells were engraved on the paper with her blood, respectively taking around forty-nine days each. Not to mention the quality of the material used in the making of the paper itself. All that hard work and patience is ruined with just one stab to the chest.

"Which reminds me…." Pulling her thoughts away from the sadness of her money flying off to a distant place, Chu Nuan recalls that she hasn't reported her well being yet. Taking out a phone from the inner pocket of her sleeves, she sent a message to Xie Luochen.

" _へ__(‾◡◝ )> Haha. I'm alive!"

"....?" Ten minutes passed but a reply still didn't come. "Maybe busy?"

Putting the phone aside, she boarded the carriage arranged for her.

__________

Darkness.

Familiar darkness surrounds him in silence. Experienced with this feeling, Xie Luochen proceeds to walk through the road filled with memories of his past life. Empty eyes gaze blankly from time to time at the moving screens on either side of the path.

They are him, but similarly they have nothing to do with him. Every action and smile done in the past is a riddle, he doesn't even recall who he was talking to on each screen. A nostalgic back, but no matter how much he observes, the woman in the image never turned once. Though it wouldn't have mattered even if she did turn because the Xie Luochen at this time has closed off his mind.

Like a zombie void of life, he staggers weakly while his mind continuously replays the scene of Chu Nuan's death. Bangs covered the expression on his face whilst his body continued to sway.

"If only I wasn't so weak. Would things have been different?" He mumbled incoherently.

Murmured words echo then disappear into the dark scene without anyone to answer. This time the mysterious figure did not appear, even after walking for what seemed like hours, not even a corner of its robe could be seen.

Without the warmth of the glowing lantern and the guide of the mysterious figure in black, Xie Luochen could only move forward alone. Aimlessly walking through the dimly lit path, iciness invades and causes his limbs to stiffen.

"Why does this happen all the time?"

"??Huh? All the time?" Words unconsciously blurted out from his mouth surprised him.

"Who was I talking about?" Misty eyes flash a few times as his mind seems on the verge of catching onto something. But it escaped just as quickly, the fog covered his thoughts once again. "It doesn't matter anymore." Perhaps staying here is not too bad, after all, nothing matters to him right now.

Xie Luochen's drooping head continued to sway side to side when suddenly, a small red petal landed on his feet followed by another. Bright crimson petals show a sharp contrast to the dark road ahead.

"This is….."

Like snow falling on a winter night, red petals rain down from the sky with gentle grace. Holding out his hand in a daze, they accumulate on his hand until slipping from the gaps between his fingers.

All of a sudden, a voice he'd thought he wouldn't hear again rang out near his ears. "Xie Luochen."

Raising his head up, a large screen twice the size of regular ones appear in front of his eyes in the midst of flying red petals. Chu Nuan stood amid a field of spider lilies, her smile soft with untold affection.

"Xie Luochen." She said once again. "What do you think of me?"

What does he think? "I…." Irises began to shake and the mist in his sight began to disperse.

"Look straight at me and listen well." The scene changed to the V.I.P room of the airport. "I like you, I really like you. Only you can influence my emotions so strongly." Her eyes shine brightly against the lighting shone through the windows of the room. Pale skin flush in excitement as her lips drew closer to his face. "So." Her breath caressed the side of his cheeks, "What do you think of me?"

"I..." Murky eyes regained their former luster as Xie Luochen clutch at the petals in his hand. Taking a deep breath he yelled at the top of his lungs.

"————!!"

He needs to find a way out of here!