A Glimpse into the Past

Awakening to the gentle caress of light filtering through his closed eyelids, Yu Xuan slowly opened his eyes, blinking against the brightness. As he struggled to rise, he realized with astonishment that he had reverted to his original form. Taking in his surroundings, he found himself in a breathtaking space, enclosed by mirrors that reflected and refracted light in a mesmerizing dance of illumination. Each mirror seemed to contain a story of its own, projecting vivid flashbacks from Yu Xuan's past life, each image a poignant reminder of the journey he had undertaken.

"What is this place?" Yu Xuan pondered aloud, reaching out tentatively to touch the mirrors that surrounded him. To his surprise, the surface felt fluid, like water, causing him to quickly withdraw his hand.

Amidst the echoing silence of the chamber, a disembodied voice rang out, sending shivers down Yu Xuan's spine. "Do you enjoy reliving your pathetic existence through these images?" it taunted, its words dripping with malice.

Frustration boiled within Yu Xuan as he demanded answers. "Who are you?" he demanded, his voice echoing off the mirrored walls.

"Why are you tormenting me?" Yu Xuan demanded, his voice tinged with frustration and anger.

"Never mind who I am," the voice replied dismissively. "Instead, take a look at this mirror."

Feeling a force turning him towards the mirror, Yu Xuan strained to catch a glimpse of the unseen presence. The mirror revealed a scene from his past—a young Yu Xuan stood beside a striking woman with flowing white hair, presumably his mother. Clad in a vibrant red garment, she lovingly tended to a younger version of Yu Xuan, dressed in a blue robe, as he played by the river's edge. The tender moment captured the warmth and affection between mother and child, evoking a bittersweet longing within Yu Xuan's heart.

A pale, demonic hand with elongated nails and grotesque features emerged from the darkness, inching closer to Yu Xuan's shoulder. Within its palm, an eye and a mouth manifested, exuding an eerie aura.

"Do you miss for your mother?" the voice echoed from the abyss, its tone laced with sinister intent.

Yu Xuan clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles whitening as his eyes darkened, a crimson hue overtaking them. A sigil of red energy materialized on his forehead, pulsating with raw power. With deliberate focus, he began channeling energy into his hands, his muscles tensing with the effort.

Amidst the unsettling voice taunting him, Yu Xuan's energy surged, coalescing into a potent force within his grasp. His hand trembled slightly as he prepared to confront the unseen adversary.

As the voice continued its torment, Yu Xuan's resolve hardened. With a swift motion, he reached out, seizing the looming demonic hand that had plagued him. Whirling around, he confronted the source of his anguish—a headless figure, its form shrouded in darkness.

The Headless Demon, devoid of a head and feet, stood before him, a sinister presence emanating from its spectral form. Yu Xuan, fueled by determination, sought to vanquish his foe with the energy he had gathered.

Yet, his efforts were in vain. The Headless Demon merely scoffed at Yu Xuan's display of power, unleashing a torrent of demonic energy that sent Yu Xuan hurtling backward. With a sickening crash, he collided with one of the mirrors in the ethereal space, shattering it upon impact.

Blood trickled from Yu Xuan's lips as he struggled to rise, his body wracked with pain. Through blurred vision, he locked eyes with the Headless Demon, his spirit undaunted despite his physical wounds

"Your powers are meaningless in this domain, for I am its sovereign," the Headless Demon declared with a malevolent smirk. "Even your mightiest abilities are powerless against me."

Undeterred, Yu Xuan staggered to his feet, determination burning in his eyes. With a fierce resolve, he prepared to confront his adversary once more. However, before he could make a move, the Headless Demon vanished into thin air, leaving behind a blinding light that seared through the darkness.

Caught off guard, Yu Xuan shielded his eyes with his arms, the brilliance of the light piercing through his defenses and engulfing him in its radiant glow.

"Darling, you possess a beauty that captivates my soul."

"Will you honor me by becoming my spouse?"

"You, cursed child, shall bring ruin upon our lineage."

"An illegitimate child is a stain upon our family's honor."

"This villain deserves to be purged by fire!"

"End his life! He is a murderer, guilty of fratricide and filicide!"

"A heart as icy as the winter's frost, devoid of warmth or compassion."

"My dear son, know that a mother's love will forever surround you."

"Little brother, accept this token as a symbol of our bond."

"No matter the scorn heaped upon you for your birth, remember, to me, you will always be my kin."

As Yu Xuan's mind swirled with tumultuous thoughts and memories, flashes of past events danced before his eyes like fragments of a fractured mirror. Amidst the chaos of his mind, a distant voice called out to him, piercing through the haze of his thoughts like a beacon in the darkness.

"Teacher Yu! Teacher Yu! Come back to us! Wake up!" The voice echoed through the recesses of his mind, its urgency pulling at the fringes of his consciousness.

A gentle touch brushed against his cheek, its coolness a stark contrast to the feverish turmoil within him. It felt as though someone was delicately tapping his cheek, coaxing him from the depths of his reverie and back to the present moment.

Yu Xuan's eyelids fluttered, the world around him initially a blur of shapes and colors. As consciousness gradually returned, he felt the comforting support of someone's shoulder beneath his head, offering a sense of stability amidst the disorientation. With a faint groan, he attempted to focus his gaze, squinting against the haze that clouded his vision.

Through the fog of his awakening, the features of the person supporting him began to take shape, gradually sharpening into clarity. It was Zi Qian, his face emerging from the indistinctness like a figure materializing from the mist. Yu Xuan blinked, his eyes adjusting to the light, until finally, the contours of Zi Qian's face came into sharp relief before him.

Yu Xuan eased himself away from Zi Qian's supportive shoulder, straightening his posture as he settled into a lotus position. With a gentle touch, he rubbed his temples, as if attempting to dispel the lingering fog of unconsciousness that clouded his mind.

Zi Qian's concerned gaze met Yu Xuan's as he inquired about his well-being. "Are you feeling alright? You were unconscious for some time, and I noticed you were perspiring profusely," Zi Qian voiced his worry, his expression marked by genuine concern for his friend's condition.

Zi Qian's concern deepened as he reached out to touch Yu Xuan's forehead, checking for signs of fever. However, Yu Xuan gently intercepted his hand, firmly pushing it away.

"Stop it," Yu Xuan murmured, his tone a mixture of discomfort and frustration. "Why are you so overly concerned about me all of a sudden? Weren't you harboring resentment toward me before? What's changed?"

His words carried a weight of confusion and suspicion as he questioned Zi Qian's sudden shift in behavior, his eyes searching for answers amidst the lingering uncertainty that shrouded their surroundings.

"It's nothing, really," Zi Qian responded, his voice laced with sincerity as he sought to reassure Yu Xuan. "I'm simply concerned for your well-being, especially considering the time we've spent together and the bond we've formed. After all, you're not only my master but also a friend full of mysteries even though i didn't like you before but i realised that you are that evil as people say about you."

He paused, his gaze softening with genuine care as he continued, "I just want to make sure you're alright. You seemed distressed, and as your friend, I couldn't just ignore it. So, tell me, what's troubling you? What happened?"

"I just don't feel well," Yu Xuan murmured, his gaze flickering around the eerie surroundings. "Where exactly are we?"

Zi Qian's response was tinged with frustration. "We're here because of you," he declared, his tone accusatory.

Confusion clouded Yu Xuan's features. "What do you mean?" he inquired, his voice laced with uncertainty.

"You were the one who entered the code to open the bronze gate," Zi Qian explained, his disgust evident. "But it was the wrong code, and now we're trapped in this unsettling environment."

As Yu Xuan surveyed their surroundings, a shiver ran down his spine at the sight of the corpses hanging from the dry trees. Blood trickled down from some of the corpses, staining the ground below, while others had already decayed into skeletal remains, emitting a putrid odor that filled the air.

"But I thought you were the one who gave the code. It was written somewhere before," Yu Xuan countered, his brow furrowing in confusion.

"It seems we've been deceived into entering this door," Zi Qian surmised, his voice tinged with realization.

"The Headless Demon," Yu Xuan whispered, his words barely audible.

Zi Qian's expression turned quizzical. "What did you say?" he asked, catching Yu Xuan's whisper.

"Nothing," Yu Xuan replied hastily, his mind racing with the implications of their predicament.

In the dim light of the gloomy place, thick fog shrouded their surroundings, obscuring their vision. Despite the oppressive atmosphere, Yu Xuan's keen senses picked up on something unusual.

"Were you alone here all this time?" he inquired, his voice barely audible above the eerie silence.

Zi Qian hesitated before responding, his voice barely a whisper. "No... he was with me," he admitted reluctantly.

"He? Who?" Yu Xuan pressed, his curiosity piqued.

Zi Qian's gaze shifted uneasily. "He... the Crown Prince," he confessed, his words heavy with implication.

Yu Xuan couldn't help but tease him playfully. "Ah, the one who stole your first kiss," he remarked with a grin, nudging Zi Qian's shoulder.

"But where is he now?" Yu Xuan asked, his playful demeanor giving way to concern.

"He said he was going to find a way out, but several hours have passed, and he still hasn't returned. That's when I decided to search for him and stumbled upon you," Zi Qian explained, his tone tinged with worry.

"Let's go and find him then," Yu Xuan suggested, offering Zi Qian a reassuring smile as he gently tugged him along, their footsteps echoing in the desolate landscape.