Lin Wantang stood before the Ghost Gate Pass, staring in the direction Ye Chenyuan had left. For a long while, she couldn't come back to her senses.
A past life.
Those two words were like a fine needle stabbing into her mind, which had only just died and hadn't yet adjusted to the fact.
She had a past life?
And it was connected to that lofty Netherworld King?
"Miss Lin."
Someone beside her called out cautiously.
Lin Wantang turned around.
Xie Qi stood nearby, clutching a Soul-Binding Chain, his expression complicated.
"What is it?"
"His Lordship wants you to go to the Netherworld King's Palace."
"I heard him."
"Then shall we go?"
Lin Wantang didn't move.
"Wait."
Xie Qi froze.
She turned around and looked at him seriously.
"I want to ask you something."
"Go ahead."
"Are you actually Black Impermanence?"
"...Yes."
"Are you specifically in charge of soul-reaping?"
"That's right."
"Then how long have you been doing this?"
Xie Qi thought about it.
"More than eight hundred years."
Lin Wantang took a deep breath.
"More than eight hundred years, and this is your first wrongful soul-reaping?"
Xie Qi's face instantly stiffened.
"Well..."
"Hmm?"
"Strictly speaking, this is my first time."
Lin Wantang sneered.
"Is there something seriously wrong with employee training in the Netherworld?"
"I'm only twenty-five."
"Mm-hmm."
"And I still had fifty-seven years left on my allotted lifespan."
"Mm-hmm."
"Yet you brought me here with one Soul-Binding Chain."
"...Mm-hmm."
"And now you're telling me this wasn't an ordinary wrongful soul-reaping, but that someone forged a soul-reaping order?"
Xie Qi fell silent.
Lin Wantang folded her arms.
"So now I have every reason to suspect that someone in the Netherworld deliberately wanted me dead."
Xie Qi: "..."
For the first time, he felt that Miss Lin's mind worked a little too quickly.
"It probably...isn't that serious."
"Probably?"
"What I mean is..."
"You're not even sure?"
Xie Qi was rendered speechless.
Lin Wantang looked at him and suddenly felt a headache coming on.
Her death had already been bizarre enough.
And now she was being told that someone might have been manipulating everything behind it.
The only person who held any clues was Black Impermanence—a man who didn't even know he'd grabbed the wrong person.
She couldn't help raising a hand to rub her brow.
"Forget it."
"Forget what?"
"Let's go to the Netherworld King's Palace first."
Xie Qi breathed a sigh of relief.
But after they'd walked two steps, Lin Wantang stopped again.
"Wait."
"What now?"
"You said the Netherworld King knew me before?"
Xie Qi blinked.
"I didn't say that."
"He did."
"What did His Lordship say?"
Lin Wantang looked at him.
"He said this had something to do with my past life."
Xie Qi's footsteps halted.
His expression turned strange.
"What is it?"
"Nothing."
"You know something?"
"I don't know anything."
Lin Wantang narrowed her eyes.
"You're lying."
"I'm not."
"Your eyes gave you away."
Xie Qi immediately turned his head.
"Really, I don't know anything."
Lin Wantang followed him.
"Then let me ask you this. Had Ye Chenyuan seen me before?"
Xie Qi said nothing.
"Had he?"
"Black Impermanence."
"Hmm?"
"You'd better be honest with me."
Xie Qi sighed.
"Miss Lin, it's not that I don't want to tell you."
"Then why not?"
"Because there are some things that, if His Lordship doesn't speak of them, none of us dare to."
Lin Wantang slowed her steps.
"It's that serious?"
Xie Qi turned back.
"You really don't remember anything?"
"Remember what?"
Xie Qi looked at her as if confirming something.
In the end, he only shook his head.
"It's nothing."
Lin Wantang: "..."
It was the first time she'd realized that the people she'd met after dying seemed to be more mysterious than the last.
The Netherworld King's Palace stood in the deepest part of the Netherworld.
Rather than a palace, it was more like an ancient city sleeping in the darkness.
Long steps paved with black jade stretched upward into the heights, with eerie blue flames burning on either side.
The flames gave off no heat.
Yet they illuminated the surroundings with extraordinary clarity.
As Lin Wantang walked through the palace, she couldn't help looking around.
"Is the Netherworld always this quiet?"
"Mm-hmm."
"Don't the underworld enforcers have to work?"
"It's not working hours right now."
Lin Wantang was speechless.
"You have working hours?"
"Of course."
Xie Qi answered as if it were obvious.
"The Netherworld has rules and regulations too."
Lin Wantang suddenly felt that the legendary Netherworld was rather different from what she'd imagined.
They had gone halfway when she suddenly caught a scent.
It was faint.
Yet somehow familiar.
She stopped.
"What's that smell?"
Xie Qi turned back.
"What smell?"
"Something like...flowers."
Xie Qi's expression changed.
"You can smell it?"
"Mm-hmm."
"That's impossible."
"Why?"
Xie Qi didn't answer.
Lin Wantang followed the scent with her eyes.
There was a half-open stone door beside the palace.
Beyond it lay a shadowy garden.
There were no other flowers in it, only vast stretches of red blossoms.
The petals were delicate, and there were no leaves.
Under the eerie blue firelight, their red was almost demonic.
A sudden pain shot through Lin Wantang's chest.
She didn't know why.
She only knew that when she saw those flowers, her eyes inexplicably grew moist.
"What are those?"
"Yellow Springs Flowers," Xie Qi said quietly.
"They only grow in the depths of the Yellow Springs."
Lin Wantang took a step closer.
A Yellow Springs Flower suddenly swayed gently.
One petal drifted toward her.
It landed in her palm.
The next instant—
Boom—
Countless images surged into her mind.
Snow blanketing the sky.
The icy river of the Yellow Springs.
A woman in a long white dress stood on the riverbank.
There was a red flower-shaped mark on her wrist as well.
And standing before her was Ye Chenyuan.
But he wasn't as cold and detached as he was now.
His robes were stained with blood.
The long sword in his hand was broken.
He stared fixedly at the woman before him.
"You promised me."
The woman smiled.
"What did I promise you?"
"That you wouldn't leave again."
"But I have to go."
"Why?"
"Because if I don't, all three realms will die."
Pain surfaced in the man's eyes.
"Then I'll go with you."
The woman shook her head.
"No."
"I'm not afraid to die."
"But I am."
The man froze.
The woman reached out and gently wiped the blood from the corner of his lips.
"Ye Chenyuan."
"Hmm?"
"If one day I don't remember you..."
She smiled faintly.
"Then don't look for me again."
"I can't do that."
"Then wait."
"How long?"
"I don't know."
The woman gazed into the depths of the Yellow Springs.
"Maybe a hundred years."
"Maybe a thousand years."
"Maybe..."
Her voice drifted farther and farther away.
"Forever."
The image shattered.
Lin Wantang abruptly opened her eyes.
She staggered back a step.
Xie Qi hurriedly caught her.
"Are you all right?"
Lin Wantang didn't answer.
She looked at her hand.
The Yellow Springs petal had vanished.
But the red mark on her wrist had become even clearer.
"Just now..."
She murmured,
"I saw him."
Xie Qi's expression was grim.
"Who?"
Lin Wantang looked up.
"Ye Chenyuan."
Xie Qi fell silent.
This time, he didn't deny it.
"That wasn't a dream."
Lin Wantang's heart sank.
"What does that mean?"
Xie Qi looked at her.
"Those were your memories."
The main hall of the Netherworld King's Palace.
Ye Chenyuan stood before a massive window.
Beyond it stretched the endless Yellow Springs.
Gu Changsheng stood behind him, holding the files he'd just investigated.
"Your Lordship."
"Speak."
"We haven't found the person who forged the soul-reaping order yet."
Ye Chenyuan didn't turn around.
"Keep looking."
"Also..."
Gu Changsheng paused.
"There's a problem with Miss Lin's soul."
Ye Chenyuan finally turned around.
"What?"
"Her soul isn't complete."
Ye Chenyuan's eyes darkened.
"What do you mean?"
"She's missing part of the consciousness from her past life."
Gu Changsheng spread open the file.
"That's also why she can't leave a complete record in the Book of Life and Death."
Ye Chenyuan stared at the words on the page.
"Can it be recovered?"
"In theory, yes."
"At what cost?"
"She may remember every memory from her past life."
"And then?"
Gu Changsheng raised his eyes.
"She may also remember how she died."
The hall fell silent.
Ye Chenyuan said nothing.
But Gu Changsheng knew what he was thinking.
"Your Lordship."
"Hmm?"
"If we don't let her remember, it might be better for her."
Ye Chenyuan closed his eyes.
After a long while, he said quietly,
"I know."
"Then why are you letting her stay in the Netherworld?"
Ye Chenyuan opened his eyes.
"Because this time, I won't make her face it alone again."
Gu Changsheng froze.
"But she doesn't remember you right now."
"It doesn't matter."
Ye Chenyuan's voice was soft.
"I remember."
After Lin Wantang was brought into the Netherworld King's Palace, the first thing she did wasn't ask about her past life.
It was to make Xie Qi answer for it.
"Did you know all along?"
Xie Qi looked bewildered.
"Know what?"
"The relationship between me and the Netherworld King in our past life."
"I really didn't know."
"Then why were you afraid to look at me just now?"
"Because..."
Xie Qi hesitated.
Lin Wantang stared at him.
"Spit it out."
"Because I was afraid you'd hit me."
"Why would I hit you?"
Xie Qi pointed at himself.
"Because I was the one who soul-reaped you and brought you here."
Lin Wantang: "..."
That actually made a strange amount of sense.
She took a deep breath.
"Then tell me one thing."
"Ask."
"Did I die in my past life?"
Xie Qi fell silent.
Lin Wantang's heart slowly sank.
"Did I?"
"Yes."
"How did I die?"
"I don't know."
"Does Ye Chenyuan know?"
"He probably does."
Lin Wantang stood up.
"I'm going to ask him."
Xie Qi jumped.
"Wait!"
"What?"
"His Lordship isn't available right now."
"What's he busy with?"
"He's handling official business."
"I won't take long."
"That's not what I mean."
Xie Qi hurriedly blocked her.
"Miss Lin, at least wait until His Lordship is finished."
"Why?"
"Because..."
Before he could finish, footsteps suddenly sounded outside the main hall.
Ye Chenyuan walked in.
Xie Qi immediately shut his mouth.
Lin Wantang turned around.
"You came at just the right time."
Ye Chenyuan looked at her.
"What is it?"
"I want to ask you something."
"Ask."
"Did we know each other in our past life?"
"Yes."
His answer came without hesitation.
Lin Wantang was stunned for a moment.
"What were we to each other?"
Ye Chenyuan fell silent.
"We had a very important relationship."
"How important?"
He didn't answer.
Lin Wantang frowned.
"Why won't you tell me?"
Ye Chenyuan walked up to her.
They stood very close—close enough for Lin Wantang to clearly see the emotion in his eyes.
It wasn't indifference.
It was a kind of sorrow she couldn't put into words.
"Because there are some things," he said quietly,
"that I hope you'll remember on your own."
"What if I never remember?"
Ye Chenyuan looked at her.
"Then I'll let you get to know me all over again."
Lin Wantang froze.
"What?"
"You can take your time remembering the past."
"As for this life..."
He paused.
"We can start over."
Lin Wantang's heart seemed to skip a beat.
She quickly looked away.
"Do you always talk this..."
"This what?"
"Strangely."
Ye Chenyuan gave her a faint look.
"You used to say that too."
Lin Wantang jerked her head up.
"How would you know that?"
Ye Chenyuan didn't answer.
But his eyes had already said everything.
Lin Wantang suddenly didn't know what to say.
She turned and sat down.
After a while, she finally asked softly,
"What am I supposed to do now?"
Ye Chenyuan answered,
"Stay in the Netherworld."
"Why?"
"To find out why you died."
"And then?"
"Find the person who was truly supposed to die."
"And after that?"
Ye Chenyuan looked at her.
"Find the person who altered your fate."
Lin Wantang nodded.
This time, she didn't refuse.
Because she'd already understood.
Returning to the mortal world was probably impossible now.
If that was the case,
then she at least had to find out why she'd died.
More importantly—
she had to find out who had changed her life into an entirely different ending.
That night,
Lin Wantang was assigned a room in a side hall.
It was very large.
Too large to seem intended for a single departed soul.
The bed, table and chairs, and wardrobe were all provided. There was even a massive bronze mirror.
She stood before the mirror.
Her reflection still looked twenty-five years old.
There were no wounds.
No blood.
She even looked a little more beautiful than she had when alive.
She reached out and touched her face.
"I really am dead."
As soon as the words left her mouth, a red petal suddenly drifted in through the window.
Lin Wantang reached out and caught it.
Another Yellow Springs Flower.
This time, she didn't touch it right away.
Because she was afraid.
Afraid of seeing those people and events she couldn't remember again.
But just as she was about to set the petal on the table, a voice suddenly came from outside the door.
"Don't touch it."
Lin Wantang turned around.
Ye Chenyuan stood in the doorway.
She frowned.
"Why are you here?"
"Making my rounds."
"Making your rounds in my room?"
Ye Chenyuan didn't answer.
He walked over and took the petal from her hand.
The instant their fingertips brushed—
Lin Wantang suddenly saw a scene.
A thousand years ago.
The same Yellow Springs.
The same red flowers.
She stood beside Ye Chenyuan.
And her past self was smiling.
She heard herself say to him,
"Ye Chenyuan."
"Hmm?"
"If there really is a next life..."
"I'll definitely find you."
The image vanished.
Lin Wantang abruptly looked up.
Ye Chenyuan was looking at her too.
Neither of them spoke.
After a long while, Lin Wantang asked softly,
"Did I...promise you something before?"
Ye Chenyuan tightened his grip on the petal.
"You did."
"What?"
He gazed at her, a thousand years of wind and snow hidden in his eyes.
"You promised that no matter how many times you went through reincarnation, you'd come back."
Lin Wantang's heart gave a violent tremor.
She suddenly didn't know why.
She no longer had a heartbeat, yet her chest still hurt terribly.
Ye Chenyuan turned around.
"Get some rest."
When he reached the door, he paused.
"Wantang."
It was the first time he'd called her by name.
Lin Wantang looked up.
The man didn't turn around.
"Welcome back."
The door slowly closed.
Lin Wantang sat on the edge of the bed.
After a long while, she raised her hand and pressed it against her chest.
There was clearly no heartbeat there anymore.
Yet she could distinctly feel—
something beginning to awaken, little by little.
Not a memory.
But a feeling she'd forgotten for a full thousand years.
And what she didn't know was that, deep inside the Netherworld King's Palace,
three characters quietly appeared in the space belonging to her in the Book of Life and Death, which had originally been blank.
Lin Wantang.
Beneath the name,
there was also a line of tiny blood-red writing that had never appeared before.
"Second death: about to begin."