Mortal Dawn and Dusk, My Eternal Life - Chapter 22

The soul-ripping agony, like a bone-deep parasite, raged wildly in A-Mu’s spiritual world. The old Daoist’s withered fingers, pressed against his brow, were like two red-hot brands, ceaselessly drawing out his memories and eroding his divine soul.

Modern Su Mingyue’s consciousness, under the impact of this evil power, had become incredibly dim, like a flickering candle in the wind, capable of being extinguished at any moment. She could feel her consciousness being peeled away, disintegrating bit by bit…

However, just as Su Mingyue thought she was about to completely dissipate, another unexpected change occurred!

Perhaps the old Daoist’s evil spell touched the deepest, most inviolable part of A-Mu’s memory; or perhaps A-Mu’s peculiar heart, fused with demonic power and Su Mingyue’s blood essence, erupted with an unimaginable potential under the stimulus of being pushed to its limit; more likely, it was the purest, most stubborn desire to protect his “fairy sister,” deeply buried in his soul, that burst forth with its final light in despair!

“Buzz—”

A power even more violent, more primal, yet tinged with an inexpressible sorrow, suddenly erupted from the depths of A-Mu’s body! This power was no longer simply demonic power, nor merely the power of Su Mingyue’s blood essence, but the result of their complete fusion in extreme pain and despair, in an almost destructive manner… a brand new, terrifying power filled with destructive and protective will!

“Ugh—!”

A-Mu, pinned to the stone wall, suddenly let out an agonizing roar that shook the heavens! That roar was filled with endless pain, endless rage, and… endless despair! His eyes were instantly filled with a thick, blood-red glow! The black blood flowing from his seven orifices, as if summoned, flowed back into him, re-entering his body! His wolf demon heart, under the impetus of this power, pounded wildly as if mad, at a speed beyond its limits! Every beat unleashed destructive power!

“What?!”

The old Daoist, who was performing the “Soul-Locking Spirit-Refining” evil spell, was the first to feel the eruption of this terrifying power! He felt an irresistible force surge from A-Mu’s brow, violently striking his divine soul!

“Pfft—!”

The old Daoist was struck as if by lightning, violently spitting out a mouthful of blood. His body flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily against the stone wall behind him with a dull thud! His fingers, which had been pressed against A-Mu’s brow, were also shattered to a bloody pulp by the backlash, revealing white bones!

“Cough cough… How… how is this possible?!” The old Daoist struggled to crawl up from the ground, his face filled with incredulous horror. The “Soul-Locking Spirit-Refining” evil spell he had cast was forcibly interrupted! And he had suffered such a severe backlash! What terrifying thing was truly hidden deep within this boy’s divine soul?!

However, as the old Daoist stood there in shock and uncertainty, a series of fragmented yet crucial memory snippets, captured during the soul-searching process, clearly appeared in his mind—

That heart-stopping carriage accident…
That mysterious young girl who suffered severe injuries to save the little boy, yet instantly healed…
Those eyes, identical to this young man’s, yet colder and more beautiful…
And that soft whisper, “Just treat it as a dream…”

“So that’s it… So that’s it! Hahahaha!” The old Daoist suddenly laughed like a madman, tilting his head back, his laughter filled with a sudden realization and an even more pathological ecstasy.

“So the secret of your eternal life, boy, is her! It’s that woman who also possesses an immortal body! She gave you the power of eternal life! Hahahaha! It truly takes much searching to find something, only to discover it without effort!”

He had always thought A-Mu himself possessed some special constitution or cultivated some peculiar technique, but he never expected that the source of his ageless immortality actually came from another equally mysterious existence! As long as he found that woman, he could achieve true, perfect eternal life! Perhaps even… obtain greater power!

And at this moment, A-Mu, pinned to the stone wall, after erupting with that terrifying power, his consciousness also regained a sliver of clarity from the soul-ripping agony. He heard the old Daoist’s mad and triumphant laughter, and his words filled with greed.

“She…”

This word, like the sharpest blade, cruelly pierced his already ravaged heart! He knew that the “she” the old Daoist spoke of referred to the “fairy sister” who had given him warmth and hope during the most desperate and helpless moments of his life! The only belief he had tirelessly sought and protected his entire life!

A wave of anger and fear, stronger than ever before, instantly overwhelmed A-Mu’s reason! He could endure any pain, any torment, but he would absolutely not tolerate anyone harming her! Not even a single thought!

“No… can’t…”

A-Mu’s throat produced hoarse and difficult sounds. This was the first time he had spoken since being captured by Qingyun Temple! His voice, due to long periods of silence and intense pain, was extremely dry and distorted, but the determination it contained was as firm as steel!

“You… can’t… harm… her!”

Every word was squeezed out as if from between clenched teeth, filled with the will of blood and bone!

The old Daoist was slightly startled by A-Mu’s sudden words, then a more cruel and disdainful smile appeared on his face.

“Oh? So you’re not mute after all?”

He grinned, walking step by step towards A-Mu, his eyes filled with the mockery of a cat playing with a mouse. “Boy, you can barely take care of yourself right now, yet you have the leisure to worry about others’ lives and deaths? Do you think you’re still in a position to bargain with me?”

He extended his hand and fiercely grabbed A-Mu’s neck, brutally pressing his head, which had just regained a hint of vitality, against the cold stone wall.

“But don’t worry.”

The old Daoist leaned close to A-Mu’s ear, speaking in a voice like a venomous snake’s hiss, chillingly. “This humble Daoist won’t let you die so easily. This humble Daoist will refine you into an immortal puppet, making you follow this humble Daoist forever, becoming the best tool for this humble Daoist to find that woman! Hahahaha!”

The old Daoist’s mad and triumphant laughter echoed incessantly in the secret chamber. A-Mu was almost suffocating from his grip, but his eyes, burning with dark red flames of resentment, stared fixedly at the old Daoist, filled with endless hatred and… a hint of deep despair. He knew he was beyond help. The only thing he could do was use his broken body to protect the secret buried deep in his heart, preventing this demon from defiling the only pure place in his soul.

And deep within A-Mu’s spiritual world, modern Su Mingyue’s fading consciousness, at the moment A-Mu’s consciousness regained clarity, miraculously stabilized. She heard A-Mu’s hoarse yet firm vow, and felt his determination to protect his “fairy sister” at all costs. Her heart was a swirl of mixed emotions, both touched and pained, filled with endless self-reproach and… a faint, inexplicable flutter.

This foolish child…