“Your Highness!” Su Ruhan stood up, looking toward the Third Prince.
“Stand aside,” the Third Prince said calmly.
Yue Lingchai’s phoenix eyes lifted slightly, her breathtaking gaze turning cold. Her red lips parted as she said to the prince, “Not a chance.”
As if he hadn’t heard her at all, the Third Prince walked straight toward Mu Xueshi, his eyes fixed on his face.
Suddenly, a flash of white—Yue Lingchai had already stepped in front of him. Most of her cold, elegant face was veiled, but the killing intent in her eyes was unmistakable.
“A few days ago, your mother’s grave was dug up. If not for me, this grave would already be flattened. And yet you, ungrateful wretch, dare to—”
She swallowed the rest of her words. With Su Ruhan present, it wasn’t appropriate to reveal too much.
By now, both the Third Prince and Su Ruhan understood what had become of those hundreds of elite soldiers. Su Ruhan couldn’t help but sigh inwardly—after all these years, Yue Lingchai’s martial arts had improved yet again. Even guarding the courtyard that day, he had felt his mind unsettled.
But the Third Prince had no mind for any of that.
Mu Xueshi stood behind Yue Lingchai. The only thought in his mind was to pass her and reach him.
“Thank you,” the Third Prince said calmly.
Seeing him try to move past, Yue Lingchai struck out with a palm. The force was fierce, swift as the wind. The Third Prince had no defense—he was forced back several steps, dropping to one knee as blood spilled from his mouth.
Even in that instant, Yue Lingchai had held back somewhat. After all, she couldn’t bring herself to kill her own nephew without knowing the full truth.
The moment Yue Lingchai attacked, Su Ruhan drew his sword and moved in. The blade flicked toward her hair—one reverse hook, and her long locks cascaded down like a waterfall. By the time he withdrew his sword, her jade hairpin was already back in her hand.
“What audacity,” Yue Lingchai said coldly, glaring at him.
Su Ruhan remained composed. “I am merely protecting my master.”
Unwilling to waste words, Yue Lingchai engaged him again. Their deadly clash began near Mu Xueshi, then rose into the treetops, slicing through leaves that fell in showers around him.
The sounds of battle gradually faded into the distance.
Silence returned.
The Third Prince struggled to his feet and walked step by step toward Mu Xueshi. Only when he reached him did he slowly pull him into his arms.
“Xueshi… I shouldn’t have… I…”
He placed his hand near Mu Xueshi’s nose. Only after feeling the faintest trace of breath did his hand fall weakly.
The leaves that had been shaken loose now blanketed the ground like a golden carpet. They settled over the two figures—on their clothes, in their hair.
The two stunningly beautiful men held each other, as if sunk in a sweet slumber—like a painting come to life.
At last, a flash of bright light—
Chen Youzai opened his eyes eagerly.
Thankfully, the surroundings were still ancient in style—and strangely familiar.
After staring blankly for a few moments, realization struck him.
Wasn’t this… the firefly lake where the Third Prince had brought him on the day he decided to leave? The prince had said it was where he and Mu Xueshi first met.
Too bad that Mu Xueshi… wasn’t him.
Where were the fireflies?
Chen Youzai paused, then laughed at himself. Of course there were none—it was broad daylight.
Wait.
Something felt off.
Why was he here?
Did the Third Prince bring him again? But looking around, he was alone—standing in the middle of the lake.
The water was shallow and crystal clear, small fish swimming around him. On the shore lay two pairs of small shoes and a wooden bucket filled with water. Inside, two fish swam lazily. Behind the bucket, a neatly folded set of clothes rested.
“Huh—?!”
Chen Youzai gasped.
Why were these shoes… so small?!
He quickly looked at his arms—not the plump lotus-root limbs of a child, but still far smaller than his actual age. Then his legs—fair and slender, yet undeniably short.
Only then did he think to look at his reflection.
One glance—
And he nearly choked.
A terribly ugly little face stared back at him. Dark skin, sunken eyes, a slightly crooked mouth—and worst of all, that wrinkled texture he would never forget.
Trembling, he splashed water onto his face, scrubbing hard.
Again and again—
Until at last, it felt smooth.
He moved to clearer water and looked again.
This time, he saw it clearly.
It was Mu Xueshi.
But a younger version.
The face was still delicate and lovely—just not yet grown, still carrying that childish softness.
No matter how slow he was, Chen Youzai understood now—
He had traveled to the wrong time.
The one thing he had feared most… had still happened.
Mu Xueshi—no, Chen Youzai—sat down by the lake, looking both helpless and faintly amused, his expression tinged with frustration.
Glancing idly at the fish in the bucket, a mischievous thought crossed his mind.
Since he had to wait here anyway before transferring back… why not release them?
From where he had appeared—in the middle of the lake—it was obvious Mu Xueshi had been catching fish. If he let them go, Mu Xueshi would definitely be furious when he woke up.
I did plenty of good deeds for you while I was in your body. Let me vent a little now.
Thinking this, Chen Youzai reached into the bucket.
But the fish were slippery, and his hands were small and clumsy. Each time he caught one, it slipped back into the water, splashing his face.
Finally, he managed to grab one and lift it out—
But before he could release it, it slipped free and flopped onto a nearby rock.
He lunged after it. The fish struggled wildly in his hands.
“Hehe—!”
The ticklish sensation made him laugh involuntarily.
The sound was clear and bright—carrying the crispness of a child, with just the faintest hint of maturity yet to come.
Not far away stood a grand purple-and-gold sedan chair. Seated upon it was a young man just as handsome—though lacking a touch of breathtaking beauty, his features carried a hint more heroic spirit.
The youth had his eyes closed, quietly enjoying the vast tranquility of nature. Suddenly, a bell-like peal of laughter shattered the harmony.
His brow twitched slightly. He listened more carefully—and couldn’t help but feel that the sound was like music from the heavens.
Lifting the curtain of the sedan, his sharp gaze turned toward the distant lake.
In the middle of the lake stood a boy about his age, playing in the water alone. That laughter must have come from him.
Suddenly, the boy in the lake lifted his face, wiping away the droplets with his hand, then looked quietly at his surroundings.
The young man’s heart jolted.
His gaze froze, unable to pull away for a long time.
The boy hadn’t noticed him at all, continuing to play, his clear and radiant smile making everything around him seem mesmerizing.
The procession gradually slowed to a stop. Even the guards driving the carriage were entranced by the boy at the lake, one of them dropping the whip from his hand without noticing.
“Continue,” the youth said coldly.
“Yes, Third Prince.”
The guard hurried to pick up the whip—but his limbs turned cold. Looking down, he saw a long sword already piercing his chest. The man beside him had long since collapsed into a pool of blood.
……
Mu Xueshi suddenly snapped out of his daze.
He hadn’t expected to space out even while bathing in the lake.
Walking over to the wooden bucket, he muttered in confusion, “When did I release the fish in the bucket? Or did someone else do it for me…?”
Catching sight of his reflection in the water, Mu Xueshi was startled. He quickly scooped up some mud from the side and smeared it messily over his face before picking up the bucket and heading home.
……
By the time the Third Prince was brought back by Su Ruhan, he was already unconscious. In his arms, Mu Xueshi was still tightly held—and showed no sign of waking either.
When Su Ruhan tried to separate them to carry them onto the sedan, he found he couldn’t pry the prince’s grip loose. In the end, he had no choice but to place them together in the same carriage.
News of the Third Prince’s illness was tightly sealed. If the Emperor found out, it would undoubtedly throw the entire palace into turmoil.
When Physician Li examined him, he concluded that the prince had suffered internal injuries and would need several days of careful recuperation. Given the severity, it would likely take four to five hours before he regained consciousness.
During his fight with Yue Lingchai, Su Ruhan had deliberately lured her into a forest far from Linhan Palace. By the time she realized she had been led away, there was no turning back—every path of retreat had been sealed with demonic formations.
Yue Lingchai could ensure she wouldn’t lose or be injured, but returning the same way was nearly impossible.
A flock of white doves flew overhead. Yue Lingchai’s figure dissolved like a breeze, leaving behind only a wisp of white smoke.
Su Ruhan knew she hadn’t gone far. As long as Mu Xueshi remained here, she would protect him from the shadows.
That thought eased him slightly.
Though Physician Li had said it would take four to five hours, the Third Prince woke in less than one.
The moment he awoke, he sat up. A dull pain throbbed in his chest, and he frowned faintly.
“Where is Xueshi?” he asked the empty room.
Sun Ye’s voice came from outside. “Young Master Xue is resting in another room.”
Hearing this, the Third Prince immediately got out of bed. His legs were weak at first, but after standing for a moment, he steadied himself.
He pushed the door open and stepped out. Though his complexion was poor, there was no trace of frailty in his bearing.
“Your Highness, if you wish for Young Master Xue to accompany you, we can have him carried over. You should return and rest,” Eunuch Tai’an said anxiously at the door.
“No need. I’ll go myself.”
“But—”
The Third Prince shot him a cold glance. No one dared speak further. Sun Ye exchanged a look with Tai’an, both of them uneasy.
“What’s going on?” the Third Prince asked, looking at Mu Xueshi as he turned to Physician Li.
Physician Li’s legs trembled as he dropped to his knees. “Your Highness, I… I do not know. Since Young Master Xue returned, he has been like this. I can find no illness… it’s just… just…”
“Just what?” The prince’s voice carried no emotion.
With a thud, Physician Li kowtowed. “I… I cannot detect Young Master Xue’s pulse!”
The Third Prince stiffened, barely steadying himself. “What do you mean?”
Physician Li’s voice shook uncontrollably. “It means… although he can still eat and drink normally… he… he may never wake again…”
“Your Highness, what’s wrong?” Physician Li cried out.
Su Ruhan rushed in at once.
The Third Prince pressed a hand to his chest. His white robes slowly turned red as blood seeped through. His face darkened, yet his voice remained steady.
“Find a Spirit-Wish Master.”
Su Ruhan nodded. “Take care of His Highness,” he said to Physician Li, before hurrying off.
When the Spirit-Wish Master emerged from Mu Xueshi’s room, the Third Prince was already standing at the doorway.
No one was allowed to disturb the ritual, so he had changed into fresh clothes. The bloodstains on his chest were gone—he stood there as though nothing had happened.
“How is he?” Su Ruhan asked on his behalf.
The palace’s finest Spirit-Wish Master looked at the Third Prince, hesitating.
“Speak plainly,” the prince said. He already had a vague sense of the answer.
“Your Highness… Young Master Xue… he…”
“What?”
“His body is fine, but his mind may have suffered a severe shock. His soul has… already departed…”
……
In other words—
Though he could still eat and drink…
He might never wake again.
Though his body remained intact…
His soul had… already passed on.
In short—
His soul was gone.
The Third Prince stood where he was, his expression unchanged. There was no visible sorrow, no despair—not even in his eyes, which were as calm as still water.
“Your Highness, please don’t be too distressed. Perhaps—”
“Leave,” the Third Prince said quietly. “I want to be alone with Xueshi.”
The Spirit-Wish Master wanted to say more, but seeing Su Ruhan give a subtle signal, he took a deep breath and quietly withdrew.
Futile Devices Scans 
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