Chapter 28: Rumors Never Come from Nowhere

At the moment of crisis, Gu Yechen—clutching a dagger—paused slightly. The red gleam in his eyes dimmed a little, as if the corrupted thoughts invading his mind had finally receded, and his true self was returning.

In an endless, pitch-dark void, his luminous form was bound by chains made of vines.

This was the soul sea—a space infinitely more agonizing than the outside world. His consciousness was imprisoned here, tormented by eternal darkness and fear, scorched by unending flames, frozen by relentless cold, and shattered by endless waves of spiritual assault.

Oppression. Terror. Pain. The stench of death.

These were the only sensations in this place.

Time and space no longer had meaning here.

Gu Yechen's body twitched slightly beneath the vines. He slowly raised his head and looked toward the only flickering star in the eternal black.

> "Lingling... is that you?"

His lips moved faintly, and in his heart, he whispered:

> "No... I mustn't hurt Lingling. Even if I have to stay in this damned place forever, suffer through inhuman torment—I still can't let her be in danger."

Back in the real world, Gu Yechen's crimson gaze flickered one last time. Then, without hesitation, he turned the dagger inward and plunged it straight into his own chest.

Jiuying froze.

Had it been the arm, he might've survived. But the heart—that meant death.

The moment the blade pierced his heart, the oppressive force controlling the room vanished. Jiuying's limbs were freed—she could move again.

The bloodlust in Gu Yechen's eyes vanished. All that remained was pallor, the dagger embedded in his chest, and blood pouring from the wound.

After a long silence, he managed to force out a few broken words:

> "I'm sorry... I can't walk the path of a Soul Master with you anymore... Take care of yourself."

Jiuying rushed forward to catch him, cradling him gently against her soft chest.

> "You'll be okay, you'll be okay!"

She murmured to herself:

> "Did Big Brother really try to sacrifice himself just to save me?"

> "In the entire Spirit Hall... aside from Teacher and Brother, no one else has ever treated me with such genuine care."

> "You tried to kill me... and then you saved me. What kind of person are you, really?"

---

The next morning, as bright sunlight bathed the land, Heaven Dou Imperial Academy was already buzzing with a strange new rumor.

> "Hey bro, did you hear? One of the junior students confessed to a girl and got rejected. So he... killed himself. What a tragedy!"

> "No way! What's wrong with his head? The world's full of pretty girls—why fixate on just one? Killing yourself over that? And he's from our academy, too. What a disgrace."

> "It's true! Last night, the guy who sleeps in the bunk above mine sleep-talked. He said he overheard the entire conversation."

> "The boy said: 'Will you be my girlfriend?'

The girl said: 'No.'

Then he said: 'I'm sorry. I love you.'

She replied: 'You should move on. Even if you can't have me, you can still live well.'

And after that, the guy just broke down... and that's when the tragedy happened."

> "Ah, I see," muttered a weasel-eyed student with eyes the size of soybeans, nodding solemnly.

The soybean-eyed boy couldn't resist passing on the news. He approached another student:

> "Hey, did you hear? A junior student from our academy was dumped because of his messy love life. Couldn't take the humiliation, so he smashed his head against a wall and died."

The spiky-haired student fixed his wild, flashy "Killer-Style" haircut and said doubtfully:

> "That guy must've had no mental fortitude. And what's with the girlfriend making a fuss? Who cares if he had a messy love life?"

> "Look at me—I date three girls a day. They barely complain. At most, they just tell me to come home earlier."

> "Exactly!" said Soybean Eyes. "Guy was too soft. He called himself a playboy? More like a wilted flower."

> "So who was it? What's the name of this shameful junior?"

> "Not sure. I think his surname was Gu."

> "Oh? Got it."

They soon parted ways. But the spiky-haired "Killer Style" boy paused at the stone-paved square of the academy, unable to contain the urge to gossip.

> "Ugh, this news is too good to keep to myself."

He looked around—and spotted a pair who looked like a couple.

He rushed over and blocked their path.

> "Wait! I have a super hot piece of gossip to tell you. Just two minutes—I promise!"

The man had striking features and noble bearing. The girl was petite and delicate, with a soft, innocent air.

The man frowned at first, then gestured politely:

> "Go ahead, senior."

> Ahem!

The spiky-haired guy cleared his throat and launched into his tale:

> "You probably haven't heard yet. A true romantic has emerged from our academy—a guy surnamed Gu. He fell in love with a stunning junior girl. Last night, he confessed... and got rejected. To prove his love was real, he jumped into a river!"

> "He even threw this big romantic confession ceremony. And in the end, he gave his life for her. Isn't that just the kind of love story we all admire?"

> Ahem...

The refined man raised an eyebrow and turned to the petite girl beside him:

> "Jiuying, do you believe any of that nonsense?"

Jiuying smiled sweetly.

> "Of course I do. Why wouldn't I? I think their story will have a happy ending—don't you?"

Gu Yechen sighed and shook his head:

> "You're impossible. Believe whatever you want... but there's no happy ending for them."

> "Thanks for helping me get a dorm room. I'm heading to the library now. No need to walk me. I'll meet up with you all in a month."

> "Mm." Jiuying pouted slightly, nodded quietly, and watched him as he left. Then, without another word, they turned and walked past each other.

In that moment, time seemed to stand still.

Both of them were remembering what happened the night before...

Jiuying, holding Gu Yechen's faintly breathing body, couldn't hold back her tears.

He was the second person—after her brother—with whom she could share a soul connection.

Their Martial Souls were compatible enough to perform a Soul Fusion Technique—a bond so rare that only one in tens of millions could achieve it.

That's why she always called him "Big Brother." That's why she clung to him.

But Gu Yechen didn't know that yet. He lacked the knowledge.

He thought the strange resonance between them was just the effect of his Hellfire Red Lotus.

> "Why can I sense someone else's emotions... and it's not Lingling?"

Her tears—her grief—called Gu Yechen back from the darkness.

> Wake up… I won't allow you to die…

He didn't know why, but he suddenly felt an intense surge of life force pouring into his body.

His functions recovered rapidly, and the wound began to heal.

When he finally opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was a scene of chaos—ruins everywhere—an

d Jiuying, looking at him with tearful, helpless eyes.

He was stunned.

He realized the voice that called him back had been hers.

(End of Chapter)

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