While Yichen lay unconscious on the astral plane, his physical body grew weak, exhausted by the immense energy he had expended to protect his team. His soul, however, ventured beyond the borders of the astral plane, drifting into an unknown realm. Upon regaining consciousness, he found himself in the midst of a dense forest, lying on the ground and overcome by a profound sense of disorientation.
As he slowly sat up and scanned his surroundings, the horizon glowed with the fading light of a setting sun. Its rays, growing ever fainter, barely managed to pierce the thick canopy of trees to reach the forest floor. The vast grove exuded an unnatural silence, an eerie stillness that unsettled him. Deep within his being, something stirred, resonating uneasily with the presence of an ominous energy that seemed to hang in the air.
Uncertain of where he had landed, he glanced down at himself and discovered that he wore a few layers of long luxurious hanfus, like those seen in old historical dramas, black and gold with intricate floral embroidery. His long, black, silky hair was gathered into a high half-ponytail, while the rest flowed freely over his back, along with long hair-chains ornaments that chimed a bit with his movements. At his side, a sword lay on the ground, with a crystalline stone in the hilt glimmering softly in shades of blue.
Then, a sharp pain throbbed at the side of his head, and when he touched the area, his fingers came away stained with fresh blood. His thigh ached as though struck by a heavy force, further deepening his pain and confusion. It was obvious this wasn't his body, of that he was certain, because the last thing he remembered was losing consciousness in the haunted town he'd gone to in the modern era.
Yet now, he seemed to have awakened in someone else's past, or perhaps an elaborate illusion. The astral plane was mysterious and connected to other, higher planes, provided one possessed the necessary energy to access them. Therefore, it was possible that his soul had somehow gone to reside inside someone who possessed the same ability to access that realm, just like him.
Regardless of the situation, this became his new normal, yet he was unsure how long it would last. Enduring intense pain, he stood up and took hold of the glowing sword. An unexpected feeling of recognition engulfed him as soon as he held it, reminiscent of how a legendary cultivator feels about a beloved family treasure. However, despite this deep resonance within him, he did not grasp the sword's true nature or history.
Pushed on by a burning need to learn who he was and how he had come to this place, Yichen made his way toward the gentle murmur of flowing water, his injured thigh setting the rhythm of his steps. If he could just reach a quiet riverbank, he might peer into the water and see his face, even if it turned out to be one he did not recognize. And yet, the farther he pressed into the woods, the more a cold dread settled over him, as though hidden eyes were tracking his every step. The crystal set in the hilt of his sword shone more brightly than before, stirred by something he sensed he ought to recognize but could not.
"Come on... why did I have to end up in a place like this? This can't be good for my real body back in the human world," Yichen mumbled under his breath, his senses heightened as he prepared for anything that might suddenly spring out of the shadows.
Sadly, because his sharp intuition never seemed to fail, his instincts proved correct. From the cover of a wide nearby tree, something lunged at him with terrifying speed. He barely managed to raise his sword, now glowing with blue flames, just in time to block the attack. The impact sent him stumbling backward, with a big beast pinning him with feral intensity. A translucent shield or barrier coming from the sword prevented the thing from delivering the killing blow.
Sharp pain blazed through his whole body, yet it soon began to dull as adrenaline rushed in, fueling his desperate fight to survive. Long, razor-sharp claws and a menacing row of jagged teeth, belonging to that nightmarish creature that looked taken out of a horror game, relentlessly slashed at his blue shield. The creature's sheer strength pressed him harder into the ground, as if intent on reducing his bones to dust.
It was a stroke of luck that his sword could summon a magical barrier to shield him. If not for that, he would already be lying dead, for though the earlier strike had caught him off guard, he could now be sure that a demon had attacked him. He could tell this one was not on the same level as Zhu Yan, his demonic energy was far below his, but still stronger than he was in a reality he knew nothing about.
Hunting ghosts and spirits had become second nature to him, yet this demon stood apart, far beyond anything he had faced. With his energy all but spent, and as he fought to hold the beast at bay, a troubling thought crept into his mind. Was this truly how the man whose body he had possessed was fated to die? And if so, what was the point of his soul being lured into this world, only to have him meet his end mere moments later?
Had he unknowingly angered some deity during his hunt of the doll ghosts in that town, and was this divine retribution? The idea seemed far-fetched, but then again, the workings of the heavens were often beyond comprehension.
"Get off me, you filthy beast!" Yichen shouted, trying to channel his own power. Sadly, it wasn't his body, and his efforts fell flat. Yet, despite his failure, his sword flared with a radiant surge of power, one not born of him, and the force hurled the creature several meters away. That brief moment of reprieve allowed him the chance to scramble to his feet and make a break for it.
He didn't care that running went against everything his training stood for, his current condition left him utterly unprepared to take on a monster ten times stronger than himself. If only his spiritual energy were intact, he might stand a chance. But drained as he was, confronting that real demon head-on would be nothing short of suicidal.
"Damn it! Someone wake me from this nightmare! Zhu Yan!" Yichen unconsciously shouted the name in desperation, his voice carrying both fear and frustration. The sound of the creature's claws slicing through the air behind him drove his legs faster, but he knew outrunning it was a hopeless effort. Just as he braced for the end, expecting to feel those razor-sharp claws tear through him, a figure emerged from a haze of red smoke. The overwhelming force of his presence felt like colliding head-on with a mountain. Massive, yet tightly contained.
Then, in an almost dreamlike sequence, the newcomer caught him effortlessly around the waist, pulling him out of his frantic sprint with a circular motion. With a single, fluid move, he slowed his momentum as though time itself had bent to their will. One hand steadied Yichen, while the other moved to his lips, whispering an incantation toward the pursuing beast.
"Sleep!" It was the voice more than the face that released Yichen from his panic. Somehow, inexplicably, he had summoned Zhu Yan, for real.
As their motion finally ceased, Yichen stared wide-eyed at the scene before him. The monstrous demon that had been about to rip him apart now collapsed mid-stride, falling to the ground like a grotesque puppet with its strings suddenly cut. Its hideous form lay there, disturbingly peaceful, like a twisted parody of a sleeping pet.
"Not in my wildest imagination did I ever think the day would come when the mighty commander of the Demon Hunting Bureau would call me for rescue. How far had your precious human pride fallen... But, to be honest, I much rather save you, Zhuo Yichen, and hold you this close than endure your endless cold demeanor." Zhu Yan's teasing tone hung in the air, tempting Yichen to roll his eyes.
However, the reality of his words soon began to take hold. Considering his current attire and Zhu Yan's earlier mention of how they had met long ago, it appeared he was actually thousands of years in the past. The Demon Hunting Bureau was unfamiliar to him, though he never claimed to be an expert on ancient history. So much of the past had been swallowed by time, or else by the mysterious unknown events that had bound their world to the spiritual realm.
"This is exactly why I keep my distance from your advances. I'm certain you're always looking for an excuse to force yourself on me, just like now. You truly are an old pervert, great demon. Let go of me already!" Yichen glared, his voice laced with disdain.
Next, he attempted to shove Zhu Yan away, but a sharp pain surged through his thigh, causing his legs to buckle beneath him. Before he could fully register what was happening, Zhu Yan seized the opportunity and lifted him up into his arms, carrying him in a bridal hold. Yichen groaned inwardly. Just great! Now he was stuck in an even more humiliating position.
"Since you're so injured, I'll overlook the fact that you just called me an old pervert, despite me saving your life, and at your request, no less. Xiao Zhuo, tell me honestly, how did you end up in such a dire state? You carry such a powerful sword. Have you suddenly forgotten how to use it? Surely, your clan has passed down all the sacred sword techniques to Bing Yi's descendants, right?" Zhu Yan's words sparked a cascade of thoughts that left Yichen's mind reeling.
First, he can now confirm that the man his soul had possessed was actually his own past self. Zhu Yan had already called him by his name twice. Second, Bing Yi? Yes, when he was a kid, he once heard the story of their family clan being descendants of the dragon god Bing Yi from his grandfather. However, the way he told him that story was not exactly like it was a fact, but a legend that ancient Zhuos used to explain their special abilities to others.
They were blessed by a dragon god, which let others know why their family was especially gifted and so good at dealing with the supernatural world. Also, it explained why they went through the rigorous training no other clan or agency underwent.
Yet, very few members of their family believed it was true. Not even the monks could say for sure their family had god blood, even if some members, like Yun Guang, could be considered as inheritors of something divine. Furthermore, their lineage had no ancestral sword relics to speak of, only a long tradition of mastery in spiritual power passed down through generations.
"Hey, how do you know about me being Bing Yi's descendant?" Yichen asked as Zhu Yan carried him like he was something precious toward the river he had already been heading for. Zhu Yan let out a sigh.
"You must have hit your head pretty hard, while hunting demons all on your own. Even if I had been asigned as your partner for a month now. The whole world knows about your lineage. It has never been a secret, and your elders certainly won't hesitate to let the four winds carry the news far and wide. Among all your family members, including your older brother Yixuan, you are by far the most talented. That's why you inherited the sword instead of him." Hearing his brother's name, Yichen stared at Zhu Yan with a racing heart at knowing they have always been brothers. Still, his surprise was unmistakable.
"Yixuan... I'm glad we are still brothers..." Yichen murmured, too shocked to form another question.
"Please, don't tell me that you just remembered you have an older brother. He would be devastated to hear that. He cherishes you more than anyone else. Honestly, I need to heal you up before we return to the Bureau. Otherwise, he'll throw the pact between us great demons and you humans straight out the window, and he'll probably try to kill me on the spot. Not that he could, of course. I'm still the second strongest, after all. Not that Li Lun will admit it, but it's true nevertheless." Zhu Yan smirked, leaving Yichen once again at a loss for words.
Wait, what? A pact between humans and the great demons? Zhu Yan was only the second strongest? For real? He was so mighthy for all he could sense! Then who ranked first? And just who was Li Lun? Yichen felt his thoughts spiraling, his mind struggling to piece it all together.
He suddenly felt a wave of dizziness wash over him, followed by the distinct sensation of Yun Guang tugging at his soul. Yet, he wasn't alone in this experience. He could sense another energy intertwining with his own, merging seamlessly as though it had always been a part of him.
"Zhu Yan..." Yichen murmured softly, his consciousness slipping once more into another embrace, warm and familiar. It was the version of Zhu Yan he knew, the one he had encountered on the astral plane. This Zhu Yan appeared troubled, a hint of anxiety etched across his expression.
It was only natural that panic seized him the moment he grasped just how grave the situation had become. As Yichen lingered through the echoes of his past life, something Zhu Yan had no idea he was doing or could do, for that matter. Zhu Yan had returned to the astral plane, only to witness Yichen's soul flickering like a dying ember. Without a moment's hesitation, Zhu Yan wrapped Yichen's astral projection in his arms, channeling his own energy into him, striving to bring stability to his fading essence.
Throughout their intertwined past and subsequent bond, Zhu Yan's power had always resonated in harmony with Yichen's spiritual essence. Partly because Bing Yi granted a drop of his blood to a child of the Zhuo family before asking Nuwa to make him human. To help humans defend themselves against demons, Bing Yi taught the Zhuo clan how to hunt them. He then retreated to a hidden sanctuary that only his descendants could find and enter. Not even Zhu Yan knew the location, and the Zhuo clan had lost it for centuries.
"Yichen... you foolish young man. What good will your death bring to your ghost hunting team or your family? You're even more reckless now than you were before, and that's no small feat. Back then, you had me and your brother constantly on the verge of heart attacks during every hunt. I even had to cast a tracking spell on you just to save you when you stubbornly refused my help in our early months as partners." Zhu Yan spoke the words aloud, his voice steady but heavy with emotion, as he struggled to calm himself, fearing the loss of yet another version of his lover.
He had loved that beautiful soul so deeply that his absence had weighed heavily on him for centuries. Now, it was adrift, vanished somewhere within the astral plane, lost and he had no idea where it went. Their soul bond was still active, but Yichen's current spiritual anchor was not him.
"Yichen... Yichen, please, this is not the time to stray. Come back." Zhu Yan urged desperately, pouring his energy into their bond as though his very life depended on it.
Yichen seemed overwhelmed, as if under attack by some unseen force, which only deepened his panic. Zhu Yan knew he had to pull him out of whatever ordeal he was caught in, but their bond was still in its fragile, early stages of reconnection from Yichen's part. There were limits to what he could accomplish on his own... limits that someone else might be able to surpass.
Cradling Yichen with one arm, Zhu Yan channeled his focus and demonic energy through the connection to another spirit deeply linked with Yichen. Placing his free hand against the center of his forehead, he drew a fragment of his power and directed it outward. The surge cut through the astral plane and pierced into the mortal realm, targeting Yun Guang's mind with precise intent.
The surge of power struck Yun Guang just as he was speeding down the road in the van, desperate to find a safe spot where they could rest and tend to Yichen, whose condition was visibly worsening. Despite being caught off guard by the sudden, intrusive force invading his thoughts, he managed to keep his grip on the wheel steady and his focus on the dark road ahead intact.
"Wait, what's this? You're Zhu Yan, aren't you? I can sense your energy from miles away. What are you doing? Listen, I'm thankful you saved us back then, but invading my mind like this? That's neither polite nor welcome. Get out!" Yun Guang demanded mentally, his focus impressively unwavering as he maneuvered the vehicle.
"I deeply apologize for the intrusion," came the swift mental reply, "but this is urgent, it concerns Yichen, and it can't wait until you safely stop at an inn or somewhere else. A significant portion of Yichen's essence is trapped elsewhere on the astral plane, while the rest is safely with me. This shouldn't be possible, souls aren't meant to split. We need to act immediately to bring him back. And I'm sadly admitting that I can't do this on my own." Zhu Yan's voice carried a mix of urgency and concern. Yun Guang shot a quick glance toward Bai Jiu before turning his eyes back to the road.
"Bai Jiu, is Yichen's condition getting worse?" Yun Guang asked for confirmation, his tone sharp and focused.
"Yes. I've tried everything to heal him, but it's not working. It's as though something else is blocking the process," Bai Jiu admitted, his youthful face filled with worry. "I've healed Xiao Zhuo Ge countless times without issue—my healing has always worked better than with anyone else's. But this time... this resistance is unlike anything I've ever encountered." Yun Guang exhaled in frustration but quickly shifted gears into action.
"Alright, we need an emergency plan. Ying Lei, call Wen Xiao and tell her we're camping here tonight, in the wilderness if we have to. I'll find a spot, and Pei Sijing only needs to stay on my tail. Once I park, I want a strong barrier set up alongside a six-point healing formation. The rest will be on me."
Eyes scanning the terrain, Yun Guang finally spotted a suitable clearing—a perfect place to halt their journey and prepare for what lay ahead. Muttering to himself, he added under his breath, that idiot is going to hear from me when this is over...
As soon as the vans came to a halt, the team swiftly moved into action. They began setting up both the barrier, the healing formation, tents and campfires. With time running short, they quickly focused on their work, and Yun Guang's priority was setting up the healing formation with Bai Jiu, while Ying Lei, Wen Xiao, and Pei Sijing took care of the remaining tasks.
As Yichen's anchor, Yun Guang could tug at his soul to bring him back, but it was far safer to do this within the secured formation. There, he could amplify his spiritual power to strengthen the call and begin healing Yichen simultaneously. Once everything was in place, Yun Guang gently carried his unconscious cousin to the center of the formation.
Before he could start, a reddish smoke appeared out of nowhere, curling around and merging with the barrier. At first, Yun Guang instinctively prepared himself for an attack, perhaps from a vengeful spirit, but instead, the smoke seemed to bolster their protection, adding another layer to what had already been strengthened.
It carried a distinct essence of Zhu Yan's power, an unmistakable signature. The effect heightened further when the campfire flickered and turned blue. Their soft glow painted the surroundings in an otherworldly hue, warm yet distinctly supernatural, and chased away the biting cold of the night.
"You're always so dramatic, Zhu Yan," Yun Guang thought pointedly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I promise you, our barriers are more than sufficient." He could sense Zhu Yan chuckling in response from the astral plane.
"Blue fire is perceived by spirits and ghosts as hellfire," Zhu Yan replied into Yun Guang's mind, his tone as casual as ever. "It will keep anything unwanted at bay, spirits, ghosts, whatever lurks in darkness, and even drive away any human foolish enough to wander within miles of here."
"So... you're claiming you came straight from hell?" Yun Guang joked dryly as he settled next to Yichen.
"I am no denizen of hell," Zhu Yan retorted with mild indignation. "I am a great demon from the Wilderness. There's a world of difference."
"Sure, sure. Wilderness demon. Got it," Yun Guang muttered with faint amusement. "So now that the theatrics are handled... what's your plan?"
"I can channel my energy to him from here, but he must return to his body first, where you can share your own energy. At present, he drifts in a realm I can't access, so it's vital for you to summon him back. You serve as his spiritual anchor for now..."
"For now? What do you mean? How are you connected to both Yichen and me? Because I find it too convenient for you to be able to breach my mind so easily, while I have trained for years to keep all my shields up at all times to prevent possession. I didn't even sense it coming. You barged in like you had a key to my mind's door, not invited, but also not triggering any alarm," Yun Guang asked, curiosity creeping into his voice.
"All your questions will find answers when the moment arrives. Now, bring Yichen's soul back. You remember the incantation to call lost souls, right?" Zhu Yan asked, and Yun Guang felt the urge to roll his eyes.
"I am his guardian for a reason. Keep him safe out there. I'll handle the rest," Without another word, Yun Guang formed a series of hand signs with practiced precision and pressed his fingers gently against Yichen's forehead.
He began reciting the incantation he had memorized long ago, his voice unwavering and filled with intent. Slowly, he felt his very soul being drawn toward Yichen's, their bond acting as the unshakable anchor between them.
The connection deepened, and he knew the exact moment he reached him, pulling with escalating urgency. All the while, Zhu Yan stood witness as the Yichen cradled in his arms stirred to life once more, his dark blue eyes flickering open and radiating vitality.
"Welcome back, Xiao Zhuo... You've certainly been causing mischief. It's quite rude to come here, ask for my help to save your team, and then vanish while I handle your little doll problem back in that town. You truly gave me a fright. So, tell me, how do you plan to repay me for all the trouble I went through for you? A kiss should suffice..." Zhu Yan teased, his playful tone reminding Yichen far too vividly of the way the demon had cradled him in his arms just like that in another life, shamelessly flirting without the slightest hesitation.
"You're such a perverted demon. I'm too exhausted for this right now... But we'll meet again, and when we do, I'll be expecting some answers..." Yichen muttered as he closed his eyes, heeding Yun Guang's call and returning to his body. Meanwhile, Zhu Yan chuckled to himself, amused that at least this time, he didn't got called old.
AN: We've now had a glimpse into Zhu Yan and Yichen's shared past, with Yichen finally confirming that they crossed paths in a previous life, though he continues to reject the idea that they were lovers. Thanks for reading, and take care until next time.