The Killing Mist

“Alright, you two, stop arguing,” Gu Feiyan said, clearly exasperated. She brushed her silky hair behind her ear and added, “I already said it was just a dream. It’s normal for it to be absurd. Why are you both taking it so seriously?”

“Then, Sister Feiyan, who do you think is right?” Chi Yuchao pressed, unwilling to let it go.

Gu Feiyan smiled faintly and answered without hesitation, “I don’t care who’s right. I’m siding with Qin Gou.”

“What?!” Chi Yuchao looked as though he’d been struck, his shoulders slumping. “Sister Feiyan, you’re playing favorites.”

“Of course I am,” Gu Feiyan said matter-of-factly, rolling her eyes. “Qin Gou is my friend and trusted ally. Naturally, I’ll support him. As for you, I’m not even sure if you’re really Chi Yu.”

“If only that bastard Gu Xunhe were here,” Chi Yuchao muttered through gritted teeth.

Gu Feiyan frowned. “Why are you bringing him up all of a sudden?”

“I haven’t seen you in years, Sister Feiyan, but I’ve run into Gu Xunhe plenty of times. Even before entering the Forgotten Self Mystic Realm, I crossed paths with him. He knows I’m the real Chi Yu,” Chi Yuchao said with a bitter laugh.

***

“Boom…”

Suddenly, a stone door slowly creaked open, interrupting their conversation.

All three turned toward the door, their guard immediately up.

Beyond the door lay impenetrable darkness. Even with their enhanced vision as Hidden Artifact Realm cultivators, they couldn’t see through the mysterious power shrouding whatever lay inside. Only by stepping through could they uncover its secrets.

Beside the door was a toppled plaque, bearing the ominous words: “If you fear death and cling to life, do not enter.”

“Let’s go,” Qin Gou said calmly.

Gu Feiyan stared into his eyes, then grabbed his hand with a smile. “We’ll go in together. Promise me you won’t act recklessly.”

“Alright,” Qin Gou nodded firmly.

Chi Yuchao quickly chimed in, “I’m coming too! Uh, Sister Feiyan, should we hold hands as well?”

Gu Feiyan turned back with a playful wink. “Sure, if you can keep up…”

With that, she leapt backward, Qin Gou following close behind. Their figures vanished into the darkness of the stone door.

Seeing this, Chi Yuchao’s eyes reddened as he bit his lip. “I knew it! Sister Feiyan, you do trust me deep down, don’t you? This is just like the games we used to play as kids. Don’t worry, Sister Feiyan, I’m coming for you!”

He dove into the stone door after them.

***

Inside the Mist.

Gray fog enveloped everything, limiting visibility to barely two meters. Qin Gou glanced at his hand, which still carried the faint warmth of Gu Feiyan’s touch. “Little Yan, are you still nearby?” he called softly.

“Of course I am! Where did you run off to? Stay where you are, Little Qin. I’ll come find you!” Gu Feiyan’s voice rang out from somewhere ahead.

“Gu Feiyan! Stay where you are and be careful! Don’t wander around in this limited visibility!” Qin Gou shouted.

No response.

“Little Yan?” he called again.

Silence.

The only sound was his own heartbeat. Summoning his Dreamwalker Lantern, its faint blue glow extended his field of vision slightly. The eerie light cut through the dense fog as Qin Gou cautiously moved toward the direction of Gu Feiyan’s voice.

***

Suddenly, the blue light illuminated a large, hulking figure in the mist.

In an instant, three poison needles shot toward Qin Gou in a triangular formation, aiming for vital points.

“Dreamfire Devourer!” Qin Gou roared.

A blue fire dragon erupted from the lantern, incinerating the needles to ash before surging toward the figure.

“Ahhh!” The figure screamed in pain.

“Stop! It’s a misunderstanding!” the man shouted.

Qin Gou’s voice was cold. “You attacked me without a word. What kind of misunderstanding is that?”

“I was holding the poison needles as a precaution! When your blue light hit me, I dropped them reflexively. Who are you? Let’s not fight. We might be from the same sect,” the man explained hurriedly.

Raising his lantern, Qin Gou scrutinized the figure. “Seed Demon.”

“Ah, so it’s a case of the dragon flooding the temple! I’m Ouyang Tong, under the Second Young Master,” the man said quickly.

“Qin Gou,” he replied.

“Ouyang Tong froze for a moment. “That name sounds familiar… Oh, you’re the Third Miss’s subordinate! Weren’t you just a weak Weapon Refining Realm cultivator? No, wait—judging by that attack, you’re at the Hidden Artifact Realm now. Since that’s the case, how about we work together?”

Qin Gou hesitated. “What kind of cooperation?”

“Let’s set aside the grudges between the Young Masters and the Third Miss for now. We’re from the same sect, and meeting in this dangerous Mystic Realm is a rare stroke of luck. Let’s join forces to get through this cursed second trial,” Ouyang Tong suggested.

After a moment’s thought, Qin Gou dismissed his lantern, discreetly scattering two Senluo Seed duplicates. “Alright, come closer slowly. I can see your movements. If you try anything, I won’t hesitate to strike.”

“Got it.”

The hulking figure approached cautiously, his aura restrained.

Finally, Qin Gou got a clear look at him. Bald, beardless, and muscular, the man was none other than Gu Yinjiao, the Second Young Master himself.

“Don’t be alarmed!” Gu Yinjiao raised his hands, laughing. His voice returned to its original tone as he said, “If I hadn’t pretended, would you have let me approach so easily? Our power difference is too great. Once I’m close, I control the situation. But I wasn’t lying about wanting to cooperate.”

Qin Gou smiled faintly but said nothing.

Gu Yinjiao crossed his arms, grinning. “Still, your cultivation is too low—just the early Hidden Artifact Realm. But I suppose it’s better than nothing.”

***

Suddenly, a deep, resonant voice echoed through the mist, carrying an undeniable authority.

“Attention, all. I am Forgotten Self. By the time you hear this, a stone spirit I personally created has entered this gray mist maze. It will hunt indiscriminately. None of you are its match. To stop it and unlock the path to the next trial, there is only one way: reduce the number of survivors in this maze by half.”

—

For a moment, Qin Gou and Gu Yinjiao exchanged smiles, like old friends reunited. But beneath their calm exteriors, their minds raced with schemes.

—