A Glimpse into Chi Qiu’s Tragic Past

“Chi Qiu, have you finished the lessons your tutor assigned today?”

A light gradually shimmered before Su Hanxing, revealing a middle-aged man standing directly in front of him. His expression was stern as he posed the question.

Recalling the dragon’s words before they fell into slumber, Su Hanxing understood he had likely entered Chi Qiu’s memories. He immediately began to scrutinize the man before him. The man appeared to be in his early thirties, his face etched with an imposing dignity that suggested a high-ranking official. His features, particularly his brows and eyes, bore a striking resemblance to Chi Qiu in her male form, making their familial bond instantly apparent.

“Not yet…” Before Su Hanxing could even react, he heard ‘his own’ mouth timidly reply.

“Hmph! Finish your work before you eat.” The middle-aged man flicked his long sleeve, then turned and departed.

This appeared to be a memory from young Chi Qiu’s childhood. Judging by the voice, Chi Qiu was likely no older than ten at this point. Su Hanxing knew he could not interfere with anything within Chi Qiu’s memories; he could only observe silently.

“Little Qiu, you are the eldest child of this household. One day, you will inherit everything your father possesses, which is why he is so strict with you.”

As the scene shifted, a gentle woman reached out to softly stroke Chi Qiu’s head, her voice imbued with tenderness.

“If you don’t mature quickly, your uncles and elders will—” The woman’s expression clouded with worry, though she swiftly composed herself. She continued, “Your father is preoccupied with family matters and cannot always be home with you. Please, do not fault him.”

Chi Qiu nodded, then lowered his head to examine the day’s lessons. Through Chi Qiu’s eyes, Su Hanxing also looked towards the desk. A thick, paper-bound tome lay open, filled with treatises on trade and commerce. Su Hanxing instantly recalled Chi Qiu mentioning she was once a merchant when the two of them were in Sishui Marsh. Now, it was evident that her words were true; Chi Qiu truly hailed from a merchant family.

“Eat something first, dear. This is your favorite.” The woman brought over a small white porcelain bowl, which seemed to contain a delightful dessert of fruits mixed with glutinous rice, looking quite appetizing.

“Thank you, Mother.” Young Chi Qiu took the small porcelain bowl, seemingly overjoyed, and began to eat in small, delicate bites.

The woman sat quietly nearby, a gentle smile on her face and her eyes filled with affectionate tenderness. “Once you’ve finished eating, Mother will help you with your lessons.”

“Father, how is your health?”

The scene shifted again, seemingly to a bedroom. Chi Qiu’s father lay on the bed, drinking dark medicinal liquid. His temples were streaked with grey, and he appeared significantly aged.

“Chi’er, my health is fine. You needn’t worry.” Upon seeing Chi Qiu arrive, his father sat up, feigning an air of normalcy.

Su Hanxing secretly shook his head. Chi Qiu’s father’s face was now a dark purplish hue, his ‘Heavenly Dome’ depleted. He was clearly critically ill, with little time left.

“Three days from now, a shipment of goods must be delivered to the Mu family. They share a close relationship with our Chi family. As my legs are inconvenient, I cannot go myself; you must go in my stead.” Chi Qiu’s father set down his medicine, then fumbled at his waist to produce a token, which he handed to Chi Qiu.

“Qiu’er, I know you have always worked very hard. Entrusting this matter to you puts my mind at ease.” A rare smile graced his father’s face, deeply moving Chi Qiu. “Now, don’t dally any longer. Go quickly and select your men, then prepare to depart.” No sooner had he smiled than he waved a hand, dismissing Chi Qiu from the room.

“Yes, Father. Your child will not disappoint your expectations.” Chi Qiu rose and left, the faint sound of his father’s coughing drifting from behind him.

“Young Master, Yecheng is just fifty li away.” A servant, dressed plainly, knelt before Chi Qiu and reported.

“Excellent. This journey has been most successful, and I commend your efforts. Once we return safely to the Chi family, I shall bestow further generous rewards. Now, go and rest.” Chi Qiu was reading a book inside the carriage at the time. Upon hearing the servant’s report, he nodded with satisfaction.

“Thank you, Young Master.” The servant’s face lit up with joy. He immediately bowed in gratitude, then departed from the carriage.

Less than a quarter of an hour later, a clamor of voices suddenly erupted outside the carriage, interspersed with numerous startled cries. Hearing the commotion, Chi Qiu set aside his book and dismounted the carriage. In the distance, a colossal phantom shrouded Yecheng, while torrents of fire rained down from the heavens, transforming the entire city into an inferno—a scene reminiscent of the apocalypse.

“Father, Mother… Quickly, quickly, into Yecheng!” Witnessing such a hellish spectacle, Chi Qiu was first startled, then swiftly calmed himself, organizing the caravan to rush towards the city. Most of the servants’ families also resided within the Chi family compound, so they did not delay, urging their horses onward directly to Yecheng.

Su Hanxing’s heart instantly lurched at this sight, a silent premonition of disaster.

It was unclear how long it took Chi Qiu to reach the Chi family estate. There, the mansion’s foundations were cracked by tremors, and raging flames spread everywhere, leaving it utterly ruined. Chi Qiu moved frantically through the estate, once so familiar to him, stumbling frequently and appearing utterly disheveled. He made his way directly to his father’s usual quarters. He knew his father was gravely ill and barely able to move. Furthermore, his mother always stayed by his side, rarely leaving him even for a moment. Thus, Chi Qiu came here first.

“Father—! Mother—!” Chi Qiu entered the bedroom, calling out loudly, desperate for a response.

“Qiu’er?” A weak, exhausted whisper reached Chi Qiu’s ears. His face lit up with relief, and he immediately followed the sound.

“Mother?”

Inside the bedroom, beams had collapsed, and tiny sparks of fire clung to every surface, devouring everything in the room like maggots clinging to bone. Chi Qiu’s father still lay on the bed, but by now, he had ceased to breathe. Scattered points of red light spread across his body, slowly expanding. And Chi Qiu’s mother, that warm woman, was now slumped by the side of the bed. Her body, too, was covered in tiny sparks of fire. She was on the verge of unconsciousness, yet her lips continuously called out Chi Qiu’s name.

Chi Qiu stumbled forward. His mother, seemingly sensing his approach, suddenly became more lucid. She cried out repeatedly, “Don’t come near! Don’t touch me…”

Chi Qiu froze, startled by these words, unable to comprehend why his mother would tell him to stay away.

“This fire… it’s impossible to extinguish. Once it touches you, it’s impossible to shake off…” Chi Qiu’s mother expended nearly all her remaining strength to speak, before finally succumbing to unconsciousness.

Next, Su Hanxing watched helplessly as Chi Qiu tried numerous methods, yet remained unable to extinguish the scattered sparks. In the end, he could only witness his mother enveloped by the flames. Su Hanxing felt a profound empathy, his heart tearing apart with overwhelming grief.

The memory fractured once more. When the scene reappeared, Chi Qiu was kneeling before two graves. He picked up a bronze cup, slowly pouring its contents onto the yellow earth, then bowed his head in a kowtow.

“Your unfilial child, Chi Qiu, swears here and now that I will surely avenge you both in the future.”

With those words, Chi Qiu rose and departed. Su Hanxing, with a keen eye, noticed that golden patterns now entwined Chi Qiu’s arms. It was clear that he had, by this point, obtained the divine ability ‘Intertwined Gold’.

That night, amidst a desolate wasteland, Chi Qiu, clad in black, moved swiftly under the cloak of darkness. He was exceedingly careful, making not the slightest sound, moving with extreme caution. Su Hanxing observed the surrounding landscape, finding it remarkably familiar, yet unable to recall its identity at that moment.

“Who goes there?” Despite Chi Qiu’s extreme caution, he still created a noticeable disturbance. A patrolling cultivator discovered him and immediately shouted.

Seeing his presence exposed, Chi Qiu ceased to hide. A golden light flashed across his arms, and the long halberd that the cultivator swung at him snapped instantly. In the distance, dozens of figures rushed over at the sound, quickly surrounding Chi Qiu.

“This is the Holy Fire Ruins!” Only then did Su Hanxing realize. This place, though appearing utterly desolate, was in fact the location of the Holy Fire Ruins, one of the Daqi Dynasty’s nine top sects. Chi Qiu was truly audacious, daring to sneak into the Holy Fire Ruins.

Facing the combined assault, Chi Qiu was quickly overwhelmed. A golden flash beneath his feet, and he swiftly fled. The Holy Fire Ruins disciple, seeing Chi Qiu escape and unable to catch up, had no choice but to give up and prepare to report to the sect’s steward.

What was he doing at the Holy Fire Ruins? Su Hanxing was utterly bewildered.

Chi Qiu’s physical body was exceptionally strong, and his explosive power astonishing. Thus, relying purely on his two legs, he fled for hundreds of li.

Whoosh—

A flying boat streaked across the sky. Chi Qiu, panting heavily, looked up at the sound, only to see Su Hanxing standing atop the flying boat, gazing down at him with a cold, indifferent stare. Chi Qiu likewise stared intently at Su Hanxing. Beyond that, no words passed between them, and soon Su Hanxing vanished from sight.

Seeing himself appear in Chi Qiu’s memory, Su Hanxing finally recalled when this event had occurred. Years ago, when he had gone to visit a friend at the Holy Fire Ruins, he had seen a strange figure in black near the sect. The person was masked and moved mysteriously; he hadn’t known who it was. Now, it seemed, this must have been Chi Qiu’s first encounter with Su Hanxing. She likely hadn’t seen him previously in the teahouse.

What kind of impression did I leave on Chi Qiu back then? Su Hanxing wondered, a flicker of curiosity in his heart.

Darkness enveloped him once more. Just as Su Hanxing thought a new memory was about to surface, a golden light pierced through the gloom, falling upon his face. Su Hanxing slowly opened his eyes. His divine soul had, at some unknown point, returned to his physical body. He was now lying on black scorched earth, and beside him lay the still unconscious Chi Qiu.

“Do not forget to bury my remains in the Celestial Realm…” Across the scorched earth, Yinglong’s words echoed softly. Su Hanxing looked around, yet could not find the golden figure. A profound, inexplicable sorrow rose in Su Hanxing’s heart. He knew that Yinglong’s wisp of divine soul had likely already dissipated.

“This junior will certainly not fail your trust, Senior,” Su Hanxing murmured softly. As if hearing Su Hanxing’s promise, the continuous murmurs across the earth vanished, leaving only silence.

“Little Chi…” Su Hanxing lowered his head. Chi Qiu lay quietly beside him, her brows slightly furrowed, her eyelashes trembling faintly, as if seeing something in her slumber. Recalling the fragment of Chi Qiu’s memories he had just glimpsed, Su Hanxing suddenly found the young woman before him to be profoundly pitiable. He leaned down slightly, unable to resist reaching out to touch Chi Qiu’s cheek. Its smooth, soft texture made him reluctant to withdraw his hand.

“Which of my memories did you see this time?” Su Hanxing murmured to himself, gently stroking Chi Qiu’s head.

“What are you and I doing?” A cool, youthful female voice emanated from beneath Su Hanxing’s palm. Su Hanxing looked down in a flurry, only to see that Chi Qiu had, at some point, opened her eyes. Her face was slightly flushed as she asked, attempting to maintain her composure.

“Little Chi, you’re awake.”