Tai He, however, remarked coldly, “The Soul Lantern is too cruel. It tarnishes your reputation as the world’s unparalleled craftsman.”
Han Nu playfully slapped his arm, scolding him.
Tan Yin stood frozen, watching them walk away hand in hand. She remembered the past fifty years she had spent researching the Soul Lantern, working day and night. Whenever she felt like giving up, she would think of Tai He. She wanted to see him smile at her again, wanted the old Tai He to return. That thought had carried her through every difficulty.
But now, she suddenly felt as if she would never be able to create anything again. Nothing at all.
It was as though she had never truly known Han Nu, nor had she truly known Tai He. The god who once sat by the Heavenly River, spinning a small windmill in the breeze—where had he gone?
Tan Yin arrived at Tianya Terrace, looking around. The place was shrouded in mist, desolate and deserted, unchanged from when she had left it. She let out a bitter laugh. Now that the primordial gods had vanished, there were only a handful of gods left in the realm, and Tianya Terrace was no longer the bustling place it once was.
Now, she had to find Han Nu.
But how should she face her? Should she accuse her? Confront her with anger? Tan Yin didn’t know what expression to wear when she saw Han Nu. She no longer relied on Han Nu’s gentle kindness. In fact, she felt a faint sense of repulsion toward her.
Tianya Terrace was not far from the Heavenly River, which sparkled brilliantly, unchanged for eternity. Whether Tai He was sitting by the river or not, the Heavenly River was protected by the last remnants of the gods’ power. The cycles of the stars, the rising and setting of the sun and moon—all continued without the need for gods to intervene. Perhaps this was part of the reason so many gods had fallen one by one.
Tai He’s palace was built not far from the river. Tan Yin stepped into the hall, and the first thing she saw was the enormous crystal of Divine Crystal at its center. It was the purest, most flawless Divine Crystal, completely transparent, with not a single blemish. Inside, Tai He was sealed, his eyes closed in sleep. His soft black hair fell over his shoulders, and he wore a simple blue robe. He looked serene, as though he could wake up at any moment.
Tan Yin unconsciously held her breath as she approached, placing her hands gently on the cold surface of the Divine Crystal.
Tai He.
He hadn’t changed at all. Just as he had been when he was sealed five thousand years ago. Time had passed, but for him, it was as if he were merely dreaming a long, endless dream. In that dream… was she there?
“You’re here.”
A soft voice interrupted Tan Yin’s thoughts. She turned to see Han Nu standing not far away, smiling. Her long hair flowed like a waterfall, and her delicate features were so gentle and serene that one could easily melt in her presence.
Tan Yin hesitated, then frowned as she examined Han Nu’s unscathed body. “How…?”
Han Nu smiled and shook her head. “I’ve only released my consciousness. My body is still sealed in the Divine Crystal and can’t move.”
Tan Yin was startled. “You can release your consciousness?”
She had believed that once sealed in Divine Crystal, it would be impossible to release one’s consciousness. After Tai He had fallen into slumber, Han Nu had begun to dissolve, and half of her body had to be sealed in Divine Crystal. It was undoubtedly painful—being fully conscious, yet unable to move. That was why Tan Yin had taken on the task of retrieving Tai He’s left hand from the mortal realm. She understood Han Nu’s urgency.
But if one could still release their consciousness while sealed in Divine Crystal, then why hadn’t Tai He…?
As if reading her thoughts, Han Nu sighed softly and traced the outline of Tai He’s figure with her hand. “Perhaps he doesn’t want to wake up. Maybe there’s someone here he doesn’t want to face.”
Tan Yin fell silent. The number of remaining gods in the divine realm could be counted on two hands. They each performed their duties and didn’t interfere with one another—there was no deep friendship between them. The only ones who knew Tai He well were her and Han Nu. Since Han Nu was the one he loved, it wasn’t her he was avoiding. Which meant… it had to be her.
“Let’s not talk about that. Wu Shuang, you’ve come to find me—are you here to blame me?” Han Nu asked, her smile as gentle as ever.
Caught off guard by Han Nu’s direct question, Tan Yin wasn’t sure what to say. She had never been good with words, and her interactions with people were always awkward. After hesitating for a moment, she finally asked, “…Was it you who ordered the War Ghosts?”
Han Nu smiled. “The War Ghosts and the Fox Clan have a long-standing feud. I didn’t need to order them.”
“The War Ghosts wouldn’t have known about the Divine Crystal or aimed to sever Tai He’s left hand without a reason.”
“So you suspect me, don’t you?”
Tan Yin remained silent, which was as good as confirmation.
Han Nu took a few slow steps, then suddenly admitted casually, “Yes, it was me.”
Tan Yin felt her anger rising, her voice tense as she said, “You know that forcibly severing his left hand will never restore him! It will only cause Tai He to disappear faster!”
“But you were there with that Fox Clan monk, weren’t you?” Han Nu smiled sweetly. “I knew you’d protect him.”
“That’s absurd,” Tan Yin retorted with a frown.
Han Nu’s gaze softened as she stared at her. “Wu Shuang, I don’t have much time left—less than a thousand years.”
“How could that be?” Tan Yin asked, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. Han Nu’s body was supposed to be protected within the Divine Crystal, preserving her.
“Come with me,” Han Nu said, turning and floating toward the east side of the hall.
It was Han Nu who had begged Tan Yin to seal her body near Tai He’s, so she could see him every day. Her body had been placed in the east corner of the hall, where the view of Tai He was the best.
Tan Yin immediately saw Han Nu’s body, half-sealed in Divine Crystal. Unlike Tai He, her right hand and both feet appeared semi-transparent, a sign that they were starting to dissolve. That was why Tan Yin had sealed them. But now, as she looked closer, she saw that much of Han Nu’s left side had also turned semi-transparent.
Shocked, Tan Yin glanced back and forth between Han Nu’s body and her consciousness, muttering, “How could this be…”
Han Nu gazed at her and said softly, “Wu Shuang, I don’t have much time left. That’s why I’m in such a hurry. If severing the hand wasn’t an option, I had no choice but to kill the man. Once he dies, the hand will lose its fate, and there will be nothing to fear.”
She suddenly smiled. “I know you’re just as eager as I am to wake Tai He. Wu Shuang, are you still angry with me?”
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