The cave, previously empty, now held stone stools and a stone table. Beside them were a stone bed and shelves, with books scattered haphazardly, their titles illegible.
A small underground river flowed through the cave, spanned by a stone bridge. Unusually, lotuses bloomed in the murmuring water, where several small silver fish swam merrily.
It had become a dwelling cave.
The only constant was the cave's dimness, illuminated only by a sliver of light from above.
"Dongfang Cangwu, come here."
Dongfang Cangwu froze. This was the first time she had called him by his name.
He had told Yan Jiaojiao his name many times, but she seemed unable to remember.
This sudden utterance caused Dongfang Cangwu's heart to tremble inexplicably.
However, Yan Jiaojiao's voice was no longer the lively and spirited one from the previous dream. Instead, it was like a stagnant pool, devoid of emotion.
Dongfang Cangwu turned to look and saw that Yan Jiaojiao's clothes had changed again. A plain white robe, elegant and flowing, was cinched at her waist, making it appear slender.
She sat on a stone stool, her unadorned face radiating a cool yet melancholic sadness. Her clear eyes gazed at him, calm and natural, as if Dongfang Cangwu had always been with her in the cave.
Unsure of which dream Yan Jiaojiao was experiencing now, Dongfang Cangwu could only observe. He walked over as requested.
As Dongfang Cangwu stopped before her, Yan Jiaojiao reached out and ruffled his hair. Dongfang Cangwu was surprised again, only to realize he had reverted to his black dog form!
But this time, he was no longer a small black dog, but a majestic, giant black canine beast.
His piercing black eyes gleamed with authority, a golden mark of the Demon Emperor on his brow shimmered, his fur was dark and glossy, his limbs were strong and slender, and his long, soft black tail swished like a cloud.
This was Dongfang Cangwu's true form!
Dongfang Cangwu was inwardly shocked, his gaze towards Yan Jiaojiao inscrutable.
What was her origin to be able to force him into his original form?
Suddenly, Yan Jiaojiao pushed hard against his forehead, her expression contorted in pain. "You're fake, get out!"
As she spoke, Yan Jiaojiao swept her hand, sending the tea set on the stone table crashing to the ground.
Dongfang Cangwu frowned and transformed back into human form. "Yan Jiaojiao?"
Yan Jiaojiao seemed not to see him. She stood up and paced, feigning madness. "It's so quiet. How long has it been? Can't I go back? Are there any other ways? Why isn't there any sound!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Yan Jiaojiao waved her hand, releasing chaotic spiritual energy towards the underground river, causing it to churn violently.
Hearing the loud noise, Yan Jiaojiao seemed to find some relief. She stopped pacing and stared with exhaustion at the river as it gradually calmed.
"Are you crazy?" Dongfang Cangwu couldn't help but frown more deeply.
Yan Jiaojiao then noticed Dongfang Cangwu again, staring at him with strange vigilance. "Who are you?"
Dongfang Cangwu choked. She had forgotten him again.
"Are you here to kill me too?" Yan Jiaojiao continued, a flicker of sorrow in her eyes.
If she could kill Yan Jiaojiao without harming herself, Dongfang Cangwu truly wanted to, but facing Yan Jiaojiao in this state, he blurted out, "I'm not."
Yan Jiaojiao merely nodded, not showing any happiness at the answer. She sat back on the stone stool, nervously playing with a spiritual dagger. "You're not here to kill me, but I can't think of a solution either. I shouldn't be alive. It's better to die with him."
Saying this, Yan Jiaojiao raised her hand and plunged the dagger into her wrist, fast and fierce. Blood gushed out from her fair skin!
Dongfang Cangwu was caught off guard. His black robe was splashed with a line of blood, which was instantly absorbed, leaving only a faint mark.
"You're truly insane!"
Dongfang Cangwu gritted his teeth and immediately clasped Yan Jiaojiao's wrist, sticky blood covering his hands.
Great, she wasn't killed by zombies but was self-inflicted.
Yan Jiaojiao knew Dongfang Cangwu wanted to save her, but she only offered a weak smile. "No need to waste your effort. I don't want to live anymore."
Yan Jiaojiao looked at Dongfang Cangwu with utter exhaustion.
"Is it because of a man that you're like this?" Dongfang Cangwu said angrily. "You want to go with him, does he want you to die with him?"
Yan Jiaojiao looked at Dongfang Cangwu blankly. "Doesn't he? He likes being with me very much, he's always been very clingy."
Dongfang Cangwu was speechless.
He had never had an intimate lover and didn't understand what it meant to like someone a lot and be clingy. If he had to say, perhaps he had only felt something similar towards that person.
However, that person was an unattainable existence in Dongfang Cangwu's heart.
Yan Jiaojiao lowered her gaze. She didn't need Dongfang Cangwu's answer. She offered a bitter smile, her lips pale. "The world has turned its back on me, only he stood against them for me. I should not live alone."
Blood flowed from her wrist, forming a crimson line. Dongfang Cangwu tore a strip from his clothes to bind the wound. "If I were him, since I was willing to go against the tide for you, I would naturally want you to live well. If you don't live well, it would be a betrayal of his feelings!"
Yan Jiaojiao's wrist trembled, whether from the tightness of the knot Dongfang Cangwu tied or from the sting of his words hitting her heart.
Dongfang Cangwu gently placed her hand on the stone table. His eyes were as deep as the vast universe, his emotions unreadable. He asked word by word, "If you go down to see him, will you truly have the face to explain? Instead of dwelling on the past, it's better to let go and start anew."
Yan Jiaojiao gazed at Dongfang Cangwu as if seeing another person through him. Her face turned ashen.
Time seemed to freeze at this moment, leaving only the murmuring sound of the underground river.
After a long while, Yan Jiaojiao slowly fluttered her eyelashes and closed her eyes, sighing mournfully. "Yes, I should let go, but it's so painful... If I must live alone, then I should forget..."
As she spoke, a faint light began to emanate from the center of her brow, like mist or rain, gradually descending to envelop her entire body.
Dongfang Cangwu narrowed his eyes. Now!
He reached out and plunged his hand into the bright light at Yan Jiaojiao's brow!
The light seemed to tear open, revealing a rift. White light poured out, blinding Dongfang Cangwu.
When the white light faded, Dongfang Cangwu found himself standing back in the passage of the dark chamber.
He looked down at the ground. The real Yan Jiaojiao was still unconscious, her face as pale as paper, just like in the dream.
She was still injured.
Dongfang Cangwu squatted down, instinctively reaching out to transfer energy as he had before, but stopped himself abruptly.
The words, "It's better to die with him," involuntarily surfaced in his mind.