Ji Shiyou felt unwell while interrogating the Bloodthirsty Hall's death warriors.
He instructed Dongnan to continue the torture and hurried to the imperial study himself.
Mustering his strength, he opened the mechanism on the bookshelf and stumbled into the secret chamber.
This secret chamber was known only to him. It wasn't large, only about twenty square meters.
It was empty, with the floor and walls padded with cork.
The surfaces were mottled with marks, showing signs of damage in multiple places.
Judging by the traces, it appeared someone had clawed and rammed their body against them.
Upon entering, Ji Shiyou was already panting, his face ashen.
He was enduring immense pain, his body throbbing with agony.
The sharp pain caused his muscles to convulse.
Not only that, but it felt as if a file was repeatedly grinding his bones in every joint.
His waist felt as if it had been severed, and his internal organs churned in pain.
His heart felt as if it were being tightly clenched by a hand, convulsing in pain.
His throat felt like he had swallowed shards of glass, making it impossible to utter a sound.
His body temperature rapidly escalated, his once ashen face now flushed as if oozing blood.
The intense heat caused white mist to rise from his entire body.
Ji Shiyou knelt on the ground, gritting his teeth, fighting against the pain and heat.
He knew clearly that this was only the beginning, and the most arduous moments were yet to come.
At the same time, he felt fortunate that Mingyue had not seen him in this state.
He had been careless, solely focused on making Mingyue happy and taking her out of the palace.
He had forgotten that today was the fifteenth, the full moon, the day his affliction would strike.
Ji Shiyou trembled for half an hour, barely supporting himself.
His face, which had been flushed from the high fever, turned pale.
He knew the most difficult time had arrived.
A layer of white frost visibly appeared on his body.
The temperature in the entire secret chamber plummeted, and Ji Shiyou shivered uncontrollably from the cold.
He had already fallen to the ground, his body curled into a ball.
In addition to the sudden drop in temperature, the intensity of his pain also surged.
It felt as if countless beasts were inside his body.
Tearing at his flesh and bones, devouring his internal organs.
Ji Shiyou let out a roar, writhing on the ground in agony.
He then rammed his head against the walls and floor, his hands scratching wildly and unconsciously.
The cork padding on the walls of the secret chamber was precisely for this purpose.
It was to protect him from self-harm when the pain became unbearable.
The marks of impact and scratching were left by Ji Shiyou during his seizures, attempts to alleviate his suffering.
The intense pain rendered Ji Shiyou delirious.
He rolled and roared in the secret chamber like a dying beast.
Three hours later, the pain subsided, and Ji Shiyou lay on the ground, completely exhausted.
He was naked, his clothes torn to shreds.
His bare body was as if he had just been pulled from water.
Water dripped from his hair, and puddles of sweat had formed on the floor.
He lay in his own sweat, unable to move even a finger.
If Mingyue had wanted to kill him at this moment, it would have been as easy as turning her hand.
The torment of extreme pain had left him utterly weakened.
Even a child could have killed him now.
"You have entered my sect, and you must obey my commands. Have you forgotten your oath?"
"The master's kindness to me is as vast as the heavens and deep as the earth.
Without the master, there would be no me today.
Even if I were to be ground into dust, I could never repay him.
If the master commands, how dare I disobey.
However, Mingyue has also shown me great kindness.
She is the one I intend to spend my life with. If I cannot protect her,
I am willing to die to repay the master's tutelage.
No matter what, I cannot kill her."
"Insolent child, how can one who aims for great things be bound by petty affections?
Are you threatening me with your own life?"
"Your disciple dares not. It is simply that Mingyue is my entire world.
If I lose Mingyue, I am no different from being dead.
If Mingyue dies, I will not live on alone.
I beg the master for mercy, to show leniency.
Your disciple only wishes to preserve Mingyue's life. If the master agrees,
I will accept any punishment."
"What a predicament. Very well, since that is the case, I shall agree.
As long as you annihilate the Wu Man kingdom and kill all the royal family of Wu Man,
Mingyue's life can be spared, and she will not be killed.
But you have defied my orders, and you must accept punishment.
This is the Soul-Devouring Pill. Take it.
I know you have feelings for Mingyue, but those who achieve great things
must have hearts of stone, devoid of emotion and desire.
I promise not to kill Mingyue, but I do not wish for your feelings to take root.
Because personal affections could derail your grand ambitions.
Once you take the Soul-Devouring Pill, if you ever feel affection, it will act up on the fifteenth of every month.
At that time, you will suffer the alternation of extreme cold and heat, a pain beyond endurance, helping you to sever your emotions.
Everything I have done is for your own good, so do not harbor any resentment.
When you have achieved great deeds and become the ruler of the Tian Xuan Continent,
you will then understand my intentions."
Ji Shiyou's mind, which had just cleared, once again recalled the scene from three years ago.
After his enthronement, he had excitedly begun preparing the betrothal gifts.
He intended to go to the Wu Man kingdom, meet the Wu Man Emperor, and propose marriage to Mingyue in person.
Who would have thought that his master, Qinglan Shangren, who had disappeared after leaving, would suddenly appear in his imperial palace?
And the first task he was assigned was to send troops to Wu Man.
To kill every single member of the Wu Man royal family, leaving none alive.
Ji Shiyou, bound by his oath, dared not question the reason and could only comply.
However, he pleaded with Qinglan Shangren to spare Mingyue.
To make Qinglan Shangren agree, he was willing to risk his life, and finally took the Soul-Devouring Pill.
According to Qinglan Shangren, as long as Ji Shiyou did not harbor any affection, the Soul-Devouring Pill would not act up.
But Ji Shiyou had never forgotten Mingyue, nor had he ever considered severing his feelings for her.
Thus, for three years, he had endured this torment once every month.
"Even if I have to endure this heart-wrenching pain for a lifetime, I will not abandon my feelings for Mingyue."
Ji Shiyou lay on the ground, a smile appearing on his pale lips, thinking silently.
He cared nothing for the "eternal emperor" or "unifying Tian Xuan" that his master spoke of.
His master simply did not understand him; he did not possess such grand ambitions.
All he wanted was to be with Mingyue and live a happy life.
No, as long as Mingyue was happy, he was indifferent.
However, Mingyue was currently very unhappy.
But with his arrangements, Mingyue should soon be happy.
Ji Shiyou struggled to his feet, left the secret chamber, bathed, and changed his clothes.
For the sky was about to dawn, and it was time for the morning court.
Mingyue had not returned all night, and had sat in Lan Yue Palace throughout.
Yesterday, she had accompanied Yan Liu back, and after some comforting, Yan Yu had also come to terms with things.
Regardless of the cause of her brother's death, the Cen Ci couple had paid the price.
No matter how sad she was, it would be of no avail, so she no longer dwelled on it.
During dinner, the imperial kitchen sent over a table full of lavish dishes.
Ever since Ji Shiyou had taken up residence in Lan Yue Palace, everyone in the palace had begun to curry favor with it.
The imperial kitchen even sent meals three times a day, eliminating the need for them to fetch it themselves.
After a day of turmoil, Mingyue had not even eaten lunch.
She had been ravenous, but sitting alone at the table, she had lost her appetite.
Yan Liu was still in her room, and neither Ji Shiyou nor Dongnan had returned.
She hastily took a few bites of food and then lost the desire to eat.
Returning to her chambers, she prepared to rest.
To her surprise, one person was missing from the bed, and she became sleepless.
She tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.
Finally, she got out of bed and sat in the outer room, her eyes fixed on the door.
Thus, she waited until dawn, but Ji Shiyou never returned.
"Whether he comes back or not, who cares!"
Mingyue suddenly became angry. At that moment, footsteps were heard approaching the entrance of Lan Yue Palace.