If I, a death row inmate, am not to become a demon, am I to become a member of the Imperial Guard?

Rainwater streamed down the eaves in front of the East Palace Gate.

Qin Shuang stood at the bottom of the stone steps, her hand on the hilt of her knife.

Footsteps sounded behind me, familiar and hurried.

She didn't need to turn around to know it was Zhou Yang.

"You've come." Her voice was a little hoarse.

Zhou Yang stood beside her, his gaze sweeping over the tightly closed vermilion gate. "Have you been waiting long?"

"Just arrived."

"Ready to go in?"

Qin Shuang nodded, her fingers tracing the hilt of the knife. "Are you aware of the situation inside?"

"Wuchen is waiting for us." Zhou Yang wiped the rain from his face. "The Crown Prince is also here. He's not the Crown Prince anymore. He's a ghost."

Qin Shuang's fingers paused. "A ghost?"

"A puppet controlled by Wuchen." Zhou Yang said calmly, "The real crown prince is probably already dead."

The two remained silent amidst the sound of rain.

After a long pause, Qin Shuang took a deep breath. "Then let's go in. Let's settle this."

"Um."

Zhou Yang took a step forward and pushed the door open.

The heavy vermilion gate creaked open and slowly slid inward.

The sight behind the door made Qin Shuang's pupils shrink.

There is no palace.

There are no columns.

There were no familiar furnishings in the Eastern Palace.

Before me lay a hazy, gray space.

The ground was a flowing shadow, and distorted human faces floated in the sky.

Countless hands reached out from the shadows, grabbing at them.

"Beware of illusions," Zhou Yang's voice rang in my ears, "Wuchen's domain."

Qin Shuang nodded quickly and began to unbutton her outer robe.

The robe fell down, revealing a suit of silver armor underneath.

The armor was exquisitely crafted, with each plate gleaming with a cold light.

There was a heart-shaped protective mirror on his chest, engraved with dense runes.

This is the breastplate her father left her.

The moment she donned the armor, the hands that reached for her seemed to encounter an invisible barrier, retreating back into the shadows.

"Can this armor protect your mind?" Zhou Yang asked.

"It can resist the effects of illusions." Qin Shuang gripped her knife tightly, "but it won't last long."

"That's enough." Zhou Yang's gaze swept across the gloomy space. "Go deal with the Crown Prince. I'll find Wuchen."

Do you know where he is?

"certainly."

Zhou Yang took a step forward.

His feet trod on the flowing shadows, yet he did not sink.

Those distorted human faces and those outstretched ghostly hands could not get within three feet of him.

Qin Shuang watched his retreating figure, her grip on the knife tightening.

"Wait," she called to Zhou Yang.

Zhou Yang stopped and turned to look at her.

"Be careful." Qin Shuang only said these three words.

Zhou Yang's lips curled into a slight smile. "You too."

After he finished speaking, he continued forward.

Qin Shuang watched him walk away, then turned and looked in another direction.

Deep within the dim space, a blurry figure sat in a chair.

She was very familiar with his figure.

He is the Crown Prince.

"Your Highness," Qin Shuang's voice was icy, "I have come under orders."

The figure on the chair slowly raised its head.

It was a face, yet it didn't look like a face.

The facial features were writhing, as if countless faces were overlapping.

"Qin Shuang." The voice came from that mouth, yet it sounded like many people speaking at once, "You've come. I've been waiting for you for a long time."

Qin Shuang remained silent, simply gripping her knife and walking forward.

With each step, the illusions around him became more distorted.

Blood gushed from the ground, and the air reeked of decay.

Countless wronged souls shrieked, trying to burrow into her ears.

But the runes on the armor were glowing, forming an invisible barrier.

She continued walking, getting closer and closer to the figure.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yang was also walking.

He wandered aimlessly in the gloom.

The ghostly figures and vengeful spirits surrounded him, yet he dared not touch them.

It was as if there was something about him that terrified them.

"We're out, Wuchen." Zhou Yang suddenly stopped and looked at a void to his left.

"Zhou Yang," the voice echoed in the void, "your senses are still so sharp."

The void slowly distorted, and a figure emerged.

He wore a monk's robe, had a shaved head, and a kind face.

It was the monk they had seen at the temple.

Dust-free.

"Your illusion magic is quite good," Zhou Yang said calmly. "Unfortunately, you used it in the wrong place."

Wuchen smiled and clasped his hands together. "Amitabha. Your attachments are too deep; this humble monk only wishes to help you find liberation."

"Liberation?" Zhou Yang laughed. "Do I need you to help me achieve liberation?"

"All suffering in this world arises from attachment," Wuchen said slowly. "Your karmic debt of killing is too heavy; if you do not let go, you will surely fall into the boundless hell."

"Hell?" Zhou Yang shook his head. "I don't believe in that. I only believe in what I have in my hands."

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly raised his hand.

"Burning life. Fifty."

boom!

An invisible force erupted from him.

The entire dark space shook violently.

The ghostly figures and vengeful spirits let out mournful screams and vanished.

Wuchen's smile froze on his face.

"What...what did you do?"

Zhou Yang opened his eyes, and his gaze changed.

It's as if they can see things that ordinary people can't.

In his eyes, the whole world had changed.

The layers of illusion were peeled away before his eyes, revealing the underlying rules and structure.

"Fifty years of life for a moment of clarity." Zhou Yang took a step forward. "It's worth it."

Wu Chen's expression changed. "You're burning your life force!"

"Otherwise what?" Zhou Yang pressed closer, "What's the point of sitting down and discussing Buddhist teachings with you?"

He raised his hand, pointing it towards Wuchen.

"You think you can show off your meager illusions in front of me?"

A fist was thrown.

There was no news of it.

There was no loud noise.

It was just a simple punch.

But in Wuchen's eyes, this punch was different.

It broke the rules.

It shattered the illusion.

It gets straight to the heart of the matter.

"not good!"

Wuchen cried out in surprise and tried to dodge.

But it was too late.

The moment the fist touched him, the entire dark space shattered like glass.

The palace was restored to its original state.

Red walls and golden tiles, carved beams and painted rafters.

There were signs of fighting everywhere.

Wuchen staggered backward, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.

He stared at Zhou Yang, his eyes filled with disbelief. "How is this possible... how could you..."

"Impossible what? Break your illusion?" Zhou Yang withdrew his fist. "It's simple. No matter how strong your illusion is, it's still fake. But my fist is real."

He lifted his foot forward.

"The truth will always shatter the false."

Wuchen's face was pale, and his hands quickly formed hand seals.

"The Great Compassion Mantra!"

Golden light erupted from his body, transforming into countless runes that flew toward Zhou Yang.

But this time, Zhou Yang did not dodge.

He just stood there.

When the runes touched him, they slid away as if they had encountered an invisible wall.

"Buddhism?" Zhou Yang's lips curled into a smile. "It might be useful against others. But against me... it's not enough."

He raised his hand again.

"Burn another ten years of your life."

Another surge of power emerged.

The spotless Buddha light was like a candle blown out by the wind, extinguished in an instant.

"No...impossible..." Wuchen collapsed to the ground. "My cultivation level..."

"Your cultivation is all fake." Zhou Yang walked up to him, squatted down, and said, "Power built on illusions can be shattered with a single touch."

He reached out and grabbed Wuchen's collar.

"Now, tell me. The Crown Prince's affair, the Heavenly Principle Sect's affair, and... who exactly are you?"

Wuchen looked at him, a hint of madness flashing in his eyes.

"You think you've won?"

"I did win," Zhou Yang said calmly.

"Then you're wrong." Wuchen suddenly laughed, his laughter growing louder and louder. "The real game has only just begun."

Zhou Yang frowned.

"You think the Crown Prince is the target? You think the Heavenly Principle Sect is the enemy?"

Wuchen's laughter echoed through the palace.

"We're all just pawns, Zhou Yang."

Zhou Yang loosened his grip.

He sensed something was wrong.

This strangeness doesn't come from Wuchen.

Rather, it stems from the overall situation.

"What are you talking about?" Zhou Yang's voice turned cold.

"You'll find out soon enough." A hint of relief flashed in Wuchen's eyes. "Unfortunately, you won't live to see that day."

After he finished speaking, his body began to glow.

It wasn't golden Buddha's light.

Instead, it was a dark red, blood-red light.

"He's going to self-destruct!" Zhou Yang immediately realized and got up to retreat.

But it was too late.

boom!

A massive explosion occurred in the palace.

The blast wave ripped off the roof tiles, and flames shot skyward.

Meanwhile, Qin Shuang finally stood before the Crown Prince.

"Your Highness, I have come to see you off on your final journey."

She raised the knife.

The glint of swords flashed in the dimly lit palace.

The distorted figure stood up, a sinister smile on its face.

"Come on, Qin Shuang. Let me see just how fast your blade is."

Qin Shuang did not answer, but swung her sword down.

Just as the blade was about to touch its opponent, a sudden change occurred.

A huge explosion came from the other end of the palace.

The shockwave sent the two people flying.

Qin Shuang crashed into the wall, her armor making a dull thud.

She struggled to her feet and looked in the direction of the explosion.

Flames soared into the sky, and smoke and dust filled the air.

"Zhou Yang!"

She yelled and charged forward with her knife.

A figure slowly emerged from the smoke and dust.

It's Zhou Yang.

He was covered in dust and his clothes were tattered, but he didn't appear to be seriously injured.

"Are you alright?" Qin Shuang asked anxiously.

"It's nothing." Zhou Yang brushed the dust off his clothes. "Wuchen self-destructed."

Qin Shuang breathed a sigh of relief, then looked in the direction where the Crown Prince was.

The distorted figure was still standing there, seemingly affected by the explosion, swaying slightly.

"And him too." Qin Shuang gripped the knife tightly. "I'll handle him."

"Wait a minute." Zhou Yang grabbed her arm. "Something's not right."

"What's wrong?"

Zhou Yang frowned, his gaze sweeping across the entire palace.

Wuchen said, "We are all just pawns."

"Chess piece?" Qin Shuang asked, puzzled.

"Hmm." Zhou Yang looked in the direction of the Crown Prince. "And he said... the real game has only just begun."

Just then, the distorted figure suddenly laughed.

The laughter was exactly the same as Wuchen's before.

"He's right, Zhou Yang."

Qin Shuang and Zhou Yang both looked at that figure.

"The game... has only just begun."

The figure's face began to change.

It's no longer the prince's face.

It is not an overlap of countless faces.

Instead, it's a completely new face.

A face they had never seen before.

Handsome, aloof, with an indescribable arrogance.

"Who are you?" Zhou Yang asked in a deep voice.

The man smiled slightly.

"Me? I'm... just an observer."

After he finished speaking, his body slowly faded, like ink spreading on paper.

Finally, it disappeared completely.

Only one sentence lingered in the air.

"You won't be so lucky in the next round."

Qin Shuang and Zhou Yang stood still, looking in that direction.

After a long silence, Qin Shuang spoke: "That person just now..."

"Not the Crown Prince," Zhou Yang continued, "nor is it Wuchen."

"Then he is...?"

"I don't know," Zhou Yang shook his head, "but it feels...much more troublesome than Wuchen."

He looked at Qin Shuang: "How are you? Can the armor still hold?"

Qin Shuang touched the breastplate on her chest; the runes had dimmed considerably.

"We're almost at our limit."

"Then let's leave." Zhou Yang turned and walked out. "What happened tonight has gotten out of our control."

When the two walked out of the East Palace, it was still raining outside.

But it's not the oppressive rain of before.

The rainwater carried a fresh scent, as if it had washed away something.

"What do we do next?" Qin Shuang asked.

"Report back to the Embroidered Uniform Guard." Zhou Yang looked up at the sky. "Things that need to be reported should still be reported."

"Where is that mysterious person?"

"We can't find anything for now," Zhou Yang said calmly. "We'll deal with him when he makes his next move."

Qin Shuang nodded and walked alongside him in the rain.

Behind them, the firelight of the Eastern Palace flickered in the rain.

What appears to be a concluded event is actually just the beginning.