In the chamber, even silence seemed to have perished. There was only the biting wind, the falling snow, and Mo Yan, sitting as motionless as an effigy. No movement stirred his body; no sound echoed in the room. Only a hollow desolation remained.

  However, within this stillness, Ai Yin could not contain his mischievous nature for long. He crawled out from the folds of Mo Yan’s robes and began to tug at his clothes. Seeing Mo Yan’s stoic, unresponsive face, the kitten stared at him for a moment before darting out of the chamber, leaping through the snow like a playful rabbit.

  He headed toward a tree where white flowers lay scattered upon the fresh snow. Picking up a single petal in his mouth, Ai Yin raced back. Mo Yan’s gaze followed him instinctively. The kitten jumped onto the balcony, shook the snow from his fur, and placed the white flower on Mo Yan’s hand, looking at him with wide, endearing eyes. Mo Yan picked up the flower and placed it on the table, but Ai Yin immediately retrieved it and put it back in his lap.

  Curiosity flickered in Mo Yan’s eyes. As he tried to move the flower back to the table once more, Ai Yin let out a soft "Meow." Mo Yan understood Ai Yin did not want him to distance himself from the flower. He placed it back in his lap, but the spirited kitten picked it up again, climbed onto Mo Yan’s shoulder, and carefully tucked the flower into his hair. With a graceful leap, Ai Yin returned to his lap and curled up.

  Time passed. Mo Yan attempted to enter a state of meditation to calm his soul, but it was futile. Only one image occupied his mind: Yu Sui’s face. His smile. Suddenly, the silence of the room was broken by a soft, hesitant knock.

  Outside, the disciples stood in their warm, white cloaks. Every one of them was clad in white, except for Su Nian, whose cloak was a soft shade of pale violet-blue. It was Duie who stood at the threshold. His eyes met Su Nian’s for a fleeting second a gaze like the first rays of sunlight touching a newly bloomed flower. With a subtle nod, Su Nian granted him permission to enter.

  Duie pushed the door open. He saw Mo Yan sitting by the table... motionless and silent, as if a lifeless spirit had been carefully dressed and placed there. Bowing with profound respect, Duie spoke:

  "My Emperor. Do I have permission to enter?"

  Mo Yan looked at him. There was no spark in his eyes, no fire only an unfathomable depth that reflected his shattered soul. He gave a slight, weary nod.

  Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

  Duie entered and sat across from him, every movement radiating immense dignity and reverence. He was well aware of the profound bond between Mo Yan and Yu Sui. For a moment, Duie lowered his gaze, glancing toward the door before looking back at Mo Yan. He began with a question that pierced through the air like an arrow:

  "My Emperor... do you know where Yu Sui is?"

  He had heard the rumors, but he said no more. Mo Yan remained silent, his eyes downcast. Duie understood the meaning behind this silence. He nodded slowly in consolation. Then, with a calm composure, he placed a long strip of white silk on the table. It was inscribed with ancient Chwen characters in shimmering gold a masterpiece of Duie’s craftsmanship. Even in the dim light, the script glowed with a faint, ethereal luster.

  The manuscript contained a mantra... the method to create a Divine Sound Artifact. It was the very same mantra he had given to Yu Sui years ago to fashion his flute. A mantra capable of connecting two minds across two different realms.

  Mo Yan picked up the silk strip, and Ai Yin began to sniff it curiously. Seeing the adorable kitten in the Emperor's lap, a rare, soft smile touched Duie's lips. Ai Yin was truly a creature impossible not to love.

  Duie spoke again, his voice steady yet filled with suppressed emotion:

  "My Emperor... Brother Yu Sui told me everything. That is why I have come to assist you. This is the mantra for the Sound Artifact. It allows one to communicate through the mind, regardless of distance. Even if they are in another realm... even if they are within the Black Heaven."

  At those words, a sudden brilliance ignited in Mo Yan’s face. His eyes came alive. He stared at the silk in his hands and then at Duie with a gaze full of hope. Ai Yin, sensing the shift in energy, pounced into Duie’s lap, making the latter let out a small laugh at the kitten's antics.

  Duie then produced a blue talisman page radiating a spiritual aura from his robes. It contained the procedural instructions in Chwen, while the silk strip held the core mantra.

  Mo Yan read the instructions, taking a deep, stabilizing breath. Maintaining his meditative posture, he placed two fingers between his brows. With the other hand, he bit his finger and began to trace the mantra in the air with his blood, mirroring the Chwen characters of the blue talisman. As the final stroke was completed, a violent surge of spiritual energy erupted in the room.

  Fine, silken threads of silver-white energy spread everywhere, shimmering like the radiant hair of a divine sea goddess swaying underwater. From the center of this silken web, a musical instrument began to manifest, floating in the air.

  It was shaped like a majestic, sleeping Serpentine Dragon. Along its back were ninety silver strings, as delicate as a strand of hair, yet humming with pure energy. The body of the instrument was a deep, lustrous red exactly like the hue of Yu Sui’s flute.

  As the artifact fully materialized, Duie stood frozen in awe. He wasn't just amazed by the divine moment, but by the purity and synchronization of the bond it represented. The instrument had manifested with Yu Sui’s very essence. A soft light flickered, and Yu Sui’s name appeared on the artifact in Chwen script. This final detail left Duie utterly breathless.