While Yichen lay unconscious on the astral plane, his physical body grew weak, exhausted by the immense energy he had expended to protect his team. His soul, however, ventured beyond the confines of the astral plane, drifting into an unknown realm. Upon regaining consciousness, he found himself in the midst of a dense forest, lying on the ground and overcome by a profound sense of disorientation.
As he slowly sat up and scanned his surroundings, the horizon glowed with the fading light of a setting sun; its rays—growing ever fainter—barely managed to pierce the thick canopy of trees to reach the forest floor. The vast grove exuded an unnatural silence—an eerie stillness that unsettled him. Deep within his being, something stirred, resonating uneasily with the presence of an ominous energy that seemed to hang in the air.
Uncertain of where he had landed, he glanced down at himself and discovered that he wore a luxurious hanfu styled like those seen in old historical dramas, black and gold with intricate floral embroidery. His long, black, silky hair was gathered into a high half-ponytail, while the rest flowed freely over his back, along with long hair-chain ornaments that chimed a bit with his movements. At his side, a sword lay on the ground, with a crystalline stone in the hilt glimmering softly in shades of blue.
Then, a sharp pain throbbed at the side of his head, and when he touched the area, his fingers came away stained with fresh blood. His thigh ached as though struck by a heavy force, further deepening his pain and confusion. This wasn't his body—of that he was certain—because the last thing he remembered was losing consciousness in the haunted town he'd gone to in the modern era.
Yet now, he seemed to have awakened in someone else's past—or perhaps an elaborate illusion. The astral plane was mysterious and connected to other, higher planes—provided one possessed the necessary energy to access them. Therefore, it was possible that his soul had somehow gone to reside inside someone who possessed the same ability to access that realm, just like him.
No matter the circumstances, this had become his new reality, though he remained uncertain about its duration. Battling waves of pain, he rose to his feet and grabbed his glowing sword. A surprising sense of familiarity washed over him, as if he had known this weapon for ages—like a legendary cultivator would with a cherished family heirloom. Yet, despite the recognition stirring within his soul, he remained unaware of the sword's true essence or its past.
Driven by an urgent curiosity about his identity and where he ended up, Yichen hurried toward the soothing sound of running water, the pain in his thigh dictating his pace. Reaching a calm riverbank would offer him a chance to look into the water and see who he was, even if he didn't recognize the face. Yet, with each step deeper into the woods, a chilling sensation crept over him, as if unseen eyes followed his every move. The crystal embedded in the hilt of his sword gleamed brighter, responding to something he had the feeling he should know but didn't.
"Come on... why did I have to end up in a place like this? This can't be good for my real body back in the human world," Yichen mumbled under his breath, his senses heightened as he prepared for anything that might suddenly spring out of the shadows.
Unfortunately, because his uncanny intuition never seemed to fail, his instincts proved correct. From the cover of a wide nearby tree, something lunged at him with terrifying speed. He barely managed to raise his sword, now glowing with blue flames, just in time to block the attack. The impact sent him stumbling backward, with a big beast pinning him with feral intensity.
Intense pain flared throughout his body, but it soon started to fade as adrenaline coursed through him, fueling his desperate fight to survive. Long, razor-sharp claws and a menacing row of jagged teeth, belonging to that nightmarish creature that looked taken out of a horror game, relentlessly slashed at his blue shield. The creature's sheer strength pressed him harder into the ground, as if intent on reducing his bones to dust.
It was fortunate that his sword could generate a spiritual barrier to protect him; otherwise, he would have been dead by now. He had grown used to hunting ghosts and the occasional demon, but this creature felt like something straight from a horror movie, set on an alien world. His energy was nearly depleted, and as he strained to fend off the beast, a troubling thought crossed his mind. Was this how the man he had invaded was meant to die? And if that was the case, what was the purpose of drawing him in only to face death moments later?
Had he unknowingly angered some deity during his hunt of the doll ghosts in that town, and was this divine retribution? The idea seemed far-fetched, but then again, the workings of the heavens were often beyond comprehension.
"Get off me, you filthy beast!" Yichen shouted, trying to channel his own power. Sadly, it wasn't his body, and his efforts fell flat. Yet, despite his failure, his sword flared with a radiant surge of power—one not born of him—and the force hurled the creature several meters away. That brief moment of reprieve allowed him the chance to scramble to his feet and make a break for it.
He didn't care that running went against everything his training stood for—his current condition left him utterly unprepared to take on a monster ten times stronger than himself. If only his spiritual energy were intact, he might stand a chance. But drained as he was, confronting that abomination head-on would be nothing short of suicidal.
"Damn it! Someone wake me from this nightmare! Zhu Yan!" Yichen unconsciously shouted in desperation, his voice carrying both fear and frustration. The sound of the creature's claws slicing through the air behind him drove his legs faster, but he knew outrunning it was a hopeless effort. Just as he braced for the end, expecting to feel those razor-sharp claws tear through him, a figure emerged from a haze of red smoke. The overwhelming force of his presence felt like colliding head-on with a mountain—immense yet tightly contained.
Then, in an almost dreamlike sequence, the newcomer caught him effortlessly around the waist, pulling him out of his frantic sprint with a circular motion. With a single, fluid move, he slowed his momentum as though time itself had bent to their will. One hand steadied Yichen, while the other moved to his lips, whispering an incantation toward the pursuing beast.
"Sleep!" It was the voice more than the face that released Yichen from his panic. Somehow, inexplicably, he had summoned Zhu Yan, for real.
As their motion finally ceased, Yichen stared wide-eyed at the scene before him: the monstrous creature that had been about to rip him apart now collapsed mid-stride, falling to the ground like a grotesque puppet with its strings suddenly cut. Its hideous form lay there, disturbingly peaceful, like a twisted parody of a sleeping pet.
"Not in my wildest imagination did I ever think the day would come when the mighty commander of the Demon Hunting Bureau would call me for rescue. How far had your precious human pride fallen... But, to be honest, I much rather save you, Zhuo Yichen, and hold you this close than endure your endless cold demeanor." Zhu Yan's teasing tone hung in the air, tempting Yichen to roll his eyes.
However, the realization of what he said soon started to sink in. Taking into consideration his clothes and Zhu Yan's reference, he seemed to be several thousand years in the past. The Demon Hunting Bureau, a faint whisper in the present day, had long since faded into legend.
Now, it lived on only through old temple scrolls (which he was forced to read) and the accounts of historical scholars. What remained of the period were vague references of a time when monsters were more than mere folklore and talented humans had to deal with them—though whether those tales were truth or myth, no one could say with certainty.
"This is exactly why I keep my distance from your twisted advances. I'm certain you're always looking for an excuse to force yourself on me—just like now. You truly are an old pervert, great demon. Let go of me already!" Yichen glared, his voice laced with disdain.
Next, he attempted to shove Zhu Yan away, but a sharp pain surged through his thigh, causing his legs to buckle beneath him. Before he could fully register what was happening, Zhu Yan seized the opportunity and lifted him up into his arms, carrying him in a bridal hold. Yichen groaned inwardly. Just great! Now he was stuck in an even more humiliating position.
"Since you're so injured, I'll overlook the fact that you just called me an old pervert—despite me saving your life, and at your request, no less. Xiao Zhuo, tell me honestly, how did you end up in such a dire state? You carry such a powerful sword. Have you suddenly forgotten how to use it? Surely, your clan has passed down all the sacred sword techniques to Bing Yi's descendant, right?" Zhu Yan's words sparked a cascade of thoughts that left Yichen's mind reeling.
First, could it be that the man his soul had possessed was actually his own past self? Second, Bing Yi? His family, the Zhuo clan, was indeed steeped in legends claiming to descend from the dragon god, but in modern times, few, if any, took those tales seriously. Furthermore, their lineage had no ancestral sword relics to speak of—only a long tradition of mastery in spiritual power passed down through generations.
"Hey, how do you know about me being Bing Yi's descendant?" Yichen asked as Zhu Yan carried him like he was something precious toward the river he had already been heading for. Zhu Yan let out a sigh.
"You must have hit your head pretty hard, while hunting demons all on your own. Even if I had been asigned as your partner for a month now. The whole world knows about your lineage. It has never been a secret, and your elders certainly won't hesitate to let the four winds carry the news far and wide. Among all your family members, including your older brother Yixuan, you are by far the most talented. That's why you inherited the sword instead of him." Hearing his brother's name, Yichen stared at Zhu Yan with a racing heart at knowing they have always been brothers. Still, his surprise was unmistakable.
"Yixuan... I'm glad we are still brothers..." Yichen murmured, too shocked to form another question.
"Please, don't tell me that you just remembered you have an older brother. He would be devastated to hear that. He cherishes you more than anyone else. Honestly, I need to heal you up before we return to the Bureau. Otherwise, he'll throw the pact between us great demons and you humans straight out the window, and he'll probably try to kill me on the spot. Not that he could, of course—I'm still the second strongest, after all. Not that Li Lun will admit it, but it's true nevertheless." Zhu Yan smirked, leaving Yichen once again at a loss for words.
Wait, what? A pact between humans and the great demons? Zhu Yan was only the second strongest? For real? He was so formidable for all he could sense! Then who ranked first? And just who was Li Lun? Yichen felt his thoughts spiraling, his mind struggling to piece it all together.
He suddenly felt a wave of dizziness wash over him, followed by the distinct sensation of Yun Guang tugging at his soul. Yet, he wasn't alone in this experience. He could sense another energy intertwining with his own, merging seamlessly as though it had always been a part of him.
"Zhu Yan..." Yichen murmured softly, his consciousness slipping once more into an embrace—warm and familiar. It was another version of Zhu Yan, the one he had encountered on the astral plane. This Zhu Yan appeared troubled, a crease of panic etched across his expression.
Naturally, he looked panicked as he realized the gravity of the situation. While Yichen drifted through the echoes of his past life, Zhu Yan had returned to the astral plane, only to witness Yichen's soul flickering like a dying ember. Without a moment's hesitation, Zhu Yan enveloped Yichen's astral projection in his arms, channeling his own energy into it, striving to bring stability to his fading essence.
Throughout their intertwined past and later bond, Zhu Yan's power had always resonated in harmony with Yichen's spiritual essence. In part, because Bing Yi, who was a mighty dragon, had gifted his bloodline to the Zhuo family, ensuring the continuation of his legacy once he was gone. This blessing endowed his descendants a unique resilience to demonic energy, enabling them to heal faster and confront powerful demons with greater ease.
"Yichen... you foolish young man. What good will your death bring to your ghost hunting team or your family? You're even more reckless now than you were before, and that's no small feat. Back then, you had me and your brother constantly on the verge of heart attacks during every hunt. I even had to cast a tracking spell on you just to save you when you stubbornly refused my help in our early months as partners." Zhu Yan spoke the words aloud, his voice steady but heavy with emotion, as he struggled to calm himself, fearing the loss of yet another version of his lover.
He had loved that beautiful soul so deeply that his absence had weighed heavily on him for centuries. Now, it was adrift, vanished somewhere within the astral plane, lost and with no one to guide him home.
"Yichen... Yichen, please, this is not the time to stray. Come back." Zhu Yan urged desperately, pouring his energy into their bond as though his very life depended on it.
Yichen seemed overwhelmed, as if under attack by some unseen force, which only deepened his panic. Zhu Yan knew he had to pull him out of whatever ordeal he was caught in, but their bond was still in its fragile, early stages of reconnection from Yichen's part. There were limits to what he could accomplish on his own... limits that someone else might be able to surpass.
Cradling Yichen with one arm, Zhu Yan channeled his focus and demonic energy through the connection to another spirit. Placing his free hand against the center of his forehead, he drew a fragment of his power and directed it outward. The surge cut through the astral plane and pierced into the mortal realm, targeting Yun Guang's mind with precise intent.
The surge of power struck Yun Guang just as he was speeding down the road in the van, desperate to find a safe spot where they could rest and tend to Yichen, whose condition was visibly worsening. Despite being caught off guard by the sudden, intrusive force invading his thoughts, he managed to keep his grip on the wheel steady and his focus on the dark road ahead intact.
"Wait, what's this? You're Zhu Yan, aren't you? I can sense your energy from miles away. What are you doing? Listen, I'm thankful you saved us back then, but invading my mind like this? That's neither polite nor welcome. Get out!" Yun Guang demanded mentally, his focus impressively unwavering as he maneuvered the vehicle.
"I deeply apologize for the intrusion," came the swift mental reply, "but this is urgent—it concerns Yichen, and it can't wait until you safely stop at an inn. A significant portion of Yichen's essence is trapped elsewhere on the astral plane, while the rest is safely with me. This shouldn't be possible—souls aren't meant to split. We need to act immediately to bring him back. And I'm sadly admitting that I can't do this on my own." Zhu Yan's voice carried a mix of urgency and concern. Yun Guang shot a quick glance toward Bai Jiu before turning his eyes back to the road.
"Bai Jiu, is Yichen's condition getting worse?" Yun Guang asked for confirmation, his tone sharp and focused.
"Yes. I've tried everything to heal him, but it's not working. It's as though something else is blocking the process," Bai Jiu admitted, his youthful face filled with worry. "I've healed Xiao Zhuo Ge countless times without issue—my healing has always worked better than with anyone else's. But this time... this resistance is unlike anything I've ever encountered." Yun Guang exhaled in frustration but quickly shifted gears into action.
"Alright, we need an emergency plan. Ying Lei, call Wen Xiao and tell her we're camping here tonight—in the wilderness if we have to. I'll find a spot, and Captain Pei only needs to stay on my tail. Once I park, I want a strong barrier set up alongside a six-point healing formation. The rest will be on me."
Eyes scanning the terrain, Yun Guang finally spotted a suitable clearing—a perfect place to halt their journey and prepare for what lay ahead. Muttering to himself, he added under his breath, that idiot is going to hear from me when this is over...
As soon as the vans came to a halt, the team swiftly moved into action. They began setting up both the barrier, the healing formation, tents and campfires. With time running short, they quickly focused on their work, and Yun Guang's priority was setting up the healing formation with Bai Jiu, while Ying Lei, Wen Xiao, and Pei Sijing took care of the remaining tasks.
As Yichen's anchor, Yun Guang could tug at his soul to bring him back, but it was far safer to do this within the secured formation. There, he could amplify his spiritual power to strengthen the call and begin healing Yichen simultaneously. Once everything was in place, Yun Guang gently carried his unconscious cousin to the center of the formation.
Before he could start, a reddish smoke appeared out of nowhere, curling around and merging with the barrier. At first, Yun Guang instinctively prepared himself for an attack—perhaps from a vengeful spirit—but instead, the smoke seemed to bolster their protection, adding another layer to what had already been strengthened.
It carried a distinct essence of Zhu Yan's power, an unmistakable signature. The effect heightened further when the campfires scattered around flickered and turned blue. Their soft glow painted the surroundings in an otherworldly hue—warm yet distinctly supernatural—and chased away the biting cold of the night.
"You're always so dramatic, Zhu Yan," Yun Guang thought pointedly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I promise you, our barriers are more than sufficient." He could sense Zhu Yan chuckling in response from the astral plane.
"Blue fire is perceived by spirits and ghosts as hellfire," Zhu Yan replied into Yun Guang's mind, his tone as casual as ever. "It will keep anything unwanted at bay—spirits, ghosts, whatever lurks in darkness—and even drive away any human foolish enough to wander within miles of here."
"So... you're claiming you came straight from hell?" Yun Guang quipped dryly as he settled next to Yichen.
"I am no denizen of hell," Zhu Yan retorted with mild indignation. "I am a great demon from the Wilderness. There's a world of difference."
"Sure, sure. Wilderness demon. Got it," Yun Guang muttered with faint amusement. "So now that the theatrics are handled... what's your plan?"
"I can channel my energy to him from here, but he must return to his body first, where you can share your own energy. At present, he drifts in a realm I can't access, so it's vital for you to summon him back. You serve as his spiritual anchor for now..."
"For now? What do you mean? How are you connected to both Yichen and me?" Yun Guang asked, curiosity creeping into his voice.
"All your questions will find answers when the moment arrives. Now, bring Yichen's soul back. You remember the incantation to call lost souls, right?" Zhu Yan asked, and Yun Guang felt the urge to roll his eyes.
"I am his guardian for a reason. Keep him safe out there. I'll handle the rest," Without another word, Yun Guang formed a series of hand signs with practiced precision and pressed his fingers gently against Yichen's forehead.
He began reciting the incantation he had memorized long ago, his voice unwavering and filled with intent. Slowly, he felt his very soul being drawn toward Yichen's, their bond acting as the unshakable tether between them.
The connection deepened, and he knew the exact moment he reached him, pulling with escalating urgency. All the while, Zhu Yan stood witness as the Yichen cradled in his arms stirred to life once more, his dark blue eyes flickering open and radiating vitality.
"Welcome back, Xiao Zhuo... You've certainly been causing mischief. It's quite rude to come here, ask for my help to save your team, and then vanish while I handle your little doll problem back in that town. You truly gave me a fright. So, tell me, how do you plan to repay me for all the trouble I went through for you? A kiss should suffice..." Zhu Yan teased, his playful tone reminding Yichen far too vividly of the way the demon had cradled him in his arms just like that in another life, shamelessly flirting without the slightest hesitation.
"You're such a perverted demon. I'm too exhausted for this right now... But we'll meet again, and when we do, I'll be expecting some answers..." Yichen muttered as he closed his eyes, heeding Yun Guang's call and returning to his body. Meanwhile, Zhu Yan chuckled to himself, amused that at least this time, he didn't got called old.
AN: We've now had a glimpse into Zhu Yan and Yichen's shared past, with Yichen finally confirming that they crossed paths in a previous life—though he continues to reject the idea that they were lovers. Thanks for reading, and take care until next time.
The demon that chased Yichen is called Jíjiǎo (Thorn Horned). Hunts by sound and spiritual scent, moves unnaturally fast for its size, horns act as sensory conduits, and is known for ambushing innocent humans and demon hunters. They are solitary creatures, territorial, and extremely aggressive.