A cold hush fell over the chamber after Yu Xiao's voice echoed through the gloom.
The thick fog seemed to pulse, retreating and then surging back as if breathing with a life of its own.
The temperature dropped, and the pale light from the corridor behind her faded, swallowed by the encroaching mist.
Suddenly, a faint rattling came from the direction of the old jail.
The sound grew louder—metal scraping against stone—until a lone iron bar trembled and then clattered to the floor.
The darkness within the cell seemed to deepen, and something unseen shifted in the shadows beyond.
Yu Xiao's hands curled into tight fists at her sides, her shoulders drawn in defensively.
A sharp pain throbbed beneath her ribs, a reminder of her injuries and the limits they imposed.
She was unarmed, and every movement cost her more than she would ever let on.
Still, she forced herself to stand straight, refusing to give ground.
A soft whisper floated through the chamber—indistinct, more sensation than sound.
It brushed past her ear, icy and fleeting: Leave... or join us forever...
Yu Xiao's eyes narrowed in determination.
"Show yourself," she called, her voice steady, though edged with fatigue and pain.
The fog swirled, coiling into vague shapes that flickered at the edge of sight.
For a moment, a pale face seemed to form in the mist, hollow-eyed and sorrowful, watching her with silent accusation.
Then the vision dissolved, replaced by a chorus of whispers weaving together into a single, mournful wail.
Above, Long Jianyu and Yun Qingjue exchanged uneasy glances, sensing the rising tension.
Yun Qingjue's hand hovered near his spell talisman, but Long Jianyu shook his head, signaling him to wait.
Below, Yu Xiao stood her ground, breath shallow but spirit unbroken.
Though battered and alone, she faced the haunted chamber and its restless spirits, determined not to falter now that she had come this far.
"I'm here to find my friend," Yu Xiao called into the shifting fog, her voice steady but low, echoing off the stone and metal. "I didn't mean to disturb you. If you don't mind, you may help me as well—help me find him. Once we make it, I promise I will leave this place, without bothering you further."
Her words hung in the heavy, haunted air, a fragile plea for understanding—and perhaps mercy—from whatever presence lingered in the gloom.
Unfortunately, her words were met with silence, swallowed by the thick, haunted air.
No response came from the spirits—only a chilling stillness that settled over the chamber.
Yet, little by little, ghostly shapes began to materialize in every shadowed corner, their forms flickering into existence.
Some were wispy and translucent, others twisted and fearsome, each one radiating a deep, ancient sorrow.
Near the open threshold, where a faint green light glimmered through the fog, a black-hooded figure slowly emerged.
It hovered at the edge of the doorway, the darkness beneath its hood impenetrable, and watched her without moving any closer.
Yu Xiao's gaze locked onto the mysterious figure; her breath caught in her throat.
In that moment, she almost forgot the growing circle of spirits now surrounding her, each one shifting closer, silent and dreadful, their presence pressing in from every side.
The chorus of whispering grew sharper, penetrating Yu Xiao's ears and sending chills down her spine.
Only now did she realize that the spirits could reach her; their unpleasant forms drifted closer, pale hands stretching out from the gloom.
She stood frozen, watching as they gathered around her, the circle tightening.
One spirit, its face twisted and hollow, suddenly lunged forward and grabbed her wrist.
A jolt of searing pain shot through her arm—so fierce it almost buckled her knees.
Yu Xiao's expression twisted in agony as the cold, spectral grip burned into her skin.
Desperate, she summoned what little strength she had left and tore herself free, stumbling backward.
But as she looked around, panic flickered in her eyes—she was cornered, hemmed in by the pressing wall of spirits.
Escape was impossible.
Yu Xiao glanced down at her wrist, her breath shuddering. Where the spirit had touched her, a raw, angry burn now marred her skin—a ghostly imprint, red and blistered, left by the dead.
"Back off! Don't come any closer!" Yu Xiao shouted, clutching her burned wrist to her chest.
Pain and anger flashed in her eyes as she glared at the encroaching spirits.
Her gaze snapped to the black-hooded figure lingering in the open threshold, its presence heavy in the fog.
"You're all ugly!" she spat, jabbing her finger defiantly through the crowd of spirits that surrounded her. "How dare you hurt someone beautiful like me! My luminous skin—look what you've done! It's burned!"
Her voice rang out, fierce and indignant, echoing through the haunted chamber as she refused to let fear silence her spirit.
The two invisible observers exchanged startled glances at Yu Xiao's outburst.
"What on earth is she doing?" Yun Qingjue muttered, disbelief edging his voice. "She's got the confidence to joke at a time like this."
Long Jianyu's expression softened, concern flickering in his eyes as he watched her clutch her wrist.
"She's hurt," he said quietly, a hint of admiration in his tone for her defiant spirit even in pain.
"If that's the case, she's not even afraid of those spirits," Yun Qingjue remarked, reluctant admiration creeping in.
"We're thinking the same thing—she really is something else," Long Jianyu replied, his gaze thoughtful.
Yun Qingjue hesitated, glancing at his companion.
"But Dijun, will you keep pushing her? Are you going to continue the test?"
Long Jianyu's eyes shifted to Yun Qingjue, silent and unreadable, offering no answer as he turned his attention back to the scene below.
Below, Yu Xiao fixed the spirits with a deadly stare, her injured wrist clutched tightly against her chest.
Despite the searing pain, she stepped forward, determination radiating from every line of her posture.
As she moved, the spirits parted before her, falling back as if compelled by her defiance, granting her a narrow path through their midst.
Her gaze never wavered from the black-hooded figure standing silently in the open threshold.
Unbothered and resolute, Yu Xiao pressed on, her spirit unyielding even in the heart of the haunted chamber.
She paused, glancing around in surprise as the spirits froze in place, eyes fixed on her but unmoving.
Yu Xiao arched a brow and let out a small gasp.
They're obedient. I just told them to back off, and they actually listened. Spirits have a conscience, too… she murmured, a wry twist curving her lips.
With renewed confidence, she turned on her heel, making her way toward the threshold and the waiting black-hooded spirit.
But as she took her next step, her foot caught on a small, dust-covered antique hidden in the debris.
The object rolled away, and Yu Xiao lost her balance, stumbling forward and landing face down on the cold, gritty ground.
"Ouch!" she grunted, pain etched across her face.
A wild, shaky breath escaped her lips as she fought to steady herself.
After a moment, as the throbbing faded, Yu Xiao pressed her palms against the ground and slowly pushed herself upright.
As she brushed off her robe and glanced downward, something odd caught her attention.
Between her feet, the ground appeared empty—no fog, no spirits, nothing but dim shadows and dust.
Even the sense of oppressive dread had thinned, replaced by a strange stillness.
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
How could this be?
A moment ago, the chamber was crawling with terrifying spirits and thick with fog, yet now, when she looked down, everything seemed almost normal—if still bleak and dark.
She glanced up, scanning the room.
The spirits and the black-hooded figure remained, looming and menacing as before.
But every time she looked down again, the chamber was eerily clear and tidy.
Yu Xiao's brows drew together in suspicion.
She gulped, slowly rising to her feet, her gaze darting between the two versions of the chamber.
Could it be... is this place just a magical illusion? A trick conjured by someone's art?
Determined to test her theory, she strode directly toward one of the spirits.
As she reached it, she stretched out her hand, trying to seize its arm—but her fingers passed cleanly through empty air.
There was nothing there.
Her doubts transformed into certainty.
The terror of the chamber was nothing more than a conjured illusion—one she was now determined to unravel.
That's unfair! They can touch and hurt me, but I can't touch them.
Yu Xiao stepped backward, folding her arms across her chest.
A sly, satisfied curve played at her lips as she regarded the empty air where the spirit had seemed to stand.
Such petty tricks! she thought, chin held high. Humans might be fragile and powerless, but when it comes to knowledge, we excel.
According to human theory, illusions can be broken by testing—like looking between the legs or reversing the way you wear your clothes.
She scoffed aloud, her voice dripping with disdain.
"You're just a mere, pathetic spirit. Why would I waste my time dealing with you? You can fool someone else, but not me."
With that, Yu Xiao turned her back on the conjured phantoms, her confidence unshaken and her mind already searching for the next clue.
"Since you want to testify against me, bring it on! And I, Yu Xiao, will proudly show you the most satisfying view—you'll never forget it for the rest of your life."
Her voice rang out, echoing boldly through the chamber.
High above, the invisible onlookers, Long Jianyu and Yun Qingjue, remained fixed on her every move.
"Dijun…" Yun Qingjue began, but fell silent as Long Jianyu raised a hand to quiet him.
"She's figured it out. She knows it's just an illusion," Long Jianyu said quietly, a note of approval in his tone.
"Whoa… I can't believe how smart she is!" Yun Qingjue breathed, awe flickering in his eyes.
Long Jianyu's lips twitched into a faint, knowing smile.
"I suspected as much. Someone as sharp-tongued as her is never to be underestimated."
"Then, what are we going to do now?" Yun Qingjue asked, turning to Long Jianyu.
"We watch her," Long Jianyu replied, his gaze never leaving Yu Xiao. "Let's see how she deals with the situation."