The moonlight was caught in the window crack, like a piece of faded, pale cloth strip.
I squatted in front of the cabinet in the Pharmacology Hall, the three seeds in my palm still carrying the scent of damp earth. The Broken Chain was pressed against my chest, burning fiercely. The Pendant was gone, but it was still vibrating, as if urging me to act. The Purple Mark on my cuff had already burned to my forearm; something was crawling beneath my skin, causing throbbing pain. I couldn't wait any longer.
I bit my tongue until it bled, and the Scent of Blood rushed up, making me a little clearer-headed. I put the seeds in my mouth; they were so bitter my tongue went numb. The Yin Earth energy flowed down my throat, momentarily suppressing the agitation in my Meridians. Seizing this gap, I took off Lu Jiuxuan's Outer Robe. The fabric was thick, and the cold fragrance still lingered. I didn't look closely, folded it neatly, and stuffed it into the Hidden Compartment.
I didn't touch the 《Herbal Spirituality Record》 in the corner of the wall again. The green seeds weren't planted by me, nor were they placed by me, but I had no time to think about that now.
I climbed out the back window and stepped onto the eaves. The night wind swept across my cheeks, carrying the direction of the Forbidden Book Pavilion on the East Side of the Academy. The Broken Chain suddenly jerked, pointing that way. I knew what it was warning me about—that place was forbidden, protected by a triple Barrier, accessible only to Instructors. But the line from the Fragmentary Scroll of the 《Yin-Yang Disguise Art》, "Only with Pure Yang Closeness can one temporarily continue," kept spinning in my mind. Relying on Lu Jiuxuan wasn't a solution; he could save me once, but not for a lifetime. I had to find my own way out.
The back wall of the Forbidden Book Pavilion was dilapidated from age; a brick was loose. I used it for leverage to climb up, wrapping my palm with coarse cloth, and pried open the Window Lattice. The wood creaked once. I held my breath, waited for two counts, and since no one came, I flipped inside.
It was pitch black inside; the moonlight only reached the first row of bookshelves. The floor was paved with Rune Stone Slabs that would light up when footsteps landed on them. I walked close to the wall, careful not to put my full weight on the soles of my shoes. The Broken Chain pressed against my brow, and I closed my eyes to sense. It grew hotter and hotter, then suddenly trembled, pointing toward the East Side of the top floor.
I stepped onto the ladder, my ankles weak, and the Purple Mark crawled up another inch. The ladder swayed slightly, so I steadied myself by holding onto the bookshelf, brushing against an old book with my palm. The Rune lit up, and a Blue Light swept over the cover. There were no words, only a Cracks, as if it had been split open by someone.
This was it.
I pulled it out; the cover was ice-cold. The moment my fingertips touched it, the pages flipped open by themselves, stopping on a certain page. The moonlight shone obliquely across it, and eight characters emerged: Yin-Yang Inn, Spirit Root Self-Devouring.
It was exactly the same as on the Fragmentary Scroll.
I turned the page, looking for the continuation of "Pure Yang Closeness." As my finger slid toward the spine, the Cracks suddenly split open, and a Blood Talisman drilled out from the paper, wrapping around my wrist.
The pain almost made me cry out.
It felt like iron pincers clamping my bone and twisting inward. I bit my lower lip but didn't let go. The seed in my mouth dissolved, and the bitter juice flowed down my throat, steadying my mind for a moment. I looked down at my palm; the flesh was burned open, revealing a string of Star Script, crooked and uneven, as if drawn in blood. I had seen these markings before—they were on the Stone Slab in the Secret Chamber of the Library Pavilion.
The Blood Talisman was still crawling upward, moving along the Meridians toward my Heart Area. I yanked my hand back violently, and the book snapped shut, but the Talisman didn't release. It was like it was alive, burrowing into my skin.
I retreated to the wall and my hand touched a wooden plaque.
The four words "See no evil" were deeply carved into it.
I tore it off and smashed it toward the Blood Talisman.
The moment the plaque hit the ground, the Rune experienced a Backlash, and the entire plaque exploded, turning into a massive stone that slammed against the door. The Blood Talisman trembled and scattered.
The door was sealed shut.
I slid down, leaning against the wall, my palm still smoking. The Star Script hadn't disappeared; it was embedded in my flesh, burning hot. The remaining seeds in my mouth were still there, but they were no longer cool. I knew they wouldn't last much longer.
The Broken Chain suddenly stopped vibrating.
Footsteps sounded from the corridor outside the Pavilion.
They were light, but the rhythm was familiar.
"Caught the little mouse~"
It was Situ Mo's voice.
I held my breath. He didn't push the door or call for anyone. He was just standing outside.
"You shouldn't have touched this book," he said lazily. "The Star Script is carved into your flesh; it will burn through your Heart Meridian within three days. Are you looking for the solution for 'Pure Yang Closeness'? It's not written in the book because it's not the solution; it's the Primer."
I didn't answer.
He chuckled softly. "You say you don't want to trouble me, but every time something happens, you rush toward the most dangerous places. The Black Market last night, the Forbidden Book Pavilion today... Are you truly not afraid of death?"
I still didn't move.
"If you open the door now, I can pretend nothing happened," he said. "Leave the book and go back to sleep. You wouldn't understand those words anyway."
I looked down at my palm. The Star Script glowed faintly, as if responding to something.
Silence reigned outside the door for a few breaths.
"You don't trust me," he said. "But you trust Lu Jiuxuan? He can't even suppress the Seal on his own Heart Area, how can he protect you?"
I clenched my fist; the Star Script pierced my palm, the pain bringing clarity.
"Go away," I managed, my voice hoarse.
Silence returned outside the door.
"Fine," he said. "I won't break down the door. You can't get out on your own, and don't expect anyone else to rescue you. When the Rune burns to your Heart Area, you'll know what it means to wish for death but be unable to die."
The Footsteps faded away.
I leaned against the wall, catching my breath. The bitterness in my mouth had faded, and the remaining seeds were starting to dry out. I knew they wouldn't last much longer.
The Star Script on my palm was still burning hot.
I raised my hand, holding it up to the moonlight. The crooked characters seemed to end with a Hook, catching at the end of my Bloodline.
I used my fingernail to scratch along that Hook.
My skin broke, and blood flowed out, dripping onto the book page.
The blood wasn't absorbed.
Instead, it seeped inward, following the lines of the writing.