Chapter 6 — I was taken to the palace as a substitute for the dead princess

“I” gasped softly.

“That year…”

“You also said the same thing to me.”

“You said the palace door was locked tightly.”

“The Divine Order cannot be disobeyed.”

“He said…”

“Just stay alive.”

“Then there will still be hope in the future.”

“But…”

“I have no future anymore.”

“So this time.”

“No one…”

“It could make me die again.”

Right at that moment. Outside the yard suddenly came the sound of the guard's footsteps approaching. Bui Nghien raised his hand to wipe away the blood stains at the corner of his lips.

“If the princess makes a big deal out of it.”

“Your Majesty will immediately welcome you back to the palace.”

“Within seven days.”

“You cannot leave Tham Dien's soul.”

"If Tham Dien's soul disappears right in Bui Palace."

“So you…”

“It will no longer be possible to live stably.”

“I” stared at him.

“Are you threatening me?”

Bui Nghien calmly replied.

“God is saving people.”

“At the same time…”

“Also saving her.”

“I” looked at him for a long time.

Suddenly she turned around and left. As she walked to the door, she suddenly turned her head to look towards the tablet.

“Tham Dien.”

“Did you hear that?”

“He saved you…”

“It's just convenient.”

“The first person in his heart.”

“It will always be just me.”

I stand under the eternal lamp. My soul seemed to be pierced by those words, cold to the bottom of my heart. After she left. The spiritual hall once again fell into silence. Bui Nghien slowly returned to the altar. He did not call my name again. Just quietly spread the red string, then took out a yellowed piece of paper from his chest. On that talisman, clearly write my date of birth and eight characters. The handwriting is his. Even the blood used to write... It's also his blood. He spoke softly.

“Tonight, on the hour of the Rat.”

“I will open the Soul Reverse Formation.”

“If successful.”

“She will be able to return to her body.”

“If it fails.”

“I will use my life…”

“Repay her life.”

I looked at his pale profile. Only now... did I truly understand what he said outside the palace gate. He once said. Tonight will take us back. What he wants to bring back. It's really Tham Dien. But... In my body right now there is still Princess Truong Lac. Want me back. Then she has to leave. But Bui Nghien... used to love her. The hour of the Rat is coming. A thick fog suddenly appeared in Bui Mansion. That mist slowly rose up from under the cracks in the ground. Follow the green stone floor. Floor by floor. Quietly engulfing the entire courtyard. The white candles in the sacred hall simultaneously lowered a bit. I stand next to the coffin. Seeing Bui Nghien personally close the big door of the shrine. Outside the door. A guard sent by the royal palace. Inside the door. It's my tablet. It's my fake body. And there's me... A lonely soul that no one can see. Bui Nghien sprinkled cinnabar on the ground. Cinnabar mixed with blood. Draw a formation that is completely opposite to the candle circle formation in the palace. Formation in the royal palace. Forcibly pulled my soul out of my body. And this formation. It seems... I want to bring my soul back again. Every time he drew one more stroke. His face turned even whiter. I was floating and standing to one side. Want to stop him. But... I cannot do anything. When the last stroke has just fallen. The eternal lamp suddenly shook violently. Bui Nghien placed the soul-protecting red string in the center of the eye formation. Hoarse voice.

“Tham Dien.”

“Go into battle.”

I looked at the blood-red cinnabar patch under my feet. The soul instinctively feels fear. It seemed like Bui Nghien guessed that I was hesitant. He said softly.

“The guardian bell is still there.”

“I can keep her.”

I gritted my teeth. Slowly enter the battle. The moment my foot landed on the formation. A fierce pain immediately exploded from the depths of my soul. Obviously I no longer have a body. But it's like there are thousands of small needles pinning me at the same time. The bronze bell on the red string rang frantically. Bui Nghien kneeled and sat outside the formation. Both hands make a seal. Quietly chant a spell. That note. Not the true sound of Daoism. It's more like a kind of evil magic that uses lives to exchange lives. I heard the sound of hurried footsteps outside the yard. Someone shouted loudly.

“Something happened to the West!”

“The princess suddenly vomited blood.”

“Currently running towards the sacred hall!”

Bui Nghien's fingertips slightly paused. But the chanting still did not stop. I saw it from the crack in the door. A corner of the moon-white dress slowly appeared. Right in the next moment.