Chapter Fifteen: The True Form of the Rag Doll

As the rag doll’s arms shrank, Han Tianyue vanished into thin air before everyone’s eyes.

“What did you do to Han Tianyue?” Fang Zhe, who had been flung aside by the rag doll, stood up and strode angrily to confront it.

The rag doll let out a muffled “pop,” then darted away, vanishing among the wheels and axles of the secret mechanism chamber.

“Come back here!” Fang Zhe shouted, his voice hoarse with pain and urgency.

But all around, only the grinding of the axles was heard; the rag doll was nowhere to be found.

The intense pain jolted Han Tianyue from his stupor. He opened his eyes, finding himself enveloped in darkness. Probing with his fingers, he realized he was surrounded by fabric—still trapped in the rag doll’s palm.

“You’re awake!” Through the seams of the rag doll’s hand, Han Tianyue saw a giant eye glaring down at him.

Standing in its palm, Han Tianyue asked, “Why didn’t you kill me?”

The rag doll gazed into the distance. “You’re the first person before me who understands that I’m not afraid of death. That’s why I didn’t kill you.”

“Actually, you want my help, don’t you?” Han Tianyue sat down in the rag doll’s palm, continuing, “You’re merely a remnant consciousness attached to this doll.”

The rag doll nodded. “It seems you understand quite a lot.”

In the past, he had encountered spirits, and the elder still residing within him was also a consciousness. He had met ghosts as well; though both ghosts and consciousnesses were spiritual entities, there were differences between them.

“Just a little,” Han Tianyue admitted, without false modesty. He still didn’t know the essential distinction between ghosts and consciousnesses, nor their abilities.

Just then, the rag doll halted, its gaze losing all luster as it looked ahead. Han Tianyue glanced at it; the trace of consciousness was leaving the rag doll.

He leapt from its palm—since he’d been shrunk by the rag doll, the small room now seemed a towering palace. At its center stood a massive crystal coffin. Through the crystal, Han Tianyue could vaguely see a huge body lying inside.

“You must be the true form of the rag doll,” Han Tianyue said calmly as he approached.

Floating atop the crystal coffin was a shadowy, azure figure. From afar, the blue aura seemed enchanting and alluring, but up close, he saw it was dignified and possessed an extraordinary air.

“Yes, I am the builder of this place—Susu Xiaomei,” the blue shadow declared with pride.

“Susu Xiaomei? Never heard of you,” Han Tianyue replied bluntly.

Susu Xiaomei nearly burst with anger, but then remembered she was now only a consciousness; even if she wanted to die, she couldn’t. So she didn’t argue, only said, “You’re quite an amusing child. I like you.”

“If you need my help, just say so,” Han Tianyue responded.

Susu Xiaomei had intended to chat with him, but after hearing this, her expression grew wistful, though she remained poised. “I’m not truly dead, nor sealed away. I simply don’t wish to wake. I am waiting for my king to ride the five-colored clouds and come for me.”

Thinking this, Susu Xiaomei unexpectedly smiled, shy as a young girl.

Han Tianyue looked up at the massive spirit, thinking, “Women are always like this—never as they appear. She seems so dignified, yet inside she’s still just a little girl. Just like the Crown Prince: always cold and distant on the surface, but deep down…” He recalled how, after every injury, the Crown Prince would send Fang Zhe to bring him medicine. A warmth filled Han Tianyue’s heart, and a happy smile spread across his face.

“What are you smiling at?” Susu Xiaomei lifted Han Tianyue’s face with her slender, enormous fingers, raising him onto the coffin. Since the crystal lid was open, Susu Xiaomei released him, and Han Tianyue tumbled onto her body.

“I was simply moved by your beautiful wait, intoxicated by your blissful future. That’s why I smiled,” Han Tianyue explained.

Hearing this, Susu Xiaomei liked Han Tianyue all the more. “Good, good, you little rascal, I like you!”

Han Tianyue shook his head in resignation, taking a seat on Susu Xiaomei’s body. It was soft, and he quickly stood up; the gently sloping surface was Susu Xiaomei’s forbidden domain. Han Tianyue pretended nothing had happened, wandering about her body as if it were nothing.

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