The Princess And The Lord-Chapter 1399: Between Real and Illusion

The fog inside the hidden ruins was much thinner than outside. The place was lit by the reddish light from the flaming stones that protruded from the cave walls, and the further Zhao Li Xin went inside, he found the ruins of a large building, the remains of beautifully carved pillars scattered on the cracked and broken stone floor until it did not look like a floor.

Zhao Li Xin cast his gaze to the ruined dome ceiling filled with stone stalactites that filled the cave ceiling. This atmosphere reminded him of the lower level of the labyrinth he had visited before, but without the strange symbols or giant beast statues.

However, he felt something strange in this place as if something was watching him, which would make ordinary people anxious and panic. Fortunately, Zhao Li Xin was not like most people.

Rather than scared, he felt a sense of familiarity with this place. Oddly, this place reminded him of when he accidentally found the Underground Palace.

Funny, how he felt comfortable in a creepy place like this. Furthermore, it only solidified the difference between him with normal people.

[Master, you are already inside the hidden ruins, right?!] The fire spirit’s voice was suddenly heard.

[Yes, more importantly, how is King Lucas’ condition?] He was more concerned about Lucas’ situation than his own.

[Same, he’s neither getting better nor worse, just stagnant...] The fire spirit answered seriously, he didn’t dare to joke around because he knew how important Lucas was to Lory, and Lory was Zhao Li Xin’s everything.

Zhao Li Xin ponders over Lucas’ condition and can’t wait to see him, because he knows Lucas’ condition has been weighing on Lory and everyone in the palace’s minds, even though they all act as if everything is okay.

[Master, I feel something lurking, but I don’t know who or what it is, so raise your guard,] the fire spirit warned Zhao Li Xin.

[Hm..] Zhao Li Xin replied indifferently, but he did raise his guard.

He went deeper into the cave and soon he found the ruins of large pillars that towered up to the ceiling of the cave, and there were fragments of stone from the remains of statues and intricately carved ceilings, but because it was destroyed, it was not clear what was depicted in that place.

One could imagine how magnificent this place must have been in the past, maybe some kind of palace or temple, whatever it was, this place was built for something important.

[Master, do you feel it?] The fire spirit’s voice tensed.

[Yes... It’s still watching me, guessed that thing it’s waiting for the right time...] Zhao Li Xin swept his eyes to the area around him.

[Don’t be careless, master!] The fire spirit warned.

[Have I ever...?] Zhao Li Xin replies sarcastically

[Oh, right!] the fire spirit realized he was being foolish to worry his cruel Master.

Out of nowhere, something suddenly strikes him like hundreds of needles stabbing his brain at the same time. It was so painful that even someone with high pain tolerance like Zhao Li Xin couldn’t hold it. He bent on his stomach, growling while squeezing his head in pain.

What happened next, everything around him spinning, he shut his eyes, but all of a sudden, the pain disappeared as fast as it came.

When Zhao Li Xin opened his eyes, a familiar smell wafted to his nostrils, and when he opened his eyes, he found himself surrounded by Bluebell flower fields.

The alarm on his head immediately warned him that this was an illusion, and he knew better because he had experienced it many times before, not only when he practiced array skills in the past but also when his mind was influenced by Arthea, Emperor Lei Yu, and most of all, Lazarus.

Zhao Li Xin looked around warily before a soft voice calling him from afar, [Xin...Li Xin]

The voice was a voice he knew too well, it was a voice he could never forget since the first time he heard it...but, it’s impossible, she couldn’t be here!

[Li Xin, help me!] The voice in the back of his head told him that it was not her, but how could he be sure, even though there’s only zero point one percent it could be her, he could not ignore it.

[Xin....I’m hurt... please come to me...hurry]

Zhao Li Xin’s pace quickened, despite knowing it was probably the enemy ruse, but he could not ignore it. Even if it was just an illusion, he could not stop himself. Suddenly, a cold, sharp wind struck him from behind, causing him to reflexively turn around and swing his sword.

The time felt as if frozen as a droplet of crimson liquid fell on the bluebell flower petals, tainting the beautiful blue colors.

[Xin...you hurt...me] Lory held her bleeding chest when blood flowed down, soaking her white dress and dripping into the flower. Soon after, all the Bluebell flowers around them suddenly turned dark red.

The suppressed memories from the past burst like a broken dam, and he looked down at the blood slowly trickling from his sword. Zhao Li Xin trembled in fright. How could he hurt her again, how could he?!

The trauma and guilt that were hidden in his heart emerged in the open and enveloped him like a black blanket soon after his mind turned blank.

The sword slipped from his hand. Lorry felt on his knee surrounded with her own puddle of blood and tears flowing on her pale face, she raised her eyes and looked at Zhao Li Xin with an accusing look, [Why ... why did you hurt me, Li Xin?]

[Lory...I..I didn’t mean to...] Zhao Li Xin’s voice choked with guilt, he subconsciously stepped closer to help Lory, but his movement stopped when he saw a strange glint in Lory’s eyes, then he realized it was not the same...it wasn’t those eyes that made his heart tremble.

Those weren’t Lory’s eyes!

A dark purple flame burst out from him and blazed like wildfire, his dark eyes filled with anger, [How dare you pretend to be my wife!]

The Immortal fire spread rapidly and burned everything, including the fake Lory. Anger vibrated his veins and erupted like a volcano.

[Li Xin, don’t burn me, help me - LI XIN!] But the fire devoured her mercilessly.

Zhao Li Xin clenched his fists watching the creature that looked like Lory burn, even though he knew the creature wasn’t Lory but seeing the face that looked like Lory in pain made his heart feel like it was being torn but he gritted his teeth until finally the creature burned but not to ashes the creature disappeared without a trace which convinced Zhao Li Xin that the creature was just an illusion from whoever controlled this place to disturb him.

Anger shimmered inside him, Whoever it is, it has crossed his bottom line!

"Show your face, evildoer, or I will burn this whole place without a trace," he warned in an icy voice.

Suddenly, the scenery in front of him changed again. This time, he appears in a vast green field surrounded by lush green hills and a bright blue sky adorned with thin white clouds.

From afar, he heard a long roar pierce the sky, it seemed coming from a giant beast. Zhao Li Xin, who was much calmer, looked up at the blue sky. Zhao Li Xin knew this was also another illusion made by this place to confuse him. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

Zhao Li Xin placed a protective array around him before he sat cross-legged on the grass, realizing he had no time to waste. He focused his mind deep into a vast space of his own.

The feeling was like floating in a deep, dark, and empty space, not long after a small light appeared and grew bigger and bigger before it scattered and transformed into symbols and old letters. It was an array formation he needed to take control of before it controlled him, or worse, devour him.

Zhao Li Xin swiftly made a hand sign with his fingers to control the array formation, when suddenly he felt a presence coming towards him in slow motion.

"Who are you?"

It was a young woman’s voice, it sounded clear like a bell, and also childish, it seemed the woman was probably only twelve or thirteen years old.

Regardless, Zhao Li Xin kept his eyes closed to stay focused, alas, the voice disturbed him again.

"Why do you smell the same... different, yet similar?"

Zhao Li Xin continued to ignore the voice, however, he could feel someone crouching in front of him, observing him like a rare creature, it felt like it was trying to drill his face.

Unfortunately, Zhao Li Xin didn’t have time to entertain the annoying presence. But the peculiar entity remained persistent, it felt it became more and more curious about him.

"You smell like him, but you... You’re protected by other things, huh... how strange," the voice sounded curious.

Zhao Li Xin tried to stay focused, but the voice felt like it came from inside his head and tried to break his focus, confusing him.

[You useless brat, you should be glad I saved you!] This time, he heard the screams of his stepmother, the noble consort Ying.

[No one wants you here, why don’t you just die?] he heard Zhao Mu Fan mocking him.

[Who would want a brother like you? You’re just a disabled dog we keep] Zhao Qi Feng laughed.

[You’re in my way....] Zhao Yi Chen spoke condescendingly.

The voices kept popping up in his head, disturbing his concentration, but Zhao Li Xin kept holding on.

Sweat dripped from Zhao Li Xin’s forehead as he struggled to maintain his senses to be focused. His fingers moved in a precise sequence as he concentrated on solving the symbol in front of him.

Meanwhile, the voices inside his head grew louder and louder at the same time the symbol in front of him glowed brighter and brighter and grew larger like a moon, and suddenly it exploded.