A chilling sensation spread from the deepest corners of Han Li's consciousness, gradually waking him from his slumber. The strange and suffocating sensation made him feel like he was waking from a severe illness—his body weak and limp, like he was recovering from a grave fever. When he tried to open his eyes, the weight of his eyelids was overwhelming. His body felt immobile, as though it had been drained of all energy. Yet, amidst this confusion, a spark of clarity ignited in his mind.
"Wait, have I... regained control of my body?"
Suddenly, the flickering memory of the events before his unconsciousness rushed back. He had been under the control of Mo Dafu's strange spell, trapped in the ritual, but now... now it seemed that something had gone wrong.
A surge of hope flooded through him, but he kept his emotions in check, trying to regain some strength before he acted. Slowly, Han Li opened his eyes just enough to discern the surroundings. At first, he saw only a blinding white light, but gradually, the figure of a man came into focus.
The sight that met him made his heart skip a beat.
A face covered in white hair, drawn and gaunt, with deeply sunken eyes that looked as though they had seen centuries of despair. The person was none other than Mo Dafu, but the man's appearance was now so frail and ancient that it was hard to believe he was the same person Han Li had encountered earlier. He looked far older than the last time they met, his appearance resembling a crumbling old corpse.
Mo Dafu was staring at him with wide, fearful eyes, but the strange thing was, the man didn't move a muscle. He was stiff, as though frozen in place.
A jolt of alarm went through Han Li. He instinctively tensed his body, the weakness that had overtaken him only moments ago now forgotten. The first thought in his mind was that he needed to act quickly, strike before Mo Dafu could regain control of him.
But as Han Li observed more closely, he realized something was off. Mo Dafu was not breathing. His eyes were fixed, yet lifeless. It was as though the man had been dead for quite some time.
Han Li frowned, suspicion creeping into his mind. Despite his earlier reaction, he wasn't going to let his guard down yet. Cautiously, he reached out and grabbed Mo Dafu's wrist, checking for a pulse. He also placed his hand under the old man's nose, testing for breath.
Nothing.
Mo Dafu was truly dead.
For a moment, Han Li felt a mix of disbelief and relief. The man who had caused him so much fear, the cunning, ruthless Mo Dafu, was now lying lifeless before him. The death had come swiftly, almost inexplicably. Han Li couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder at how quickly and quietly this man had fallen.
Curious, Han Li touched his forehead and found that the "Mind-Control Talisman"—the yellow talisman Mo Dafu had used to control him—was no longer there. There was no trace of it anywhere. Han Li concluded that the talisman must have been consumed in the process, its magic having finally burned out. It was a strange and unexpected twist, but Han Li felt a deep sense of relief.
With the immediate danger seemingly gone, Han Li began to assess his surroundings. The oil lamps and candles in the room were still burning brightly, indicating that not much time had passed since he lost consciousness. But as his gaze shifted to the nearby jade stones, he noticed something unusual: the once vibrant, rich color of the jade had dimmed considerably. It was as if the stones had lost their luster, their power fading.
Then, Han Li's eyes fell upon something that made him pause: a small, glowing green orb. It was the same orb he had encountered in his dream, the one he had fought with and partially consumed. It was now trembling, trying to hide itself in the corner of the room, seemingly terrified of Han Li.
At first, Han Li was surprised, but soon, a realization dawned on him. This orb was not just a random entity—it was, in fact, the remnant of Yu Zitong, the man who had played a key role in the plot against him.
"Ah, I see now," Han Li murmured softly to himself as he studied the orb. "You must be Yu Zitong."
The green orb flickered, then dimmed slightly as if it had been struck by Han Li's words. After a long silence, the orb finally responded, its voice a clear indication of resignation.
"Yes, you're right," the orb replied, its tone surprisingly calm. "It seems you've figured it out. You must be a clever one, just like Mo Dafu. No wonder you're so difficult to deal with."
The orb didn't try to deny the accusation, instead admitting to its role in the scheme. Han Li's suspicions were confirmed.
"You're quite clever to have figured it out," Han Li said, his tone still calm and unruffled, but a cold edge laced through his words. "But now, I think it's time for you to tell me everything. Who are you really? How did you come to know Mo Dafu? And what exactly was your plan?"
Yu Zitong hesitated, the green orb pulsating nervously, as if it was unsure how to respond. It was clear that, like Mo Dafu, he too had underestimated Han Li's resilience and intellect.
"I... I have no choice but to cooperate now," Yu Zitong said after a long pause, his voice tinged with unease. "I can see you're not going to let me go until you have all the answers. Very well, I'll tell you everything."
Han Li gave him a slight nod, indicating that he was ready to listen. The questions were simple, but the answers would reveal the full scope of the dark conspiracy that had been set in motion. Han Li wasn't in a hurry; he had all the time in the world. The truth would come out eventually, one way or another.