Chapter Eight

The Soul Emperor finally stood before Yu Hongyan.

This time, he made no mistake. He traversed countless timelines, experiencing eight humiliating and absurd cycles of reincarnation, finally pinpointing the woman's exact location—at a point in time before she had a chance to cast her curse on him. He saw the small town, the courtyard, and the woman sitting on the stone bench.

She was truly beautiful. Her beauty wasn't Xiao Xun'er's gentle grace, Cai Lin's aloof elegance, or Ya Fei's allure; it was a natural beauty that transcended gender and age. She sat there, a red flower tucked between her fingers, a faint smile playing on her lips, like the gentlest breeze in spring, or the most poignant fallen leaf in late autumn.

"You've arrived," Yu Hongyan said, her voice soft as if greeting an old friend. "I've been waiting for you for a long time."

The Soul Emperor didn't waste any words with her. His palm had already gathered immense soul power, enough to instantly obliterate any half-Emperor level expert. He would give this woman no more chances, no more room for her to unleash her curses.

But Yu Hongyan did not shy away. She simply raised her head, looked at the Soul Emperor with her smiling peach blossom eyes, and gently shook her head.

"Don't you understand? Killing me won't change anything."

"Shut up!" The Soul Emperor's roar shook the entire courtyard. The soul power in his hand transformed into a sharp black beam of light, crashing down towards Yu Hongyan's chest. "Your curse has humiliated me beyond measure! Today is your death day!"

The beam of light pierced through Yu Hongyan's body.

She looked down at the large, transparent hole in her chest, then looked up at the Soul Emperor. The smile on her lips remained, even deeper than before.

“What a pity,” she said softly. “If you hadn’t killed me, the curse would have had no effect on you at all.”

The Soul Emperor's hand paused slightly: "What did you say?"

"I say, you've got the cause and effect wrong." Yu Hongyan's voice began to drift, her body turning into specks of light bit by bit, like drifting catkins in the wind. "You think I cursed you, which is why you went through those reincarnations. But the truth is quite the opposite—it's because you kept traveling through time and space, kept going back to the past, that those reincarnations became reality."

The Soul Emperor's pupils constricted sharply: "Impossible!"

"Time cannot be reversed. You think you are changing the past, but in reality, you are just adding to what has already happened." Yu Hongyan's smile became increasingly blurred in the dissipating light. "You traveled through time and space eight times, entered the bodies of eight women, and had relations with Xiao Yan eight times. Each time, you made his soul stronger, and each time, you propelled him to a higher peak. You thought you were stopping him, but in reality, you were making him."

"You're talking nonsense!"

"I'm not lying." Yu Hongyan's last vestige of form swayed in the wind, like a flower about to wither. "The reason you died at his hands wasn't for anything else, but because you yourself repeatedly returned to the past, allowing him to absorb the power of your soul time and time again. Your soul contained the essence of a half-emperor, and with each fusion, he gained immense nourishment from it. You nurtured your enemy, and then blamed him for being too strong—"

Her laughter echoed in the wind, carrying an indescribable mockery and pity.

"Soul Emperor, you are a laughable person."

The Soul Emperor stood there blankly, watching Yu Hongyan's figure completely disappear into the air.

His mind went blank.

Is what she said true? The reason he died at Xiao Yan's hands was because he repeatedly went back to the past, giving Xiao Yan power? He thought he was rebelling against fate, but in reality, he was adding fuel to the fire, pushing himself into the abyss with his own hands?

He recalled those eight reincarnations. Each time, he entered those women's bodies; each time, he had the most intimate contact with Xiao Yan. He remembered Xiao Xun'er's wedding night, the underground magma of Cai Lin, the fragrant cave of Little Fairy Doctor, Nalan Yanran's long-awaited reunion, Yun Yun's backyard, Zi Yan's bloodline awakening, and Ya Fei's ambiguous teasing—

Each time, Xiao Yan gained some kind of improvement during their interaction. He originally thought it was a coincidence, but now he realized it was because his half-emperor level soul essence was being absorbed by Xiao Yan little by little through that most intimate contact.

He used his own strength to raise his own gravedigger.

"No...no..." he murmured to himself, "It can't be...this can't be real..."

He lowered his head and looked at his hands.

Then he saw it.

His hands were changing. His skin became fair and delicate, his knuckles small and supple, and his nails rounded and glossy. He was horrified to discover that his body was shrinking at a visible rate—his robust frame was shrinking, becoming slender and exquisite; his broad shoulders were narrowing, becoming rounded and smooth; his strong chest was swelling, transforming into two full and soft peaks. He felt his throat contracting, his voice becoming clear and high-pitched; he felt his waist tightening, his curves becoming more shapely; he felt his legs lengthening, his skin becoming as smooth as satin.

The red mist before Yu Hongyan dissipated had silently seeped into his soul. In the past, such a soul attack would have had no effect on him, but his soul already contained the soul imprints of eight women. Their existence was like eight open doors, allowing Yu Hongyan's techniques to penetrate unimpeded and flow freely.

That was Yu Hongyan's last curse before her death, and also the last "gift" she offered.

She turned him into a woman.

A beautiful young woman in her early twenties. Her beauty was captivating, her figure alluring and seductive, every smile and gesture exuding a mesmerizing charm. He—no, she—stood in the courtyard, looking down at her slender hands, feeling the fullness of her breasts, sensing every change in her body.

She opened her mouth, wanting to let out an angry roar, but what came out was a soft moan.

She wanted to gather her soul power and tear this damned body apart, but her power was completely beyond her control. The soul imprints of the eight women sang joyfully within her, resonating with a blissful contentment. They had finally obtained a body that truly belonged to them.

They could finally go to him openly and honestly.

And she, the Soul Emperor—no, she should be called Soul Charm now—could only watch helplessly as her body moved uncontrollably, taking steps out of the courtyard, across the street, and heading in a direction she knew all too well.

Xiao Yan's room.

At this moment, on the timeline, Xiao Yan has just experienced an earth-shattering battle. His body is extremely weak, and he is lying on his bed resting with his eyes closed. His several close female friends—Xiao Xun'er, Cai Lin, Little Fairy Doctor, Nalan Yanran, Yun Yun, Zi Yan, and Ya Fei—are all by his side, taking care of him.

When Hun Meier reached the door, the other women simultaneously looked up at her.

Xiao Xun'er frowned slightly: "You are..."

Hun Meier opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, she heard her own voice say, "My name is Hun Meier, and I am... I am his lover. We have known each other for many years."

A complex look flashed across the women's eyes simultaneously. They exchanged glances, and then Xiao Xun'er spoke, letting out a soft sigh: "He has too many romantic entanglements, so many that we can't even count them all. You should go inside; he's resting there."

Hun Meier lowered her head and walked past the women in the harem. She could feel their gazes on her—curiosity, scrutiny, a hint of jealousy, but mostly a helpless acceptance. They were already used to new women constantly appearing around Xiao Yan, already used to sharing this man with others.

She pushed open the door and went into the room.

Xiao Yan lay on the bed with his eyes closed. His face was pale, and his breathing was weak; clearly, the battle had exhausted him greatly. He heard footsteps and slowly opened his eyes.

"Who are you……"

Hun Meier didn't answer. She walked to the bedside and looked at the weak man before her—the man she had once hated to the bone, the man she wanted to kill, yet the man with whom she had the most intimate contact in eight reincarnations. She looked at his pale face, his tired eyes, his dry lips, and her heart suddenly skipped a beat.

She didn't know why she did that.

All she knew was that when she came to her senses, she was already straddling Xiao Yan, leaning down to kiss his lips. Her body knew what she wanted better than she did; the soul imprints of the eight women guided her, making her movements natural and fluid, as if she were born to do this.

Xiao Yan's eyes widened in surprise. He tried to push her away, but his body was too weak. Her body—this body modified by Yu Hongyan, a combination of the best qualities of eight women—was softer, more sensitive, and more alluring than any body she had ever entered.

She could feel Xiao Yan's body gradually responding to her kisses and caresses, hear his breathing become rapid, and feel his hands finally give up resisting and gently hold her waist instead.

She felt so happy.

That happiness wasn't the happiness of the Soul Emperor, but the happiness of those eight women, the shared joy and satisfaction of the eight imprints in her soul. She could finally be with the one they loved, finally possess him openly and legitimately. She rode on top of him, feeling the tingling pleasure of him entering her body, feeling his heartbeat intertwined with hers, feeling their breaths rise and fall in unison.

She felt like a ship that had finally found its harbor.

She didn't know how many times she did it that night. She only remembered being like an insatiable little animal, taking from him again and again until he was exhausted, until he didn't even have the strength to beg for mercy. She remembered him asking her intermittently who she was, but she didn't answer, only holding him tighter.

once.

twice.

three times.

Eight times. A full eight times. As dawn approached, she finally collapsed onto him, drenched in sweat, too weak to even move a finger. Xiao Yan lay beneath her, his breathing shallow, his eyes unfocused, as if he had been completely drained.

"Who exactly are you...?" With his last bit of strength, he asked the question that had been lingering in his mind since the first time he saw her.

Hun Meier lay on his chest, listening to his weak heartbeat, and suddenly smiled.

At that moment, she suddenly understood something.

This is the best way for her to take revenge.

It wasn't about killing him, or defeating him, but about entering his life completely in this way, in this identity, becoming a part of him that he could never forget, a part he could never sever ties with. She wanted to become the most special woman in his heart, the most private secret on his bedside table.

She gently shifted her waist, feeling the part of him still inside her tremble slightly because of her movement. She could feel Xiao Yan's body stiffen abruptly because of her action.

“I am the Soul Emperor,” she said softly.

The air in the room seemed to freeze for a moment.

Xiao Yan's body stiffened abruptly. He stared wide-eyed at the stunningly beautiful girl clinging to his chest, his mind going completely blank for a moment. He wanted to push her away, to throw her off him, but her legs were tightly wrapped around his waist, holding him firmly in place.

"What did you say?"

Hun Meier didn't answer. She simply smiled slightly and began to slowly sway her hips. Her movements were slow and gentle, like ripples on water. But each movement precisely targeted Xiao Yan's most sensitive spot, leaving his body, which had just experienced eight orgasms, completely unable to resist the stimulation.

"No...stop...no..."

Xiao Yan's words were breathless, but Hun Meier paid no heed. She continued to move her waist slowly, feeling him gradually harden inside her, feeling his body tremble slightly from extreme pleasure and shock.

“You are making love to your enemy right now.” She leaned down and whispered in his ear, “You killed the Soul Emperor, but I did not die. I survived in another way, living on your bed, living inside your body.”

Her hips swayed more violently, and Xiao Yan couldn't help but let out a low groan. He wanted to push her away, but his arms were weak and powerless; he wanted to gather his fighting spirit, but his strength had been completely drained by her during the eight nights of revelry last night.

“You… madman…” he said through gritted teeth.

“I’m not crazy.” Hun Meier’s smile carried an indescribable satisfaction and pride. “I’ve just found a better way to take revenge.”

She began to speed up. Her body felt like it was on fire; every cell was burning, screaming, and desperately craving him. She could feel Xiao Yan swelling and trembling inside her, resisting the impending climax—

Then, he surrendered.

That was the first person in the history of the Dou Qi Continent to squeeze a Dou Di to ejaculate.

And this person was the nemesis he had killed.

Afterwards, Hun Meier lay on his chest, feeling his heart pounding like a drum, feeling his lingering tremor, feeling the warmth of his fluids still inside her. She reached out and gently stroked his sweaty cheek, as if caressing a rare treasure.

Then she finally spoke, recounting everything she had experienced—the cycles of time, the experiences of entering different women's bodies, the nights he embraced, possessed, and conquered her. She spoke calmly, as if telling a story unrelated to herself. But her fingers kept gently tracing his eyebrows, his nose, his lips.

Xiao Yan remained silent for a long time, lying on the bed with his eyes blankly staring at the ceiling. Countless complex emotions surged in his mind—shock, anger, shame, confusion, and a sense of absurdity that he couldn't describe.

He killed the Soul Emperor. He was certain he had killed him. That nemesis who had been his enemy for thousands of years, that powerful figure standing at the pinnacle of the Dou Qi Continent, had indeed died at his hands. But he never expected that the dead man would return in this way. And not only did he return, but he also made love to him nine times on this very bed.

"You..." his voice was hoarse, "Don't you hate me anymore?"

Hun Meier smiled softly. Her fingers slid from Xiao Yan's cheek to his chest, feeling his steady and powerful heartbeat.

"Hate. Of course I hate you. You killed me, destroyed everything I had, and I fell from grace to the bottom, becoming what I am now. How could I not hate you?"

Her fingers traced circles on his chest, her voice soft as if she were whispering sweet nothings.

"But I love you. The love of those eight women is etched into my soul, indelible and unforgettable. Each of them was unable to resist you, and the eight of them together made me completely fall for them."

She raised her head and looked at Xiao Yan with her bright, watery peach blossom eyes, a hint of pride and satisfaction in her smile.

"So this is how I've become. I hate you, but I love you. I want to kill you, but I can't bear to leave you. You killed an enemy, but gained a lover. Do you think you won, or I won?"

Xiao Yan did not answer.

He found himself unable to answer the question.

All he knew was that when he looked at the stunningly beautiful face before him, he felt no hatred. Perhaps it was because he had already killed her once, perhaps it was because he had accepted her existence during that night of revelry, or perhaps it was because—deep down, there was a trace of pity and heartache for this crazy and persistent woman.

He did not push her away.

He let her lie against his chest, let her fingers roam over his skin, let her warm breath brush against his neck. He reached out and gently embraced her waist.

"Is that Soul Charm?" he asked softly.

She looked up at him, a hint of surprise in her eyes.

"Um?"

"This name sounds better than Soul Emperor."

She paused for a moment, then burst out laughing. Her smile was as radiant as a blooming flower, carrying a long-lost ease and joy that she herself couldn't quite explain.

"Then I'll be called Soul Charm from now on."

She nestled back against his chest, closed her eyes, and felt his heartbeat. The soul imprints of the eight women vibrated gently within her, like a chorus of an ancient lullaby, tender, calm, and full of peace.

Outside, it was already daylight.

Outside the room, the concubines had already woken up and were gathered together whispering. They were discussing the girl who had suddenly appeared last night, why Xiao Yan treated her so specially, and her stunningly beautiful face and alluring figure.

They didn't know that the girl had once been their husbands' mortal enemies. They didn't know that their souls resided within her body. They didn't know how complex, how long, and how incredible the entanglement between her and their husbands was.

This is a secret shared by Xiao Yan and Hun Meier.

She became the only girl in his heart, someone he couldn't even tell his closest relatives.

Even the Dou Di has secrets he cannot reveal.