Exploring the Illusory Tomb Part 1 [Ancient Times Version] - Chapter 22: The Asura Eye

Chapter 22: The Asura Eye

It is said that the dragon bore nine sons, one of whom was Yazi. According to ancient texts, Yazi delighted in slaughter and battle. It was often engraved on the hilts or guards of blades and swords—fierce and brutal.

As the Yazi saw Yu Linxing rush toward it, it let out a roar like thunder cracking through the sky. With one sweep of its massive tail, it smashed a large pit into the jade steps. Yu Linxing had been charging straight at it. She twisted her body at the last moment and used her light-step technique to leap toward Luo Shen’s direction, attempting to lure the beast toward the main hall.

Unexpectedly, the Yazi glanced at both her and Luo Shen. It scratched the ground with its claws thoughtfully. And it sniffed the air with its large nose. Then it turned around. Its bronze bell-like eyes were gleaming with greed—staring straight at me.

The glare from those savage eyes made my heart nearly skip a beat. I inwardly screamed, “Mother of mercy, why did you pick me?!”

Then I heard Yu Linxing cry out from the distance, 

“Am I not attractive enough for you?!” 

But the Yazi had already mustered all its strength. It was charging straight at me.

I was the closest to it at the time. Thinking that Yu Linxing would divert it, I had let my guard down. Caught off-guard, the beast’s head slammed into me hard. A gust of wind swept me off the ground. And when I landed, it felt like my organs had shattered. Pain seared through my back. And I couldn’t even stand up straight.

Just then, the youths from Mo Yin Valley began to fire arrows at the Yazi. Like rain, the sharp arrows fell onto the beast. I tried to catch my breath. But I saw the Yazi entirely unfazed by the attack—the arrows seemed to do no more than tickle its thick hide. It kept barreling toward me with unrelenting force.

The deafening sounds roared in my ears. The floor beneath me trembled violently. A chill ran down my back. Why me? Do I look especially tender and tasty to you, you beast?!

With no time to dwell on my injuries, I used a swift kip-up to leap to my feet. Just as the Yazi opened its maw to bite down on me, I slid away with my Flower Shifting Step. I barely escaped death.

From a distance, Yu Linxing shouted, 

“Shishi, what did you steal from it?! Why else would it chase you so obsessively?!” 

As she and Luo Shen approached to help, I shot a glare at the red-clad demoness. You’re the thief, not me! It’s my first day seeing this thing!

But the Yazi didn’t act like it was its first day seeing me—it chased me relentlessly around the main hall like it had unfinished business. If not for my whirlwind-like footwork, I’d have ended up as a snack inside its belly.

I moved like the wind. I did not dare to pause for a second. I wished I had wings to escape. Suddenly, I felt a rush of wind and a stench of beastly musk behind me. Then a sharp pain tore across my shoulder. It was followed by a searing sting. At the same time, I heard the clang of blades clashing—Luo Shen had stepped forward. She was using her sword to block the Yazi’s long fang. Had she not done so, half my shoulder would have been swallowed whole.

I fell to the ground. A metallic taste was rising in my throat before I spat out a mouthful of bl00d.

My body burned with heat. And everything turned an eerie shade of red. In that bloody light, I saw two blurry female figures entangled in battle with a massive shadow. In the next moment, the towering beast charged toward me again.

I stared at it as it neared. All sound was fading from my ears. All I saw was the creature, glaringly vivid in the sea of red. Then, a thought surged up from deep inside me—unbidden and disturbing. Yet, it was strangely familiar.

This thought had long been buried. lying dormant. But today, it surfaced once more:

Kill it.

I knew: if it didn’t die, I wouldn’t survive.

My heart thundered. And with gritted teeth, I pushed off the ground and leapt onto the beast’s back. I pulled out my carved dagger and stabbed wildly at its sturdy neck. My mind was blank except for one word: kill.

It felt like something was choking me. My hands instinctively plunged into bl00d. That wave of power rushing through my body made me tremble all over.

More flashes of blades and chaos surged through my vision: guards pouring in like a tide, the opulent Yongle Palace, corpses on the floor, shattered jade bowls spilling poison, and the furious face of a man in imperial yellow robes. Scenes flickered in my mind like shadow puppets—repeating death and revival—demons from hell tearing at my sanity.

Princess Qingping is a monster!

Kill the demon!

She killed the Empress! Kill her! Kill her!

I lost my mind. I felt like a fire had been lit within me. And if I didn’t release it, I would explode.

The Yazi thrashed in pain. It was trying to shake me off. I clung to its mane with one hand and stabbed with the other. Even my wounded hand had gone numb, unaware of pain. In the chaos, I heard a “crack”—my dagger snapped inside the beast’s flesh and wouldn’t budge.

I stared at the broken blade. I was cursing myself for not having a better weapon.

The Yazi was now fully enraged. It flung its massive head, tossing me through the air. I crashed into a jade statue of the King of Chu. But I managed to hold tightly onto the beast’s long, fiery mane. It saved me from falling.

The statue collapsed. And as it fell, I spotted a sword at the King’s waist—it looked real.

Without hesitation, I grabbed the sword. And without thinking, I slashed at the Yazi’s thick neck. The blade was razor-sharp. With a sickening *schlick*, the sword sank into its skull. When I yanked it free, a hot spray of bl00d gushed out like a fountain. The Yazi didn’t even make a sound before collapsing, dead.

Panting, I wiped the bl00d from my face. My legs were weak. They barely held me up as I stood in a pool of bl00d. I was staring at the massive corpse. The red was so glaring I had to look away—and saw Luo Shen and Yu Linxing standing there in shock.

“Shishi… your eyes…” 

Yu Linxing pointed at me, trembling. It was as if I were a monster.

“My… eyes?” 

I exhaled and reached up. My hands came back covered in bl00d.

“Just now… your eyes…” 

Yu Linxing began, but Luo Shen raised a hand to stop her. I saw Luo Shen’s thin body shaking. Her face was pale and stunned. Her lips were tightly pressed. And she stared at me as if I weren’t even human.

Everyone else looked equally stunned.

Seeing their expressions, I suddenly wanted a mirror—just to see what they were seeing.

Thoughts raced through my mind. A cold dread washed over me like a bucket of ice water. I stiffened, frozen. *Did I really do that?* I hadn’t noticed anyone else during the fight—only that I had kept stabbing, mechanically repeating the act of slaughter.

My mind swirled in darkness. There I saw a figure slowly raise their head—covered in bl00d. Their eyes were glowing red, staring at me with sorrow.

That face… was mine.

I trembled, collapsing to the ground. I felt utterly drained.

The feeling was all too familiar. I had long tried to erase that day from memory—but failed. Nightmares haunted me. If not for Kunlun’s care, I would have lost my mind long ago.

Back then, I stood alone in an empty palace. I was surrounded by riches and splendor.

But beneath that glittering luxury… lay a cold corpse.

The one who had enslaved my mother, driven her to suicide. The one who had forced poison down my throat—did I kill her in that same state of frenzy?

You’re a murderer! You’re a murderer!

A thousand voices screamed in my head. The earlier heat had vanished. It was replaced by bone-deep cold. I stood there blankly, longing for someone to save me.

“What are you doing?! Move!” 

Luo Shen suddenly shouted nearby. She rushed toward me. And the last thing I saw was her disheveled figure.

Suddenly, I felt a tight squeeze around my waist—like I was being bound by a massive rope. I couldn’t breathe. Looking down, I broke into a cold sweat.

Out of the dragon’s den, into the tiger’s lair!

A huge black snake had coiled its lower body around me. Its red tongue flicked beside my cheek. Then it slithered away toward the side door of the hall. It was dragging me like a corpse.

Everything happened too fast. I was scraped and bruised all over. My hands felt like they’d been scalded. The snake dragged me like a twisted rag doll. My bones nearly came apart. My head was fuzzy, like stuffed with cotton.

Suddenly, I heard rapid footsteps. Then a loud tearing sound as the pressure around my waist vanished—the snake had abandoned me to fight someone who had caught up.

Shaking my head to clear it, I heard something roll to my side. I looked—and nearly passed out. A huge severed snake head lay there. Its eyes were bulging with rage. A red mark was on its forehead. It looked exactly like the statues of black snakes coiled around the demon god.

Luo Shen stood before me, calm and cold. Her Giant Que Sword still dripped bl00d. I tried to get up. But my legs were like jelly, and I collapsed again.

Luo Shen rushed over, scooped me into her arms, and held me tight to her chest.

“You… what are you doing?” 

My face burned.

“Holding you.” 

She answered flatly, without emotion.

I nearly coughed up bl00d. *Am I stupid? Obviously you’re holding me!*

Embarrassed and furious, I thought—if you were a man, I’d have slapped you by now. Good thing she’s a woman. Not that I had the strength to slap anyone anyway—my arms hung limp.

Then, from a distance, I heard a rustling sound—like ropes sliding over sand. The steady rhythm sent chills down my spine.

“What’s that? More snakes?” 

My voice was hoarse with exhaustion.

Luo Shen leaned close and whispered, 

“Shh. Don’t speak. There’s more.” 

She scanned the surroundings carefully. She then counted, 

“One… two… three… six of them.”

Six?! Including the one she just beheaded and the two we encountered in the tunnel—that’s eight. I recalled the mural in the corridor showing eight black snakes placed around the Princess of Chu’s coffin. This must be her tomb.

Looking around, I saw soft green light filling the chamber. In each of the four corners stood jade stands holding trays. They each bear a glowing night pearl. It was casting a dreamlike light.

At the center, a massive lotus platform held a crystal coffin. It faintly revealed the figure of a woman inside. Beside it stood another jade coffin—its lid was open and the inside was empty.

My scalp went numb.

“They’re here!” 

Luo Shen suddenly muttered. She then jumped into the empty coffin with me in her arms—and closed the lid.