Supernatural Brokers Rampaging in the Human World - Chapter 174 - Past Lives

“Yindu?” Xia Ku’s eyes lit up. “Ma’am is heading to Yindu for business. Why don’t we travel together? Once we find her, she might be able to figure out what happened to you!”

Shang Xuan had no idea who this “Ma’am” was, but he could guess she was someone of considerable power. He felt himself nodding, seemingly agreeing to Xia Ku’s suggestion.

The woman before him bore a striking resemblance to Shang Yue, sharing about seventy percent of her features. Shang Xuan caught a glimpse of his reflection in the bowl of water before him. The face staring back was unmistakably his own, except for a jagged scar over ten centimeters long near his eye. The edges of the wound were raw and uneven, giving him a rather menacing appearance.

“You’re not scared of your own reflection, are you?” Xia Ku asked in surprise. “I was startled too when I found you. Whoever did this to you was ruthless. You’re lucky you didn’t lose your sight.”

Shang Xuan didn’t know how to respond, so he remained silent. The original owner of the body he now inhabited didn’t seem to react either. Xia Ku, assuming he was upset, stuck out her tongue playfully and let the matter drop.

The atmosphere grew quiet. Shang Xuan mulled over his predicament. He was fully aware of himself, yet it seemed he had no control over the body he was in, except for brief moments like when he first woke up. Most of the time, he felt like a mere spectator, a guest in someone else’s life.

The man known as Shang Zhong and Xia Ku set off toward Yindu together. Along the way, they encountered several ambushes, as if someone was determined to prevent Shang Zhong from reaching the capital.

Xia Ku was a chatterbox, her voice filling the air as they traveled. After fending off the sixth group of assassins, she clicked her tongue and asked, “Ah Zhong, who exactly are you? Why do so many people want you dead? How did you even survive before you met me?”

Shang Zhong chuckled faintly. Normally reserved, his occasional smile was strikingly handsome. “Before I met you, I was merely clinging to life.”

The words were laced with a subtle charm, so much so that even Shang Xuan, merely observing from within, couldn’t help but be moved. Xia Ku, a simple spirit who had seen little of the world, blushed deeply. She didn’t fully grasp the meaning behind his words but was flustered nonetheless.

Shang Xuan couldn’t see his own “face,” but he could sense the expression-likely a smile. Watching the budding affection between these two, he felt a mix of emotions. It was strange, even unsettling, yet there was a peculiar sense of joy buried within. He didn’t dare delve too deeply into why.

Xia Ku’s combat skills were exceptional, a fact Shang Xuan had observed repeatedly. She often detected and dealt with assassins before they even revealed themselves.

The first time Shang Xuan witnessed her kill someone, he was genuinely startled. Thankfully, his reactions didn’t manifest on Shang Zhong’s face; otherwise, Xia Ku might have grown suspicious. In this world, killing seemed disturbingly commonplace.

Whenever Xia Ku returned from a fight, Shang Zhong would offer a sincere compliment: “You’re amazing.”

Though the praise was simple, it never failed to make Xia Ku beam with pride. For someone so fierce in battle, she was surprisingly bashful when acknowledged. Shang Xuan, watching from within, felt a pang of frustration on her behalf, mixed with an inexplicable urgency.

As they drew closer to Yindu, the attacks intensified. The assassins grew stronger, evolving from ordinary men to cultivators, and eventually to spirits. Xia Ku’s battles became longer and more grueling.

Shang Zhong, meanwhile, remained as helpless as a scholar untrained in combat, merely watching from the sidelines. Shang Xuan cursed him inwardly, though the irony wasn’t lost on him-he was essentially cursing himself.

Xia Ku, however, seemed unbothered. To her, it was perfectly reasonable that someone who had been found unconscious on the roadside and couldn’t even recall his purpose would be incapable of fighting. She took pride in her own strength, after all. She wasn’t just any spirit; she was a Xia Ku grass personally blessed by the Lord of the Netherworld, the only one of her kind in all three realms.

Despite the numerous ambushes, the two eventually reached Yindu. However, they found the city gates tightly shut, the entire capital under lockdown.

The guards stopped them, demanding their purpose. Xia Ku paid the entry fee, claiming they were visiting relatives. But one of the guards pulled out a bamboo carving-a crude yet recognizable portrait of Shang Zhong, complete with the distinctive scar.

Though the scar had faded somewhat over the journey, it was still unmistakable. Xia Ku cursed under her breath and quickly dragged the dazed Shang Zhong away. They fled to the nearby mountains, hiding in a cave.

As night fell and the air grew colder, Xia Ku lit a fire for Shang Zhong but kept her distance, wary of the flames. Being a spirit born of grass, she had a natural fear of fire.

Hiding wasn’t a long-term solution. Xia Ku wanted to sneak into the city to seek help from the Lord of the Netherworld but hesitated to leave Shang Zhong alone. Before she could decide, a large military force surrounded the cave.

Xia Ku prepared to fight but was stopped by Shang Zhong. To her surprise, the soldiers outside bowed to him, addressing him as “Master.”

Shang Xuan, observing from within, was utterly baffled. How had this seemingly ordinary man turned out to be some kind of big shot?

“They’re here to protect me,” Shang Zhong explained calmly.

Xia Ku, who had never questioned his identity before, finally asked, “Who are you?” It was the same question burning in Shang Xuan’s mind.

“Xia Ku… I am the Lord of Yindu, brother to King Shang. Shang Bo is my elder brother, and Shang Shu my younger. Shang Shu rebelled. I was stationed at the border but rushed back to Yindu upon hearing the news. I was ambushed on the way and would have perished if not for you.” Shang Zhong’s tone was flat, devoid of guilt or emotion.

Shang Xuan shouted internally, “Xia Ku, he’s using you!” But she couldn’t hear him. Instead, she forgave Shang Zhong’s deception without complaint.

The group marched into Yindu, breaking through the city gates and confronting Shang Shu’s forces. Shang Shu held King Shang hostage, while Shang Zhong’s army pressed forward. Neither side yielded until Xia Ku spotted someone unexpected among Shang Shu’s ranks.

“Ma’am…? Why are you with Shang Shu?” she stammered. Standing beside Shang Shu was none other than Su Yang, the Lord of the Netherworld.

Before Xia Ku could process this, Shang Zhong restrained her, holding a flame dangerously close to her.

“Ah Zhong? What are you doing?!” she cried, more shocked by his betrayal than by Su Yang’s presence.

Shang Xuan, watching through Shang Zhong’s eyes, was equally stunned. He recognized Su Yang as Lin Zhaonuan and began to suspect that these events were tied to their past lives.

“Forgive me,” Shang Zhong whispered into Xia Ku’s ear before pushing the flame closer.

“Su Yang, I know she’s your maid. I won’t ask for much-just stay out of this. Don’t help Shang Shu, and I’ll let her go!” The fire in Shang Zhong’s hand wasn’t ordinary; it was the Samadhi True Flame, capable of burning even souls. He had gone to great lengths to obtain it after learning of Xia Ku’s identity and weakness.

Xia Ku, though powerful, was heartbreakingly naive, utterly unguarded against betrayal.

Su Yang watched coldly from across the battlefield. Shang Shu sneered, “King Shang’s tyranny has driven the people to revolt. Shang Zhong, you’re just exploiting the chaos for your own gain. Aren’t you ashamed?”

“Exploiting?” For the first time, Shang Zhong’s usually stoic face twisted into a mocking, almost deranged smile. “And you, Shang Shu? Manipulating the people-isn’t that just as despicable?”

Tears welled in Xia Ku’s eyes as she asked softly, “You knew who I was all along. You’ve been using me, haven’t you?”

“Xia Ku… I had no other choice.”

The searing heat of the Samadhi True Flame was nothing compared to the pain in her heart. She glanced at Su Yang one last time, silently mouthing, “Ma’am, I’m sorry.”

A single blade of Xia Ku grass met the Samadhi True Flame, reduced to nothing but ash.