The Remnant Soul Hidden Within Quirrell

The Christmas sun, softened and warmed as it filtered through the thick snow.

Lin Yuan sat by the fireplace, the profound magical theories no longer in his hands, but rather the error-ridden A Study of Eastern Magical Creatures.

He read slowly, as if savoring something.

Upon his proud and lonely Dao Heart, for the first time, a true and tangible warmth belonging to this mortal world left its mark.

Though faint, it was enough for a seed to take root and sprout.

Hogwarts' Christmas holiday was like an ancient hymn under a silencing charm.

The usually bustling corridors were now filled only with long shadows cast by the winter sun, and the occasional out-of-tune Christmas carol from the armor, echoing within the empty stone walls, adding a touch of eerie loneliness.

For most students, this was a time for family, fireplaces, and gifts.

But for Lin Yuan, it simply meant the bothersome and noisy students were finally gone from the library. He could finally have a perfect, undisturbed sanctuary to dedicate himself wholeheartedly to the great endeavor of "analyzing the world."

His life was as regular as the celestial bodies in their orbits.

In the early morning, as the first faint rays of dawn pierced the stained-glass windows of Gryffindor Tower, he had already finished his night of Divine Soul cultivation. Although this world lacked Spiritual Energy to absorb, he still diligently tempered his Divine Soul, maintaining this "supercomputer" in its optimal operating state.

In the morning, he would appear in the Forbidden Section of the library. Thanks to the pass he'd exchanged for "The Prince's Secret," he was now the sole and most diligent "visitor" there.

In the afternoon, he would choose to leave the castle.

Not to admire the snowy scenery or soak in the festive atmosphere. It was because a closed laboratory filled only with theoretical data could not yield truly great results.

He needed "field research."

He needed to feel the pulsing "laws" of this land, the living, flowing forces that were so different from the rigid words in books.

Today, his destination was Hogsmeade.

The village, described by wizards as full of fantasy and warm memories, was, in Lin Yuan's Spiritual Sense, merely a distribution center for low-level magical items, a "mortal marketplace" filled with mixed and impure energy flows.

Honeydukes was filled with various low-quality energy blocks enchanted with simple "animation charms" and "taste deception charms"; the Three Broomsticks pub was permeated with chaotic emotional energy dispersed by alcohol; Zonko's Joke Shop was a hotbed of low-level mental interference spells.

He had no interest in these.

He merely wanted to purchase some more valuable alchemical materials that couldn't be found in ordinary pharmacies, such as "Fire Salamander's Blood," "Mooncalf dung," and "Hagbird Feathers."

These materials would be important references for his next "Alchemy Path experiment."

Just as he was walking out of a branch of "Borgin and Burkes" with a small bag emitting a strange odor, his steps suddenly halted.

His Spiritual Sense, which covered a radius of over ten meters like radar, detected an extremely faint yet exceptionally peculiar aura.

It was a contradictory aura... mixed with death, curses, purity, and pain.

It was as if a drop of the most sacred dew had been dropped into the foulest poison, and the two were engaged in a painful, self-annihilating struggle.

The source of this aura was emanating from a figure not far beside him, who had wrapped himself tightly in a heavy cloak and a high collar, hurrying along.

Lin Yuan's gaze fell calmly upon the figure.

[Target Locked: Quirinus Quirrell][Vital Signs: Extremely weak, irregular heartbeat, soul energy in a dual superimposed state.][Energy Field Analysis: The host soul (Quirrell) is being parasitized by another powerful, incomplete soul (Voldemort) filled with resentment and death laws. The host's life force is being frantically siphoned by the parasite, nearing the brink of collapse.][Recent Behavior Analysis: The residual energy on his person points to the depths of the Forbidden Forest. Within the residue, there is an extremely pure, life-force-filled blood aura... along with the immense fear and wails of the creature in its final moments.]

Lin Yuan's mind instantly recalled a description of a certain creature from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

--Unicorn: A symbol of purity, its blood can prolong life, but whoever kills it will bear an eternal curse from the moment it falls, living a half-dead, cursed existence.

"So that's how it is," Lin Yuan understood. "To sustain that broken soul, he's resorted to desperate measures, drinking Unicorn blood to prolong his miserable existence?"

Killing a pure creature to exchange for a cursed life.

Such a desperate act, in Lin Yuan's view, was foolish, but... extremely valuable for research.

"A perfect living specimen for the interaction between the 'Law of Life' and the 'Law of Curses'."

A cold, fanatical glint, befitting a researcher, flashed in Lin Yuan's eyes.

He decided to conduct a "close contact" to gather more precise data.

He took a step, seemingly casually, towards the black figure who was about to duck into a narrow alley.

"Professor Quirrell?"

Lin Yuan's voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the other's ears.

Quirrell's body stiffened abruptly, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. He turned his head, his face, hidden in the shadows, was as pale as paper, his eyes filled with neurotic fear and vigilance.

"R-Ryan?" His characteristic stutter became even more pronounced under the tension. "W-why are you here?"

"Just buying some potion ingredients," Lin Yuan's tone was as calm as if he were chatting with a friend, but his Spiritual Sense was like an invisible scalpel, precisely dissecting Quirrell's chaotic energy field. "And you, Professor, your complexion looks... terrible."

"N-no! I'm fine!" Quirrell instinctively flinched backward, as if Lin Yuan were some terrifying monster.

"Is that so?" Lin Yuan took a step forward, his dark eyes seeming to pierce through Quirrell's body, looking directly at the invisible "tumor" on the back of his head. "But in my perception, your life force is dwindling at an abnormal rate. Like a candle burning at both ends. If it's not intervened, I'm afraid... you won't make it through this winter."

Quirrell's pupils contracted sharply to the size of pinpricks.

H-how did he know?!

"N-nonsense!" he shrieked, his voice becoming shrill with fear.

Just then, a cold, domineering will, filled with ferocity and authority, forcefully took control of the body from the depths of Quirrell's consciousness.

Quirrell's originally timid eyes instantly turned cold and malicious. His stuttering voice also disappeared, replaced by a hissing, chilling whisper.

"An ignorant Gryffindor brat... daring to pry into secrets you shouldn't know..."

A surge of Magic Power filled with killing intent instantly locked onto Lin Yuan.

However, Lin Yuan's expression remained unchanged.

He simply gazed at the "Quirrell" before him, as if admiring an interesting exhibit.

"Finally willing to show yourself? A remnant soul hiding in the shadows." Lin Yuan's voice was still calm. "Your current state is very poor. Unicorn blood only treats the symptoms, not the root cause. The life essence it contains is too pure, and it clashes with the cursed nature of your soul. Every time you consume it, it's like cleansing a devil with holy water. The process must be... very painful, right?"