Wei Chen knelt in the snow with an arrow in his back. Blood spread into the white. Lin Xue dropped beside him, hands shaking as she pressed near the wound.
"Don't die," she whispered. Her cold voice cracked.
Wei Chen tried to smile. "I'm hard to kill," he rasped.
On his chest, the new mark pulsed—a black sun with sharp rays. Each pulse felt like ice biting fire. A faint whisper crawled through his mind, hungry and close.
Su Mei stared at the mark. "It's calling," she said. "The shadow will follow it."
Above them, Han's men shouted and climbed down with ropes. Lanterns swung in the storm. An arrow hit the rock near Wei Chen's head and shattered.
"We move," Lin Xue said.
Wei Chen tried to stand. His legs shook. The wound pulled his strength down like a stone.
Su Mei stepped in, purple qi curling around her fingers. "My truce seal is thinning," she said. "If it breaks, I can't hide you. Pay me now, Wei Chen. One taste."
Lin Xue's eyes flashed. "No."
Wei Chen lifted a hand. "Rules," he said. He looked at Su Mei. "You take only what we agreed. If I say stop, you stop."
Su Mei's smile sharpened. "Say yes."
Wei Chen turned to Lin Xue. Fear and anger fought in her eyes. He spoke simply. "Are you okay with this?"
Lin Xue swallowed. Then she nodded once, hard. "Live," she whispered. "But don't let her take you."
"I won't," Wei Chen said.
Su Mei placed one hand on his chest and one on his wrist. The air around her smelled like warm spice and smoke. Her fingers pressed like a claim, but her eyes waited. "Say it," she murmured.
Wei Chen's throat was dry. "I choose this," he said. "One taste."
A thin thread of heat pulled out of him, slow at first, then stronger. His Nine-Suns fire answered, bright and wild. Su Mei shivered as it touched her, and her purple qi thickened like silk.
Lin Xue grabbed Wei Chen's hand, anchoring him. Her palm was cold, but it trembled. "Stay with me," she whispered.
Wei Chen squeezed back. "I'm here."
Su Mei leaned in and kissed him—hot, bold, and hungry. For a moment, Wei Chen tasted smoke and sweet heat. The bond marks flared. The black sun mark calmed for one heartbeat, like it was chewing.
Lin Xue's grip tightened, jealousy and fear mixed together. "Wei Chen," she whispered, sharp and small.
Wei Chen pulled back at once. "Stop," he said.
Su Mei stopped. No fight. She stepped away with a small, annoyed laugh. "Good. You really mean it."
Wei Chen breathed hard. The poison pain still burned, but the furnace inside him rose steadier. He pushed up to his feet. Lin Xue helped him, shoulder under his arm.
Su Mei spread her hands. A thin purple mist wrapped around them. "Cloak," she said. "Stay close. Don't speak."
They moved along the cliff path, half running, half sliding. Above, Han shouted, "There! Shoot!"
Arrows fell. Lin Xue flicked her fingers, and ice rose like a shield for a breath, catching two arrows before shattering. Wei Chen snapped his fan once and cut a third arrow in the air, the hidden edge flashing for a blink.
Then the storm ahead thickened. The shadow-creature dropped onto the path, blocking the way. It looked stitched from night. Its empty mouth opened, and cold fear rolled out like smoke.
Lin Xue's breath turned white. "It's here."
Wei Chen's black sun mark burned. The whisper grew clearer. Come back. I will make you strong.
Wei Chen clenched his teeth. "Not today."
Su Mei snapped, "Left! There's a door!"
They turned onto a narrow ledge. A stone doorway waited there, half hidden under ice and moss. On it was the same black sun symbol.
Lin Xue stared. "This is part of the altar."
Wei Chen stepped closer without meaning to. The brand pulled him like a hook. His shaking hand touched the symbol.
Click.
The door opened by itself. Darkness poured out, warm and thick, like a cave full of breath.
Behind them, Han's men reached the path. Han's voice cut through the wind. "Stop him! Don't let him enter!"
The shadow-creature screamed and lunged.
Wei Chen grabbed Lin Xue's hand and pulled her inside. Su Mei followed, eyes bright with warning.
The door slammed shut.
For a second, there was only darkness and breathing. Lin Xue pressed close to Wei Chen like she was afraid to lose him. Su Mei's purple qi lit a small glow in her palm, but the light looked weak here, like this place was eating it.
Then the ground under their feet started to hum.
A low voice filled the space, close as bone.
"Branded one," it whispered. "Come deeper."
Wei Chen's black sun mark pulsed, and the darkness answered with a slow, hungry glow. Far ahead, a pair of eyes opened—gold at the center, black at the edges—and they stared right at Wei Chen.
To be Continued
© Kishtika., 2025
All rights reserved.