The stone door behind them kept shaking. Every hit made dust fall from the ceiling. Han's men were outside, shouting and laughing like they already won. The tunnel in front of them felt warm in a wrong way, like the breath of a monster.
Wei Chen's back still burned where the arrow hit. His Nine-Suns heat kept the poison from spreading, but the wound pulled at him with every step. Lin Xue stayed close and held his sleeve. She tried to look cold and calm, but her fingers trembled.
Su Mei lifted a small purple flame in her palm. Even that light looked weak here, like the darkness was drinking it. "This place hates me," she muttered. "It hates holy ice too. It wants only him."
Wei Chen gave a crooked grin. "I'm popular," he said, then winced from pain. "But don't worry. I only flirt with pretty dangers."
Lin Xue glared at him. "Stop talking."
Wei Chen leaned closer, voice low and naughty. "If you want me quiet, Ice Queen, you should hold my mouth again."
Lin Xue's ears went red. "Wei Chen!"
Su Mei snorted. "He's shameless."
Wei Chen glanced at Su Mei. "You like it."
Su Mei's eyes narrowed, but her lips curved. "Careful, boy. I bite."
Wei Chen lifted his fan like he was proud. "I can take it."
A cold whisper slid through his bones. "Branded one… come deeper."
The black sun mark on his chest pulsed. It felt like ice licking fire. The tunnel answered with a slow hum, like it was waking up.
Ahead, two huge eyes opened in the dark. Gold in the center. Black around the edge. They stared at Wei Chen like he belonged to them.
"I am the Black Altar's hunger," the voice said. "Open your brand. Let me sit in your meridians. I heal you. I calm your Nine-Suns. I make your enemies kneel."
Lin Xue gripped Wei Chen's arm. "It will own you," she whispered.
Su Mei stepped closer too, her purple qi curling like sharp silk. "Don't answer it," she warned. "It's a trap with a pretty voice."
Wei Chen breathed in. The air tasted like ash. He wanted strength. He wanted to live. But he hated chains.
He looked down at Lin Xue's hand on him. Small tremble. Cold fingers. Still trying to protect him even while she was weak.
Wei Chen's grin softened. "Lin Xue," he said. "Look at me."
She did. Her eyes were sharp, but wet at the corners.
Wei Chen spoke clearly. "Rules first. Stop means stop."
Lin Xue swallowed. "Stop means stop," she whispered.
"And you choose," Wei Chen said.
Lin Xue's cheeks warmed. She tried to glare, but her voice came out small. "I… choose this."
Wei Chen pulled her close, firm but careful. Her cold body fit against his heat like the world finally made sense. The bond marks on their wrists warmed, gold and silver.
Su Mei clicked her tongue. "In a death tunnel?" she complained. "Really?"
Wei Chen didn't look away from Lin Xue. "Jealous?"
Su Mei rolled her eyes. "I'm annoyed."
Wei Chen lowered his voice near Lin Xue's ear. "Say my name," he teased, like it was a game.
Lin Xue's breath shook. "Wei Chen," she whispered.
Wei Chen smiled. "Good girl."
Lin Xue's eyes went wide. "Don't call me—"
Wei Chen kissed her before she could finish. Slow at first, then deeper, hungry like a vow. Lin Xue's fingers grabbed his collar and pulled him closer, not forced—chosen. Her lips were cold, but they warmed fast. Wei Chen's hand held her waist tight. Their breaths mixed. Heat and frost turned into soft steam.
The tunnel hummed louder. The eyes in the dark brightened.
"Yes," the voice purred. "Give me more of that need."
Wei Chen felt a hungry pull on his chest. The black sun brand tried to drink their bond.
He broke the kiss at once and looked at Lin Xue. "Do you want me to stop?" he asked.
Lin Xue shook her head fast. "Not because of it," she whispered. "But… don't let it feed."
Wei Chen nodded. "Then we tease each other later," he said, and his naughty grin returned. "When we're not inside a monster."
Lin Xue's face turned red again. "Wei Chen!"
Su Mei stepped in, eyes sharp. "Focus. It feeds on desire and fear. If you lose control, it wins."
Wei Chen held Lin Xue's hand tighter. "I can control," he said. "I'm a professional."
Su Mei gave him a look. "You're a disaster."
Wei Chen pointed his fan at her. "A beautiful disaster."
Su Mei's lips twitched. "Flirt later."
The door behind them cracked again. A loud boom shook the tunnel. Stone broke. Cold wind rushed in.
Han's men poured inside with lanterns and swords. Hooks scraped rock. Boots stomped.
Han's voice rang out, happy and cruel. "There you are!"
Behind the soldiers, the shadow-creature crawled in. Its empty mouth opened wide. Cold fear rolled out like smoke.
Lin Xue stiffened. Su Mei's purple qi flared. Wei Chen stepped in front of Lin Xue without thinking, fan raised.
Han laughed. "Hold them! The beast will finish the job!"
The shadow-creature lunged.
Wei Chen flicked his fan. A thin golden line cut the air and slowed the creature for a heartbeat. Su Mei threw violet silk-like qi to bind its arm. Lin Xue sent frost across the ground, trying to lock its feet.
But the eyes in the dark watched it all, calm and hungry.
Then the voice whispered again, soft as poison.
"Say yes," it said. "And I will save your ice girl."
Lin Xue's breath hitched. The air around her suddenly dropped colder, like her curse woke up angry. Frost crawled up her sleeves. Her knees shook.
Wei Chen felt it and went still.
The altar was squeezing her from the inside.
Han's men stepped closer.
The shadow-creature screamed.
And the eyes in the dark waited for Wei Chen's answer.
To be Continued
© Kishtika., 2025
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