The hidden tunnel was tight, like it was built for whispers, not people. The stone pressed close on both sides, cold and damp. The air smelled like old dust and metal. Wei Chen ran anyway, shoulder brushing the wall, Su Mei in his arms, Lin Xue's hand locked in his like a promise he refused to drop.
Behind them, the Frost-Eater roared, and the sound chased them through the stone. Chains scraped somewhere in the dark, too close for comfort.
Lin Xue glanced back once, then grabbed Wei Chen's sleeve harder. "Don't slow down," she whispered.
Wei Chen's grin flickered, breathless. "I'm carrying a demoness," he panted. "I'm already showing off."
Lin Xue pinched his arm. "Idiot."
Wei Chen leaned close to her ear while he ran, voice low and shameless. "You're worried about me," he teased. "I like that."
Lin Xue's cheeks warmed, angry and scared at the same time. "Focus."
Wei Chen did focus. He felt the bond rope between them humming warm. He also felt his black sun brand throbbing under his skin, like a bruise that remembered teeth. It was closed—Su Mei had shut the crack—but it still ached, like something inside was knocking.
And Su Mei… felt wrong.
Her body was warm in his arms, but her qi was strange, like a candle burning in a different color. Her breath was shallow. Her lashes fluttered once.
Then her eyes opened.
Black.
Not dark purple. Not demon violet. Pure black, like the pit below, like the coffin crack.
Lin Xue saw it and went stiff. "Wei Chen," she whispered. "Her eyes."
Wei Chen looked down. For one heartbeat his chest tightened. "Su Mei," he said, quiet. "Stay real."
Su Mei's lips parted. The voice that came out was not playful, not teasing.
"Chen Wei," she whispered.
Wei Chen's spine went rigid. "Don't say my name like that," he said softly, but firm.
Lin Xue's hand squeezed his. "Chen Wei," she said, sharp. "Say my name. Stay real."
Wei Chen swallowed. "Lin Xue," he said.
"Again," Lin Xue demanded.
"Lin Xue," Wei Chen said louder. The bond rope flared warm, and the chill in his chest eased a little.
Su Mei's black eyes tracked Lin Xue's face. For a second, the look was empty, like she was not fully there. Then her mouth curved into a small smile that did not feel like Su Mei's smile.
Lin Xue's voice turned cold. "That thing is inside her."
Su Mei's lips moved again. "Mine," she whispered, and the word felt like it had claws.
Wei Chen stopped running for half a breath and pressed Su Mei gently against the wall so he could hold her steady. "Rules," he said, low and clear. "Stop means stop. You choose. If you're in there, Su Mei, blink. If you're not, don't."
Su Mei blinked once—slow.
Then she blinked again—fast.
Wei Chen's heart kicked. Lin Xue's eyes narrowed. "That could be a trick."
Wei Chen nodded. "Maybe," he said. "But I'm not leaving her."
Lin Xue's jaw tightened. "You said you won't leave anyone behind," she whispered, bitter. "Even her."
Wei Chen leaned close to Lin Xue's ear, voice soft and naughty, like he was trying to keep her from freezing inside. "You're jealous," he murmured.
Lin Xue's cheeks burned. "I'm scared," she snapped. "And angry."
Wei Chen turned his head and kissed Lin Xue quickly—deep enough to anchor, short enough to keep moving. "Do you want me to stop?" he asked, low.
Lin Xue's breath hitched. She shook her head. "Don't stop," she whispered. "Just… don't be stupid."
Wei Chen's grin returned a little. "I'm always stupid," he said. "But I'm loyal."
Lin Xue squeezed his hand tighter. "Good," she muttered.
Su Mei's black eyes watched them kiss. Something in her gaze tightened, sharp and hungry.
The tunnel shook. Dust fell. The Frost-Eater roared again, closer. Wei Chen felt the vibration through his bones.
"We move," he said.
Lin Xue nodded. "Move."
Wei Chen ran again, carrying Su Mei. The tunnel bent left, then right. Symbols glowed faintly along the walls, like they were guiding them deeper. The deeper they went, the colder the air became—but not Lin Xue's cold. This was coffin-cold, brand-cold.
Su Mei's fingers suddenly tightened around Wei Chen's neck. Not choking—claiming. Her nails pressed into his skin through his collar.
Wei Chen's breath hitched. He stopped again, pinned by surprise. "Su Mei," he said sharply. "Stop."
Su Mei's hand froze.
She didn't pull away. But she stopped tightening.
Wei Chen exhaled. "Good," he murmured. Then he looked at Lin Xue. "See? Rules still work."
Lin Xue's eyes were hard. "Or it's learning your rules," she whispered.
That thought chilled even Wei Chen.
Su Mei's mouth moved, slow. "Kiss," she whispered. "Seal."
Lin Xue's face went red with anger. "No."
Wei Chen's cheeks warmed too, but he stayed calm. "Su Mei," he said, "do you want me to kiss you?"
Su Mei's black eyes stared. "Yes," she whispered.
Lin Xue's grip tightened like a warning.
Wei Chen looked at Lin Xue first. "You choose," he told her softly. "You're my anchor. If you say no, it's no."
Lin Xue's throat moved. Her voice was low. "No," she said. "Not now."
Wei Chen nodded without hesitation. "No," he repeated.
Su Mei's black eyes narrowed. For a second, anger flashed—wrong and sharp—like a different thing was wearing her face. The tunnel lights flickered.
Then Su Mei's lips trembled, and her voice changed—small, almost like the real her. "It hurts," she whispered. "Chen Wei… it hurts."
Wei Chen's chest tightened. He leaned closer and kissed Su Mei's forehead, careful and quick. "Hold on," he said. "We'll fix it. But no tricks."
Lin Xue watched, jaw clenched. Jealousy sat in her eyes, but so did fear.
The tunnel opened into a small chamber with three exits—three dark holes like choices. Above each exit was a carved symbol.
One was a thorny black sun.
One was a lotus made of ice.
One was a violet ribbon.
Su Mei lifted her head in Wei Chen's arms. Her black eyes stared at the black sun path, and her voice came out too calm.
"That way," she said.
Lin Xue stepped forward fast and blocked it. "No," she snapped. "That symbol is your brand. It's a trap."
Wei Chen looked at the three paths, heart thudding. His black sun brand pulsed once, like it liked the black sun tunnel.
Lin Xue grabbed his wrist. "Chen Wei," she whispered. "Say my name. Stay real."
Wei Chen swallowed. "Lin Xue," he said.
Lin Xue's eyes stayed on his. "Choose," she whispered. "Us. Not the brand."
Wei Chen stared at Su Mei's black eyes, then at Lin Xue's shaking hands, then at the three tunnels.
Behind them, the Frost-Eater's roar hit the chamber like a hammer.
The walls shook.
And Su Mei smiled—small and wrong—and whispered, "Chen Wei… open."
Wei Chen's black sun brand throbbed.
And the thorny black sun tunnel began to breathe.
To be Continued
© Kishtika., 2025
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