The small chamber shook like it was breathing too. Dust drifted from the ceiling. Behind them, the Frost-Eater roared again, and the sound hit the stone like a hammer. Wei Chen could almost feel the chains scraping closer, hunting by vibration and fear.
Three tunnels waited in front of them like three mouths. Above the left one was the thorny black sun. Above the middle one was an ice lotus. Above the right one was a violet ribbon.
Su Mei lifted her head in Wei Chen's arms. Her eyes were still black. Her voice came out calm and wrong. "Black sun," she whispered. "That way."
The black sun tunnel pulsed, and Wei Chen's brand answered with a cold throb, like it was happy to be called. His body leaned forward without asking.
Lin Xue snapped her hand around his wrist. "Chen Wei," she said, sharp. "Say my name. Stay real."
Wei Chen swallowed and forced his eyes to hers. "Lin Xue," he said.
"Again," she demanded, stubborn like she could command the world.
"Lin Xue," Wei Chen said louder. The bond rope flared warm between them, and his chest stopped tilting for one breath.
Wei Chen exhaled and tried to smile, because he refused to panic in front of her. "You look very powerful when you boss me," he murmured.
Lin Xue's cheeks warmed, angry and scared at the same time. "Not now."
Wei Chen nodded. "Okay," he said. Then, softer, "Do you want a kiss? For anchor."
Lin Xue hesitated, eyes flicking to Su Mei's black stare, then back to Wei Chen. "Yes," she whispered. "Now."
Wei Chen kissed her—slow, deep, steady. Lin Xue clutched his collar and pulled him close, not forced—chosen. Their breath mixed. His heat rolled into her, and her frost steadied him back. The bond rope hummed like a warm string tied around his heart.
The black sun tunnel pulsed again, annoyed.
Wei Chen pulled back just enough to ask, "Do you want me to stop?"
Lin Xue shook her head. "Don't stop," she whispered. "Choose."
Wei Chen nodded. He turned his head and looked at Su Mei's face. "Su Mei," he said, clear. "Rules still apply. Stop means stop. If you're in there, say it."
Su Mei's lips curved in a small smile that didn't feel like her. "Stop means stop," she repeated softly, like she was tasting the words.
That made Lin Xue's eyes go colder.
Wei Chen's stomach tightened. "Good," he said anyway. "Then listen. We are not going into the black sun."
Su Mei's black eyes narrowed. "Wrong," she whispered.
Wei Chen ignored it and looked at the tunnels again. The Frost-Eater roared closer. The air trembled. He didn't have time to think for a long time.
He chose the middle tunnel.
"The ice lotus," he said.
Lin Xue's breath caught. "Why?"
Wei Chen leaned close to her ear, voice low and warm. "Because your ice can bite," he whispered. "And my fire can hold it. Together, we don't get pulled." He let his mouth turn naughty for one heartbeat, just to keep her from breaking. "Also… I trust you more than my brand."
Lin Xue's cheeks flushed. Her grip tightened on his hand. "Then don't let go," she whispered.
"I won't," Wei Chen said.
He stepped toward the ice lotus tunnel with Lin Xue, still carrying Su Mei. But the black sun tunnel breathed hard, and the pull hit him like a jerk on a rope. Wei Chen stumbled sideways, dragged toward the thorny symbol.
His brand throbbed cold.
Lin Xue moved fast and pinned him gently to the stone, both palms on his chest, right over the black sun. Her eyes were fierce. "Chen Wei," she said, steady. "Anchor to me. Now."
Wei Chen's breath hitched. He looked at her hands on him and couldn't help a low, shameless line. "Touching me like that in a dark tunnel…" he murmured. "You're going to ruin your elder reputation."
Lin Xue's face went red. "Focus," she snapped, but her voice shook.
Wei Chen swallowed. "Do you want me to stop talking?" he asked.
Lin Xue's throat moved. "No," she whispered. "Just—stay."
Wei Chen nodded and kissed her, right there against the wall—deep, warm, steady. Lin Xue melted into it for one breath like she was holding on with her mouth. The bond rope flared bright. The pull weakened.
Wei Chen broke the kiss and said her name like it mattered more than air. "Lin Xue."
Lin Xue's eyes softened for half a heartbeat. "Good," she whispered. "Move."
They turned and went into the ice lotus tunnel.
The moment they crossed the line, cold air washed over them. The stone became smooth and pale, like it had been kissed by winter. The symbols on the wall glowed soft blue. The roar behind them became muffled, like the tunnel swallowed sound.
Wei Chen's shoulders dropped a little. He adjusted Su Mei in his arms. "Don't die on me," he muttered to her.
Su Mei's black eyes blinked once. Her fingers tightened on his shoulder, then loosened. "Too late," she whispered.
Lin Xue heard it and went rigid. "What did she say?"
Wei Chen kept walking, but his grip on Su Mei tightened. "She's talking nonsense," he said, then glanced at Lin Xue. "Stay close."
Lin Xue nodded and pressed in beside him, because the tunnel was narrow and their bodies had no choice but to share space. Her cold sleeve brushed his wrist. His heat warmed her skin through cloth. Her breath came out softer now, less panicked.
Wei Chen leaned closer to her ear. "You're doing good," he whispered.
Lin Xue's voice was quiet. "Don't praise me," she muttered, but her fingers found his hand again and held it.
Wei Chen smiled. "Do you want a kiss?" he asked softly. "Just a small one. For courage."
Lin Xue looked up at him, then nodded once. "Yes," she whispered.
Wei Chen kissed her—slow and deep, then he stopped on purpose. He rested his forehead against hers for a heartbeat. "Stop means stop," he reminded her, gently.
Lin Xue's eyes stayed on his. "I choose this," she whispered. "Keep me warm."
Wei Chen's chest tightened. "Always," he murmured.
Behind them, the ice lotus entrance sealed with a quiet click, like a door closing on the world. For a moment, it felt like they had escaped.
Then Su Mei's black eyes shifted to the front of the tunnel, and she whispered, very calm, "Look."
Wei Chen looked ahead.
At the far end of the ice tunnel, a figure stood in white robes. Silver hair. Cold blue eyes. The same face as Lin Xue.
It smiled softly, like a kind teacher waiting for a student.
Then it spoke in Lin Xue's voice—perfect, warm, and false.
"Chen Wei," it said. "Choose me."
Lin Xue's grip crushed Wei Chen's hand. Her breath stopped.
Wei Chen's black sun brand pulsed once, like it recognized the lie.
To be Continued
© Kishtika., 2025
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