The copy of Lin Xue stood at the end of the tunnel like it owned the light. White robes. Silver hair. Cold blue eyes. Even the calm posture looked perfect, like an elder in a painting. The soft blue symbols on the walls reflected on her face, making her look gentle.
Too gentle.
It smiled and spoke in Lin Xue's voice—warm and sweet in a way the real Lin Xue never allowed herself to be. "Chen Wei," it said. "Choose me."
The real Lin Xue's fingers crushed Wei Chen's hand. Her breath stopped like the words hit her throat. "That's… not me," she whispered, but the doubt still stung her eyes. Not doubt of Wei Chen—doubt of herself.
Wei Chen felt his black sun brand pulse once, cold and curious, like it recognized the trick. His body leaned forward a little anyway, pulled by his stolen name, pulled by the sound.
Lin Xue yanked him back. "Chen Wei," she said sharp. "Say my name. Stay real."
Wei Chen swallowed and forced his eyes to her face. "Lin Xue," he said.
"Again," she demanded, voice shaking with anger and fear.
"Lin Xue," Wei Chen said louder. The bond rope flared warm between them, like a hand holding his heart in place.
The copy's smile didn't fade. It took one slow step forward. "You look tired," it said softly. "I can make the pain stop. I can make the heat stop. No overload. No fear. No demon tricks. Just peace."
Lin Xue's jaw tightened. "It's lying," she said, but her voice was thin.
Wei Chen shifted Su Mei in his arms. Su Mei's eyes were still black. She stared at the copy without blinking, like she was watching a meal. Her lips parted.
"Lie," Su Mei whispered.
Lin Xue snapped her gaze to Su Mei. "How do you know?"
Su Mei's black eyes slid to Lin Xue, and for a second, the look felt… wrong. Too deep. Like something older than Su Mei was using her face. "Because it smells like your fear," Su Mei said.
Wei Chen's chest tightened. "Su Mei," he said carefully, "say my name. Stay real."
Su Mei's lips curved. "Chen Wei," she whispered.
Wei Chen flinched. It sounded too smooth, like the coffin whisper. He looked at Lin Xue at once.
Lin Xue's grip tightened. "Do not listen to anyone who says your true name like a weapon," she whispered.
Wei Chen nodded. "Rules," he said, calm even while his blood ran hot. "Stop means stop. You choose."
Lin Xue swallowed. "Stop means stop," she whispered. "And I choose you. Only you."
Wei Chen leaned close to her ear, naughty but gentle, like he was trying to keep her from freezing inside. "Then claim me," he murmured. "Out loud. I want it to hear."
Lin Xue's cheeks burned. "Now?"
Wei Chen kissed her cheek, slow enough to feel like a vow. "Now," he whispered. "If you want."
Lin Xue took a shaky breath. Then she lifted her chin and spoke toward the copy. "Chen Wei is mine," she said, voice trembling but clear. "By choice."
Wei Chen's heart kicked. The bond rope flared warm, and the pull from the copy weakened for one breath.
The copy tilted its head. "Mine," it repeated softly, like it liked the word. Then it stepped closer and looked at Wei Chen with Lin Xue's eyes. "Do you want a kiss?" it asked, sweet. "I will be gentle."
Lin Xue's face went red with anger. "That is not my voice."
Wei Chen's grin flashed, sharp. "You're right," he said. Then he added, shamelessly, "She would never be that polite."
Lin Xue pinched his side hard. "Idiot."
Wei Chen winced and laughed. "Ow."
Then he turned serious and asked Lin Xue, clear and simple, "Do you want a kiss? For anchor."
Lin Xue's eyes flicked to the copy, then back to Wei Chen. She nodded once. "Yes," she whispered. "Now."
Wei Chen kissed her. Slow, deep, steady. Lin Xue clutched his collar and pulled him close, not forced—chosen. Their breaths mixed. His heat rolled into her, and her frost steadied him back. The bond rope flared gold and silver in his mind, bright enough to make the tunnel symbols tremble.
Wei Chen pulled back just enough to ask, "Do you want me to stop?"
Lin Xue shook her head. "Don't stop," she whispered. "Stay with me."
Wei Chen nodded and pressed his forehead to hers. "Say my true name," he murmured. "Anchor it."
Lin Xue's lips trembled. "Chen Wei," she whispered. "Anchor to me."
The copy's smile finally twitched, like it didn't like that. It took another step forward. "If you are the real one," it said softly to Lin Xue, "tell him what you want most."
Lin Xue stiffened. Her pride flared like ice. "I—"
The copy leaned in closer, sweet and cruel. "Say it," it murmured. "Or he will choose the one who speaks."
Wei Chen felt Lin Xue's hand tremble in his. He leaned close and spoke quietly, like he was only talking to her. "You don't have to perform," he said. "You choose. Not it."
Lin Xue swallowed. Her eyes stayed on his. Then she whispered, very small, very real, "I want… you to stay."
Wei Chen's chest tightened. He smiled softly. "I'm staying," he whispered.
Lin Xue's cheeks warmed. Embarrassment flickered, then something braver took its place. She lifted her chin and said it louder, to the copy, to the tunnel, to the dark itself. "I want him," she said. "Not as a tool. As mine. By choice."
The bond rope flared again, bright and warm, and the copy's smile broke for the first time.
It hissed, low and angry.
Su Mei's black eyes widened like she was pleased. "Good," she whispered. "You fed it less."
Lin Xue glared at Su Mei. "What are you?"
Su Mei's voice turned soft and wrong. "A door," she whispered.
Wei Chen's grip tightened around Su Mei. "Su Mei," he said sharply. "Stop."
Su Mei's mouth froze.
She stopped.
Wei Chen exhaled. "Good," he said, voice rough. Then he looked back at the copy.
The copy's face shifted—not much, just enough to look off. The eyes became too empty. The smile became too smooth. It raised one hand, and a thin black thread appeared, reaching for the gold-and-silver rope between Wei Chen and Lin Xue.
"I don't need your fear," it whispered. "I just need your name."
Lin Xue reacted fast. Frost burst from her palm and sliced the air, trying to cut the thread. The thread dodged like it was alive.
Wei Chen snapped his fan open and slashed too, but the thread wasn't flesh. It was law.
The thread touched the bond rope.
The gold-and-silver rope flickered.
Lin Xue gasped. "It's biting it!"
Wei Chen grabbed Lin Xue's wrist and pressed a kiss to her knuckles, fast and fierce. "Look at me," he said. "Say my name like love, not fear."
Lin Xue's breath shook. "Chen Wei," she whispered. "Stay with me."
The rope flared.
The thread hissed and recoiled—just a little.
The copy's eyes narrowed. "Then I take him another way," it whispered.
It stepped closer, too close, and spoke Wei Chen's true name like a command.
"Chen Wei."
Wei Chen's body jerked forward.
Lin Xue grabbed him with both arms and pressed her mouth to his, desperate. The kiss was fierce and chosen. The bond rope flared hard, trying to hold him.
Wei Chen's black sun brand pulsed in answer, cold and hungry—
and in his arms, Su Mei's black eyes smiled.
Because the tunnel behind them, the way they came in, did not exist anymore.
It was gone.
Sealed shut like a coffin.
To be Continued
© Kishtika., 2025
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