The night didn't stay quiet.
It couldn't.
Xu Lin felt it before he saw anything.
That same pressure
But stronger this time.
Not one presence.
Many.
His body tensed instantly.
"…They're here again…"
Mo Xuan's eyes opened slowly.
Sharp.
Awake.
"…So they didn't listen."
Xu Lin turned to him.
"…You knew this would happen?"
Silence.
That was answer enough.
"…Who are they?"
Mo Xuan stood up
Still weak
But steady enough.
"…The ones who want to take you back."
Xu Lin's breath caught.
"…Back where?"
A pause.
"…To where you don't belong anymore."
That
Didn't make sense.
But before Xu Lin could ask
The air split.
This time
It wasn't subtle.
Light tore through the space.
Cold.
Sharp.
And then
They appeared.
Three figures.
Dressed in white
But nothing about them felt gentle.
"…Xu Lin."
His name echoed.
Not warm.
Not human.
Xu Lin froze.
Because something inside him reacted again.
Fear
Mixed with something deeper.
"…You will come with us."
The voice was calm.
But absolute.
Xu Lin stepped back instinctively.
"…I don't even know you."
"…That doesn't matter."
A step forward.
"…Your existence here is temporary."
Silence.
Xu Lin's heart pounded.
"…I'm not going anywhere."
The words came out before he could stop them.
And for a second
Even he was surprised.
The figures paused.
Then
"…This is not a choice."
The air tightened.
Power gathered.
Xu Lin couldn't move.
His body
Wasn't responding.
"…What are you doing"
Before it could continue
Darkness surged forward.
Fast.
Violent.
Mo Xuan stepped in.
This time—
Not holding back.
"…I said"
His voice dropped.
Cold.
"…leave."
The air shook.
The light faltered.
For the first time
The figures reacted.
"…You're interfering again."
"…And you're still talking."
Mo Xuan didn't wait.
He moved first.
Darkness clashed against light.
The impact
Explosive.
Xu Lin staggered back.
The room couldn't hold it.
Cracks formed.
Reality itself
Shifting.
"…Stop!"
His voice was swallowed.
Too much.
Too fast.
One of the figures broke through
Reaching toward him.
"…Come."
Xu Lin's body froze again.
Pulled forward
Against his will.
"…No!"
His hand reached out
Instinctively.
And something
Answered.
A pulse.
From within him.
Light
Burst out.
Not controlled.
Not gentle.
But powerful.
Everything stopped.
For a moment
No one moved.
Even Mo Xuan froze.
Because
That wasn't normal.
That wasn't human.
Xu Lin stood there
Breathing hard.
Confused.
"…What… was that…"
Silence.
Then
Mo Xuan smiled.
Slow.
Dangerous.
"…There you are."
Those words
Sent a chill down Xu Lin's spine.
Because
For a second
It felt like
He wasn't looking at Xu Lin.
But someone else.
The figures stepped back.
Not retreating
But reassessing.
"…The seal is breaking."
A pause.
"…We withdraw."
Just like that
They disappeared.
The pressure vanished.
Silence returned.
But nothing felt the same.
Xu Lin looked at his hands.
Slightly shaking.
"…That wasn't me…"
A pause.
"…Was it?"
Mo Xuan stepped closer.
This time
No distance.
"…It was always you."
Silence.
Heavy.
Xu Lin's heart pounded.
Because now
He understood something.
He wasn't normal.
And whatever he was
It was something
Even Heaven feared.
Mo Xuan leaned slightly closer.
His voice low.
"…And now…"
A pause.
"…they won't stop."
Far above
Wei Tian stood in silence.
"…It has begun."
Lian Yue's expression tightened.
"…What's our next move?"
A pause.
Then
Cold.
"…Prepare to retrieve him."
Silence.
"…Even if it means destroying the vessel."
Lian Yue's eyes widened slightly.
Because this time
There was no hesitation.
Only decision.
Because once power awakens…
it can no longer be hidden. 🖤🔥