As Zhulong Chen approached his father's chamber under Xiao's hypnotic influence, a cold sweat broke across Xiao's brow. He knew the gravity of what he was attempting, tampering with the course of events that had shaped his life and his family's fate.
Inside the chamber, Xin Cheng, Xiao's uncle, sat at his desk, engrossed in the affairs of the clan. Zhulong's footsteps echoed softly as he entered, his eyes glazed over with an eerie purple glow. Xin Cheng looked up, surprised to see his son at such a late hour.
"Dad," Zhulong's voice was hollow, distant, "I... I need to do this."
Xin Cheng furrowed his brows, sensing something amiss. "Zhulong, what's gotten into you?"
Without another word, Zhulong lunged forward, his hands moving with unnatural speed and precision. Xin Cheng barely had time to react as Zhulong's fingers closed around his throat, squeezing tightly.
The struggle was brief but intense. Xin Cheng fought against his own son, desperation and confusion etched on his face. In the dim light of the chamber, Zhulong's eyes continued to glow with that unnatural purple hue, his movements mechanical and unyielding.
In the corner of the room, Xiao watched with a mix of horror and determination. He had intended to prevent his father's death, to change the course of history, but now he wondered if he had made a grave mistake. He had not anticipated the extent of Zhulong's compliance under hypnosis, nor the raw emotion and conflict it would stir within him.
Finally, Zhulong's grip weakened, and Xin Cheng collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. Zhulong stood over him, his eyes returning to their normal state as the hypnosis wore off. He staggered back, shaking his head in disbelief at what he had just done.
Xiao rushed forward, his heart heavy with guilt and uncertainty. "Zhulong, I... I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen."
Zhulong looked at Xiao, his expression a mixture of anger and sorrow. "What have you done, Xiao? What have you made me do?"
Xiao's mind raced with regret and confusion. He had hoped to alter fate, to prevent the tragedy that had haunted his family for generations. Instead, he had caused more pain and devastation.
As the commotion drew the attention of guards and servants, Xiao knew he had to act quickly. He helped Zhulong to his feet, whispering urgently, "We need to leave, now."
Together, they slipped out of the chamber and disappeared into the night, leaving behind a scene of chaos and betrayal. Xiao's attempt to rewrite history had backfired in the most tragic of ways, leaving him with a heavy burden of responsibility and a newfound understanding of the unpredictable nature of fate.
As they fled into the darkness, Xiao vowed to find another way to confront Xin Cheng, to protect his family and reclaim what had been taken from them. Little did he know, the path ahead would be fraught with even greater challenges and sacrifices, testing the limits of his resolve and reshaping the destiny of those he loved.