1, Echo not enough
The residual sound of the broken bronze mirror was like a sharp blade, piercing through Su Yao's heart for a long time. When she opened her eyes, she found herself still standing in that twisted valley, blood and sandalwood intertwined, and the sky was like torn grey cloth. The aftermath of the illusion has not gone far away, and the world seems to be still breathing and doubting her existence.
She reached out, her palm cooling as if she could touch a transparent phantom. The scene just now flashed through her mind: Li Xuan's face, her master's broken sword, and the cries of her people - like a mirror, magnifying her guilt and fear inch by inch. The shadows of the old man in white and the man in black intertwined before my eyes, like two sword lights probing each other.
Do you think you can escape? "The white robed old man's voice came from a distance, with an undeniable calmness. The truth will eventually grab an inch of your body like a venomous snake
Su Yao clenched her fists, her knuckles tense and turning white. There was a calmness in her eyes that she had never experienced before, like a sword that had been sharpened for a long time but had yet to test its sharpness. She once thought that the truth was a fact to be revealed, but the illusion taught her that the truth is more of a confrontation between oneself - when things are reflected back in the mirror, do you still recognize yourself?
I... I won't be deceived again, "she murmured to herself, her voice shattering into countless echoes in the valley.
The old man in the white robe slowly approached, every step like a heavy hammer striking her heart. The old man's sleeves swayed slightly, his expression both stern and compassionate. The road ahead is vast, and there are only two things that can be tested: your hands and your heart. Your hands can cut off external enemies, and your heart can resist internal demons. If you cut off shadows but cannot cut off regrets, then you are just entering another prison from one
Su Yao raised her head and looked towards the distant horizon, where a crack appeared, resembling the trajectory of a copper mirror cracking. Shadows poured out from the cracks, like countless black lines entwining the scent of the valley. She knew - this illusion was not over, it was calling her to delve deeper into the depths again, to touch the roots of her fear.
Pathfinder, if the truth is so deadly, why do you still want to lead me here? "She asked, with a rare stubbornness in her voice, but also a hint of lingering tenderness, which was a remnant of her memory of Li Xuan.
The old man didn't answer immediately. He turned his gaze over Su Yao and landed on the long sword stuck in the ground at a corner of the valley. The scabbard of that sword was still stained with dried blood, as if it was telling a spell from some distant era.
Because you are the chosen one, "he finally said," the illusion is not passive. It seeks people who know how to bear it. If you don't bear it, the truth will turn into decay and devour more lives. If you bear it, it will teach you how to repair the cracks with the world
Su Yao remained silent. At this moment, she is not only fighting for herself, but also for the disappearing gazes of those who once looked forward to her. Her heart is like a blade, sharp for self-protection and warm for comfort.
Okay. "She closed her eyes, as if she had made some kind of contract with herself," No matter what the truth is, I will face it
The old man in the white robe nodded and then turned around, his voice echoing in the wind: "The first trial is called 'Mirror Cutting'. You will face your own shadow directly; if the shadow disperses, you will be trapped; if the shadow returns to its original place, you can leave with something - that is your key to reality
As soon as he finished speaking, the black shadows at the edge of the valley suddenly surged up, like a burst of torn smoke, quickly condensing into dozens of figures with different appearances. Some of those shadows had twisted faces, some had hollow eyes, and some looked like people who had appeared in Su Yao's memory: the strictness of her master, the tenderness of Li Xuan, the despair of her people, and her own face that she had never looked directly at before.
The black shadow silently rushed towards Su Yao, as if every step was stepping on her heart. Her body was instantly taken over by the chill, and the long sword in her hand seemed to sink into the soil, unable to lift a single inch. The old man in the white robe waved his sleeve and said coldly, "These are your shadows. They feed on your memories, and as long as you are afraid, they have vitality. Now, the cutting of the mirror begins - with the heart as the sword and the will as the boundary
Su Yao gritted her teeth and recalled Li Xuan's last smile, which was like a brand imprint pressing on her chest. Li Xuan's face flickered in the shadow, with familiar yet unfamiliar curves at the corners of his mouth. Su Yao took a deep breath, her eyes filled with flames. She knew that if she didn't decisively cut off the entanglement of these shadows, she would forever be trapped in a cycle of illusions.
Shadows only respond to your true emotions, "the old man in the white robe whispered." Those born out of nothing are easy to break, while those hidden deep in the heart are difficult to remove
Su Yao slowly stepped forward, stepping step by step on the gravel and ashes. Every step she took, a circle of fragmented memories appeared beneath her feet: childhood laughter, blood and sweat during sword practice, night conversations with Li Xuan, and the moment she no longer wanted to recall - the blurry silhouette pierced by the sword in the mirror. The shadow came closer, and Li Xuan's eyes were like deep wells, looking in and making people feel lost. She heard a faint whisper echoing in her ears: "If you admit it, you will be lost forever; if you deny it, the illusion will engulf you
Su Yao clenched her fists tightly and felt pain when her nails hooked into her palm. She recalled the words of the old man in the white robe: hands can slay enemies, heart can slay demons. She cannot rely solely on brute force, nor can she be bound solely by emotions. So she closed her eyes and silently recited an ancient spell and breathing technique taught by her master - it was not magic, but a technique to stabilize her consciousness in the present moment.
Her heart is as calm as water, "she said to herself in her heart. The shadow seemed to be stung by this sentence, first trembling slightly, then falling like fallen leaves blown away by the strong wind, revealing the emptiness and falsehood inside the shadow. She opened her eyes and gazed decisively at Li Xuan in the shadow, her voice calm and cold: "If you are just an illusion, I will restore your illusionary appearance; if you have ever been real, I will admit and bear the harm you have brought me
As soon as the words fell, Su Yao's figure suddenly pounced forward like a sword wind. The long sword was unsheathed, and the tip of the sword swept through the cool and thin air. The sword's intent turned into a white light and slashed towards the shadow. That white light was not a sharp killing intent, but a warm light that seemed to dissolve illusions one by one through memory and acceptance. The shadow emitted a low hissing sound in the light, gradually melting into dust, and then being swept away by an invisible wind.
The old man in the white robe showed a complex smile on his face and said, "Okay. You used the right method - not to evade, nor to deny, but to acknowledge and accept. The real judgment is not about killing, but about identification
However, just as Su Yao thought this first trial was over, a lower and heavier echo came from afar - it was the voice she suppressed from the bottom of her heart, irreplaceable by shadows. The sound was tangled and low, like a chain rubbing against the chest, with a damp and bloody smell. It is neither a face that appears like an illusion, nor a tangible fragment of memory, but a more primitive thing - a hidden river of regret, guilt, and fear that she has never admitted.
The sound echoed around Su Yao from far to near, like a tide repeatedly washing her ankles, and like a needle sewn onto her heart. It said, "You killed him. You traded one blade for your own life of innocence and peace. Have you ever asked how different the world would be if he were still alive? Have you ever thought about those looks? Can you face them
Su Yao's breathing lost its rhythm in an instant, and her chest suddenly roared like a giant beast. The fragments that she suppressed - the pillowcase soaked in sweat when she woke up in the middle of the night, the trembling palm of her hand holding the hilt of a sword, and the tunes softly sung by Li Xuan under the lamp - were one after another crowded into her heart. Her teeth were biting painfully, and her knuckles were blue and white.
The old man in the white robe tilted his head slightly, his gaze like autumn water, and said in a deep voice, "The second attempt at refining is called 'Heart Punishment Mirror Language'. This is not something that can be cut off, but rather a sincere heart to overcome one's own sins. If you fail to redeem yourself, the shadow and sound will merge into one and completely devour you
Su Yao seemed to have been hit in the chest and suddenly stood still. She knew that if the root of that sound could not be fully revealed, even if thousands of illusions were to be cut off, it would only bury decay deeper. She raised her hand and touched the hilt of the sword with her fingertips, touching the sword that had accompanied her through the blade light. The hilt of the sword is cold, like a silent witness.
Tell me, if he says it's true, how will you bear it? "The old man in the white robe continued.
Su Yao remained silent for a long time, then closed her eyes. She saw scenes emerging: Li Xuan's smile, the tears of the tribe, and her own silhouette standing alone in front of the altar at dusk. At the moment she saw the sword pierce through the night, the blade reflected not only the opponent's image, but also her own face - a mix of panic, confusion, and determination. She once thought it was an inevitable cut to prevent greater evil; But somewhere in my heart, there is a corner that has never been illuminated by light, and that corner hides wavering and evasion.
I once thought about escaping, "she whispered, her voice like being pulled back from a distance." I used to tell myself that if he died, he could comfort those who were hurt and free me from a heavy shackle. But now
Her voice shattered. Now I don't want to comfort myself with lies anymore. If he really dies at my hands, I am willing to bear all the consequences; if he lives elsewhere, I am willing to go find him, atone for his sins, or let him judge me
The white robed old man's eyes flashed a strange color and nodded slowly: "Admit that it is the hardest and clearest knife. You have taken the first step. But words and determination are not the end, and the weight of the heart needs to be measured by action."
Before the words could finish, the air around suddenly became cold. The sound grew from far to near, thick enough to drip blood. A phantom slowly rose, unlike the chaotic shadows before, its outline became clearer - it was the appearance of a woman with a lowered head, her face hidden in darkness, yet unable to ignore its familiarity. Su Yao looked back with all her might, her heart beating almost out of her chest.
You... "she asked tremblingly.
The phantom did not respond, but instead let out a burst of laughter, which had no warmth and was like a blade passing through a bone crevice. Subsequently, the phantom extended its arms,