The sea of mist surged. Wave after wave of phantoms lunged, and Ye Lan's sword cut wide arcs, scattering them in bursts of silver light.
"Enough!"Her voice rang sharp, her blade exploding with force, shattering dozens of figures. Yet even as they fell, the fragments coiled back into the fog, gathering into a single form.
Ye Lan's breath faltered.
It was herself.The same sharp brows, the same proud aura, even the same glint of aloof defiance in the eyes—yet those eyes were darker, bottomless, glowing with blood-red light.
"What are you afraid of?" the phantom spoke, its voice hers, only colder. "You practice the Mystic Moon Sutra to prove you are no monster."
Ye Lan's face turned to ice. Her sword rose. "Silence."
The phantom laughed, laughter edged with madness."You think coldness makes you strong? But what you truly want—what you cannot deny—is someone who understands you, who sees you. You spurn everyone, yet the one you failed to refuse… is her."
Its gaze flickered past her, toward Luo Mingyao within the mist.
A tremor ran through Ye Lan's hand, her qi nearly losing control. Shame surged within her, raw and unbearable, as if her heart's deepest secret had been stripped bare.
Luo Mingyao's voice flowed through the fog, steady as the moon."This is the heart demon. It is not you—but every word it speaks is born of the truths you least wish to face."
Ye Lan's chest constricted, sword trembling. Her eyes blazed with frost, yet denial was futile—the words had lodged like barbs in her soul.
"Shut up!"Her cry cracked the air. Swordlight cleaved the phantom to pieces, but the fragments dissolved into whispers, hissing from every direction—
"You are alone.""You desire.""You will lose control.""You need her."
Ye Lan's breath grew ragged. The twin forces inside her spiraled into chaos, ripping at her from within.
Then—a hand closed over her wrist.Cold, but steady.
"Look at me."Luo Mingyao's voice was quiet, her silver eyes catching Ye Lan's reflection. In that instant, the cacophony faltered, the phantoms stilled beneath the weight of moonlight.
Ye Lan's heart convulsed. Her breath came harsh and shallow, but within that calm gaze she clawed back a fragment of balance.
Her teeth clenched. Forcing back the tide of chaos, she whispered two words:"…Let's go."
Luo Mingyao did not reply. She only stepped beside her, their shoulders nearly touching, and together they pressed deeper into the sea of fog.