The Obsidian Palace, Mo Chen's private residence, was a place where silence reigned. No servant dared enter without permission, fearing their master's unstable aura. However, that night, the General crossed the gates carrying an unusual burden: a fainted woman in his arms.
Mo Chen placed Lin Xi on a bed of silk. Her pale, cold skin contrasted with the deep black of the sheets. He watched her face for long minutes. Who was she? Why had her touch not destroyed him?
Suddenly, Lin Xi woke with a start, her bicolor eyes dilated with terror. Seeing the imposing figure of Mo Chen sitting at the edge of the bed, she tried to pull back, but her body's weakness betrayed her.
— "Do not move," Mo Chen ordered, his voice like the roll of distant thunder. "The use of Time Arts has drained your life essence. If you leave now, your heart will stop before you cross the courtyard."
Lin Xi took a deep breath, trying to stabilize her Qi. — "Did the General save me only to keep me prisoner?"
Mo Chen leaned forward, his shadow completely covering her. He extended his hand, stopping millimeters from her face. The gravity around him began to vibrate, making the objects in the room tremble.
— "Prisoner?" he smiled coldly. "I saved you because you are the only anomaly in thirty years who did not turn to ash upon touching me. Tell me, Weaver, how does your body endure my presence?"
Lin Xi looked at his hand. She knew that for any other human, that proximity would mean having their bones crushed. — "Because Time and Gravity are two sides of the same coin, General. I do not endure your power... I simply put it to rest."
To prove her point, Lin Xi reached out her trembling hand and touched Mo Chen's palm. In the instant of contact, the destructive vibration in the room ceased. Absolute silence returned.
Mo Chen closed his eyes, letting out a sigh that seemed held for decades. Her touch was like a balm to his tormented soul. For the first time, the "beast" within him was calm.
— "My diary..." she whispered, losing her strength again. "I need my diary. The future is changing. If the Shadows return..."
— "Nothing will touch you while you are in this pavilion," Mo Chen declared, closing her hand with his, holding her in a possessive grip. "You saved my life on the bridge. Now, your life belongs to my army. And to me."