---
Tianming stood at the edge of the Shrouded Bloom Vale — a tranquil basin hidden between the Sakura Dominion's broken sky bridges and bleeding cherry trees.
Here, time flowed like vapor.
Wind carried voices from old dreams.
And petals whispered names long buried.
The system pinged softly in his mind:
> [Echo Signature: #002 — "The Betrayer" — Active]
[Name: Qin Mei]
[Timeline Origin: Divergence Line 31X – "Fractured Lovers Protocol"]
Status: Unknown Intent.
Tianming stepped forward into the vale.
He already knew who she was.
> She killed him.
And he loved her when she did.
---
Flashback – Divergence Line 31X
They were running.
Together.
The world was burning behind them.
The Empress had declared Tianming rogue.
His system was glitching.
Yue'er had been lost.
But Qin Mei was there.
She held his hand.
She wiped his blood.
And then, when they reached the extraction bridge…
> She drove a soul-spear through his chest.
> "I'm sorry," she whispered as the light faded.
"They promised me… they'd bring you back."
---
Present – Vale of the Lost Petals
She stood with her back turned, arms bare, sword planted in soft grass.
Qin Mei hadn't aged a day. Her violet eyes shimmered with guilt and quiet rage.
> "You remember it," she said softly.
"The way I killed you."
Tianming stopped five meters behind her.
> "Yeah."
> "Was it worth it?" he asked.
She turned, face pale.
> "No."
---
Dialogue: Confrontation & Revelation
> "You were the last good thing I had left," she said.
"But they told me… if I killed you, they'd fix you."
> "You believed them?"
> "I loved you," she snapped. "And I thought love meant trusting those who promised to save you."
> "But I killed the only person who ever trusted me."
Tianming didn't draw his blade.
> "Are you here to finish what you started?"
> "No," she said quietly.
> "I'm here to join you.
To make sure you never die like that again."
---
Echo Fusion Offered
> [Warning: Emotional Instability – Betrayal Trauma Detected]
[Echo #002 requests Synchronization]
[Trait Type: Bonded Memory Merge]
Tianming's chest burned.
> "You expect me to fuse with you… after you killed me?"
Qin Mei looked up, tears barely held back.
> "I expect you to remember the version of me that never did."
> "The one who died for you in a thousand timelines."
> "Just not… this one."
---
[CHOICE: Accept Fusion]
Tianming stepped forward and placed his palm against her chest — just above the scar he remembered.
> "You stabbed me here."
"Let's see if something good can grow from it."
---
[Fusion Successful – Echo #002 Qin Mei: "Betrayer's Mercy"]
> 🔹 Trait Gained: Bonded Soulmark – You now share a soul-thread with one other echo-linked entity.
🔹 Skill Unlocked: Twin Chaos Pulse – Once/day summon an Echo Phantom to fight beside you for 30 seconds.
🔹 Memory: Last Kiss Before Collapse – Temporarily nullify corruption for 5 seconds when near death.
> [Corruption Level Reduced: 22.3% → 19.6%]
[Emotional Stability Boosted – Cognitive Collapse Threshold increased by +2%]
---
Scene Shift – Post Fusion
Qin Mei's body faded into starlight…
But her presence remained in Tianming's mind —
soft, steady, a voice that would speak when he doubted most.
> "Next time you fall," she whispered,
"You won't fall alone."
---
Meanwhile – Empress of Chains' Throne Room
The Empress rose from her floating throne, removing the veil from her face.
> "He has fused with three Echoes."
> "And now, he holds betrayal, mercy, madness… and love."
The Oracle of Dust trembled.
> "Then what remains?"
> "Only two," the Empress replied.
"The version that never broke…"
> "And the one that broke everything."
---