Wang Mulan did not stop. She ignored everyone behind her as if the world itself had faded into nothing. Even Yin Feng, who had always been within her awareness, was no exception this time.
Her steps did not slow, not even for a moment, as she ran straight toward the temple platform.
Her breathing had already grown uneven, each inhale sharp and rushed, each exhale trembling. Her heart pounded violently against her chest, so loud it almost drowned out everything else.
And yet, the closer she got, the stronger that strange, indescribable feeling became, like an invisible force pulling her forward, calling out to her, urging her to come closer… closer…
Then she finally reached it.
Her steps faltered abruptly, the momentum breaking as though she had crossed some unseen boundary.
And in the very next moment, she fell to her knees.
