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The night was cold and silent once again āļø.
The lanterns flickering by the lakeside swayed gently with the breeze.
Han was hunched over, reading old documentsāones he had hidden years ago.
His fingers trembled.
Han (softly): "So this was itā¦ Lian's death wasn't an accident."
The door creaked, and Xiao Zhan peeked inside.
Xiao Zhan: "Hanā¦ what did you find?"
Han handed him an old photographā
Yibo, Lian, and Han.
On the back it said: "Project Eclipse ā Bound Souls."
Han : "Three years ago, we were working on the Spirit Link experiment.
Lian was the first to undergo the testā¦ but something went terribly wrong."
Xiao Zhan's eyes widened.
Xiao Zhan: "Yiboā¦ was involved?"
Han lowered his head.
Han : "Yibo thought he saved Lian's soulā¦ but in reality, he trapped her here.
In a realm where she's been fighting to return from ever since."
For a moment, silence hung heavy.
Yibo stood at the doorway, having heard everything.
Pain and regret were etched across his face š.
Yibo (quietly): "I only wanted to save herā¦ but I ended up imprisoning her forever."
Xiao Zhan looked at himāhis eyes caught between love and fear.
Xiao Zhan: "Soā¦ can she ever be at peace?"
Han closed the file.
Han : "Only if she forgives you herself.
Orā¦"
He paused, lowering his gaze.
Han (softly): "ā¦if someone takes her place."
The room suddenly grew colder.
The candle flame on the wall flickered violently,
as if touched by an unseen breath š„šļø.
Lian's voice whispered through the dark:
"If someone takes my placeā¦ maybe I can finally be free."
Yibo pulled Xiao Zhan into his arms, his hold trembling.
Yibo (quietly): "I will never let her touch you."
But Kabir knewā
The game had already begun.
Lian no longer wanted just revengeā¦
She was seeking redemption as well.
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