Then suddenly every thread inside the underground cavern suddenly rose into the air at the same time.Thousands upon thousands of threads floated upward together until they completely covered the enormous ceiling like an endless sea of darkness. The entire underground world began trembling. The ancient pillars shook violently and dust slowly drifted down from above. The silver chains wrapped around the stone pillars clashed together with deafening metallic echoes. *Clang! Clang! Clang!*
Yu Shen instinctively took several steps backward. His eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the impossible scene before him."They've never..." His voice stopped halfway. "They've never reacted like this before." Every Thread slowly changed direction. None drifted randomly anymore. None moved without purpose. As though answering the same invisible command, every single thread gradually pointed toward one distant location. Toward... Moonfall Village.
Yu Shen slowly followed their direction. His breathing unconsciously became uneven. "They're all pointing there..." he whispered. "Why?" The masked figure quietly watched the threads. For several long moments he remained completely still. Then,he slowly rose from the stone platform.The instant he stood, every silver chain wrapped around his body violently tightened before erupting into loud metallic echoes that rolled throughout the enormous cavern.*Clang! Clang! Clang! *
Yu Shen froze completely. His eyes filled with shock. The threads surrounding the cavern immediately became even more restless. Several circled above the masked figure like a dark storm while others stretched endlessly toward Moonfall Village.The masked figure slowly lifted his head. His single crimson eye quietly reflected the endless sea of black threads."The game..." His voice echoed quietly throughout the cavern. A long silence followed then he softly finished. "...begins again."
Yu Shen instinctively looked toward him. "Lord?" The masked figure remained silent. After several long moments, he quietly said, "Even now..." His voice was calm, almost emotionless. "...they still refuse to let me leave." Yu Shen slowly lowered his eyes toward the countless chains surrounding the platform."The Heavenly Seal..." he whispered. "...is still holding." The masked figure gave a faint nod. "Barely." Yu Shen carefully took one step forward before stopping himself. "Should I try breaking the seal again?" The masked figure slowly shook his head. "No." Yu Shen frowned. "Why?" The masked figure lifted one chained hand slightly. The golden runes engraved upon the silver chains suddenly flashed with brilliant light before fading once again."The time hasn't come." Yu Shen quietly clenched his fists. "Then all we can do is watch?" "Watch." The masked figure answered calmly. "And wait."
Yu Shen slowly exhaled. His eyes drifted toward the distant darkness beyond the cavern. "They've already begun moving toward Moonfall Village." He paused briefly. "Do you think they'll survive?" The masked figure looked toward the endless sea of Threads above them. "That depends." Yu Shen looked back at him. "On what?" The masked figure remained silent for several moments before quietly answering. "Whether the he chooses to open the gate." Yu Shen's expression immediately became serious. "And if he refuses?" The masked figure slowly closed his crimson eye. "Then their journey ends before it truly begins."
Then suddenly thread split into countless smaller threads that spread across the darkness like the branches of tree. Yu Shen stared at the strange sight in disbelief. "It divided..." The masked figure calmly replied, "Every choice creates another path." More threads continued dividing.Before long, the entire underground cavern was covered by an enormous web of threads stretching endlessly in every direction. Yu Shen slowly raised his head, unable to see where the web ended. "It's growing..." he whispered. "No..." The masked figure quietly corrected him. "...It's completing itself." His eye reflected the endless web overhead. "The final weave..." he murmured softly. "...has begun."
Elsewhere white flower remained motionless for a few more moments before its pure white petals slowly lost their color.One by one,the petals withered,curled inward,and scattered into the breeze until nothing remained.The narrow path leading away from the village became silent once again.No one spoke as the group resumed walking.existed.Lin Chen let out a slow breath and rubbed his arms."I don't know about the rest of you..." he muttered,"but I never want to see that place again."Chen Yu glanced back briefly before looking ahead once more."Neither do I."Hei Long remained silent,his eyes watching the forest around them.
Zhao Ming said,"Yet it never tried to stop us from leaving."Yan Luo nodded faintly."I noticed that too."A brief silence followed before Lin Chen frowned."Now that you mention it..." He scratched the back of his head."Does anyone else feel like...the village actually wanted us to leave?"Chen Yu thought for second before answering,"No." Lin Chen blinked."No?"Chen Yu slowly shook his head."I don't think it wanted us to leave."He looked toward the path behind them."I think it wanted to warn us."Hei Long quietly agreed."It had many chances to trap us."His expression remained calm."Instead,it kept showing us things." Yan Luo's gaze became thoughtful."Someone inside that village wanted us to keep moving."Lin Chen frowned in confusion."Then who were the people watching us through the windows?" No one answered because none of them knew.
Xu Yang walked a few steps behind everyone else without saying a word.The masked figure...His calm voice echoed inside Xu Yang's mind once again.Don't trust the Heaven you know...Xu Yang slowly lowered his eyes.Who are you...?Another memory surfaced.The child standing inside the old house.His bright eyes and gentle smile and he was calling,"Gege..."Xu Yang's heart tightened slightly.Why did that voice feel so familiar?Why did hearing it make him feel as though he had forgotten someone important?..Then the image of the wooden pendant appeared in his thoughts once more.He could almost remember whose hands had been holding it...but the memory slipped away before he could see the face.Xu Yang quietly clenched his fist.The last promise still remains...Those words echoed over and over inside his mind.What promise?Who made it?Was it his...or someone else's?He couldn't answer.
Chen Yu slowed his pace until he was walking beside xu yang.He studied Xu Yang's unusually quiet expression for a moment before asking,"Still thinking about everything that happened?"Xu Yang gave a faint nod."I can't stop." Chen Yu looked ahead as he spoke."Sometimes forcing yourself to remember only makes the memories run farther away."Xu yang let out breath. "Maybe you are right." After a brief pause,he added in a low voice,"But it feels like...every step I take brings me closer to a past that already knows me."
Chen Yu looked at him thoughtfully but said nothing.The group continued walking beneath the swaying trees as the distant outline of the ancient shrine slowly became clearer.path.As they drew closer,the forest became strangely quiet.stopped.Xu Yang frowned slightly. Something felt different...
Then he felt that someone was walking beside him.The footsteps were light and matching his pace perfectly.
For a brief moment,he could even sense another presence at his side,close enough that he expected to brush against their sleeve.Xu Yang instinctively turned his head."..."There was no one there.The path beside him was completely empty.His brows slowly furrowed.I definitely felt someone...He looked behind him.Yan Luo,Chen Yu,Lin Chen,Zhao Ming,and Hei Long were all several steps back,walking together.None of them could have been beside him.Was it my imagination...?
Before he could think any further, woman's voice suddenly echoed across the entire mountain."Son..."Every one of them stopped at once.Lin Chen's eyes widened in shock. "Everyone heard that...right?"Chen Yu slowly nodded,his expression becoming serious. "Yes."Yan Luo looked around the forest,his hand resting on the hilt of his sword."Who's there?"No one answered.The voice echoed again,clear enough for everyone to hear."You finally came..."I've been waiting for you for so long..."
Lin Chen swallowed nervously and looked around again."Who's talking?" Chen Yu frowned." The voice doesn't seem to be coming from one direction." Zhao Ming nodded slightly."It's echoing through the entire mountain."Yan Luo took a slow step forward,"Who are you?Show yourself."The forest remained completely still and no one appeared.No spiritual aura could be sensed. The woman's voice softly laughed.It wasn't frightening.It was warm,gentle,and filled with affection."You've grown so much..."Another pause followed."I almost didn't recognize you."
Xu Yang unconsciously held his breath.His heart began beating faster.Who...is she talking to?...Lin Chen pointed at himself before awkwardly looking around."She's...not talking about me...right?"No one answered. Chen Yu quietly glanced toward Xu Yang, then toward Hei Long before lowering his voice."It sounds like she's speaking to someone she hasn't seen for a very long time."Yan Luo remained alert,but even his serious expression softened slightly after hearing the warmth in the woman's voice. "There's no hostility in her voice," he murmured."Only...regret."Zhao Ming slowly nodded."And guilt."
The woman's voice continued,"You must have been frightened...you've carried everything alone..."Her voice trembled slightly."I'm sorry...I wasn't able to protect you."Xu Yang's fingers slowly tightened into fists.Who are she...Beside him,Hei Long's expression changed completely.His usually calm eyes widened with disbelief.He took one step forward."That voice..."Everyone immediately looked at him.Hei Long's lips trembled imperceptibly."It's impossible." Chen Yu frowned."What do you mean?"Hei Long remained silent for seconds before answering,"I know this voice."
Zhao Ming slowly turned toward him."You know who it belongs to?"Hei Long gave a slow nod.His expression was more shaken than anyone had ever seen."Yue Ning."Lin Chen blinked in confusion."Yue Ning?before.Yan Luo slowly frowned."It really does sound like her."Zhao Ming gave a faint nod."I remember it too."Chen Yu lowered his eyes thoughtfully."There's no mistake."Lin Chen looked around in confusion,his heartbeat quickening."Wait...if that's really Yue Ning..." He slowly scratched his head before looking at everyone."Why is she calling for her son?" He turned in a slow circle,carefully looking at each member of the group."There are only six of us here."His confused expression deepened."Who is she talking to?"
The voice echoed once more,"My son..."This time,it sounded much closer."I've waited for you...for so many years."Xu yang chest felt unusually heavy.Why does it feel like she's talking to someone standing right here...?Chen Yu quietly glanced around the group before speaking in a low voice."If her son is here..."He paused briefly."Then one of us doesn't know who they really are."Those words caused everyone to instinctively look at one another.Yan Luo's brows slowly furrowed and zhao ming remained silent.Hei Long's expression became serious.Lin Chen forced an uneasy laugh."You're...you're joking, right?"Nobody laughed.
Lin Chen's smile disappeared. "Wait...are you all seriously thinking Yue Ning's son is one of us?"Chen Yu folded his arms."I'm saying we can't rule it out."Lin Chen pointed toward Xu Yang."She could've been talking to him."Xu Yang looked up in surprise."Me?"Lin Chen shrugged awkwardly."A lot of strange things have been happening around you."Yan Luo slowly shook his head."No."Everyone looked toward him."If Yue Ning intended us to know who her son was..." he said calmly,"she would've spoken his name."Zhao Ming quietly nodded."Instead,she only said...'My son.'"Hei Long lowered his gaze,thinking carefully."Almost as if she wanted him to recognize her voice on his own."
Xu Yang unconsciously looked toward the mountain."But...none of us did."Chen Yu let out a slow breath."Then either the person she's calling has forgotten..."His eyes slowly narrowed."...or someone made them forget."
No one spoke again.For several moments the only sound was the quiet rustling of white petals beneath their feet.Finally,Yan Luo broke the silence."Standing here won't give us answers."He looked toward the mountain ahead."The shrine will."Everyone agreed and began walking once more.
After several more minutes,the shrine finally emerged from the mountain mist.The gates remained tightly shut,older than anything they had seen on the mountain.Xu Yang slowly lifted his head and stared at them.It looks different.The shrine was the same one we had visited before...yet it somehow wasn't.The weathered walls seemed darker.The ancient roof felt heavier.And an invisible pressure quietly lingered in the air.Last time it didn't feel like this...Xu Yang unconsciously slowed his steps.Why does it feel like the shrine itself has changed...?Or...have I changed?The strange feeling in his chest grew stronger with every step.He couldn't explain it,but this place now gave him a sense of both familiarity and unease,as though it had been silently waiting for him to return.
Chen Yu smiled faintly."We're finally here."He looked up at the shrine before shaking his head."It took much longer than usual."Lin Chen nodded immediately."Exactly!"He looked back down the mountain path."The shrine shouldn't be this far from the village." Hei Long quietly agreed."Normally,we would've arrived hours ago."Zhao Ming folded his arms,his expression thoughtful." The mountain delayed us."Lin Chen frowned. "You mean all those strange things?"Zhao Ming gave a small nod."The abandoned village, visions and voices."Yan Luo slowly looked back toward the forest."It's almost as though the mountain was testing whether we deserved to reach this place."Chen Yu smiled bitterly."Or trying to stop us."Xu Yang remained silent.His eyes never left the shrine.Was it really trying to stop us...or guide us?
Lin Chen looked at Xu Yang before asking softly,"Are you alright?"Xu Yang looked up and forced a small nod."I'm fine."Chen Yu immediately noticed the hesitation in his voice."You don't sound convinced."Xu Yang gave a faint smile that quickly disappeared. "This shrine..."He paused before speaking again."It wasn't like this before."Everyone looked toward him."What do you mean?" Yan Luo asked.Xu Yang slowly searched for the right words."Last time..."He looked back at the ancient gates."It felt old."He paused briefly."Today...it feels alive." Lin Chen Put his hand on his shoulder and said,"Don't worry, we'll figure it out together!"
Before anyone could step closer,the massive gates suddenly gave a deep wooden groan.
*Creeeeak...*Everyone stopped.The gates slowly began opening by themselves.No one touched them.Lin Chen's eyes widened. "They're opening..."Chen Yu quietly frowned. "On their own."YanLuo instinctively stepped in front of the group,his hand resting firmly on the hilt of his sword."Stay alert."The gates continued opening until the stone pathway leading into the shrine became fully visible.
Zhao Ming carefully observed the entrance before saying,"The shrine already knows we're here."Xu Yang looked toward him."How can you tell?"Zhao Ming slowly shook his head."I can't explain it."Hei Long calmly looked beyond the gates."There's only one way to find out."Without another word,the group cautiously stepped inside.Xu Yang entered first.Yan Luo followed close behind.Then Chen Yu,Zhao Ming and Lin Chen.Finally,Hei Long crossed the entrance. *Boom!* The gates slammed shut behind them with tremendous force.
Lin Chen jumped in fright."The gates!"He immediately ran back and grabbed the heavy wooden handles with both hands."Help me!" Chen Yu hurried over while Hei Long quietly stepped beside him.The three of them pushed and pulled with all their strength.The gates didn't move even slightly.Lin Chen gritted his teeth."Again!" They tried once more but nothing happened.Not even a faint creak.Hei Long slowly released the handle and stepped back.His expression remained calm,but his voice became noticeably lower. "They're sealed."
Lin Chen stared at the gates before letting out a nervous laugh."So...we're trapped?" Yan Luo turned his gaze away from the entrance."No."Everyone looked toward him." We're expected." Everyone instinctively prepared themselves for threads to appear. XuYang quietly looked around.Where are they...? Nothing happened.There were no threads and monsters.The shrine was completely silent.
Only incense burned peacefully inside an ancient bronze incense burner.A faint trail of fragrant smoke drifted upward.The wide floor was spotless.There was not a single layer of dust covered it's looked as though someone had cleaned it only moments ago.Lin Chen slowly blinked."This...doesn't look abandoned."Chen Yu crouched and gently brushed his fingers across the smooth stone floor.When he lifted his hand,it was perfectly clean."Someone has been taking care of this place."
Lin Chen slowly looked around the empty shrine."But...who?"Yan Luo's gaze swept across every corner."There is no sign of footprints and fresh tracks.And signs of anyone living here."Zhao Ming slowly folded his arms."Yet the incense is still burning."Hei Long looked toward the bronze incense burner,his eyes narrowing slightly. "Someone replaced it recently."Chen Yu nodded in agreement."Incense doesn't burn forever."He slowly stood up."Which means someone was here not long ago."Lin Chen felt a chill."Are they hiding somewhere?"Yan Luo quietly shook his head."If they wanted to hide from us,we wouldn't have found this place so easily."
XuYang remained silent and his eyes moved across the walls, pillar, carving and every stone looked old beyond imagination,but none of them showed the neglect that centuries should have left behind.This shrine isn't abandoned...He unconsciously tightened his hand.It's waiting...Zhao Ming spoke again."Perhaps we've misunderstood this place from the very beginning."Chen Yu turned toward him."What do you mean?" Zhao Ming looked deeper into the shrine. "Everyone believed this shrine was abandoned centuries ago."His voice became lower."What if it never was?" Lin Chen forced a nervous smile."That's...not a comforting thought."Hei Long calmly added,"An empty place can still have a keeper."Lin Chen looked at him."You mean...someone has been living here all this time?"Hei Long didn't answer.Chen Yu slowly exhaled."Whether it's a person...or something else..."He fixed his gaze on the dark corridor ahead."We'll find out soon enough."
XuYang looked farther into the shrine.At that exact moment,the nearest lantern suddenly lit by itself and warm golden flame quietly appeared.Then another lantern ignited farther ahead.One after another,the lanterns illuminated the long corridor leading toward the heart of the shrine.They continued to walk.They noticed everything looked different from before.Lin Chen swallowed quietly."Why do I feel like we're being watched?"Chen Yu glanced around the corridor."Because we probably are."Lin Chen looked at him."That isn't helping."
Chen Yu gave a faint smile,but it quickly disappeared."I wasn't trying to."Yan Luo walked at the front of the group,his sharp eyes carefully examined every doorway and every shadow."Stay close. We don't what will happen!"Nobody argued. Zhao Ming slowly brushed his fingertips across one of the stone pillars as they passed.It was cold and perfectly smooth."These carvings..." he murmured."They're older than the shrine itself."Hei Long looked toward the pillar for a brief moment."Someone added them later." Chen Yu turned toward him."You can tell?" Hei Long gave a slight nod."The stone and the carvings have aged differently."
XuYang quietly listened,but his attention remained fixed on the path ahead.The strange feeling inside his chest had only grown stronger with every step.It's close...He couldn't explain how he knew,but something was waiting for him at the end of this corridor.
Before anyone could say anything more suddenly,the corridor opened into an enormous circular hall.The group stopped. The ceiling stretched so high that it disappeared into darkness and stone pillars surrounded the chamber,each covered in faded runes that shimmered faintly beneath the lantern light.
In the exact center stood a gigantic stone mirror.It towered over everyone, its surface dull gray like solid stone rather than polished glass.Hundreds of ancient paper seals covered its frame and each seal was marked with faded crimson characters.Strange silver runes slowly pulsed beneath the stone surface like flowing veins of light.Lin Chen's mouth slowly fell open."That's a mirror?" Chen Yu stared at it without blinking."I've never seen anything like it."
Yan Luo's expression became serious."Don't move any closer yet."Zhao Ming carefully observed the countless seals."Those aren't ordinary sealing talismans."Hei Long slowly nodded."Some of them are older than the Heavenly Court itself." XuYang couldn't take his eyes off the mirror.For some reason,it didn't feel unfamiliar.Instead,it felt as though someone on the other side had been quietly waiting for him.Why...does it feel like it's watching me?...
Before anyone could step forward, a voice suddenly echoed throughout the chamber. "You finally came."Everyone instantly turned toward the sound.There was no one behind them.No one stood among the pillars.The vast hall remained completely empty.Lin Chen immediately stepped backward."Who's there?"Chen Yu slowly looked around the chamber."Show yourself." Only silence answered them.Then the voice spoke again. "You've taken longer than I expected." Chen Yu glanced at mirror,"Reveal yourself."No figure appeared.At that exact moment,the strange silver runes beneath the mirror's stone surface glowed slightly brighter.Hei Long narrowed his eyes before quietly saying,"The voice came from the mirror."
Everyone slowly turned back toward the enormous stone mirror.It remained completely motionless then after second the voice echoed through the hall once more. "Only one may approach."Everyone slowly turned to look at XuYang.Xu Yang frowned slightly before looking back at the enormous stone mirror."Why are you all looking at me?" Lin Chen pointed helplessly between Xu Yang and the mirror."Because it obviously means you."Chen Yu didn't take his eyes off the mirror."Ever since we entered this mountain,every strange event has revolved around you."
Yan Luo slowly stepped in front of Xu Yang, placing himself between him and the mirror." That doesn't mean he has to obey it."The voice echoed again,its tone unchanged. "Bearer of the Heart Blossom..."Xu Yang's pupils contracted slightly. The Heart Blossom hidden beneath his robe suddenly became warm and faint crimson glow slowly shone through the clothe.Everyone immediately noticed it.Lin Chen stared in disbelief."It's glowing..."Xu Yang instinctively placed a hand over it.The warmth spread through his entire body.Why now...?
The mirror continued,"Bearer of the Heart Blossom..."Its voice seemed to fill every corner of the shrine."Come forward."At the same moment,the rose-shaped mark on Xu Yang's wrist began glowing as well and crimson light spread across his skin before slowly pulsing in rhythm with the mirror's silver runes.Chen Yu's expression darkened. He stepped beside Xu Yang and caught his arm."Don't."Xu Yang looked toward him. Chen Yu slowly shook his head."We don't know what that thing is."Yan Luo nodded in agreement."It could be another trap."
Zhao Ming kept watching the mirror,his expression unusually serious."Or something much worse."Hei Long remained silent,but his hand quietly tightened around the handle of his weapon.His eyes never left the glowing mirror.Lin Chen swallowed nervously."I really don't what's happening."this."Xu Yang slowly lowered his eyes to the glowing mark on his wrist before looking back at the mirror.His heart beat steadily against his chest.He could feel it calling to him.Not with force...but with familiarity.Why does it feel like...I've stood here before?...
The voice echoed once more."Only you may approach."Xu Yang closed his eyes for a brief moment before quietly opening them again. He looked at each of his companions one by one."If I don't go...We'll never learn why this mountain keeps calling my name."Chen Yu frowned."There has to be another way."Xu Yang slowly shook his head."If there was..." He looked back at the mirror."It would've shown itself already." Yan Luo remained standing in front of him."If anything happens..."Xu Yang smiled faintly."Then pull me back."Yan Luo held his gaze for several long seconds before finally stepping aside. "Don't make me regret trusting you."
Lin Chen looked from Xu Yang to the mirror before asking,"Do we really have another choice?Chen Yu slowly lowered his eyes.He wanted to stop Xu Yang,but he couldn't deny the truth that they had reached this place because of him.Xu Yang looked at everyone before speaking."If I turn back now..."He paused,his fingers unconsciously tightening into a fist."...I'll never learn why everyone already knows my past except me."His quiet words echoed through the hall.Yan Luo frowned deeply but didn't stop him again.He simply said,"Be careful."Chen Yu let out a slow breath."If anything feels wrong...step back immediately."
Xu Yang gave a small nod before turning toward the mirror.He slowly walked forward alone.The glowing runes beneath the stone surface pulsed gently with each step he took. The Heart Blossom hidden beneath his robe glowed softly while the rose mark on his wrist shone brighter and brighter.The enormous mirror remained completely silent,as though patiently waiting for him. XuYang slowly raised his hand toward the stone surface. Just before his fingertips touched it... *Craaaack!*A sound exploded through the shrine.Everyone instinctively looked upward. When they turned they saw long fractures spread across the ancient ceiling.The entire shrine trembled beneath their feet and golden light burst through the widening cracks,flooding the hall with overwhelming radiance.