Chapter 282: Fu Lin~ I Will Always Be With You.

As the light faded, Mei felt light and refreshed. Confused, she lowered her gaze to the necklace in her hand and silently put it around her neck.

In the consciousness space, the Herrscher of Thunder smirked and reminded her, "The energy inside can only be used three times. Once it's gone, I won't be able to replenish it."

Mei clenched the necklace tightly and whispered, "That's okay."

"Alright then."

The Herrscher of Thunder crossed her arms. As long as Mei wouldn't break down and cry when the necklace eventually shattered, that was good enough.

--------------------------------

In the dimly lit room, Fu Lin's limbs were bound by thick chains, pulled outward, forming a "大" shape as he lay on the bed.

From a distance, the occasional sound of sharpening a knife echoed, causing a few drops of cold sweat to form on Fu Lin's forehead. For a moment, he was utterly confused about what had happened and why he was restrained on the bed.

'Deep breaths, relax, it's okay... Kiana wouldn't kill me... probably, maybe, hopefully.'

After calming himself, Fu Lin shifted his gaze slightly, looking toward the blurry figure in the kitchen. He licked his dry lips and hoarsely called out, "Kiana..."

"Welcome back, Fu Lin~~" Kiana's movements paused. Excitedly, she pushed open the kitchen door and looked at the figure now awake on the bed, her eyes filled with burning love.

Then, holding the kitchen knife that gleamed coldly from being sharpened, she ran toward Fu Lin. With each step Kiana took, Fu Lin's heart skipped a beat.

"Kiana, you... put the knife down first, I'm scared..."

"Don't be afraid, it'll be over in an instant, Fu Lin~ I'll always be with you."

As if she hadn't heard him, Kiana sat on Fu Lin, gently stroking his face. Covering his mouth, she bent down to whisper softly in his ear, her voice carrying both tenderness and pain.

"Mmmph!!" Fu Lin's eyes widened in shock, staring at Kiana's serious expression. Panic surged through him as he struggled helplessly.

His gaze locked onto the knife slowly being raised above Kiana's head—it felt like, in the next second, it would plunge into his heart.

And just as he feared, the cold blade mercilessly pierced his heart.

A wave of excruciating pain shot through his chest. Fu Lin's eyes widened in disbelief at what was unfolding before him, his dazed gaze fixed on Kiana.

Kiana's hands remained tightly gripping the knife handle buried in Fu Lin's chest. She was silent, saying nothing. A single tear slipped down her cheek and fell onto Fu Lin's bloodstained chest.

Then, Kiana pulled the knife out, and scalding blood gushed out instantly, staining her clothes and face—a crimson bloom, sharp yet tragic.

As Fu Lin's consciousness faded, Kiana turned the blade toward her own heart. Without a change in expression, she plunged it in, ending her own life.

She collapsed lifelessly onto Fu Lin, her blue eyes gradually dimming, lips curling into a faint smile before closing her eyes forever.

Fu Lin, who had witnessed everything, opened his mouth but could only produce strangled sounds, as if life itself had seized his throat. In the end, his consciousness faded into oblivion.

...

"Sizzle!"

"Sizzle sizzle!!"

"Haa—haa—!"

The sound of knife sharpening rang out again. Lying in bed, Fu Lin suddenly opened his eyes, breathing heavily as he stared at the familiar ceiling. A flicker of fear toward death flashed through his eyes.

"I'm still... alive..."

His breathing gradually steadied as he took in his familiar surroundings, his gaze full of confusion and uncertainty. After a brief daze, he stared blankly at the ceiling.

"Wait... I'm back? But why am I hearing the sound of sharpening knives again..." The distant sound of a blade being honed sent another wave of cold sweat trickling down Fu Lin's forehead. He had no idea how to react.

Then, the familiar scene played out once more. Fu Lin's eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at Kiana in his arms. At that moment, forgotten memories surged back into his mind—then his consciousness once again faded into nothingness.

——Fu Lin slowly opened his eyes again, his gaze weary and numb, staring blankly at the ceiling.

He had long stopped counting how many times Kiana had killed him or how many times she had taken her own life. Either way, he would lose those memories again soon...

After a long silence, the ominous sound of sharpening knives did not return. Fu Lin slowly emerged from his despair, raising his arm. Noticing his wrists were unshackled this time, his eyes flickered.

The faint sound of breathing, like gentle waves, reached his ears. He blinked and nervously turned his head to the side.

His gaze met Kiana's burning eyes directly.

Fu Lin instinctively widened his eyes, shrinking back in panic—only to tumble off the bed.

Kiana's gaze, filled with obsessive love, softened as she sat up. She looked at Fu Lin on the floor with concern, reaching out to help him, only for him to quickly refuse.

"D-Don't come near me! Give me a moment!" Fu Lin sat on the ground, clutching his pounding heart, his face pale as he stared at Kiana, terrified she might stab him again.

"Fu Lin?" Kiana sat on the bed, tilting her head in confusion.

"You... really don't know?" Seeing Kiana's clueless expression, Fu Lin hesitated. Had everything before just been a dream? But why did the pain feel so real?

"Should I know something? Or did you do something behind my back again?" A cold glint flashed in Kiana's eyes as she crossed her arms and stared at Fu Lin.

"N-No! Absolutely not!" Fu Lin shook his head frantically—he couldn't let what happened in the dream repeat itself in reality.

"Is that so? Then that's for the best~" Kiana let out a relieved sigh. She had no intention of bringing up what happened in the dream. To teach Fu Lin a lesson he wouldn't forget—without actually harming him—she had resorted to this method, ensuring that he would forget everything that happened in a few hours and no harm would be done to him.

That pesky Herrscher of Sentience's projection lurking in Fu Lin's subconscious had almost ruined everything. But thankfully, it was just a projection—any closer, and her plan might have failed.