32 Intertwined Fates

Under the dim, clouded sky, Lin Xinyi stood alone in a boundless void. Dark mist twisted and writhed like living shadows, encircling her slender figure. The air was cold and heavy, silence stretching endlessly—until faint, unsteady footsteps broke the eerie stillness.

She turned swiftly, her heart tensing—then softened the moment she saw who it was.

"Shen Yuchen…"

He staggered toward her, his body battered and bruised, traces of battle still fresh on his weary face. But in his eyes burned an unyielding determination.

"You're hurt!" Lin Xinyi rushed to his side, reaching out to support him, but Shen Yuchen gently raised a hand, signaling that he was still standing.

"I… can manage." His voice was hoarse yet resolute.

"Where are we?" Shen Yuchen scanned the dark expanse, his expression a mix of wariness and confusion.

Lin Xinyi frowned slightly, her tone low and grave: "We're in the Rift of Fate… a forgotten realm between worlds. We're safe here, for now… away from their pursuit."

Shen Yuchen nodded slowly, trying to piece together his fragmented memories. Echoes reverberated within his mind—her smile, a burning city, a frozen battlefield. Then, like ice slicing through his thoughts, a cold, familiar voice echoed once more:

"Fate cannot be changed… you cannot escape."

Pain seared through his head as disjointed memories and blurred images clashed. His knees buckled, and Lin Xinyi caught him just in time, her face etched with concern.

"Yuchen!"

Her voice anchored him as consciousness was abruptly pulled into a long-buried memory.

Memory Fragment - Entwined Fates of the Past

Flames devoured the city, and lightning fractured the stormy skies. Blood stained the broken streets as ash filled the air. Chaos reigned, consuming everything in its path.

Amid the wreckage, Shen Yuchen stood alone. His armor was shattered, his battle-worn figure painted in crimson. In his grasp was an ancient blade, faintly glowing—a fragile beacon of hope against the encroaching darkness.

Before him loomed an army of shadows, their leader clad in ominous black armor, red flames burning fiercely in their soulless eyes.

"Fate has already decided," the dark figure sneered, their voice colder than death. "Your struggle is meaningless."

Shen Yuchen lifted his head, defiance flaring within his weary gaze. "Fate is not yours to command!"

With a surge of will, he charged forward, his blade igniting in radiant light.

But as the light dimmed, he saw her—Lin Xinyi—standing between him and the enemy, shielding him with her frail, trembling body.

"Yuchen… don't give up…" Her tear-streaked face glimmered in the dying light before the encroaching darkness swallowed everything whole.

Present Reality - Echo of Souls

Shen Yuchen's eyes flew open, his breath ragged, beads of sweat trickling down his face. Trembling, he fixated on Lin Xinyi, emotions too tangled to name surging in his chest.

"You…" His voice cracked, raw with suppressed emotions. "Why… why were you in my memories?"

Lin Xinyi stiffened, momentarily stunned by his question.

"Memories?" she repeated, her tone uncertain. A flicker of something deep and painful crossed her eyes. "What… do you remember?"

Shen Yuchen shook his head slowly, pressing his throbbing temples. "I… don't know. Just fragments… flashes… and you were there."

Her gaze darkened, shadows of unspoken sorrow lingering. She realized with quiet dread—his true memories were resurfacing, far sooner than she had anticipated.

"Yuchen…" she whispered, her voice trembling with both hope and fear. "Whether those memories are real or not… I want you to know… this time, I won't leave you."

His breath hitched. He reached out, instinctively grasping her cold hand, finding warmth in the fleeting touch—something he thought he had lost forever.

But just as their fingers entwined, the ground trembled violently. An icy, spectral voice thundered through the void:

"The wheel of fate has already turned… you cannot escape!"

Their eyes met, unspoken determination locking them together. No matter what awaited them beyond this forsaken realm, they would face it—together.