Chapter 28: The Trial of the Soul

Qin Yao floated in darkness, the surroundings completely blurred. He struggled to open his eyes, but all he could see was a vast emptiness, as if he had been swallowed by a crack in time and space. His body was immobile, and there was no sound around him, only an overwhelming sense of loneliness creeping into his heart.

"Yao Yao…" Qin Yao called out softly, his voice tinged with anxiety and unease. He couldn't see her, nor could he sense her presence, but the pull of their connection was impossible to ignore.

In this infinite void, his consciousness seemed to be devoured, and time lost all meaning. Suddenly, the darkness split open with a beam of light, illuminating his surroundings. As the light spread, a familiar face appeared before him.

"Yao Yao!" Qin Yao exclaimed in surprise, his heartbeat quickening. Lin Yao stood silently before him, her gaze unwavering.

But her figure seemed unreal. Her face bore no smile, only an expression of cold detachment. "You don't truly want to save me, Qin Yao." Her voice was low, carrying an unfamiliar chill. "Your so-called love is nothing but an endless desire to possess me."

"What are you saying?" Qin Yao's voice was filled with urgency, unable to believe what he was hearing. "Yao Yao, I don't understand. You have always been the person I treasure most. Why would you say such a thing?"

Lin Yao's gaze gradually turned hazy, as though controlled by some invisible force. "You only want to own me, to let everyone know that I belong to you, rather than loving me for who I truly am."

Qin Yao's heart pounded violently, a searing pain ripping through him. These words were like sharp blades, stabbing into his soul. He couldn't believe his ears, but the undeniable sense of helplessness left him disoriented and lost.

"No, that's not true!" Qin Yao clenched his teeth, trying to approach her. "I love you, not because you're mine, but because you are you. Yao Yao, believe me. Everything I've done is for you. For our future together."

However, Lin Yao's figure began to distort, gradually fading away until she vanished into the light. Qin Yao's heart tightened, and all his senses fell back into darkness.

Suddenly, he felt a deep loneliness, an emptiness that seemed to devour everything. Even breathing grew unbearably heavy. As his consciousness began to blur, his body remained trapped in an inescapable abyss. Fears and insecurities, long buried, surged forward uncontrollably.

Just as he was on the brink of collapse, a gentle voice emerged from the darkness, like a stream of clear water flowing into his heart.

"Qin Yao." The voice carried familiar warmth, reminding him that he was not alone.

He opened his eyes again. Though darkness still surrounded him, this time it no longer felt oppressive. That voice became clearer, carrying a strength that gently guided him.

"I'm here, Yao Yao…" Qin Yao murmured, a glimmer of light flashing in his eyes. Following the voice's guidance, his body slowly regained freedom, and the surrounding darkness began to dissipate.

Suddenly, Qin Yao's steps halted. He saw a light breaking through the darkness, illuminating the path ahead. The light came from an ancient door adorned with mysterious runes, glowing with a deep, otherworldly radiance. The door seemed to lead to an ultimate unknown, holding immense power.

Taking a deep breath, Qin Yao understood that beyond this door lay their final trial. Resolutely, he stepped forward, moving toward the door, fully aware that only by passing this test could they overcome everything.

Meanwhile, Lin Yao's soul faced a similar trial. She found herself standing in an empty room, surrounded by silence. The air was stifling, as though pressed down by an invisible force.

"Yao Yao." The voice spoke again, soft yet persistent. "Have you ever wondered why you are always so desperate to escape your own heart?"

Clenching her fists tightly, Lin Yao felt a surge of unease. "I… I don't understand what you mean."

"You've never truly faced your fears," the voice continued. "You've been chasing others' expectations, never considering what you truly want."

A sharp pain struck Lin Yao's chest as her heart was invaded by an unseen force. She wanted to struggle, but her body remained frozen. Long-suppressed emotions surged like a flood, overwhelming her.

"I…" Lin Yao murmured, tears involuntarily sliding down her cheeks. She realized that what she had been avoiding was not others but her deepest fear—whether she truly deserved Qin Yao's love and whether she could bear the weight of their promises.

Suddenly, her gaze grew firm. Taking a deep breath, she raised her head to face the invisible pressure. "I won't run anymore. I am worthy of love, and I am worthy of being loved." Her voice was steady, filled with unshakable determination.

The oppressive force dissolved, and the space around her brightened. Lin Yao saw a path before her, a path leading to Qin Yao. She stepped onto it, her heart brimming with unwavering resolve for the future.

She knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, she and Qin Yao would face them together, moving toward the future that belonged to them.

Their trials had reached their conclusion, and their destiny was about to face its ultimate choice.