Chapter 68: The Other Side of the Mirror

A dim, flickering light floated over the altar, as if an unseen hand was gently stirring it. Lin Han's breath grew heavier. His eyes were locked onto the reflection in the mirror—or rather, the thing that looked like him.

The "him" inside the mirror smiled slightly, the curve of his lips eerie and unnatural, as if pulled by invisible strings.

"You're finally here."

A deep voice echoed in the empty hall. It was unmistakably his own voice, yet it carried an unsettling strangeness that sent chills down his spine.

Lin Han instinctively stepped back, his fingers trembling. Every fiber of his being screamed that this mirror was no ordinary object—and that the "self" within it was no mere reflection.

"Who are you?" he asked, his voice low and wary.

The figure in the mirror tilted its head slightly, as if contemplating the question.

"I am you."

"Lies!" Lin Han's voice rose. He could feel the presence of something unspeakably sinister lurking within this grand hall—hidden within the writhing murals and the eerie blue light, watching his every move.

The reflection let out a soft chuckle, then slowly extended its hand toward him.

At that exact moment, a cold sensation crept onto Lin Han's shoulder from behind.

This wasn't an illusion.

He whirled around instantly—only to find nothing behind him. But when he turned back to the mirror, his reflection was still there, frozen in that same reaching gesture, its smile deepening.

"You felt it, didn't you?"

The voice was like a whispering wind in the dead of night, seeping into his bones, making his skin crawl.

Lin Han's heartbeat pounded violently. The rules of this place—they didn't belong to reality.

He forced himself to stay calm and took a deep breath. "What do you want?"

The reflection slowly lowered its hand, its gaze deep and impenetrable.

"You've been searching for the truth."

"Then let me show you where it is."

The moment the words fell, the mirror trembled violently. Its smooth surface rippled like water, distorting the space around it as if reality itself was breaking apart.

And then—voices echoed in Lin Han's mind.

Ah Rong's urgent shouts. Noya's sharp, panicked breaths.

They were here?!

Lin Han's eyes widened in shock. He lunged forward, his fingers reaching for the mirror. He had to break through—had to find them!

But the instant his fingertips touched the glass, a powerful force erupted from within, dragging him into the mirror's depths!

Darkness surged like a tidal wave, shattering Lin Han's consciousness into countless fragments.

He struggled desperately, but his body felt weightless, like invisible chains had locked him in a void with no escape.

And then—he opened his eyes again.

The stone hall remained, but everything had changed.

The mirror on the altar was gone. The murals had stopped writhing. A strange, pale mist blanketed the entire space, as if he had stepped into a forgotten echo of time itself.

But the most terrifying thing was—he couldn't hear anything.

His footsteps. His breathing. Even his own heartbeat—all sound had vanished.

As if the world had been stripped of its voice. As if even his existence was being slowly erased.

—No. Not erased.

Something was listening. Watching.

Lin Han held his breath and turned around.

Not far from him, a blurry figure stood amidst the mist, motionless.

"…Who's there?"

His voice didn't leave his throat.

The figure took a slow step forward, and as the mist parted, Lin Han finally saw their face.

Ah Rong.

Lin Han's pupils shrank. He almost ran toward him—but then, he stopped.

Because something was wrong.

Ah Rong's face was empty, his eyes void of any light. His lips curled into a stiff, unnatural smile, and his skin was as pale as wax.

"You've finally arrived."

His voice was identical to the reflection from earlier—cold, hollow.

A shiver ran down Lin Han's spine. And that was when he realized—

—This wasn't Ah Rong.

—And this place… was not reality.

In the silent void, Lin Han's heartbeat was the only sound he could perceive. A hazy figure stood amidst the thin mist, watching him intently. The faint smile on its lips resembled a carefully sculpted mask—void of warmth, devoid of emotion.

"You've finally arrived."

The voice did not belong to A'Rong, yet it was identical to his in every way.

Lin Han instinctively wanted to step back, but his feet felt as though they had been nailed to the ground by an invisible force, rendering him immobile. He forced himself to remain calm, scanning the eerie surroundings for any possible flaw.

In this mist-filled world, even time seemed stripped away, leaving no trace of its passage. Slowly, he raised his hand and took a cautious step forward. The figure mirrored his movement exactly, as though it were a reflection responding to his actions.

Yet its eyes were completely lifeless.

Lin Han's fingers trembled slightly. He knew that nothing in this place belonged to reality. Rather, it was more like—a prison within someone's dream.

"Who are you?"

He did not expect an answer. However, the figure's lips suddenly curled into a chilling arc.

"I am you."

That phrase again.

Lin Han's pupils contracted sharply. Without hesitation, he lashed out with his palm, unleashing a surge of violent energy towards the figure. However, just as the attack was about to land, the figure dissipated like an illusion, scattering into fine dust that merged with the surrounding mist.

And then, as if some invisible law had been broken—

The entire space began to collapse, fragmenting like a shattered mirror. Cracks spread from beneath Lin Han's feet all the way to the sky. A tremendous force surged from all directions, dragging him towards an unknown abyss.

"No!"

He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stabilize his stance. His fingers moved swiftly, forming a seal in midair. A golden rune emerged, resisting the reality-distorting force. But in that very instant, a familiar voice echoed beside his ears—

"Lin Han! Wake up!"

——It was A'Rong's voice!

Lin Han's consciousness trembled violently. He wanted to respond, but his throat produced no sound.

Darkness crept over his body, cold chains wrapping around his limbs, binding him in place. The fragmented world was crumbling, and if he didn't escape soon—

He might be trapped here forever, never returning to reality.

In the real world, A'Rong and Noah stood at the center of a ruined temple, staring anxiously at Lin Han, who lay motionless on the ground.

A strange aura surrounded his body, an eerie glow that was neither spiritual energy nor any known magic. It felt like something suspended between life and death.

"What's happening to him?!" Noah asked, urgency in his voice.

"His soul is trapped in another dimension." A'Rong's expression was dark. "If we don't pull him back soon, he might—"

Boom!

Before he could finish, Lin Han's body suddenly trembled, his eyes cracking open just slightly, revealing a chilling, piercing gaze.

A'Rong and Noah felt their hearts clench simultaneously.

Had Lin Han finally awakened?

Or was it that—the one who returned was no longer him?

The air thickened, and an eerie silence engulfed the entire space.