As soon as He Shun went to freshen up, Luan Xie seized the opportunity. The moment the bathroom door clicked shut, he turned his attention to the room, scanning it carefully. His heart raced with urgency—he needed to find any clues or remnants of the magic that brought him here. If he could locate the portal, it could be the key to sending Ye Rou back and ending the threat once and for all.
He started with the desk, rifling through papers and notebooks, looking for anything out of place. Nothing. His fingers brushed over old sketches, and though they told stories of He Shun's artistic world, they didn't hold the answers Luan Xie needed.
Next, he turned to the bed. This was the exact spot where he had first appeared, disoriented and confused. Maybe, just maybe, there was something left behind—an energy or trace of magic that could guide him back.
He knelt beside the bed, his hand hovering over the space where he had landed that fateful day. As he closed his eyes, he focused on the sensation, trying to recall every detail of that moment. His mind buzzed with concentration, and for a split second, he thought he felt something—an almost imperceptible pulse beneath his fingers.
His eyes shot open. There was something here, something faint but powerful.
Luan Xie's breath quickened as the pulse beneath his fingers grew more distinct. It wasn't just his imagination; there was a trace of magic lingering in the room. His hand hovered over the spot again, feeling a faint warmth—almost like the echo of the portal that had brought him to He Shun's world.
His eyes scanned the space around the bed, searching for a sign, a symbol, anything that could explain how he had arrived here. He couldn't be certain how long he had, with He Shun just in the other room, but he had to act fast. The portal, or whatever remnant of it remained, had to be connected to this location. If he could reopen it, even for a brief moment, he might be able to send Ye Rou back—hopefully without dragging He Shun into the mess.
He knelt down, gently pressing his palm against the floor. He tried to focus his energy, but he wasn't sure what he was looking for or how to trigger it. Was it just a matter of time, or had he overlooked something vital? His mind raced, thoughts darting between their desperate situation and He Shun's growing attachment to him.
As much as he hated to admit it, He Shun had become the most important thing to him in this world. Luan Xie wanted to protect him, but that meant leaving—and soon.
Suddenly, the door to the bathroom creaked open. Luan Xie quickly rose to his feet, wiping his palms against his pants as though he hadn't been searching for a portal just moments ago.
He Shun stepped out, his hair still damp and a casual smile on his face. "You alright?" he asked, noticing the tension in Luan Xie's posture.
Luan Xie forced a smile, nodding. "Yeah, I was just thinking."
He Shun raised an eyebrow but didn't push further. "Let's rest for a bit. We've been running around all day."
Luan Xie nodded again, but his thoughts lingered on the portal. It was here, he could feel it. He just needed to figure out how to activate it—before Ye Rou caught up with them.
Luan Xie glanced at He Shun, trying to maintain a casual tone. "Um, I'm hungry. Can you make me something?"
He Shun blinked in surprise, his expression softening into a smile. "Of course! Anything in particular you're craving?"
"Whatever you can make quickly," Luan Xie replied, waving his hand dismissively. He just needed some time alone, away from He Shun's watchful eyes, to continue his search.
"Alright, I'll see what I can whip up," He Shun said as he headed toward the kitchen.
As soon as He Shun disappeared down the hallway, Luan Xie let out a quiet sigh of relief. His attention snapped back to the room, the sense of urgency returning. Now was his chance.
He knelt back down on the floor, running his fingers across the surface, pressing harder this time, as if trying to pull the portal into existence. There had to be something he was missing—a trigger or some remnant of magic that could reactivate it.
In annoyance, Luan Xie sat on the bed, his mind racing with frustration. He ran his hand through his hair, letting out a heavy sigh, when his eyes landed on something unusual—He Shun's script for the movie he was supposed to be playing in, the role of Luan Xie.
His breath hitched as he reached for the script, but then his hand stilled. A familiar frustration welled up inside him—he couldn't read. He had never learned how. The lines on the page, which could have held the answers he so desperately needed, were nothing more than incomprehensible symbols to him.
Luan Xie's fingers tightened around the script in frustration. If only he had learned to read, maybe this could help him figure out the connection between this world and his own.
He sat there for a moment, feeling helpless.
"I knew you were up to something," He Shun said, walking closer. He reached out with his hand, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "Give it here. I'll read it out loud for you."
Luan Xie froze, turning to see He Shun standing at the door, arms crossed, with a knowing look in his eyes.
Luan Xie hesitated for a moment, his pride wounded. He wasn't used to relying on others, especially not for something so basic. But there was no point in hiding now. With a sigh, he handed over the script, trying to mask his discomfort.
He Shun took the script gently, sitting beside Luan Xie. "You don't have to feel embarrassed about this," he said, his tone soft and understanding. "We're a team, remember? Now, let's see what this says."
As He Shun began to read, Luan Xie felt a sense of ease. The words flowed smoothly from He Shun's lips, but beneath the surface of the dialogue, there was something more—a connection, a shared understanding of the strange fate that had brought them together.
As He Shun read through the pages, Luan Xie's eyes skimmed the dialogue, recognizing scenes from his own life, moments that were far too familiar. The lines on the page mirrored his existence, word for word.
Was this how he got pulled into his world? Was there a connection between the movie and the portal he sought?
Luan Xie's heart pounded with the realization. This script could hold the key.
As He Shun read further, his voice began to waver. The words on the page were no longer just lines in a script—they were memories, events that had unfolded in Luan Xie's world, down to the smallest detail. It was as if someone had transcribed his entire life and placed it into a screenplay.
Luan Xie's breath quickened as a knot of anxiety twisted in his chest. Each word He Shun spoke only deepened the connection between the script and the portal Luan Xie so desperately sought. His mind raced as he pieced together the clues. If the script had the power to pull him into this world, then maybe—just maybe—it could guide him back.
But how?
"Wait," Luan Xie interrupted, his voice urgent. "Go back. Read that part again."
He Shun blinked, confused, but obeyed, flipping back a few pages and reading aloud. "'The moment the blade touched the ground, the sky itself split open, and he found himself in a world not his own...'"
Luan Xie felt a jolt of recognition. "The sword. It's the key. That's how I got here."
He Shun paused, processing the revelation. "So, if we find the sword again…"
"I might be able to return to my world," Luan Xie finished, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I need to find it before Ye Rou does. If he gets to it first, I won't have a chance."
A heavy silence fell between them. The weight of Luan Xie's impending departure hung in the air, unspoken but palpable. He Shun closed the script, his expression unreadable. He turned to Luan Xie, and in his eyes, Luan Xie could see the mix of emotions—fear, determination, and something else, something deeper.
"Are you really going to leave?"
Luan Xie's heart clenched at the question, the raw vulnerability in He Shun's voice cutting through him like a knife. He couldn't meet his eyes, not now.
"I don't want to," Luan Xie replied softly, his voice heavy with the weight of the truth. "But if it's the only way to keep you safe… I have to."
He Shun's expression tightened, his hands trembling as he gripped the script. "I don't care about that! I don't want you to leave me. Not after everything."
The desperation in He Shun's voice pulled at Luan Xie's chest. For a moment, Luan Xie wanted to say something—anything—to ease the pain. But he knew he couldn't make promises he wasn't sure he could keep.
"I wish things were different," Luan Xie whispered. "But if I stay, Ye Rou won't stop hunting us. I can't put you in that danger."
He Shun shook his head, his frustration and sorrow boiling over. "I don't care about Ye Rou! I care about you. You're all I want, Luan Xie."
Luan Xie's breath caught in his throat. He reached out, gently cupping He Shun's face, his thumb brushing away the tears that threatened to fall. "I'll never forget you, Shun. No matter what happens. You'll always be with me."
He Shun closed his eyes, leaning into the touch, his voice trembling. "But I want you here… with me."
Luan Xie's heart twisted painfully. He wished he could stay, that they could have the life they both dreamed of. But reality loomed over them, and he couldn't ignore the dangers that came with staying in this world.
"I know," Luan Xie murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "But some things… some things are out of our control."
The room fell into a heavy silence, the weight of Luan Xie's impending departure settling between them. He Shun pressed his forehead against Luan Xie's, as if trying to hold onto the moment for as long as possible.
"I'll turn into someone like Ye Rou if you leave me," He Shun said, his voice barely above a whisper, but laced with a desperate intensity.
Luan Xie felt a pang in his chest at He Shun's words. The thought of He Shun succumbing to darkness, losing his essence to a fate like Ye Rou's, made his heart ache.
"You're not like him," Luan Xie replied, shaking his head as he reached out to cup He Shun's face, their foreheads almost touching. "You're better than that. You have the strength to resist."
"But I need you," He Shun insisted, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Without you, I don't know who I am. I don't want to be lost in this chaos."
Luan Xie searched He Shun's gaze, the warmth of their connection making it hard to breathe. "You won't be lost. You have your own path. And it's a path I hope to share with you—if I can figure out how to return to my world without hurting you."
He Shun's expression shifted, a mix of hope and fear. "And what if you can't? What if you have to go back for good?"
"I'll find a way to protect you," Luan Xie vowed, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders. "I can't promise that I won't leave, but I can promise that I'll do everything I can to ensure you're safe. You deserve a life free from all this turmoil."
He Shun's eyes searched Luan Xie's, and for a moment, it felt like time stood still. "I don't want to lose you, A-Xie. You're everything to me."
"Then don't give up on me," Luan Xie urged, brushing his thumb against He Shun's cheek. "We'll find a way through this together."
In that moment, a silent promise hung between them, a fragile thread binding their fates. Luan Xie knew the road ahead was fraught with uncertainty, but as long as they had each other, there was still hope.
"I still need to get Ye Rou's sword to figure this out."
He Shun nodded, determination flickering in his eyes. "Then we need a plan. If Ye Rou has it, we can't just walk up and ask for it back."
Luan Xie took a deep breath, considering their options. "You're right. Ye Rou will be expecting me to come for it, especially after everything that's happened. We need to catch him off guard."
"What if we lure him out somehow?" He Shun suggested, his brow furrowing in thought. "If we can create a distraction, maybe we can sneak in and grab the sword while he's busy."
Luan Xie's mind raced as he considered the possibilities. "That could work. We could use the city's layout to our advantage. Maybe we could set up a trap, somewhere he wouldn't expect us to be."
"Or we could involve someone he trusts," He Shun added, his face lighting up with the idea. "If we can get one of his men to turn against him, that might give us the opening we need."
Luan Xie felt a surge of hope at He Shun's words. "That's risky, but it could pay off. We need to find out who's close to him and see if we can convince them to help us."
He Shun's expression turned serious. "But we have to be careful. If Ye Rou catches wind of our plan, he'll make sure we don't get a second chance."
Luan Xie reached for He Shun's hand, squeezing it gently. "We'll do this together. No matter how dangerous it gets, I won't let anything happen to you."
He Shun smiled, though it was tinged with worry. "You'd better not, because I'm not going anywhere without you."
Luan Xie's heart warmed at He Shun's words. With their minds focused on the task ahead, they could strategize their next move and keep each other grounded. Whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them side by side.
"Don't get me wrong, but we should use Zhong Qing's death to lure Ye Rou out. At this point, it could be either he took his own life or Ye Rou killed him," He Shun suggested.
Luan Xie's expression hardened at the mention of Zhong Qing's death. "Using his death to bait Ye Rou is a dangerous game, He Shun. It feels wrong."
"I know," He Shun replied, his voice steady. "But we need something that will get Ye Rou's attention. He won't ignore the loss of someone close to him, especially not if he thinks it's tied to you. It could draw him out into the open, where we can confront him."
Luan Xie ran a hand through his hair, conflicted. "I just don't want Zhong Qing's death to be used as a tool."
"I get it," He Shun said softly, his eyes filled with understanding. "But right now, we're fighting for our lives and the chance to escape this nightmare. If we can turn Ye Rou's grief into a weapon against him, it could be the only way to take back control."
Luan Xie took a deep breath, weighing the gravity of their situation. "If we do this, we need to be smart. We can't let emotions cloud our judgment. We must ensure that it's a calculated risk."
"Agreed," He Shun said, his tone serious.
Luan Xie felt a mix of anger and resolve swell within him. "Then let's do it. We'll make sure this time Ye Rou knows he can't just take what he wants without facing the consequences. But we'll do it for Zhong Qing, not against him."
He Shun nodded, the spark of determination in his eyes returning. "For Zhong Qing, and for us. We'll make this right."
Together, they began to strategize, their focus shifting toward vengeance and reclaiming their lives. With each step, they felt a renewed sense of purpose.