At first, Luan Xie focused on discovering how the sword ended up in this world. Then, his attention shifted to finding clues about the portal. But in the end, everything pointed back to the sword.
The sword was the key to it all.
As the realization settled in, Luan Xie's mind raced. The sword wasn't just an object of power; it was the very thing tethering their worlds together, the catalyst for everything. If he could get it back from Ye Rou, perhaps it would unlock the portal and allow him to return to where he belonged.
But that meant facing Ye Rou again, something Luan Xie wasn't ready for—emotionally or physically.
He Shun broke the silence. "What are you thinking? The sword?"
Luan Xie nodded slowly. "It's all about the sword. If I can get it, I might be able to go back... and stop all of this."
He Shun's expression darkened, the thought of Luan Xie leaving him gnawing at his resolve. "And if you go back, what happens to me?"
Luan Xie met his gaze, torn between the responsibility of his mission and the growing bond he shared with He Shun. "You'll be safe. That's what matters."
"Safe? Without you? Don't you get it, Luan Xie? I can't—" He Shun's voice wavered, emotions raw. He stopped himself, clenching his fists. "I won't let you face Ye Rou alone."
Luan Xie's heart twisted, feeling the weight of He Shun's words, but he knew there was no other way. "If I don't do this, he'll never stop coming after us."
He Shun bit his lip, the pain of the situation clear in his eyes. "Then let me come with you."
Luan Xie shook his head. "No. You've already done enough. I need you safe, here."
The tension between them was thick, but Luan Xie knew this was the only path forward.
He Shun's voice cracked as he shouted, his frustration spilling over. "You just don't get it, do you? I've been trying to explain that I don't want you to go! You keep saying, 'yes, yes,' but in the end, you always turn your back!"
Luan Xie froze, taken aback by the outburst. He could see the pain in He Shun's eyes, the desperation that had been building up behind his calm exterior.
"I'm not turning my back on you," Luan Xie said softly, his voice laced with guilt. "I'm doing this for you—for your safety."
He Shun let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "Safety? What's the point of being safe if you're not here? What am I supposed to do if you're gone?"
Luan Xie's chest tightened, the weight of He Shun's words sinking in deeper than he expected. He hadn't realized how much his presence meant to He Shun—how much they had become intertwined in this fight for survival.
"I don't want to lose you, Xie-er," He Shun said, his voice trembling. "Not to Ye Rou, not to that sword, not to anything. Don't leave me behind."
The silence that followed was suffocating. Luan Xie wanted to reassure him, but he knew that in the end, his mission would tear them apart.
"I'm sorry, but I can't stay." Luan Xie said, his voice heavy with regret.
He Shun's face fell as Luan Xie spoke, his words like a dagger twisting in the air between them.
"I'm sorry," Luan Xie repeated, his voice steady but pained. "But I won't stay back. I can't. This is something I have to finish."
He Shun clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white as he tried to contain his emotions. "You're just going to walk away like that? After everything?"
Luan Xie looked away, unable to meet He Shun's gaze. "It's not like I want to. But if I don't, Ye Rou will never stop, and you'll never be safe. I need to get that sword and end this once and for all."
He Shun took a deep breath, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill. "You think you're protecting me by leaving, but you're wrong. You're leaving me with nothing. If you go, I won't just lose you—I'll lose everything."
Luan Xie's heart wavered, the weight of He Shun's words crashing over him like a tidal wave. But he had already made his decision, and he couldn't turn back now.
"I'm sorry," Luan Xie said again, his voice barely above a whisper. He stepped forward, brushing his fingers against He Shun's arm in a fleeting gesture of comfort, then turned his back.
He Shun stood frozen, watching Luan Xie walk away, his heart breaking with every step.
"Then leave! Leave like a coward!" He Shun yelled, his voice shaking with rage, his fists clenched at his sides. "You're just like everyone else, running away the moment things get tough!"
Luan Xie flinched at the outburst, but kept his back to He Shun. His heart pounded in his chest, but he tried to stay calm. He knew this was coming, and it still hurt.
"I'm not running away, Shun," Luan Xie muttered, though the words felt hollow even to him.
"Yes, you are!" He Shun's voice cracked, his anger boiling over. "You keep saying you're doing this for me, that you're trying to protect me, but it's a lie! You're just too scared to face what's happening! You keep turning your back, leaving me behind like I don't matter!"
Luan Xie finally turned to face him, eyes soft but resolute. "I do care about you. That's why—"
"No! Don't give me that!" He Shun cut him off, stepping forward, his face flushed with fury. "Stop lying to yourself! If you cared, you'd stay! You'd fight with me, not for me! But you're too scared to even try, and now you're walking away like a coward!"
The words struck Luan Xie like a blow, but he stood his ground, swallowing back his emotions. "I can't stay. Not if it means putting you in danger."
He Shun laughed bitterly, the sound laced with frustration. "You think leaving makes it better? You think I'll be safer without you? It'll kill me, Luan Xie! I'll become just like Ye Rou, desperate and broken, because I can't bear to lose you!"
His words hung in the air, thick with tension, both of them breathing hard. Luan Xie could feel the weight of the decision pressing on him, but he knew he had to stay firm.
"I'm sorry, Shun," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "But I won't stay back."
He Shun's face contorted with anger, tears welling in his eyes as he screamed, "Then leave! Get out! I don't ever want to see you again!"
Luan Xie stood there, his heart heavy, watching as He Shun's words lashed out like a storm. He wanted to speak, to explain, but the look in He Shun's eyes—hurt, anger, and betrayal—kept him frozen in place.
"Go!" He Shun shouted, his voice raw with pain. "If you think leaving is the right thing to do, then just leave!"
But Luan Xie didn't move. His feet were rooted to the spot, a battle raging in his mind. He could see how much He Shun was hurting, and every fiber of his being wanted to stay, to hold him, to promise that everything would be alright. But he knew staying wasn't an option. Not now. Not with Ye Rou hunting them, not with the danger that followed them both.
"I have to go, Shun," Luan Xie finally said, his voice low, yet steady. "I don't want to hurt you, but if I stay, it'll only bring more pain. You have to trust me on this."
He Shun's lips trembled as he blinked back tears, his chest rising and falling rapidly as his emotions churned inside him. "Trust you?" he spat. "How can I trust you when you're abandoning me? You think this is what's best? For who, Luan Xie? For me, or for you?"
The words cut deep, but Luan Xie didn't flinch. He knew He Shun's anger was born out of fear, fear of losing him. And it tore him apart inside because he felt the same fear—fear of losing He Shun, of leaving him behind.
"I wish things were different," Luan Xie whispered, his gaze softening as he took one last look at He Shun. "But if I don't leave now, everything we've been through will be for nothing. I can't let that happen."
He Shun stared at him for a long moment, his chest heaving with emotion, before he finally turned away, refusing to let Luan Xie see his tears. "Then go," he said, his voice barely audible, but still thick with resentment. "Go before I change my mind."
Luan Xie hesitated for a heartbeat, but there was nothing left to say. With one last glance at He Shun, he turned and walked toward the door. His heart ached with every step, but he knew it was the only way. If he stayed, they'd both be caught in the crossfire of Ye Rou's obsession.
As he reached the door, he paused, his hand resting on the handle. He wanted to say something—anything—to make it better, to ease the pain. But there were no words that could undo what had already been set in motion.
Without another word, he opened the door and stepped out into the night, leaving He Shun standing in the silence of his own broken heart.
He Shun collapsed to his knees, tears streaming down his face as sobs wracked his body. His fists pounded the ground in frustration, each strike filled with the anguish of watching Luan Xie walk away. The weight of his emotions was too much to bear, and the pain of knowing he couldn't stop him tore through him like a storm.
He tried to call out, but his voice cracked, swallowed by the overwhelming grief. The man he loved was slipping away, and there was nothing he could do to keep him from leaving.
As He Shun knelt on the floor, the world around him faded into a blur, the vibrant colors of life turning dull and gray. Memories of their time together flashed before his eyes—each smile, each stolen glance, each moment they had shared. They felt like shards of glass now, piercing his heart with every breath he took.
He drew his knees up to his chest, wrapping his arms around himself as if to hold the pieces of his broken heart together. "Why can't you see?" he whispered, voice trembling with emotion. "You don't have to do this alone. I'm right here!"
The silence that followed felt deafening, and He Shun felt the crushing weight of despair. He longed to reach out, to pull Luan Xie back, but the space between them felt insurmountable. How could he make Luan Xie understand that he would fight for him, no matter the cost?
"I don't want to lose you," he murmured, a fresh wave of tears spilling down his cheeks. "I can't lose you."
In that moment, He Shun made a silent vow. If Luan Xie was determined to face Ye Rou, then he would find a way to support him, even if it meant stepping into danger himself. He wiped his tears, resolve hardening within him. He might be down now, but he wouldn't stay down.
"I'll find you," he promised into the emptiness. "I won't let you go. You'll see."
With a newfound determination, He Shun rose to his feet, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and courage. He knew what he had to do. He would track down Luan Xie and stand by his side, no matter what it took.
As he prepared to leave, he took a deep breath, steeling himself for the challenges ahead. He was ready to fight for love, ready to face the darkness that threatened to consume them both. This was far from over, and He Shun would not back down. Not now. Not ever.
But this wasn't over. The plan to lure Ye Rou was still in motion, and Luan Xie knew he had no choice but to carry it out, even if he had to do it alone. His heart weighed heavy with the thought of leaving He Shun behind, but the stakes were too high.
He squared his shoulders as he walked into the night, his mind set on the mission. He would face Ye Rou, he would retrieve the sword, and he would find a way back. Even if it meant going through this without He Shun by his side.
Luan Xie clenched his fists, determination flooding his veins. He'd come too far to turn back now.
Luan Xie's eyes glistened with unshed tears as he focused on the plan ahead. He had to confront Ye Rou, provoke him to the point of fury, and force him to reveal the sword. The weight of their situation bore heavily on his heart, twisting his insides into knots. Each thought of He Shun's tear-streaked face made his resolve tremble, and he longed for nothing more than to stay by his side, to find solace in their shared moments.
But he couldn't afford that luxury. He had to do this alone. The thought tore at him, a jagged edge slicing through his determination. Every step toward Ye Rou felt like a betrayal to He Shun, and the guilt clawed at him like a hungry beast. What if He Shun needed him? What if he was making a mistake that would haunt them both forever?
As Luan Xie pictured He Shun's anguish, a wave of pain washed over him, threatening to drown him in despair. Would he truly become the villain in their story, risking everything for the sake of a sword and a chance to return home? The anguish of their situation swirled in his mind, leaving him breathless. Yet, he knew he couldn't let fear dictate his actions.
Determination took hold, igniting a fire within him. He had to confront Ye Rou, to face the monster that had woven chaos into their lives. And even if it meant doing so alone, he would summon every ounce of courage within him. Luan Xie would not allow his emotions to weaken him. He would fight for the freedom that had been stolen from him, even if it cost him everything he held dear.
The old Luan Xie had returned, steeling his resolve, and he knew that Ye Rou would soon come to regret everything he had done. The spark of determination ignited a fierce intensity within him, awakening a side of himself that had been dormant for too long. Gone was the uncertainty and the lingering guilt; in their place stood a man ready to reclaim his power and confront the shadows of his past.
Luan Xie's heart raced as he imagined the confrontation with Ye Rou. The weight of betrayal hung heavy in the air, but it only fueled his determination. He could already picture Ye Rou's face twisting in anger and confusion when Luan Xie manipulate him like how he was portrayed as.
No more hesitation. No more allowing fear to dictate his choices. This time, Luan Xie would take charge of his own fate, and he would ensure that Ye Rou felt the full force of his wrath. The thrill of revenge coursed through him, promising a cathartic release from the pain and chaos that had consumed him for far too long.
With each passing moment, Luan Xie felt more certain of his path. Ye Rou would pay for the anguish he had inflicted upon him and He Shun. He would make it clear that he was no longer a pawn in someone else's game. The old Luan Xie was back, and he would stop at nothing to reclaim his life, his freedom, and the love he had fought so hard to protect.
This time, not one, not two, not three, but four souls battled for love's embrace. One had already triumphed, choosing sacrifice over the anguish of watching his beloved descend into darkness.
Now stood three men—one consumed by vengeance, one desperate to shield his heart's desire, and one fiercely defending the one he cherished.
Three hearts entwined in a tumultuous struggle, each fighting for love in their own wicked way.