The city's nightlife roared in the distance, yet the silence within the abandoned subway station was almost oppressive. Shen Yuchen cradled Su Wanning's frail body, his eyes reflecting a storm of emotions. Lin Xinyi leaned against a rusted pillar, catching her breath. Her energy dagger, still stained with blood, glowed faintly, though her expression remained resolute.
"She's alive, but her consciousness is fragile," Lin Xinyi said in a low voice, glancing at Su Wanning's pale face. "We need to find a safe place quickly."
Shen Yuchen nodded. The words Su Wanning had whispered earlier—"I remember now"—echoed in his mind, filling him with hope yet tinged with uncertainty.
"There should be an exit nearby," Shen Yuchen said, his voice steady but tense. He gently tapped Su Wanning's cheek, his tone softening. "Hang in there, Wanning. We'll get you out of here."
A Faint Light
They moved cautiously toward a glimmer of light deeper in the tunnel, each step feeling like a gamble. The destruction of the data core seemed to have triggered a system-wide response. The overhead lights flickered erratically, and the air around them grew increasingly frigid.
"Footsteps," Lin Xinyi suddenly whispered, freezing in place. Her energy dagger ignited with a faint hum as her eyes sharpened.
Shen Yuchen turned, his heart pounding. "You cover us. I'll carry her ahead."
"Don't argue," Lin Xinyi snapped, stepping in front of them. "You go. I'll hold them off."
Shen Yuchen hesitated, locking eyes with her, but her unwavering resolve left no room for debate. Tightening his grip on Su Wanning, he turned and rushed toward the exit.
Lin Xinyi tightened her grip on her dagger, bracing herself as shadows emerged from the darkness—an imposing squad of mechanical soldiers, their eyes glowing a menacing red.
A Perilous Escape
Shen Yuchen carried Su Wanning up a crumbling staircase, his breath ragged. After a few agonizing minutes, he reached an old parking garage aboveground. He gently placed Su Wanning on the ground beside a rusted vehicle, her breathing shallow and uneven.
Lin Xinyi's distant shout echoed through the tunnels: "Move faster! I can't hold them much longer!"
He turned back, his heart wrenching as he saw her surrounded by the advancing machines. Blades flashed in the dim light, and her figure seemed to blur as she fought with unparalleled skill.
"Xinyi!" Shen Yuchen shouted, but Su Wanning stirred in his arms, her weak voice breaking through the chaos.
"Don't… go back," she murmured faintly. "Save me."
His feet froze, torn between loyalty and duty.
"Shen Yuchen!" Lin Xinyi's voice rang out, sharp and commanding. "If you dare stay, I'll kill you myself!"
Clenching his jaw, Shen Yuchen made his decision. He turned away, ascending the last few steps into the parking lot above. He knew Lin Xinyi was right—he couldn't let Su Wanning fall into enemy hands.
An Unexpected Ally
In the dimly lit garage, Su Wanning's condition worsened. Her breaths grew shallow, and her complexion was ghostly pale. Shen Yuchen knelt beside her, frantically checking for signs of external injury, but her body appeared unscathed.
"It's a residual effect of the data clash," said a low voice from the shadows.
Shen Yuchen snapped to attention, pulling out his gun as a figure emerged from the darkness.
It was Jiang Tianyou. His expression was a mix of exhaustion and determination, and in his hand was a small device, its purpose unclear.
"I'm here to help her," Jiang Tianyou said calmly, raising his free hand in a gesture of peace.
"Why should I trust you?" Shen Yuchen's voice was cold, his finger resting on the trigger.
Jiang Tianyou sighed and placed the device on the ground, stepping back. "You don't have to. But if you wait too long, her condition will become irreversible."
Shen Yuchen gritted his teeth, his mind racing. He hated to admit it, but Jiang Tianyou's words rang true. Finally, he lowered his gun slightly.
"If you try anything, I won't hesitate to kill you," he warned.
Jiang Tianyou nodded, picking up the device and approaching Su Wanning. He gently placed it against her forehead. A faint glow emanated from the device, accompanied by a rhythmic hum.
Moments later, Su Wanning's breathing stabilized, and the tension in her face began to ease.
"She's out of immediate danger, but she'll need time to recover," Jiang Tianyou said, his tone neutral but weary.
Shen Yuchen let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. Rising to his feet, he fixed Jiang Tianyou with a steely gaze. "Now, you owe me an explanation."
Jiang Tianyou met his gaze evenly. "And you owe it to yourself to hear the truth—this time, without turning your back on the fight."
"The truth?" Shen Yuchen's voice dripped with skepticism. "What truth? Another trap?"
Jiang Tianyou didn't answer immediately. Instead, he reached into his pocket and retrieved a small metal disk etched with intricate symbols. He held it out to Shen Yuchen.
"This," Jiang Tianyou said, "is the beginning of everything you need to know—and the key to changing it all."
Shen Yuchen took the disk, its cold surface heavy in his palm. A storm of questions raged in his mind, but one thing was clear: the path ahead was darker and more perilous than ever before.