The room fell eerily silent after the retreat of the Warden. Only the rhythmic ticking of the clock echoed in the oppressive stillness, marking the seconds of an uncertain fate. Wang Yifan leaned back against his chair, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. Yet, the unease in his heart continued to surge like an unrelenting tide.
Outside, the cold wind howled, and the darkness of the night seemed to grow deeper. Li Yin stood by the window, her gaze fixed on a point far beyond the visible world. Her expression was heavy, as if she were peering into a truth that Yifan could not fathom.
"Yifan," she finally spoke, her voice grave and tinged with urgency, "this isn't over. It's just the beginning."
Yifan frowned, still unsettled. "You mean that thing will come back?"
"It will," Li Yin said without turning around. "But the Warden's appearance is only a symptom. The real problem is far worse. The rift between the spiritual realm and the human world is widening. Tonight's full moon has pushed the balance to its breaking point."
"The rift?" Yifan repeated, his confusion evident. "You've mentioned it before. What exactly is it?"
Li Yin turned to face him, her expression as somber as her tone. "There's an invisible boundary that separates the living and the dead. When a person dies, their soul crosses over into the spiritual realm, while the living continue in this world. But when this boundary is breached, the rules break down. Souls escape back into the mortal world, and entities like the Warden—and worse—can cross into our reality."
Yifan felt a chill creep up his spine. The enormity of her words sank in, and he struggled to make sense of it.
"Why is this happening?" he asked.
Li Yin hesitated before answering, her voice dropping. "There are two main causes for a rift. One is a disruption in the spiritual realm's order—such as a mass violation of the reincarnation cycle by wandering souls. The other is interference from a powerful force in the mortal world. And right now, all signs point to you."
"Me?" Yifan's voice rose in disbelief. "That's ridiculous! I'm just an ordinary guy. If I had some sort of power, don't you think I'd know about it?"
Li Yin didn't respond immediately. Instead, she studied him intently. "Do you believe in coincidences?"
Yifan blinked, caught off guard by the question.
"You meeting me, getting entangled in all of this—it's no coincidence," she continued. "The Warden didn't harm you tonight, and that only confirms it. There's something about you, something even it couldn't ignore."
Before Yifan could argue further, a faint tremor rippled through the room. The air itself seemed to shudder, as though an invisible force was tearing it apart. Both he and Li Yin turned simultaneously toward the source, where a glowing crack appeared in the air.
"What is that?" Yifan asked, his voice trembling.
"The rift," Li Yin whispered, her face pale. "It's no longer a hidden threat. It's fully manifested."
The rift's glow intensified, casting an icy blue light across the room. Within its depths, shadows writhed and twisted, like countless tormented souls clawing their way out of a deep abyss. Their mournful whispers filled the air, sending shivers down Yifan's spine.
"What are those shadows?" he asked, barely above a whisper.
"Residual spirits," Li Yin said grimly. "Souls trapped in the spiritual realm by their own unresolved desires. The rift has given them an escape route. If they make it into the mortal world…"
"What happens?"
"They'll corrupt everything," she replied without hesitation. "They'll consume life, spread despair, and turn this city into a wasteland."
Yifan swallowed hard. "So how do we stop them?"
Li Yin drew a deep breath, her resolve hardening. "The rift must be sealed, but it won't be easy."
She raised her hand and began chanting in a language Yifan couldn't understand. Silver light coalesced in the air, forming a shimmering object that slowly took shape—a mirror, its surface smooth and reflective, radiating an intense, icy chill.
"What's that?" Yifan asked, his voice hushed.
"The Spirit Mirror," Li Yin said, her voice strained. "One of the oldest artifacts of the spiritual realm. It can temporarily seal the rift, but the cost is steep."
"What cost?"
Li Yin hesitated, then looked at him with an expression he couldn't quite read. "The mirror requires a bearer, someone to fuel its power with their soul. Until the rift is fully closed, the bearer's soul will be drained bit by bit."
Yifan froze, his mind racing. "Are you saying you're planning to use your soul—"
"This is my responsibility," Li Yin interrupted, her tone firm and unyielding. "I don't belong in this world anymore. If I can help protect it, even at the cost of my existence, then so be it."
"No way!" Yifan shot back immediately, his voice rising. "I won't just stand by and let you sacrifice yourself for this!"
Li Yin gave him a faint, bittersweet smile. "Sometimes, doing the right thing requires sacrifice."
Before Yifan could argue further, the rift flared, and the shadows began to spill out, their twisted forms reaching for the room. The air grew heavier, and the temperature plummeted.
"There's no time!" Li Yin urged, stepping forward with the Spirit Mirror.
"Wait!" Yifan grabbed her arm, his eyes blazing with determination. "If someone has to do this, let it be me. I'm alive. Maybe I can hold out longer."
"You don't know what you're saying!" Li Yin's voice cracked with frustration. "The mirror's power will destroy you!"
"Maybe," Yifan said, his voice steady. "But I can't lose you. Not like this."
Li Yin's eyes widened, her resolve wavering as his words struck her deeply.
The rift grew more unstable, its energy spilling into the room. Shadows swirled around them, wailing in anguish.
Finally, Li Yin relented, handing him the Spirit Mirror with trembling hands. "Fine. But you must promise me—no matter what, you'll stop before it's too late."
"I promise," Yifan said, though his eyes betrayed his unwillingness to give up.
As he took hold of the mirror, an icy pain shot through him, and he felt a force begin to pull at his very essence. Gritting his teeth, he focused on the rift.
The mirror's silver light burst forth, pushing back the shadows and forcing the rift to shrink. The spirits' anguished screams filled the room as the portal began to close.
Yifan's strength waned with every passing second, his body trembling from the strain. But he refused to let go.
Finally, the rift sealed with a final burst of light, leaving the room in silence. Yifan collapsed to the ground, the Spirit Mirror slipping from his grasp.
Li Yin knelt beside him, her eyes filled with a mixture of relief and sorrow. "You did it," she whispered.
Yifan forced a weak smile. "Told you… I could handle it."
Though the immediate danger had passed, both of them knew this was only a temporary reprieve. The rift had been sealed, but the forces behind its creation were still at large. The true battle had yet to begin.