The room feels smaller now. The weight of the Heart presses down on Li Wei, and every breath she takes seems heavier than the last. It's as though the very air is thick with the power of the Heart, clinging to her, suffocating her, binding her to its will.
Jian's hand never leaves her shoulder. His presence is a steady anchor in the swirling storm of her thoughts. Despite the figure's cryptic warning, despite the shadows that still seem to follow them, he remains unshaken. But she knows—he doesn't understand what it's like to carry this power within him.
The whispers have started again. Not loud, not overt, but soft—like the rustling of leaves in the wind, just on the edge of hearing. At first, she thought it was just her imagination, a product of the stress and the uncertainty that had been consuming her for days. But now, it's undeniable.
Li Wei…
The Heart calls to you…
You cannot resist it forever…
The words slither into her mind, a dark lullaby, soft and inviting. She shivers, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end. Her grip tightens around Jian's hand, but even his touch feels distant now, as if the distance between them has grown too wide for something as simple as a touch to bridge.
"You're hearing them too, aren't you?" she asks, her voice barely a whisper.
Jian turns to her, his brow furrowed in concern. "Hearing what?"
"The whispers," she says, her voice shaking. "The Heart—it's calling to me again. I can hear it… like it's speaking directly to me."
Jian's expression hardens, a flash of determination crossing his features. He knows that the danger is far from over, but he refuses to let fear take root. He steps in front of her, blocking her view of the Heart, trying to shield her from whatever influence it's starting to have on her.
"You're not alone in this," Jian says, his voice strong. "We'll face it together. I won't let it control you."
Li Wei nods, though her heart feels like it's slowly sinking. The whispers are growing louder, insistent now. They're no longer just words—they're images, fleeting glimpses of memories, and faces she doesn't recognize. The Heart is showing her things, things she never wanted to see.
Your past is not as you remember...
The truth is hidden in the darkness...
Embrace your power, and everything will be revealed.
She feels her knees weaken beneath her, and Jian quickly catches her arm. He helps her steady herself, his concern deepening.
"We need to get out of here," Jian says urgently, his eyes scanning the room. "This place—it's affecting you. It's not safe."
But Li Wei isn't sure she can leave. Not when the Heart's pull is so strong. Not when its whispers are beckoning her, pulling her deeper into its grasp. She shakes her head, trying to clear her mind.
"No," she says firmly. "I have to stay. The Heart… it's part of me now. I can't escape it. But maybe I can control it."
Jian looks at her, a flicker of doubt crossing his features, but he doesn't argue. He knows that Li Wei is not someone to be easily swayed once her mind is set. Still, the fear in his eyes is unmistakable.
"Please, don't do this alone," he implores. "We'll find another way. There's always another way."
Li Wei looks up at him, her expression softening. His loyalty, his love—they're the only things that have kept her grounded in this madness. But the Heart—the Heart is different. She feels it in her bones, deep within her soul. She has no choice but to confront it, to understand it. To tame it before it destroys everything she's fought for.
"I'm not alone," she says, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "I'll never be alone with you by my side. But I need to do this. For both of us."
Jian hesitates, then nods slowly, though the worry doesn't leave his face. He knows she's right, in a way. There's no running from this. But if she's going to face the Heart, he'll be with her every step of the way.
The room darkens, the shadows around them lengthening as the Heart pulses again. Li Wei feels it—a surge of energy, like a wave crashing over her. The whispers intensify, and she can almost see the figures they describe. Flickering images of a time long past, faces she can't place, and a sense of power—ancient, primal, suffocating.
Embrace your destiny, Li Wei…
She shuts her eyes tightly, trying to block out the vision. But it's no use. The images won't stop—they're etched into her mind, burned into her very soul. What is it? What does the Heart want from me?
Her breath comes in short, shallow gasps. The weight of the Heart's power is overwhelming, like the world is pressing in on her from all sides. She feels herself losing control, slipping further and further into the abyss.
Jian steps forward again, his presence a lifeline. "Li Wei," he says urgently, his voice breaking through the fog of her thoughts. "You can fight this. You have the strength. You're stronger than you think."
But even as he speaks, the Heart seems to grow stronger, its pulse vibrating through the room, through her very being. The whispers are no longer just in her mind—they're in the air, surrounding her, echoing in every corner of the room.
You cannot escape me, Li Wei. You are mine.
A sudden vision flashes before her eyes—an image of a woman, standing before the Heart, her face twisted in agony as the power consumes her. Li Wei can feel the woman's pain, her fear, as if it's her own. The Heart has claimed her, just as it seeks to claim Li Wei.
The vision vanishes as suddenly as it appeared, leaving her gasping for air.
Jian catches her, his grip firm as he holds her up. "What did you see?"
Li Wei shakes her head, disoriented. "I saw… someone. A woman. She was consumed by the Heart. She couldn't escape…"
Jian's eyes narrow. "Was it a warning?"
"I think so," Li Wei whispers, her heart heavy with the realization. "The Heart isn't just a power—it's a force. And once it claims someone, there's no escape. It won't stop until it has everything."
Jian's expression hardens with resolve. "Then we need to stop it before it takes everything from you."
Li Wei nods, feeling the weight of the decision settling on her shoulders. This battle is far from over. The Heart has claimed its power—but it hasn't claimed her yet. Not if she can help it.
Together, they will find a way to destroy the Heart. No matter the cost.