Spatial tunnel

Early the next morning, Qiao Wei and her companions followed the sorcerer to the rose fields. The sorcerer looked at them with grave solemnity and asked, “Shall we begin?”

Luo Xuan nodded slightly. The sorcerer began to chant an incantation, and instantly a violent wind arose. All at once, they found themselves cast into an illusory realm, standing at a crossroads where two gales whipped from either side, tugging at them relentlessly. Even the slightest misstep towards either direction might draw them into another world entirely.

“Is this the place?” Luo Chen’s voice was hoarse and indistinct in the howling wind as he held tightly to Su Mo, who was struggling to keep her footing.

“We must go forward, all the way to the end. Everyone, be careful,” Luo Xuan instructed, taking the lead.

Qiao Wei followed cautiously behind. Suddenly, a sharp scream rang out from Rhine at the rear. Qiao Wei turned at once to see Rhine’s body tipping dangerously, nearly sucked into the gale on the right. Without hesitation, Qiao Wei reached out and seized Rhine’s hand, refusing to let her be swept away.

Luo Chen and Luo Xuan, up ahead, turned back immediately. Qiao Wei nearly lost her grip as she struggled to hold onto Rhine; both were on the verge of being dragged in when Luo Chen, closest to Qiao Wei, released Su Mo and grasped Qiao Wei’s wrist in a firm grip, pulling both girls back from the tempest.

“Are you…are you both alright?” Luo Chen asked, his usually cold voice now tinged with concern as he gazed at Qiao Wei, who was gasping for breath.

Qiao Wei did not respond. She merely pulled her hand free from Luo Chen’s grasp, took Rhine’s hand, and moved to stand by Luo Xuan, following close behind him.

“Qiao Qiao, are you alright? And Rhine?” Luo Xuan asked with concern as they rejoined him.

“I’m fine,” Qiao Wei replied coolly, rubbing the reddened skin on her wrist as if erasing something unclean.

“I’m alright too. If it weren’t for Qiao Wei and Luo Chen, I’d have been pulled in just now!” Rhine let out a long sigh of relief, her grateful gaze directed toward Luo Chen, but she met Su Mo’s amber eyes and couldn’t help but snort dismissively.

“Let’s keep moving,” Luo Xuan said, resuming his way forward. Qiao Wei and Rhine hurried after him, while Luo Chen stood rooted, eyes fixed on Qiao Wei’s retreating figure.

Su Mo followed his gaze, a glimmer of jealousy and resentment flickering in her amber eyes. “Chen, let’s go,” she said.

Luo Chen tore his gaze away and, walking at the rear, no longer took Su Mo’s hand.

They walked on, time indeterminate, until finally Luo Xuan stopped. The winds on either side had utterly vanished.

“Are we here?” Qiao Wei’s voice quivered with excitement as she craned her neck to see a circle of blue light ahead, enveloping a massive weapon that resembled the scythe of death itself. Her voice trembled with anticipation. “Is that it?”

“Yes,” Luo Chen replied, a gentle smile softening his face.

Qiao Wei embraced Rhine in her joy, but Rhine muttered, “Are you really so eager to become human and leave us behind?”

Su Mo and Luo Chen walked over just in time to hear Rhine’s words. Luo Chen’s heart clenched painfully; his face turned ashen, but he said nothing.

Seeing Luo Chen’s expression, Su Mo felt unsettled. Her voice was cool: “If that’s what you’re after, hurry up and take it. Don’t waste our time.”

“I’ll get it!” Qiao Wei, unable to contain her delight, darted towards the Blade of Blood and reached out to take it. Luo Xuan rushed to stop her, but before he could reach her, the immense force unleashed by the blue light flung Qiao Wei violently against the wall.

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Drifting away~