Cheng stayed close to Mei, barely taking his eyes off her. He was exhausted, but refused to sleep. He wanted to be there if anything changed.
But no matter how hard he tried, sleep eventually took over. He drifted off beside her, and soon, their breathing fell into the same gentle rhythm.
A few hours had passed when he felt a slight disturbance. At first, he tried to ignore it, wanting to stay asleep. But the feeling kept bothering and shoving him, until he finally opened his eyes.
The sky outside was dull and cloudy, but inside, the soft light from a candle gave the room a warm glow. Feels like midnight, he thought.
He turned to look at Mei, and his eyebrows pulled together in concern.
Sweat gathered on her forehead and trickled down the sides of her face. She moved restlessly under the blanket, and her face tight with discomfort. Alarmed, Cheng sat up quickly. He grabbed a clean cloth, dipped it into a bowl of cool water, and gently pressed it to her face.
"Mei," he whispered softly, wiping her cheeks and forehead.
But the cold cloth didn't help. Her skin was burning hot, and the cloth warmed up immediately. He dipped it back in the water, wrung it out, and kept trying to cool her down, but she kept tossing and turning.
Cheng's Pov
I watched her intently, noting the faint crease between her brows and the quiver in her breath. I could not discern what tormented her, whatever she had encountered in the dream world, had ensnared her mind.
I rose silently, mindful of the heavy silence that enveloped the chamber, and retrieved a chair. Returning to her side, I settled gently and rested a hand on her shoulder. With care, I eased her into a more straightened posture, hoping that a small shift might grant her a bit of comfort.
The poultices and decoctions at my disposal had failed her; now it appeared that only the ancient art of internal healing offered hope and speedy recovery.
Taking in a deep breath, I closed my eyes.
My left hand formed a seal at my lower dantian, the Sea of Qi while my right hovered just above her fevered skin. With focus, I rotated my wrist in a slow spiral, awakening the energy flow through my vessels.
At first, it warmed my legs, then flowed upward through my core, and finally ignited behind my sternum. Compressing my breath, I guided the current outward, letting it stream through my arm and into my waiting palm. From there, it spilled forth like ink in water, seeking entry into her failing system.
But the moment my life-force touched the boundary of her Qi, a violent heat lashed back, striking my chest like a molten blade.
I gasped, and my muscles tensed up.
One hand instinctively clutched my chest.
The energy snapped back violently, almost ripping control right out of my hands.
A burning ache throbbed under my ribs, growing stronger even as i tried to breathe slowly through it.
I did not understand what was happening, her core should have received my Qi, or was I doing it wrong?
I decided to try again, forcing my panicked mind down to a slow pulse. I inhaled shallowly then pressed my hands to her side, guiding the energy as gently as I could. Almost immediately, a violent backlash slammed into me, driving me to my knees beside the bed.
I gripped the edge of the mattress, gritting my teeth as frustration took over, now I was certain, she was rejecting me.
Darkness started to creep in around the edges of my vision until everything went blurry.
"oh no," my voice barely audible over the thunder in my skull.
Lokièn Shen.
It must have flared up the moment I lost control.
I could feel it just under my skin, every part of me was on edge, and I was terrified of what would happen if I tumbled over.
Mei shifted restlessly and let out a soft groan, so I turned my attention back to her.
I stubbornly pushed my hands into the Thundering Gate stance, a high-level technique known only to the inner circle of imperial martial cultivators.
Curling my left hand into a half-fist, representing stillness, i pressed it against the open right palm, my fingers extending upward like a blade. The thumb resting at the base of the index finger, the middle and ring fingers aligned to direct energy toward the Heart Meridian.
Normally, the technique would pull Qi in a smooth circle through my Ren and Du channels, running through my core and clearing any blockages, but the flow hit a snag.
It felt like a dam suddenly rose in the middle of a rushing river, stopping the Qi dead in its tracks. Instead of moving smoothly, the energy slipped apart and scattered like ashes in the wind.
I placed my hand on the carved arm of the chair next to me, the wood was cold against my palm.
This was not a simple obstruction, it appeared like a complete severing of her core gateway. Only by blocking the gateway entirely could one disrupt the flow of Qi so completely, an act that rendered a person incapable of wielding advanced martial techniques.
Why would anyone do this to her?
No warrior would dam her own strength. To seal the inner gate is to bury oneself in silence. If she had done this, then every path lay closed to her.
I hovered above Mei's still form, though unconscious, her body remained inexplicably active. Shutting my eyes, I reached within her spirit, tracing the flow of her energy and found it knotted and tangled, I could not simply leave it at that.
Calming my spirit, I opened my meridians wider and summoned deeper reserves of power. I intended to break this seal.
Summoning the ancient Hand of Dao to pry open her Qi gateway, my palms pressed against her dantian, a torrent of jade-green energy surged forth…only to slam against an unseen barrier and recoil into my own meridians.
Undeterred, i gathered deeper reserves of primordial Qi and launched the technique anew, channeling my will into every sinew. Yet again, the force of my cultivation shattered against the obstruction.
My breathing turned rough, and my hands started shaking even more as my Qi slipped out of sync, like an imbalance between the spiritual and the physical.
Then i heard her voice, uneven sobs breaking the silence like fragile glass.
Instinctively, I raised my hands and began the motions of a calming spell, whispering the words I knew might soothe whatever haunted her.
But before the final syllable left my lips, her eyes snapped open. A strange light pulsed in her irises. It wasn't a reflection or a trick of the candlelight.
Cold slid down my spine like icy fingers tracing my bones. The unnatural glow in her eyes shone brightly. She did not look at me, she did not blink. Her gaze was fixed on the ceiling.
I whispered her name, but it barely made a sound, the air around her seemed to ripple, so faintly it was almost impossible to notice.
My hand hovered between us, before I reached out. I had to know what was happening to her. Just one touch, I told myself. Just to make sure she's okay.
The moment my hand touched her skin, a violent force erupted from her body.
A raw, powerful force that shot through my arm and slammed into my chest. I flew backward, completely winded. A rough sound escaped me as I hit the floor and slid awkwardly across it in a painful heap. My ribs throbbed, but it was the shock more than the pain that kept me paralyzed.
What the hell was that?
Lòkièn Shen's presence surged through me like black fire, and I panicked.
Sweat stung my eyes as I pressed my palms together, trying to pull together whatever strength I had left. But the darkness… it had grown teeth.
It wasn't hanging back anymore. It rushed in all at once, breaking free from my hold.
I clenched my teeth, fighting to stay grounded, trying to remember who I was.. who I used to be, before it completely took over.
I didn't even notice when Mei rose to her feet, because my world had narrowed to one battlefield... my own body.
Her movements were stiff and unnatural, and her eyes were unfocused.
I dropped to one knee, helpless, just watching her. I could not say a word, I did not dare. Every part of me wanted to reach out, to pull her back, but I was terrified. One wrong move, even one wrong breath, could snap the thin thread of control I still had over Lokièn Shen. And worse.. far worse than losing that control, I might be the one to harm her.
So I stayed there in silent, paralyzed and praying that whatever battle was unfolding inside her, she would win.
Then she screamed, a deep, painful sound that seemed to come from her very soul. It hit me like a knife to the chest, my breath stopped as the echo of her pain rippled through my core and cracked my inner focus.
All at once, her dagger was in her hand. It shook, trembling with that same strange, flickering energy.
For a breathless second, Cheng could not tell what was real anymore. Mei's dreamlike state, the growing power in her hand, the darkness in him.. everything blurred.
"You!" she cried out in a trembling voice.
Her eyes were wild and glossy with fever, but the anger in them was clear. Whoever she thought she was looking at through that fog, whoever her mind had turned him into, was someone she believed had hurt her badly.
"You did this!" she shouted, suddenly throwing out her hand.
The dagger flew through the air like a flash of silver.
He twisted aside just in time, but not fast enough. The blade grazed his arm, slicing clean through his skin. It thudded into the wall behind him with a heavy sound.
He let out a grunt as sharp pain burned through his arm, and with it, the darkness inside him broke loose.
His chest tightened as he stumbled back, clutching the wound. The shadow within him awakened, drawn to the smell of blood. Slowly, it took control. When Cheng looked up, the world no longer looked the same through his eyes.
Mei did not flinch, she did not even seem to see him anymore. She only saw a monster.
Lokièn Shen tried to stand but collapsed. "Damn this body!" he shouted, striking the ground. "Why is it so weak?!"
He pushed himself up once more and turned, only to freeze the moment he saw Mei.
She did not give him a chance to react, she moved like lightning, her steps barely making a sound. In the blink of an eye, she was already on him. He raised a hand to block, but she slipped past it like smoke, fast and fluid. Channeling her Qi, she slammed her palm into his chest. The air cracked with the impact.
Lokièn shen flew back, the blow thundering through his body, he did not have time to recover before Mei grabbed him by the throat and slammed him against the wall.
He let out a pained cry and blood smeared his lips.
Her hand burned into his skin as he fought for release but it seemed his energy was not enough. Mei flung out her hand, the dagger ripped free from where it had fallen and flew to her grip, its blade catching the light.
She raised it high in rage but just as she brought it down, Cheng's hand shot up, his fingers wrapping tight around her wrist, halting the strike in midair.
"mei..." His voice was low and shaky, filled with pain as he called out to her. It was barely louder than a whisper, but it reached her. And when it did, the darkness in his eyes began to fade.
Their eyes met, and little by little, she came back to herself. The chaos within her began to calm. The wild energy that had been coursing through her veins dissolved into silence.
The heavy doors flew open as Yizé burst into the chamber, gasping when he saw what was in front of him. His heart dropped at the sight of Cheng, bloodied, broken, and barely conscious. "Young Master!" he cried, sprinting toward him.
Mei took a shaky step back. Her body was trembling, and then her knees gave out. She collapsed to the ground. Yizé stretched his hands to hold onto Cheng but missed as he lurched towards mei and caught her in time.
But his strength failed him and they both went down.
Cheng twisted his body at the last second, pulling her into him so she landed on him, not the hard floor. His back hit the ground with a sickening thud, and a low groan escaped his lips.
His eyes closed.
And everything went still.
The following morning
"I thought they were all destroyed..."
The voice rang out deep inside Cheng's mind, angry, bitter, and full of betrayal.
"That greedy emperor lied to me... He dared to deceive me!"
A beat of silence followed.
"Now I'll have to eradicate the last one myself."
Even in sleep, Cheng's body reacted. A shiver ran through him, his breathing grew shallow and uneven.
"I'm not strong enough yet!"
The voice roared, and Cheng tossed and turned on the bed, caught in a storm within.
"wake up..."
His body twitched.
"Wake up..."
He shifted again, more violently this time, his brow furrowed in distress.
"WAKE UP!!"
Cheng jolted upright with a sharp gasp, his eyes wide and wild. For a moment, he just sat there, drenched in sweat, and staring at a corner of the room.
He slowly lifted his hands and wiped the sweat from his face, trying to catch his breath. But the voice was still there, echoing in the back of his mind.
He turned and saw Mei lying on another bed, a good distance away. Then, suddenly, memories of the night before came flooding back.
Was any of it real? Did he really see that strange energy in her eyes and body? Was her core gateway actually sealed? But the question that haunted him the most was, did Lokièn Shen really take over his body? Or was it just a dream?
If it really happened, then why was he still himself now? In the past, even getting a brief moment of control from Lokièn shen had been a struggle, so how could he have fully taken over and then just... left? It did not make sense.
As he put his legs down and tried to get out of bed, pain shot through his whole body. He froze for a moment, standing still, trying to push through the exhaustion.
Yizé walked in just as he was trying to get out of bed, then he rushed over to him.
"Your Highness, please...do not try to move yet," he said, but cheng ignored.
Mei turned slowly in bed, and he tried to get to her, but Yizé stepped in his way.
"Your Highness, please... Don't… You nearly died last night."
"I am fine," he replied. "Now move."
Yizé hesitated for a moment, then moved out of the way. "If you need anything, Your Highness, I will be right outside." He gave a deep bow and left the room, clearly annoyed.
Mei slowly opened her eyes, squinting against the bright light. Where am I? she wondered. She tried to sit up, her heart starting to race, but a gentle hand eased her back down.
"You are okay. You are safe," Cheng said softly, his voice calming her.
Mei turned her head and saw him sitting by the bed.
Flashes of memory rushed back... Li Ming, the drugs, being rescued... and she trembled.
"You are in my palace," Cheng said gently. "You have been sick, but you are getting better. Try not to worry. I will get you some water."
He stood up slowly, and Mei noticed he moved stiffly, like he was hurting. "Are you alright?" she asked.
He sat down next to her and held the cup as she took a few sips. Some color started to return to her face.
"I am fine, do not worry about me," he said.
Mei took a deep breath, feeling her heartbeat start to calm down.
"How are you feeling?" he asked softly.
"I am better, thank you," she said. The effects of the drug had mostly worn off.
Cheng kept an eye on her, noticing that she did not mention the dreams, maybe she did not even know she had them.
"I am glad you are getting your strength back. But honestly, how are you feeling beyond the physical?"
Mei looked at Cheng, a little puzzled. "I already told you, I am fine."
Cheng still looked a bit worried, but he nodded. "Alright." He gave her a warm smile. "For now, just rest. You have been through quite an ordeal. You are safe now, I have ordered the guards to keep watch."
He placed a tray of food on the table beside her. "You need to eat to get your strength back," he said, scooping up some broth.
Mei tried to sit up. "I can feed myself."
"Please," Cheng said gently, guiding her back down. "Let me take care of you while you recover. Open up."
Mei let out a sigh but did as he asked, swallowing the warm broth. Her body was still weak, and even though she didn't like needing help, Cheng's calm and gentle way made it easier to accept.
"See? Not so bad," Cheng said with a smile. Mei had to admit he was right. His care was helping her feel better. She took another spoonful, thinking maybe accepting help was not such a bad thing after all.
Cheng put the empty bowl aside and pulled out a small plate of dried herbs.
"These will help you get your strength back," he said, crumbling some into a cup.
He blew on the drink to cool it, then held it to Mei's lips. "Drink this. It is bitter, but it will help you."
Mei shook her head. "I told you, I am feeling better. I do not need all this."
Cheng tried to convince her, but she kept refusing. Then it hit him, maybe she was afraid to take medicine because of the taste, so he stopped.
He stepped back, and Mei sank into the pillows.
"Cheng, how did you find me?"
A shadow crossed his face. He stood silently for a moment, then turned to her. But before he could answer, quick footsteps echoed outside. The curtain was pushed aside and Yú Yúe entered.
Mei, her face lighting up with joy, sat up eagerly and called out, "Yú Yúe!—"
But before the words could leave her lips, Cheng saw the brief opening and seized it.
With a subtle flick of his wrist, he channeled his internal energy through his fingertips. The cup hovered momentarily, then tilted, guided by his precise control. In a single motion, the bitter herbal liquid arced through the air in a narrow stream and slipped past Mei's parted lips.
She blinked, startled, as the brew slid smoothly down her throat before she could react.
Mei swallowed the medicinal tea, wincing at the bitter taste and letting out a small cough. Cheng gave her a sympathetic smile and handed her some water.
"Here you go." She quickly took it and drank, trying to get rid of the awful taste in her mouth.
"Before long, you will be back to your usual self.. always getting into trouble and keeping me on edge," Cheng said with a grin.
Mei gave him a sharp look. "You big bully!" she snapped, tossing the cup of water at him.
In that instant, a memory flashed through Cheng's mind... Mei hurling a dagger at him. His smile faded. He froze the cup in midair, his eyes going blank as he stared at her, lost in the memory.
"Cheng?" Mei called, but he just stood there.
"Did I hurt him?" she asked Yú Yúe, who was already by her side.
"I do not think so," Yú Yúe replied.
"Cheng?" Mei tried again.
"You see? This is why I always tell you not to act brashly," Yú Yúe scolded.
"I think I knocked the life out of him," Mei said, sitting up and trying to get out of bed.
But Yú Yúe held her back. "No, stay still!"
"Let go of me! I might have just killed a royal!" Mei cried. "Oh no, no, no... I am going to be beheaded... or worse, locked up for life!"
"How is being locked up for life worse than getting beheaded?!" Yú Yúe snapped, but Mei was too panicked to answer.
"Cheng!" she called again.
He finally snapped out of it and looked at her. "What matters is that you are safe now,"
"I am glad your friend is here. I will leave you two to catch up," he added with a soft smile before stepping away.
Cheng quietly picked up the empty dishes and left the room, gently closing the door behind him. Mei and Yú Yúe just stared at him, then at each other.
"I think I broke him...."