Published at 27th of September 2024 8:55 am

Chapter 28: Fractured Paths

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Wei Long stood in the aftermath of his victory, surrounded by the remnants of the Jade Serpent Sect's elite. His breathing was steady now, his gaze hard and unyielding. The battle had been swift, decisive—exactly as it should be when wielding such immense power. Yet, despite the triumph, an unease gnawed at the edge of his consciousness.

The black crystal in his hand glowed faintly, its energy merging with the orb’s, creating a nearly overwhelming surge of darkness within him. The two forces were in harmony, yet they demanded more from him, pushing him further down the path he had chosen.

But for the first time, Wei Long hesitated. The emptiness that had settled over him was growing, a gnawing doubt that even the whispers of the orb couldn't suppress.

"What is this?" he thought, gripping the crystal tighter. He had won. He was stronger than ever. So why did it feel like something was slipping away?

Before he could ponder further, the sound of footsteps echoed in the hallway outside. Wei Long snapped out of his thoughts, turning toward the door. His enhanced senses picked up the presence of several figures approaching rapidly.

The sect wasn’t finished yet.

_______________________________________________________________

Meanwhile, Lin Mei and the rest of the group were moving swiftly through the dense forest, their faces set in grim determination. Ever since Wei Long had disappeared, Lin Mei had been pushing them relentlessly, tracking his movements with a singular focus.

She refused to believe that Wei Long was lost to them. No matter how dark the path he had chosen, she knew there was still a part of him that could be saved. She just had to reach him before it was too late.

The group followed silently, their faces betraying their uncertainty. They had seen Wei Long’s power, seen how it had changed him. But Lin Mei’s resolve was unshakable, and they trusted her leadership.

As they neared the Jade Serpent Sect’s stronghold, Lin Mei paused, raising a hand to stop the group. Her eyes scanned the horizon, taking in the towering walls and the stillness in the air.

“This is it,” she whispered. “We’re close.”

One of the others stepped forward, his brow furrowed. “Do you think he’s still inside?”

Lin Mei didn’t answer immediately. Her connection with Wei Long had always been strong, and though the darkness clouded it now, she could still feel something—an echo of his presence. He was close, but the energy surrounding him was twisted, darker than she had ever felt before.

“He’s there,” Lin Mei said finally. “But we need to be careful. He’s… changed.”

The group exchanged uneasy glances, but none of them spoke. They all knew what that meant. Wei Long was no longer the man they had fought alongside. He was something more, something dangerous.

But Lin Mei wasn’t ready to give up on him. Not yet.

_______________________________________________________________

Inside the stronghold, Wei Long was already facing the new wave of attackers. The remaining disciples of the Jade Serpent Sect had rallied, their expressions hard with determination. They knew they were no match for him, but duty and loyalty drove them forward.

Wei Long didn’t hesitate. With a flick of his wrist, tendrils of dark energy shot out from the orb, slamming into the disciples and sending them crashing to the ground. Their defenses crumbled under the force of his attacks, their screams echoing through the halls as they fell one by one.

It was over in moments.

Wei Long stood over the bodies, his chest heaving, his gaze distant. The power was intoxicating, almost overwhelming. But as the last disciple fell, the emptiness returned, sharper than before.

"This isn’t enough," the orb’s whisper echoed in his mind. "There is more… you are destined for greater things."

Wei Long nodded, though a part of him rebelled against the words. He had come this far. There was no turning back. But what was the price? The thought was fleeting, quickly drowned out by the orb's whispers.

He moved toward the exit, but just as he reached the door, he froze.

A familiar presence touched his senses—faint, but unmistakable.

Lin Mei.

For a moment, the darkness wavered, and Wei Long’s heart skipped a beat. She had come for him. Part of him had expected it, but he hadn’t prepared himself for the wave of emotion that followed. Anger, guilt, fear—they all surged within him, clashing violently with the cold, calculated hunger for power that had taken hold.

“She’s come to stop you,” the orb hissed. “She will betray you. They all will.”

Wei Long clenched his fists, trying to push the thoughts away, but they clung to him like a vice. He could feel her getting closer, her energy bright and familiar, yet so different from his own now.

For the first time in what felt like an eternity, he didn’t know what to do.

_______________________________________________________________

Lin Mei and the group arrived at the outer gates of the Jade Serpent Sect. The air was thick with tension, and the lingering energy of the battle sent shivers down their spines. Lin Mei motioned for the others to stay back as she approached the entrance.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she entered the stronghold, her eyes scanning the scene of destruction. Bodies of Jade Serpent disciples lay scattered across the ground, their faces frozen in terror.

And then, she saw him.

Wei Long stood at the far end of the hall, his back to her, his form bathed in the eerie glow of the orb. The sight of him sent a mixture of relief and fear coursing through her. He was alive—but so much had changed.

“Wei Long…” Lin Mei called out softly, taking a cautious step forward.

He didn’t respond at first. His posture was rigid, tense. The orb’s dark energy pulsed around him, filling the room with a suffocating presence.

“I’m here to bring you back,” Lin Mei said, her voice trembling slightly. “You don’t have to keep going down this path. We can fix this.”

Wei Long slowly turned to face her, his eyes glowing with the same dark energy that radiated from the orb. For a moment, their gazes locked, and Lin Mei saw the conflict in his eyes—the battle between the man she knew and the darkness that had consumed him.

“Go back,” Wei Long said, his voice cold and distant. “This is beyond you.”

Lin Mei shook her head, taking another step forward. “No, it’s not. I’m not leaving without you.”

The air between them crackled with tension as Wei Long’s grip on the crystal tightened. He could feel the orb’s influence pushing him, urging him to drive her away, to sever the last tie that held him to his past.

But he couldn’t do it. Not yet.

“I can’t turn back,” Wei Long whispered, his voice barely audible. “It’s too late.”

Lin Mei’s eyes softened, and she took another step forward, closing the distance between them. “It’s never too late. You’re stronger than this. You always have been.”

Wei Long’s heart ached at her words, but the orb’s whispers drowned them out, filling his mind with doubt and suspicion. His gaze hardened, and he raised the crystal, its dark energy swirling around him like a storm.

“Leave, Lin Mei,” he said, his voice laced with warning. “Before I make you.”

Lin Mei’s breath caught in her throat as the weight of his words settled over her. But she didn’t move. She couldn’t.

“I’m not leaving,” she said quietly, her voice firm despite the fear in her chest. “Not without you.”

For a long moment, neither of them moved, the tension between them thick and palpable. The orb’s whispers grew louder, urging Wei Long to act, to rid himself of the last piece of his past that held him back.

But even as the darkness surged within him, Wei Long hesitated.

And in that hesitation, a glimmer of hope remained.

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