The room remained silent long after the presence disappeared.
Too silent.
As if the world itself was holding its breath.
Xu Lin stood motionless.
His heart still racing.
"...Like you remember them."
Mo Xuan's words echoed in his mind.
Again.
And again.
Remember them?
How could he remember people he had never met?
"...Stop saying things I don't understand."
His voice came out sharper than intended.
For a moment
Mo Xuan said nothing.
Then
"...I'm trying."
Xu Lin froze.
Because that wasn't the answer he expected.
Not from him.
Not from someone who always seemed to know everything.
"...Then explain it."
Silence.
A long one.
Then
"...I can't."
Xu Lin laughed bitterly.
"...Convenient."
For the first time
Mo Xuan looked away.
"...If I tell you now..."
A pause.
"...you'll break."
The words hit harder than expected.
Xu Lin's expression darkened.
"...You keep deciding things for me."
"...Because someone has to."
That was the wrong answer.
The very wrong answer.
Something inside Xu Lin snapped.
The window shattered.
CRASH.
Glass exploded outward.
The air trembled.
Both of them froze.
Xu Lin stared at his hands.
"...I didn't..."
His voice shook.
"...I didn't touch anything."
The broken glass glittered beneath the moonlight.
Proof.
Undeniable proof.
The power was real.
And it was getting stronger.
The next morning
Things became worse.
Much worse.
Xu Lin tried pretending everything was normal.
It lasted less than an hour.
"...Xu Lin?"
A familiar voice called his name.
His friend waved from across the street.
Xu Lin forced a smile.
"...Morning."
"...You look awful."
"...Everyone keeps saying that."
Before either of them could continue
A sharp pain exploded inside Xu Lin's head.
He stumbled.
The world blurred.
And suddenly
He wasn't standing in the street anymore.
White skies.
Golden clouds.
A massive palace floating above the heavens.
Voices shouting.
People running.
And someone
Standing in the center of it all.
Covered in blood.
Xu Lin couldn't see their face.
But he knew.
Knew with terrifying certainty.
It was him.
"...Lin Mo!"
A voice cried out.
Desperate.
Heartbroken.
The vision shattered instantly.
Xu Lin gasped.
Nearly collapsing.
"...Hey!"
His friend grabbed his arm.
"...What's wrong with you?"
Xu Lin couldn't answer.
Because his hands were shaking.
Not from fear.
Recognition.
That night
The dreams returned.
Only this time
They weren't dreams.
They felt real.
Xu Lin found himself standing alone beneath an endless white sky.
A familiar place.
Impossible.
"...Where am I?"
"...A memory."
The voice came from behind him.
Xu Lin turned.
And froze.
The person standing there
Looked exactly like him.
Same face.
Same eyes.
But different.
Older.
Sadder.
"...Who are you?"
The stranger smiled faintly.
A painful smile.
"...You already know."
Xu Lin stepped back.
"...No."
"...You're lying."
The stranger's gaze softened.
"...You always were terrible at accepting the truth."
The words felt strangely familiar.
"...Tell me who you are."
Silence.
Then
"...I am the person Heaven feared."
Xu Lin's breath caught.
"...I am the person they punished."
Another step closer.
"...And one day..."
The stranger's expression darkened.
"...You'll remember why."
The dream shattered.
Xu Lin woke up instantly.
Sweat covered his skin.
His heart pounding wildly.
And beside the window
Mo Xuan was already there.
Watching him.
"...You saw him."
Not a question.
Xu Lin stared at him.
"...Who was that?"
For the first time
Real fear appeared in Mo Xuan's eyes.
Only for a second.
But Xu Lin saw it.
"...That's impossible."
"...Mo Xuan."
A pause.
"...Who was he?"
Silence.
Then
Very quietly
"...You."
The room went completely still.
Xu Lin couldn't breathe.
Because somehow
Deep down
He already knew the answer.
And for the first time
He wasn't sure he wanted the rest of his memories back.
Far above
The Heavenly Realm remained restless.
Lian Yue stood alone on a balcony.
Watching the mortal world below.
"...It's happening faster."
Behind her
A new voice answered.
"...Then we're already too late."
Lian Yue turned sharply.
Her eyes widened.
Because the person standing there
Should not have been in Heaven.
And yet
He smiled.
"...Tell me, Lian Yue..."
The stranger's eyes glowed faintly.
"...Do they know the truth about Lin Mo yet?"
The most dangerous memories aren't the ones we lose...
They're the ones someone tried to bury. 🖤🔥