---
The courtyard trembled as Liansheng dropped from the sky like a final sentence.
He landed with grace—but his blade cracked the stone beneath him. Not out of rage. Out of grief.
"Why didn't you stay dead?"
"Why didn't you protect me?"
Yinan's voice was soft.
But every word struck like steel.
---
Qiuyue stepped between them.
"This is madness. You said you'd never raise your sword against him—"
"That was before he became a ghost walking in borrowed flesh."
Liansheng's eyes were unreadable.
"Look at him. That isn't just Yinan. Something's riding inside him."
Yinan laughed bitterly.
"I'm not possessed, General.
I'm just awake."
---
The battle didn't begin with swords.
It began with words that cut deeper.
"You let me die."
"You chose to walk into death."
"Because you gave the order."
"Because you wanted to prove something."
"Because I loved you and I thought that mattered."
Liansheng flinched.
The silence that followed cracked the sky open again.
---
Then they moved.
Liansheng's sword glowed with sworn energy.
Each strike a promise kept. Each block, a betrayal unanswered.
Yinan's body moved slower—still weakened. But the Echo Sutra twisted his reflexes, borrowing Qiuyue's guilt for speed. Borrowing Liansheng's hesitation for openings.
Every cut he took, the petals bloomed darker.
---
[SYSTEM UPDATE]
Dual Emotion Link Established:
▸ Liansheng – Grief (Stage II)
▸ Qiuyue – Guilt (Stage I)
Lotus Qi Absorption Active
▸ +12
▸ +7
▸ +5
---
"You're feeding off us," Liansheng gasped.
"Is that how you're alive? Stealing what we mourned?"
Yinan's eyes were glowing now.
"No," he said softly.
"You mourned me so beautifully—how could I not come back to hear it?"
---
Qiuyue moved again, yelling:
"Stop this! Both of you!"
But it was too late.
Because suddenly—
Yinan didn't block.
He stepped into Liansheng's blade.
---
The blade cut deep into Yinan's shoulder.
He smiled through the pain.
"Strike me," he whispered, voice shaking.
"If that's what it takes to free you."
Liansheng froze. His sword still buried.
The world holding its breath.
"I… I can't."
"Then let me go."
Yinan's blood fell.
And where it landed, black lotuses bloomed.
---