Lin Tian's steps faltered slightly, his gaze locking onto the man in the grey-white robe. The man's aura seemed calm and without ripples, yet the weight and chill it carried were like a concealed longsword, ready to be drawn at any moment.
Zidian also halted, the tip of its tail slowly curling, clearly wary of this newcomer. A sharp killing intent flickered in its vertical pupils, though it was deliberately restrained.
"Who are you?" Lin Tian's voice was hoarse as he spoke.
The man didn't answer immediately. Instead, he slowly raised his palm and pressed it against the stone wall. In an instant, the seal at the end of the dark river flared to life, revealing streaks of pale blue light patterns that spread outward like ripples, casting his face in an even colder light.
"This is the first gate of the North Abyss Dark River," the man said slowly. "I… am the gatekeeper here—Mu Changsheng."
"Gatekeeper?" Lin Tian frowned. "The gatekeeper of what?"
Mu Changsheng's gaze swept over Zidian like a blade, his tone indifferent. "The gatekeeper of traitors… and of outsiders."
Zidian let out a low, rumbling growl, its tail lashing violently and sending up a great spray of water. "Mu Changsheng, say that again if you dare!"
"Traitor," Mu Changsheng replied, his voice still cold and devoid of emotion. "When the North Abyss fell, you betrayed your lord and took the Dark River Key, leading to Han Yuan's fall. Did you think you could hide beneath these waters forever?"
Lin Tian's heart jolted violently—Han Yuan… fallen? Then the consciousness of Han Yuan within him…
"Don't listen to his nonsense!" Zidian's voice cut in, sharp and urgent. "Lin Tian, he's just trying to sow discord! This man has been guarding this place for hundreds of years—his mind is long corroded by the seal's power!"
Lin Tian's breath quickened. He could feel Han Yuan's presence within him stir restlessly. A moment later, that deep, ancient voice echoed once more in his mind—
"Boy, Mu Changsheng's words are not without truth. But remember—this man is not one of my subordinates. His sole purpose here is to seal me."
Lin Tian felt as though two forces were wrestling for dominance inside his mind—Han Yuan's calm, ancient pressure on one side, and Mu Changsheng's cold, resolute words on the other. He had no way of knowing which was true.
"Lin Tian." Mu Changsheng's gaze sharpened, his tone taking on an edge for the first time. "Give me the Spirit Pearl, and I can guarantee your safe departure from the Dark River. If you continue to carry it… you will lose yourself sooner or later."
"Utter nonsense!" Zidian roared, spiritual power surging like a tidal wave. The surface of the water churned violently as its aura flared. Mu Changsheng's own presence was like a massive wall of ice, firmly locking down the far end of the river. The pressure between them made Lin Tian's chest tighten until it was hard to breathe.
"Young man," Mu Changsheng's voice slowed, becoming low and deliberate, "have you never wondered why your bloodline resonates with Han Yuan's? Do you know… that your ancestor was the key-bearer who sealed him?"
Lin Tian froze, a storm raging in his heart—his long-standing mystery of origin… tied to Han Yuan's seal?
"Don't be fooled by him!" Zidian's voice was as cold as frost. "If you trust him, you'll be the next sacrifice for the seal!"
For a moment, Lin Tian felt as though he stood between two crushing forces, pushed toward an invisible abyss.
Mu Changsheng's gaze lingered on him, then he slowly extended a hand. "Choose, Lin Tian—come with me… or be sealed here with them forever."
The air seemed to solidify. Even the sound of the river's current fell still.
As Lin Tian hesitated, Han Yuan's voice turned low and urgent in his mind. "Boy, listen to me this time—go with him, and you will surely die!"
Lin Tian's fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. His breath came fast, almost to the point of breaking.
Zidian growled low beside him, Mu Changsheng stood in stillness, as though ready to strike at any moment.
Two completely different paths converged before him.
Lin Tian lifted his head, a sharp light flaring in his eyes—
"I…"