Mei Lin turned in a slow circle, her heart pounding. The mirrored labyrinth stretched endlessly in every direction, each reflection distorting reality. In some mirrors, she looked older; in others, she appeared wounded. Some showed Li Sheng as a cold stranger, while others reflected him covered in blood.
"This is an illusion," she muttered, trying to steady her breath.
Li Sheng's grip tightened around his sword. "Illusions can deceive, but they can't harm us—unless we let them."
The Guardian's voice echoed through the mirrored halls. "The Trial of Wisdom is not just about intelligence. It is about knowing yourself. Only those who see through deception can escape."
As soon as the words faded, the labyrinth shifted. The reflections moved independently—laughing, whispering, even glaring at them with malice. Suddenly, multiple reflections of Mei Lin and Li Sheng stepped out of the mirrors, surrounding them.
"Which ones are real?" Li Sheng muttered, stepping into a defensive stance.
Before Mei Lin could answer, one of her reflections smirked and lunged. Instinctively, Mei Lin dodged, barely avoiding the phantom's attack. The fake Li Sheng swung his sword, forcing the real one to counter.
"They can attack?!" Mei Lin gasped.
One of her reflections sneered. "Are you sure you are the real one?"
For a split second, doubt flickered in her mind—what if she was also an illusion?
A sharp pain bloomed in her head as memories of her past life surfaced. Mei Lin clenched her fists. No. She knew who she was.
Taking a deep breath, she focused on her surroundings. The real Li Sheng fought with precision—his stance strong and steady. But the illusions? Their movements were just a fraction too fast or too perfect, lacking human hesitation.
"They don't breathe," she realized.
"Li Sheng! Ignore everything else! Only strike the ones that don't breathe!"
Li Sheng's sharp eyes scanned their enemies. In an instant, he slashed through one fake, then another. They shattered like glass, dissolving into the mirrored walls.
Mei Lin grabbed a small vial from her spatial pocket and smashed it to the ground, releasing a fine mist. She held her breath, watching carefully. The real Li Sheng's breath slightly disturbed the mist—but the illusions left no trace.
"There!" She threw a dagger at one of the false reflections. It shattered, revealing the true exit hidden within the mirrors.
Li Sheng wasted no time, grabbing Mei Lin's wrist as they ran toward it. The moment they crossed the threshold, the labyrinth collapsed, fading into dust.
They landed on solid ground, breathing heavily.
The Guardian stood before them, his golden eyes filled with approval. "You have passed the Trial of Wisdom. Now, only one trial remains."
Before they could respond, the air grew heavy, charged with an unseen force. The Guardian's voice deepened.
"The Trial of Resolve begins now."