Yan Zhi jerked her head up. The light before her began to shift violently, as though some force were tearing it apart. Its once-gentle glow turned harsh and unstable.
"What... is this?" A trace of fear entered her voice, and shock flashed in her eyes.
Jiu Jia Yi frowned and quickly seized Yan Zhi's wrist, pulling her aside. "Watch out!" His voice dropped, urgent and tense. "This isn't normal. Brace yourself for stronger interference."
Yan Zhi felt an inexplicable force closing in from every direction, as though the entire space were pressing down on them. Pain stabbed through her head. Her vision blurred, and it felt as if an invisible hand had clamped around her heart, leaving her unable to move.
"We have to do something!" Her voice came out almost hoarse. She felt herself losing her balance, and the world before her grew hazier by the moment. The distance between her and Jiu Jia Yi seemed to be widening.
"Don't give up!" Jiu Jia Yi growled. Even in the chaos, his voice remained steady. "We have to stay alert. Whatever's ahead, we'll face it together!"
His words rang in Yan Zhi's ears, giving her back a little clarity. She gritted her teeth and forced herself to stand firm. Though her head spun, she knew that if she gave up now, everything would be over.
"Move!" Jiu Jia Yi gripped her hand and led her forward, one step at a time.
Yan Zhi's breathing quickened. Her body felt trapped in shackles she could not escape. As they advanced, the air pressed harder against her chest; with every breath, the space around her seemed to narrow. The light grew ever more dazzling, like an invisible force compelling her deeper, leaving her unable to stop.
"What is this place?" she murmured through gritted teeth, so softly her voice was barely audible.
Jiu Jia Yi did not answer. His expression grew graver, his brow tightly furrowed as he stared at the light ahead, as though weighing every step. He still held Yan Zhi's hand tightly. Though he appeared calm, she could feel the sweat on his palm and the tension beneath it.
"We have to keep going," Jiu Jia Yi said, his low voice resolute. "Whatever lies ahead, if we stop now, we'll never be able to turn back."
Yan Zhi gave a slight nod. Her mind was full of questions, but she knew they had only one choice: to press on. She took a deep breath, tried to relax, and followed closely behind Jiu Jia Yi.
Yet as they drew nearer to the center of the light, the pressure in the air intensified, as though it might crush them at any moment. Yan Zhi's eyes began to sting, and the jumble of thoughts in her head made it hard to think clearly. She felt a strange force quietly eroding her reason, making her emotions harder and harder to control.
"Don't you think this place is too... strange?" Yan Zhi asked uneasily, her voice low. "It's more than just the space warping. There's also... this pressure."
Jiu Jia Yi did not slow. His eyes remained fixed ahead. "You're right, but now isn't the time to question it. All we can do is keep going until we find the truth."
Before you continue