Chapter 32 · No More Borrowed Life

The heartbeat's still going. Slow, steady, like something huge waking up from a really long nap.

I'm on my knees in the rubble, hands pressed against cold stone. My spirit root's gone. Not damaged. Not sealed. Gone. I can feel the empty space where it used to sit, right below my ribs, like someone scooped out part of my chest and left a hole.

Gu's crouched next to me, one hand on my shoulder. His fingers are shaking.

"Lin Wei." His voice is rough. "Can you stand?"

I don't answer. I'm listening to that heartbeat. It's coming from below us, somewhere deep in the earth, and every pulse makes the ground vibrate. Dust keeps falling from the ceiling. The array I tore open is still glowing along the edges, but the light's flickering now, unstable.

"We need to move," Gu says. He's trying to pull me up. "Before the whole chamber collapses."

"Let it collapse." My voice sounds flat. Dead. I don't recognize it. "Let the whole sect fall into whatever hole my mother dug."

Gu's hand tightens on my shoulder. "Don't—"

"Don't what?" I finally look at him. His face is pale, eyes red-rimmed.