Outside the Bureau – Lake of Spirit Reflection – Night
The moonlight shimmered across the still lake like silk.
Kaelin sat alone at the far edge of the floating dock, dressed in her plain field coat. The wind caught strands of her hair and sent them drifting into the night.
This was the first time in years she had chosen to leave the Bureau command post on her own.
And she knew exactly what she was doing.
"I knew you'd come."
Footsteps sounded softly behind her. Lu Feng's voice was calm.
Kaelin didn't turn. "You not showing up would've surprised me more."
"I couldn't leave you alone tonight."
"I'm not falling apart."
"You're lying."
He stepped forward and sat beside her.
Silence passed between them.
"Say it," Lu Feng said finally.
Kaelin exhaled.
"I've submitted a request to dissolve our soul-bond."
Lu Feng's eyes narrowed, but he didn't speak.
"Reason?" he asked at last.
Kaelin's voice was quiet, but steady.
"You're evolving, Lu Feng. Your soul structure is reaching into spaces even the Bureau can't define."
"I'm not… keeping up."
"You once said we'd walk this together," she continued."But that was before I started dreaming of your death."
"Not death by enemies—but death because of me."
"I've left too many emotional imprints in your soul chain. I feel it—every time you hesitate. Every time you protect me before yourself."
"That's not strength."
"That's… dependency."
Lu Feng stayed silent.
Kaelin looked away, then added:
"I love you."
"That's why I have to step back."
"So that if you survive all this—you'll know it was your choice, not mine, that saved you."
Lu Feng took a long breath.
"And you're sure… this is your decision?"
Kaelin nodded slowly.
"You don't believe I can endure fate?"
"No," she said softly. "I'm afraid… you'd change it for my sake."
"And I don't want to be the reason you compromise your path."
Lu Feng chuckled quietly, tears catching in his eyes.
"You're wrong."
"You're not the reason I'd change fate."
"You're part of it."
He raised his hand and gently pressed his thumb to her forehead.
"I accept the dissolution."
"But I'll keep your soul-mark in my memory."
"You can walk away from the ritual."
"But not from the place you hold in me."
Kaelin's tears fell freely now.
"Lu Feng…"
"I'm not leaving," he whispered."You've left enough for both of us."
The Next Morning – Bureau
Lu Feng turned in the soul-bond dissolution form.
Lou Siquan smirked as he signed it."I expected this."
"You emotional types always break under pressure."
Lu Feng met his eyes calmly.
"I broke the chain," he said, "so I could see more clearly."
"And now that I do…"
He smiled coldly.
"I know exactly how to break you."